The 2026 Munich Autumn Chess Championships will take place from October 15–18, 2026 at Pfarrsaal St. Otto in Ottobrunn, Germany, in the Munich metropolitan area. Organized by European Chess Festivals, the four-day programme combines FIDE-rated classical, rapid, and blitz chess.

The festival opens on Thursday evening with a five-round Rapid Championship at 12+3. The five-round classical Open then runs from Friday through Sunday at 90+30, while Saturday evening features a nine-round Blitz Championship at 3+2.

Players may enter an individual championship or combine all three events. The Open has a projected prize fund of €2,400+, while the Rapid and Blitz each have projected prize funds of €500–€600, depending on participation.

♟️ Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

Open Championship

The Open consists of five Swiss-system rounds and is currently divided into two sections.

Players may not play up into a higher section. Instead, the final pre-tournament DWZ determines the appropriate section.

A valid FIDE ID is mandatory for Section A. Players entering only Section B do not need a FIDE ID. FIDE-unrated players in Section A may receive an estimated rating for pairing purposes.

Players may request up to two half-point byes during Rounds 1–4. Each request must be submitted before the previous round begins. A Round 5 bye scores zero points.

Rapid Championship

The Rapid Championship begins as one Open Swiss tournament. However, the organizer may divide the field into two sections if participation and rating distribution support that structure.

If two sections are created, both will remain FIDE Rapid rated. A valid FIDE ID is required.

Blitz Championship

The Blitz Championship consists of nine rounds in one Open section.

The organizer may use Baku acceleration at its discretion. A valid FIDE ID is required.

🏆 Prize Fund

Each championship has its own prize fund. Prize amounts are published in euros only.

Open Championship

The Open has a projected prize fund of €2,400+, based on approximately 80 players. The organizer expects around 55–60% of Open entry fees to return to players as prizes.

Section A – Top

Section B – U1800

The published individual awards are stated as “up to” amounts. Therefore, the final distribution depends on participation.

Rapid Championship

The projected Rapid prize fund is €500–€600, depending on the number of entries.

Blitz Championship

The projected Blitz prize fund is €500–€600, depending on participation.

Players who finish level on points share the relevant monetary prizes. Tiebreaks determine the final ranking order but do not replace prize sharing among tied players.

Prize money is distributed by IBAN bank transfer.

🧩 Sections / Groups

Open Championship

Section A uses FIDE ratings for the starting order and pairings, while Section B uses DWZ.

Play-ups are not permitted. Therefore, the final pre-tournament DWZ determines the player’s section.

Rapid Championship

The Rapid Championship currently uses one Open playing section. However, European Chess Festivals may divide the field into two sections if participation warrants it. Both sections would remain FIDE Rapid rated.

Blitz Championship

The Blitz Championship uses one Open section.

The U2000, U1700, and Unrated prizes in the Rapid and Blitz Championships are prize categories rather than separate playing sections.

🗓️ Schedule

Thursday, October 15 – Rapid Championship

Friday, October 16 – Open Championship

Saturday, October 17 – Open Championship

Saturday, October 17 – Blitz Championship

Sunday, October 18 – Open Championship

📝 Registration

Registration for the 2026 Munich Autumn Chess Championships is open until October 13, 2026.

Players must register through the official European Chess Festivals registration form:

Registration:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd_1lsVRmb3AthS4FR8DhuQQfuTKitIsXw6NXxFYRcfJfPycA/viewform

Entry Fees

The three-event package saves €20 compared with entering all championships separately.

Titled Players

GMs, IMs, FMs, WGMs, WIMs, and WFMs receive free entry until October 1, 2026.

After October 1, eligible titled players receive a 50% entry-fee discount.

Open Late Fee

The standard Open entry fee is €60. Registration after October 11 carries an additional €5 late fee.

FIDE ID Requirement

A valid FIDE ID is mandatory for:

Open Section A, Rapid Championship, and Blitz Championship.

Players entering only the Open U1800 Section B do not need a FIDE ID.

Players who have applied for a new German FIDE ID must send the new number to the organizer before the festival begins.

Payment

Entry fees must be paid by EUR SEPA bank transfer to the IBAN provided in the registration instructions.

Players should include their name and selected event(s) in the transfer reference. Registration is confirmed after payment has been received.

Refunds

The full-refund period ended on September 15.

Withdrawals submitted from September 16 through October 11 receive a 50% refund. No refunds are provided after October 11.

👥 Organizer

Organizer Name: European Chess Festivals
Contact Person: Daniel Rokhvarger
Email: europeanchessfestivals@gmail.com
Phone: +1 647 323 0550

📍 Venue

Pfarrsaal St. Otto – Beiserstraße 1, 85521 Ottobrunn, Germany

The venue for the 2026 Munich Autumn Chess Championships has been confirmed. The championships will take place at Pfarrsaal St. Otto in Ottobrunn, within the Munich metropolitan area.

ℹ️ Other Information

Tiebreaks

All three championships use the following published tiebreak order:

Monetary prizes remain shared among players who finish level on points.

Open Pairings

Open Championship pairings are planned for publication on Chess-Results before each round. Players should therefore monitor the official Chess-Results page during the tournament.

Appeals

A written appeal requires a €60 deposit.

The deposit is refunded after a successful appeal. The appeals committee may also refund the deposit after an unsuccessful appeal if it considers the complaint reasonable.

Electronic Devices

Players may not use electronic devices during play. Phones must remain switched off, and carrying or using a prohibited device during a round may result in loss of the game.

Spectators may not use electronic devices inside the playing area.

Fair Play

The championships follow FIDE Anti-Cheating Regulations. Players must also follow any additional fair-play instructions issued by the tournament officials.

Photography

Participants also consent to tournament photography for post-event promotional use.

Official Links

Official Event Information:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/18mz6ljdke-pjjX7oQ1zYnMxL2bdOc833YcihaYDXGuM/edit?tab=t.0

Registration:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd_1lsVRmb3AthS4FR8DhuQQfuTKitIsXw6NXxFYRcfJfPycA/viewform

Open Championship – Chess-Results:
https://chess-results.com/tnr1496944.aspx?lan=1

Rapid Championship – Chess-Results:
https://chess-results.com/tnr1496941.aspx?lan=1

Blitz Championship – Chess-Results:
https://chess-results.com/tnr1496940.aspx?lan=1