Moja Chess Extravaganza 2026 takes place from April 25-30, 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa and brings one of Africa’s leading international chess tournaments to the Bellville Velodrome. The festival features multiple FIDE rated sections, including Prestige, Ladies, B, C, Seniors, Junior events, and a separate Blitz tournament. In addition, the main classical sections use a 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment time control over 9 rounds, which gives players a serious and professional competitive format.
The Moja Chess Extravaganza 2026 continues a strong tradition that began in 2018 and returns with the theme “Breaking Limits. Building Legends.” Moreover, the event offers a substantial confirmed cash prize fund, dedicated PWD prizes, and a broad section structure for titled players, ambitious club competitors, women, seniors, and juniors. Because the tournament takes place in Cape Town, South Africa and combines high-level organization with a major festival atmosphere, the Moja Chess Extravaganza 2026 stands out as one of the most attractive chess events on the African calendar.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | April 25-30, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Cape Town, South Africa |
| ♟️ Format | Multi-section classical chess festival with separate blitz event |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE rated; Chess SA rated |
| 📂 Sections | Prestige, Ladies, B, C, Seniors, Under 14, Under 12, Under 10, Blitz |
| ⏱️ Time control | Prestige, Ladies, B & C: 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment; Seniors & Juniors: 60 minutes + 2 seconds increment; Blitz: 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment |
| 💳 Entry fee | Prestige: R750; Ladies: R600; B: R600; C: R500; Seniors: R400; Under 14: R300; Under 12: R300; Under 10: R300; Blitz: R150 |
| 💰 Prize fund | USD 15,003 (approx.) |
| 👤 Eligibility | Prestige: rating 2000 or higher; Ladies: female players only; B: rating under 2000; C: rating under 1600; Seniors: born 1976 or earlier; Under 14: born 2012 or later; Under 12: born 2014 or later; Under 10: born 2016 or later |
| 🧩 Organizer notes | Early bird discounts apply until February 15, 2026; titled players enter free; late entries carry a R200 penalty |
🏆 Prize Fund
| Prize / Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Prestige – 1st place | R50,000 |
| Prestige – 2nd place | R25,000 |
| Prestige – 3rd place | R15,000 |
| Prestige – 4th place | R10,000 |
| Prestige – 5th place | R5,000 |
| Prestige – 6th place | R3,000 |
| Ladies – 1st place | R25,000 |
| Ladies – 2nd place | R15,000 |
| Ladies – 3rd place | R10,000 |
| Ladies – 4th place | R5,000 |
| Ladies – 5th place | R3,000 |
| Ladies – 6th place | R2,000 |
| B Section – 1st place | R25,000 |
| B Section – 2nd place | R15,000 |
| B Section – 3rd place | R10,000 |
| B Section – 4th place | R5,000 |
| B Section – 5th place | R3,000 |
| B Section – 6th place | R2,000 |
| C Section – 1st place | R12,000 |
| C Section – 2nd place | R8,000 |
| C Section – 3rd place | R5,000 |
| C Section – 4th place | R3,000 |
| C Section – 5th place | R2,000 |
| Seniors – 1st place | R8,000 |
| Seniors – 2nd place | R4,000 |
| Seniors – 3rd place | R2,000 |
| Seniors – 4th place | R1,000 |
| Best PWD per section | R3,000 |
The festival also awards trophies and medals for the junior sections. Prize money is shared between players who finish on the same score. In addition, the organizer transfers prize money within 14 days after the tournament.
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The Moja Chess Extravaganza 2026 uses different time controls across its sections. Prestige, Ladies, B, and C follow a 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment format, while Seniors and Junior sections use 60 minutes + 2 seconds increment. The Blitz event uses 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment over 9 rounds.
The tournament follows the latest FIDE rules and uses a special scoring system: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss. Tie-breaks follow this order: Direct Encounter, Buchholz Cut-1, Buchholz, Sonneborn-Berger, and number of wins with Black. Draw agreements are not allowed before move 30. The default time for all non-blitz rounds is 30 minutes.
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section | Rating / target group | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige | Rating 2000 or higher | Top section |
| Ladies | Female players only | Women-only section |
| B | Rating under 2000 | Middle section |
| C | Rating under 1600 | Developing players |
| Seniors | Born 1976 or earlier | 2-day section |
| Under 14 | Born 2012 or later | Junior section |
| Under 12 | Born 2014 or later | Junior section |
| Under 10 | Born 2016 or later | Junior section |
| Blitz | Open blitz event | Played on April 27 |
📅 Schedule
| Date | Weekday | Time | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 24, 2026 | Friday | 16:00-20:00 | Registration confirmation |
| April 25, 2026 | Saturday | 08:00 | Opening ceremony |
| April 25, 2026 | Saturday | 09:00 | Prestige, Ladies, B & C Round 1 |
| April 25, 2026 | Saturday | 09:00 | Juniors & Seniors Round 1 |
| April 25, 2026 | Saturday | 13:00 | Juniors & Seniors Round 2 |
| April 25, 2026 | Saturday | 16:00 | Prestige, Ladies, B & C Round 2 |
| April 25, 2026 | Saturday | 16:00 | Juniors & Seniors Round 3 |
| April 26, 2026 | Sunday | 09:00 | Prestige, Ladies, B & C Round 3 |
| April 26, 2026 | Sunday | 09:00 | Juniors & Seniors Round 4 |
| April 26, 2026 | Sunday | 12:00 | Juniors & Seniors Round 5 |
| April 26, 2026 | Sunday | 15:00 | Juniors & Seniors Prize Giving |
| April 26, 2026 | Sunday | 16:00 | Prestige, Ladies, B & C Round 4 |
| April 27, 2026 | Monday | 09:00 | Blitz Round 1 |
| April 28, 2026 | Tuesday | 09:00 | Prestige, Ladies, B & C Round 5 |
| April 28, 2026 | Tuesday | 16:00 | Prestige, Ladies, B & C Round 6 |
| April 29, 2026 | Wednesday | 09:00 | Prestige, Ladies, B & C Round 7 |
| April 29, 2026 | Wednesday | 16:00 | Prestige, Ladies, B & C Round 8 |
| April 30, 2026 | Thursday | 09:00 | Prestige, Ladies, B & C Round 9 |
| April 30, 2026 | Thursday | 14:30 | Main Prize Giving |
📝 Registration
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| How to register | Register online through ChessWorks |
| Entry fee details | Prestige: R750; Ladies: R600; B: R600; C: R500; Seniors: R400; Under 14: R300; Under 12: R300; Under 10: R300; Blitz: R150 |
| Deadlines | Early bird deadline: February 15, 2026 at 23:59; standard registration deadline: April 18, 2026 at 23:59; late entry deadline: April 22, 2026 at 23:59 |
| Refund policy | R200 admin fee before closing date; no refunds after closing date |
| Confirmation / check-in rules | Registration confirmation takes place on April 24, 2026 from 16:00 to 20:00 |
👥 Organizer
Moja Chess organizes the Moja Chess Extravaganza 2026 in partnership with the Western Cape Chess Association and Cape Town Chess Federation. Moreover, the tournament delivers a large multi-section structure, strong prize support, and a professional festival setting for players across South Africa and beyond.
🏨 Venue
Bellville Velodrome, Carl Cronje Drive, Bellville Park, Cape Town, 7530, South Africa
The Bellville Velodrome hosts the festival in Cape Town and gives players a spacious and recognizable venue for the full event. In addition, the location supports both the main tournament and the side events across the full festival schedule.
🚗 How to Get There
Players should travel directly to Bellville Velodrome on Carl Cronje Drive in Bellville Park, Cape Town. Therefore, early arrival is especially important because the tournament applies fair play checks before rounds.
The Moja Chess Extravaganza 2026 offers high-level classical chess, a major cash prize fund, and a strong festival atmosphere for players who want one of the biggest spring chess events in Africa.
🧾 Other
All players must arrive at least 1 hour before the scheduled start of their round for fair play checks. Moreover, electronic devices of any kind, including phones, smart devices, and watches, are strictly prohibited in the playing hall. The tournament enforces a smart casual dress code, and hoodies are not permitted.
The organizer also prohibits alcohol and drugs, allows smoking only in designated areas, and may expel rowdy or intoxicated players.
Additional Details
Prize Fund - $15,003
Organizer
Moja Chess Solutions is a South African chess organizer that combines tournament delivery, player development, and community-building under one brand. Based in South Africa and active on the national scene, it presents itself as a platform that connects chess training, club activity, and major competitive events. Moreover, it has built growing visibility through its flagship Moja Chess Extravaganza series.
The organization runs large-scale open chess tournament events and supports players across different age and rating groups. In addition, it organizes classical chess, blitz chess, and other official competitions that serve both ambitious juniors and experienced players. The Moja Chess Extravaganza 2026 is one of its headline events and shows its role as a serious tournament organizer for major multi-section competition in South Africa.
Beyond tournament operations, Moja Chess Solutions also promotes broader chess growth through academy and club pathways. Furthermore, it positions chess as both a competitive pursuit and a developmental tool for communities and emerging talent. As a result, it is becoming an increasingly recognizable chess organizer in the South African chess landscape.
