10. Schwarzatalopen
Celebrating a milestone edition in the Viennese Alps, the 10. Schwarzatalopen takes place on 19-23 August 2026 at Raach am Hochgebirge, Austria. Hosted at the traditional Gasthof Diewald with a bright main hall and on-site rooms, the festival offers a five-round classical Open split into A and B groups, plus a FIDE-rated Blitz and a separate Chess960 rapid. The cadence is fully international, with an increment from move one and a 30-minute default time.
Players appreciate the straightforward logistics: a single venue, afternoon/evening rounds, category prizes across both classical groups, and shuttle support to Gloggnitz railway station on request. As in recent years, participants who also play the Sparkasse Baden Chess Open receive a small fee rebate – making August in Lower Austria a compelling chess circuit.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 🗓️ Dates | 19-23 August 2026 (Wed-Sun) |
| 📍 Location | Gasthof Diewald |
| 🏠 Address | Raach 38, 2640 Raach am Hochgebirge, Austria |
| ♟️ Format | A-Open and B-Open, each 5-round Swiss; plus Blitz and Chess960 Rapid side events |
| ⏱️ Time Control (Classical) | 90 min/40 moves + 30 min, +30″/move from move 1 |
| 🕰️ Default/Forfeit | 30 minutes |
| ⭐ Rating | A-Open: FIDE & national rated • B-Open: national rated • Blitz: FIDE Blitz rated |
| ✅ Eligibility | A-Open: registration only with valid FIDE ID • B-Open: open to players up to 1699 Elo |
| 👤 Chief Arbiter | IA Kaweh Kristof |
| 👥 Tournament Director | Sebastian Schlitz |
| 💵 Entry Fees (Classical) | A-Open €50 • B-Open €40 • U18 €30 |
| 🎟️ Side-event Fees | Blitz & Chess960: prize fund built from entry fees (see Prize Fund) |
| 🚐 Practical | Shuttle service to/from Bahnhof Gloggnitz available on request; venue is ~7 minutes by car from the Gloggnitz motorway exit |
| 💡 Note | Players who also participate in the Sparkasse Baden Chess Open receive a €10 rebate |
🏆 Prize Fund
| Tournament | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-Open | €500 | €350 | €200 |
| B-Open | €300 | €250 | €150 |
Category prizes (apply in both A & B):
Best Woman €70
Best Senior 60+ €70
Best <1900 Elo (A) / <1350 Elo (B) €70
Best Youth U18 and U14: trophies
Blitz & Chess960 prize split (from collected entry fees): 1st 30%, 2nd 20%, 3rd 15%, 4th 10%, 5th 2 free drinks.
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Classical (A/B): 90′/40 + 30′, +30″ from move 1; 5-round Swiss.
Blitz: 3′ + 2″, 11 rounds, FIDE Blitz rated.
Chess960 Rapid: 10′ + 5″, 7 rounds.
Tie-breaks: Standard Swiss tie-break order announced on site.
Fair-play: Mobile devices off inside the playing area; alcohol and smoking are prohibited in the tournament hall.
Byes: One ½-point bye is possible in one of the first four rounds; must be requested in writing no later than 20 Aug, 22:00. A Round-1 bye also requires the entry fee to be paid in advance.
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section | Eligibility | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| A-Open | Valid FIDE ID required | FIDE & national |
| B-Open | Elo ≤1699 | National |
| Blitz | Open | FIDE Blitz |
| Chess960 Rapid | Open | – |
📅 Schedule
A-Open & B-Open (Classical)
| Date | Time | Activity / Round |
|---|---|---|
| Wed, 19 Aug 2026 | 17:00 | Entry deadline (on site) |
| Wed, 19 Aug 2026 | 17:30 | Attendance check |
| Wed, 19 Aug 2026 | 18:00 | Round 1 |
| Thu, 20 Aug 2026 | 17:30 | Round 2 |
| Fri, 21 Aug 2026 | 17:30 | Round 3 |
| Sat, 22 Aug 2026 | 10:15 | Round 4 |
| Sun, 23 Aug 2026 | 10:15 | Round 5 |
| Sun, 23 Aug 2026 | 30 min after last game | Awards |
Side Events
| Date | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, 21 Aug 2026 | 13:30 | Blitz Tournament (11 rounds, 3′+2″) |
| Sat, 22 Aug 2026 | 17:00 | Chess960 Rapid (7 rounds, 10′+5″) |
📝 Registration
How to enter (Classical A/B): email the organiser and/or registration contact with name, federation, Elo, FIDE ID (for A), and chosen section.
Registration contact: Wolfgang Bauer – wb71@aon.at
Tournament director: Sebastian Schlitz (tournament office on site)
Chief arbiter: IA Kaweh Kristof – schachkristof@gmail.com
Entry fees: A €50 / B €40 / U18 €30 (pay on site or via bank transfer).
Bank transfer (club account): IBAN AT54 2024 1050 0001 9421 (Recipient: Schachklub Gloggnitz; add reference: Name + A/B).
Identification: Valid FIDE ID required for A-Open; bring ID for on-site verification.
Media & data: Pairings, results and photos may be published for rating and event coverage.
👥 Organizer
The tournament is organised by Schachklub Gloggnitz, an active Lower Austrian club known for friendly, well-run opens in the Schwarzatal region, youth development, and community events at Raach am Hochgebirge.
Email (club/entries): wb71@aon.at
Tournament office: on site during the event
Website: https://www.schachklub-gloggnitz.at/
🏨 Venue
Gasthof Diewald – Großer Saal
Raach 38, 2640 Raach am Hochgebirge, Austria
Traditional inn with a large, bright playing hall, on-site restaurant/brewpub kitchen, and ~25 guest rooms-ideal for a compact chess festival with analysis space and short walks to accommodation.
🛎️ Accommodation
On-site: Rooms available at Gasthof Diewald (book early; limited capacity).
Nearby: Additional guesthouses and hotels in Gloggnitz and surrounding villages of the Schwarzatal; the organiser lists options on request/website.
🚗 How to Get There
Train: Arrive Bahnhof Gloggnitz, then shuttle service to Raach on request or taxi (~7-10 min by car).
Car: From the A2/S6 area, exit Gloggnitz and continue ~7 minutes to Raach 38.
Air: Vienna (VIE) → rail to Gloggnitz, then shuttle/taxi to the venue.
Enjoy a relaxed alpine-summer chess week with clear schedules, fair prizes, and a welcoming atmosphere at the 10. Schwarzatalopen.
🧾 Other
Gloggnitzer Supercup: A festival-wide overall ranking is calculated across the classical (A/B), Chess960, and Blitz: each classical point = 1, each rapid point = 5/7, each blitz point = 5/11 (max 15). The overall winner receives a trophy, free entry to the 11th Schwarzatalopen, and a material prize.