Open du Jura

♟️ About Open du Jura

Open du Jura is the organizing committee behind the Open International d’Échecs du Jura, one of the established international chess tournaments in the Swiss Jura region. The competition began in 2003 and has developed into a recurring meeting point for players from Switzerland, France, and other countries. Rather than operating as a conventional chess club, Open du Jura brings together organizers and volunteers from the regional chess community. Different Jura chess clubs have contributed to the tournament over the years, while editions have taken place in locations including Porrentruy, Delémont, Court, and Moutier. Therefore, the tournament represents the wider Jura chess community rather than a single permanent playing organization. For the 2026 edition, the City of Delémont identifies CEJ – Cercle d’Échecs du Jura as the organizing club. Didier Schaller serves as President of the Open du Jura organizing committee, while François Klopfenstein serves as Vice-President and handles player information. The broader committee also includes experienced local players, arbiters, tournament officials, and volunteers.

🏆 Open International d’Échecs du Jura

The organization’s principal event is the Open International d’Échecs du Jura, which reaches its 22nd edition in 2026. The tournament traditionally takes place over one weekend near the end of the year. It combines an international field with a compact schedule that allows players to complete a substantial rated competition between Friday evening and Sunday. The 22nd Jura International Chess Open 2026 takes place from November 27–29, 2026, at the Centre paroissial l’Avenir in Delémont. Players compete over seven Swiss-system rounds. The tournament uses an unusual mixed schedule. The first three rounds use a faster time control of 20 minutes plus five seconds per move, while the final four rounds use 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move. The event counts for the FIDE rating list. Moreover, the tournament offers overall prizes together with rating-category, junior, and Jura-specific awards. This structure allows titled players, experienced club competitors, developing players, and juniors to compete within the same international open.

🌍 International and Regional Chess

Open du Jura combines an international tournament with a strong regional identity. Over the years, the event has attracted Grandmasters, International Masters, FIDE Masters, Swiss club players, international visitors, juniors, and recreational competitors. Players regularly travel from neighboring France as well as other parts of Switzerland and Europe. The 2025 edition illustrates the tournament’s competitive level. GM Li Min Peng won the event, while IM Tom Decuignière and IM CRG Krishna completed the leading podium positions. At the same time, the tournament recognizes the strongest players from the Jura region. Dedicated awards for the leading Jura player and junior categories help connect the international competition with regional chess development. Consequently, Open du Jura serves two complementary purposes: it brings strong international chess to the region while giving local competitors direct access to a substantial FIDE-rated tournament.

🤝 Regional Club Cooperation

A distinctive feature of Open du Jura is the cooperation between chess clubs throughout the region. The tournament was first organized in Porrentruy in 2003 by Échiquier Bruntrutain. Subsequent editions have involved other regional organizations, including the Cercle d’Échecs du Jura and Club d’Échecs de Court. The host location has also rotated between communities. For example, Court organized the 2023 edition, while Moutier hosted the tournament in 2024. The event returned to Delémont for later editions. This rotating structure distributes organizational responsibilities and gives different clubs an opportunity to support one of the region’s largest chess events. Moreover, it reinforces cooperation between players and volunteers who otherwise compete for separate clubs during the regular Swiss chess season. For 2026, the Cercle d’Échecs du Jura leads the local organization in Delémont.

👥 2026 Organizing Committee

The current Open du Jura committee combines several experienced members of the Jura chess community. Didier Schaller serves as President, while François Klopfenstein is Vice-President and manages player information and registrations together with Bruno Lachausse. Pierre Lachat serves both as Treasurer and Tournament Director. Meanwhile, Matthias Gallus is the Chief Arbiter for the 2026 edition. Other volunteers handle the tournament website, cafeteria, equipment, registration, and additional operational responsibilities. Therefore, the event relies on a broad local team rather than a single commercial tournament organizer. This volunteer-based structure has allowed Open du Jura to maintain continuity over more than two decades.

📜 History and Development

The first Open du Jura took place in 2003 in Porrentruy. Échiquier Bruntrutain organized the inaugural competition as a new international tournament for the Jura region. The tournament expanded quickly. By the fourth edition, almost 100 players from several countries were participating, while later editions regularly attracted titled players. During the following years, the event moved between different Jura-region communities. This approach helped establish the tournament as a regional project and allowed several clubs to contribute directly to its development. Open du Jura has also adapted its format over time. Modern editions use seven Swiss rounds, combining shorter Friday games with classical weekend rounds. Moreover, online registration, live results, multilingual information, and FIDE rating have modernized the player experience. After an interruption during the COVID period, the tournament returned and rebuilt participation. The event now reaches its 22nd edition in 2026, continuing a tradition that began more than two decades earlier.