Nestled in the Salzkammergut’s Almtal region, the 2nd Almtal Chess Open 2026 runs from Wednesday, 3 June, to Sunday, 7 June 2026 in Scharnstein, Austria. A friendly five-day festival with evening rounds, it offers an “A” Open for all players and a “B” tournament for Elo ≤1700, each with clear prizes and a classical time control suited to thoughtful play.
The event is staged at the State Music School in Scharnstein and organized with local support, including a charity simul led by the previous year’s winner. Entry is straightforward, discounts apply for juniors, women, and persons with disabilities (≥50%), and places are limited—early registration is advised.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|
| 🗓️ Dates | 3-7 June 2026 (Wed-Sun) |
| 📍 Location | State Music School Scharnstein (Landesmusikschule Scharnstein) |
| 🏠 Address | Kirchenplatz 6, 4644 Scharnstein, Austria |
| ♟️ Format | Two tournaments: A-Open (all players), B-Open (Elo ≤1700) • 5-round Swiss |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 90′/40 moves + 30′ to finish, +30″/move from move 1 |
| 🕰️ Default Time | 30 minutes |
| ⭐ Rating | A-Open FIDE & nationally rated • B-Open national rated |
| 👨⚖️ Chief Arbiter | Franz Krassnitzer |
| 🧑💼 Club Head | Manfred Sonntagbauer (SV Almtal) |
| 💵 Entry Fees | A €40 • B €35 • Discounts: –€5 for U18, women, ≥50% disability |
| 🎯 Notes | Participant cap applies; prizes guaranteed with ≥70 total entries |
| 🧩 Tiebreaks | Buchholz • Buchholz Cut-1 (Verfeinerte) • Sonneborn–Berger • Most wins • Shared places (no playoffs) |
| 🤝 Charity Simul | Fri, 5 June, 10:00 – Simultaneous exhibition (limited to 20 players), entry €20; proceeds donated to Balasai Global Care |
🏆 Prize Fund
| Tournament | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|
| A-Open (all players) | €250 | €200 | €150 |
| B-Open (≤1700 Elo) | €150 | €100 | €80 |
Special / Category prizes (non-cumulative):
Best Youth U18: €50
Best up to Elo 1950: €50
Best Senior 60+: €50
Best Woman: €50
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
| Item | Details |
|---|
| System | Swiss (5 rounds) using Swiss-Manager |
| Cadence | 90′/40 + 30′, with 30″ increment from move 1 |
| Default Time | 30 minutes (forfeit thereafter) |
| Regulations | FIDE Laws apply; A-Open FIDE rated; both events in the national Elo list |
| Tie-breaks | Buchholz → Buchholz Cut-1 → Sonneborn–Berger → Most wins → Shared places (no playoffs) |
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section | Eligibility | Rating |
|---|
| A-Open | Open to all players | FIDE & national rated |
| B-Open | Players ≤1700 Elo | National rated |
📅 Schedule
| Date | Time | Activity / Round |
|---|
| Wed, 3 Jun 2026 | 18:30 | Final registration & attendance check |
| Wed, 3 Jun 2026 | 19:00 | Round 1 |
| Thu, 4 Jun 2026 | 18:00 | Round 2 |
| Fri, 5 Jun 2026 | 10:00 | Charity Simul (attendance check 09:30) |
| Fri, 5 Jun 2026 | 18:00 | Round 3 |
| Sat, 6 Jun 2026 | 16:00 | Round 4 |
| Sun, 7 Jun 2026 | 09:30 | Round 5 |
| Sun, 7 Jun 2026 | After the last game | Awards/Closing |
📝 Registration
| Item | Details |
|---|
| Pre-registration deadline | Tue, 2 Jun 2026, 18:00 |
| Final check-in | Wed, 3 Jun 2026, 18:30 (on site) |
| How to enter | Email or phone the tournament director with name, federation, Elo, and chosen section (A/B) |
| Tournament Director | Erwin Lachmair — e.lachmair@atl-lachmair.at • +43 664 366 95 25 |
| Participant cap | Places are limited; early entry recommended |
| Payments | Entry fee due at check-in unless otherwise instructed |
👥 Organizer
| Item | Details |
|---|
| Host Club | SV Almtal |
| Sponsor | SOLPRO GmbH, Bahnhofstraße 36, 4802 Ebensee • Tel. +43 (0) 6133 40183 • office@solpro.at • www.solpro.at |
| Local Support | Regional partners and community sponsors |
🏨 Venue
| Item | Details |
|---|
| Venue | State Music School Scharnstein (Landesmusikschule Scharnstein) |
| Address | Kirchenplatz 6, 4644 Scharnstein, Austria |
| Facilities | Central village location; evening rounds; suitable hall for classical chess |
🛎️ Accommodation
| Item | Details |
|---|
| Options | Hotels and camping are available in the Almtal area |
| Tourist Info | Tourismusverband Traunsee-Almtal – Büro Almtal, Im Dorf 17, 4645 Grünau im Almtal |
| Contacts | +43 7616 8268 • almtal@traunsee-almtal.at • www.traunsee-almtal.at |
🚗 How to Get There
| Mode | Notes |
|---|
| By car | Navigate to Kirchenplatz 6, 4644 Scharnstein; parking available locally |
| By public transport | Regional buses serve Scharnstein from nearby rail hubs in the Salzkammergut |
| Practical tip | Arrive early for check-in on Wed 18:30; rounds run mostly in the evening |
Enjoy an early-summer classical tournament in the heart of the Almtal—clear schedules, fair prizes, and a welcoming setting at the 2nd Almtal Chess Open 2026.
