10th International Chess Festival Batumi Municipality Cup – 2026
10th International Chess Festival “Batumi Municipality Cup – 2026” will take place from July 1 – 11, 2026, in Batumi, Georgia. This is a chess tournament in Batumi, Georgia, in 2026.
The festival brings a large international chess program to the Black Sea coast. Moreover, it combines open tournaments, youth categories, blitz chess, side activities, and a clear classical schedule.
In addition, the event gives players a strong summer chess destination with practical accommodation options. Therefore, it can suit titled players, improving juniors, club players, and families traveling for chess.
♟️ Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| ♟️ Tournament | 10th International Chess Festival “Batumi Municipality Cup – 2026” |
| 📅 Dates | July 1 – 11, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Batumi, Georgia |
| 🏛️ Venue | Mukhran Vakhtangadze Sport Palace |
| 🧑💼 Organizers | Municipality of Batumi; Chess Club NONA; Georgian Chess Federation |
| 🏆 Format | 9-round Swiss System |
| ⏱️ Main Time Control | Open A: 90 minutes for 40 moves + 30 minutes for the rest of the game + 30 seconds increment from move 1 |
| ⏱️ Other Classical Sections | Open B, Open C, and youth events: 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move 1 |
| 💰 Prize Fund | 60,400 GEL, approx. $22,500 |
| 📝 Registration | Online registration and arrival confirmation required |
| ⚖️ Default Time | 1 hour |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Classical Events
Open A uses a classical time control of 90 minutes for 40 moves, plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game. In addition, players receive a 30-second increment from move 1.
Open B, Open C, and the youth tournaments use 90 minutes per player, plus a 30-second increment from move 1. Therefore, all main festival events offer enough time for serious tournament play.
Pairings and System
All festival tournaments use the Swiss System with 9 rounds. Also, Swiss-Manager handles the pairings.
The tie-break order is Buchholz cut -1, Buchholz, direct encounter, number of victories, and progressive score. As a result, every round can affect the final standings.
💰 Prize Fund
Prize Fund Overview
The total confirmed prize fund is 60,400 GEL, approx. $22,500. Prizes are paid in GEL and taxed according to Georgian legislation.
However, prize money is not shared in case of a tie. A player can receive only one highest prize. In addition, prize winners must attend the closing ceremony.
Open-A Prizes
| Category | Prize Details |
|---|---|
| Open ranking | 1st 10,000 GEL; 2nd 4,000 GEL; 3rd 3,000 GEL; 4th 2,000 GEL; 5th 1,500 GEL; 6th 1,200 GEL; 7th 1,000 GEL; 8th 800 GEL; 9th 600 GEL; 10th 400 GEL |
| Women | 1st 2,250 GEL; 2nd 1,150 GEL; 3rd 900 GEL |
Open-B Prizes
| Category | Prize Details |
|---|---|
| Open ranking | 1st 2,000 GEL; 2nd 1,500 GEL; 3rd 1,200 GEL; 4th 1,000 GEL; 5th 700 GEL |
| Women | 1st 1,100 GEL; 2nd 800 GEL; 3rd 600 GEL |
| U16 Open | 1st 400 GEL; 2nd 200 GEL; 3rd 140 GEL |
| U16 Girls | 1st 300 GEL; 2nd 130 GEL; 3rd 100 GEL |
| U14 Open | 1st 330 GEL; 2nd 150 GEL; 3rd 110 GEL |
| U14 Girls | 1st 220 GEL; 2nd 120 GEL; 3rd 95 GEL |
Open C Prizes
| Category | Prize Details |
|---|---|
| Open ranking | 1st 1,000 GEL; 2nd 600 GEL; 3rd 400 GEL; 4th 300 GEL; 5th 200 GEL |
| Women | 1st 550 GEL; 2nd 275 GEL; 3rd 220 GEL |
| U16 | 1st 150 GEL |
| U14 | 1st 130 GEL |
Youth Prizes
| Category | Prize Details |
|---|---|
| Open U12 | 1st 400 GEL; 2nd 300 GEL; 3rd 250 GEL; 4th 200 GEL; 5th 100 GEL |
| Girls U12 | 1st 350 GEL; 2nd 250 GEL; 3rd 200 GEL; 4th 150 GEL; 5th 100 GEL |
| Open U10 | 1st 350 GEL; 2nd 300 GEL; 3rd 200 GEL; 4th 150 GEL; 5th 100 GEL |
| Girls U10 | 1st 300 GEL; 2nd 250 GEL; 3rd 200 GEL; 4th 150 GEL; 5th 100 GEL |
| Open U8 | 1st 300 GEL; 2nd 250 GEL; 3rd 200 GEL; 4th 100 GEL; 5th 50 GEL |
| Girls U8 | 1st 250 GEL; 2nd 200 GEL; 3rd 150 GEL; 4th 100 GEL; 5th 50 GEL |
Blitz and Coaches Contest
| Event | Prize Details |
|---|---|
| Blitz Open | 1st 500 GEL; 2nd 300 GEL; 3rd 200 GEL; 4th 150 GEL; 5th 100 GEL |
| Blitz Women | 1st 275 GEL; 2nd 220 GEL; 3rd 155 GEL |
| Blitz U16 | 1st 145 GEL |
| Blitz U14 | 1st 135 GEL |
| Coaches contest | 1st 300 GEL; 2nd 250 GEL; 3rd 200 GEL; 4th 150 GEL; 5th 100 GEL |
Coaches can join the contest through pupils in the U8, U10, and U12 open and girls sections. However, at least five pupils from each coach must participate.
🏆 Sections / Groups
Open Sections
| Section | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Open A | Players with FIDE rating 2200 or higher; GM, IM, FM, WGM, WIM, and WFM titled players |
| Open B | Players with FIDE rating below 2200, including unrated players |
| Open C | Players with FIDE rating 1600 or lower, including unrated players |
| Open Blitz | Blitz event for festival participants |
Youth Sections
| Section | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Open U12 | Players born in 2014 or later |
| Girls U12 | Girls born in 2014 or later |
| Open U10 | Players born in 2016 or later |
| Girls U10 | Girls born in 2016 or later |
| Open U8 | Players born in 2018 or later |
| Girls U8 | Girls born in 2018 or later |
The festival structure gives players several suitable entry points. Therefore, juniors, titled players, club players, and blitz specialists can all find a relevant section.
📅 Schedule
Arrival and Opening Day
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2026 | 10:00–20:00 | Arrival and registration |
| July 2, 2026 | 09:00–14:00 | Registration |
| July 2, 2026 | 15:30 | Opening ceremony |
| July 2, 2026 | 11:00 | Youth Round 1 |
| July 2, 2026 | 16:00 | Open A, Open B, and Open C Round 1 |
Main Rounds
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| July 3, 2026 | 11:00 | Round 2 |
| July 4, 2026 | 11:00 | Round 3 |
| July 5, 2026 | 11:00 | Round 4 |
| July 6, 2026 | 11:00 | Round 5 |
| July 7, 2026 | 11:00 | Round 6 |
| July 8, 2026 | 11:00 | Round 7 |
| July 9, 2026 | 11:00 | Round 8 |
| July 10, 2026 | 11:00 | Round 9 |
Side Events and Closing
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| July 6, 2026 | 17:00 | Mini football tournament |
| July 10, 2026 | 19:00 | Closing ceremony |
| July 11, 2026 | 12:00 | International Blitz Tournament |
| July 11, 2026 | — | Departure |
📝 Registration
Registration Process
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Online registration | Required through the tournament registration page |
| Arrival confirmation | Required before the deadline |
| Age verification | Players may need to present passports for age eligibility |
| Late confirmation | Players who do not confirm on time may be removed from first-round pairings |
| Payment deadline | All payments must be completed before the end of Round 2 |
| Travel and accommodation costs | Covered by players, federations, or sponsors |
Players should complete online registration before traveling. In addition, they should confirm their arrival on time after reaching Batumi.
Entry Fees for Foreign Players
| Tournament | Rating / Category | Entry Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Open A | FIDE rating 2501 or higher; GM, WGM, IM, WIM | Free |
| Open A | FIDE rating 2401–2500 | $40 |
| Open A | FIDE rating 2301–2400 | $50 |
| Open A | FIDE rating 2200–2300 | $60 |
| Open B | FIDE rating below 2200 | $60 |
| Open C | FIDE rating below 1600 | $50 |
| Youth events | U8, U10, and U12 open and girls sections | $40 |
| Blitz | Each participant | $20 |
Foreign bank commissions must be paid by the sender. Therefore, players should check transfer fees before making payment.
🧑💼 Organizer
The Municipality of Batumi, Chess Club NONA, and the Georgian Chess Federation organize the festival together. As a result, the event combines local support, club experience, and national federation coordination.
Moreover, Chess Club NONA gives the festival a clear Batumi chess identity. The event also supports youth chess, international competition, and chess tourism on Georgia’s Black Sea coast.
Email: marikachess@gmail.com
Phone: +995 577 79 34 37
📍 Venue
Mukhran Vakhtangadze Sport Palace — Leonidze Street No. 15, Batumi, Georgia
The festival takes place at one of Batumi’s main indoor sports venues. Moreover, the venue location gives players practical access to city hotels, food options, and local transport.
Batumi is a coastal city, so players can combine the tournament schedule with a summer stay near the Black Sea. Therefore, the event offers both competitive chess and a strong travel setting.
🏨 Accommodation
Accommodation for Titled Players
The organizers offer limited accommodation support for up to 10 players. In addition, the arrangement also applies to WGM and WIM players with ratings up to 150 points lower than the listed rating bands.
| Rating Level | Accommodation |
|---|---|
| 2700+ | Single room, full board |
| 2650–2699 | Single room, breakfast |
| 2600–2649 | One bed in a double room, breakfast |
| 2500–2599 | One bed in a double room |
Hotel Options
| Accommodation | Details |
|---|---|
| GG Apart Hotel | From 80 GEL per person per night with breakfast; 5–10 minutes by walk |
| Hotel Chao | From 80 GEL per person per night with breakfast |
| Hotel Panorama | From 80 GEL per person per night with breakfast |
| Hotel Iberia | From 80 GEL per person per night with breakfast |
| Hostel Classic | 80 GEL per person per night with full board |
| Private sector, Tamar settlement | 60–70 GEL; 80 GEL and more for hostel-type rooms |
Hotel Contacts
| Accommodation | Contact |
|---|---|
| GG Apart Hotel | +995 577 641105; +995 599 149188 |
| Hotel Chao | +995 577 032359 |
| Hotel Panorama | +995 574 245757 |
| Hotel Iberia | +995 555 950313 |
| Hostel Classic | +995 593 732923 |
| Accommodation assistance | +995 577 79 34 37 |
The tournament does not require players to stay at a specific hotel. Therefore, participants may choose any accommodation that fits their budget and travel plans.
✈️ How to Get There
Batumi is a major coastal city in western Georgia. Therefore, many international visitors can travel through Batumi International Airport or continue by road from other Georgian cities.
The venue is in Batumi, so local taxi, transfer, and city transport options can help players reach the playing hall. In addition, players staying near the venue can reduce travel time during the tournament week.
Players should arrive early enough for registration and confirmation. This is especially important because missed confirmation can affect first-round pairing.
ℹ️ Other Information
Tournament Rules
All tournaments follow FIDE tournament rules and the Laws of Chess. Also, FIDE anti-cheating rules and guidelines apply to all festival events.
The default time for all rounds is 1 hour. In addition, appeals must be submitted in writing within 30 minutes after the relevant round ends.
The appeal fee is 200 GEL for Open A, Open B, and Open C. Meanwhile, the appeal fee is 100 GEL for U8, U10, and U12 tournaments.
Visa and Travel Notes
Electronic visa information is available through Georgia’s e-visa system, and the listed e-visa cost is about $20. However, players should check their own visa requirements before traveling.
July is usually a warm period in Batumi. The expected average temperature range is between 27°C and 33°C.
Media and Consent
Photo and video shooting will take place during the festival. In addition, material may appear on Chess Club NONA’s official and Facebook pages.
Finally, Batumi offers a strong mix of classical chess, youth competition, blitz play, and Black Sea summer atmosphere.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $22,500
Organizer
Chess Club NONA, located in Batumi, Georgia, is a leading force in Georgian chess development. The club actively organizes international tournaments, youth programs, and community engagement activities. It provides structured training for beginners, advanced players, and titled professionals, ensuring continuous development for all members.
With years of experience and institutional support, Chess Club NONA continues to set high standards in event organization and player development. Its tournaments regularly attract global attention, offering a professional and friendly environment for chess players of all levels.
Georgian Chess Federation is Georgia’s national chess federation based in Tbilisi, Georgia. Over the years, it has led the country’s organized chess structure and represents Georgia in international chess governance. As a result, it acts as the primary tournament organizer and regulatory body for official competitive chess nationwide.
In addition, the federation runs Georgia’s key championship cycle and coordinates nationwide rated competition across classical chess, rapid chess, and blitz chess. It supports formally regulated events that often include FIDE-rated tournament sections where applicable, aligning local competition with international rating standards. Moreover, the federation is also known for hosting major chess meetings and events in Georgia, reinforcing its role on the European chess calendar.
Furthermore, the organization supports long-term development through structured selection pathways and a consistent competitive framework. For example, its work helps connect a growing junior chess program pipeline with national titles and international representation. Consequently, the Georgian Chess Federation remains a central reference point for serious tournament chess and official chess administration in Georgia.
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