19th International Chess Festival “Paracin 2026” will take place on July 3-11, 2026 in Paraćin, Serbia. This is a chess tournament in Paraćin, Serbia, in 2026, and it brings together a classical international chess festival with two main standard sections and two rated side events at Residency Prestige. The program combines a stronger Open A, a more accessible Open B, the 22nd Memorial Rapid Tournament “Uroš Dinić”, and an Open Blitz Tournament in one summer festival setting.
The event suits titled players, ambitious club competitors, improving amateurs, and weekend specialists who want several FIDE-rated options in the same venue. Moreover, the structure is clear, because Open A is built for stronger players and norm ambitions, while Open B offers a separate 9-round event for players rated 2100 and below. The rapid and blitz tournaments add extra flexibility for players who want shorter formats during the festival week.
Paraćin also gives the tournament practical value. In addition, the organizers combine the playing hall, hotel options, transfer support, and published entry system in one coordinated setup. As a result, 19th International Chess Festival “Paracin 2026” stands out as a strong July chess destination in Serbia for players who want serious games, side events, and convenient on-site logistics.
📌 Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | July 3-11, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Paraćin, Serbia |
| ♟️ Format | International chess festival with standard, rapid, and blitz events |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE standard, FIDE rapid, and FIDE blitz rated |
| 🏁 Sections | Open A, Open B, 22nd Memorial Rapid Tournament “Uroš Dinić”, Open Blitz Tournament |
| ⏱️ Time control | Open A / Open B: 90 minutes + 30 seconds from move 1 · Rapid: 10 minutes + 5 seconds from move 1 · Blitz: 3 minutes + 2 seconds from move 1 |
| 🔢 Rounds | Open A: 9 · Open B: 9 · Rapid: 9 · Blitz: 11 |
| 💰 Prize fund | Approx. USD 16,220 |
| 🌐 Official website | https://www.paracinchess.rs/ |
| 📝 Registration | Advance registration with organizer and advance payment for Open A / Open B |
🏆 Prize Fund
The published total cash prize fund for 19th International Chess Festival “Paracin 2026” is 1,750,000 RSD, which is approximately USD 16,220. Therefore, the festival offers a strong combined prize structure across the two main open sections and the two side events. Moreover, the biggest published prize pool belongs to Open A, while the rapid and blitz events give players extra prize opportunities during the same stay.
| Event | Prize details |
|---|---|
| Open A | 1,170,000 RSD total |
| Open A regular prizes | 300,000 · 200,000 · 160,000 · 120,000 · 90,000 · 70,000 · 50,000 · 40,000 · 30,000 · 25,000 · 20,000 · 20,000 RSD |
| Open A special prizes | 45,000 RSD total across 3 prizes |
| Open B | 330,000 RSD total |
| Open B regular prizes | 60,000 · 50,000 · 40,000 · 30,000 · 25,000 · 20,000 · 17,000 · 15,000 · 13,000 · 11,000 · 10,000 · 9,000 RSD |
| Open B special prizes | 30,000 RSD total across 4 prizes |
| 22nd Memorial Rapid Tournament “Uroš Dinić” | 150,000 RSD total |
| Rapid regular prizes | 138,000 RSD across 10 prizes |
| Rapid special prizes | 12,000 RSD across 4 prizes |
| Open Blitz Tournament | 100,000 RSD total |
Open A regular prizes follow the published HORT criteria for players who score 7 points or more. Meanwhile, Open B, rapid, and blitz prizes follow the final standings rules. The published regulations also state that several prize funds are guaranteed only when the required participation threshold is reached.
⏰ Time Control & Pairings
Both Open A and Open B use 90 minutes for the whole game plus a 30-second increment from move one. As a result, the two main sections clearly belong to the classical chess category and give players enough time for serious long-play competition across 9 rounds. The official regulations also confirm that Open A is valid for FIDE rating and title norms, which adds extra value for stronger players.
Meanwhile, the 22nd Memorial Rapid Tournament “Uroš Dinić” uses a 9-round FIDE Swiss with 10 minutes plus 5 seconds from move one, and the Open Blitz Tournament uses an 11-round FIDE Swiss with 3 minutes plus 2 seconds from move one. Therefore, the festival offers a clean mix of classical, rapid, and blitz formats in one coordinated program.
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section | Eligibility | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Open A | Players rated above 2100 | Organizer may include players rated 2000–2099, 1900–1999, and a small number below 1900; lower-rated players need organizer permission |
| Open B | Players rated 2100 and below | Main amateur section |
| 22nd Memorial Rapid Tournament “Uroš Dinić” | Open event | 9-round FIDE rapid tournament |
| Open Blitz Tournament | Open event | 11-round FIDE blitz tournament |
🗓️ Schedule
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| July 3, 2026 | Open A and Open B registration allowed until 11:00 AM |
| July 3–11, 2026 | Open A and Open B played over 9 rounds |
| July 5, 2026 | 22nd Memorial Rapid Tournament “Uroš Dinić” starts at 10:00 AM; entries accepted until 9:45 AM |
| July 10, 2026 | Open Blitz Tournament starts at 10:00 AM; entries accepted until 9:45 AM |
📝 Registration
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Open A registration deadline | July 3, 2026, until 11:00 AM |
| Open B registration deadline | July 3, 2026, until 11:00 AM |
| Open A fee – GMs and players rated above 2450 | Free |
| Open A fee – IMs and players rated above 2400 | €30 |
| Open A fee – all rated above 2100 | €60 |
| Open A fee – all rated 2000–2099 | €120 |
| Open A fee – all rated 1900–1999 | €250 |
| Open A fee – all rated below 1900 | €400 |
| Open B fee | €40 |
| Rapid fee – GMs | Free |
| Rapid fee – all other participants | €15 |
| Blitz fee – GMs | Free |
| Blitz fee – all other participants | €10 |
| Rating basis for entry fees | July 1 FIDE rating list |
| SRB list note | Published entry-fee amounts are for players who are not on the Serbian rating list |
| Payment rule for Open A / Open B | Entry fees must be paid in advance through the Outpost chess platform; players may contact the organizer for direct links if needed |
| Accommodation note | Players who arrange their own accommodation pay an additional €50 entry fee |
👤 Organizer
The Paraćin organizing team manages the full festival structure, including entries, accommodation support, transfers, and event communication. Moreover, the event follows a well-established Paraćin summer format, so players can expect a practical setup with several tournament options under one festival umbrella.
- Email: info@paracinchess.rs
- Phone: +381 63 439497
- Website: https://www.paracinchess.rs/
📍 Venue
Residency Prestige, Svetog Save bb, 35250 Paraćin, Serbia
Residency Prestige serves as the main playing venue for 19th International Chess Festival “Paracin 2026”. The festival uses the Prestige complex as its central base, which keeps the main events in one practical location and simplifies daily movement for visiting players. In addition, the organizers provide chess equipment for all festival events.
🏨 Accommodation
The organizers can arrange accommodation in official hotels and in various apartments. Therefore, players can choose between on-site convenience and nearby alternatives depending on budget and preference.
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Residency Prestige | Budget hotel at the playing venue |
| Hotel Orbis | Luxury 4-star hotel, about 6 minutes walking distance |
| Hotel Petrus | 3-star hotel, about 5 minutes walking distance |
| Hotel INN International | 4-star hotel, at 0 minutes walking distance |
| Villa Modex | 3-star hotel, about 8 minutes walking distance |
| Booking note | For room photos and breakfast-only prices, contact the organizer directly |
| Self-arranged accommodation | Additional €50 entry fee applies |
🚗 How to Get There
Paraćin has a practical central location in Serbia. The official festival information places the city about 175 km from Belgrade Airport and about 80 km from Niš Airport. In addition, the organizers can arrange individual and group transfers for arrival in Paraćin and departure after the festival. As a result, the event is convenient for both international and regional visitors.
19th International Chess Festival “Paracin 2026” is a strong choice for players who want a serious classical tournament, extra rapid and blitz options, and a well-organized chess week in Serbia.
Additional Details
Prize Fund - $16,220
Organizer
Saša Jevtić is a Paraćin-based chess organizer, FIDE Master, FIDE Trainer, International Arbiter, and International Organizer in Serbia. He is the key public figure behind the major chess festival structure in Paraćin and appears consistently as the main operational contact for the city’s international tournaments. Moreover, his long-running role in local chess has made him one of the most visible individual tournament organizers in the Serbian chess calendar.
He organizes the International Chess Festival Paraćin, winter chess events, memorial tournaments, and other FIDE-rated tournaments that attract Serbian and international players. In addition, his name appears directly on official invitations, accommodation contacts, and event information for multiple editions, which clearly ties the Paraćin tournament identity to his personal organizing work. As a result, Saša Jevtić stands out not only as a club representative, but as the main person driving classical chess, rapid, and blitz festival organization in Paraćin.
Beyond event management, he is also active in chess training and wider chess promotion through his public coaching and instructional presence. Furthermore, his repeated involvement across tournament editions shows continuity, personal leadership, and strong practical ownership of Paraćin’s festival model. Therefore, Saša Jevtić is the strongest organizer profile to emphasize when presenting the Paraćin chess events.
