23rd International Amateur Standard-Open Ascona 2026
Sun-soaked Lake Maggiore provides the backdrop for the 23rd International Amateur Standard-Open Ascona 2026, running from Sunday, March 1 to Saturday, March 7, 2026 in Ascona, Switzerland. The organizers stage this 7-round classical amateur open at the **Hotel Ascona, bringing players together for a full week of serious chess under FIDE rules. You can combine tournament play with a comfortable hotel setting in one of Ticino’s most scenic resort towns.
Schach-Freunde Pelikan and Schach – Rheinfelden e.V. run the event with a clear daily rhythm, a single classical time control, and triple rating submission for FIDE, Swiss, and DWZ lists. The tournament also includes a special guest program with GM Sebastian Bogner on Wednesday, adding training-style content and a relaxed evening blitz opportunity for participants.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | March 1-7, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | ****Hotel Ascona, Via Signor in Croce 1, CH-6612 Ascona, Switzerland |
| ♟️ Format | 7-round Swiss (CH-System) |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE, Swiss, and DWZ rated |
| ⏱️ Time control | 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move |
| 💳 Entry fee | CHF 110 (cash on site) |
| 👥 Capacity | 50 players |
| 🧩 Organizer notes | Organizers update tournament info online on chess-results.com and FindChessGames.com |
🏆 Prize Fund
Main prizes:
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | CHF 500 |
| 2nd | CHF 300 |
| 3rd | CHF 100 |
Rating prizes:
| Prize | Details |
|---|---|
| Best TWZ < 1900 | CHF 50 |
| Best TWZ < 1700 | CHF 50 |
The organizers also raffle hotel vouchers worth CHF 150.
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The tournament uses the CH-System (Swiss) over 7 rounds and applies FIDE Laws of Chess throughout the event. Each game uses a single classical time control of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move.
The event submits ratings in three systems: FIDE, Swiss, and DWZ.
📂 Sections / Groups
The tournament runs as a single amateur standard-open without separate rating sections.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Weekday | Time | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 1, 2026 | Sunday | 13:30 | Reception with apéro; entry fee payment on site |
| March 1, 2026 | Sunday | 14:00–18:30 | Round 1 |
| March 2, 2026 | Monday | 14:00–18:30 | Round 2 |
| March 3, 2026 | Tuesday | 14:00–18:30 | Round 3 |
| March 4, 2026 | Wednesday | 09:30 | GM Sebastian Bogner info session |
| March 4, 2026 | Wednesday | 14:00–18:30 | Round 4 |
| March 4, 2026 | Wednesday | 20:15 | Leisure blitz |
| March 5, 2026 | Thursday | 14:00–18:30 | Round 5 |
| March 6, 2026 | Friday | 14:00–18:30 | Round 6 |
| March 7, 2026 | Saturday | 09:00–13:30 | Round 7 |
| March 7, 2026 | Saturday | 13:30–14:00 | Prize-giving |
📝 Registration
Players register and book both the tournament and hotel through the official event pages.
Registration:
Website: https://www.sfpelikan.org/open-ascona/
Website: https://www.schach-rheinfelden.de/open-ascona
Players pay the entry fee of CHF 110 in cash on site at the Sunday reception. The playing hall seats 50 players, so early booking is recommended.
👥 Organizer
Schach-Freunde Pelikan and Schach – Rheinfelden e.V. organize the tournament and provide the tournament directors and arbiters for the full week.
Email: schach@sfpelikan.org
Phone: +41 76 7881 631 (from March 1)
🏨 Venue
The tournament takes place at the **Hotel Ascona, Via Signor in Croce 1, CH-6612 Ascona, Switzerland. The bright playing hall offers space for 50 players, includes a drinks buffet, and provides short access to on-site facilities inside the hotel.
🛎️ Accommodation
The **Hotel Ascona offers chess special rates for resident guests that include breakfast, half-board festive meals, free use of the sauna and jacuzzi, and a public transport ticket for Ticino, plus a tourist tax of CHF 4.50 per person per night.
| Room type | Price details |
|---|---|
| Double room (North) | CHF 135 per night single use; CHF 210 per night double use |
| Room (South) with balcony and view | CHF 150–200 per night single use; CHF 300–350 per night double use |
| Day guests resident in Ticino | Hotel fee CHF 210 per week |
🚗 How to Get There
You can reach Ascona in Ticino by road via the regional highway network around Locarno, then continue into Ascona and follow local signs to Via Signor in Croce. Travelers can also arrive by rail to Locarno and continue by local public transport within Ticino to Ascona.
Play a full week of classical chess beside Lake Maggiore and enjoy a relaxed Swiss-Italian atmosphere that blends competition with a true holiday setting.
Additional Details
Regulations -
Organizer
Schach – Rheinfelden e.V. is a German chess club from Rheinfelden (Baden), located on the Upper Rhine close to the Swiss border. The club combines league chess as part of the Badischer Schachverband with a strong focus on social and leisure chess. Its members meet regularly to play, train and enjoy the game together in a relaxed but competitive environment.
The club’s main playing venue is the traditional Gambrinus in the “Altes Rathaus” in Rheinfelden. Here they host club evenings, internal tournaments and training sessions, as well as regional events that bring together players from the wider Hochrhein area. In addition, Schach – Rheinfelden e.V. organises the international Standard-Open Rheinfelden and works closely with Swiss partners on cross-border tournaments and youth projects.
Through this mix of league matches, open tournaments and community activities, the club offers suitable opportunities for ambitious team players, returning adults and young talents. New members of all levels are welcome, and the club positions itself as a friendly entry point into organised chess on the German side of the Rheinfelden twin towns.
Address: Gambrinus, Friedrichstr. 6, 79618 Rheinfelden (Baden), Germany
Phone: +49 1525 696 2772
Website: https://www.schach-rheinfelden.de
Schach-Freunde Pelikan is a Swiss chess organisation based in Rheinfelden in the canton of Aargau. It specialises in organising open tournaments that attract players from Switzerland, Germany and many other countries. The team focuses on well-structured, FIDE-rated events that combine serious competition with a friendly, festival-style atmosphere.
The club is best known for its international opens in Rheinfelden and Ascona. These include the Standard-Open Rheinfelden and the Amateur Standard-Open Ascona. Both are played with classical time controls and triple Elo ratings (FIDE, national and Swiss lists). In addition, Schach-Freunde Pelikan runs rapid tournaments, blitz events, and youth opens in cooperation with regional partners. Therefore, club players, juniors, and hobby players all find suitable formats throughout the year.
At the heart of Schach-Freunde Pelikan is a small, experienced organising team. They pay close attention to details such as clear regulations, punctual rounds, and a warm welcome for guests. Their events are run strictly according to FIDE rules. These are often paired with leisure activities, which makes them particularly attractive for families and chess tourists.
Address: Säckingerstrasse 21, 4310 Rheinfelden, Switzerland
Contact person: J.-J. Segginger
Phone: +41 61 831 41 21
Website: https://www.sfpelikan.org