Budapest ONE WEEK — March 2026 (11–17 Mar, Budapest, Hungary)
Budapest ONE WEEK — March 2026 is a compact festival of closed GM and IM norm round robins plus a Rating Group (U2250) in the heart of Budapest. All three events are 10-player round robins (the Rating Group may switch to a Swiss up to 20 players if entries require). Classical cadence, central venue, and clear regulations make this a focused norm-hunting week.
📌 Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | 11 – 17 March 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Budapest, Hungary |
| 🏟️ Venue | Hungarian Chess Federation, 1055 Budapest, Falk Miksa u. 10., 2nd floor |
| 🏁 Tournament Type | GM RR · IM RR · Rating Group U2250 (may switch to Swiss ≤20) |
| 🧩 Tournament System | Round Robin (10 players each) |
| 🔢 Number of Rounds | 9 (all groups) |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 90 minutes for the game + 30″/move from move 1 |
| ⏰ Default Time | 30 minutes |
| ⚖️ Tiebreaks | Sonneborn–Berger |
| 🏢 Organizer | Budapest ONE WEEK Organizing Team (Tournament Director: IO Zsolt Korpics) |
| ✉️ Contact | clearlogicltd@gmail.com · WhatsApp +36 30 951 0063 |
| 💳 Payment | Entry fee payable in cash before Round 1 |
| 🗓️ Entry Deadline | 7 March 2026 |
| 📝 Notes | No postponement of rounds; Rating Group may accept limited players <1800 on request |
💰 Prize Fund
Rating Group (U2250)
Total: €300 (with 10 players; reduced pro-rata if fewer)
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | €150 |
| 2nd | €100 |
| 3rd | €50 |
(GM and IM groups play for norms; no cash prizes published.)
🧩 Sections / Eligibility
- GM Round Robin (10 players) — admission by Elo fee bands.
- IM Round Robin (10 players) — by Elo fee bands; players <2100 must contact the director.
- Rating Group U2250 (10 players) — for 1800–2250; limited approval for <1800.
- Format switch option: Rating Group may become a Swiss (max 20 players) if entries exceed capacity.
⏱️ Time Control & Regulations
- 90′ + 30″ increment from move 1 (all groups).
- Default (waiting) time: 30 minutes.
- No round postponements.
- FIDE fair play rules apply.
📅 Schedule (local time)
| Round | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Wed 11 Mar 2026 | 16:00 |
| Round 2 | Thu 12 Mar 2026 | 16:00 |
| Round 3 | Fri 13 Mar 2026 | 10:00 |
| Round 4 | Fri 13 Mar 2026 | 16:00 |
| Round 5 | Sat 14 Mar 2026 | 16:00 |
| Round 6 | Sun 15 Mar 2026 | 10:00 |
| Round 7 | Sun 15 Mar 2026 | 16:00 |
| Round 8 | Mon 16 Mar 2026 | 16:00 |
| Round 9 | Tue 17 Mar 2026 | 10:00 |
Schedule uniform across GM / IM / Rating groups.
📝 Registration & Fees
GM Round Robin (by Elo band):
- 2251–2300: €650
- 2301–2350: €550
- 2351–2400: €450
- 2401–2450: €350
- 2451–2500: €300
- 2501+: €200
IM Round Robin (by Elo band):
- 2101–2150: €550
- 2151–2200: €450
- 2201–2250: €350
- 2251–2300: €250
- 2301–2350: €200
- 2351–2400: €175
- 2400+: €125
- <2100: must contact the director.
Rating Group (U2250):
- 1800–1899: €150
- 1900–1999: €100
- 2000–2149: €75
- 2150–2250: €50
- <1800: must contact the director.
Registration: clearlogicltd@gmail.com by 7 March 2026.
Payment: in cash before Round 1.
🏟️ Venue
Hungarian Chess Federation, Falk Miksa u. 10, 2nd floor — central Pest location close to the Danube embankment, cafés, and public transport. Quiet hall designed for round-robin play.
🛏️ Accommodation
Players arrange their own lodging. Wide choice of hotels and apartments near the venue, with prices from ~€40 per person/night depending on season.
🚉 How to Get There
- By Air: Budapest Ferenc Liszt Intl. (BUD) → city by airport shuttle, bus 100E, or taxi.
- By Train: Budapest Nyugati / Keleti stations with metro and tram links to District V.
- By Metro/Tram: Short walk from M2/M3 metro corridors and riverside Tram 2.
- By Car: Limited city-centre parking; plan for paid garages or street parking.
Budapest ONE WEEK is built for results: tight scheduling, professional arbitering, central venue, and a field tailored for norms. If you’re chasing a title or rating gain, this is the perfect week to make it happen.
