Open Sochi 2026 runs on May 1-3, 2026 in Sochi, Russia and offers a compact multi-discipline chess weekend that combines classical, rapid, blitz, and a beginner-friendly event in one venue. The festival targets a wide range of players, from strong open sections to age- and level-based youth groups, with multiple rating submissions depending on the category.

The program features Swiss-system tournaments with clear time controls across disciplines: classical with increment, fast-paced rapid, and dynamic blitz. Select open categories award cash prizes, while the other groups focus on trophies, medals, diplomas, and souvenirs, which makes the event a practical choice for players who want both competitive games and a structured, efficiently scheduled tournament experience in Sochi.

🗓️ Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

Total cash prize fund: 20,000 RUB (Open Rapid D and Open Blitz G only), which equals about $260 (approx.).

Rapid D (cash prizes)

Blitz G (cash prizes)

Cash-prize conditions: In Rapid D and Blitz G, winners receive cash prizes only. Free participation coupons may apply for certain participants, but free-entry participants do not claim financial prizes unless they pay the full entry fee.

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

All tournaments use the Swiss System. Classical sections A/B/C play 7 rounds with 30 minutes plus 30 seconds Bronstein increment. Rapid sections D/E/F play 7 rounds with 10 minutes plus 5 seconds increment. Blitz sections G/H play 11 rounds with 3 minutes plus 2 seconds increment. Rapid and blitz rounds run consecutively as each round finishes.

📂 Sections / Groups

📅 Schedule

Classical A / Classical B / Classical C

Rapid D / Rapid E / Rapid F

Blitz G / Blitz H / Novices (N)

📝 Registration

👥 Organizer

Open Sochi runs under the VPhS tournament platform and coordinates multiple disciplines and rating submissions across the weekend program. The organizer manages registration centrally and uses barcode-based check-in to keep onsite operations fast and consistent across sections.

• Email: info@vphs.ru

• Phone: +7 916 490 0090

• Phone: +7 999 593 5507

• Website: https://m.vphs.ru/tournaments/sochimay2026/#main-page

• Telegram: https://t.me/

• VK: https://vk.com/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/

🏨 Venue

FGБУ “Yug Sport”, Kurortny Prospekt 87V, Khostinsky District, Sochi, Russia
The event takes place at Yug Sport in Sochi’s Khostinsky District along Kurortny Prospekt. The centralized venue setup supports multiple tournaments across the same weekend schedule.

🚗 How to Get There

Plan your trip to Sochi and travel to Khostinsky District to reach Yug Sport at Kurortny Prospekt 87V. After you arrive in the city, use local transport or a taxi to reach the venue and allow extra time for onsite check-in before your section starts.

Bring your focus, keep your pace, and turn a holiday weekend in Sochi into three days of serious chess progress.

🧾 Other

Category awards follow the organizer’s general regulations, including conditions for women’s prizes and minimum participation requirements for separate women’s standings.