18th Open Hum na Sutli 2026 is a long-running summer open in northwestern Croatia. This is a chess tournament in Hum na Sutli, Croatia, in 2026. It serves as the international open championship of Krapina-Zagorje County and welcomes players from Croatia and abroad who have a FIDE ID.
The event uses a single open section and a full 9-round Swiss format. Moreover, the tournament follows a classical time control, so it suits players who want serious FIDE-rated standard chess over a full week.
ŠK Straža organizes the tournament in Hum na Sutli and has built this event into one of the club’s main annual competitions. In addition, the published prize structure includes both main prizes and special awards, which gives the event broader appeal across rating groups and player categories.
🏁 Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | August 22-29, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Fire Station of DVD Straža, Hum na Sutli, Croatia |
| ♟️ Format | 9-round Swiss |
| ⏱️ Time control | 90 minutes per player + 30-second increment per move |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE rated |
| 👥 Sections | One open section |
| ✅ Eligibility | Players from Croatia and abroad with a FIDE ID |
| 💰 Prize fund | EUR 4,000 (approx. USD 4,640) |
| 🔗 Chess-Results | https://s1.chess-results.com/tnr1377319.aspx?lan=1&art=3&flag=30&turdet=YES&SNode=S0 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The tournament uses a classical time control of 90 minutes per player plus a 30-second increment from move one. It is played as a 9-round Swiss and is rated for the FIDE standard list.
Players should also bring a digital chess clock. Therefore, competitors should arrive prepared for standard tournament conditions from round one.
💰 Prize Fund
The published cash prize fund is EUR 4,000 (approx. USD 4,640). The top three finishers also receive trophies.
| Category | Prizes |
|---|---|
| Main prizes | 1st EUR 1,000; 2nd EUR 800; 3rd EUR 600; 4th EUR 400; 5th EUR 200 |
| Rating prizes | Best player up to 1800: EUR 100; best player 1801-2000: EUR 130; best player 2001-2200: EUR 170 |
| Other special prizes | Best player born in 1964 or earlier: EUR 100; best woman: EUR 100; best junior: EUR 100; best cadet: EUR 100; best Krapina-Zagorje County player: EUR 100; best ŠK Straža player: EUR 10 |
If the tournament attracts fewer than 60 players, the organizer may reduce prizes by 20%. If the field drops below 50 players, prizes may be reduced by 30%.
♟️ Sections / Groups
| Section | Details |
|---|---|
| Open | Single FIDE-rated section for all eligible players |
Although the event has only one section, the special prize structure still gives lower-rated players, juniors, women, local players, and club players clear prize targets.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| August 22, 2026 | 15:00 | Final registration |
| August 22, 2026 | 16:00 | Round 1 |
| August 23, 2026 | 10:00 | Round 2 |
| August 23, 2026 | 16:00 | Round 3 |
| August 24, 2026 | 17:00 | Round 4 |
| August 25, 2026 | 17:00 | Round 5 |
| August 26, 2026 | 17:00 | Round 6 |
| August 27, 2026 | 17:00 | Round 7 |
| August 28, 2026 | 17:00 | Round 8 |
| August 29, 2026 | 10:00 | Round 9 |
| August 29, 2026 | After Round 9 | Closing ceremony and prize-giving |
📝 Registration
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Standard entry fee by August 21 | EUR 40 |
| Discounted entry fee by August 21 | EUR 25 for women and players under 18 |
| On-site entry fee | EUR 45 |
| Discounted on-site entry fee | EUR 30 for women and players under 18 |
| Free entry | Players rated over 2400 and women players rated over 2200 |
| Payment deadline | August 21, 2026 for advance payment |
| Registration close | August 22, 2026 at 15:00 |
| Important note | Players who have not paid the entry fee before the start of round 1 cannot play |
👤 Organizer
Association Chess Club Straža organizes this event in Hum na Sutli. The club was founded in 2000 and formally registered in 2001. Since then, it has remained active in league chess, club tournaments, youth activity, and the continued development of the Hum Open.
Phone: +385 98 378 491
Email: krklecjosip61@gmail.com
📍 Venue
Fire Station of DVD Straža, Hum na Sutli, Croatia
Games take place at the local fire station venue in Hum na Sutli. Final registration, however, is scheduled in the Municipal Hall (Dom kulture) on August 22 before the first round. This setup gives the event a practical local base while keeping the tournament centered in town.
🚗 How to Get There
Hum na Sutli is easiest to reach by car. The organizer also lists accommodation options in Hum na Sutli and nearby towns such as Rogatec, Desinić, and Krapina. However, some of those options require local transport to the playing hall.
It is a solid choice for players who want a FIDE-rated classical open in Croatia at the end of August.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $4,640
Organizer
♟️ Club Identity
Association Chess Club Straža is a chess club and tournament organizer based in Hum na Sutli, Croatia. The club started in 2000 and registered on January 26, 2001. It entered the county league system at once and quickly became competitive. In its first years, Straža took third place in the county cup, won the Sutla League, and later won the county cup. That rise carried the club to the III A League. In 2015, it adopted the association form Udruga ŠK Straža. Later, it formed a second team for the IV D League. League chess still remains part of its core program. Straža also uses club rooms in the municipal building in Hum na Sutli. That gives local players a regular base for meetings, training, and over-the-board play.
🏆 Tournament Activity
Tournament work gives Straža much of its public identity. Its flagship event is the Hum Open, with editions archived from 2007 through 2025. Straža had already started preparations for the 2026 event early that year. The Croatian federation calendar listed the 2025 Hum Open under Udruga ŠK Straža. Chess-Results also listed Straža as organizer of the 2026 event. The club also runs the Dan Općine Hum na Sutli tournament and highlights other local memorial and community competitions. In 2025, the 17th Hum Open brought together 59 players from Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, and Hungary. For players, that record shows consistency, not a one-off event.
🌱 Youth and Community Chess
Beyond open tournaments, Straža also invests in youth chess and day-to-day club life. The club states that its chess school continued in 2025/2026 and had nine cadets at that time. It named Milan Štruklec and Josip Krklec as volunteers working with that group. Recent youth reports also show Straža cadets appearing in junior events in the region. The annual competition plan includes cadet league activity, county events, and regular team competition. In addition, Straža reports monthly club tournaments and long-term friendly meetings with clubs from Maribor and Šmarje pri Jelšah. It has also joined community cleanup and local volunteer actions in Hum na Sutli. That mix matters for chess players. Straža combines league play, tournament organization, junior training, and community engagement in one small but active club.
Venue on the Map
Hotels Near the Venue
Find nearby accommodation for this tournament location.
