The ACO 2027 World Amateur Chess Championship takes place on May 6–15, 2027, at the five-star Atlantica Belvedere Resort in Kardamena, Kos, Greece. The independent Amateur Chess Organization (ACO) brings international club players together for a nine-round classical championship and a program of chess and resort activities.

The tournament has seven separate rating groups, from Group A (2201–2400) to Group G (0–1500, including unrated players). Each group plays nine games with 90 minutes for 40 moves, 15 additional minutes and a 30-second increment from move one. Moreover, ACO uses each player’s higher national or international rating when allocating groups.

ACO advertises a €5,000 prize fund (approximately $5,580) and a €100 entry fee. However, the organizer currently shows registration as closed. All participants and accompanying guests must book the official resort through ACO.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

ACO runs nine classical rounds in each of seven independent rating groups. Therefore, players compete against opponents within their assigned band rather than against the entire championship field. The organizer chooses that group using the higher of the player’s national and international ratings at registration.

The clock starts with 90 minutes for the first 40 moves. After move 40, players gain another 15 minutes for the remainder of the game. In addition, a 30-second increment applies from the first move. Thus, competitors must manage both the 40-move control and their accumulating extra time.

ACO operates this event independently of FIDE. Consequently, the ACO amateur world title does not represent an official FIDE world championship title. Players should follow the event’s own regulations for group allocation and playing conditions.

🏆 Prize Fund

The seven rating groups offer a combined €5,000 in cash awards, approximately $5,580 at the ECB reference rate for November 6, 2026. Group A awards €500, €200 and €100 to the top three players; meanwhile, Groups B–G each award €400, €200 and €100.

Together, Group A contributes €800 and the six other groups contribute €700 each. Therefore, the stated placement amounts sum exactly to €5,000. ACO also presents trophies to championship winners and honors players on their fifth or tenth ACO participation.

♟️ Sections / Groups

ACO separates competitors into seven rating bands. For example, a player whose national rating exceeds their international rating enters the group that corresponds to the higher value. Moreover, unrated entrants belong in Group G.

The published event targets amateur players aged 16 or older. The upper bracket ends at 2400, while the other six groups provide progressively lower rating ranges. However, players near a boundary should ask ACO to confirm their classification before arranging travel.

📅 Schedule

ACO schedules arrivals on May 6 and departures on May 15. The nine classical rounds run on May 7–14, with May 11 as a free day. All times below follow Kos local time (EEST, UTC+3).

May 8 and May 10 each feature two classical rounds, so players should reserve those days for chess and rest. Meanwhile, ACO offers lectures, blitz activities and a grandmaster simultaneous exhibition between selected rounds. The final prize ceremony starts at 6:00 PM on May 14.

📝 Registration

ACO charges €100 per tournament participant and limits the field to approximately 150 players. The organizer’s official event page currently states that registration is closed, even though it still includes booking-related links. Therefore, interested players should contact ACO directly about possible changes, cancellations or an available waiting list rather than assume entry remains open.

ACO normally uses three steps: book the official resort through ACO, complete the chess entry and payment, then arrange travel. In addition, ACO requires accompanying guests to book their accommodation through the same organizer service. A separate hotel reservation does not satisfy its published participation policy.

Although the organizer’s general overview uses a different cancellation headline, its detailed Kos event rules specify 21 days. Consequently, participants should review the actual booking confirmation before paying. Furthermore, the MyChess.Events Tournament Quick Info registration button remains unchanged.

🏛️ Organizer

Amateur Chess Organization (ACO) runs international amateur chess championships and combines tournament play with organized accommodation and leisure activities. The 2027 Kos program features GM Daniel King, GM Zigurds Lanka and GM Spyridon Skembris for lectures, analysis and a simultaneous exhibition.

Because ACO also organizes senior and super-senior championships, visitors should identify the correct World Amateur Chess Championship, May 6–15, when requesting information. For further background, see its existing Amateur Chess Organization profile on MyChess.Events.

📍 Venue

The championship takes place at Atlantica Belvedere Resort, Kardamena, 85302 Kos, Greece. This five-star adults-only beachfront resort sits on the island’s southern coast, approximately 4 km from Kardamena village. It offers guest rooms and suites, beach access, gardens, restaurants, a spa and an indoor pool.

The hotel places Kos International Airport about 10 km away and estimates a road transfer of roughly 15 minutes. In addition, the property provides reception and taxi assistance. Its mapped resort coordinates are 36.75977, 27.10871; the pin identifies the resort grounds rather than a particular chess-room entrance.

Dining at the Resort

Because the organizer requires players to stay on-site, the resort’s restaurants and bars offer practical meal options between games. However, participants should confirm which outlets and meals their package includes.

The hotel’s official dining guide describes the current outlets. Nevertheless, operating hours and meal-plan inclusions may change for May 2027.

🏨 Accommodation

Atlantica Belvedere Resort is both the playing venue and the mandatory accommodation. ACO requires every tournament player and accompanying guest to reserve through ACO rather than book independently with the hotel or another provider. Therefore, other hotels in Kos are not alternatives under the published participation rules.

The resort offers rooms, swim-up options and selected suites with private pools. In addition, guests have access to the property’s beach, dining and wellness amenities according to their reservation. Since the hotel operates as an adults-only property, travelers should confirm any age restrictions for accompanying guests before booking.

🚆 How to Get There

Kos International Airport serves the island, while the resort lies close to Kardamena on the southern coast. Therefore, flying into Kos and making a short road transfer is usually the simplest route for international players.

For international arrivals, compare airline schedules before booking through ACO. Moreover, leave enough time to arrive on May 6, as the opening round starts at 10:00 AM the following morning. ACO offers flight-search assistance for entrants who need help selecting a connection.

ℹ️ Other Information

ACO’s seven-group format gives amateurs of different playing levels a separate championship competition. In addition, the official tournament fee includes grandmaster analysis, lectures, a simultaneous exhibition and participation in the advertised blitz activities.

ACO also recognizes long-term participants with special fifth- and tenth-appearance trophies. Nevertheless, the ACO title remains independent of FIDE’s official world championship program, so players should distinguish the two organizations when checking tournament titles.