The 12th International Christmas Chess Tournament of Fyli 2026, also known as the Alexandros Syrmas Memorial, takes place from December 26, 2026, through January 3, 2027, in Ano Liosia, part of the Athens metropolitan area. The Ano Liosia Chess Club “Triantafyllos Siaperas” brings this traditional holiday competition back to life in the Melina Merkouri Hall of Ano Liosia Town Hall, on Iroon Square. Competitors can choose between two nine-round classical Swiss sections, with international rating calculation and a structured program spanning Christmas week and New Year.

The organizer advertises a €5,000 prize pool (approximately US$5,580) for the two groups. Group A offers a first prize of €1,200 and a trophy, and Group B offers a first prize of €300 and a trophy. Players in both groups receive 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move. Further awards recognize leading women, rating classes, senior players and juniors. Registration uses an official Google Form and bank transfer, while the playing program includes one double-round day and a rest day on December 31.

The venue lies in western Attica rather than central Athens, but travel is simplified by bus B12 from Attiki Station, suburban rail services to Ano Liosia and a specially arranged tournament coach. Visitors may therefore stay around Attiki Square or Athens’s central railway station and commute to the tournament. The sections below cover confirmed prizes, entry categories, rules, all nine session times, hotel suggestions and practical routes to the municipal playing hall.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

Both sections play nine rounds under the Swiss system, with pairings determined using participants’ accumulated scores and the tournament’s formal pairing procedures. Each player starts with 90 minutes and receives an extra 30 seconds after each completed move. The competition counts toward FIDE Standard and Greek national rating calculations, so entrants need an active chess registration and should provide accurate identity and rating details through the official registration process.

The tournament spreads most games across separate afternoons or evenings, with a double-round program on Sunday, December 27. The published rules allow one half-point bye through Round 3 when an exemption is requested appropriately. Later requested absences score zero points, and postponed games are prohibited. These conditions are relevant to families balancing the Christmas holiday schedule with the classical tournament.

The final standing uses direct encounters between tied players when all relevant opponents have played one another, followed by Buchholz Cut-1, Sonneborn–Berger and number of wins. The organizer lists a default time of 30 minutes after the announced round start, subject to confirmation by the chief arbiter. The Appeals Committee receives written objections within ten minutes after the conclusion of the relevant round, with a published €200 deposit.

Panagiotis Nikolopoulos is the designated chief arbiter, with Michail Keramiotis identified in the official tournament-management record as deputy chief arbiter. Each section has its own competitive classification, while the published Chess-Results event also provides a common place to find information and follow tournament updates. Participants should check their pairing before every session and allow sufficient time to reach the venue after a commute through Athens.

🏆 Prize Fund

The organizers advertise a €5,000 total prize pool across Group A and Group B, approximately US$5,580 using the European Central Bank’s October 27, 2026 reference exchange rate. The strongest section offers cash to the first six finishers, plus separate awards for the highest-scoring female player, rating categories, an over-50 competitor and leading juniors. The published awards also include trophies and gold, silver or bronze medals, depending on placing.

Group B’s main prizes reward the top three finishers, and the highest-scoring female player earns a separate cash-and-medal award. Players over 50 have first- and second-place senior prizes. In addition, each junior age group from U8 through U18 has gold medals for leading boys and girls. These age and senior categories are prize classifications within Group B rather than separate Swiss tournaments.

Prizes cannot be accumulated. An eligible player receives the higher of two overlapping awards, and tied cash prizes are shared under the published rules. Each special prize category must have at least five competitors for its award to apply. Players with the possibility of a podium, class or junior award should plan to attend the January 3 closing ceremony at 5:00 PM.

♟️ Sections / Groups

Participants enter one of two full-length classical tournaments. Group A is for players with a FIDE Standard rating of 1800 or higher, while Group B allows ratings of 1850 or lower. The two bands overlap between 1800 and 1850, giving eligible players a choice of competitive field. Both groups share the playing venue, the timetable and the same classical time control.

Players with FIDE ratings of 1700–1799 may compete in Group A by paying the €70 special entry fee. That option offers ambitious lower-rated players a chance to face a stronger field. The normal fee is €40 for Group A and €30 for Group B before applicable concessions or a late-payment surcharge. The first-prize amounts and special-award lists differ, so entrants should choose their section with those conditions in mind.

Group B’s U8 through U18 medals and Group A’s U18 awards recognize younger participants within the main playing sections. They are not independent age-group tournaments, and children take part in the same Swiss system as other players in their chosen section. The organizing club asks entrants to complete the published form correctly and pay the appropriate fee in order to secure their place.

📅 Schedule

The nine-round timetable begins with registration confirmation and the first pairing at 4:00 PM on December 26. Round 1 starts an hour later, and both groups then play two games on Sunday, December 27, at 11:00 AM and 5:30 PM. Most subsequent rounds begin in the late afternoon. The published schedule sets Thursday, December 31, as a rest day, making New Year’s Eve available for leisure or family commitments.

The program makes it possible to explore Athens on several mornings before playing, though classical games may last well into the evening. On December 27, lunch and recovery must fit between two rounds. The January 3 final round and ceremony also require careful planning if players intend to travel home that night. Participants should arrange return transportation with the organizer’s coach departure times in mind.

📝 Registration

Registration takes place using the club’s official online form, followed by a bank transfer of the appropriate entry fee. The organizer states that the form and payment must both be completed to finalize participation. Its reduced-price payment deadline is December 11, 2026, at 11:59 PM. Fees rise by €10 per category after this date. Late payments are accepted until December 23, 2026, at 11:59 PM, subject to remaining places, and entrants are responsible for bank-transfer charges.

The tournament requires a current, activated chess sports registration. Players need accurate identifying details for FIDE and national rating purposes and should keep their form confirmation and bank transfer receipt. Those bringing several junior competitors can prepare a separate entry for each player while applying the proper age-related concessions. A group of ten or more club players can use the published team discount, subject to the organizer’s fee instructions.

🏛️ Organizer

The event is organized by the Ano Liosia Chess Club “Triantafyllos Siaperas”, an active club serving the municipality of Fyli and the surrounding western Attica communities. It maintains a program of local chess activities, school events, rapid tournaments and competitive participation. Through the Christmas tournament, the organization is reviving a long-standing meeting point for chess players during the holiday season, this time commemorating the late Alexandros Syrmas.

The tournament is supported by the Municipality of Fyli and the Arvanitic Cultural Association of Ano Liosia “I Griza”. The Greek Chess Federation and the Attica Chess Clubs Association are also named among the supporting organizations, and the event is under the auspices of the country’s General Secretariat for Sports. This partnership places an international-rated chess competition within a local municipal and cultural program.

The official tournament director is Evangelos Bardis, and the chief arbiter is Panagiotis Nikolopoulos. The association lists president Stefanos Nikitas at +30 693 694 6227 and treasurer and tournament coordinator Theodoros Agrapidis at +30 698 710 0387. The club can also be contacted at siaperaschessclub@gmail.com. The organizer’s original event announcement provides tournament details and the complete participation rules.

📍 Venue

The competition will be held at Melina Merkouri Hall in Ano Liosia Town Hall, at Iroon Square (Plateia Iroon), Ano Liosia 13341, Greece. The municipal building serves the Ano Liosia area of Fyli rather than the town of Fyli farther north. Players should include both the district name and the square in taxi instructions or navigation so they arrive at the correct municipality building.

The hall has hosted municipal presentations, cultural events and public assemblies. It is within the built-up Ano Liosia neighborhood, near shops and local services. The organizer has selected 19th Fylis as the public-bus stop for access to the venue, followed by a short pedestrian connection. Participants traveling from central Athens may also use a dedicated tournament coach from Attiki Square.

🏨 Accommodation

Participants traveling to Athens for nine rounds can book a base near either Attiki metro station or Athens Railway Station (Larissis). These places offer useful connections to the organizer’s advertised bus or suburban railway routes. Alternatively, families planning to drive can consider a hotel in Acharnes. The festival takes place across Christmas and New Year, so guests should pay attention to holiday availability, minimum stays and check-in arrangements.

The properties are independent lodging options, not official chess-event hotel partners. Staying by Attiki provides the clearest connection to bus B12 and the tournament coach, while the Larissis area is attractive for anyone arriving by long-distance train. The Acharnes option requires a road journey to the playing venue. When selecting a room, compare the total price of the full holiday stay, meal arrangements and travel needs for both morning and evening games.

🚆 How to Get There

🚌 Bus B12 from Attiki Square

The organizer recommends bus B12 toward Ano Liosia (Panorama) from Attiki Station in Athens. Get off at the 19th Fylis stop and continue to Iroon Square; the organizer describes this last walk as approximately five minutes. The bus route passes through western and northern Athens neighborhoods and provides a straightforward public-transport option for competitors staying around Attiki Metro.

Attiki is served by Metro Lines 1 and 2, connecting with several central Athens neighborhoods. Those arriving from other metro stations should plan their interchange and allow time for the B12 leg. The Athens bus route directory identifies B12 as the Attiki–Ano Liosia service. Holiday operating schedules should be consulted before leaving for a round, especially over New Year’s Day.

🚌 Organizer Coach from Attiki Square

The chess club has also announced a dedicated coach from Attiki Square approximately one hour before each round. It will return toward the same Athens pickup area after play. This option may be particularly convenient for participants attending all nine rounds, with a consistent place to meet and a clear route to the tournament hall.

The pickup is arranged at a suitable stopping place on or near the square, as determined by the organizer. Competitors using the coach should follow club announcements for precise boarding instructions and for the return departure after games. The official tournament notice describes this transport arrangement, together with the regular public bus and suburban rail connections.

🚆 Ano Liosia Suburban Railway Station

Ano Liosia station is part of Athens’ suburban railway system. Services connect it with Athens International Airport and railway corridors toward central Athens, Piraeus and Kiato. From the station, the organizer recommends continuing on bus B12 or route 723 toward the 19th Fylis stop, then walking to the town hall. A taxi from the station can also be practical for families carrying luggage.

Athens Railway Station (Larissis) is a major interchange for travelers coming from other Greek cities. The suburban network connects its corridors with Ano Liosia, but individual trains and services have different destinations. The Hellenic Train suburban railway network provides current line information and schedules for planning a reliable connection.

✈️ From Athens International Airport

International visitors arrive at Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”. The suburban railway operates a service between the airport and Ano Liosia, making it possible to reach the western Athens district without first traveling to a central hotel. At Ano Liosia station, passengers can transfer to the local bus or book a taxi for the last part of the journey to Melina Merkouri Hall at Ano Liosia Town Hall.

Airport passengers staying in central Athens can instead continue to their hotel and use the Attiki route on tournament days. A same-day flight on December 26 should leave adequate time for baggage collection, the transfer to Ano Liosia and the 4:00 PM player-confirmation session. Players carrying chess equipment or traveling with small children may prefer a direct taxi at arrival.

🚗 By Car and Local Arrival

For a road journey, navigate to Ano Liosia Town Hall, Plateia Iroon 1, Ano Liosia 13341, Greece. The location is within the Municipality of Fyli in western Attica. Specifying Ano Liosia as well as the square helps distinguish this municipal building from other public offices in the wider municipality. The final approach is through local streets, so observe parking and access signs near the town hall.

Competitors arriving for the first time should locate the Melina Merkouri Hall entrance and the tournament’s player-confirmation area before play. On most dates, rounds start at 5:00 or 5:30 PM, while the two 11:00 AM sessions require an earlier arrival. Those collecting a prize should arrange travel from the hall only after the concluding ceremony on January 3.

ℹ️ Other Information

🎄 A Revived Holiday Chess Tradition

This edition revives a historic Christmas tournament in Ano Liosia and honors Alexandros Syrmas. The local chess club, municipality and cultural association have coordinated the event so that tournament chess can once again be a part of the winter calendar in Fyli. The program provides a full nine-game international-rated opportunity over the year-end holiday while retaining a rest day on December 31.

🏅 Junior, Women’s and Senior Recognition

Group A rewards the leading U18 boy and girl with gold medals, in addition to overall, women’s, rating-class and over-50 prizes. Group B has gold medals for leading boys and girls in U8, U10, U12, U14, U16 and U18. Younger competitors still play their normal Swiss pairings against the rest of their group. These extra recognitions make the festival attractive to chess-club families without requiring separate junior playing halls.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Planning the Stay

Accommodation near Attiki station can make the organizer’s coach or bus B12 practical for daily travel. Families may use mornings for rest and sightseeing around Athens, with the exception of Sunday, December 27, and the final day, January 3. Organizers expect an audience of roughly 170–180 competitors across the two groups, and entrants should complete the form and fee payment in good time. The final awards are scheduled for January 3 at 5:00 PM.