Kick off the Easter holiday season at the 1st International Altenburg Chess Days 2026 and enjoy four days of classical chess in April 3-6, 2026 in Altenburg, Germany. The organizers welcome ambitious club players and tournament regulars who want a well-structured Swiss event with serious time control, clear scheduling, and solid prize incentives.

The tournament runs a 7-round Swiss and rates games for FIDE and the German DWZ list. You compete in a single Open group, chase overall and category prizes, and play in a venue built to host large sporting and cultural events. Eligible players can also compete for the integrated East Thuringian individual championship titles.

🗓️ Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

The tournament does not award multiple cash prizes to the same player. The organizers guarantee the listed cash prizes when at least 80 players participate.

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The tournament runs 7 rounds in a Swiss System. Players use 90 minutes for 40 moves + 30 minutes to finish, with a 30-second increment from move 1. The organizers rate games for FIDE and DWZ.

The tournament applies a 30-minute default time. The event uses tie-breaks in this order: points, Buchholz (with one discard), Sonneborn-Berger (with one discard), then direct encounter.

📂 Sections / Groups

The event runs a single Open section. The organizers integrate the East Thuringian Individual Championships 2026 into the Open, and eligible players compete for the official district titles and additional awards.

📅 Schedule

📝 Registration

Players register by email and include their first name, last name, year of birth, and club. Players pay the entry fee by bank transfer by March 15, 2026.

Bank transfer details:
Meuselwitzer Schachverein
IBAN: DE20 8305 0200 1200 1588 02
BIC: HELADEF1ALT
Bank: Sparkasse Altenburger Land
Payment reference: Altenburger Open, name, club

The organizers charge a €10 late fee for registrations or transfers after the deadline. The organizers limit the field and confirm participation in order of payment received.

Participant list:
https://schach-meisterplan.de/altenburgopen2026

👥 Organizer

Meuselwitzer Schachverein 1921 e.V. and Schachclub Altenburg e.V. organize the event and deliver a structured classical Open that combines FIDE-rated competition with strong local chess tradition. The organizing team manages entries centrally and publishes the participant list online.

• Email: info@schach-meisterplan.de

• Phone: 0178 870 0 333

• Website: https://www.meuselwitzer-schachverein.de/

• Website: https://schach-meisterplan.de/altenburgopen2026

🏨 Venue

Goldener Pflug Altenburg, Sporthalle – Beim Goldenen Pflug 3, 04600 Altenburg, Germany
The Goldener Pflug operates as a large sport and cultural hall that hosts sporting events, concerts, exhibitions, and community gatherings. The venue layout supports major events and provides the space needed for a multi-round chess tournament.

🛎️ Accommodation

Altenburg and the surrounding area offer a wide range of accommodation options. Contact the organizer or Altenburg tourist information for recommendations that match your budget and travel plans.

🚗 How to Get There

You can reach Altenburg by rail via Altenburg station, with practical connections through the regional network. If you fly, use Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ) or Erfurt–Weimar Airport (ERF) and continue by train or rental car. Drivers can reach Altenburg by road and park locally near the venue area.

Bring your best classical chess focus to Altenburg and enjoy a compact, prize-rich Open that rewards consistency across seven rounds.

🧾 Other

The tournament applies FIDE electronics guidance and allows fully switched-off electronic devices only when players store them in a closed bag (or similar). Players may enter the playing hall only with clean shoes. By registering, players agree to the publication of tournament-related data and the use of photos and media coverage connected to the event.