AGRIA OPEN 2026 runs from August 25–30, 2026 in Agria, Magnesia, Greece. This is a chess tournament in Agria, Greece, in 2026. A.O. Agria ATHLOS organizes the event in collaboration with Chess Club “SACH” Thessaloniki, while the Region of Thessaly supports the tournament.
Players compete at the 5-star Valis Resort in Agria. Moreover, the tournament uses a 7-round Swiss format and offers both national and international rating. As a result, the event suits players who want a serious late-summer classical tournament in Greece.
The organizer splits the field into two groups. Open A welcomes players with a FIDE rating of 1800 or higher, while Open B is for players rated up to 1799. In addition, the organizer limits the field to 150 players and publishes a confirmed EUR 2,200 cash prize fund.
🏁 Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | August 25–30, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Valis Resort, Agria, Magnesia, Greece |
| ♟️ Format | 7-round Swiss |
| 👥 Sections | Open A and Open B |
| ⭐ Rating | National and international rating |
| ⏱️ Time control | 90 minutes for the whole game + 30-second increment per move |
| ⌛ Grace period | 30 minutes |
| 👤 Player limit | 150 players |
| 💰 Prize fund | EUR 2,200 (approx. USD 2,553) |
| 👨⚖️ Chief arbiter | Zoe Anagnostou (IA) |
| 🔗 Chess-Results | Live event page available |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Each round uses a 90+30 classical time control. Therefore, players get enough time for full standard games instead of a faster weekend format.
The tournament also applies a 30-minute default time. Consequently, any player who arrives 30 minutes late or more loses the game by forfeit.
Tie-breaks follow a clear order. First comes Buchholz, then Sonneborn-Berger, and then opponents’ Buchholz. Meanwhile, the organizer posts the first-round pairings on August 25 at 14:00 through Chess-Results.
Players may also request byes. Half-point byes apply through round 3, while zero-point byes apply after that. However, each player must ask for the exception no later than 10 minutes after the end of that player’s last game. For round one, only players who prepaid the entry fee may take that option.
If a player misses a round without notice, the organizer removes that player from the next Agria Open. In addition, the organizer does not change the published schedule for individual requests.
💰 Prize Fund
The confirmed cash prize fund totals EUR 2,200, which is approximately USD 2,553. Moreover, the organizer adds cups, medals, and youth gold medals in both groups.
| Category | A Group | B Group |
|---|---|---|
| 1st place | €500 + cup | €200 + cup |
| 2nd place | €350 + medal | €150 + medal |
| 3rd place | €150 + medal | €100 + medal |
| 4th place | €100 | — |
| 5th place | €100 | — |
| Best woman | €150 + medal | €100 + medal |
| Best veteran S50 | €100 + medal | €50 + medal |
| Best Thessalian player | €100 + medal | €50 + medal |
The organizer also awards gold medals to the top U18, U16, U14, U12, U10, and U08 players in both groups. However, each age category needs at least three players.
Players do not split cash prizes. Likewise, a player who qualifies for more than one prize receives only the higher-valued one.
♟️ Sections / Groups
| Section | Details |
|---|---|
| Open A | For players with FIDE rating 1800 and above |
| Open B | For players with FIDE rating up to 1799 |
Players rated 1600–1799 may still enter Open A. In that case, they pay the combined fee for both groups. Therefore, ambitious players from that rating band can still choose the stronger section.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2026 | 18:00 | Round 1 |
| August 26, 2026 | 10:00 | Round 2 |
| August 26, 2026 | 18:00 | Round 3 |
| August 27, 2026 | 18:00 | Round 4 |
| August 28, 2026 | 18:00 | Round 5 |
| August 29, 2026 | 18:00 | Round 6 |
| August 30, 2026 | 10:00 | Round 7 |
| August 30, 2026 | 15:00 | Closing ceremony |
The schedule includes one double-round day on August 26. Even so, the overall structure remains practical for players who want one compact week of classical chess.
📝 Registration
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Registration method | Online form + bank transfer |
| Confirmation rule | Payment confirms participation |
| Participant cap | 150 players |
| Payment bank | National Bank of Greece |
| IBAN | GR9101103780000037801450927 |
| SWIFT / BIC | ETHNGRAA |
| Beneficiary | ATHLITIKOS OMILOS AGRIAS MAGNHSIAS ATHLOS |
| Receipt email | topionaki@gmail.com |
| Payment note | Include the player’s name in the transfer reason |
| Category | Entry fee |
|---|---|
| GM / IM / WGM / WIM in A | Free |
| Players 2300+ in A | Free |
| Women 2100+ in A | Free |
| Players 1800–2299 in A | €60 |
| Players in B | €40 |
| Players rated 1600–1799 choosing A | €100 |
| Discount | Details |
|---|---|
| 2 family members | 10% total discount |
| 3 or more family members | 20% total discount |
Players secure a place only after payment. Therefore, registration alone does not guarantee participation.
Foreign players may pay in the playing hall on August 25 until 13:00. In addition, players who want to appeal a decision must submit the appeal in writing within 10 minutes after the end of the round. The appeal fee is €60 in A and €40 in B. If the committee accepts the appeal, the organizer refunds the fee in full.
👤 Organizer
A.O. Agria ATHLOS leads the tournament together with Chess Club “SACH” Thessaloniki. Meanwhile, the Board of A.O. Agria ATHLOS handles tournament direction, which gives the event a clear local base and a defined management structure.
Email: topionaki@gmail.com
📍 Venue
Valis Resort, Agria, Magnesia, Greece
Players compete at the Valis Resort, a five-star hotel in Agria. In addition, the organizer secured special accommodation rates there for tournament participants and companions.
The same announcement also lists Ballas Hotel, about 200 meters from the playing venue, as a nearby alternative. Therefore, visiting players can stay either on site or very close to the hall.
🚗 How to Get There
Agria sits next to Volos, so the venue works well for players staying in Agria or in the wider Volos area. Moreover, players who choose Ballas Hotel can reach the hall quickly on foot.
Because first-round pairings appear at 14:00 on the opening day, arriving early makes the start of the tournament much easier.
It is a practical Greek classical open with a clean two-group structure, seaside accommodation options, and a straightforward schedule.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $2,553
Organizer
♟️ Club Identity
Chess Club Agria “ATHLOS” is a chess organizer based in Agria, Magnesia, Greece. It operates through the chess section of A.O. Agria Magnesias “ATHLOS” and uses “To Pionaki” as its long-running public chess platform. The club has built a clear local role in the Volos and Magnesia area. It is not limited to one annual event. Instead, it maintains a steady rhythm of rated tournaments, school competitions, and chess activity across the season. Its archived material also shows that this work has been in place for many years. Older posts document structured lesson groups for children, while newer posts show a mature organizer that handles open events, youth tournaments, and regional school championships. For players in Thessaly, ATHLOS stands out as a practical and active club with a visible tournament identity and a stable local base.
🏆 Tournament Activity
Tournament organization sits at the center of the club’s profile. ATHLOS runs the Open Agrias series, which reached its 25th edition in 2026. It also runs the Rapid-ToPionaki series on a regular basis, with events numbered well into the sixties by 2026. In addition, the club organizes the Agria Open, an international rated event held at the Valis Resort in Agria. The 2025 and 2026 editions were both listed by FIDE, and both were organized by A.O. Agria ATHLOS in collaboration with SACH Thessaloniki and with regional support. Beyond those open events, the club remains present in team competition and regional cups in Thessaly. This gives players several ways to meet the organizer. Some events are classical and international. Others are rapid, local, and more accessible. That range makes ATHLOS more than a one-event name on a calendar.
🌱 Youth and Community Activity
ATHLOS also plays a strong role in youth chess and school chess. In 2025 and 2026, it helped organize the Magnesia school team and individual championships. In March 2026, it also co-organized the Thessaly school championships for primary and secondary students. Those events were staged at the General Lyceum of Agria, which shows the club’s close link with the local school scene. The same pattern appears in the club’s own youth activity. Archived posts show regular teaching groups, while current announcements continue to focus on younger players and student events. The club’s school tournaments are not symbolic. They work at real scale, with formal entry procedures, team structures, and broad student participation. For families and improving juniors, that matters. ATHLOS offers a clear route from lessons and local events into organized competition. As a result, the club supports both everyday chess growth and more serious tournament experience in the wider Magnesia area.
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