The 6th Carinthian Winteropen 2027 takes place from January 2–5, 2027, in Feffernitz, Carinthia, Austria. SV Raika Rapid Feffernitz welcomes players to Freizeitzentrum Feffernitz for four days of classical chess. The tournament offers two separately paired competitions, Open A and Open B, allowing players of different strengths to compete in the same five-round international event.

Both sections use the Swiss system with 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game and a 30-second increment from move one. The organizer submits the results for FIDE Standard and Austrian national Elo rating calculation. Moreover, the official 2027 regulations guarantee €1,770 in cash prizes, with €1,140 allocated to Open A and €630 to Open B. The top eight players in each section receive a listed award.

Round 1 starts at 3:00 PM on Saturday, January 2, and the tournament ends after the fifth round on Tuesday, January 5. The program also includes a separate nine-round Drautalbank Blitz event on Monday evening and a concurrent Carinthian youth championship. In addition, the organizers publish individual Chess-Results records for Open A and Open B, so participants can follow the registered players, pairings and results for their section.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

Each competitor receives 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by an additional 30 minutes to complete the game. Furthermore, the clock adds 30 seconds after every move, starting with the first move. These rules apply equally to Open A and Open B, and both groups consist of five Swiss rounds rather than a round robin.

The tournament follows the FIDE Laws of Chess and counts toward both international Standard and Austrian national Elo ratings. Meanwhile, the organizer uses Swiss-Manager for pairings and lists 30 minutes as the default time for late arrivals. Players should arrive ahead of each round, check the latest pairings and keep electronic devices out of the tournament hall.

Fair Play and Tournament Decisions

The official anti-cheating conditions prohibit electronic devices inside the playing hall. In addition, the organizer retains authority over matters such as fair play, tournament administration and exceptional decisions. The regulations do not permit appeals against the computer-generated pairings. Therefore, competitors should raise any playing-rule concerns promptly with the appointed arbiters and follow their instructions during the event.

🏆 Prize Fund

The tournament guarantees €1,770 in classical cash awards (approximately $1,970). Open A accounts for €1,140, while Open B accounts for €630. Each group pays the first eight finishers, including €300 for the Open A winner and €150 for the Open B winner. Consequently, the listed cash awards provide opportunities beyond the first three places in both competitions.

Cash prizes are not shared, and each player may receive only one prize. Moreover, winners must attend the award ceremony to collect their money. The organizer also states that recipients are responsible for any taxes on winnings. These rules apply to the classical competitions; the separate Drautalbank Blitz event offers its own non-cash awards.

♟️ Sections / Groups

Open A welcomes players with a valid FIDE ID, including players rated below 1800 who prefer a stronger field and pay the additional €5 fee. Open B is specifically for players holding a FIDE ID with a rating of 1799 or below. Thus, both groups offer international classical rating opportunities while maintaining distinct entry fees and first-prize amounts.

In addition, both groups use the same playing schedule, Swiss format and 90/40 + 30-minute time control with increment. Entrants should supply accurate club, Elo and FIDE ID details when registering. If a player’s rating lies below the B limit, they can consider either group according to the published entry conditions.

📅 Schedule

All times are local Central European Time (CET, UTC+1). Saturday begins with attendance verification and the opening ceremony, followed by Round 1. Sunday contains two rounds, while Monday and Tuesday each have one classical round. Furthermore, the prize ceremony takes place after the final games on January 5.

Sunday is the only double-round day in the classical program. Therefore, competitors should allow enough time for a long morning game, a meal and preparation before the 5:00 PM session. The final round on Tuesday begins at 9:00 AM, so visiting players should arrange their return journey around the game and the subsequent awards.

📝 Registration

Players register by email with Helmut Löscher at helmutloscher@gmail.com or schach.feffernitz@gmail.com. Each application should include the player’s club, Elo rating and FIDE ID. The registration deadline is Saturday, January 2, 2027, at 1:30 PM. Moreover, the organizer draws pairings only for participants whose entry fee has been received by 2:00 PM.

The official tournament invitation contains the organizer’s bank-transfer details. Consequently, entrants should use the payment instructions in that document and ensure their fee arrives by the published cutoff. Participants also need to complete the 2:00 PM attendance check at the venue before the 2:30 PM welcome and 3:00 PM first round.

🏛️ Organizer

SV Raika Rapid Feffernitz organizes chess activities in the Carinthian Drau Valley, including recurring international Opens and the winter tournament in early January. The club publishes its tournament information through its official website and maintains separate online records for the different competitions. In addition, the 2027 Winteropen brings together two classical rating sections and a separate Blitz side event at the same venue.

Helmut Löscher directs the event, while IA Hannes Tscharnuter serves as chief arbiter. Moreover, RA Noah Tscharnuter, RA Helmut Löscher and RA Christopher Stadler are named as additional arbiters in the official invitation. The club’s published email addresses provide the direct contact route for entry and tournament questions.

📍 Venue

Freizeitzentrum Feffernitz, Mühlenweg 32, 9710 Mühlboden (Feffernitz), Feistritz an der Drau, Carinthia, Austria. The playing location is the Freizeitzentrum Feffernitz, a community event facility in the municipality of Paternion. The municipality’s own directory confirms Mühlenweg 32, 9710 Mühlboden as its street address. Furthermore, the community hall hosts gatherings and other organized activities in addition to chess tournaments.

The building is distinct from the Gemeinschaftshaus Feistritz/Drau on Villacher Straße. Therefore, visitors should navigate directly to the Mühlenweg address and follow tournament signage upon arrival. Players who arrive by car, train or taxi should allow enough time for the attendance check on Saturday afternoon.

🏨 Accommodation

Visitors can find hotel and guesthouse accommodation in the Paternion area of Carinthia. Two established local properties publish their own room information and booking contacts, making them practical starting points for participants planning the January tournament. However, room availability and rates for January 2–5 depend on the individual property’s reservation conditions.

Landgasthof Tell offers single, double and shared rooms, along with breakfast and regional cuisine. Hotel Kärntner Stub’n advertises rooms and apartments, on-site dining and flexible arrival arrangements. Consequently, visitors can compare the properties’ current offers and choose a suitable base before organizing transport to Freizeitzentrum Feffernitz.

🚆 How to Get There

By Train

The Paternion-Feistritz regional railway station serves this part of the Drau Valley. Players traveling through Villach or Spittal an der Drau can check the available train connections and then arrange a local transfer to Mühlenweg 32. Moreover, Austrian railway schedules are available through ÖBB. Winter timetables should be checked before booking travel around the opening round.

By Car

The area is accessible via the A10 Tauern motorway and roads through Paternion and Feistritz an der Drau. Drivers can use the Feistritz/Drau exit and navigate to the venue’s full address in Mühlboden. In addition, the official municipality website provides the facility’s location details, which are more precise than choosing Feffernitz town center.

Regional Arrival and Winter Conditions

Feffernitz lies in Carinthia between the Villach and Spittal areas. As a result, players coming from other regions should check the final bus, taxi or rail connection to the venue rather than planning only as far as the nearest major station. January weather can affect driving time, so arriving before the Saturday 2:00 PM attendance check is especially helpful.

ℹ️ Other Information

29th International Drautalbank Blitz Tournament

The separate 29th International Drautalbank Blitz Tournament 2027 takes place on Monday, January 4, at 7:00 PM. It offers nine Swiss rounds at 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move, with a €10 entry fee that includes one drink. Its awards are non-cash items and entry-fee waivers for specified achievements. Thus, the Blitz competition is not part of the Winteropen’s guaranteed classical prize fund.

Carinthian Youth Championship

A regional youth championship also takes place alongside the Winteropen. In addition, the venue accommodates the two principal classical sections and the Monday evening Blitz competition. Entrants should identify the precise event for which they are registering when they contact the club.

Useful Official Links