♟️ About GesundLand Vulkaneifel GmbH

GesundLand Vulkaneifel GmbH (GLV) is a regional tourism and destination-management organization based in Daun, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is not a chess club or chess federation. Instead, the company develops and promotes tourism in the Vulkaneifel region, provides visitor and accommodation services, manages regional projects, and organizes cultural, sporting, and recreational events. Its activities cover destinations including Daun, Manderscheid, Ulmen, and Bad Bertrich, and it works on behalf of several local municipalities in the region.

Event management is an important part of the organization’s work. GesundLand Vulkaneifel operates tourist information services and supports venues including the KulturRaum Bad Bertrich, where concerts, cultural programs, festivals, and chess competitions are held. Within chess, the company is best known as the official host and organizer of the long-running Bad Bertricher Schachtage, a FIDE-rated senior tournament held in the spa town of Bad Bertrich. The operational chess organization is handled in cooperation with Dr. Matthias Kleifges, a FIDE Arbiter.

The company is currently led by Managing Director Vera Esch. Its chess program remains active in 2026: the 32nd Bad Bertricher Schachtage is scheduled for September 7–15, 2026 at the KulturRaum Bad Bertrich. GesundLand Vulkaneifel is the official event organizer, while its Tourist Information Bad Bertrich represents the company locally and assists participants with practical information and accommodation. Dr. Matthias Kleifges serves as the tournament organizer and arbiter.

🌋 Regional Tourism and Event Management

GesundLand Vulkaneifel combines destination marketing with practical tourism services across the volcanic Eifel region. Its team works in areas such as guest services, accommodation booking, marketing, infrastructure, tourism projects, and event management. The organization acts on behalf of the Verbandsgemeinde Daun, Verbandsgemeinde Ulmen, Verbandsgemeinde Wittlich-Land, and Ortsgemeinde Bad Bertrich. It also operates tourist information services in several locations, including Bad Bertrich, Daun, and Manderscheid.

Its event-management department works with venues such as FORUM DAUN and KulturRaum Bad Bertrich. Therefore, chess forms part of a much wider regional events program rather than being the company’s principal activity.

🏛️ Bad Bertrich and KulturRaum

Bad Bertrich is an established spa destination within the GesundLand Vulkaneifel region. The local GesundLand Tourist Information Bad Bertrich supports visitors and event participants from its office at Kurfürstenstraße 32. The same location is closely connected to KulturRaum Bad Bertrich, a regional event venue used for concerts, comedy, cultural programs, festivals, and chess. The Bad Bertricher Schachtage are played in its Großer Kursaal, providing the tournament with a permanent event setting in the spa town.

For chess participants, the Tourist Information also provides assistance with accommodation and local visitor services. This arrangement connects the tournament with the wider tourism infrastructure of Bad Bertrich and the Vulkaneifel.

🏆 Bad Bertricher Schachtage

The Bad Bertricher Schachtage are the principal chess event associated with GesundLand Vulkaneifel GmbH. The tournament is organized as a senior competition for players aged 50 and over and attracts participants from Germany and other countries. The 31st Bad Bertricher Schachtage took place from July 18–26, 2025. It was organized as a nine-round Swiss tournament with both FIDE Elo and German DWZ rating.

The series continues with the 32nd Bad Bertricher Schachtage, scheduled for September 7–15, 2026. The tournament will again take place at KulturRaum – Großer Kursaal in Bad Bertrich and is initially limited to 120 players. The 2026 competition consists of nine Swiss-system rounds. The time control is 90 minutes for 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the remainder of the game, with a 30-second increment from move one. Both FIDE Elo and DWZ rating are used.

♟️ 32nd Bad Bertricher Schachtage 2026

The 2026 edition is open to players born in 1976 or earlier. Participants must have a valid FIDE ID, although membership in a chess club is not required. The published main prizes include €450 for first place, followed by €350, €300, €250, €200, €150, and €100 for the next six places when the required participation conditions are met. Additional prizes are available for women, older senior categories, and rating groups.

An optional blitz tournament is planned during the event if the minimum participation requirement is reached. The tournament program also connects chess with the destination experience through activities such as a wine tasting and opportunities to visit the thermal spa and surrounding Vulkaneifel attractions. GesundLand Vulkaneifel GmbH is the official organizer and handles the financial and local administrative side of the tournament. The company is represented on site by GesundLand Tourist Information Bad Bertrich. Meanwhile, Dr. Matthias Kleifges is responsible for tournament organization, current tournament information, and arbitration.

🤝 Tournament Organization

The division of responsibilities for the Bad Bertricher Schachtage is clearly defined. GesundLand Vulkaneifel GmbH serves as the event organizer and local host, while its Tourist Information provides on-site support in Bad Bertrich. Dr. Matthias Kleifges, a FIDE Arbiter, manages the chess-specific organization. He maintains the tournament information and registration website and serves as the primary chess contact for participants.

This partnership combines specialist tournament administration with the accommodation, visitor, venue, and destination services provided by GesundLand Vulkaneifel.