4th Belley Chess Open A takes place on April 6, 2026 in Belley, France and offers a competitive one-day rapid chess tournament for players who want fast, high-quality over-the-board games. The event uses a 12 minutes + 3 seconds increment time control, follows a Swiss system, and runs over 9 rounds. In addition, the tournament counts for both FFE Rapid rating and FIDE Rapid rating, which gives the event extra value for players seeking rated rapid chess in France.
The 4th Belley Chess Open A forms part of a larger Belley chess day with multiple opens and a strong confirmed cash prize fund in the A tournament. Moreover, the organizer sets accessible entry fees for seniors and young players, while the published event details also highlight on-site refreshments. Because the event takes place in Belley, France and combines rated play, a substantial prize fund, and a compact single-day format, the 4th Belley Chess Open A stands out as an attractive rapid chess tournament for ambitious competitors.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | April 6, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Belley, France |
| ♟️ Format | Rapid chess tournament |
| ⭐ Rating | FFE Rapid rated; FIDE Rapid rated |
| ⏱️ Time control | 12 minutes + 3 seconds increment |
| 💳 Entry fee | Seniors: EUR 15; Youth: EUR 10 |
| 💰 Prize fund | USD 2,543 (approx.) |
| 🧩 Organizer notes | FFE approved event; on-site refreshments and light food available |
🏆 Prize Fund
| Prize / Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st place | EUR 500 |
| 2nd place | EUR 400 |
| 3rd place | EUR 300 |
The total confirmed cash prize fund for the A tournament is EUR 2,200. In addition, the organizer states that the event offers many general and category prizes, although the published page confirms only the top three amounts.
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The 4th Belley Chess Open A uses a 12 minutes + 3 seconds increment time control and runs over 9 rounds. Moreover, the tournament uses a Swiss pairing system. The event also counts for FFE Rapid rating and FIDE Rapid rating in May 2026. However, the published event details do not confirm the tie-break system, default time, byes policy, rating list, or acceleration method.
📂 Sections / Groups
The A tournament is one rapid section within a larger Belley event day that also includes other opens.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Weekday | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|
| April 6, 2026 | Monday | Tournament day |
📝 Registration
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| How to register | Contact the organizer by email |
| Entry fee details | Seniors: EUR 15; Youth: EUR 10 |
👥 Organizer
Christian Piles organizes the 4th Belley Chess Open A in Belley, France. In addition, the published event details name Olivier Minaud as arbiter and confirm a rated one-day rapid chess tournament with multiple prizes and on-site refreshments.
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Email: club.echecsbelley@gmail.com
🏨 Venue
Gymnase Jean Morin, Belley, France
Gymnase Jean Morin hosts the 4th Belley Chess Open A in Belley for this one-day rapid chess event. Moreover, the published venue details place the tournament directly in Belley and support a compact playing format for all rounds on the same day.
🚗 How to Get There
Players should travel directly to Gymnase Jean Morin in Belley, France. Therefore, participants should plan their trip in advance and use the official organizer contact if they need practical arrival details.
The 4th Belley Chess Open A gives rapid chess players a rated one-day event, a strong prize fund, and a focused competitive setting in Belley.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $2,543
Organizer
Club d’Echecs de Belley is a chess club and tournament organizer based in Belley, Ain, France. It is affiliated with the French Chess Federation and supports organized chess in the Bugey area. In addition, the club combines regular local activity with visible competitive events that attract players from the wider Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
The club organizes a broad mix of chess activities, including FIDE-rated tournament play, rapid chess, club evenings, and local competitive events. It is the organizer of the 4th Belley Chess Open A, a rated open chess tournament held in Belley with multiple sections and a structured festival format. Moreover, the club has built continuity through recurring Belley open tournaments and practical event organization for both experienced players and ambitious amateurs.
Over the years, Club d’Echecs de Belley has strengthened its role in regional chess through regular tournament delivery and community engagement. Furthermore, it supports accessible over-the-board chess while keeping Belley visible on the French tournament calendar. As a result, it remains a respected chess organizer for rapid and festival-style chess events in eastern France.
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