2nd Forintos Győző Memorial 2026 – GM, IM & U2200
The 2nd Forintos Győző Memorial 2026 takes place from December 14 to 22, 2026, at MTK Sportpark in Budapest, Hungary. This international classical chess tournament features Grandmaster and International Master round-robin competitions alongside an open U2200 section, offering opportunities for title norms and FIDE rating improvement.
Organized by MTK Budapest and directed by WGM IA Tünde Csonkics, the memorial honors the legacy of Hungarian Grandmaster Győző Forintos. The event brings together titled players, ambitious juniors, and international competitors for nine rounds of classical chess. Moreover, its different tournament groups provide suitable competitive environments for players pursuing international norms and rating development.
The competition takes place at MTK Sportpark, a modern sports and events complex on Kerepesi Road. The venue is situated near Budapest’s Puskás Aréna and major public transportation connections. Players and accompanying families can also find several hotels in the surrounding area.
♟️ Event Details
| Event Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | December 14–22, 2026 |
| 🌍 Country | Hungary |
| 📍 City | Budapest |
| 🏛️ Venue | MTK Sportpark |
| 👤 Organizer | MTK Budapest |
| 👩💼 Tournament Director | WGM IA Tünde Csonkics |
| ⚖️ Chief Arbiter | IA CM Csaba Horváth |
| 🧩 Groups | GM-A, GM-B, IM, U2200 |
| 🔢 Number of Rounds | 9 |
| ♟️ Tournament System | Round Robin / Swiss |
| 🌐 Rating | FIDE Standard |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 90 min / 40 moves + 30 min + 30 sec increment |
| 📋 Official Regulations | https://chess.hu/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/II_Forintos_Gyozo_Emlekverseny_2026-ENG-v2.pdf |
| 🌐 Official Tournament Page | https://chess.hu/ii-forintos-gyozo-emlekverseny-gm-im-es-u2200/ |
| ♟️ Chess-Results GM | https://chess-results.com/tnr1514857.aspx?lan=1 |
| ♟️ Chess-Results IM | https://chess-results.com/tnr1515034.aspx?lan=1 |
| ♟️ Chess-Results U2200 | https://chess-results.com/tnr1515035.aspx?lan=1 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The tournament uses the following classical time control:
90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the remainder of the game, with a 30-second increment from move one.
The GM-A, GM-B, and IM groups follow a ten-player round-robin format. Therefore, each participant is scheduled to play nine games against the other members of their group.
The U2200 tournament follows the Swiss pairing system and is open to eligible players. All groups are FIDE-rated and conducted under the applicable FIDE Laws of Chess and Hungarian Chess Federation regulations.
The permitted waiting time is 30 minutes.
Tiebreak Criteria
The official regulations specify different tiebreak systems for round-robin and Swiss-system competitions.
| Round-Robin Groups | U2200 Swiss Group |
|---|---|
| 1. Direct encounter | 1. Buchholz Cut 1 |
| 2. Sonneborn-Berger | 2. Buchholz |
| 3. Koya 50% | 3. Sonneborn-Berger |
| 4. Progressive score |
Players should review these criteria before the event, especially if their final standings may depend on tiebreak calculations.
🧩 Sections / Groups
The memorial features four separate competitions, each designed for a different competitive objective.
| Group | System | Participants |
|---|---|---|
| GM-A | Round Robin | 10 players |
| GM-B | Round Robin | 10 players |
| IM | Round Robin | 10 players |
| U2200 | Swiss System | Open entry |
🥇 GM-A Tournament
The GM-A group is a ten-player round-robin competition for strong international competitors pursuing high-level classical chess experience and potential Grandmaster norms.
Each player faces every other member of the group. As a result, participants can prepare for specific opponents while competing in a fixed tournament field.
The final eligibility of individual title-norm performances depends on the group’s composition and the applicable FIDE requirements.
🥇 GM-B Tournament
The GM-B group provides a second ten-player Grandmaster round-robin competition.
This additional group expands the opportunities for titled players and ambitious competitors to participate in the memorial.
As with GM-A, achieving a Grandmaster norm depends on individual performance, opponents’ ratings and titles, federation representation, and other relevant conditions.
🥈 IM Tournament
The IM tournament is a ten-player round-robin competition designed for International Master norm opportunities and FIDE rating improvement.
The group allows each participant to compete against nine opponents in a structured classical tournament.
Players pursuing an IM norm should confirm the final composition of the group and their individual eligibility before the tournament begins.
♟️ U2200 Open Tournament
The U2200 section follows the Swiss pairing system and allows open registration for eligible participants.
The tournament provides an opportunity for players to gain international classical chess experience and improve their FIDE Standard ratings.
Unlike the closed GM and IM round-robin groups, the U2200 tournament pairs competitors through the Swiss system across nine rounds.
Participants should contact the tournament director to confirm registration conditions and available places.
📅 Schedule
The memorial runs over nine consecutive calendar days. All times are local Budapest time, Central European Time (CET).
Registration & Opening Ceremony
| Date | Activity | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, December 14 | Mandatory on-site registration | 12:00–14:00 |
| Monday, December 14 | Opening ceremony | 14:00 |
| Monday, December 14 | Round 1 | 15:00 |
Tournament Rounds
| Date | Round | Starting Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, December 14 | Round 1 | 15:00 |
| Tuesday, December 15 | Round 2 | 15:00 |
| Wednesday, December 16 | Round 3 | 15:00 |
| Thursday, December 17 | Round 4 | 15:00 |
| Friday, December 18 | Round 5 | 15:00 |
| Saturday, December 19 | Round 6 | 15:00 |
| Sunday, December 20 | Round 7 | 15:00 |
| Monday, December 21 | Round 8 | 15:00 |
| Tuesday, December 22 | Round 9 | 10:00 |
The final round begins earlier than the other rounds, allowing players additional time for their departure arrangements.
However, participants should avoid booking transportation immediately after the last round because individual games may continue for several hours.
📝 Registration
Players wishing to participate should contact the tournament director directly.
Contact Person: WGM IA Tünde Csonkics
Email: csonkicstunde1@gmail.com
Phone / WhatsApp: +36 30 211 2499
Official Registration Information: https://chess.hu/ii-forintos-gyozo-emlekverseny-gm-im-es-u2200/
Applicants should provide their full name, FIDE ID, national federation, current FIDE classical rating, existing title, and preferred tournament group.
Participation in the GM-A, GM-B, and IM groups is subject to confirmation by the tournament director. Additionally, players pursuing a particular title norm should discuss their objectives and eligibility with the organizing team.
Hungarian Playing Licence
All participants competing in Hungary must hold a valid Hungarian Playing Licence (HPL).
| Requirement | Information |
|---|---|
| Licence Fee | €20 (approx. $30) |
| Validity | 12 months from the issue date |
| Applicable To | Players competing in Hungary |
Hungarian players must also hold a valid domestic competition licence where required.
Participants who already possess a valid Hungarian Playing Licence should verify its expiry date before registering.
Further participation and payment arrangements must be agreed directly with the tournament director.
👤 Organizer
Organizer Name: MTK Budapest (Magyar Testgyakorlók Köre)
Contact Person: WGM IA Tünde Csonkics
Email: csonkicstunde1@gmail.com
Phone Number: +36 30 211 2499
MTK Budapest is an established Hungarian multisport organization with a long sporting tradition.
Its chess section supports competitive players and chess development. WGM IA Tünde Csonkics leads the chess section and serves as the tournament director of the 2nd Forintos Győző Memorial.
The event commemorates Grandmaster Győző Forintos while providing international chess competition in Budapest.
📍 Venue
MTK Sportpark – Kerepesi út 17, 1087 Budapest, Hungary.
MTK Sportpark is a modern multifunctional sports and events complex on Kerepesi Road in Budapest.
Opened in 2025, the facility provides contemporary indoor spaces suitable for competitions and organized events. The complex also includes outdoor recreation areas and associated visitor facilities.
The venue is located near Budapest’s Puskás Aréna, the Papp László Budapest Sports Arena, and Arena Mall.
Its location provides access to nearby public transportation, hotels, restaurants, and other services useful for international tournament participants.
Venue Website: https://sportparkevent.hu/
🚆 How to Get There
By Air
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) is the principal international airport serving the Hungarian capital.
International travelers can reach Budapest using flights from numerous European and other destinations.
From the airport, players can continue toward MTK Sportpark by taxi, airport transfer, or public transportation.
By Public Transportation
The tournament venue is situated in the Kerepesi Road area, between important transportation connections near Budapest Keleti railway station and Puskás Ferenc Stadion.
Puskás Ferenc Stadion provides access to Metro Line M2 and several tram and bus connections.
Keleti pályaudvar is one of Budapest’s main railway and metro interchange stations. It provides access to Metro Lines M2 and M4, together with local transportation services.
Players should check current routes before traveling from their accommodation to the venue.
Budapest Public Transport: https://bkk.hu/en/
By Train
Budapest Keleti railway station is a convenient arrival point for international and domestic rail passengers.
It offers connections to several Central European destinations, including major cities in Austria, Slovakia, and other neighboring countries.
From the station, players can continue toward MTK Sportpark by public transportation or taxi.
Hungarian Railways: https://www.mavcsoport.hu/en
By Car
Drivers should navigate directly to Kerepesi út 17, 1087 Budapest.
MTK Sportpark has visitor parking facilities. However, parking may be chargeable, and availability can depend on other events taking place at the complex.
Participants arriving by car should confirm current access arrangements before departure.
🏨 Accommodation
Several hotels are located within convenient reach of MTK Sportpark. Players can choose between accommodation close to the Puskás Aréna area and hotels near Budapest Keleti railway station.
The following three properties offer different accommodation categories and provide practical access to the tournament venue.
Recommended Nearby Hotels
| Hotel | Address | Approximate Price / Night |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Veritas Budapest | Mogyoródi út 8, 1144 Budapest | $70–120 |
| Danubius Hotel Arena | Ifjúság útja 1–3, 1148 Budapest | $100–170 |
| IntercityHotel Budapest | Baross tér 7–8, 1087 Budapest | $110–190 |
Prices are indicative USD planning estimates per room per night, based on published accommodation offers. They are not confirmed quotations or availability checks for December 14–22, 2026. Final rates depend on room category, occupancy, taxes, cancellation conditions, and booking dates.
Hotel Veritas Budapest
Hotel Veritas is a three-star hotel located near the Hungária körút and Kerepesi út intersection.
The property offers air-conditioned rooms, Wi-Fi, and dining facilities. Furthermore, its location provides access to the Puskás Ferenc Stadion transportation area.
This hotel can be a practical choice for competitors looking for relatively economical accommodation near the tournament venue.
Official Hotel Website: https://www.hotel-veritas-budapest.com/
Danubius Hotel Arena
Danubius Hotel Arena is a four-star hotel located beside the Papp László Budapest Sports Arena.
The property offers comfortable guest rooms, restaurants, fitness facilities, and an indoor swimming pool. Moreover, the nearby Puskás Ferenc Stadion metro station provides convenient transportation connections.
This hotel may be particularly attractive to players who want additional facilities for rest and relaxation during a nine-day competition.
Official Hotel Website: https://www.danubiushotels.com/en/our-hotels-budapest/danubius-hotel-arena
IntercityHotel Budapest
IntercityHotel Budapest is a four-star hotel situated directly beside Budapest Keleti railway station.
The hotel offers modern guest rooms, Wi-Fi, breakfast facilities, and convenient access to public transportation.
Its location makes it especially practical for players arriving by international train. It can also suit accompanying family members who want convenient connections to central Budapest.
Official Hotel Website: https://hrewards.com/en/intercityhotel-budapest
Accommodation Booking Information
Participants should reserve their accommodation independently and review booking conditions before confirming their stay.
The memorial takes place during the December holiday period, when hotel rates and room availability may vary.
International players may wish to arrive on December 13 to allow sufficient time for mandatory registration and the opening ceremony on December 14.
Players staying until the evening of December 22 should also consider the time required for the final round and their onward transportation.
ℹ️ Other Information
Appeals Procedure
Players may submit a written appeal to the chief arbiter within 15 minutes after the completion of the relevant game.
The appeal fee is €100 (approximately $120).
A three-member Appeals Committee considers submitted appeals. The committee’s decision is final, and the appeal fee is refunded if the appeal is upheld.
Fair Play Regulations
All participants must comply with the applicable FIDE Fair Play regulations.
Electronic and communication devices are prohibited from use in the playing hall. During games, permitted devices must remain switched off and stored in a bag.
Players may access such devices only with an arbiter’s permission. Fair Play checks may also take place during the competition.
Live Game Broadcast
The organizer plans to broadcast tournament games online with a 15-minute delay.
Players should consult the official tournament channels for information about available live boards and broadcasts.
Playing Hall Regulations
Talking, analyzing games, and playing rapid or blitz chess inside the playing hall are prohibited.
Participants are expected to follow the instructions of arbiters and tournament officials throughout the event.
Tournament Heritage
The memorial honors Győző Forintos, a distinguished Hungarian Grandmaster and an important figure in Hungarian chess history.
By bringing together international players in both norm-oriented and open competitions, the event continues his chess legacy and provides opportunities for the next generation of competitors.
Official Tournament Page: https://chess.hu/ii-forintos-gyozo-emlekverseny-gm-im-es-u2200/
Official Regulations: https://chess.hu/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/II_Forintos_Gyozo_Emlekverseny_2026-ENG-v2.pdf
Organizer
♟️ About MTK Budapest – Chess Section
MTK Budapest – Chess Section (MTK Budapest Sakkszakosztály) is one of Hungary’s historic chess organizations and forms part of Magyar Testgyakorlók Köre, the Budapest multisport club founded in 1888. The chess section combines elite team competition, junior development, international tournament organization, coaching, and opportunities for club players of different ages and strengths.
MTK has been connected with many of the most important names in Hungarian chess history. Its past players include World Championship Candidate Lajos Portisch, Grandmasters László Szabó, András Adorján, Győző Forintos, and Levente Lengyel, as well as numerous Hungarian champions, Olympians, and international masters.
Today, MTK Budapest again operates one of the largest chess programmes in Hungary. Its leading adult team competes in the Hungarian Superliga, while additional teams participate in NB I, NB II, Budapest team competitions, and youth championships. The section also organizes FIDE-rated international tournaments at the modern MTK Sportpark.
WGM IA Tünde Csonkics has led the chess section since 2024. A multiple Chess Olympiad medalist and experienced International Arbiter, she oversees the club’s competitive programme, player development, and international tournament activity.
📜 Historic Chess Tradition
The chess history associated with MTK reaches deep into the development of Hungarian team chess.
After the Hungarian Chess Federation introduced the national team championship system following the Second World War, MTK became one of the country’s strongest clubs. During the period from 1950 to 1968, the national championship was dominated by two organizations: Vörös Meteor won sixteen titles, while MTK captured the championship in the two remaining seasons.
During different political and organizational periods, the club competed under several names, including Textiles, Budapesti Bástya, and Vörös Lobogó.
A major turning point came in 1975, when MTK and Vörös Meteor merged. The resulting MTK-VM assembled an extraordinary group of Hungarian chess players and became one of the strongest chess sections of its era.
This merger brought together players who had already written important chapters of Hungarian chess history and created a club structure capable of competing at the highest national level.
⭐ Legendary Players
MTK’s historical player list includes several figures who rank among the most important Hungarian chess players of the twentieth century.
GM Lajos Portisch became one of the world’s leading players and an eight-time World Championship Candidate. He won the Hungarian Championship nine times and represented Hungary in twenty Chess Olympiads.
Portisch was also a member of the Hungarian team that won the gold medal at the 1978 Chess Olympiad in Buenos Aires, ending the Soviet Union’s long period of Olympiad dominance.
GM András Adorján was another member of that historic 1978 team. He became a World Championship Candidate and one of Hungary’s most respected grandmasters, authors, and chess theoreticians.
Three-time World Championship Candidate GM László Szabó, together with GM Levente Lengyel and GM Győző Forintos, further strengthened the club’s extraordinary connection with Hungarian chess history.
Former MTK player Judit Polgár, widely regarded as the strongest female chess player of all time, is another major name connected with the club’s chess tradition.
♟️ Revival of the Chess Section
The modern revival of MTK Budapest’s chess section created a renewed pathway from junior chess to Hungary’s highest adult team competition.
Grandmaster Gábor Kállai served as President and Head Coach of the revived section until his death in 2021. During this period, MTK rebuilt its competitive structure and progressed rapidly through the Hungarian team leagues.
International Master János Szabolcsi also played an important role in junior development. Under the renewed programme, MTK became one of Hungary’s leading clubs for youth chess while its senior team advanced toward the top national division.
From 2024, leadership of the section passed to WGM Tünde Csonkics.
The club states that it currently has the largest number of registered chess players of any sports club in Hungary, reflecting the scale to which the revived programme has grown.
🏆 Hungarian Team Championships
MTK Budapest maintains several teams within Hungary’s national and Budapest chess league systems.
The club’s strongest team competes in the Superliga, the highest division of the Hungarian team championship.
Its development has not stopped with the first team. For the 2025/26 season, MTK fielded teams across the Superliga, NB I, and NB II, making it the only Budapest chess organization at the time to qualify teams for all three leading national divisions.
Additional MTK teams compete in the Budapest Team Championship and youth competitions, giving players of different strengths opportunities to represent the club.
The structure therefore allows promising juniors and developing adult players to progress through different competitive levels rather than relying on a single elite team.
🧒 Youth Chess & Player Development
Junior development is a central part of the modern MTK chess programme.
The club operates several youth teams and regularly sends players to Hungarian age-group championships, rapid and blitz championships, Budapest junior competitions, and international youth events.
MTK has achieved strong results across different youth age categories. Its young players have earned national titles and medals, while the club’s teams regularly compete for leading positions in Hungarian junior competitions.
The club’s first team in the 2025 Budapest Youth Team Championship finished second, only half a point behind the winner. MTK entered three teams in the 22-team competition.
Training is designed to give talented players a route from junior competition into adult league chess. Several younger MTK players already compete alongside titled and experienced players in the club’s senior teams.
🌍 Chess Olympiad Representation
MTK Budapest was strongly represented during the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest.
Three players from the chess section — Zsuzsanna Terbe, Lili Tóth, and Ágoston Juhász — competed at the Olympiad.
The club was also represented among the tournament officials. Benjamin Kemény, Attila Balla, and Tünde Csonkics worked as arbiters during the event.
In addition, Ármin Juhász was invited to work as a specialist commentator.
Having players, arbiters, and a commentator involved in the same Olympiad illustrates the breadth of expertise within the MTK chess programme.
🌍 European Club Cup
MTK Budapest also represents Hungarian club chess internationally.
The team competed in the 2025 European Chess Club Cup in Rhodes, Greece, where 96 teams and almost 700 players took part in the Open competition.
MTK entered the event ranked 16th but produced a strong performance across seven rounds. The team was led by Grandmaster Viktor Erdős, while other members included Ágoston Juhász, Bence Pribelszky, Levente Papp, Ármin Juhász, Lázár Mátyássy, and other leading club players.
MTK finished the European Club Cup in 12th place, exceeding its starting position.
The result demonstrated that the revived chess section was capable of competing successfully not only within Hungary but also against leading European club teams.
🏆 Forintos Győző Memorial
One of MTK Budapest’s most important new international projects is the Forintos Győző Memorial, created in memory of Hungarian Grandmaster Győző Forintos.
Forintos was closely connected with MTK and belonged to the generation of outstanding Hungarian players who represented the club during its strongest historical period.
The inaugural memorial was held at MTK Sportpark in December 2025. It was designed as a major international classical tournament combining norm opportunities with an open rating event.
The programme included three GM round-robin groups, one IM group, and a U2250 Open. Players arrived from approximately 14 countries, including Hungary, India, Germany, Ireland, England, Australia, Ukraine, Georgia, Spain, Japan, Zambia, Malaysia, and Canada.
Around twenty MTK players participated alongside international competitors.
The tournament attracted established Grandmasters and promising young players and became an important addition to Budapest’s long tradition of international norm tournaments.
🌟 2nd Forintos Győző Memorial 2026
The memorial returns with its second edition from December 14–22, 2026 at MTK Sportpark.
The tournament programme consists of GM-A, GM-B, IM, and U2200 competitions.
The GM and IM tournaments are ten-player round robins structured to provide international classical competition and potential title-norm opportunities when the final field meets the applicable FIDE requirements.
The U2200 competition uses a nine-round Swiss system and provides a pathway for developing players who want to gain international tournament experience and improve their FIDE Standard rating.
All competitions are FIDE rated. The classical time control is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the remainder of the game, with a 30-second increment from move one.
WGM IA Tünde Csonkics serves as Tournament Director, while IA GM Csaba Horváth is Chief Arbiter.
The continuation of the memorial demonstrates MTK’s intention to establish the tournament as a recurring international event rather than a one-time commemorative competition.
🏟️ MTK Sportpark
The chess section is based at the modern MTK Sportpark, located at Kerepesi út 17, 1087 Budapest.
The new sports complex officially opened in 2025 and provides facilities for several MTK disciplines together with spaces suitable for competitions, training, and larger events.
For chess, the Sportpark gives MTK a permanent modern base capable of hosting club activity and substantial international tournaments.
The inaugural Forintos Győző Memorial demonstrated this capability by accommodating several parallel GM and IM round robins alongside an Open tournament.
The venue is located close to Puskás Aréna, Papp László Budapest Sportaréna, and Arena Mall, with convenient access to public transport and accommodation options in Budapest.
👤 WGM IA Tünde Csonkics
Tünde Csonkics is the Head of the MTK Budapest Chess Section and the principal contact for its international tournament programme.
As a player, she earned the Woman Grandmaster title and represented Hungary successfully at international level.
Csonkics won Chess Olympiad silver medals in 1980 and 1994, together with a bronze medal in 1982. She was also part of the Hungarian team that finished fourth at the 1992 Olympiad.
At her competitive peak in 1990, she was ranked approximately 12th–14th among the world’s leading female players.
Alongside her playing career, she became an International Arbiter and has worked extensively in tournament organization and officiating. She has also served as a member of the FIDE Social Commission.
Since taking leadership of MTK’s chess section in 2024, Csonkics has overseen its large player programme, national team activity, youth development, European competition, and international tournament organization.
🌱 Competitive & Community Chess
MTK Budapest does not restrict its activities to elite players.
The chess section openly welcomes players of all ages and playing strengths, including people who want structured competitive development as well as those interested in chess as a recreational activity.
This broad membership model is supported by multiple league teams, junior programmes, coaching, club competition, and international events.
At the top of the structure, players can progress toward Superliga and international competition. At the same time, younger and developing players have access to age-group events, Budapest leagues, national divisions, and FIDE-rated tournaments.
The combination of historical prestige, modern facilities, a large player base, and renewed international tournament activity makes MTK Budapest one of the important chess organizations in contemporary Hungarian club chess.
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