Honvéd ASE continues a long Lake Balaton tradition with the V. János Rigó Memorial Tournament – GM, IM Group and Balaton Summer FIDE OPEN Tournament, running on June 20-26, 2026 in Balatonlelle, Hungary. The event combines two 10-player invitational round-robins (GM and IM) with a 9-round Swiss-system open tournament, so it suits both norm seekers and ambitious Open competitors. The organizers keep the focus on serious, classical chess with a 90+30 time control across all groups. The Open section offers 330,000 HUF in total cash prizes, including both overall awards and category prizes.
Balatonlelle sits on the shore of Lake Balaton, one of Hungary’s best-known holiday destinations, and it gives players a true chess-and-summer setting. The GM and IM groups compete in the Balatonlelle Cultural Center, while the Open plays in the Balatonlelle School, so each section gets its own dedicated playing hall. The organizers also publish official accommodation at Szent István Hotel with clear rates and deadlines. The tournament welcomes participants who hold a valid 2026 playing license, and it also offers a Hungarian Playing Licence (HPL) option for foreign players.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | June 20-26, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Balatonlelle, Hungary |
| ♟️ Format | GM & IM: 10-player invitational round-robin tournaments; Open: 9-round Swiss-system |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE rated (standard) |
| 📂 Sections | GM Round-Robin; IM Round-Robin; Balaton Summer FIDE Open |
| ⏱️ Time control | 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move (all groups); 30-minute default time |
| 💳 Entry fee | Open: 12,000 HUF per person; GM/IM: arrange with the organizer |
| 💰 Prize fund | 330,000 HUF (cash prizes, Open only) |
| 👤 Eligibility | Valid 2026 playing license, or Hungarian Playing Licence (HPL) for foreign players: 8,000 HUF (about EUR 20) / 365 days |
| 🧩 Organizer notes | The organizer awards all Open prizes and category prizes; one player wins one prize only; the organizer does not split prizes for ties; prizes are tax-free |
🏆 Prize Fund
| Place | Cash (HUF) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 75,000 | Open overall |
| 2nd | 50,000 | Open overall |
| 3rd | 35,000 | Open overall |
| 4th | 25,000 | Open overall |
| 5th | 20,000 | Open overall |
| 6th | 20,000 | Open overall |
| 7th | 15,000 | Open overall |
| 8th | 15,000 | Open overall |
| Category | Cash (HUF) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Best female player | 15,000 | Open category prize |
| Best senior (over 60) | 15,000 | Open category prize |
| Best junior (under 18) | 15,000 | Open category prize |
| Best under 2000 | 15,000 | Open category prize |
| Best under 1600 | 15,000 | Open category prize |
The organizer awards one prize per player only. The organizer pays prizes tax-free and does not split prizes for ties.
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The GM and IM tournaments run as 10-player invitational round-robins, and the Open runs as a 9-round Swiss-system tournament. The organizer uses the same classical time control in every group: 90 minutes per player with a 30-second increment per move from move 1. The tournament applies a 30-minute default time.
The GM/IM groups use these tie-breaks: Berger–Sonneborn, head-to-head (within the same score group), then more wins. The Open uses these tie-breaks: Progressive (cumulative points), Refined Buchholz (CUT1), head-to-head (within the same score group), then more wins.
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section | Rating / target group | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| GM Round-Robin | Invitational | 10 players; norm-oriented closed tournament |
| IM Round-Robin | Invitational | 10 players; norm-oriented closed tournament |
| Balaton Summer FIDE Open | Open to eligible players | 9-round Swiss; cash prizes and category prizes |
📅 Schedule
GM & IM Round-Robin
| Date | Weekday | Time | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 20, 2026 | Saturday | 12:00 | Registration |
| June 20, 2026 | Saturday | 14:30 | Opening ceremony |
| June 20, 2026 | Saturday | 15:00 | Round 1 |
| June 21, 2026 | Sunday | 15:00 | Round 2 |
| June 22, 2026 | Monday | 9:30 | Round 3 |
| June 22, 2026 | Monday | 15:00 | Round 4 |
| June 23, 2026 | Tuesday | 15:00 | Round 5 |
| June 24, 2026 | Wednesday | 9:30 | Round 6 |
| June 24, 2026 | Wednesday | 15:00 | Round 7 |
| June 25, 2026 | Thursday | 15:00 | Round 8 |
| June 26, 2026 | Friday | 9:30 | Round 9 |
| June 26, 2026 | Friday | 14:30 | Closing ceremony |
Balaton Summer FIDE Open
| Date | Weekday | Time | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 20, 2026 | Saturday | 12:00 | Registration |
| June 20, 2026 | Saturday | 15:45 | Opening ceremony |
| June 20, 2026 | Saturday | 16:00 | Round 1 |
| June 21, 2026 | Sunday | 9:30 | Round 2 |
| June 22, 2026 | Monday | 9:30 | Round 3 |
| June 22, 2026 | Monday | 15:00 | Round 4 |
| June 23, 2026 | Tuesday | 9:30 | Round 5 |
| June 24, 2026 | Wednesday | 9:30 | Round 6 |
| June 24, 2026 | Wednesday | 15:00 | Round 7 |
| June 25, 2026 | Thursday | 9:30 | Round 8 |
| June 26, 2026 | Friday | 9:30 | Round 9 |
| June 26, 2026 | Friday | 14:30 | Closing ceremony |
📝 Registration
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| How to register | Email registration |
| Registration email | clearlogicltd@gmail.com |
| Open entry fee | 12,000 HUF per person |
| GM/IM entry fee | Arrange directly with the organizer |
| Eligibility | Hold a valid 2026 playing license, or obtain a Hungarian Playing Licence (HPL) for foreign players: 8,000 HUF (about EUR 20) / 365 days |
| On-site check-in | June 20, 2026 at 12:00 (all groups) |
| Questions and coordination | Contact the event director for entry, accommodation, and tournament details |
👥 Organizer
Honvéd ASE organizes the event in memory of János Rigó and continues his long-running Lake Balaton summer tournament tradition. Zsolt Korpics IO and György Marti IO direct the tournament, and Csaba Horváth IA serves as chief arbiter. The organizer runs invitational GM and IM round-robins alongside a FIDE Open, and it supports both competitive chess and a holiday-friendly Balaton setting.
Email: clearlogicltd@gmail.com
Phone: +36 30 951 0063
Website: https://chess.hu/v-rigo-janos-emlekverseny-gm-es-im-kor-valamint-open-verseny/
🏨 Venue
Balatonlelle Cultural Center, 8638 Balatonlelle, Kossuth Lajos utca 2., Hungary
Open: Balatonlelle School, 8638 Balatonlelle, Petőfi Sándor utca 1., Hungary
Balatonlelle sits on the shore of Lake Balaton and offers a classic summer resort backdrop for a full week of chess. The organizer separates the invitational round-robins and the Open into different playing venues, which helps each section run on its own schedule. The program also includes an opening ceremony and a closing ceremony in both competition tracks.
🛎️ Accommodation
Szent István Hotel, 8638 Balatonlelle, Szent István utca 6., Hungary
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Rate if paid by April 30, 2026 | 12,000 HUF per person per night (double room) |
| Rate after May 1, 2026 | 14,000 HUF per person per night |
| Single room | 40% surcharge |
| Deposit | 20% deposit by the deadline to secure the booking |
| Deposit policy | The hotel does not refund the deposit if the player cancels or does not show up |
| Room note | The hotel provides air-conditioned rooms |
🚗 How to Get There
Balatonlelle sits on the southern shore of Lake Balaton in Hungary. Plan local travel in Balatonlelle between the official hotel and the two playing venues, since the GM/IM groups and the Open use different halls.
Bring your best preparation and enjoy a full classical week of chess and summer atmosphere on Lake Balaton in Balatonlelle.
🧾 Other
The organizers reserve the right to modify the tournament announcement and announce any changes at the venue before the first round.
Additional Details
Prize Fund - 330,000 HUF