1st Maasch & Kirsch Chess Festival 2026
The 1st Maasch & Kirsch Chess Festival 2026, staged April 17-19, 2026 in Burghausen, Germany, launches a new multi-event chess weekend that combines serious classical competition with fast-paced side tournaments. Hosted in the historic Bavarian town of Burghausen, the festival welcomes players across a wide rating spectrum and delivers a compact five-round classical open alongside Blitz and Rapid events on the weekend.
The main attraction features three clearly defined Open sections with FIDE-rated classical games and a professional time control, while the Blitz and Rapid tournaments add competitive variety for players who enjoy shorter formats. With a structured schedule, cash prizes in all main sections, and a central venue in Burghausen, the festival offers an accessible yet competitive spring chess experience.
🗓️ Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | April 17-19, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Burghausen, Germany |
| ♟️ Format | Swiss System |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE-rated (Standard) |
| 📂 Sections | A-Open, B-Open, C-Open |
| ⏱️ Time control | 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move + 15 minutes after move 40 |
| 💳 Entry fee | A-Open: €40 adults / €20 youth · B- & C-Open: €20 adults / €10 youth |
| 💰 Prize fund | €4,350 total cash |
| 🧩 Organizer notes | Classical Open plus Blitz and Rapid side tournaments |
🏆 Prize Fund
The festival offers a combined total cash prize fund of €4,350 across the classical Open sections and the Blitz tournament. Prizes are awarded by final standings in each section.
Main Open prizes
| Section | Prize details |
|---|---|
| A-Open (≥ 2000) | 1st €2,000 · 2nd €1,000 · 3rd €500 |
| B-Open (1500–1999) | 1st €500 |
| C-Open (≤ 1599) | 1st €200 |
Side event prizes
| Event | Prize |
|---|---|
| Blitz Tournament | 1st €150 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The main Open tournaments run as 5-round Swiss System events with a classical time control of 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move, followed by 15 additional minutes after move 40. Pairings follow standard Swiss rules, and all rounds count toward final standings within each section.
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section | Rating / target group | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A-Open | ≥ 2000 | Top section with highest prize fund |
| B-Open | 1500–1999 | Intermediate competitive section |
| C-Open | ≤ 1599 | Entry-level and club players |
📅 Schedule
| Date | Weekday | Time | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 17, 2026 | Friday | 17:30 | Registration |
| April 17, 2026 | Friday | 18:00 | Round 1 |
| April 18, 2026 | Saturday | 10:00 | Round 2 |
| April 18, 2026 | Saturday | 16:00 | Round 3 |
| April 19, 2026 | Sunday | 09:00 | Round 4 |
| April 19, 2026 | Sunday | 15:00 | Round 5 |
| April 18, 2026 | Saturday | Blitz Tournament | |
| April 19, 2026 | Sunday | Rapid Tournament |
📝 Registration
Players register for the festival through the official organizer channels. Entry fees depend on section and age category. On-site registration is available on Friday before Round 1.
👥 Organizer
Maasch & Kirsch GmbH & Co. KG organizes the chess festival as part of its regional sports and cultural engagement, delivering tournament operations, registration, and prize administration in cooperation with local chess officials.
-
Phone: +49 8677 964-0
🏨 Venue
Bürgerhaus Burghausen, Marktler Str. 15A, 84489 Burghausen, Germany
The Bürgerhaus Burghausen provides a central indoor playing venue suitable for multi-day classical chess and weekend side events.
🚗 How to Get There
Burghausen is accessible by regional train and road connections within Bavaria. From the town center, local transport and taxis provide straightforward access to the Bürgerhaus venue.
Bring your preparation, choose your section, and enjoy a full chess weekend in Burghausen at the inaugural Maasch & Kirsch Chess Festival.
Additional Details
Prize Fund - €4,350
Organizer
Maasch & Kirsch GmbH & Co. KG is a Burghausen-based company in Bavaria, Germany that also acts as a chess tournament organizer through its local sports and community engagement. Moreover, it serves as the host organization behind the Maasch & Kirsch Chess Festival weekend in Burghausen.
The organization runs the 1st Maasch & Kirsch Chess Festival 2026 as a multi-event program built around FIDE-rated tournament competition and strong playing conditions. In addition, the festival combines classical chess opens (A, B, and C sections) with side events in rapid chess and blitz chess. As a result, it offers a complete chess festival experience for both ambitious competitors and local club players.
Furthermore, tournament operations are led by experienced local officials to keep pairings, schedules, and fair play procedures consistent. Therefore, players can expect a well-structured open chess tournament setting with clear registration and event communication.
-
Address: Burgkirchener Str. 179, 84489 Burghausen, Germany
-
Email 2: info@maasch-kirsch.com
-
Phone: +49 8677 964-0
-
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaaschKirsch/
-
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maasch.kirsch/
-
Main contact: Johannes Wolfmaier