1er Open International d’Échecs des Menuires
The 1er Open International d’Échecs des Menuires will take place from July 11 to 18, 2026, at Le Break des Menuires in the French Alps.
The festival features three parallel nine-round classical tournaments: Masters, Accession, and Avenir. Each section offers FIDE-rated chess for a different rating range while following the same playing schedule.
Players will compete for a combined prize fund of €25,000 / approximately $28,510. The program includes eight single-round days, one double-round day, and a final awards ceremony on July 18.
🗓️ Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | July 11–18, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Les Menuires, Savoie, France |
| 🏛️ Venue | Le Break des Menuires – Centre Sportif |
| 👥 Organizer | Échecs Club de Corbas Mions |
| 🤝 Event Partner | Les Menuires resort |
| ⚖️ Chief Arbiter | Matthieu Bissières |
| ♟️ Format | Three parallel classical tournaments |
| 📂 Sections | Masters, Accession, and Avenir |
| 🔢 Rounds | 9 |
| 🔄 Pairing System | Swiss System |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 90 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes, with a 30-second increment from move one |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE standard rating |
| 📝 Check-In Deadline | July 11 at 14:00 |
| 💰 Prize Fund | €25,000 / approximately $28,510 |
| 🌐 Official Website | https://www.openechecs-menuires.com/ |
| 📝 Registration | https://www.helloasso.com/associations/echecs-club-de-corbas/evenements/1st-international-chess-open-les-menuires |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
All three sections use a nine-round Swiss System and follow the same schedule.
Each player receives 90 minutes for the first 40 moves. After move 40, each player receives another 30 minutes for the rest of the game. A 30-second increment applies from move one.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Pairing System | Swiss System |
| Rounds | 9 |
| Time Control | 90 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes, plus 30 seconds per move |
| Rating Calculation | FIDE standard rating |
| Shared Schedule | Masters, Accession, and Avenir follow the same timetable |
| Half-Point Byes | Maximum of two |
| Bye Request Deadline | No later than the day before the relevant round |
| Bye Restriction | No half-point byes in Rounds 8 and 9 |
Players must submit bye requests before the published deadline. Requests for either of the final two rounds will not be accepted.
🏆 Prize Fund
The festival offers a combined prize fund of €25,000 / approximately $28,510.
The prize structure includes general ranking prizes, women’s prizes, and additional awards based on age and rating category.
Masters Tournament
| Prize Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st place | €3,000 |
| 2nd place | €2,000 |
| 3rd place | €1,500 |
| 4th place | €1,000 |
| 5th place | €800 |
| 6th place | €600 |
| 7th place | €500 |
| 8th place | €400 |
| 9th place | €300 |
| 10th place | €300 |
| 11th–15th places | €200 each |
| 1st woman | €1,000 |
| 2nd woman | €800 |
| 3rd woman | €600 |
Additional age and Elo-category prizes are available in the Masters section.
Accession Tournament
| Prize Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st place | €1,000 |
| 2nd place | €700 |
| 3rd place | €400 |
| 4th place | €300 |
| 5th place | €300 |
| 6th place | €200 |
| 7th place | €300 |
| 8th place | €100 |
| 9th place | €100 |
| 10th place | €100 |
| 1st woman | €300 |
| 2nd woman | €200 |
| 3rd woman | €100 |
Additional age and Elo-category prizes are available in the Accession section.
Avenir Tournament
| Prize Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st place | €500 |
| 2nd place | €400 |
| 3rd place | €300 |
| 4th place | €200 |
| 5th place | €100 |
| 1st woman | €150 |
| 2nd woman | €100 |
| 3rd woman | €50 |
Additional age and Elo-category prizes are available in the Avenir section.
♟️ Sections / Groups
The festival includes three separate tournaments for different rating levels.
| Section | Eligibility | Adult Entry | U20 Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masters | FIDE rating of 1900 or higher | €70 | €35 |
| Accession | FIDE rating above 1550 and below 2000 | €60 | €30 |
| Avenir | FIDE rating below 1600 | €50 | €25 |
Masters
The Masters tournament is open to players with a FIDE rating of at least 1900.
GM, WGM, IM, and WIM titleholders receive free entry. FM and WFM titleholders pay an entry fee of €50.
Accession
The Accession tournament is available to players whose FIDE rating is above 1550 and below 2000.
This section provides a competitive middle group for experienced club players who do not meet the Masters threshold.
Avenir
The Avenir tournament is reserved for players with a FIDE rating below 1600.
It offers developing players a separate competition with its own rankings and prize structure.
Section eligibility uses the player’s published rating on July 1, 2026.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, July 11 | By 14:00 | Check-in closes |
| Saturday, July 11 | 15:00 | Round 1 |
| Sunday, July 12 | 14:30 | Round 2 |
| Monday, July 13 | 10:00 | Round 3 |
| Monday, July 13 | 16:00 | Round 4 |
| Tuesday, July 14 | 14:30 | Round 5 |
| Wednesday, July 15 | 14:30 | Round 6 |
| Thursday, July 16 | 14:30 | Round 7 |
| Friday, July 17 | 14:30 | Round 8 |
| Saturday, July 18 | 09:00 | Round 9 |
| Saturday, July 18 | 15:00 | Awards ceremony |
July 13 is the only double-round day. All other playing days include one scheduled round.
📝 Registration
Online registration and payment are available through HelloAsso.
Players must select the correct section based on their July 1, 2026 FIDE rating.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Registration Method | Online through HelloAsso |
| Payment Method | Online card payment |
| Check-In Deadline | July 11 at 14:00 |
| Organizer Email | openechecsmenuires@gmail.com |
| Official Website | https://www.openechecs-menuires.com/ |
| Registration Page | https://www.helloasso.com/associations/echecs-club-de-corbas/evenements/1st-international-chess-open-les-menuires |
Entry Fees
| Section and Category | Entry Fee |
|---|---|
| Masters – Adult | €70 |
| Masters – U20 | €35 |
| Masters – FM or WFM | €50 |
| Masters – GM, WGM, IM, or WIM | Free |
| Accession – Adult | €60 |
| Accession – U20 | €30 |
| Avenir – Adult | €50 |
| Avenir – U20 | €25 |
Players must complete both registration and payment to confirm their participation.
👥 Organizer
Échecs Club de Corbas Mions organizes the 1er Open International d’Échecs des Menuires in partnership with the Les Menuires resort.
The club manages the tournament structure, registration, pairings, player communication, and sporting organization.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organizer | Échecs Club de Corbas Mions |
| Event Partner | Les Menuires resort |
| Chief Arbiter | Matthieu Bissières |
| openechecsmenuires@gmail.com | |
| Tournament Website | https://www.openechecs-menuires.com/ |
| Club Website | https://www.echecsclubcorbas.fr/ |
📍 Venue
Le Break des Menuires – Centre Sportif – 964 Avenue de la Croisette, 73440 Les Belleville, France.
The playing venue is located in La Croisette, the central district of the Les Menuires mountain resort.
All three tournament sections, check-in, and the awards ceremony take place at the same venue.
🚆 How to Get There
The nearest railway station is Moûtiers–Salins–Brides-les-Bains, approximately 27 kilometers from Les Menuires.
| Travel Option | Information |
|---|---|
| Nearest Railway Station | Moûtiers–Salins–Brides-les-Bains |
| Distance from Station | Approximately 27 km |
| Coach | Regional coach transfers operate between Moûtiers and Les Menuires |
| Taxi | Taxi services are available from Moûtiers |
| Rental Car | Available for the onward mountain journey |
| Local Transport | Free shuttle buses connect resort districts and valley villages |
| Parking | Free outdoor parking is available throughout the resort |
Players arriving by car should use the full venue address in La Croisette and allow additional time for mountain-road travel.
La Plagne Transfer
A dedicated transfer will operate from Belle Plagne to Les Menuires on Friday, July 10, 2026.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Departure | Belle Plagne |
| Destination | Les Menuires |
| Date | July 10, 2026 |
| Departure Time | 17:45 |
| Price | €15 |
| Capacity | 50 passengers |
ℹ️ Other
Tournament participants can use the promotional code ECHEC26 for selected CGH residences near the playing venue.
| Residence | Discount |
|---|---|
| Les Clarines | Additional 10% |
| Les Chalets du Soleil | Additional 15% |
The accommodation discounts can be combined with other current offers, subject to availability.
Les Menuires offers free resort shuttle services, restaurants, shops, summer mountain activities, and accommodation close to the playing venue.
Players should complete check-in before 14:00 on July 11. Anyone requesting a half-point bye must submit the request no later than the day before the relevant round.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $28,510
Organizer
♟️ About the Organizer
Échecs Club de Corbas Mions is an active chess club based in Corbas and Mions, near Lyon, France. The club has supported players since 1998 and has become one of the most visible training-focused chess clubs in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Its work combines over-the-board chess, structured coaching, youth development, adult training, and regular team competition.
The club offers a broad weekly program for players of different strengths. Training sessions cover beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, while club activity also includes practical play, tournament preparation, and team chess. Therefore, players can enter the club as beginners and continue toward serious competitive chess through a clear development pathway.
Échecs Club de Corbas Mions has a strong reputation as a training club. It supports young players, adult club players, and competitive teams through a well-organized structure. As a result, the club gives players near Lyon a reliable place to learn, practice, compete, and grow within the French chess system.
🏆 Chess Events and Activities
Échecs Club de Corbas Mions organizes and supports a wide range of chess activity during the season. Its program includes youth tournaments, rapid events, FIDE-rated opens, internal activity, team matches, and training sessions. The club also runs regular events in Corbas and supports chess activity in Mions.
The organizer is known for the Open International de Corbas, a traditional end-of-year FIDE-rated tournament. The 2026 edition includes an Open A with classical time control and an Open B for developing players. This structure helps experienced competitors and young players compete in suitable sections while staying within the same tournament environment.
The club also has a strong team-chess presence. It competes in French interclub events, youth interclub competitions, and women’s team competitions. In addition, Échecs Club de Corbas Mions organizes youth events and school-related chess activity, which strengthens its role as a major regional chess educator.
🌍 Player Experience and Community
Players who join Échecs Club de Corbas Mions can expect an active and structured chess environment. The club works with children, teenagers, adults, casual players, and ambitious competitors. This makes it suitable for families and for players who want a serious but welcoming chess club near Lyon.
The club’s training structure is one of its main strengths. Young players can start with introductory courses and later move into stronger groups, team play, and official tournaments. Meanwhile, adult players can take part in club evenings, rated events, and team competitions. Therefore, the club creates a practical bridge between learning chess and playing competitive over-the-board games.
For players searching for chess in Corbas, chess training near Lyon, or FIDE-rated chess tournaments in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Échecs Club de Corbas Mions offers a strong regional option. Its mix of coaching, youth development, team chess, open tournaments, and community activity gives the organizer a clear and respected place in French chess.
Hotels Near the Venue
Find nearby accommodation for this tournament location.
