The 14th International Schach-Senioren-Cup am Tegernsee takes place April 18-26, 2026 in Rottach-Egern, Germany, offering nine rounds of classical Swiss chess in a dedicated lakeside event venue. The tournament targets the 50+ chess community and welcomes eligible players from many federations for a full week of FIDE-rated and DWZ-rated competition under FIDE pairing rules. A single open group keeps the sporting focus clear while still rewarding multiple performance categories through women’s prizes, age-group prizes, and rating prizes.

Set at Lake Tegernsee, the event combines a disciplined schedule with a generous, widely distributed cash prize structure and an organized on-site experience. The organizers require in-person registration on the first day, apply a clear default time policy, and offer a limited half-point bye option early in the event. With €3,270 in total cash prizes and a reliable daily rhythm, this tournament suits players who value serious classical games in a distinctive Bavarian setting.

🗓️ Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

Main prizes

Best female players

Best players 65+

Best Nestors

Rating prizes (A–D)

The organizers pay prize money in cash on site and only to participants present at the award ceremony; they do not pay out or transfer prizes later. Players can win only one prize, and when multiple prizes apply, the higher prize takes precedence while the lower prize passes to the next eligible player. Only players with a FIDE rating or a DWZ qualify for rating prizes. For players who stay less than 180 days per year in Germany, the organizers withhold a flat-rate tax of 15% plus a 5.5% solidarity surcharge on the withheld tax.

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The tournament runs 9 rounds as a Swiss-System event under FIDE pairing rules with a time control of 130 minutes plus 30 seconds per move. The default time is 60 minutes. The organizers seed the initial ranking according to FIDE rules and prioritize FIDE rating.

Tie-breaks apply in this order: Average Rating of Opponents (Cut 1), then Buchholz (Cut 1). A player who misses a round without a valid excuse counts as withdrawn from the tournament.

Players may request to sit out a single round by informing the tournament management no later than the end of the previous round or by email to schach@tegernsee.com. A timely request grants a one-time half-point bye in rounds 1–6.

📂 Sections / Groups

The event runs one open section for eligible senior players (born 1976 or before). The prize structure additionally recognizes best female players, best players 65+, best Nestors, and four rating groups (A–D) through separate cash awards.

📅 Schedule

📝 Registration

Register online using the official registration form and complete payment to finalize your entry. The organizers open registration on December 8, 2025 at 12:00pm. The entry becomes valid after the organizers receive the €85 entry fee by PayPal or bank transfer.

Bank transfer details: Tegernseer Tal Tourismus GmbH, IBAN: DE46 7115 2570 0000 0710 35, BIC: BYLADEM1MIB. Include the participant’s full name and the keyword “Senioren Cup 2026” in the payment purpose.

Cancellation policy: the organizers charge a 20% handling fee for cancellations. After April 8, 2026, the organizers do not reimburse entry fees, except when a participant provides a medical certificate.

Registration page: https://www.schach-senioren-cup.de/registrierung-2026/

👥 Organizer

Gemeinde Bad Wiessee and Tegernseer Tal Tourismus GmbH organize the Schach-Senioren-Cup am Tegernsee and manage entries, participant support, and tournament operations through a dedicated chess contact channel. The team supports players with event coordination and accommodation assistance and runs the tournament in cooperation with the local Tegernsee tourism infrastructure.

• Email: schach@tegernsee.com

• Phone: +49 8022 92738-50

• Website: https://www.schach-senioren-cup.de/

• Website: https://www.tegernsee.com/

🏨 Venue

Seeforum Rottach-Egern, Nördliche Hauptstraße 35, 83700 Rottach-Egern, Germany
The tournament takes place at Seeforum Rottach-Egern, a dedicated event venue in the Tegernsee valley. The site hosts the full tournament program, including on-site registration, all rounds, and the award ceremony.

Venue website: https://www.seeforum-rottach-egern.de/

🛎️ Accommodation

The organizers provide guest service support for room searches in the Tegernsee region. Contact the guest services team by phone or email, or use the official online host search.

• Phone: +49 8022 92738-50

• Email: schach@tegernsee.com

• Online search: https://www.tegernsee.com/gastgebersuche

🚗 How to Get There

With the TegernseeCard/guest card, you can use the RVO bus network in the Tegernsee valley free of charge. For parking, participants can buy a discounted ticket for the Wandinger car park opposite the Seeforum: Parkplatz Wandinger, Salitererweg 2, 83700 Rottach-Egern. The 4-hour ticket costs €3.50 and allows all-day parking during the tournament, and you purchase it directly at the parking machine.

Car sharing option: https://www.e-see-share.com

Play nine classical rounds in one of Germany’s most scenic chess settings and turn your experience into a full-week performance run.

🧾 Other

By registering, participants consent to the processing of tournament data and results for DWZ and FIDE rating calculation and accept the publication of games, photos, tournament data, and reports connected to the event. The rules prohibit direct or indirect use of illegal technical aids and treat fair play as binding; the organizers apply sanctions for violations under the applicable federation statutes and regulations.