Benidorm Chess Open 2026 takes place from October 25 – November 1, 2026, at Hotel Meliá Benidorm in Benidorm, Spain. The event brings together Open A and Open B in a large international chess festival on the Costa Blanca.

This is a chess tournament in Benidorm, Spain, in 2026. Players will compete in 9-round Swiss tournaments with classical time control, FIDE rating, and international norm opportunities.

The festival offers two main opens, €25,510 in published prizes, hotel-based playing conditions, analysis activities, and side events. In addition, players can enjoy a full chess week close to Levante Beach.

♟️ Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

Players receive 90 minutes for the game, plus a 30-second increment from move one. The time control applies to both Open A and Open B.

Both sections use a 9-round Swiss system. In addition, the tournaments count for FIDE standard rating and international norms.

Players may not agree to a draw before both players complete 30 moves, unless the arbiter gives special permission. Therefore, games should keep a competitive character in the opening and early middlegame.

A player loses by default after arriving more than 30 minutes late for a round. Also, players must carry their accreditation visibly when entering or staying in the playing hall.

Tie-breaks follow this order: Buchholz -1, Buchholz Total, games played, number of wins, number of wins with black, and APPO.

💰 Prize Fund

The festival advertises €25,510 in prizes, which equals approximately USD 29,600. The prize list includes 106 cash prizes across the main opens and related prize categories.

Prize Fund Overview

Open A Main Prizes

Open B Main Prizes

Additional Prize Categories

Prizes are not cumulative. In addition, tax withholding applies according to each player’s tax status.

🧩 Sections / Groups

The event has two main classical sections. Open A Supra 1800 is designed for stronger players and titled players who meet the published Elo requirement.

Open B Sub 2000 is aimed at players below 2000 FIDE Elo. Players without FIDE Elo may enter only Open B.

Spanish players with the Spanish flag in FIDE must hold a valid federation license in Spain. Meanwhile, players from other federations must have a FIDE ID.

Players may request up to four half-point byes through Round 7. However, bye requests must follow the official procedure and must go through the arbiter. For Rounds 1 and 2, players should submit bye requests through the website by October 22.

📅 Schedule

The organizer also plans an analysis room after most playing sessions. Therefore, players can review games and continue chess activity after the rounds.

📝 Registration

Players must complete registration and arrange accommodation correctly. If a player books the hotel through another channel, the organizer may remove the player from the participant list.

The event also requires accreditation before Round 1. As a result, players should arrive early on October 25 and complete the check-in process before the final player lists appear.

👥 Organizer

Caballo Blanco Benidorm Club de Ajedrez organizes the Benidorm Chess Open with Hotel Meliá Benidorm and the Federación de Ajedrez de la Comunidad Valenciana. The event also receives institutional support from Benidorm City Council, Alicante Provincial Council, and the Generalitat Valenciana.

Phone: +34 651 749 417
Email: info@benidormchess.com

🏛️ Venue

Hotel Meliá Benidorm – Av. Dr. Severo Ochoa, 1, 03503 Benidorm, Alicante, Spain

The main tournaments take place in the halls of Hotel Meliá Benidorm. The venue offers two carpeted playing rooms of 600 m² and 700 m², which gives the event a large hotel-based tournament setting.

Players must show accreditation to enter the playing hall. In addition, the organizer applies security controls for electronic devices and radiofrequency equipment.

🛏️ Accommodation

Players in the main opens must stay at Hotel Meliá Benidorm, except for the published local exception. They must also book through the official event room-booking channel.

The accommodation package includes full-board options, and early hotel bookings before July 31 receive a 15% discount. The hotel sits in the Rincón de Loix area, about 900 meters from Levante Beach and about 3 km from Benidorm city center.

Hotel facilities include buffet dining, pools, tropical gardens, a gym, sauna, whirlpool, family activities, meeting rooms, and Wi-Fi. Therefore, players can manage both chess and rest in the same venue.

🚆 How to Get There

Benidorm connects well by road through the AP-7 motorway and the N-332 national road. Drivers can reach the city from other parts of the Mediterranean coast with direct road access.

Alicante Airport is the closest major airport, about 55 km from Benidorm. Valencia Airport, Murcia Airport, Madrid Airport, and Barcelona Airport also serve the wider travel region.

Players arriving by public transport can continue to Benidorm by train, bus, or taxi. Since the playing venue is Hotel Meliá Benidorm, players should plan the final transfer directly to Av. Dr. Severo Ochoa, 1.

ℹ️ Other Information

The festival includes several extra activities beyond the main classical rounds. These include GM masterclasses, an analysis room, a chess shop, merchandise, a winery visit, and a visit to the Valor Chocolates factory.

The Emilio Pellicer Memorial uses a 10 minutes + 5 seconds format. The Superblitz Halloween Chess event uses 3 minutes + 2 seconds and runs late on Friday evening.

Benidorm Chess Open 2026 offers a full international chess week with classical games, side events, hotel-based facilities, and a strong prize structure on the Costa Blanca.