The 19th Paleochora International Chess Tournament takes place on July 18-25, 2026 in Paleochora, Greece, delivering a full week of classical chess on Crete’s southwest coast. The event runs a 9-round Swiss System and offers two rating-based groups, making the tournament a strong fit for titled players, competitive club players, and ambitious improvers looking for a well-structured international chess tournament in Paleochora, Greece.

Held in the seaside town of Paleochora, Greece, the 19th Paleochora International Chess Tournament follows FIDE Laws of Chess and uses a classical time control designed for serious over-the-board play. The 19th Paleochora International Chess Tournament includes a published cash prize list across both groups, clear registration and check-in requirements, and practical tournament rules for byes, late arrival, and tie-breaks.

🗓️ Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

Confirmed cash prizes only (EUR).

Group A – Overall cash prizes

Group A – Women’s cash prizes

Group B – Overall cash prizes

Group B – Women’s cash prizes

Prize rules

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The tournament runs 9 rounds with Swiss System pairings. The time control is 90 minutes for 40 moves, then 15 minutes to finish the game, with a 30-second increment per move from move 1. The event is FIDE rated and applies published tie-break rules.

A player forfeits the game if they arrive more than 1 hour after the scheduled round start. A player may request a half-point bye until Round 5 by informing the chief arbiter before pairings for the next round are published.

Tie-break order: head-to-head result, Buchholz, Median Buchholz, Sonneborn-Berger.

📂 Sections / Groups

📅 Schedule

📝 Registration

👥 Organizer

The 19th Paleochora International Chess Tournament is organized by the Municipality of Kantanos–Selino and Chania Chess Academy, coordinating registration, player support, and on-site tournament operations throughout the week in Paleochora, Greece.

• Address: Stefanou Xanthoudidou 22, 73134 Chania, Greece

• Email: chaniachessacademy@gmail.com

• Email: anellia@icloud.com

• Email: mikis.chaniachess@gmail.com

• Phone: +30 6974811469

• Phone: +30 6977545304

• Phone: +30 28210 55088

• Website: https://paleochora.chaniachess.gr/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100014633886073

🏨 Venue

Primary School of Paleochora, Epar.Od. Strovlon-Paleochoras 28, Paleochora 730 01, Greece
All rounds take place at the Primary School of Paleochora in Paleochora, Greece, serving as the central playing venue for the full 9-round schedule.

🚗 How to Get There

Chania International Airport (CHQ) is the nearest airport for reaching Paleochora, Greece. Souda port serves ferry arrivals to the Chania area, with onward travel to Paleochora by road. The organizer also announces a direct bus on July 18, 2026 at 07:00 from Souda port to Paleochora with a ticket price of EUR 5 per person, with travel details collected through the registration form.

Play nine serious classical rounds in Paleochora, Greece and finish the week with a result you can be proud of at the 19th Paleochora International Chess Tournament.

🧾 Other

The tournament applies anti-cheating procedures that include entry controls, delayed transfer of games, venue monitoring, and random checks. Appeals must be submitted within 30 minutes after the end of the round. The objection fee is EUR 100, and the organizer refunds the fee if the objection is upheld.