The 16th Gütersloh Sparkassen Cup 2026 takes place on August 21–23, 2026 in Gütersloh, Germany, delivering a structured weekend of competitive over-the-board chess across several Swiss-System sections. This international chess tournament features 5 rounds in the main groups and a dedicated Kids Tournament with 7 rounds, combining FIDE rated classical chess in the top sections with a DWZ-focused pathway for developing players in Gütersloh, Germany.
Hosted at Anne-Frank-Gesamtschule in Gütersloh, Germany, the 16th Gütersloh Sparkassen Cup 2026 offers a confirmed cash prize fund of EUR 6,000 with additional category prizes and a clear tournament schedule from Friday evening through Sunday. The 16th Gütersloh Sparkassen Cup 2026 keeps the format practical for weekend travel, while maintaining serious sporting conditions, including a published waiting time and mandatory award ceremony rules for prize eligibility.
🗓️ Event Details
| Detail |
Information |
| 📅 Dates |
August 21–23, 2026 |
| 📍 Location |
Gütersloh, Germany |
| ♟️ Format |
Over-the-board Swiss System |
| ⭐ Rating |
FIDE rated (Groups A and B); DWZ rated (Group C and Kids Tournament) |
| 📂 Sections |
A-Group, B-Group, C-Group, Kids Tournament |
| ⏱️ Time control |
Groups A/B/C: 90 minutes for 40 moves + 15 minutes, with 30 seconds increment per move from move 1; Kids: 60 minutes for 30 moves + 30 minutes |
| 💳 Entry fee |
Adults: A €45 / B €40 / C €35; Youth: A €35 / B €30 / C €25; Kids: €15 |
| 💰 Prize fund |
USD 6,500 (approx.) |
| 👤 Eligibility |
A-Group: Elo 1800+ (FIDE ID required); B-Group: Elo under 2000 (FIDE ID required); C-Group: DWZ under 1600; Kids: DWZ under 1300 and born 2014 or later |
| 👥 Capacity |
Groups A–C: max 200 participants; Kids Tournament: max 40 participants |
| 🧩 Organizer notes |
Group assignment deadline: August 14, 2026; players without a rating are classified by tournament management; award ceremony attendance is mandatory for prize eligibility |
| Chess-Results.com |
https://chess-results.com/tnr1335824.aspx?lan=1 |
🏆 Prize Fund
Total confirmed cash prize fund (EUR): 6,000
Main prizes (EUR)
| Place |
A-Group |
B-Group |
C-Group |
| 1st |
900 |
500 |
275 |
| 2nd |
500 |
300 |
175 |
| 3rd |
350 |
220 |
150 |
| 4th |
250 |
175 |
125 |
| 5th |
200 |
125 |
100 |
Kids Tournament prizes
| Place / Award |
Prize |
| 1st–3rd |
Trophy |
| Additional awards |
Non-cash prizes for all participants |
Category prizes (EUR)
| Category (minimum 3 eligible participants per group) |
A-Group |
B-Group |
C-Group |
| Rating I |
200 (under 2150) |
125 (under 1850) |
100 (under 1450) |
| Rating II |
150 (under 2000) |
95 (under 1700) |
75 (under 1200) |
| Seniors (born 1966 or earlier) |
150 |
95 |
75 |
| Youth (born 2009 or later) |
125 |
95 |
75 |
| Ladies |
125 |
95 |
75 |
Prize rules
| Rule |
Details |
| No double prizes |
A player can receive only one prize |
| Sharing rule (A-Group) |
Places 1–5 in A-Group are shared using the Hort system |
| Tie-break rule (B/C) |
B-Group and C-Group prizes are decided by tie-break |
| Presence requirement |
Attendance at the award ceremony is mandatory to receive prizes |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The 16th Gütersloh Sparkassen Cup 2026 runs as a Swiss System tournament with 5 rounds in Groups A, B, and C, and 7 rounds in the Kids Tournament. Groups A, B, and C use 90 minutes for 40 moves plus 15 minutes, with a 30-second increment per move from move 1. The Kids Tournament uses 60 minutes for 30 moves plus 30 minutes.
The tournament applies a 30-minute waiting time. The organizer classifies unrated players as needed, and the event follows the published group eligibility rules for entries and prizes.
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section |
Rating / target group |
Notes |
| A-Group |
Elo 1800+ |
FIDE rated; FIDE ID required; A-Group main prizes (places 1–5) use the Hort system |
| B-Group |
Elo under 2000 |
FIDE rated; FIDE ID required; prizes decided by tie-break |
| C-Group |
DWZ under 1600 |
DWZ rated; prizes decided by tie-break |
| Kids Tournament |
DWZ under 1300; born 2014 or later |
DWZ rated; 7 rounds |
📅 Schedule
| Date |
Weekday |
Time |
Round / Activity |
| August 21, 2026 |
Friday |
17:00 |
Registration deadline (all participants) |
| August 21, 2026 |
Friday |
17:30 |
Round 1 (Groups A/B/C) |
| August 21, 2026 |
Friday |
17:30 |
Round 1 (Kids Tournament) |
| August 22, 2026 |
Saturday |
10:00 |
Round 2 (Groups A/B/C) |
| August 22, 2026 |
Saturday |
10:00 |
Round 2 (Kids Tournament) |
| August 22, 2026 |
Saturday |
13:30 |
Round 3 (Kids Tournament) |
| August 22, 2026 |
Saturday |
16:00 |
Round 3 (Groups A/B/C) |
| August 22, 2026 |
Saturday |
17:00 |
Round 4 (Kids Tournament) |
| August 23, 2026 |
Sunday |
09:00 |
Round 4 (Groups A/B/C) |
| August 23, 2026 |
Sunday |
09:00 |
Round 5 (Kids Tournament) |
| August 23, 2026 |
Sunday |
12:30 |
Round 6 (Kids Tournament) |
| August 23, 2026 |
Sunday |
15:00 |
Round 5 (Groups A/B/C) |
| August 23, 2026 |
Sunday |
16:00 |
Round 7 (Kids Tournament) and Kids award ceremony |
| August 23, 2026 |
Sunday |
20:30 |
Award ceremony (Groups A/B/C) |
📝 Registration
👥 Organizer
Gütersloher Schachverein von 1923 e. V. organizes the 16th Gütersloh Sparkassen Cup 2026 in Gütersloh, Germany, delivering a weekend Swiss-System format with FIDE rated sections at the top and clear youth pathways through the C-Group and Kids Tournament. The organizer manages registration online, confirms entries through payment, and awards prizes during the official ceremonies listed in the schedule.
🏨 Venue
Anne-Frank-Gesamtschule, Saligmannsweg 40, 33330 Gütersloh, Germany
The tournament takes place at Anne-Frank-Gesamtschule in Gütersloh, Germany, which hosts all rounds and the award ceremonies according to the official timetable.
🚗 How to Get There
Use the venue address (Anne-Frank-Gesamtschule, Saligmannsweg 40, 33330 Gütersloh, Germany) to plan your route and arrive with enough time for your round start. The tournament applies a 30-minute waiting time, and registration closes on Friday at 17:00.
Bring your focus for five classical rounds and make the 16th Gütersloh Sparkassen Cup 2026 in Gütersloh, Germany your strongest tournament weekend of the summer.