Chess enthusiasts head to Thuringia for the International Chess Days Altenburg 2026 (1st Altenburger Chess Days), held from Friday, April 3 to Monday, April 6, 2026 in Altenburg, Germany. This 7-round Swiss open offers a classical 90+30 time control, FIDE and German DWZ rating, and a compact four-day schedule with two rounds on the first three days and a final round on Monday morning. Players compete in the sports hall of Goldener Pflug Altenburg, a spacious venue suited for a serious open with international participation.

Organizers guarantee a clear prize structure with top prizes up to €600, rating awards, and special prizes for seniors, women, and local players. A simple registration process on Friday morning, a 30-minute grace period for each round, and well-defined tiebreak criteria create a clean and professional playing environment in a historic chess region of eastern Germany.

🗓️ Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

Main overall prizes:

Additional prizes:

Prize money is guaranteed from 80 participants. Organizers pay prizes according to the published list and state that no legal recourse applies.

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The tournament uses a single classical time control for all rounds:

• 90 minutes for the first 40 moves

• 30 minutes for the rest of the game

• 30-second increment from move one

The event runs as a 7-round Swiss. Results are submitted for both FIDE Elo and German DWZ rating. The organizers apply the following tiebreak order:

1. Total points

2. Buchholz with one discard

3. Sonneborn-Berger with one discard

4. Direct encounter

The grace period for each round is 30 minutes; players who arrive later lose the game by forfeit.

📂 Sections / Groups

📅 Schedule

📝 Registration

Players complete personal registration at the venue on Friday morning before the first round:

• Personal registration: Friday, April 3, 2026, until 08:45 at Goldener Pflug Altenburg

Organizers use this on-site registration to finalize the starting list and pair Round 1. Players who plan to participate should contact the tournament director in advance for entry conditions, fees, and any pre-registration requirements.

👥 Organizer

The Meuselwitzer Schachverein 1921 e.V. and Schachclub Altenburg e.V. jointly organize the International Chess Days Altenburg 2026 and handle registration, pairings, and all tournament logistics.

Contact:
Email: info@schach-meisterplan.de
Phone: +49 178 870 0 333
Website: https://schach-meisterplan.de

🏨 Venue

All rounds take place in the sports hall of Goldener Pflug Altenburg, Beim Goldenen Pflug 3, 04600 Altenburg, Germany. The venue offers a large indoor hall suitable for a full open tournament, with space for boards, arbiters, and spectators, and lies within easy reach of Altenburg’s services and accommodations.

🚗 How to Get There

Altenburg sits in the German state of Thuringia, within driving distance of larger cities such as Leipzig and Chemnitz. Drivers can follow regional routes into Altenburg and then continue to Beim Goldenen Pflug 3, where the Goldener Pflug sports hall stands. Travelers who arrive by rail can use Altenburg railway station and continue by local taxi or bus to the venue.

Players who choose the International Chess Days Altenburg 2026 enjoy a compact four-day FIDE-rated open with clear regulations, a solid prize structure, and a welcoming setting in historic Altenburg.

🧾 Other

• Default time is 30 minutes after the scheduled start of each round.

• The organizers apply FIDE rules and standard German federation regulations.

• Prize money is guaranteed from 80 participants, and the organizers state that legal recourse is excluded.