23rd Bad Königshofen Open 2026 takes place from December 27 – 30, 2026, at the Großer Kursaal of FrankenTherme in Bad Königshofen i. Grabfeld, Germany. The tournament offers a 7-round Swiss classical open with FIDE Elo and German national rating calculation.

This is a chess tournament in Bad Königshofen, Germany, in 2026. Players will compete in one open section with Fischer classical time control and accelerated pairings in the first three rounds.

The event offers a published prize fund of €3,000 / approx. $3,490. In addition, players can compete for the traditional “Schwarzer Grabfeldspringer” and “Weiße Königin” challenge trophies, plus rating, women’s, youth, and older-player prizes.

♟️ Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

Players receive 90 minutes for the first 40 moves. After that, they receive 30 minutes for the rest of the game, plus a 30-second increment from move one.

The tournament uses a 7-round Swiss system. In addition, the first three rounds use accelerated pairings.

The event counts for both FIDE Elo and German national rating. Therefore, rated players can use the tournament as a compact classical event between Christmas and New Year.

The default time is 30 minutes from the scheduled start of each round. As a result, players should arrive early and check pairings carefully before every game.

💰 Prize Fund

The tournament offers a published prize fund of €3,000 / approx. $3,490.

Prize Fund Overview

General Prizes

Women’s Prizes

Rating and Special Prizes

Players cannot receive double prizes. Women’s prizes and group prizes require at least five participants in the relevant group.

🧩 Sections / Groups

The tournament has one open section. All players compete in the same 7-round Swiss event.

This format gives players a direct classical tournament experience. At the same time, the prize structure creates separate goals for women players, youth players, older players, and players in different DWZ rating bands.

The tournament has a maximum capacity of 170 players. Since each board has its own table, the organizer aims to provide comfortable playing conditions.

📅 Schedule

Players should complete attendance confirmation before 14:00 on December 27. In addition, they should plan carefully for the double-round days on December 28, 29, and 30.

📝 Registration

Players receive a secure place on the entry list after the organizer receives the entry fee. Therefore, players should complete payment early, especially because the tournament has a 170-player limit.

The organizer may add a €5 surcharge for players who pay on the tournament day.

👥 Organizer

Schachclub 1957 Bad Königshofen e.V. organizes the 23rd Bad Königshofen Open 2026. The club runs the event as a traditional year-end tournament with classical games, live boards, rating calculation, and the well-known “Schwarzer Grabfeldspringer” and “Weiße Königin” trophies.

Phone: +49 9761 39151
Email: juergen.mueller@schachclub1957.de

🏛️ Venue

Großer Kursaal, FrankenTherme – Am Kurzentrum 1, 97631 Bad Königshofen i. Grabfeld, Germany

The tournament takes place in the Großer Kursaal of FrankenTherme in Bad Königshofen. The venue gives players a spacious local setting for four days of rated chess.

The organizer lists 53 live chess boards and one separate table for each board. Therefore, players can expect a serious tournament setup with good playing-room conditions.

🛏️ Accommodation

The tournament information lists several accommodation options in and around Bad Königshofen.

Players can also use the local accommodation information from Bad Königshofen tourism services and the spa administration.

🚆 How to Get There

Players should travel to Großer Kursaal, FrankenTherme – Am Kurzentrum 1, 97631 Bad Königshofen i. Grabfeld, Germany.

Drivers can reach Bad Königshofen conveniently via the A71. They should use the full venue address for navigation and allow enough time for attendance confirmation before the first round.

Players arriving by train can travel to Bad Neustadt/Saale, Schweinfurt, or Fulda and then continue by bus toward Bad Königshofen. Since Round 1 starts at 15:00 on December 27, players should check holiday transport schedules before travel.

ℹ️ Other Information

The tournament offers 53 live boards. In addition, each board has its own table.

Players receive a participant gift. Also, the event may offer an arbiter-norm opportunity for interested officials.

The prize ceremony takes place immediately after the final round. Players should stay after Round 7 if they may qualify for a prize.

23rd Bad Königshofen Open 2026 offers a compact post-Christmas chess tournament in northern Bavaria, with FIDE-rated classical games, live boards, a €3,000 prize fund, and a strong local chess tradition.