Brasília welcomes the Brasília Chess Open 2026 to the impressive Biblioteca Nacional de Brasília, where players from across Brazil and beyond gather for a full week of classical, rapid, and blitz chess. From January 7-11, 2026, you fight seven classical rounds in Brazil’s capital, chase qualification spots for the Brazilian Championships, and enjoy a festival that moves both FIDE and CBX ratings in a serious but welcoming environment in Brasília, Brazil.

The Brasília Chess Open 2026 opens the CBX National Circuit of Opens and offers more than R$20,000 in prizes across the classical, rapid, and blitz events. Federação Brasiliense de Xadrez (FBX), in partnership with the Confederação Brasileira de Xadrez (CBX), runs the festival with experienced arbiters, a rigorous schedule, and clear regulations that reward ambitious players who want national-level competition in the heart of Brazil.

🗓️ Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

Total guaranteed prize pool: more than R$20,000 in cash, trophies, and medals across the classical, rapid, and blitz tournaments.

Torneio Clássico — Absolute prizes

Torneio Clássico — Special prizes

Youth medals (classical tournament):

• Sub-18: 1st and 2nd place – medals

• Sub-16: 1st and 2nd place – medals

• Sub-14: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place – medals

• Sub-12: 1st and 2nd place – medals

• Sub-10: 1st and 2nd place – medals

Torneio Rápido — Absolute and special prizes

Torneio Blitz — Absolute and special prizes

Organizers apply a non-cumulative precedence system to prize distribution. Every player first competes for the absolute prizes; when a player wins an absolute prize, organizers skip that player in the category cash prizes and pass the category money to the next eligible player, while the original winner still receives the corresponding medal and certificate.

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

• Classical tournament: organizers run a 7-round Swiss system with a time control of 90 minutes for the game plus 30 seconds increment from move one.

• Rapid tournament: organizers run a 7-round Swiss system with 10 minutes for the game plus 5 seconds increment from move one.

• Blitz tournament: organizers run a 9-round Swiss system with 3 minutes for the game plus 2 seconds increment from move one.

• All three tournaments follow FIDE Laws of Chess, CBX regulations, and use Swiss-Manager to generate pairings.

• Tiebreak order for all events:

  • Direct encounter

  • Buchholz worst result (discarding one opponent)

  • Buchholz total

  • Sonneborn–Berger

  • Most wins

• Organizers allow a single half-point bye only in Round 1 of the classical tournament, and you must request it at least one hour before the technical meeting.

• The walkover (W.O.) time limit in the classical event equals 60 minutes from the official start of the round; after that, arbiters record a loss for the absent player.

• If both players arrive late, arbiters split the elapsed time between the clocks and then start the game with reduced time for both players.

📂 Sections / Groups

📅 Schedule

Classical tournament (standard)

Rapid & Blitz

📝 Registration

You handle your own registration and accept that organizers do not grant credits or refunds if you withdraw after paying.

• Registration method:

  • Complete the official online registration form (“Formulário de Inscrição”) published by FBX/CBX for the Brasília Chess Open 2026.

• Eligibility requirements:

  • Any player with a FIDE ID may register.

  • Players registered with CBX must stay current with the CBX 2026 annual fee (adult or Sub-18, as applicable).

• Fee structure:

  • Organizers apply different fees for “Geral” (general public) and “Particular” (discounted category for FIDE Masters, National Masters, players from the Distrito Federal, women, and players under 20).

  • Fees vary by event (classical, rapid, blitz) and by registration window, from early periods in November through the last day on January 7, 2026.

  • Combo packages cover multiple events (classical + rapid + blitz) at bundled prices.

  • FIDE titled players GM, IM, WGM, and WIM receive free entry, provided they confirm their participation by October 31, 2025.

• Payment details:

  • Bank: Banco do Brasil

  • Branch: 1236-X

  • Account number: 110.697-6

  • PIX key (CNPJ): 00.359.752/0001-43

  • Account holder: Federação Brasiliense de Xadrez

You keep your payment proof and provide it to the organizers if they request it at the venue.

👥 Organizer

Federação Brasiliense de Xadrez (FBX) organizes the Brasília Chess Open 2026 in partnership with the Confederação Brasileira de Xadrez (CBX), opening the national circuit of open tournaments and using the event to qualify players for Brazil’s main national championships. The federation coordinates the playing hall at the Biblioteca Nacional de Brasília, appoints an experienced arbiter team, and manages all registration, ratings, and prize payments for this flagship open in the country’s capital.

• Organizer: Federação Brasiliense de Xadrez (FBX)

• Website: https://fbx.org.br/

• Email (general): federacaobrasilisensedexadrez@gmail.com

• Email (presidency): presidente.fbx@terra.com.br

• Phone (Marcos de Sousa Silveira – FBX President): +55 61 99272-4090

• Phone (Westerley Batista Campos – Technical Director): +55 61 98148-4131

🏨 Venue

You play at the Biblioteca Nacional de Brasília, located in the Setor Cultural da República, Área Cívica, Lote s/n, Edifício da Biblioteca Nacional, SCTS – Brasília, DF. This modern cultural landmark sits near the Esplanada dos Ministérios and offers spacious halls, quiet reading areas, and a central location that suits a national open, while you enjoy quick access to cafés, restaurants, and the main attractions of Brazil’s capital between rounds.

🛎️ Accommodation

The organizers recommend that players and accompanying persons stay in hotels in the Setor Hoteleiro Norte (SHN) and Setor Hoteleiro Sul (SHS), which both sit very close to the Biblioteca Nacional de Brasília. These hotel sectors offer a wide range of options, from budget to higher-category properties, all within a short drive or comfortable walk from the playing venue.

You choose your preferred hotel in SHN or SHS and book directly with the property, aligning your check-in and check-out dates with the festival schedule from January 7–11, 2026.

🚗 How to Get There

Brasília’s central cultural area surrounds the Biblioteca Nacional de Brasília, so you reach the venue easily from all parts of the city. If you arrive by car, you follow signs toward the Esplanada dos Ministérios and the Setor Cultural da República, then park in the public parking areas around the Biblioteca Nacional and neighboring government buildings.

From Brasília International Airport, you typically take a taxi or rideshare service that brings you directly to the Biblioteca Nacional in about 20–30 minutes, depending on traffic. Travelers who arrive by intercity bus reach the central bus station near the Eixo Monumental and then continue on foot or by short taxi ride to the venue, which lies a brief distance away along the main axis of the city.

You can start your chess year by fighting for prizes and national qualification spots in Brasília, enjoy serious games in a landmark cultural venue, and experience a festival atmosphere that brings together players from all over Brazil and beyond.

🧾 Other

• FBX and CBX form an Appeals Committee during the technical meeting, with three main members and two alternates; players must submit any appeal within 15 minutes after the end of the relevant game and pay a R$200 deposit that the committee refunds if it upholds the claim.

• If you cannot play one or more rounds, you must inform the tournament direction before pairings for the next round; otherwise, you risk walkover and removal from later rounds.

• The organization forbids players from carrying mobile phones or any electronic communication devices switched on in the playing area during games; arbiters may apply penalties or declare a loss if they detect a device in use.

• Organizers request appropriate dress at the board, such as shirts with sleeves, pants or skirts, and closed shoes; they do not allow shorts, sleeveless shirts, or beach-style footwear unless they grant a specific exception for traditional attire.

• By registering, you grant the festival the right to use your image for event publicity and coverage and confirm that you fully accept every article of the official tournament regulations.