Werther/Westfalen will host the 29th Wertheraner Schachfestival – Schloss-Open 2026 from Thursday, March 26 to Sunday, March 29, 2026 in Werther/Westfalen, Germany. Schachklub Werther will run multiple Swiss sections with clear rating bands, including a 7-round A-Open and five-round weekend opens for B, C, and D. The festival also offers a separate U14 Youth Open for young players with lower ratings.

Competitors will play under FIDE rules with a classical time control and a 30-minute grace period. The organizers will evaluate A and B for FIDE Elo and will evaluate all open sections for DWZ, using March 2026 Elo and the DWZ list dated Wednesday, March 25, 2026 for group placement. The published cash prize pool totals €4,445 for the A–D opens, and the youth tournament awards trophies, certificates, and prizes in kind.

🗓️ Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

The organizers published a €4,445 total cash prize fund for the A–D opens. The organizers will award special prizes only when at least three participants exist in the relevant category.

A-Open cash prizes

B-Open cash prizes

C-Open cash prizes

D-Open cash prizes

Prize rules

• The organizers will not award double prizes; a player will receive only one prize.

• Players without an official rating number are not eligible for cash prizes.

• The organizers require prize winners to attend the award ceremony to receive prize money.

• The organizers guarantee the listed prize money only when at least 150 participants play.

Youth Open prizes

• The organizers will award trophies, certificates, and prizes in kind.

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The organizers will run the tournament under FIDE rules and pair rounds with Swiss-Chess.

Time control:

• 90 minutes for 40 moves

• 15 minutes to finish

• 30-second increment per move from move 1

Pairing and ranking:

• The organizers will use Buchholz, Sonneborn-Berger, and number of wins as the stated tie-break order.

• The organizers will evaluate A and B for Elo and will evaluate all open sections for DWZ.

Arrival rule:

• The organizers will apply a 30-minute grace period after the scheduled round start.

📂 Sections / Groups

📅 Schedule

Schedule – A-Open

Schedule – B-Open, C-Open, D-Open

Schedule – U14 Youth Open

📝 Registration

Players must register by transferring the entry fee and submitting the online form.

Registration:

• Website: https://wp.skwerther.de/schloss-open/anmeldung/

Payment details:

• IBAN: DE16 4806 2051 0510 0799 01

• BIC: GENODEM1HLW

Late payment surcharge:

• The organizers will add €10 when payment arrives after Wednesday, March 18, 2026 or when a player pays cash at check-in.

• The organizers will add €5 for Youth Open payments that arrive after Wednesday, March 18, 2026.

Entry confirmation and refunds:

• The organizers will add players to the participant lists only after the entry fee arrives.

• The organizers will refund the entry fee only when a player cancels by Wednesday, March 18, 2026.

👥 Organizer

Schachklub Werther organizes the Schloss-Open as its annual multi-section festival and manages entries, pairings, and prize ceremonies throughout the weekend.

Phone: +49 157 52242590
Website: https://wp.skwerther.de/schloss-open/

🏨 Venue

The A–D opens will take place at Bürgerbegegnungsstätte Haus Werther, Schloßstr. 36, 33824 Werther/Westfalen, Germany. The Youth Open will take place at Grundschule Werther, Mühlenstr. 8, 33824 Werther/Westfalen, Germany, about a short walk from the main playing site.

🚗 How to Get There

You can reach Werther/Westfalen in the Bielefeld area by car or regional public transport and continue locally to Schloßstr. 36 for Haus Werther. You can also walk to the youth venue at Mühlenstr. 8 from the main site.

Join the Schloss-Open 2026 and play a full weekend of serious Swiss-system chess in Werther/Westfalen.

🧾 Other

• By entering, participants agree to tournament photography and the use of personal data strictly in connection with the event.

• The organizer may limit liability for costs beyond already paid entry fees if authorities restrict or cancel the tournament.