The 6th Itzehoer Schach Open 2027 takes place from May 6–9, 2027, at Haus der Jugend in Itzehoe, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Organized by Schachfreunde Wilstermarsch & Itzehoe von 2014, this four-day international classical chess tournament welcomes club players, juniors and other eligible competitors.

The event features seven Swiss-system rounds, rated for FIDE Standard and German DWZ. Players receive 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, then another 15 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment from move one. The field is limited to 127 participants, and a valid FIDE identification number is required.

The published awards total €3,150 (approximately $3,520) when at least 90 players enter. Registration and payment are handled by the organizer, with lower advance entry fees through April 12, 2027. The tournament plans to broadcast all games using electronic DGT boards.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

All entrants compete in one seven-round Swiss Open; women’s, age-group and DWZ prizes are classifications within this field, not additional tournaments. The time control is 90 minutes for 40 moves, plus 15 minutes after move 40 and a 30-second increment per move. Both FIDE Standard Elo and German DWZ will be calculated.

The organizer’s tiebreak sequence is Buchholz, Sonneborn–Berger, then number of wins. A 30-minute default time applies to late arrivals. Additionally, the organizer advertises DGT boards and live transmission for all games, allowing spectators to follow the event online.

🏆 Prize Fund

The full schedule of cash awards adds up to €3,150 (approximately $3,520) at the November 6, 2026 ECB reference rate of €1 = $1.1165. This conditional fund is guaranteed by the organizer only with 90 or more entrants. The advertised total includes €1,650 in overall prizes, €750 in five special-category awards and €750 in six DWZ rating prizes.

Prizes are not cumulative: when eligible for several awards, a player receives the highest. Entrants without a German DWZ are ineligible for rating prizes, and the six rating bands will be announced at the event. Awards are handed out in person at the closing ceremony, approximately 30 minutes after the last game.

📅 Schedule

Two rounds are scheduled on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, followed by one final round on Sunday. All times are local to Itzehoe (CEST, UTC+2). Short date labels are used to improve mobile readability.

All players must confirm attendance by 8:45 AM on May 6, either in person or through the organizer’s website. The regulations contain an isolated 2026 typo in the check-in sentence; the event dates and rounds consistently refer to May 2027. On Sunday, award recipients must remain until the prize ceremony.

📝 Registration

Register through the organizer’s official entry form in Event Details. The application becomes valid only when the online form is completed and payment has arrived. The organizer awards the 127 available places according to receipt of entry fees, rather than unpaid forms.

A valid FIDE ID is required. Registration details and bank payment instructions should be checked against the official 2027 invitation. Finally, each confirmed participant must complete the May 6 presence check before the first round. The MyChess.Events sidebar registration link remains unchanged.

🏛️ Organizer

Schachfreunde Wilstermarsch & Itzehoe von 2014 e.V. organizes this international chess event and other rated competitions in Schleswig-Holstein. Anke Behrend and Björn Behrend are the listed tournament directors, with IA Stefan Ewert serving as the tournament arbiter.

The club operates a dedicated tournament website with entry forms, player lists and live games. Its existing organizer profile provides further institutional information.

📍 Venue

The playing venue is Haus der Jugend at Adolf-Rohde-Straße 7, 25524 Itzehoe, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The City of Itzehoe lists it as a public youth and community center, with an event hall, foyer/café, meeting rooms and accessible toilets. The building also has step-free access and an elevator.

The organizers provide affordable refreshments at the tournament venue. Smoking and alcohol are prohibited on the premises. For navigation, use the verified full street address rather than a generic Itzehoe town-center location.

Nearby Restaurants and Cafés

The following dining options are in Itzehoe’s town-center area. They are not part of the tournament’s onsite catering; check the route and current opening hours before leaving, particularly during double-round days.

🏨 Accommodation

Haus der Jugend is not a hotel, so visiting players should arrange accommodation independently. These three established options are in Itzehoe; check each property’s actual route to Adolf-Rohde-Straße 7 and availability for the May 2027 tournament dates.

Travelers participating in every round may prefer to arrive on May 5 and depart on May 10, allowing time for Thursday’s early check-in and Sunday’s award ceremony. These are optional travel suggestions, not organizer-mandated dates.

🚆 How to Get There

The final destination is Haus der Jugend, Adolf-Rohde-Straße 7, Itzehoe. Visitors can reach Itzehoe by rail or road via the Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein networks, then make a local transfer to the youth center.

For long-distance rail planning, consult Deutsche Bahn. Because check-in ends at 8:45 AM on Thursday, arriving the previous evening can reduce the risk of missing the first round. The closing ceremony takes place about 30 minutes after Sunday’s final game.

ℹ️ Other Information

The organizer plans to broadcast all games on DGT electronic boards. This offers live coverage of the Open, although specific game and streaming links may only appear closer to the start.

Electronic aids, including mobile phones and smartwatches, must not be carried into the playing area. Players should also follow the event’s non-smoking and non-alcohol rules, and winners must be present at the award ceremony to receive their prizes.