The 5th International President Cup 2026 brings an international classical chess festival to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from November 27 to December 7, 2026. Organized by the Uzbekistan Chess Federation, the event brings together an invited Masters round robin and two open Swiss competitions under a single programme. Tournament games are scheduled from November 28 to December 6, with accreditation before play and departures on December 7.

The three sections serve different competitive levels. Masters features ten invited players. Open-A is for players with FIDE ratings of at least 2000, while Open-B accepts players rated 0–2099, including unrated competitors. Each group has nine rounds and a 90-minute plus 30-second increment classical clock. As a result, visitors can choose a level-appropriate open competition while following the elite Masters event.

The official event website advertises USD 100,000 in total prize money across the festival. It also publishes key entry conditions, round schedules and the International Chess Academy venue address. International travelers should complete their registration arrangements in advance, as the general published deadline is November 13 at 5:00 PM Tashkent time.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The clock gives every competitor 90 minutes for the game plus 30 seconds added per move from the first move. Draw agreements are not allowed before move 30. Although all three groups share the same rate of play, the Masters group uses a ten-player round robin, while Open-A and Open-B use nine-round Swiss pairings.

In a round robin, the Masters competitors are scheduled against every other participant once. In the two opens, pairings depend on results during the event. The official site lists additional prizes for women, seniors and juniors in the open sections, making category eligibility relevant beyond the overall standings.

💰 Prize Fund

The USD 100,000 figure is the published overall fund, not the sum of just the nine podium awards displayed above. There are ten paid places in Masters, twelve places plus special categories in Open-A, and five places plus special categories in Open-B. Accordingly, adding the abbreviated podium table again would double-count part of the official festival total.

Players should check the full regulations for prize-sharing rules, tax or identification procedures, and whether special category awards can be combined. The above breakdown reflects the official tournament site’s current overview.

🏆 Sections / Groups

The listed 2000–2099 rating interval appears in the published eligibility of both Open-A and Open-B. A player within this range should confirm which group they can enter before submitting payment, rather than assuming eligibility implies access to both groups in one tournament.

📅 Schedule

Except for round one, the published daily round times are 10:00 AM for Open-A and Open-B and 3:00 PM for Masters. Tashkent uses UTC+5. The different session times give visitors the opportunity to watch other groups, but competitors should follow their own posted pairings and arbiter instructions.

Arrival and departure dates extend outside the competitive rounds. Players booking accommodation should include the accreditation window and their own flight schedule rather than automatically booking only the nine playing days.

📝 Registration

Registration is linked directly from the official event website to the federation’s registration service. International participants should review their correct open-group eligibility before applying. Entry to Masters is by invitation or selection, not a standard open registration route.

The organizer lists a USD 100 entry fee for foreign players and an additional USD 50 for late registration. These are registration charges, not hotel or travel fees. Acceptance after the deadline must be confirmed directly by the federation; the presence of an online form alone does not guarantee a place.

👤 Organizer

The Uzbekistan Chess Federation manages the President Cup, participant accreditation and the official programme. For event-specific enquiries, its published contact number is +998 95 511 14 00. The federation also has an established MyChess.Events organizer profile with its broader chess activities and administrative contacts.

📍 Venue

The official tournament venue is International Chess Academy – 10A Anhor Buyi Street, Tashkent, Uzbekistan. This is the address printed on the President Cup website. An independent building-specific map listing confirms the International Chess Academy at the same property, so the venue coordinate identifies the correct building rather than the center of Tashkent.

Players should check whether accreditation, playing sessions or special ceremonies require a particular entrance or room inside the academy. They should also distinguish this tournament from previous Uzbekistan events that used multiple venues. The 2026 President Cup site lists this academy as its event location.

🏨 Accommodation

These are independently identifiable hotel options in central Tashkent, not organizer-designated tournament hotels. Compare their locations with the International Chess Academy before making a reservation. Room prices fluctuate by date, occupancy and cancellation policy, and no verified rates for the competition period are provided here.

Traveling families should check whether a property can provide the required room configuration and breakfast arrangements. International players should also clarify whether the competition organizer has an accommodation package before paying for a nonrefundable booking.

🚆 How to Get There

International visitors usually arrive through Tashkent International Airport (TAS). From the airport, use a booked transfer, licensed taxi or current local transport to reach the Academy on Anhor Buyi Street. Tashkent also has railway services, but the most convenient station depends on your incoming train and hotel location.

The academy’s verified building location identifies nearby city-center transport connections, including the Pakhtakor metro area. For air travel information, use Tashkent International Airport and check your terminal and arrival time. No fixed road journey time is quoted here because traffic and the actual arrival point can differ.

For the first day, arrive early enough to complete accreditation and determine your playing room. Masters and Open groups do not begin at the same clock time, so the correct session time matters when arranging a transfer.

🔗 Useful Official Links

ℹ️ Other Information

The festival’s opening and group registration arrangements may be updated as invited participants and entrants are confirmed. The public website is the authoritative source for schedule changes and final regulations. Foreign players should also check passport and visa requirements appropriate to their nationality and travel circumstances.