The 16th Rheinland-Pfalz Open 2026 brings seven rounds of classical Swiss chess to June 4-7, 2026 in Neuwied/Heimbach-Weis, Germany and anchors the long Corpus Christi weekend with an official state championship setting. The event welcomes club players and titled competitors who want serious, rated games under a proven tournament rhythm with two rounds per day from Thursday through Saturday and a final-round finish on Sunday. The organizer submits results for Elo and DWZ and supports high-quality play with a long classical time control and clear default-time rules. The prize list features more than €4,000 in cash prizes, including main prizes and multiple special categories with defined eligibility conditions. Every participant needs a FIDE ID, and the event also awards the Rheinland-Pfalz champion title to the best-placed active player from the Schachbund Rheinland-Pfalz.

The organizer hosts the tournament at Festhalle Heimbach-Weis in the Neuwied district of Heimbach-Weis and runs an on-site personal registration window before Round 1. Tournament leadership coordinates pairings, enforces the rules, and applies FIDE Buchholz with one cut as the primary tie-break at equal scores. The organizer limits the field to 250 participants, and it secures places through pre-registration and timely payment. The registration rules define processing fees for cancellations and restrict refunds after the published deadline except with a medical certificate. If you want a compact, well-timed open with strong incentives and a clear competitive pathway, this tournament fits that profile.

🗓️ Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

The organizer lists more than €4,000 in cash prizes and does not award double prizes. The organizer awards prizes only to players who attend the award ceremony. The organizer awards special category prizes only when the category includes at least 5 participants.

Main prizes

Special category prizes (minimum 5 participants per category)

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The tournament runs 7 rounds in a Swiss System format. Each game uses 90 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes to finish, plus a 30-second increment per move from move 1. The organizer enforces a 30-minute default time. The tournament uses FIDE Buchholz with one cut as the primary tie-break. The organizer does not award double prizes.

📂 Sections / Groups

The organizer runs a single open Swiss tournament and rates it for Elo and DWZ.

📅 Schedule

📝 Registration

Register online at www.rlp-open.de and secure your place by paying the entry fee. The organizer caps the event at 250 participants and confirms places through pre-registration and payment. The organizer charges Adults €40 and Youth €30, and it grants active members of SBRP clubs a €5 discount when they pay by May 21, 2026. From May 22, 2026, the organizer charges Adults €50 and Youth €40.

Pay by bank transfer to Schachbund Rheinland-Pfalz: IBAN DE28 5739 1800 0022 6022 09, BIC GENODE51WW1, bank Westerwald Bank. The organizer also accepts payment by PayPal. The organizer charges a 20% processing fee for cancellations. The organizer does not refund entry fees for withdrawals from May 21, 2026 onward, except when a player provides a medical certificate. Every participant needs a FIDE ID. Complete personal registration on-site on Thursday, June 4, 2026 from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM.

👥 Organizer

Schachbund Rheinland-Pfalz e.V. runs the Rheinland-Pfalz Open as the official state individual championship event, and SC Heimbach-Weis/Neuwied e.V. serves as the local organizer in Neuwied/Heimbach-Weis. Tournament leadership coordinates entries, pairings, and on-site operations and provides direct contact channels for player questions and logistics.

• Email: ch_fink@web.de

• Phone: 0171 827 08 79

• Website: www.rlp-open.de

🏨 Venue

Festhalle Heimbach-Weis, Flurstr. 24, 56566 Neuwied/Heimbach-Weis, Germany
The tournament plays all rounds in Festhalle Heimbach-Weis. The organizer also runs the personal registration window in the playing hall before Round 1. The venue hosts the full competitive schedule from Thursday morning through Sunday morning.

🛎️ Accommodation

Romantik Hotel Villa Sayn, Koblenz-Olper-Straße 111, 56170 Bendorf-Sayn, Germany, Phone 02622 944 90, Email info@villasayn.de
food hotel Neuwied, Langendorfer Str. 157, 56564 Neuwied, Germany, Phone 02631 82 52-0, Email info@food-hotel.de
Imota Hotel, Wilhelm-Leuschner-Straße 12, 56564 Neuwied, Germany, Phone 02631 941050, Website www.hotel-imota.de
Jugendherberge Kloster Leutesdorf, Rheinstraße 25, 56599 Leutesdorf am Rhein, Germany, Phone 02631 95674100, Email leutesdorf@diejugendherbergen.de

🚗 How to Get There

Navigate to Festhalle Heimbach-Weis, Flurstr. 24, 56566 Neuwied/Heimbach-Weis, Germany. Plan your arrival to complete personal registration between 8:30 AM and 9:30 AM on Thursday, June 4, 2026 and start Round 1 on time.

Use this long-weekend open to play seven serious rounds and chase both prizes and the Rheinland-Pfalz champion title in Neuwied/Heimbach-Weis.

🧾 Other

The organizer requires a FIDE ID for participation. By registering, players consent to the organizer’s use and publication of tournament data, results, games, photos, and reports related to the event. Players who manipulate results through prohibited assistance accept the disciplinary authority of the German Chess Federation and the Schachbund Rheinland-Pfalz under their statutes. The organizer applies hygiene requirements in line with the applicable legal regulations.