Experience the Côte d’Azur chess scene at the 3ème Festival International de Ceyreste et Cassis Échecs 2026, running May 14-17, 2026 in Ceyreste, France. The festival delivers a FIDE-rated Swiss competition with three parallel tournaments that welcome both experienced competitors and developing juniors. Open A targets 1800+ players and brings a strong field, while Open B offers a competitive route for players under 1900. The organizers set a minimum €6,000 cash prize fund and award €1,500 to the Open A winner.

The festival plays all games in the Salle Polyvalente de Ceyreste and pairs every round with a clear weekend cadence that keeps the event moving. The venue supports large-scale play and includes dedicated space for analysis between rounds. Juniors compete in a separate Open Jeunes (U8–U14) with a faster time control and 10 rounds across the long weekend. The organizers also add a Blitz à 4 side event on Friday evening for anyone who wants an extra competitive session.

🗓️ Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

The organizers set a minimum total cash prize fund of €6,000 for the festival and award €1,500 to the Open A winner.

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

Open A and Open B use a 7-round Swiss System with a time control of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move. Open Jeunes uses a 10-round Swiss System with a time control of 50 minutes plus a 10-second increment per move. The organizers allow a player to take a bye through Round 4 (inclusive). The event counts for the FIDE June 2026 rating list.

📂 Sections / Groups

📅 Schedule

Open Jeunes schedule

📝 Registration

Register through the organizer using www.cassisechecs.fr or by contacting the organizer directly by email or phone. The organizers set the entry fees at €50 for adults and €30 for youths, then add €10 to the fee from May 10, 2026. Plan to complete Thursday check-in (Pointage) from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM to start Round 1 on time. The festival limits entry to the first 400 registrations.

👥 Organizer

Cassis Échecs organizes the festival and runs the event program across Open A, Open B, and the junior tournament. Quentin Massardo serves as the organizer contact and coordinates registrations and event information through the club’s official communication channels.

• Email: communication@cassisechecs.fr

• Phone: +33 6 37 60 22 53

• Phone: +33 4 42 01 89 71

• Website: www.cassisechecs.fr

🏨 Venue

Salle Polyvalente de Ceyreste, Ceyreste, France
The playing hall offers more than 250 m² of playing space and supports large participation. The venue includes bleachers for spectators and a dedicated analysis room of more than 80 m². The site provides a free parking area with 150 spaces and two reserved spaces for electric vehicles.

🛎️ Accommodation

St Esteve AppartHotel lists a chess special rate and sits about a 5-minute walk from the playing hall and about 15 minutes from the SNCF station. The partner lists Studio apartments for 4 people (30 m² with balcony) at €100 per night and T2 apartments for 6 people (50 m² with terrace) at €120 per night. The partner lists a shuttle option and on-site facilities such as a heated pool and a gym.
https://www.apparthotel-laciotat.fr/
Phone: +33 4 42 71 42 67

🚗 How to Get There

Arrive by train to the nearby SNCF station and walk about 20 minutes to the venue using the “voie douce” path. Drive to the venue and use the free 150-space parking area available on site.

Bring your best form and turn this long weekend into a serious competitive run in Ceyreste, with classic chess and an extra blitz session near the Calanques of Cassis.