The 18th Chessence Open 2027 will take place from August 6 to August 8, 2027, at the Sauerland Stern Hotel in Willingen (Upland), Germany. Organized by Chessence GmbH, the tournament brings together players for five rounds of classical chess across four rating-based groups. The event combines FIDE and German national rating opportunities with cash prizes, a dedicated tournament hotel, and an additional FIDE-rated blitz competition.

The championship features Chessence Masters, Premium Open A, Premium Open B, and Premium Open C, accommodating players from developing club competitors to experienced tournament players. Each group follows a five-round Swiss system with a time control of 90 minutes for 40 moves, followed by 15 minutes for the remainder of the game, plus 30 seconds per move from move one. The tournament has a maximum capacity of 80 participants, and cash prizes are guaranteed in groups reaching at least six players. Additionally, participants may enter the popular Midnight Blitz Tournament on Saturday evening.

Held in the scenic Sauerland region, the Chessence Open offers a convenient combination of tournament chess and weekend accommodation. Players can stay directly at the tournament venue, with special full-board hotel packages available through the organizer. Furthermore, the hotel lies close to Willingen railway station and provides designated free parking for registered tournament participants. With its structured rating groups, accessible weekend schedule, and additional competitive activities, the 18th Chessence Open 2027 offers an attractive opportunity for chess enthusiasts from Germany and abroad.

♟️ Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The 18th Chessence Open 2027 consists of five classical rounds played under the Swiss pairing system. Each of the four rating groups operates as a separate tournament, subject to the organizer’s participation requirements.

Every player receives 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 15 additional minutes for the remainder of the game. In addition, a 30-second Fischer increment applies from the first move.

The increment adds 30 seconds to the player’s remaining time after each move. Therefore, players receive additional thinking time throughout the game, including during complicated endgames.

After completing move 40, the player receives an additional 15 minutes for the rest of the game.

Rating Regulations

All four groups are submitted for German DWZ rating calculations.

However, only Chessence Masters, Premium Open A, and Premium Open B are submitted for FIDE Standard Elo rating.

Players entering these three FIDE-rated groups must have a valid FIDE identification number before participating.

Premium Open C is DWZ-rated but is not advertised as FIDE-rated.

Tournament Rules

The competition follows the applicable FIDE Laws of Chess.

Players must reach their boards within 30 minutes of the scheduled round start. A player arriving after this period loses the game by forfeit.

Consequently, participants should arrive early, check their pairings, and allow enough time to locate their assigned boards.

Tie-Break Criteria

The organizer applies the following ranking order:

The tournament director may apply additional tie-break methods when necessary to determine final rankings.

Half-Point Bye

Players may request one half-point bye in Round 1.

The request must reach the organizer by August 5, 2027, at 8:00 PM.

A player receiving the bye scores half a point without playing the first round.

However, a bye request does not replace the mandatory attendance confirmation. Players must still telephone the organizer during the designated confirmation period before the tournament begins.

🏆 Prize Fund

The 18th Chessence Open 2027 offers cash prizes in all four playing groups.

The organizer guarantees €240 per group, provided that the group contains at least six participants.

Accordingly, if all four groups meet this condition, the published awards total €960 (approximately $1,080).

The prize money may increase depending on the number of participants.

👑 Chessence Masters – Cash Prizes

The Chessence Masters group provides competition for higher-rated players, including those with ratings of 2000 or above and eligible players entering through the organizer’s special provisions.

Its prize structure rewards the three leading competitors, provided the minimum participation condition is satisfied.

🥇 Premium Open A – Cash Prizes

Premium Open A provides a separate competitive field for players in the upper intermediate and advanced rating range.

In addition, its games count toward both DWZ and FIDE Standard Elo ratings.

🥈 Premium Open B – Cash Prizes

Premium Open B offers opportunities for club players to compete for cash awards while improving their national and international ratings.

The same participation condition applies to this group.

🥉 Premium Open C – Cash Prizes

Premium Open C offers a dedicated competition for lower-rated club players.

Although the group does not count toward FIDE Elo ratings, its games are submitted for German DWZ rating.

💰 Prize Fund Summary

Important: The €240 award allocation is guaranteed only for groups with at least six participants.

Therefore, the combined €960 figure assumes all four groups satisfy this condition. The organizer may increase the prizes when participation numbers justify higher awards.

🧩 Sections / Groups

The 18th Chessence Open 2027 consists of four rating-based competitions.

👑 Chessence Masters

The Chessence Masters group is the strongest competition at the tournament.

Players with a DWZ and/or FIDE Elo of at least 2000 normally qualify for this section.

However, players rated 1950 or higher in either system may choose between Premium Open A and Chessence Masters when registering.

In addition, holders of a Chessence Excellence membership are eligible to participate in the Masters group under the organizer’s regulations.

The group is submitted for both German DWZ and FIDE Standard Elo rating.

Premium Open A – DWZ 1750–1999

Premium Open A is designed primarily for players with a DWZ between 1750 and 1999.

This section provides a competitive environment for ambitious club players approaching the 2000 rating level.

Players holding eligible ratings of at least 1950 may also request placement in Chessence Masters.

Premium Open A is rated for both DWZ and FIDE Elo, so all participants must have the required FIDE identification number.

Premium Open B – DWZ 1500–1749

Premium Open B accommodates players with DWZ ratings from 1500 to 1749.

It offers a separate competition for developing and intermediate-strength club players.

Furthermore, the group provides opportunities to improve both national and FIDE Standard ratings through classical tournament games.

A valid FIDE ID is required for participation.

Premium Open C – DWZ Below 1500

Premium Open C is intended for competitors with a DWZ below 1500.

The group offers opportunities for developing players, including those working toward their first established German national rating.

Unlike the three higher groups, Premium Open C is DWZ-rated only.

Important: Participants in Premium Open C must belong to a recognized chess club by the start of the tournament.

Players without club membership may join SC Chessence 64 e.V. through the registration information provided by the organizer.

Rating-Based Placement

Players are initially assigned to groups according to the ratings supplied during registration.

However, the tournament director may adjust group assignments to maintain suitable playing conditions.

The organizer aims for at least ten participants in each group. If necessary, groups may be reorganized or combined because of insufficient entries or other pairing considerations.

Therefore, final group composition remains subject to the tournament director’s decisions.

For competitors without a DWZ or FIDE Elo rating, the tournament director determines appropriate placement.

📅 Schedule

The 18th Chessence Open 2027 takes place over three days, from Friday, August 6, through Sunday, August 8, 2027.

The organizer also provides attendance-confirmation opportunities on Thursday evening.

All times are local Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2).

Thursday, August 5, 2027

Players may confirm their attendance in person or by telephone.

Friday, August 6, 2027

The opening round begins at 9:30 AM, following the morning attendance-confirmation period.

Players should plan to arrive before 8:45 AM if they have not confirmed their participation on Thursday evening.

The second round begins at 3:30 PM, allowing a substantial interval between the two classical games.

Saturday, August 7, 2027

Saturday features two classical rounds and an additional blitz competition.

The third round begins at 9:00 AM, while the fourth starts at 3:00 PM.

Later in the evening, players may participate in the optional FIDE-rated Midnight Blitz Tournament.

Sunday, August 8, 2027

The fifth and final classical round begins at 9:00 AM.

The organizers schedule the award ceremony for 2:30 PM.

Participants should account for the prize ceremony when making return travel arrangements.

📝 Registration

Registration for the 18th Chessence Open 2027 is managed directly through the official Chessence website.

The tournament accepts a maximum of 80 participants across the four playing groups.

Registration Fees

The standard entry fee applies to Chessence Masters and all three Premium Open groups.

Important Registration Deadlines

Official Online Registration

Chessence Open – August 2027:

https://kurse.chessence.de/turnier-anmeldung-3/

Players may register online until August 5, 2027, at 7:00 PM.

After that time, Chessence accepts new entries only by telephone, until the final registration deadline of 8:00 AM on August 6.

The telephone number for last-minute registrations will be published on the official tournament page shortly before the event.

Mandatory Attendance Confirmation

Every registered player must confirm their participation before the tournament.

Confirmation can be completed personally or by telephone during either of the designated periods:

• Thursday, August 5, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
• Friday, August 6, from 8:00 AM to 8:45 AM.

Failure to confirm attendance in time may prevent the organizer from guaranteeing participation in Round 1.

This requirement also applies to players who requested a half-point bye.

Entry Fee Refunds

Players may cancel their entry and request a refund of the tournament fee until July 23, 2027.

Cancellations after that date do not qualify for a refund under the published entry-fee conditions.

Chessence Membership Benefits

Members of the full Chessence Premium or Excellence programs receive complimentary tournament entry.

Eligible members must log into their Chessence accounts to complete the free registration process.

These membership benefits do not automatically remove other tournament eligibility requirements.

Club Membership and FIDE ID

All participants must belong to a chess club.

Players in Premium Open C who have not joined a club by the tournament start cannot participate.

For the three FIDE-rated groups — Masters, Premium Open A and Premium Open B — a valid FIDE ID is also mandatory.

Players who need a new FIDE ID should apply at least two weeks before the tournament.

FIDE Player Search:

https://ratings.fide.com/

German Chess Federation – FIDE ID Information:

https://www.schachbund.de/fide-identifikationsnummer.html

Registration Assistance

Organizer Email:

kontakt@chessence.de

Official Tournament Registration:

https://kurse.chessence.de/turnier-anmeldung-3/

👤 Organizer

Organizer Name: Chessence GmbH

Contact Person: Jürgen Kehr – Tournament Attendance Contact

Email: kontakt@chessence.de

Website: https://chessence.de/

Chessence is a German chess education and tournament organization associated with Grandmaster Niclas Huschenbeth.

The organization provides structured training programs, chess courses, seminars, and over-the-board tournament opportunities.

Its Chessence Open series brings together players of different rating levels for weekend classical competitions.

The organizer publishes a dedicated tournament telephone number shortly before each event for attendance confirmation and last-minute registration enquiries.

📍 Venue

Sauerland Stern Hotel – Kneippweg 1, 34508 Willingen (Upland), Hesse, Germany.

The 18th Chessence Open 2027 will take place at the Sauerland Stern Hotel, a large hotel and conference complex in Willingen.

The property combines accommodation, restaurants, leisure facilities, and extensive meeting spaces.

As a result, players can enjoy the convenience of staying and competing at the same location throughout the three-day event.

Hotel Facilities

The hotel offers a range of amenities, including:

• Guest rooms and suites
• Restaurants and bars
• Meeting and conference spaces
• Swimming pool and wellness facilities
• Fitness facilities
• Wi-Fi
• On-site parking
• Electric vehicle charging points

Willingen’s central location also provides access to local shops, restaurants, and recreational attractions.

Official Hotel Website:

https://www.sauerland-stern-hotel.de/

🚆 How to Get There

Willingen (Upland) is located in the Sauerland region of Germany, within the state of Hesse.

The town is accessible by regional railway services and road connections from other parts of Germany.

✈️ By Air

Paderborn-Lippstadt Airport (PAD) is a nearby regional airport, located approximately 50 km from Sauerland Stern Hotel.

Travelers arriving by air can continue toward Willingen by taxi, rental car, or arranged transfer.

For international visitors, larger German airports may provide more flight choices. However, onward transportation should be planned according to the selected arrival airport.

🚆 By Train

Willingen railway station is approximately 500 meters from Sauerland Stern Hotel, making rail travel a practical option.

The station provides regional connections through the surrounding railway network.

Additional rail options include Brilon-Wald, approximately 5 km away, and Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe, a major long-distance ICE station approximately 70 km from the hotel.

Players arriving at Willingen station can reach the tournament venue on foot.

German Railways:

https://www.bahn.de/

🚗 By Car

Drivers can reach Willingen through the German motorway and regional road network.

The hotel provides directions from major approaches, including the A44 and regional roads toward Willingen.

Navigation Address:

Sauerland Stern Hotel – Kneippweg 1, 34508 Willingen (Upland), Germany.

🚕 Taxi and Bus Transfers

The hotel lists the following providers for transportation enquiries.

Taxi Sinemus

Phone: +49 5632 6504

Email: berndsinemus@t-online.de

Website: https://www.taxi-willingen.eu/

Auto Hellwig Busreisen

Phone: +49 5632 6397

Email: info@hellwig-reisen.de

Website: https://www.hellwig-reisen.de/

🅿️ Free Parking for Tournament Participants

Chessence has arranged free hotel parking for registered tournament participants during the 2027 event.

However, players must complete a special vehicle registration procedure using the organizer’s QR code.

The process is:

1. Park the vehicle at the hotel.
2. Record the vehicle’s license plate number.
3. Obtain the Chessence parking QR code from the Tournament Office.
4. Scan the code on the calendar day of arrival.
5. Enter the license plate number and complete the registration.

After successful registration, the vehicle receives parking authorization for seven days.

Important: The hotel’s general parking fees do not apply to tournament participants who successfully complete this special procedure.

Failure to register correctly can result in additional parking charges and a €38 contractual penalty per calendar day, plus possible administrative fees.

Players should complete the QR-code registration immediately upon arrival rather than assuming that tournament entry automatically activates free parking.

ℹ️ Other Information

🏨 Official Tournament Accommodation

Chessence has negotiated special full-board accommodation arrangements with Sauerland Stern Hotel, the tournament venue.

The organizer’s room allocation is limited to 50 rooms, and special conditions depend on availability and booking deadlines.

Official Hotel Rates

The double-room tournament rate requires a booking for at least two people.

The local tourist tax applies separately to guests aged 15 and older.

🍽️ Full-Board Package

The official accommodation package includes:

• Overnight accommodation
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Soft drinks with lunch for 1.5 hours
• Dinner
• Beer, wine, and soft drinks with dinner for 1.5 hours

This package may be convenient for competitors who prefer to remain at the hotel throughout the tournament.

Hotel Booking Deadlines

The organizer states that special hotel conditions apply until approximately two weeks before the tournament or until the allocation fills, whichever comes first.

The Chessence online hotel booking form closes on July 25, 2027. Therefore, players should book well before that date to maximize their chances of receiving the advertised package.

From July 26, players should contact the hotel directly. Special prices, room availability, and meal packages are no longer guaranteed.

Direct Hotel Reservations

Players who prefer another room category or do not require full board may book directly with Sauerland Stern Hotel.

In this case, they should select “No” for hotel accommodation when completing the Chessence tournament registration.

Hotel Contact Person: Sandra Kurkowski

Phone: +49 5632 404953

Email: kurkowski@sauerland-stern-hotel.de

Website: https://www.sauerland-stern-hotel.de/

⚡ Midnight Blitz Tournament

In addition to the classical Chessence Open, the organizer will hold a separate FIDE-rated Midnight Blitz Tournament on Saturday, August 7, 2027.

The tournament uses 3 minutes plus a 2-second Fischer increment per move.

The organizer may play fewer than 11 rounds if the number of entries is insufficient.

The Midnight Blitz is a separate competition. Therefore, participation is optional and requires an additional registration fee.

A valid FIDE ID is mandatory because the blitz event is submitted for FIDE rating.

♟️ Chessence Tournament Community

The Chessence Open series brings together competitors from different rating categories in one weekend event.

The four-group structure allows developing players to compete alongside more experienced participants while playing in separate tournaments.

Additionally, the combination of classical chess and optional blitz provides opportunities to experience different time controls during the same visit.

🌲 Exploring Willingen

Willingen is a popular destination in the Sauerland region, known for its wooded hills, outdoor recreation, and mountain scenery.

Visitors can explore the town center, local walking routes, and recreational facilities during breaks between rounds.

The hotel’s location makes it possible for accompanying family members to enjoy nearby attractions while players participate in the tournament.

📋 Final Preparations

Before traveling, participants should verify their group assignment, club membership, and FIDE ID where required.

Players must also complete the mandatory attendance confirmation, even when their tournament registration has already been accepted.

Anyone arriving by car should complete the tournament parking registration on the day of arrival.

Finally, players booking accommodation through Chessence should confirm their room, meal package, and any tourist tax charges directly with the organizer or hotel.

🔗 Official Tournament Information

18th Chessence Open 2027 – Registration and Regulations:

https://kurse.chessence.de/turnier-anmeldung-3/

Chessence Events:

https://chessence.de/chessence-events/

German Chess Federation Announcement:

https://www.schachbund.de/turnierdetails/18-chessence-open.html

Sauerland Stern Hotel:

https://www.sauerland-stern-hotel.de/