8th Triathlon de la Bourlette
The 8th Triathlon de la Bourlette, held from 2-4 January 2026 in Anderlues, Belgium, offers a unique three-format chess festival combining blitz, rapid, and classical games, all FIDE-rated. Organized by Cercle d’Échecs d’Anderlues, this innovative competition assigns interconnected “extra-points” between formats, creating a dynamic tournament structure unlike traditional events.
Played over three consecutive days, the event includes 11 blitz games, 4 classical games, and 7 rapid games. With €3000 in prizes (based on 100 paid participants) and additional specific prizes for the blitz portion, the triathlon delivers an exciting start to the 2026 chess season.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 🗓️ Dates | 2-4 January 2026 (Fri-Sun) |
| 📍 Location | Salle Le Jardin des Bruyères, 58 Rue des Bruyères, 6150 Anderlues, Belgium |
| ♟️ Format | 3 tournaments: Blitz (11 rounds), Classical/Lentes (4 rounds), Rapid (7 rounds) |
| ⭐ Rating | All events FIDE-rated |
| ⏱️ Time Controls | Blitz: 3’ + 2” • Classical: 1h KO + 30” • Rapid: 12’ + 3” |
| 🧮 Pairings | Swiss system across all formats |
| ➕ Extra-Points System | Blitz points → seeding for Classical; Classical total → seeding for Rapid |
| 📊 Scoring | Blitz: 1–½–0 • Rapid: 2–1–0 • Classical: 4–2–1 |
| 📏 Byes | In Classical rounds 1–3, 1-point bye permitted |
| 🎫 Eligibility | Open to all; titled players play for free |
| 💶 Entry Fee | Adults €40 • Juniors €30 (+€5 surcharge for same-day registration) |
| 💳 Blitz Only | Adults €20 • Juniors €15 (titled players free) |
| 🏦 Payment | BE29 0635 7016 8964 — “Triathlon + Name + Matricule” |
🏆 Prize Fund
Total Prize Fund: €3000 (conditional on 100 paying participants)
Additional specific prizes will be awarded for the blitz competition (details in the official regulations).
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
• Blitz: 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment, 11 rounds.
• Classical: 1h KO + 30 seconds increment, 4 rounds.
• Rapid: 12 minutes + 3 seconds increment, 7 rounds.
• Swiss system for all three competitions.
• Extra-points model determines seeding between stages:
• Blitz total → Classical pairings
• Classical cumulative points → Rapid pairings
• Byes allowed in Classical (Rounds 1–3).
• Final standings use scoring multipliers:
• Blitz: 1–0.5–0
• Rapid: 2–1–0
• Classical: 4–2–1
📂 Sections / Groups
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Main Event | A triathlon combining Blitz, Classical, and Rapid tournaments (all FIDE-rated) |
📅 Schedule
Blitz – Friday
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Jan 2 | 18:45 | Registration closes |
| Fri, Jan 2 | 19:00 | Round 1 (11 rounds total) |
Classical – Saturday
| Date | Time | Round |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, Jan 3 | 09:30 | Round 1 |
| Sat, Jan 3 | 13:00 | Round 2 |
| Sat, Jan 3 | 16:30 | Round 3 |
Classical & Rapid – Sunday
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, Jan 4 | 09:30 | Classical Round 4 |
| Sun, Jan 4 | 13:00 | Rapid (7 rounds) |
📝 Registration
• Adult: €40
• Junior: €30
• Blitz only: Adults €20 • Juniors €15
• Titled players: Free
• +€5 surcharge for players registering on the first day of the event
• Bank transfer: BE29 0635 7016 8964 — “Triathlon + Name + Matricule”
Information & regulations:
https://www.celbanderlues.com/
Contact:
• Henrotte Christian — +32 479 68 31 65
👥 Organizer
The event is organized by the Cercle d’Échecs d’Anderlues, offering a dynamic multi-format competition with strong regional participation.
Contacts:
• Christian Henrotte – +32 479 68 31 65
• Website: https://www.celbanderlues.com/
🏨 Venue
The tournament takes place at Salle Le Jardin des Bruyères, 58 Rue des Bruyères, 6150 Anderlues. The venue includes a large parking area on the right side of the building, with additional spaces at the front.
🛎️ Accommodation
No official hotel packages are provided. Participants may choose from accommodation in Anderlues and nearby Charleroi.
🚗 How to Get There
The venue is easily accessible by car, featuring a large gravel parking area. Anderlues is located near major regional routes, with public transport options available for players arriving from Charleroi and surrounding areas.
Kick off your 2026 chess season with a thrilling multi-format challenge at the Triathlon de la Bourlette in Anderlues!