In the heart of Hesse’s Spessart region, Schachfestival Bad Soden-Salmünster 2026 runs June 11-19, 2026 in Bad Soden-Salmünster, Germany and pairs serious tournament chess with a relaxed spa-town setting. The festival features a 9-round Swiss and offers two parallel competitions: the 1st Spessart Open and the 4th Sen/Nestoren Cup in the same venue. The organizer submits the event for FIDE Elo rating and keeps the format straightforward, so players can focus on clean games and consistent preparation. The published prize list includes main cash awards in both competitions, with additional rating and special prizes depending on the field.

This festival targets senior tournament players and keeps entry requirements practical, including a FIDE ID for participation. You play long classical games with a steady pace and a clear daily routine after the opening day. The organizer publishes the final prize list before Round 4, avoids double prizes, and links prizes to attendance at the prize ceremony. If you want a week of classical chess in a central German location with a single-site setup and transparent conditions, this event fits well.

🗓️ Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

Spessart Open 2026 (published main cash prizes)

Sen/Nestoren Cup im Spessart 2026 (published main cash prizes)

The organizer activates the published prizes from 10 participants and adds rating prizes and special prizes depending on the participant field. The organizer publishes the exact full prize list before Round 4, awards no double prizes, and requires attendance at the prize ceremony for prize eligibility.

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The festival uses a 9-round Swiss System. Players receive 130 minutes per player plus a 30-second increment per move, which supports deep classical play and consistent endgame technique.

Players must hold a FIDE ID, and the organizer submits the tournament for FIDE Elo rating. Chess-Results hosts the official pairings and tournament information for participants.

📂 Sections / Groups

📅 Schedule

📝 Registration

👥 Organizer

SV Bergwinkel organizes the Schachfestival Bad Soden-Salmünster and runs the event under the direction of Wolfgang Fiedler (International Arbiter and International Organizer). The organizer focuses on a clear senior-classical format with published main prizes, additional rating and special prizes based on the field, and a transparent prize-award process linked to the closing ceremony.

• Email: fiedlerw@t-online.de

• Website: https://bss-2026.chesswofi.de/

🏨 Venue

Spessart Forum, Frowin-von-Hutten-Straße 5, 63628 Bad Soden-Salmünster, Germany
The Spessart FORUM serves as a multi-purpose event location that supports both sports and cultural formats in the same complex. The venue operates as a barrier-free facility and hosts events ranging from conferences to public performances. Its central setting in Bad Soden-Salmünster keeps the entire festival on one site.

🚗 How to Get There

Bad Soden-Salmünster offers regional rail access, so you can travel by train to the town and continue locally to Frowin-von-Hutten-Straße. Drivers can navigate directly to the Spessart Forum address for arrival and local drop-off.

Bring your best endgame focus and enjoy a full week of classical chess in Bad Soden-Salmünster with two competitive tracks and a single-venue setup.

🧾 Other

Players must hold a FIDE ID, and players without a FIDE identification number must arrange one with their national federation before the tournament starts. By registering, players agree to the processing of tournament data and results for rating purposes and to the publication of games, photos, tournament data, and reports connected to the event. The organizer excludes currently banned or suspended players from participation and reserves the right to refuse entry or exclude players in cases of justified suspicion of serious rule violations.