Chess fans from Poland and neighboring countries meet at the 2nd International Open Championships of the Cieszyn Silesia Euroregion from February 21-28, 2026 in Ustroń, Poland. The festival takes place in the training and leisure center “Ondraszek” and features two FIDE-rated tournaments: Open A with a full 9-round classical schedule and Open B for players up to 1800 FIDE. Both events run under the auspices of the Silesian Chess Association and form a strong winter attraction in the Beskid mountains.

Open A runs from Saturday to the following Saturday with double rounds on selected days, while Open B fits into the middle of the week with a faster 30+30 time control. A combined prize fund of 11,500 PLN, numerous youth and category prizes, and on-site full-board accommodation make this festival attractive for ambitious players, families, and club delegations.

🗓️ Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

Open A – prize pool 9,000 PLN
Main standings:

Additional Open A prizes:

Places 11–20 in Open A receive material prizes or gifts.

Open B – prize pool 2,500 PLN
Main standings:

Additional Open B prizes:

Players in Open B also compete for material prizes and gifts for places 6–10 and for U14 places 1–3. A player receives only one prize, normally the highest-value award for which they qualify.

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

Open A uses a classical time control of 90 minutes for the entire game with a 30-second increment per move from the first move. Open B uses 30 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move. Both tournaments run as 9-round Swiss events and count for FIDE rating.

The maximum allowed late arrival is 30 minutes after the scheduled start of a round. Each player may request one half-point bye in rounds 1–6; they must inform the arbiter no later than the end of the last game of the previous round.

Tie-break order:

1. Total points

2. Buchholz Cut-1

3. Buchholz

4. Sonneborn-Berger

5. Progressive score

6. Direct encounter

7. Number of wins

8. Number of wins with Black

Mobile phone rules follow FIDE regulations; a player who has an active phone or electronic device in the playing hall loses the game.

📂 Sections / Groups

📅 Schedule

Schedule – Open A

Schedule – Open B (up to 1800 FIDE)

📝 Registration

To take part, players must register no later than February 18, 2026 via ChessManager, ChessArbiter, or by email to the Chief Arbiter. Registration becomes valid only after the organizer receives the entry fee.

Entry fee (PLN) – Open A

Entry fee (PLN) – Open B

Titled players GM, WGM, IM, and WIM do not pay an entry fee. Paid fees are not refundable.

Bank transfer details:
• Recipient: Śląski Związek Szachowy
• Account: 70 1600 1462 1019 5563 7000 0002
• Payment title: “II Międzynarodowe Otwarte Mistrzostwa Euroregionu Śląsk Cieszyński, group, player name”

👥 Organizer

The Silesian Chess Association organizes the championships with support from the Euroregion Cieszyn Silesia partner program. The team coordinates entries, pairings, rating submissions, and on-site logistics.

Contact:
Email: michalpazdziora@gmail.com
Phone: +48 606 662 756 (Michał Paździora – President, Organizer)
Email: szachy.martin@gmail.com
Phone: +48 515 990 430 (Martin Surman – Chief Arbiter)

🏨 Venue

Both tournaments take place in the training and leisure center Ośrodek Szkoleniowo–Wypoczynkowy “Ondraszek”, located at ul. Stroma 7, 43-450 Ustroń, Poland. The center offers hotel rooms, full-board catering, and a dedicated playing area in a quiet mountain setting.

🛎️ Accommodation

The organizer offers on-site accommodation with full board (three meals per day) from dinner on February 21 to lunch on February 28.

The number of rooms is limited; the organizer allocates them in the order of registration and payment. Players may also request shorter stays, especially for Open B; they should contact the organizer before paying to arrange a custom booking.

Accommodation payments go to the same Silesian Chess Association bank account, with the payment title: “II Międzynarodowe Otwarte Mistrzostwa Euroregionu Śląsk Cieszyński, accommodation and board, player name”.

🚗 How to Get There

Ustroń lies in southern Poland in the Beskid mountains and connects by regional roads and rail lines within the Silesian Voivodeship. Drivers can follow local signs to Ustroń and then to ul. Stroma 7, where the “Ondraszek” center stands on a hillside above the town. Travelers arriving by train can continue from Ustroń’s stations by local taxi or a short walk, depending on the chosen route.

Chess enthusiasts who travel to Ustroń for these championships enjoy a full week of FIDE-rated chess, generous prizes, and a comfortable mountain resort setting with everything under one roof.

🧾 Other

• Current FIDE and Polish Chess Federation rules apply.
• Each player insures their health and playing ability individually; guardians hold responsibility for minors.
• Registration implies acceptance of all tournament regulations and consent to the processing of personal data for rating and organizational purposes.
• Participation implies consent to the publication of game scores and photos from the event on websites and promotional materials.