The Vancouver Chess Festival #14 runs April 18-19, 2026 in Burnaby, Canada, delivering a fast-paced weekend of rated over-the-board chess for adults and juniors at the Bonsor Recreation Complex. The organizers run a five-round Swiss in a single classical program with multiple rating-based sections, and they base pairings and prize eligibility on CFC ratings when available. You get a practical, competitive format that fits serious play into two days without sacrificing structure.

The festival also adds an evening blitz tournament on Saturday to complete a full weekend experience. The organizers guarantee a $5,500 cash prize fund across the main classical sections, including best-female prizes where listed. If you want a well-organized Swiss with clear policies, rated games, and meaningful prize targets across several skill bands, this event fits the brief.

🗓️ Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

Open

U2100

U1700

U1300

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The main event runs a 5-round Swiss with a G60 time control. The blitz tournament runs G5 over 7 rounds on Saturday evening. The organizers rate all sections for CFC and CMA, and they require a valid CFC membership. For pairing and prize eligibility, the tournament uses CFC ratings, or FIDE/USCF/CMA when a player does not have a CFC rating.

The event uses these tie-breakers in order: Direct Encounter (Head to Head), Cumulative Score, Opposition Cumulative Score. Players may request up to two half-point byes (not in the last round); submit the request by email or inform the Tournament Director at least 24 hours before the round start.

📂 Sections / Groups

📅 Schedule

Classical (5 rounds)

Blitz (7 rounds)

📝 Registration

Register and pay online in advance to enter the pairings. The organizers do not offer onsite registration, and they start the clock according to the published schedule. The organizers offer early pricing before March 1 for both the classical tournament and the blitz tournament, and they provide free entry for GM/IM/FM when you register before March 1.

Tournament page: https://www.vanchess.ca/tournaments/view/id/11895

👥 Organizer

Vancouver Chess School runs the Vancouver Chess Festival as a two-day rated event that welcomes both adults and juniors, supports multiple rating sections, and adds a blitz side tournament to the weekend program. The organizer team manages entries online in advance and enforces round start discipline to keep the schedule on track.

• Email: info@vanchess.ca

• Phone: (604) 568-3283

• Website: https://www.vanchess.ca/

• Organizer: Maxim Doroshenko

• Tournament Director: Stephen Wright

🏨 Venue

Bonsor Recreation Complex, 6550 Bonsor Ave, Burnaby, BC V5H 4P6, Canada
The festival takes place inside a public recreation complex in Burnaby with a structured event schedule across two days. The venue supports a focused playing environment for classical rounds and an evening blitz session.

🚗 How to Get There

Plan your trip to Bonsor Recreation Complex in Burnaby by car or local public transit and arrive early enough to check in and sit at your board before each round start. Aim to arrive at least five minutes before the scheduled start time because the organizers start the clocks on schedule.

Take two days, play five serious rounds, and use the blitz session to sharpen your instincts under time pressure.

🧾 Other

Chess notation is required for classical games, so bring your own scorebook. The organizers provide chess sets and clocks. The tournament enforces a no-cheating and no-outside-assistance policy and prohibits phones or devices in use during games, along with talking or disruptive behavior in the playing hall. Arbiters’ decisions are final, and appeals go by email to info@vanchess.ca within 48 hours.

Photography and videography: the organizers may use photos or videos taken during the event for promotional purposes unless parents request otherwise in writing. Refund policy: request a full refund in writing by email at least 24 hours before the event starts; the organizers do not issue refunds within 24 hours of the start time or for no-shows.