4th Festival Internazionale Città di Gubbio
The medieval hilltop city of Gubbio welcomes chess fans to the 4th Festival Internazionale Città di Gubbio from Friday, February 27 to Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Gubbio, Italy. Four FIDE-rated opens (A, B, C, and D) run over five classical rounds at the historic Palazzo Pretorio, inside the Sala Trecentesca and Aula Consiliare of the municipal building on Piazza Grande. All sections use the same 90+30 time control and share a combined prize fund of €3,100, which makes this festival an attractive long-weekend target for ambitious club players and families.
The festival groups players by rating from under 1700 to above 1900, with each open offering trophies, cash prizes, Elo-band awards, age and senior prizes, and special gifts such as books and local products. Clear Swiss pairings, a single time control, a 60-minute default time, and simple registration through Vesus and bank transfer keep the organization straightforward while maintaining a professional standard under FIDE and Italian federation rules.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | February 27–March 1, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Palazzo Pretorio – Municipio di Gubbio, Piazza Grande 9, 06024 Gubbio (PG), Italy |
| ♟️ Format | 5-round Swiss festival with four opens |
| ⏱️ Time control | 90 minutes for the game + 30 seconds increment per move |
| ⭐ Rating | Valid for FIDE Elo variation |
| 📂 Sections | Open A (>1900); Open B (1700–2000); Open C (1500–1800); Open D (<1700) |
| 💳 Entry fee | Open A €70; Open B & C €65; Open D €60; Women €50 in all opens; U16 reduced (details below) |
| 💰 Prize fund | Total €3,100 across all sections |
| 👤 Eligibility | Players with valid 2026 FSI agonistic or junior license (FSI membership available on site) |
| 🧩 Organizer notes | Pairing bye worth 1 point (one round); maximum 60 minutes late arrival; prizes indivisible and non-cumulative |
🏆 Prize Fund
Prizes are indivisible and non-cumulative and are awarded only to players present at the prize-giving ceremony.
Open-A – Elo >1900
| Place / Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | €500 + trophy |
| 2nd | €300 + cup |
| 3rd | €200 + cup |
| 4th | €100 + cup |
| 1st Elo 2100–2200 | €100 + cup |
| 1st Elo 2000–2099 | €100 + cup |
| 1st Elo 1900–1999 | €50 + cup |
| 1st Over 65 | Book “Le due Torri” + local products board |
| 1st U16, U14, U12, U10, U8 | Cup (one cup per age category) |
Open-B – Elo 1700–2000
| Place / Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | €300 + trophy |
| 2nd | €200 + cup |
| 3rd | €100 + cup |
| 1st Elo 1800–1900 | €50 + cup |
| 1st Elo 1700–1799 | €50 + cup |
| 1st U16 | €50 + cup |
| 1st Female | €50 + cup |
| 1st Over 65 | €50 + cup |
| 1st Over 50 | Local products board |
Open-C – Elo 1500–1800
| Place / Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | €200 + trophy |
| 2nd | €150 + cup |
| 3rd | €100 + cup |
| 1st Elo 1600–1700 | €50 + cup |
| 1st Elo 1500–1599 | €50 + cup |
| 1st U16 | Cup + “Le due Torri” book |
| 1st Female | Cup + “Le due Torri” book |
| 1st Over 65 | €50 + cup |
| 1st Over 50 | Local products board |
Open-D – Elo <1700
| Place / Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | €150 + trophy |
| 2nd | €100 + cup |
| 3rd | €50 + cup |
| 4th | “Le due Torri” book + local products board |
| 1st Over 65 | “Le due Torri” book + local products board |
| 1st Over 50 | Local products board |
| 1st Female | Cup |
Special Festival Prize
| Item | Prize |
|---|---|
| Best overall performance (all opens) | Cup + free entry to Gubbio 2027 |
The performance prize is cumulative and goes to the player with the best performance score across the entire festival.
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
All four sections share the same classical time control:
• 90 minutes for the entire game
• 30-second increment per move from move one
Pairings follow FIDE Swiss rules over five rounds in each open. A pairing bye, when granted, scores 1 point. The festival applies standard tie-break systems including total Buchholz, Buchholz Cut-1, and average opponents’ Elo.
Players may arrive up to 60 minutes after the scheduled start time; beyond that, they lose by forfeit. Anti-cheating measures follow current FIDE regulations, and electronic devices are forbidden in the playing area.
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section | Rating / target group | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Open A | FIDE Elo >1900 | Top section, 5-round FIDE-rated Swiss |
| Open B | FIDE Elo 1700–2000 | 5-round FIDE-rated Swiss |
| Open C | FIDE Elo 1500–1800 | 5-round FIDE-rated Swiss |
| Open D | FIDE Elo <1700 | 5-round FIDE-rated Swiss, ideal for lower-rated players and juniors |
Organizers may use up to two wild cards in Opens A, B, and C at their discretion.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Weekday | Time | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 27, 2026 | Friday | 12:00–16:30 | Player check-in and accreditation |
| February 27, 2026 | Friday | 17:00 | Round 1 |
| February 28, 2026 | Saturday | 09:00 | Round 2 |
| February 28, 2026 | Saturday | 16:00 | Round 3 |
| March 1, 2026 | Sunday | 09:00 | Round 4 |
| March 1, 2026 | Sunday | 15:00 | Round 5 |
| March 1, 2026 | Sunday | 19:00 | Prize-giving ceremony |
📝 Registration
Pre-registration is mandatory and takes place via Vesus:
Online pre-registration:
Website: https://www.vesus.org
Players must pre-register by February 26, 2026. Non-pre-registered players pay an additional €10.
Entry fees:
| Category | Open A | Open B & C | Open D |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | €70 | €65 | €60 |
| Women (all opens) | €50 | €50 | €50 |
| U16 (born from January 1, 2010) | €50 (A, B, C) | €50 (B, C) | €40 (D) |
| GM / IM | Free in Open A | — | — |
Payment methods:
• Bank transfer to A.S.D. Barcellona Scacchi (IBAN indicated in the official regulations)
• Direct payment on site at the playing venue
All players must hold a valid 2026 FSI agonistic or junior license; registration implies full acceptance of the regulations.
👥 Organizer
The festival is organized by A.S.D. Barcellona Scacchi together with Gruppo Scacco Matto Eugubino, under the patronage of the Municipality of Gubbio.
• Contact 1 – Giuseppe Zangla
Phone: +39 347 769 5966
Email: giuseppezangla@tiscali.it
• Contact 2 – Francesco Zaccagni
Phone: +39 331 686 2267
Website: https://www.gubbioscacchi.it
🏨 Venue
All games take place inside Palazzo Pretorio – Municipio di Gubbio, Piazza Grande 9, 06024 Gubbio (PG), Italy. The playing halls include the historic Sala Trecentesca and the Aula Consiliare, which offer an atmospheric setting with views over the medieval city and ample space for boards, arbiters, and spectators.
🚗 How to Get There
Gubbio lies in Umbria, north of Perugia, and connects by regional roads to major routes across central Italy. Drivers can follow signs toward Gubbio’s historic center and then to Piazza Grande, where Palazzo Pretorio stands on the main square. Travelers arriving by train typically use nearby stations such as Fossato di Vico–Gubbio and continue by bus or taxi up to the old town.
Players who join the 4th Festival Internazionale Città di Gubbio enjoy a compact FIDE-rated weekend with multiple rating groups, rich prize lists, and a uniquely historic Italian setting high above the Umbrian hills.
🧾 Other
• All prizes are paid net of any taxes required by law.
• Electronic devices are forbidden in the playing area; anti-cheating rules follow FIDE regulations.
• The organizers may adjust details of the regulations if necessary for the smooth running of the festival.
• Registration and participation imply consent for the publication of names, results, and images related to the event.