Schach Events

♟️ About Schach Events

Schach Events is a chess tournament organization based in Greifswald, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, led by chess teacher and tournament organizer Guido Springer. It operates alongside Schachschule Greifswald and specializes in recurring over-the-board tournaments for club players, juniors, and amateur competitors. Rather than functioning as a conventional membership chess club, Schach Events focuses on planning and running rated tournaments, handling player registration, and coordinating accommodation and practical arrangements. The organization maintains a regular annual calendar at VCH Hotel Greifswald. Its principal events include the Ryck-Open, VCH-Open, Greifswalder Springer, VCH-Neujahrsturnier, and the associated Schach Events Youth Tournament. Weekend competitions generally use five rounds and German DWZ rating, while the longer tournaments normally offer seven classical rounds and, where specified, both FIDE Elo and DWZ rating. Schach Events deliberately emphasizes accessible entry fees and competitive opportunities for regular club players rather than focusing exclusively on elite chess. Guido Springer is the central organizer, tournament director, and contact person for Schach Events and frequently also serves as Chief Arbiter. The organization has maintained a busy 2026 program, including the Ryck-Open in July and the VCH-Open from August 28–30, 2026. Its next major event is the Greifswalder Springer, scheduled for October 22–25, 2026, together with a possible U20 youth section. The calendar already continues into 2027 with the VCH-Neujahrsturnier from January 15–17, 2027.

📜 Tournament Tradition

The roots of the Schach Events tournament program extend back to 1997, when the Schachfestival am Ryck was launched in Greifswald. The festival originally combined the Ryck-Open with rapid and blitz competitions. Over time, the format changed as the organizer sought to keep entry fees affordable. The modern Ryck-Open developed into an amateur-oriented classical tournament and remains the oldest recurring event under the Schach Events umbrella. Youth tournament activity followed soon afterward. The Schach Events Youth Tournament was first held in 2001 and later became connected with the Greifswalder Springer. Meanwhile, the tournament now known as the Greifswalder Springer has existed in various forms since 2003. These long-running events give Schach Events a tournament history spanning almost three decades in Greifswald.

🏆 Ryck-Open

The Ryck-Open is the oldest established tournament in the Schach Events program. After interruptions in 2020 and 2021, the event returned and has continued as a summer competition. The Ryck-Open 2026 took place from July 15–19, 2026 at VCH Hotel Greifswald. Schach Events organized the tournament together with the hotel, while Guido Springer managed its practical implementation. The event consisted of seven Swiss-system rounds and was rated for both FIDE Elo and DWZ. Players received 90 minutes for 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the remainder, with a 30-second increment from move one. Participation was limited to 50 players. In addition, the tournament offered accommodation packages through Schach Events and an optional bowling evening, combining competitive chess with a practical tournament-stay format.

♜ VCH-Open and Weekend Tournaments

The VCH-Open is the organization’s principal weekend tournament. It normally takes place around the beginning of the new school year in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and is designed as a compact preparation event before the team-chess season. The VCH-Open 2026 was held from August 28–30, 2026 at VCH Hotel Greifswald. It featured five Swiss-system rounds and German DWZ rating calculation. Depending on participation, the tournament can be divided into rating-based groups. Moreover, when enough younger players register, Schach Events can create a separate U12 group. The standard weekend time control gives players 90 minutes for 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the remainder of the game. This structure provides serious classical competition within a Friday-to-Sunday schedule.

🌟 Greifswalder Springer 2026

The Greifswalder Springer 2026 is scheduled for October 22–25, 2026 at VCH Hotel Greifswald. The main tournament will consist of seven Swiss-system rounds and will be evaluated for both FIDE Elo and DWZ. Players receive 90 minutes for 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the remainder, with a 30-second increment from move one. A parallel Schach Events Youth Tournament U20 is planned when sufficient registrations are received. Players with a DWZ of approximately 1200 or higher may choose between the youth competition and the stronger Greifswalder Springer field. The combined capacity is 60 players. In keeping with the organization’s established approach, the tournament also offers accommodation arrangements at the VCH Hotel and an optional bowling evening.

🎓 Youth and Amateur Chess

Schach Events places particular emphasis on making tournament chess accessible to juniors and amateur club players. Several competitions provide reduced entry fees for young players, while the VCH-Open can include a dedicated U12 section. The separate youth tournament has operated since 2001 and now runs alongside the Greifswalder Springer when participation permits. This creates a pathway for developing players before they move into stronger open competition. The organization’s tournament philosophy also emphasizes moderate entry fees and practical playing conditions. Consequently, its events attract players seeking serious rated chess without the scale or expense of a large international festival.