The Club de Ajedrez Posadas Centenary IRT “100 Años” 2026 takes place from December 5–8, 2026, in Posadas, Misiones, Argentina. This seven-round FIDE Standard-rated chess tournament is the principal classical event of the club’s centenary festival. Players meet at Sociedad Italiana de Socorros Mutuos, Santa Fe 1898, rather than the club’s regular headquarters on Jujuy Street.

Organized by Club de Ajedrez Posadas, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026, the championship uses a seven-round Swiss format with accelerated Baku pairings. Each competitor has 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment from the first move. The published program features two games on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, followed by the seventh round on Tuesday, December 8.

The main classical competition offers ARS 1,100,000 in advertised prizes and limits entries to 120 players. Separate festival events include a seven-round Blitz tournament with ARS 200,000 in prizes, a youth Prix, workshops and simultaneous exhibitions. The festival’s overall ARS 1,300,000 headline includes both the classical and blitz funds and should not be mistaken for the cash budget of the classical Open alone.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The Centenary IRT Standard is a seven-round Swiss-system tournament, open to competitors in a single playing field. Players receive new opponents each round based on their tournament results, color-balance considerations and the FIDE pairing rules. Unlike a knockout format, a player who loses a game remains eligible to play all remaining rounds.

The playing clock gives each participant 90 minutes for the full game and a 30-second Fischer increment after every completed move. There is no additional time-control period mentioned in the official 2026 festival announcement. The increment accumulates and can extend long endgames; it should not be mistaken for a 30-second delay.

Understanding Baku Acceleration

The organizer announces Baku accelerated pairings. In this Swiss-system variation, participants can receive temporary acceleration points for pairing purposes in the early stages. The aim is to create appropriate pairings in a larger, mixed-strength field without changing the actual game results. The exact software implementation and assignment remain the organizer’s responsibility.

FIDE Standard Rating

The event is registered for FIDE Standard rating. Players should provide their correct federation and identification details when completing the entry form, and confirm that their name appears accurately in the Chess-Results starting list. A participant’s FIDE rating should not be confused with the separate youth, unrated or special-prize categories.

Competition Officials and Pairings

Damián Moore Fernández is listed as Tournament Director and Ignacio Daniel Pintos Merlo as Chief Arbiter, assisted by other officials. Swiss-Manager publishes player information and pairings through Chess-Results. Players should consult the latest pairings and attend the proper board before the scheduled round start.

🏆 Prize Fund

The organizers advertise ARS 1,100,000 in cash prizes for the FIDE Standard IRT. This figure is distinct from the separate ARS 200,000 Blitz prize fund, which together produce the festival’s overall ARS 1,300,000 headline. The event’s official materials identify several special award classes, including general standings, rating bands, age groups, women and club members.

Classical Open versus Blitz

The ARS 1.1 million classical prize fund belongs to the seven-round 90+30 Open. The ARS 200,000 Blitz fund is for the distinct seven-round 3+2 contest. The published Blitz distribution is ARS 100,000, 60,000 and 40,000 for its top three finishers; these must not be counted as individual classical prizes.

Prize Categories within One Open

The event offers awards for rating groups such as U2000, U1700 and unrated competitors, plus age, gender and membership classifications. Those prize bands are not separate seven-round playing sections. The available online overview confirms the categories but does not reliably enumerate every classical prize amount by placement, so no unsupported amount is assigned to individual classical finishing positions.

Currency and Awards

The monetary fund is denominated in Argentine pesos (ARS). The organizer publishes some USD equivalents for registration packages, but those package prices are not a verified exchange rate for the total future prize fund. For international planning, treat ARS 1,100,000 as the official cash figure and check currency conversion before travel.

♟️ Sections / Groups

The principal festival event is one FIDE Standard-rated Swiss Open. Its general, Elo-limited, unrated, youth, senior and women’s classifications are prize categories within a single shared playing field. They do not represent separate entry sections with independent pairings or individual time controls.

One Starting List for the Classical Tournament

All classical competitors use a shared starting list and Swiss pairings. A competitor can be under the 2000 rating level yet still face another eligible competitor from a different age or special-award class. Entry to the Open is therefore not a guarantee of playing only opponents within a particular prize category.

Separate Blitz and Youth Competitions

The centenary festival also includes an evening seven-round Blitz IRT at 3+2 and a separate youth Prix with junior categories and medals. These are different competitions and should not be included in a player’s classical rating or seven-round standings. Check the relevant registration details before entering more than one festival event.

Capacity and Eligibility

There are 120 places in the main classical IRT. Registration tiers depend partly on the number of available slots, and titleholders or female entrants may qualify for the published fee benefits. Participants should confirm that a discounted or free place has been approved instead of assuming that the special conditions apply without registration.

📅 Schedule

The classical tournament takes place over Saturday, December 5, through Tuesday, December 8, 2026. Play includes two main-event rounds on each of the first three days, followed by a single Tuesday round and a closing ceremony. All times are Posadas local time (Argentina Time, UTC−3).

Saturday’s Opening Program

Accreditation begins at 9:00 AM on Saturday, followed by Round 1 at 10:00 AM. The Blitz event is scheduled for 3:30 PM, and Round 2 of the classical Open begins at 7:00 PM. A player intending to participate in both formats should allow enough time for rest, meals and any overlap between long classical games and the faster festival event.

Sunday’s Chess Activities

The festival hosts its youth competition at 9:00 AM Sunday, while the classical IRT has afternoon and evening rounds at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM. This arrangement gives some morning flexibility to the main Open entrants but still creates a potentially demanding two-game day.

Monday Workshops and Final Tuesday Round

Round 5 begins at 10:00 AM Monday, with chess workshops and simultaneous exhibitions at 3:00 PM, followed by Round 6 at 7:30 PM. The seventh and final classical round starts at 10:00 AM Tuesday. The official closing ceremony is planned for 2:00 PM December 8, so participants should plan departures around this schedule.

📝 Registration

The festival uses a dedicated online registration form, with fee tiers based on available places and calendar deadlines. The organizers emphasize the 120-player limit in the air-conditioned playing hall. A player’s name appears in the official Chess-Results list after the appropriate registration and payment confirmation.

Choosing the Correct Entry Tier

The published entry scale is partly based on remaining capacity, so older promotional amounts may no longer apply in November or December. As places fill, the fee rises from the early discounted tiers toward ARS 50,000. Competitors registering at the venue must pay ARS 60,000, subject to available places. Confirm the current applicable rate before transferring money.

Free and Discounted Entry

The organizers waive entry fees for players holding one of the listed FIDE titles who confirmed before November 15. They also offer free entry for the first 20 FIDE-rated women, followed by a 50% discount from the twenty-first qualifying entrant. Those concessions are subject to the official registration and availability conditions; contact the club to verify individual eligibility.

International Payment Arrangements

Entrants in Argentina can transfer their payment using the alias CLUB.AJEDREZ.POSADAS. The organizer also publishes a Sudameris reference for Paraguay and offers PIX arrangements for Brazilian players upon direct WhatsApp contact. Always verify the recipient and current amount with the event team before initiating any nonrefundable transfer.

Registration Confirmation

The official Chess-Results notice says its entry list contains only competitors who have paid their registration. Accordingly, a completed online form alone should not be considered the definitive confirmation of a place. Review the current official starting list and contact the club if a payment is not reflected in the list.

🏛️ Organizer

Club de Ajedrez Posadas is a historic chess institution founded in 1926 in Posadas, Misiones, Argentina. Its centenary festival in December 2026 celebrates a century of competitive and community chess through a classical international Open, a separate blitz tournament, youth activities, chess workshops and simultaneous exhibitions.

The club’s regular headquarters are at Jujuy 1514, but the larger anniversary festival is held at the Sociedad Italiana on Santa Fe 1898. Its president, Ignacio Daniel Pintos Merlo, is also named as Chief Arbiter for the principal classical event, while Damián Moore Fernández serves as Tournament Director. Other officials support the pairing administration and tournament activities.

The club’s centenary message emphasizes the social value of chess and the goal of bringing together players from Misiones and the wider region. The multi-event celebration offers different ways to participate, from the FIDE-rated Open to junior playing opportunities and public chess activities.

See the existing Club de Ajedrez Posadas organizer profile on MyChess.Events for more background. The official festival website provides the current dates, registration structure, playing program and accommodation contact, while Chess-Results provides the classical competition’s registered player list.

📍 Venue

The Centenary IRT “100 Años” is played at Sociedad Italiana de Socorros Mutuos, Santa Fe 1898, Posadas, Misiones, Argentina. The organizers have selected its fully air-conditioned playing hall for the festival’s principal chess activities. The venue is a historic cultural institution associated with Posadas’s Italian community, with a long tradition of meetings and public events.

Two independent sources support the address: the official 2026 tournament website and the Misiones provincial visitor brochure. The venue should not be confused with the chess club’s usual meeting address at Jujuy 1514 or an older administrative address shown for another Italian society listing.

Historic Italian Society

The Sociedad Italiana de Socorros Mutuos has been associated with Posadas’s Italian community since the late nineteenth century. The city’s historical account describes its contribution to mutual aid, culture and community organization. Its architecture and heritage provide a distinctive background for a national chess club’s centenary celebration.

Air-Conditioned Hall and Capacity

The official event page announces 120 classical IRT places in an air-conditioned hall. This capacity limit affects registration fees and the availability of late entries. Players should allow time for accreditation, seating and checking their board before the first round at 10:00 AM on Saturday.

Venue Coordinates and Navigation

The confirmed destination is Santa Fe 1898, Posadas. A verified GPS fix for the precise playing-hall entrance has not been established from the official sources, so the street address and venue name should be used for navigation. Do not substitute the geographical center of Posadas or the club’s Jujuy Street headquarters as if they were the event hall.

🏨 Accommodation

The centenary festival uses the Sociedad Italiana de Socorros Mutuos at Santa Fe 1898 in downtown Posadas. The independently bookable hotels below are central alternatives; the organizer also advertises a separate low-cost lodging option and festival packages.

Each hotel link targets an individual named property, with a suggested stay from 2026-12-04 to 2026-12-09 (arrival before the first day, departure after the final day). You can change dates and guest details on the booking site. Room inventory, live prices, taxes, breakfast, cancellation terms and accessibility conditions must be checked at booking.

Organizer-recommended lodging: The club advertises accommodation at Círculo de Oficiales de Policía for ARS 25,000 per person per night, with air-conditioned rooms. Contact +54 376 428-8519 to verify dates, occupancy, meals and availability. This is a direct organizer-listed alternative; it has not been substituted with an unverified affiliate listing.

Festival packages: The organizer also advertises a “Todo” package with hotel at ARS 143,000 and a “Todo” option without hotel at ARS 43,000. These packages may include festival activities beyond lodging. Check the exact inclusions, total nights and payment conditions using the official festival lodging information.

Practical planning: The official lodging and package offers are separate from the two individual hotel links. Verify the venue address Santa Fe 1898 instead of traveling to the chess club’s regular office, and allow time for the closing ceremony.

🚆 How to Get There

Posadas is the capital of Misiones Province in northeastern Argentina, on the Paraná River opposite the Paraguayan city of Encarnación. The tournament takes place at Santa Fe 1898 within Posadas, so travelers should arrange their final local transfer to the venue rather than the club’s Jujuy Street address.

✈️ By Air to Posadas

Domestic travelers may compare flights to Libertador General José de San Martín Airport, which serves Posadas. Available routes and schedules depend on the date and airline. From the airport, continue by taxi, rideshare or other suitable local transfer to the city center and the Sociedad Italiana venue. Allow enough time for the early Saturday accreditation and the last-minute changes common during holiday-period travel.

🚌 Long-Distance Buses

Posadas has regional and long-distance coach connections to other Argentine cities. Visitors arriving at the main bus terminal can continue to the venue using a taxi or local bus. The city’s street grid helps with navigation, but verify the drop-off location and travel time before setting out for a scheduled round.

🌎 Travel from Paraguay

Encarnación, Paraguay, lies across the Paraná River from Posadas. Cross-border visitors should review current immigration requirements and the transport arrangements over the international San Roque González de Santa Cruz crossing. Queues may vary, particularly on weekends and holidays, so do not rely on a fixed crossing time before a chess game.

🚗 Driving and Parking

Drivers should set their destination to Sociedad Italiana de Socorros Mutuos, Santa Fe 1898, Posadas. City-center traffic and street parking availability can change around public events. The festival’s limited playing-hall capacity does not imply that 120 dedicated parking spaces are provided, so confirm any parking options locally.

🚕 Local Transfers

Taxi or car transport may be convenient for guests staying outside the city center, traveling from the airport or carrying chess equipment. When requesting a ride, use the specific Santa Fe street address. A similarly named Italian society or the Club de Ajedrez Posadas headquarters would be a different destination.

Tuesday Departure

The final classical game starts at 10:00 AM Tuesday, December 8, with prizes and closing at 2:00 PM. If traveling back to Buenos Aires, Paraguay or another region, allow time for the closing activities, local transfer and any additional border or airport checks.

ℹ️ Other Information

♟️ A Century of Chess in Posadas

The Club de Ajedrez Posadas celebrates its centenary in 2026. Its festival combines competitive international chess with cultural programming to recognize long-time members, past organizers and the club’s contribution to the Misiones chess community. The classical Open is the main rated competition within the broader celebration.

⚡ Separate Blitz IRT

The evening Blitz competition begins at 3:30 PM Saturday, December 5. It plays seven rounds at 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move and has its own ARS 200,000 prize fund. It is separate from the seven-round Standard IRT and should be registered and classified independently if a player wants to participate.

♟️ Youth Prix, Workshops and Simultaneous Games

The centenary program includes a youth Prix on Sunday morning, and workshops plus simultaneous exhibitions on Monday afternoon. These activities offer additional opportunities for families and developing players to participate in the festival. They do not change the principal Open’s Swiss pairing rules, FIDE Standard status or ARS 1.1 million prize fund.

📝 Payment and Entry List

Registration uses a capacity-linked fee schedule and the Chess-Results entry page expressly states that listed players have already paid. The venue capacity is 120, and free or reduced entry may be available to eligible titleholders and female players under the announced conditions. Contact the club directly for current availability.

🔗 Useful Official Links