In early December, the Armenian capital will once again become a hub of international chess as the 7th Yerevan Open International Chess Tournament 2025 takes place from 05–11 December 2025 at the historic Tigran Petrosyan Chess House in Yerevan, Armenia. Organized by the Yerevan Chess Federation, the festival features two classical events — Tournament A and Tournament B — plus a strong Blitz Open, all FIDE-rated and run under professional conditions.
With a total prize fund of 12,000,000 AMD plus extra prizes from Chessify and ChessMood, the 7th Yerevan Open offers serious incentive for titled grandmasters, ambitious masters and rising talents alike, while maintaining a welcoming atmosphere in one of the world’s most chess-loving cities.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 🗓️ Dates | 05 – 11 December 2025 |
| 📍 Location | Tigran Petrosyan Chess House, 50 Khanjyan Street, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia |
| ♟️ Tournaments | Tournament A (FIDE ≥2100, limited exceptions below 2100) • Tournament B (≤2100 & FIDE-unrated with I/II rank) • Blitz Open (open to all players of A & B and all FIDE-rated players) |
| 💵 Entry Fee | Tournament A: 30,000–70,000 AMD depending on rating, free for 2400+ and GMs/IMs (2300+ FIDE) • Tournament B: 15,000–40,000 AMD depending on rating/rank • Blitz: GM/IM free; others 4,000–7,000 AMD |
| ⭐ Rating | All events FIDE-rated (Standard for A & B, Blitz rating for the Blitz tournament) |
| ✅ Eligibility | Tournament A: FIDE ≥2100 (organizer may admit a few below 2100) • Tournament B: FIDE ≤2100 and FIDE-unrated players with I or II category • Blitz: open to all participants of A & B and any FIDE-rated player |
| 🎯 Prize Fund | 12,000,000 AMD total across all events, plus independent Chessify (USD) and ChessMood (membership) prizes |
| 🔧 Organizer Fee | All participants (A, B, Blitz) must pay an additional 5,000 AMD Yerevan Chess Federation fee |
🏆 Prize Fund
💰 Tournament A – Main Prizes (AMD)
| Place | Main Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | 2,000,000 |
| 2nd | 1,400,000 |
| 3rd | 1,000,000 |
| 4th | 750,000 |
| 5th | 550,000 |
| 6th–10th | 280,000 each |
| 11th–15th | 200,000 each |
| 16th–20th | 120,000 each |
🎯 Tournament A – Category Prizes (AMD)
| Category | 1st | 2nd |
|---|---|---|
| U2300 | 170,000 | 110,000 |
| U2200 | 100,000 | — |
| Women | 200,000 | — |
| Senior 50+ | 130,000 | — |
💻 Tournament A – Chessify Prizes (USD, Chessify Coins)
| Category | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main | 250 | 200 | 150 | 100 | 50 |
| U2300 | 150 | — | — | — | — |
| Women | 150 | — | — | — | — |
| U18 | 150 | — | — | — | — |
| U16 | 150 | — | — | — | — |
| U14 | 150 | — | — | — | — |
(Chessify prizes are independent of monetary prizes.)
💰 Tournament B – Main & Category Prizes (AMD)
| Prize | Main | Women | U14 | U12 | U10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 350,000 | 50,000 | 50,000 | 40,000 | 30,000 |
| 2nd | 250,000 | — | — | — | — |
| 3rd | 200,000 | — | — | — | — |
| 4th | 150,000 | — | — | — | — |
| 5th | 100,000 | — | — | — | — |
| 6th | 70,000 | — | — | — | — |
| 7th | 60,000 | — | — | — | — |
| 8th | 50,000 | — | — | — | — |
| 9th | 50,000 | — | — | — | — |
| 10th | 50,000 | — | — | — | — |
⚡ Blitz Tournament – Prizes (AMD)
| Prize | Main | Women | U14 | U12 | U10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 300,000 | 30,000 | 40,000 | 30,000 | 20,000 |
| 2nd | 200,000 | — | — | — | — |
| 3rd | 130,000 | — | — | — | — |
| 4th | 90,000 | — | — | — | — |
| 5th | 70,000 | — | — | — | — |
| 6th | 50,000 | — | — | — | — |
| 7th | 40,000 | — | — | — | — |
🎓 ChessMood Membership Prizes
ChessMood – Tournament A
| Category | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | 1-year Essential membership | 6-month | 3-month |
| Women | 6-month | 3-month | 1-month |
| U16 | 3-month | — | — |
| U14 | 3-month | — | — |
| 64th place | 1-month | — | — |
ChessMood – Tournament B
| Category | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | 6-month | 3-month | 1-month |
| Women | 3-month | — | — |
| U14 | 1-month | — | — |
| U12 | 1-month | — | — |
| U10 | 1-month | — | — |
| 64th place | 1-month | — | — |
ChessMood prizes are independent from monetary prizes.
In case of a tie, all prizes are awarded according to tie-break order.
A player can receive only one prize (the higher one if eligible for multiple).
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Tournaments A & B: 90 minutes for the entire game with 30-second increment per move from move one.
Blitz Tournament: 3 minutes plus 2-second increment per move from move one.
System: All tournaments (A, B and Blitz) are 9-round Swiss events.
Pairing Program: Swiss-Manager, pairings based on FIDE ratings.
Default Time: 30 minutes from the scheduled start of the round in A & B.
Tie-break order:
Cut Buchholz-1
Buchholz
Direct encounter
Most games with Black
Greater number of wins
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section | Eligibility | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 Tournament A | FIDE standard rating 2100+ | Organizer may admit a limited number of players below 2100 |
| 🎯 Tournament B | FIDE standard rating ≤2100; FIDE-unrated players with I or II category | Multiple rating / age prizes |
| ⚡ Blitz Tournament | Open to all participants of Tournaments A & B and all FIDE-rated players | Submitted for FIDE Blitz rating |
📅 Schedule
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Dec 05 | 15:00 | Round 1 |
| Sat, Dec 06 | 10:30 | Round 2 |
| Sat, Dec 06 | 16:00 | Round 3 |
| Sun, Dec 07 | 10:30 | Round 4 |
| Sun, Dec 07 | 18:30 | Blitz Tournament (9 rounds) |
| Mon, Dec 08 | 15:00 | Round 5 |
| Tue, Dec 09 | 10:30 | Round 6 |
| Tue, Dec 09 | 16:00 | Round 7 |
| Wed, Dec 10 | 15:00 | Round 8 |
| Thu, Dec 11 | 10:30 | Round 9 |
| Thu, Dec 11 | 18:30 | Closing Ceremony |
📝 Registration
Online / Contact: Registration through the Yerevan Chess Federation (see Organizer section).
Deadlines:
Tournaments A & B: Registration and lower entry-fee tier available until 26 November 2025.
Higher entry-fee tier applies for registrations 27–30 November 2025.
Tournament A Entry Fees (by FIDE standard rating):
Under 2100: 70,000 AMD (until 26.11) • 80,000 AMD (27–30.11)
2100–2200: 50,000 AMD • 60,000 AMD
2201–2300: 40,000 AMD • 50,000 AMD
2301–2400: 30,000 AMD • 40,000 AMD
Free entry: FIDE 2400+ and GMs & IMs with FIDE rating 2300+
Tournament B Entry Fees:
2000 and above: 15,000 AMD • 20,000 AMD
Under 2000: 20,000 AMD • 25,000 AMD
Under 1800: 25,000 AMD • 30,000 AMD
I rank: 30,000 AMD • 35,000 AMD
II rank: 40,000 AMD • 45,000 AMD
Blitz Entry Fees (FIDE Blitz rating / Title):
GM / IM: Free
2100 and above: 4,000 AMD
Under 2100: 7,000 AMD
Federation Fee: Every participant (A, B, Blitz) must pay an additional 5,000 AMD Yerevan Chess Federation fee.
Age Discounts (A & B only):
10% off for players born between 01 Jan 2011 and 31 Dec 2012
20% off for players born after 31 Dec 2012
👥 Organizer
The 7th Yerevan Open is organized by the Yerevan Chess Federation, continuing its tradition of hosting high-level international events in Armenia’s capital.
📧 Email: info@yerevanchessfed.com
📞 Tournament Director: IM/IA Norayr Kalantaryan (FIDE ID 13300300), phone +374 93 000 963
🏨 Venue
All events will be held at the Tigran Petrosyan Chess House, 50 Khanjyan Street, Yerevan, a landmark chess venue equipped with dedicated playing halls and central city access.
🚗 How to Get There
By Air: Arrive at Zvartnots International Airport (EVN); the venue is roughly 20–30 minutes away by taxi.
By Public Transport / Taxi: Taxis and app-based ride services are widely available in Yerevan; several bus routes and minibuses connect the city center with Khanjyan Street.
From City Center: The Chess House is centrally located and easily reachable by car, taxi, or a short walk from many central districts.
Step into one of the most vibrant chess scenes in the world and test your strength at the 7th Yerevan Open International Chess Tournament 2025 in the heart of Yerevan!
Organizer
Founded in 2002 by GM Smbat Lputian, the Chess Academy of Armenia is a flagship chess tournament organizer and training center in Yerevan. The Academy delivers a year-round calendar of FIDE-rated open, rapid, and blitz events, alongside structured youth programs and coach education. Its mission is to raise competitive standards in Armenian chess while giving players reliable pathways to rating gains, title norms, and international experience across the region.
Recognized for meticulous organization, certified arbiters, and welcoming venues, the Academy attracts both developing juniors and titled masters. Players value its fair-play standards, efficient pairing and results services, and community-first approach that supports families, schools, and local clubs. For competitors seeking professionally managed chess events in Yerevan, the Academy offers a proven blend of reliability, development focus, and competitive depth.
Over the years, the Academy has hosted standout fixtures on the regional calendar, including the Andranik Margaryan Memorial (elite January round-robin), the Stepan Avagyan Memorial / Jermuk International Youth series, the Tsaghkadzor Open, the Goris Open, and the nationwide Armenian School Chess Olympiad—events known for strong fields, excellent conditions, and consistent international interest.