The ByChess.com 2nd ELO Chess Tournament 2026 takes place on December 5–6, 2026, at Bayegan Pendik Satranç Spor Kulübü in Pendik, Istanbul, Türkiye. This competition is the second FIDE ELO-rated weekend in the ByChess.com UKD-ELO chess series announced by the Istanbul Provincial Chess Federation. It offers a local, officially organized tournament setting for players interested in over-the-board rated competition. The event forms part of a four-weekend series that also includes Turkish national rating tournaments later in December.

The venue is the chess club’s own center at Aydınlı Yolu Caddesi, Efe Apartment No. 27/A, in the Bahçelievler neighborhood of Pendik. Bayegan Pendik made history in October 2026 by winning the European Club Cup, a landmark achievement for Turkish team chess. Alongside its elite-level competitive activity, the club operates a local tournament program that gives players opportunities to develop through official games. The ByChess.com series connects this competitive tradition with the everyday Istanbul chess community.

The Turkish federation has published a dedicated official announcement with links to the regulations and online registration for the December 5–6 ELO event. As an ELO-rated weekend, the competition should be distinguished from the UKD-only weekends on December 19–20 and 26–27. Participants can use the tournament’s own federation invitation to check entry categories, eligibility requirements, playing conditions, and registration instructions. The guide below summarizes the confirmed dates, club venue, tournament series, nearby accommodation, and transport options.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The December 5–6 tournament is an ELO-rated event in the official ByChess.com series. In Turkish chess tournament terminology, ELO refers to the international FIDE rating system, while UKD is the Turkish national rating system. The organizers distinguish the two ELO-rated weekends from later tournaments focused on UKD. Players planning to improve or establish an official rating should select the event that corresponds to their current playing status and goals.

Federation administration is especially relevant for ELO tournaments because they require properly recorded over-the-board games and official result reporting. The Istanbul Chess Federation offers competition-specific regulations and online registration links for each weekend. Players should follow the December 5–6 regulations for its exact time control, number of rounds, pairing procedure, rating restrictions, and any special participant conditions. The event belongs to a clearly identified ELO tournament weekend rather than the two later UKD-only competitions.

♟️ Sections / Groups

The ByChess.com series provides rated chess events for different player groups and developmental stages. The organizer’s official announcement describes weekend tournaments that serve players of different ages and rating levels, with categories and registration conditions set out in the relevant regulations. The December 5–6 competition is specifically designated as the 2nd ELO Tournament. It should therefore be treated as its own event, not combined with a later UKD-only tournament or the first ELO weekend in November.

For competitors who have a FIDE Standard rating, an ELO event can provide opportunities to play rated games under official tournament conditions. Players without an established FIDE rating may have different eligibility or category conditions, depending on the specific invitation. The organizers’ registration process determines which group a player may enter and whether any national chess federation documentation is required. Interested participants should choose their event based on the published regulations rather than assume that every weekend has identical sections.

📅 Schedule

The ByChess.com 2nd ELO Chess Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, December 5, and Sunday, December 6, 2026, at the Bayegan Pendik club venue. These dates are confirmed in the Istanbul Chess Federation’s series announcement. The December ELO weekend follows the first event on November 7–8 and precedes the two UKD weekends on December 19–20 and 26–27. The federation publishes a separate link to the regulations and registration page for each scheduled event.

Istanbul follows Türkiye Time (UTC+3) throughout the year. Players traveling from another country should account for the local time when planning their arrival and accommodation. The official competition regulations govern the precise start of registration, round times, and the end-of-event procedure. Since the event runs over a weekend, participants can consider a short stay in Pendik or travel from elsewhere in the Istanbul metropolitan area.

📝 Registration

The Istanbul Chess Federation’s official ByChess.com series announcement provides the registration gateway for the 2nd ELO Tournament on December 5–6. The page includes a tournament-specific Yönerge (regulations) link and an Online Kayıt (online registration) link. Applicants should select the December 5–6 ELO entry rather than one of the November or later December events. The organizing club can also be reached at +90 532 608 73 19 for venue-related inquiries.

The federation’s published regulations are the authoritative source for eligibility, any player limits, participation fees, rating requirements, and instructions for confirming entry. Because the series includes ELO and UKD-only tournaments with different purposes, applicants should review the correct event document before making a payment or finalizing registration. Players who normally compete outside Türkiye should pay particular attention to the national license and eligibility rules stated for the individual tournament.

Bayegan Pendik’s role as organizer and host means players can attend a federation-related competition at the club’s permanent playing location. The federation provides the formal registration path, while the club supplies the over-the-board setting. This combination of local organization and official competition administration allows participants to prepare for a scheduled chess event in Pendik. The club’s public tournament program also offers future opportunities for players interested in subsequent rating weekends.

🏛️ Organizer

Bayegan Pendik Satranç Spor Kulübü is a leading Turkish chess club based in Istanbul’s Pendik district. The club won the 2026 European Club Cup in Budva, Montenegro, becoming the first Turkish winner of the open team event. Its competitive program includes the Turkish Chess Super League, where titled players and internationally experienced grandmasters represent the club. The organization’s accomplishments have given it an important position in modern Turkish club chess.

The club also maintains a local playing center and supports federation-rated tournaments in Istanbul. In cooperation with the ByChess.com tournament initiative, it hosts the November–December 2026 series at its Pendik venue. The Istanbul Chess Federation publishes the competition announcements, online registrations, and associated documents. Read the club’s MyChess.Events organizer profile for more about its international results, local competitions, and chess development activities.

📍 Venue

The playing venue is Bayegan Pendik Satranç Spor Kulübü, Bahçelievler Mahallesi, Aydınlı Yolu Caddesi, Efe Apartment No. 27/A, 34890 Pendik, Istanbul, Türkiye. The club’s address is confirmed by independent local venue listings and mapping providers. The location lies on Istanbul’s Asian side within the Pendik district, an area served by metro, regional rail, urban buses, and road connections. Visitors should use the complete venue name and street address when navigating to the tournament.

Bayegan Pendik is a dedicated chess club, and the organizer’s official series announcement identifies its home premises as the venue. The club has an established presence within the Turkish Chess Federation’s Istanbul network. Its weekend events provide a playing location for official rated chess competitions away from the city’s main hotel-based international festivals. Players should arrive with sufficient time to locate the chess center and complete the applicable pre-round procedures.

🏨 Accommodation

Players traveling to Istanbul for the December weekend can stay within the Pendik district, which has hotels near the waterfront, railway connections, and the wider Asian-side transport network. The following choices operate in Pendik and have official hotel websites for reservations. They are independent accommodation options rather than designated tournament hotels. Players should compare access to Aydınlı Yolu Caddesi when selecting a room.

İnera Hotel Pendik

İnera Hotel Pendik is at 29 Sabri Taşkın Caddesi in the Batı neighborhood of Pendik. The hotel offers guestrooms, suites, and a location close to Pendik’s waterfront and rail connections. It describes access to the high-speed train station and regional ferry transport, making it an option for visitors arriving by public transport. Participants attending the chess venue should plan the final local transfer to the club on Aydınlı Yolu Caddesi. The official hotel website provides booking information.

The Green Park Pendik

The Green Park Pendik Hotel & Convention Center is situated at 204 Erol Kaya Caddesi in Kaynarca, Pendik. It offers a large hotel complex with guestrooms, business facilities, meeting spaces, and wellness services. Its position within the district may suit visitors who prefer a full-service hotel while attending a weekend competition. The club’s playing location is separate from the hotel, so players should arrange their own transfer on both tournament days. See the official booking website.

Holiday Inn Istanbul – Tuzla Bay

Holiday Inn Istanbul – Tuzla Bay is at 72 Sahil Bulvarı, Güzelyalı, Pendik, in the waterfront area east of central Pendik. The hotel lists guestrooms, dining facilities, fitness and wellness amenities, and parking. Its official transport page mentions connections to regional transport and confirms that the property does not run its own airport shuttle. Players can plan a road transfer from the hotel to the chess club. The official IHG page provides room and reservation information.

🚆 How to Get There

Bayegan Pendik Chess Sports Club is located at Aydınlı Yolu Caddesi 27/A in Istanbul’s Pendik district. The city has two major international airports; Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) lies on Istanbul’s Asian side and connects to the M4 Metro network. Pendik also has rail, road, and local bus connections. Players should use the exact club address for their final approach rather than navigate only to central Pendik.

From Sabiha Gökçen International Airport

Sabiha Gökçen Airport has direct access to the M4 metro line, which includes Pendik station. Players arriving by air can take the metro toward Pendik and continue by local transport or taxi to the chess center. A direct taxi is another option for travelers with baggage or limited time before play. The airport’s official transport website provides guidance on its metro connection.

By Metro and Rail

The M4 Kadıköy–Sabiha Gökçen Airport Metro Line serves Pendik and connects major districts on Istanbul’s Asian side. The city also has Marmaray suburban rail services and intercity railway connections serving Pendik. Players can use these networks to approach the district and then transfer to a local bus, taxi, or appropriate walking route. Because the club is on Aydınlı Yolu Caddesi rather than directly inside a railway terminal, checking the final local connection is important.

By Taxi or Private Car

Drivers and taxi passengers should enter Bayegan Pendik Satranç Spor Kulübü, Bahçelievler, Aydınlı Yolu Caddesi, Efe Apartment No:27/A, Pendik. This address distinguishes the chess club from Bayegan’s corporate offices and other businesses that share the Bayegan name. Road traffic can vary between the different parts of Istanbul, particularly when crossing between the European and Asian sides. Participants should allow enough time to reach the playing room before the first scheduled game.

ℹ️ Other Information

The December 5–6 ByChess.com 2nd ELO Tournament is one stage of a larger autumn–winter rated chess program at Bayegan Pendik Chess Sports Club. The Istanbul Provincial Chess Federation officially lists the event alongside a November ELO weekend and two UKD tournaments in December. Its format and participation requirements are governed by the tournament-specific federation documents. This is a regional FIDE ELO event, not the club’s European Club Cup competition or a multi-day international chess festival.

The official federation announcement is the primary reference for the tournament date, host club, regulations, and registration. Players can use it to access the appropriate event-specific instructions and confirm their entry. Bayegan Pendik’s international competitive achievements provide a distinctive background to its local tournament program, connecting top-level team success with regular chess activity in Istanbul. The December competition offers another opportunity to participate in officially organized over-the-board games.