Bratislava Chess Summer 2026
The Bratislava Chess Summer 2026 turns August 3-7, 2026 into a full chess week in Bratislava, Slovakia, combining a FIDE rated classical open with multiple fast-chess side events. The festival runs over the board, uses Swiss formats across tournaments, and delivers a confirmed total cash prize fund of €1,940 (USD 2,115 approx.). Bratislava Chess Summer 2026 also sets clear rating limits and capacities for its main sections, which keeps pairings stable and competition fair.
Across five days, Bratislava Chess Summer 2026 offers Tournament A (Open Doprastav, classical), Tournament B (Bivio Cup, match-Swiss rapid), Tournament C (Račiansky Cup youth), plus evening events such as Bullet, Freestyle 960, Bughouse, and a FIDE rated Blitz. Moreover, the schedule clusters rounds in consistent morning/afternoon blocks, so players can plan work, travel, and side events without guesswork. If you want a practical international chess tournament week in Bratislava, Slovakia with multiple time controls, Bratislava Chess Summer 2026 delivers a complete festival format.
🗓️ Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | August 3-7, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Bratislava, Slovakia |
| ♟️ Format | Over-the-board festival with multiple Swiss-system tournaments |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE rated: Tournament A, Tournament B, Tournament G; Not FIDE rated: Tournaments C, D, E, F |
| 📂 Sections | A: Open Doprastav 2026 (Ernest Nový Memorial) • B: Bivio Cup 2026 • C: Račiansky Cup 2026 • D: Bullet • E: Freestyle 960 • F: Bughouse • G: Blitz |
| ⏱️ Time control | A: 90+30 • B: 40+30 (two-game matches) • C: 25+0 • D: 2+1 • E: 5+2 • F: 3+0 • G: 3+2 |
| 💳 Entry fee | Varies by tournament and package (see Registration) |
| 💰 Prize fund | USD 2,115 (approx.) |
| 👤 Eligibility | A: rating 1700+ (as of June 30, 2026) • B: rating up to 1799 (as of June 30, 2026) • C: youth criteria per rules • Side events: per event rules |
| 👥 Capacity | A: 100 • B: 30 • C: 50 • D: 80 • E: 80 • F: 40 teams • G: 110 |
| 🧩 Organizer notes | Late registration/payment fee applies for A and B after June 15, 2026; refreshments included where stated |
🏆 Prize Fund
Festival cash prize totals (EUR)
| Tournament | Confirmed cash total (EUR) |
|---|---|
| A: Open Doprastav 2026 (Ernest Nový Memorial) | 750 |
| D: Bullet Chess Championship | 145 |
| E: Freestyle 960 Championship | 145 |
| F: Bughouse Chess Championship (per pair) | 150 |
| G: Blitz Tournament | 750 |
| Total cash prize fund | 1,940 |
Tournament-A — Cash prizes (EUR)
| Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st place | 300 |
| 2nd place | 200 |
| 3rd place | 100 |
| Elo category up to 1800 | 50 |
| Elo category up to 2000 | 50 |
| Best senior 65+ | 50 |
Tournament-D (Bullet) — Cash prizes (EUR)
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | 70 |
| 2nd | 50 |
| 3rd | 25 |
Tournament-E (Freestyle 960) — Cash prizes (EUR)
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | 70 |
| 2nd | 50 |
| 3rd | 25 |
Tournament-F (Bughouse) — Cash prizes (EUR) (per pair)
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | 70 |
| 2nd | 50 |
| 3rd | 30 |
Tournament-G (Blitz) — Cash prizes (EUR)
| Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | 150 |
| 2nd | 100 |
| 3rd | 80 |
| 4th | 50 |
| 5th | 40 |
| Best junior U15 | 20 |
| Best junior U20 | 20 |
| Best rating under 2000 | 20 |
| Best rating under 1800 | 20 |
| BŠZ prizes: 1st | 70 |
| BŠZ prizes: 2nd | 50 |
| BŠZ prizes: 3rd | 35 |
| BŠZ prizes: 4th | 25 |
| BŠZ prizes: 5th | 25 |
| Best female player | 15 |
| Best junior U20 (BŠZ list) | 15 |
| Best senior S60 | 15 |
Prize rules (as published)
| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| One prize per tournament | Each player can receive only one prize per tournament |
| Sharing rules | Classic Open prizes follow the Hort system; Rapid and Blitz prizes are not shared |
| Category minimum | Special prizes are awarded only if at least 5 participants compete in the category |
| Guarantee condition | Prize funds are guaranteed in case of at least 100 participants |
| Tax note | Prizes are taxed according to Slovak law |
| Presence requirement | A player must be present at the closing ceremony or inform the organizer in advance to receive a prize |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Tournament A (Open Doprastav 2026, Ernest Nový Memorial) runs as a 9-round Swiss System tournament and counts for FIDE rating. The time control is 90 minutes per player plus a 30-second increment per move, and the waiting time is 30 minutes. The tournament ranks players by points, then Buchholz, then Sonneborn-Berger, then Progress, and finally by draw.
Tournament B (Bivio Cup 2026) runs as a 14-round event built from 7 two-game matches, so each player meets seven opponents and plays one game with each color. The event counts for FIDE rating, the time control is 40 minutes per game plus a 30-second increment per move, and the waiting time is 30 minutes. The event ranks players by points, then Buchholz, then Sonneborn-Berger, then Progress, and finally by draw.
Tournament C (Račiansky Cup 2026) uses the same match-based structure built from 7 two-game matches, and it does not count for FIDE rating. The time control is 25 minutes per game without notation. The event ranks players by points, then Buchholz, then Sonneborn-Berger, then Progress, and finally by draw.
Tournament D (Bullet) runs 11 rounds Swiss, does not count for FIDE rating, and uses a 2-minute waiting time. The time control is 2 minutes plus 1 second per move. The event ranks players by points, then Buchholz, then Sonneborn-Berger, then Progress, and finally by draw.
Tournament E (Freestyle 960) runs 8 rounds Swiss and does not count for FIDE rating. The time control is 5 minutes per game plus 2 seconds per move. The event ranks players by points, then Buchholz, then Sonneborn-Berger, then Progress, and finally by draw.
Tournament F (Bughouse) runs as a Swiss system of pairs with 7 rounds (14 games) and does not count for FIDE rating. The time control is 3 minutes per game. The event ranks pairs by points, then Buchholz, then Sonneborn-Berger, then Progress, and finally by draw.
Tournament G (Blitz) runs 11 rounds Swiss, counts for FIDE rating, and uses a 3-minute waiting time. The time control is 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move. The event ranks players by points, then Buchholz, then Sonneborn-Berger, then Progress, and finally by draw.
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section | Rating / target group | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A: Open Doprastav 2026 (Ernest Nový Memorial) | Rating 1700+ (as of June 30, 2026) | 9-round FIDE rated Swiss; one round off allowed from rounds 2–7 and scored as a draw if properly notified |
| B: Bivio Cup 2026 | Rating up to 1799 (as of June 30, 2026) | 14 rounds built from 7 two-game matches; FIDE rated |
| C: Račiansky Cup 2026 | Youth criteria per rules | Not FIDE rated; 14 rounds built from 7 two-game matches |
| D: Bullet Chess Championship | Open per event rules | 11 rounds; not FIDE rated |
| E: Freestyle 960 Championship | Open per event rules | 8 rounds; not FIDE rated |
| F: Bughouse Chess Championship | Teams/pairs | Swiss system of pairs; 7 rounds (14 games) |
| G: Blitz Tournament | Open per event rules | 11 rounds; FIDE rated; includes BŠZ prize classification rules |
📅 Schedule
| Date | Weekday | Time | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Monday | 07:45–08:45 | Registration (Tournament A; Tournament B registration possible at NKD or Hotel Bivio) |
| August 3, 2026 | Monday | 09:00 | Tournament A Round 1 |
| August 3, 2026 | Monday | 09:15 | Tournament B Round 1 |
| August 3, 2026 | Monday | 14:00 | Tournament A Round 2 |
| August 3, 2026 | Monday | 14:00 | Tournament B Round 3 |
| August 4, 2026 | Tuesday | 09:00 | Tournament A Round 3 |
| August 4, 2026 | Tuesday | 09:00 | Tournament B Round 4 |
| August 4, 2026 | Tuesday | 14:00 | Tournament A Round 4 |
| August 4, 2026 | Tuesday | 14:00 | Tournament B Round 6 |
| August 4, 2026 | Tuesday | 18:30–18:45 | Tournament D Registration |
| August 4, 2026 | Tuesday | 20:45 | Tournament D Closing ceremony |
| August 5, 2026 | Wednesday | 09:00 | Tournament A Round 5 |
| August 5, 2026 | Wednesday | 09:00 | Tournament B Round 7 |
| August 5, 2026 | Wednesday | 14:00 | Tournament A Round 6 |
| August 5, 2026 | Wednesday | 14:00 | Tournament B Round 9 |
| August 5, 2026 | Wednesday | 18:30–18:45 | Tournament E Registration |
| August 5, 2026 | Wednesday | 21:30 | Tournament E Closing ceremony |
| August 6, 2026 | Thursday | 09:00 | Tournament A Round 7 |
| August 6, 2026 | Thursday | 09:00 | Tournament B Round 10 |
| August 6, 2026 | Thursday | 14:00 | Tournament A Round 8 |
| August 6, 2026 | Thursday | 14:00 | Tournament B Round 12 |
| August 6, 2026 | Thursday | 18:30–18:45 | Tournament F Registration |
| August 6, 2026 | Thursday | 21:30 | Tournament F Closing ceremony |
| August 7, 2026 | Friday | 09:00 | Tournament A Round 9 |
| August 7, 2026 | Friday | 09:00 | Tournament B Round 13 |
| August 7, 2026 | Friday | 11:00 | Tournament B Round 14 |
| August 7, 2026 | Friday | 13:30 | Closing ceremony (A and B) |
| August 7, 2026 | Friday | 16:00–16:30 | Tournament G Registration |
| August 7, 2026 | Friday | 20:15 | Tournament G Closing ceremony |
📝 Registration
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| How to register | Use the official registration form for the selected tournament(s) |
| Tournament A entry fee (standard) | €65 (includes refreshments) |
| Tournament A entry fee (all inclusive) | €110 (includes refreshments and 5 lunch menus at Hotel Bivio) |
| Tournament A entry fee (65+ / disabled, standard) | €50 (includes refreshments) |
| Tournament A entry fee (65+ / disabled, all inclusive) | €95 (includes refreshments and 5 lunch menus at Hotel Bivio) |
| Tournament A discounts | Family discount 25% (A/B/C); ŠK Doprastav Bratislava members €10 discount |
| Tournament A late fee | Registration including payment after June 15, 2026: +€10 |
| Tournament A round off policy | One round off allowed from rounds 2–7 and scored as a draw if the player notifies the referee by 11:00 or 16:00 at the latest |
| Tournament B entry fee (standard) | €60 (includes refreshments) |
| Tournament B entry fee (all inclusive) | €100 (includes refreshments and 5 lunch menus at Hotel Bivio) |
| Tournament B entry fee (65+ / disabled, standard) | €45 (includes refreshments) |
| Tournament B entry fee (65+ / disabled, all inclusive) | €90 (includes refreshments and 5 lunch menus at Hotel Bivio) |
| Tournament B late fee | Registration including payment after June 15, 2026: +€10 |
| Tournament C entry fee (tournament) | €95/week (includes lunch; ends daily at 12:30 p.m.) |
| Tournament C entry fee (camp) | €85/week (daily 12:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m.) |
| Tournament C entry fee (tournament + camp) | €180/week (daily 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., including lunch and snacks) |
| Tournament D entry fee | €10 (cash on the spot; includes refreshments) |
| Tournament E entry fee | €10 (cash on the spot; includes refreshments) |
| Tournament F entry fee | €10 per pair (cash on the spot; includes refreshments) |
| Tournament G entry fee | €15 (cash on the spot; includes refreshments) |
| Tournament G discounted entry fee | Disabled persons and pensioners: €10; GM and IM: €5 |
| Tournament G day-of registration fee | €20 (registration on August 7, 2026; includes refreshments) |
👥 Organizer
Bratislava Chess Summer 2026 is organized by ŠK Doprastav Bratislava in cooperation with local partners in Bratislava, Slovakia, delivering a multi-event tournament week with defined capacities, a clear daily program, and consistent on-site management across classical and fast chess formats.
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Email: huncar.martin@gmail.com
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Phone: +421 903 440 480
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Website: https://skdps.eu/tournaments
🏨 Venue
Nemecký kultúrny dom, Barónka 3, Bratislava, Slovakia
Bratislava Chess Summer 2026 uses Nemecký kultúrny dom as the main venue for Tournament A and several evening events. Tournament B runs at Hotel Bivio, Alstrova 153, Bratislava, Slovakia, and Tournament C runs at Stará Jedáleň, Pekná cesta 4A, Bratislava, Slovakia.
🚗 How to Get There
You can reach Bratislava, Slovakia by air via Bratislava Airport (BTS) or Vienna International Airport (VIE), and you can continue by road or rail into the city. In addition, Bratislava’s main train connections arrive via Bratislava hlavná stanica, which links into local public transport for onward travel to Rača and the listed venues. Parking is available in front of Nemecký kultúrny dom with 2 hours free, and each additional hour costs €0.50. Moreover, Hotel Bivio offers free parking for tournament participants during Bivio Cup activities.
Make Bratislava, Slovakia your chess base for five straight days and build your best summer results at Bratislava Chess Summer 2026.