24. Bad Harzburger Schachtage will take place from October 13-17, 2026, in Bad Harzburg, Germany. This is a chess tournament in Bad Harzburg, Germany, in 2026.
The event offers a classical chess tournament with 6 Swiss-system rounds. It counts for DWZ rating and uses a long time control with increment throughout the game.
The tournament suits club players, youth players, coaches, families, and visitors who want a structured chess event in Lower Saxony. In addition, the event offers a prize fund of more than €3,800 and on-site food service during the tournament.
♟️ Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏷️ Tournament | 24. Bad Harzburger Schachtage |
| 📅 Dates | October 13–17, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Bad Harzburg, Germany |
| 🏛️ Venue | Großer Saal im Bündheimer Schloss, Gestütstraße 8, 38667 Bad Harzburg, Germany |
| ♟️ Format | Classical open tournament |
| 🌍 Rating | DWZ-rated |
| 🔢 Rounds | 6 |
| 🧩 Pairing system | Swiss system |
| ⏱️ Time control | 100 minutes for 40 moves + 25 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment per move |
| ⏳ Default time | 30 minutes |
| 👥 Capacity | Maximum 90 players |
| 💶 Entry fee | Adults: €50; youth players born in 2007 or later: €45 |
| 🆓 Free entry | GM, WGM, IM, and WIM players |
| 🏆 Prize fund | More than €3,800, approximately US$4,410 |
| 🍽️ On-site services | Affordable drinks and food in the tournament hall |
| 🏛️ Organizer | Schachklub Bad Harzburg von 1927 e.V. |
| 🏙️ Patronage | City of Bad Harzburg |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The tournament uses a classical time control of 100 minutes for the first 40 moves. After that, each player receives 25 minutes for the rest of the game. In addition, a 30-second increment applies from move 1.
Pairings follow the Swiss system across 6 rounds. The tournament counts for DWZ rating, so players receive a nationally rated long-game event.
The default time is 30 minutes after the scheduled start of each round. Also, electronic aids may not be carried in the tournament area.
🏆 Prize Fund
The event has a confirmed total prize fund of more than €3,800, approximately US$4,410. Prizes are guaranteed from 80 paying participants.
| Prize Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st place | €600 |
| 2nd place | €500 |
| 3rd place | €400 |
| 4th place | €300 |
| 5th place | €250 |
| Players born in 1966 or earlier, and female players born in 1971 or earlier | 1st: €200; 2nd: €150; 3rd: €100 |
| Players born in 1956 or earlier, and female players born in 1961 or earlier | 1st: €200; 2nd: €150; 3rd: €100 |
| Youth players born in 2007 or later | 1st: €200; 2nd: €150; 3rd: €100 |
| Rating groups | 1st: €90; 2nd: €80; 3rd: €70 in each rating group |
Players cannot receive multiple prizes. Moreover, prize money is awarded only to winners who attend the prize ceremony or name a representative in advance.
👥 Sections / Groups
Open Tournament
The tournament runs as one open group with a maximum of 90 players. All participants compete in the same 6-round Swiss-system event.
Prize Categories
Special prize categories cover youth players born in 2007 or later, older-player age bands, and DWZ-based rating groups. The player’s DWZ on October 1, 2026 determines rating-group placement.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Time | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|
| October 13, 2026 | 14:00–17:30 | Required registration at the tournament hall |
| October 13, 2026 | 17:45 | Opening ceremony |
| October 13, 2026 | After opening | Round 1 |
| October 14, 2026 | 10:00 | Round 2 |
| October 15, 2026 | 10:00 | Round 3 |
| October 15, 2026 | 17:00 | Round 4 |
| October 16, 2026 | 10:00 | Round 5 |
| October 17, 2026 | 09:00 | Round 6 |
| October 17, 2026 | 15:30 | Prize ceremony |
📝 Registration
| Registration Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Registration method | Online registration through SK Bad Harzburg or registration with the tournament management |
| On-site registration | October 13, 2026, from 14:00 to 17:30 |
| Capacity | Limited to 90 players |
| Standard entry fee | Adults: €50; youth players born in 2007 or later: €45 |
| Payment deadline for standard fee | October 1, 2026 |
| Late payment / on-site fee | Adults: €55; youth players born in 2007 or later: €50 |
| Free entry | GM, WGM, IM, and WIM players |
| Payment recipient | Schachklub Bad Harzburg |
| Bank | Harzer Volksbank eG |
| IBAN | DE78 8006 3508 5000 3135 00 |
| BIC | GENODEF1QLB |
| Payment reference | Player name, club, and DWZ |
| Required information for players without a club | Place of residence, date of birth, and last club membership with DWZ if applicable |
| Start place rule | Registration order decides participation |
🏛️ Organizer
Organizer: Schachklub Bad Harzburg von 1927 e.V.
Schachklub Bad Harzburg von 1927 e.V. organizes the 24. Bad Harzburger Schachtage in Bad Harzburg. The club runs the event as a DWZ-rated classical tournament with 6 rounds, a clear schedule, and a 90-player limit.
Email: Joerg.Baars@t-online.de
Phone: +49 170 1845514
📍 Venue
Großer Saal im Bündheimer Schloss, Gestütstraße 8, 38667 Bad Harzburg, Germany
The tournament takes place in the Großer Saal im Bündheimer Schloss in Bad Harzburg. Players should use the full venue address for map navigation and arrive in time for the required registration period on October 13.
🏨 Accommodation
Touristinformation Bad Harzburg provides accommodation information for visitors. Players can contact the local tourist information office for lodging options during the tournament period.
Phone: +49 5322 75330
Email: Info@bad-harzburg.de
🚆 How to Get There
Players and visitors can travel directly to Bündheimer Schloss at Gestütstraße 8 in Bad Harzburg. The venue address gives local players, families, and visitors a clear arrival point for the five-day tournament.
ℹ️ Other Practical Information
Affordable drinks and food will be available in the tournament hall. Therefore, players can plan meals and refreshments directly at the venue during the playing days.
Tie-breaks use Buchholz with one cut first. If players remain tied, the Buchholz sum decides the further ranking.
Tournament participation includes consent for photography and filming at the venue. These materials may appear in event-related publications after the tournament.
Overall, this event gives players a clear opportunity to compete in Bad Harzburg during a structured DWZ-rated classical chess tournament.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $4,410
Organizer
♟️ About the Organizer
Schachklub Bad Harzburg von 1927 e.V. is a historic chess club in Bad Harzburg, Lower Saxony. The club was founded on February 7, 1927, and has remained part of local chess life in the northern Harz region. Its regular playing venue is the cafeteria of Werner-von-Siemens-Gymnasium, where young players and adults meet on Wednesday evenings.
The club gives players a steady place for over-the-board games, training, club tournaments, and team preparation. In addition, its member structure includes juniors and adults, which supports a mixed club environment for different playing levels. The club also takes part in local town life through member events and public activities in Bad Harzburg.
🏆 Chess Events and Activities
Schachklub Bad Harzburg von 1927 e.V. organizes the Bad Harzburger Schachtage, a long-running open tournament at Bündheimer Schloss. The 2026 edition is the 24th Bad Harzburger Schachtage and uses six Swiss-system rounds. The event offers DWZ evaluation, a classical time control, online registration, a capped field, and a prize fund of more than €3,800.
The club also runs the Open Club Championship of SK Bad Harzburg. This tournament is open to club members, players from other clubs, and residents of Bad Harzburg. It uses either a Swiss system or round-robin format, depending on the number of players. Moreover, the club fields a team in the Bezirksklasse for the 2025/26 season, which gives members a route into regular team chess competition.
🌍 Player Experience and Community
Players can expect a practical local chess setting with regular meeting times, clear tournament rules, and direct contact with the club leadership. Wednesday evenings create a consistent rhythm for games and training. Meanwhile, the club’s open events give local and visiting players access to classical chess tournament play in a well-known spa town setting.
The club also has a visible youth focus. Its youth chess project “Schulen ans Brett” received the “Stern des Sports” in bronze in 2014 and later earned a Förderpreis at the state-level stage in Hanover. Therefore, young players can connect with chess through school-related activity, club evenings, and tournament play. For visitors, the Bad Harzburger Schachtage offers a structured tournament experience in the large hall of Bündheimer Schloss, with rated games, published regulations, and on-site refreshments.
Venue on the Map
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