Plan a standout chess weekend at the Collingwood-Somborac Chess Festival, set for May 1-3, 2026 in Collingwood, Canada. The organizers run a 5-round Swiss and submit results for CFC and FIDE rating, which makes the event attractive for ambitious club players and serious competitors. You can choose from three sections—Crown, U1900, and U1500—so you can target the right competitive level while you chase strong results. The festival anchors itself at a hotel venue and combines competitive chess with a relaxed destination setting in Collingwood.

Bring your best preparation and enjoy a full weekend of long time-control chess with structured byes and a clear appeals process. The organizers list a projected $5,000 total cash prize fund and keep the event accessible through online registration and e-transfer payment. Collingwood also offers plenty to do beyond the board, and many visitors extend their stay to explore local dining and outdoor activities. If you want a focused tournament experience in a scenic Ontario destination, this festival fits the plan.

🗓️ Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

The organizers publish a projected total cash prize fund of $5,000 for the festival.

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The organizers run the festival as a 5-round Swiss system tournament and submit results for CFC and FIDE rating. The organizers use the most recent published CFC ratings for pairings and prizes. The event uses a time control of game in 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment from move 1.

The organizers allow a maximum of two half-point byes in the first four rounds when a player requests them with the entry. Players may appeal an arbiter decision in writing within one hour after the round ends and must include a $100 deposit; the organizers may refund the deposit based on merit. Hal Bond (IA, IO) serves as Tournament Director.

📂 Sections / Groups

📅 Schedule

📝 Registration

Register online and pay by e-transfer through the official registration page: https://collingwoodchessfestival.com/registration/. Send e-transfers to collingwoodchessfestival@outlook.com and include your name in the notes section so the organizers can match payment to your registration. If you register more than one participant, submit the form for each individual; you may group a single e-transfer for multiple entries if you list every participant in the e-transfer notes.

The organizers collect key details during registration, including player name, email, city/town, CFC ID number, FIDE ID number (if any), section selection, and any bye requests. The organizers apply a $20 surcharge for onsite registration and do not guarantee first-round pairing for onsite entries.

👥 Organizer

Milan Somborac organizes the Collingwood-Somborac Chess Festival and runs official communications and registration through the tournament website. The event team also publishes tournament policies, including playing conditions, byes, and hotel conduct expectations, to support a smooth weekend for participants.

• Email: milan@drmilan.com

• Website: https://collingwoodchessfestival.com/

• Registration: https://collingwoodchessfestival.com/registration/

🏨 Venue

Georgian Bay Hotel, Trademark Collection by Wyndham, 10 Vacation Inn Dr, Collingwood, Ontario, L9Y 5G4, Canada
The festival takes place at the Georgian Bay Hotel in Collingwood. The hotel venue setting supports a focused tournament atmosphere while keeping players close to the event location throughout the weekend. Collingwood also offers a destination backdrop for participants who want to add local dining and outdoor time around their games.

🚗 How to Get There

Travel to Collingwood, Ontario, and head directly to the Georgian Bay Hotel at 10 Vacation Inn Dr, Collingwood, Ontario, L9Y 5G4, Canada. Use the full venue address for routing and arrival planning so you can check in and settle before tournament activities.

Compete hard, score big, and make Collingwood your chess destination for the first weekend of May 2026.

🧾 Other

The hotel enforces quiet hours and expects guests to keep noise inside rooms from 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM. The hotel limits alcohol consumption to registered guest rooms and does not allow alcohol consumption in public areas and hallways. The hotel operates as a non-smoking and pet-free property and applies fines from $200 or more for violations.

The hotel restricts room access after 10:00 PM to registered guests only and requires adult supervision for children in common areas and the pool area. The hotel does not allow congregation in halls and enforces fire-code expectations for hallways and common areas. The hotel also enforces an early checkout policy that requires guests to change departure dates no later than seven days before the scheduled arrival date; the hotel may charge the full rate for remaining nights when guests leave early without the required notice.