Australia’s favorite regional chess weekend returns with the 60th Ballarat Begonia Open 2026 from Saturday, March 7 to Monday, March 9, 2026 in Ballarat, Australia. Ballarat Chess Club celebrates the 60th consecutive Begonia Tournament with a major $17,300 prize pool, live top-board broadcasts, and GM commentary that adds extra value between rounds. The event runs as a single Swiss tournament and creates multiple rating groups to keep prizes competitive across the full field.

The tournament takes place at Ballarat Tech School on Federation University’s SMB Campus in central Ballarat. Every game uses a classical control of 90+30, and the rules support serious play with a strict default time, short-draw restrictions, and a strong anti-electronics policy. You can also benefit from a dedicated analysis room, quick online publication of pairings, and the festive atmosphere of the Ballarat Begonia Festival weekend.

🗓️ Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

Prize pool: $17,300

Outright prizes:

Rating groups (players rated under 2000):

Unrated group:

Special prizes:

Box Hill Chess Club member prizes (only for Box Hill Chess Club members who do not win another prize):

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The tournament uses one classical time control for every round: 90 minutes per player plus a 30-second increment from move 1. The arbiter awards a forfeit when a player arrives 30 minutes after a round starts.

The organizers rate the tournament for FIDE and ACF. Pairings use FIDE ratings in preference to ACF ratings when available.

The organizers may apply accelerated pairings when entries exceed 132 players. They use the Baku acceleration method and accelerate the first four rounds in a seven-round event.

Players may request up to two half-point byes in Rounds 1–5, and the rules cap total bye points at one point.

📂 Sections / Groups

📅 Schedule

📝 Registration

Players register online through TryBooking.

Website: https://www.trybooking.com/DHYTV

Entry fees:

• Adults: $150

• Concession (under 18 on March 7, 2026): $130

• GM, WGM, IM, WIM: free entry

Entries close at midnight on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, and the tournament caps entries at 300 players.

Titled players must request a complimentary entry code before entries close:
Email: treasurer@ballaratchess.com

Refund policy:

• Withdrawal 7 days or more before the start date: full refund (TryBooking processing fees excluded)

• Withdrawal within 7 days of the start date: 50% refund (TryBooking processing fees excluded)

• Withdrawal after the tournament starts: no refund

👥 Organizer

Ballarat Chess Club organizes the Begonia Open series and delivers one of Australia’s longest-running regional tournaments, with a professional arbiter team, live coverage, and strong prize support across the field.

Email: treasurer@ballaratchess.com
Email: president@ballaratchess.com
Email: webmaster@ballaratchess.com
Phone: +61 418 533 517
Phone: +61 408 115 778
Website: https://www.ballaratchess.com/begoniaopen/index.html

🏨 Venue

Ballarat Tech School at Federation University’s SMB Campus hosts all rounds at 136 Albert Street, Ballarat Central VIC 3350, Australia. The modern, spacious venue supports a large tournament field and includes a separate room for post-game analysis away from the playing area.

🛎️ Accommodation

The tournament weekend coincides with the Ballarat Begonia Festival, so accommodation demand can run high. Players should arrange lodging early through local tourism resources.

Website: https://www.visitballarat.com.au
Website: https://www.visitballarat.com.au/accommodation
Website: https://www.ballarat.com

🚗 How to Get There

Ballarat sits just over an hour from Melbourne by car and public transport. You can travel to Ballarat by V/Line train or bus and then continue to Ballarat Central to reach Albert Street and the Federation University SMB Campus.

Make the most of a milestone 60th edition and test your form in a deeply rewarded, FIDE-rated weekend in the heart of Ballarat.

🧾 Other

• The chief arbiter is Dr Peter Tsai (IA), supported by a panel of national arbiters.

• The organizers publish pairings online and post hard copies at the venue.

• The tournament prohibits game analysis in the playing rooms while other games continue; players may use the designated analysis room.

• GM Ian Rogers provides live commentary in a separate room, and players may enter only after they finish their games.

• The organizers broadcast the top 10 boards with a 30-minute delay.

• The arbiter does not permit draws under 15 moves without approval.

• The tournament enforces a strict no-electronics policy in the tournament hall, including phones, smart watches, and similar devices; the rules assign game losses for breaches during play.

• The appeals process requires a $50 bond, refunded when the appeal succeeds.

• Federation University enforces a no smoking and no vaping policy anywhere on the premises.