Chess Festival Kumanovo Open 2026 brings a four-day chess festival to Kumanovo, North Macedonia, from May 29 to June 1, 2026. City Chess Club “Kumanovo” and Chess Club “Fisher” organize the event at Restaurant “Gracija”.
The festival includes two tournaments. Tournament A welcomes players of all ages with a rating below 2250. Meanwhile, Tournament B gives young talents born in 2016 or later a dedicated U10 competition.
The format stays clear and practical. Both tournaments use a 7-round Swiss system, and the program also includes a rapid tournament slot on May 31. In addition, the organizers provide participant certificates, water at the venue, accommodation options, trophies, medals, Modern Chess vouchers, and material prizes.
🏁 Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | May 29 – June 1, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Kumanovo, North Macedonia |
| 🏨 Venue | Restaurant “Gracija”, Kumanovo |
| ♟️ Format | 7-round Swiss tournaments |
| ⏱️ Time control | Tournament A: 60 minutes + 30 seconds per move; Tournament B: 10 minutes + 3 seconds per move |
| ✅ Rating | Tournament A counts for FIDE rating; Tournament B counts for FIDE rating if more than 20% of players have a rating |
| 👥 Sections | Tournament A: Open <2250; Tournament B: U10 |
| 🎯 Eligibility | Tournament A: all ages, rating below 2250; Tournament B: born in 2016 or later |
| 💰 Prize fund | 100,000 MKD, plus trophies, medals, Modern Chess vouchers, and material prizes |
| 📝 Registration deadline | May 28, 2026 |
| 👤 Organizer | City Chess Club “Kumanovo” and Chess Club “Fisher” |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Both tournaments use a 7-round Swiss system. Tournament A uses 60 minutes plus 30 seconds per move, while Tournament B uses 10 minutes plus 3 seconds per move. In addition, all games use electronic clocks.
Tournament A counts for FIDE rating. Tournament B can also count for FIDE rating if more than 20% of the players have a rating. Therefore, young players may also gain rated-event experience when the field meets that requirement.
Final standings depend on points first. After that, the tie-break order is Buchholz Cut 1, Buchholz, number of wins, and progressive score. Moreover, the late-arrival tolerance is 30 minutes, so players should reach the board before that limit.
Players may request one half-point bye during the first five rounds. However, the organizer must approve the request before it counts.
💰 Prize Fund
The festival has a published prize fund of 100,000 MKD, plus trophies, medals, Modern Chess vouchers, and material prizes.
Tournament A – Open <2250 Regular Prizes
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | 20,000 MKD + trophy + 3,000 MKD Modern Chess voucher |
| 2nd | 15,000 MKD + 3,000 MKD Modern Chess voucher |
| 3rd | 10,000 MKD + 3,000 MKD Modern Chess voucher |
| 4th | 8,000 MKD |
| 5th | 6,000 MKD |
| 6th | 5,000 MKD |
| 7th | 4,000 MKD |
| 8th | 3,000 MKD |
| 9th | 2,000 MKD |
Tournament A – Special Prizes
| Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| Best female player | 2,000 MKD |
| Best U18 player | 2,000 MKD |
| Best U14 player | 2,000 MKD + 3,000 MKD Modern Chess voucher |
| Best player over 60 | 2,000 MKD |
| Best player rated under 2100 | 2,000 MKD |
| Best player rated under 1900 | 2,000 MKD |
| Best player rated under 1700 | 2,000 MKD |
| Best unrated player | 2,000 MKD |
All special-prize winners receive medals. If players finish with equal points, the organizer shares prizes by the Hort system up to and including 6th place.
Tournament B – U10 Prizes
| Place / Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | Tablet + trophy |
| 2nd | Chess clock + trophy |
| 3rd | Trophy + material prize |
| 4th | Material prize + medal |
| 5th | Material prize + medal |
| Top 3 girls | Medals and prizes |
No player may receive more than one prize. If a player qualifies for several awards, that player receives the higher-value prize.
♟️ Sections / Groups
| Section | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament A | Open event for players of all ages with rating below 2250 |
| Tournament B | U10 tournament for players born in 2016 or later |
The organizer may invite players outside the stated criteria. Therefore, players close to the rating or age limits should contact the organizers before registering.
📅 Schedule
Tournament A – Open <2250
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2026 | 13:00 | Opening Ceremony |
| May 29, 2026 | 14:00 | Round 1 |
| May 29, 2026 | 18:00 | Round 2 |
| May 30, 2026 | 10:00 | Round 3 |
| May 30, 2026 | 16:00 | Round 4 |
| May 31, 2026 | 10:00 | Rapid Tournament |
| May 31, 2026 | 16:00 | Round 5 |
| June 1, 2026 | 09:00 | Round 6 |
| June 1, 2026 | 13:00 | Round 7 |
| June 1, 2026 | 17:00 | Closing Ceremony |
Tournament B – U10
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2026 | 10:00 | Opening Ceremony |
| May 31, 2026 | 10:30 | Round 1 |
| May 31, 2026 | 11:00 | Round 2 |
| May 31, 2026 | 11:30 | Round 3 |
| May 31, 2026 | 12:00 | Round 4 |
| May 31, 2026 | 12:30 | Round 5 |
| May 31, 2026 | 13:00 | Round 6 |
| May 31, 2026 | 13:30 | Round 7 |
| May 31, 2026 | 14:30 | Closing Ceremony |
📝 Registration
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Registration deadline | May 28, 2026 |
| Tournament A entry fee | EUR 25 / 1,500 MKD |
| Tournament B entry fee | EUR 10 / 600 MKD |
| Tournament A + Tournament B combined fee | EUR 30 / 1,800 MKD |
| Official tournament email | chesskumanovoopen@gmail.com |
| FIDE ID rule | Non-resident players must provide a FIDE ID |
| Participant certificate | Provided for every participant |
| Water | Provided by the organizer |
Players should register before the deadline and choose the correct tournament. In addition, non-resident players should prepare their FIDE ID before sending the entry.
👤 Organizer
City Chess Club “Kumanovo” and Chess Club “Fisher” organize the festival together. The event supports open competition and youth chess development, while Modern Chess also appears as a prize partner through voucher awards.
Phone: +389 75 404 037
Email: chesskumanovoopen@gmail.com
📍 Venue
Restaurant “Gracija”, Kumanovo, North Macedonia
The venue hosts the full festival program in Kumanovo. Because the same location covers the open event, the U10 tournament, and the closing activities, players can follow the schedule without changing playing sites.
🛏️ Accommodation
The organizer has published two accommodation options for visiting players.
| Accommodation | Details |
|---|---|
| Hotel Gracija | EUR 30 full board |
| Public Dorm “Profesor Mijalkovikj” | EUR 10 room / EUR 13 apartment |
Players should contact the organizer early for accommodation reservations. Moreover, early planning helps because the festival starts on Friday and finishes on Monday.
🚗 How to Get There
Kumanovo is one of the main cities in North Macedonia and sits northeast of Skopje. Therefore, players arriving from abroad can travel through Skopje first and then continue to Kumanovo by road. Local players can also reach the venue directly by car or taxi.
ℹ️ Other
Electronic devices are prohibited during play. In addition, players must respect the 30-minute late-arrival rule. A player who arrives after the tolerance time loses the game.
The organizer provides water and certificates for participants. Also, electronic clocks will be used, so players can prepare for increment-based tournament conditions.
Chess Festival Kumanovo Open 2026 offers a clear open section, a dedicated U10 event, and practical conditions for players visiting Kumanovo.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $1,780
Organizer
♟️ Club Identity
City Chess Club “Kumanovo” is a chess club in Kumanovo, North Macedonia with deep roots in the local chess scene. The club marked 90 years of existence in 2024, which makes it one of the long-standing chess names in the country. At the same time, the current registered association appears in North Macedonian business records with a founding date of May 20, 2002. For players, that means the club combines long tradition with an active modern structure. It remains part of the competitive system of the Chess Federation of North Macedonia, and it keeps a visible public role in the city through local events, federation work, and regular communication with players. Sanja Trajkovska, the club president, is also one of the best-known public faces of Kumanovo chess.
🏆 Tournaments and Competition
The club is active across both local and international competition. It organizes the Kumanovo Open series, including Kumanovo Open 2026, and it has also staged youth events such as the International Youth Chess Tournament in Kumanovo and the earlier Ethno Selo Timcevski 2019 cadet tournament. In addition, City Chess Club “Kumanovo” runs the 11 Noemvri rapid event and stays present in national team competition through GSK Kumanovo 1, which appears in the North Macedonia team championship and in the local sports program as a First League team. The club has also competed at higher level in women’s team chess, including the European Club Cup for Women in 2023. This mix gives players several entry points. Some events welcome juniors and local talent. Others connect Kumanovo players with a stronger regional field.
🌱 Youth and Community Activity
The club also has a strong community role. It has helped keep school chess and youth tournaments visible in Kumanovo for many years, including student championships and newer age-group events. That work matters because it gives younger players a real path into rated chess. The club also supports women’s chess in a visible way. Kumanovo has one of the stronger bases of female players in the North Macedonian competition system, and Sanja Trajkovska has served as both club president and a North Macedonia Olympiad team player. Beyond that, the club keeps close ties with the city itself. Municipal coverage shows public recognition for its players and results, while local media and club posts reflect a steady rhythm of tournaments, promotions, and chess activity. For local players, this is not just a historic club. It is an organizer that still creates chances to learn, compete, and represent Kumanovo.
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