4e Open d’échecs de Loches 2026 takes place on October 24–25, 2026, at the Maison des Associations in Loches, France. The tournament also supports the 2026 Indre-et-Loire departmental championship.
This is a chess tournament in Loches, France, in 2026. Players will compete in a 5-round FIDE-rated event with a practical weekend schedule.
The open offers a comfortable playing hall, an analysis room, refreshments, wheelchair-accessible facilities, and a prize fund linked to participation. Therefore, it gives local and visiting players a compact rated chess event in central France.
♟️ Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏆 Tournament | 4e Open d’échecs de Loches 2026 |
| 📅 Dates | October 24–25, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Loches, France |
| 🏛️ Venue | Maison des Associations |
| 📌 Address | 1 avenue Aristide Briand, 37600 Loches |
| ♟️ Format | 5-round open tournament |
| 🔢 Pairing System | S.A.D. |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE-rated and FFE-approved |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 60 minutes per player + 30 seconds per move |
| 👥 Player Limit | 100 players |
| 👨⚖️ Arbiter | Jean-Claude Templeur |
| 💰 Prize Fund | €620 if 60 players register / approx. USD 720 |
| ♿ Accessibility | Wheelchair-accessible venue |
| 📝 Check-in | October 24, 2026, 08:45–09:45 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Players receive 60 minutes for the game, plus a 30-second increment per move. This time control gives each round enough depth for serious rated play.
The tournament uses 5 rounds across two days. In addition, the event counts for the FIDE November 2026 rating list.
Pairings follow the S.A.D. system. The schedule includes three rounds on Saturday and two rounds on Sunday, so players should arrive on time for each session.
💰 Prize Fund
The published prize fund reaches €620 if 60 players register, which equals approximately USD 720. In addition, the organizer distributes 75% of entry fees as prizes.
Prize Fund Overview
| Prize / Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st place | €150 |
| 2nd place | €120 |
| 3rd place | €90 |
| Special departmental prize | €120 |
| Published prize fund if 60 players register | €620 / approx. USD 720 |
The organizer also plans general prizes and category prizes. Moreover, the event distributed €1,080 in prizes in 2025 with 86 participants.
🧩 Sections / Groups
The tournament has one open section. It is listed as an under-2400 event, so it mainly targets club players and competitive amateur players.
The event also serves as the support tournament for the Indre-et-Loire departmental championship. As a result, eligible local players can compete for the departmental title while playing in the same open field.
The player limit is 100 participants. Therefore, early registration helps players secure a place before the field reaches capacity.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, October 24 | 08:45–09:45 | Mandatory check-in and welcome |
| Saturday, October 24 | 10:00 | Round 1 |
| Saturday, October 24 | 13:30 | Round 2 |
| Saturday, October 24 | 17:00 | Round 3 |
| Sunday, October 25 | 10:00 | Round 4 |
| Sunday, October 25 | 13:30 | Round 5 |
| Sunday, October 25 | 17:00 | Prize ceremony |
📝 Registration
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Registration Method | Online registration through HelloAsso |
| Player Limit | 100 players |
| Adult Entry Fee | €20 |
| Adult Late Entry Fee | €24 from October 22 |
| Youth Entry Fee | €10 |
| Youth Late Entry Fee | €12 from October 22 |
| Check-in | Mandatory on October 24 from 08:45 to 09:45 |
| Contact Email | lescavaliersdenerra@gmail.com |
| Contact Phone | +33 6 01 83 62 40 |
Players should register and pay online before the late-fee date. In addition, they should complete check-in on Saturday morning before 09:45.
👥 Organizer
Les Cavaliers de Nerra organizes the tournament with support from the Indre-et-Loire departmental chess committee. The club is based at the Maison des Associations in Loches and runs regular chess activities for young players and adults.
Phone: +33 6 01 83 62 40
Email: lescavaliersdenerra@gmail.com
🏛️ Venue
Maison des Associations
1 avenue Aristide Briand, 37600 Loches, France
The tournament takes place in a large and comfortable playing hall at the Maison des Associations. Players can also use an analysis room during the event.
The venue includes refreshments and wheelchair-accessible facilities. Therefore, it offers practical conditions for a two-day weekend chess tournament.
🚆 How to Get There
The venue is located at 1 avenue Aristide Briand in Loches. Players arriving by car can use nearby parking options around the Maison des Associations and the town center.
Loches also has local transport connections toward the town center. However, players should check their route in advance, especially for the Sunday rounds.
4e Open d’échecs de Loches 2026 offers a focused FIDE-rated weekend event with clear conditions, useful facilities, and a strong local championship context.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $720
Organizer
♟️ About the Organizer
Les Cavaliers de Nerra is a chess club in Loches, Indre-et-Loire, France. The club was founded in summer 2022 by François Drochon and Pascal Hegedus, two players from Échiquier Descartois. It works from the Maison des Associations on Avenue Aristide Briand and gives local players a regular place for over-the-board chess.
The club name connects chess with the medieval heritage of Loches and Foulques Nerra. This identity gives the organizer a distinctive local profile, while its practical activity stays focused on lessons, club play, youth development, and tournament participation. In addition, the club’s coaching and supervision include French Chess Federation-qualified chess staff, with initiation and club arbiter credentials.
🏆 Chess Events and Activities
Les Cavaliers de Nerra runs regular youth chess training and adult chess sessions during the season. Young beginners and intermediate players meet on Wednesday afternoons, while teenagers and adults have dedicated free-play and practice sessions later the same day. The club also added Friday evening activity by prior registration, which gives players another weekly opportunity to play.
The club belongs to the French Chess Federation and takes part in regional interclub competition. It also lists youth interclub activity, giving young players a route from lessons into team chess. Therefore, local players can progress from first lessons to licensed competition in a clear club structure.
Les Cavaliers de Nerra also organizes the Open de Loches, a FIDE-rated tournament that has served as the Indre-et-Loire departmental championship support event. The tournament uses a five-round Swiss format with a 60 minutes plus 30 seconds per move time control. In addition, the club has developed internal slow-play activity through the Formule 37, with 50 minutes plus 30 seconds per move games for young players.
🌍 Player Experience and Community
Players who visit Les Cavaliers de Nerra can expect a local and accessible over-the-board chess environment in central Loches. The Maison des Associations provides the club with ground-floor playing rooms, and the venue supports regular sessions, analysis, youth activity, and tournament organization.
The club gives children a practical entry point into chess through short weekly sessions, guided play, and internal competition. Meanwhile, adults and teenagers can join free-play sessions, improve through regular games, and prepare for rated events. Moreover, the club’s FFE licensing structure helps players choose between leisure chess and full competition participation.
For tournament visitors, Loches offers a comfortable playing setting and a strong local identity. The Open de Loches adds serious FIDE-rated chess in Indre-et-Loire to the club’s weekly program. Overall, Les Cavaliers de Nerra combines young club energy, local heritage, training activity, and competitive chess in one active Loches chess association.
Hotels Near the Venue
Find nearby accommodation for this tournament location.
