
Swietokrzyskie Chess Festival 2026 – Open A runs from May 1-3, 2026 in Kielce, Poland, and it offers a strong classical chess tournament in Kielce, Poland, in 2026 for players rated from 1700 to 2399. The event takes place at the Grand Hotel Kielce and uses a 7-round Swiss format with the Baku accelerated system. Moreover, the tournament is FIDE rated, uses a 60 minutes + 30 seconds increment time control, and features a substantial confirmed cash prize fund.
As a notable chess tournament in Kielce, Poland, Swietokrzyskie Chess Festival 2026 – Open A combines a competitive player field, a clear three-day schedule, and a broad prize structure. In addition, the event welcomes titled players, ambitious club competitors, and strong juniors, while the central hotel venue gives players a practical over-the-board setting for a full long-weekend of rated chess.
🗓️ Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | May 1-3, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Grand Hotel Kielce, Sienkiewicza 78, Kielce, Poland |
| ♟️ Format | Swiss, 7 rounds, Baku accelerated system |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE rated |
| 📂 Sections | 1 open section |
| ⏱️ Time control | 60 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move from move 1 |
| 💳 Entry fee | PLN 190; LKS Skała Tumlin players: PLN 150; GM/WGM/IM/WIM: free |
| 💰 Prize fund | USD 2,870 (approx.) |
| Chess-Results.com | https://chess-results.com/tnr1350166.aspx?lan=7 |
| 👤 Eligibility | Open to players with FIDE rating 1700-2399 on May 1, 2026 |
| 🧩 Organizer notes | Accompanying blitz tournament on May 1, 2026 |
🏆 Prize Fund
| Category | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| General | 1st | 2,000 PLN + trophy |
| General | 2nd | 1,200 PLN + trophy |
| General | 3rd | 900 PLN + trophy |
| General | 4th | 700 PLN |
| General | 5th | 600 PLN |
| General | 6th | 500 PLN |
| General | 7th | 450 PLN |
| General | 8th | 400 PLN |
| General | 9th | 350 PLN |
| General | 10th | 300 PLN |
| General | 11th | 250 PLN |
| General | 12th | 200 PLN |
| Category | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| Special | Best junior U18 | 500 PLN + trophy |
| Special | Best woman | 500 PLN + trophy |
| Rating | Best player rated 2001-2100 | 400 PLN |
| Rating | Best player rated 1901-2000 | 400 PLN |
| Rating | Best player rated 1801-1900 | 300 PLN |
| Rating | Best player rated 1700-1800 | 300 PLN |
| Club | Best LKS Skała Tumlin player | 250 PLN + trophy |
The prize fund is guaranteed with participation of at least 60 players.
Prizes are not cumulative. Therefore, each player may receive only one prize, and the higher-value prize applies. In addition, prize winners must attend the closing ceremony to collect their awards.
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The tournament uses a 7-round Swiss format with the Baku accelerated system and a 60+30 classical time control. Because the increment starts from move one, players get a steady classical rhythm throughout the event.
Tie-breaks are Buchholz Cut-1, Buchholz, Sonneborn-Berger, Progressive score, number of games won, number of games won with Black, and Arranz system.
📂 Sections / Groups
The event has one open section for players rated from 1700 to 2399. However, the prize structure also includes special awards for juniors, women, rating groups, and the best player from LKS Skała Tumlin.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Weekday | Time | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | 10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. | Confirmation of play |
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | 11:15 a.m. | Publication of the starting list |
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | 11:30 a.m. | Technical meeting |
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | 11:45 a.m. | Opening ceremony |
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | 12:00 p.m. | Round 1 |
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | 4:00 p.m. | Round 2 |
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | 7:15 p.m. | Accompanying blitz tournament |
| May 2, 2026 | Saturday | 9:30 a.m. | Round 3 |
| May 2, 2026 | Saturday | 1:30 p.m. | Round 4 |
| May 2, 2026 | Saturday | 5:00 p.m. | Round 5 |
| May 3, 2026 | Sunday | 9:30 a.m. | Round 6 |
| May 3, 2026 | Sunday | 1:00 p.m. | Round 7 |
| May 3, 2026 | Sunday | 4:20 p.m. | Closing ceremony |
📝 Registration
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| How to register | Register via chessarbiter.com, chessmanager.com, or by email |
| Registration email | marcinjanik00@gmail.com |
| Deadline to register | April 25, 2026 |
| Entry fee | 190 PLN |
| Reduced entry fee | LKS Skała Tumlin players: 150 PLN |
| Free entry | GM, WGM, IM, WIM |
| Payment deadline | April 27, 2026 |
| Payment method | Bank transfer; cash payment before the technical meeting is possible only after prior arrangement with the organizer |
| Account holder | LKS Skała Tumlin |
| IBAN | PL67 1090 2040 0000 0001 4965 3160 |
| Payment reference | Swietokrzyskie Chess Festival 2026 – OPEN A – player name |
| Confirmation rule | Players marked as paid in ChessManager may go directly to the technical meeting without separate confirmation |
| FIDE ID rule | All foreign players must have a FIDE ID before the tournament |
👥 Organizer
Ludowy Klub Sportowy Skała Tumlin organizes Swietokrzyskie Chess Festival 2026 – Open A under the auspices of the Swietokrzyskie Chess Association. The event adds a serious rated classical tournament to the chess calendar in Kielce and gives players a strong long-weekend format with clear rules, a hotel venue, and a broad prize structure.
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Address: Tumlin Osowa 1A, 26-050 Zagnańsk, Poland
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Email: klub@skala-tumlin.pl
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Phone: +48728323380
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Website: https://skala-tumlin.pl/
🏨 Venue
Grand Hotel Kielce, Sienkiewicza 78, Kielce, Poland
The tournament takes place at the Grand Hotel Kielce, which hosts the full Open A schedule across all three days. Because confirmation of play begins on Friday morning, players should arrive early enough to complete all formalities before the starting list is published. The same venue also hosts the technical meeting, opening ceremony, and closing ceremony.
🚗 How to Get There
The playing venue is Grand Hotel Kielce on Sienkiewicza 78 in Kielce. Therefore, players can plan their trip directly to the hotel using the official address and should arrive before confirmation of play closes on Friday.
This Kielce event offers rated classical chess, a broad prize structure, and a well-organized long-weekend format for players who want a serious tournament in Poland.
🧾 Other
Electronic devices are not allowed in the playing venue unless the arbiter specifically approves them. However, a player may keep a completely switched-off device inside a bag placed as agreed with the arbiter. If a player has such a device on their person in the playing venue, that player loses the game.
The default time is 30 minutes for each round. In addition, Fair Play Regulations will apply throughout the tournament.
Players arrange their own insurance. Also, legal guardians or authorized persons remain responsible for underage players during the event.
Additional Details
Prize Fund - $2,870