Kick off a strong competitive weekend at the 2. Clara-Wieck Chess-Open 2026 on May 15-17, 2026 in Zwickau, Germany. This 5-round Swiss delivers classical chess with increment, DWZ and international Elo rating submission, and a clear three-day schedule that keeps every round meaningful. The event suits ambitious club players and experienced competitors who want serious games, structured organization, and a capped field in a historic setting.

You play in one open tournament that follows FIDE rules and uses modern tie-breaks for final standings. The organizer offers a cash prize fund that includes five main prizes plus youth awards, and it guarantees prizes from a defined participation threshold. A cafeteria on site supports the full-day rounds, and the venue location in Schloss Planitz adds a distinctive local atmosphere to the weekend.

🗓️ Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

Main prizes

Youth prizes

The organizer guarantees prizes from 50 participants. The organizer awards prizes only to players who attend the prize ceremony. The tournament management may award prizes twice under its stated discretion.

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The tournament runs 5 rounds in a Swiss System and follows FIDE rules. Each game uses 90 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes to finish, plus a 30-second increment per move from move 1. The organizer uses Buchholz as the first tie-break and uses the average Buchholz sum as the second tie-break. The organizer enforces a 30-minute default time from the actual round start.

📂 Sections / Groups

The tournament runs one open Swiss section and submits results for DWZ and international Elo rating. The organizer requires every player to hold a FIDE identification number.

📅 Schedule

The organizer runs the awards ceremony immediately after Round 5.

📝 Registration

Register via the entry form on the official tournament page or by email and include your name, club, and date of birth. The organizer confirms eligibility only after the entry fee reaches the Zwickauer Schachclub account. The organizer limits the field to 70 players.

Tournament website and entry:
https://www.chessmanager.com/de-de/tournaments/4940182471835648

Entry fees by payment date:

• Adults: €40 by bank transfer until January 31, 2026; €45 from February 1, 2026

• Youth (U18): €28 by bank transfer until January 31, 2026; €33 from February 1, 2026

• IM and GM: free entry

The organizer adds a €10 surcharge when the payment arrives after April 30, 2026. The organizer refunds 50% of the entry fee for withdrawals from May 1, 2026 onward and provides no refund for an unexcused no-show by the start of the tournament.

Bank transfer details:
Account holder: Zwickauer Schachclub e.V.
IBAN: DE07 8704 0000 0709 9740 00
BIC/SWIFT: COBADEFFXXX
Payment reference: CWO 2026 + Name + Club

👥 Organizer

Zwickauer Schachclub e.V. organizes the Clara-Wieck Chess-Open in Zwickau and manages tournament operations, pairings, and participant communication through the tournament director and chief arbiter. The team runs the event under FIDE rules, submits results for DWZ and international Elo rating, and supports participants with on-site registration and a weekend cafeteria.

• Email: niclasschwalbe@yahoo.com

• Phone: 0159/01115005

• Website: https://www.chessmanager.com/de-de/tournaments/4940182471835648

🏨 Venue

Clara-Wieck-Gymnasium Zwickau im Schloss Planitz, Am Schlossplatz 1, 08064 Zwickau, Germany
The tournament takes place at Clara-Wieck-Gymnasium in Schloss Planitz, a historic campus setting in Zwickau. The venue keeps all rounds and on-site registration in one location across the full weekend. The organizer also runs a cafeteria with food and drinks at fair prices.

🚗 How to Get There

Travel to Zwickau, then navigate to Am Schlossplatz 1 in the Planitz district for Clara-Wieck-Gymnasium. Use local public transport, taxi, or rideshare within Zwickau to reach the venue in time for the Friday morning registration deadline and Round 1 start.

Play five classical rounds, stay sharp through the increment endgames, and chase a cash finish in Zwickau this May.

🧾 Other

The organizer requires players to switch off electronic devices (including smartphones and smartwatches) during the game and store them in a separate bag that the player does not wear on the body. The organizer treats an unexcused forfeit as a withdrawal from the tournament. The organizer publishes personal data (name, year of birth, results) and event photos connected to the tournament as part of its stated privacy policy.