The 41th Open Sestao Basque Country – 34rd Masterly Chess International of Basque Country will take place from September 7-13, 2026 in Sestao, Basque Country, Spain as a FIDE-rated international chess tournament. This 2026 edition uses a classical chess format with a 9-round Swiss system, and it is valid for FIDE Elo rating and title norms. The 41th Open Sestao Basque Country is open to federated players of any level and welcomes international participation in Sestao, Basque Country, Spain.

The official tournament platform presents the 41th Open Sestao Basque Country as a major annual event in Sestao, Basque Country, Spain, with a long-standing connection to the Masterly Chess International of Basque Country. Players can expect a structured schedule across seven days, standard FIDE time controls, and a regulations-based playing environment with clear bye, delay, and prize rules. The 41th Open Sestao Basque Country also publishes official links for registration, rules, and Chess-Results tracking through the organizer website and Chess-Results page.

🗓️ Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The 41th Open Sestao Basque Country uses a Swiss system with 9 rounds and pairings generated with the VEGA program. The tournament plays at 90 minutes per player with a 30-second increment per move, and the event is valid for FIDE Elo, national rating, and title norms under current regulations.

The tournament allows up to 3 byes in the first 7 rounds only, with each approved bye scored as half a point, and players must request or cancel a bye before the previous round starts through the chief arbiter. Invited players cannot request byes. The maximum late arrival time is 30 minutes from the official start time.

The published tie-break order is: Corrected Buchholz (Baku 2023), Sonneborn-Berger, Cumulative, Head-to-head, and Opponents’ performance average. The regulations also state that draws are not allowed before move 30 or before one hour of play unless the chief arbiter approves.

📂 Sections / Groups

The tournament runs as one main open section (single Swiss tournament) and is open to federated players of any level from any country. The official site and Chess-Results page present one unified tournament entry for the 2026 edition.

📅 Schedule

📝 Registration

👥 Organizer

Sestao Xake Taldea (Sestao Chess Club) organizes the 41th Open Sestao Basque Country – 34rd Masterly Chess International of Basque Country in Sestao, Basque Country, Spain. The organizer publishes the official rules, registration process, accommodation information, and tournament links through the official event website.

• Email: sestaoxaketaldea@gmail.com

• Website: https://chessbasquecountry.com/en/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/

🏨 Venue

Sestao, Basque Country, Spain

The official rules and tournament listings confirm Sestao as the host city for the 2026 tournament. The organizer publishes the venue city in the rules and official pages, while the event website serves as the primary source for tournament operations and updates.

🚗 How to Get There

The tournament takes place in Sestao, Basque Country, Spain, so players should plan arrival directly to Sestao and use the published city location for local route planning. The official website and tournament listings provide the host city and tournament dates, which helps players schedule arrival before Round 1 on September 7, 2026.

Bring your best form to Sestao, Basque Country, Spain and enjoy a full 9-round FIDE-rated classical chess week at one of the region’s established international opens.

🧾 Other

Electronic devices are prohibited in the playing hall during games unless the arbiter explicitly authorizes them, and violations result in loss of game. Players must submit the original signed scoresheet after each game and maintain continuous notation under this time control.

Prize rules state that prizes are non-cumulative, paid by bank transfer, and subject to Spanish tax withholding (IRPF). The top three overall winners must attend the closing ceremony, and players who withdraw or default in the final two rounds are not eligible for prizes. Claims to the competition committee require a written appeal within 30 minutes and a 50€ deposit, refundable only if the claim succeeds.