Dala Open 2026
Players travel to the Dalarna region for Dala Open 2026, a six-round weekend tournament that runs from Friday, January 23 to Sunday, January 25, 2026 at the Best Western Nya Star Hotel in Avesta, Sweden. You play two faster games on Friday evening and four classical rounds over the weekend while you fight for solid cash prizes, rating prizes, and the title of district champion for the best local player.
You compete in a single open Swiss event that organizers register for Elo rating, enjoy a clear schedule with convenient start times, and relax between rounds with on-site cafeteria service and hotel accommodation in the same building. Dalarnas Schackförbund sets simple registration rules, rewards GMs and IMs with free entry, and crowns the best player from Dalarna as district champion with a challenge trophy.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | Friday, January 23 to Sunday, January 25, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Best Western Nya Star Hotell, Avesta, Sweden |
| ♟️ Format | Single open 6-round Swiss weekend tournament |
| ⭐ Rating | Elo-rated event; organizers submit results for international rating |
| 📂 Sections | One unified open group with rating-group prizes |
| ⏱️ Time control | Rounds 1–2: 25 min + 10 sec; Rounds 3–6: 90 min + 30 sec from move one |
| 🏁 Number of rounds | 6 rounds (two on Friday, two on Saturday, two on Sunday) |
| 💳 Entry fee | 400 SEK for seniors; 300 SEK for juniors and pensioners; GMs and IMs play free |
| 💰 Prize fund | Cash prizes for 1st–5th place plus 600 SEK rating prizes in groups of about 10 players |
| 👤 Eligibility | Players must belong to a chess club, and the club must register each player before the event |
| ☕ Amenities | On-site cafeteria at the venue for food and drinks during rounds |
| 📝 Organizer notes | Organizers guarantee the full prize structure from 60 participants and treat paid entry as final registration |
🏆 Prize Fund
Main prizes
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | 4,000 SEK |
| 2nd | 3,000 SEK |
| 3rd | 2,000 SEK |
| 4th | 1,000 SEK |
| 5th | 500 SEK |
Organizers do not split these main prizes; they pay each place as a full amount according to the final standings.
Rating prizes
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Rating prizes | 600 SEK per prize in rating groups of about 10 players (exact grouping depends on the number of entries) |
| Guarantee | Organizers guarantee the listed prizes when at least 60 players enter the tournament |
Special title
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| District champion | Best player from Dalarna becomes district champion and receives the Dala Open challenge trophy (vandringspokal) |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
You play Rounds 1 and 2 with a rapid-style control of 25 minutes for the game plus 10 seconds increment per move.
You play Rounds 3–6 with a classical control of 90 minutes for the game plus 30 seconds increment per move from move one.
Organizers run the event as a 6-round Swiss tournament in a single open group.
They register the event for Elo rating and send all results for rating calculation after the tournament.
You follow standard chess rules in every round, and you keep notation for your games according to Elo-rated-event requirements.
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Open tournament | Single open Swiss | All players compete in one field; organizers create separate rating groups for 600 SEK rating prizes, usually with about 10 players per group, depending on total entries. |
📅 Schedule
| Date | Weekday | Time | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Friday | 7:00 p.m. | Round 1 |
| January 23, 2026 | Friday | 8:45 p.m. | Round 2 |
| January 24, 2026 | Saturday | 10:00 a.m. | Round 3 |
| January 24, 2026 | Saturday | 3:00 p.m. | Round 4 |
| January 25, 2026 | Sunday | 9:00 a.m. | Round 5 |
| January 25, 2026 | Sunday | 1:30 p.m. | Round 6 |
The schedule gives you two evening games on Friday, one morning and one afternoon round on Saturday, and an early finish on Sunday afternoon after Round 6.
📝 Registration
You complete your registration by paying the entry fee and submitting your details through the Swedish Chess Federation’s web system.
Entry fees:
400 SEK for seniors
300 SEK for juniors and pensioners
Free entry for GM and IM
Payment:
Pay your entry fee to Dalarnas Schackförbund plusgiro account 49 17 29-0 no later than Monday, January 19, 2026.
Key registration rules:
Use the online entry form for the Dala Open 2026 on schack.se.
You must belong to a chess club, and your club must register you before the event.
Organizers treat paid entry as personal registration; if you do not pay, they remove you from the starting list on the tournament day.
For late entries after January 19, you contact the organizer directly before traveling.
👥 Organizer
Dalarnas Schackförbund organizes Dala Open 2026 together with local clubs and hosts the event at the Best Western Nya Star Hotel in Avesta. The team focuses on a clear schedule, a friendly atmosphere, and a simple prize and rating structure that suits club and league players from the region and beyond.
Contact person: Magnus Källström
Phone: +46 76 166 37 61
Email: magnuskrylbo@gmail.com
National federation website (event listing): https://schack.se
🏨 Venue
You play all rounds at Best Western Nya Star Hotell in Avesta, Sweden. The hotel provides the playing hall, on-site cafeteria, and comfortable rooms under the same roof, so you can move easily between your games, your room, and meals during the weekend. The central Avesta location gives you straightforward access from the town’s main roads and public transport.
🛎️ Accommodation
Best Western Nya Star Hotell offers special room rates for Dala Open participants. When you book, you mention “Schack” to receive the chess rate.
| Room type | Price per night |
|---|---|
| Single room | 895 SEK |
| Double room | 1,195 SEK |
You contact the hotel directly:
Phone (reception): +46 226 560 00
You align your booking with the tournament dates from Friday, January 23 to Sunday, January 25, 2026, and you secure your room early to stay in the same building as the playing hall.
🚗 How to Get There
You usually travel to Avesta by train or regional bus and then continue a short distance by local bus or taxi to Best Western Nya Star Hotell in the town center. Drivers follow the main approaches into Avesta, then use local signs to reach the hotel and nearby parking before walking directly into the playing area.
You plan your arrival so you can check in, complete any remaining formalities, and sit down calmly for Round 1 at 7:00 p.m. on Friday evening.
🧾 Other
Organizers guarantee the published prize structure from 60 participants and adjust rating-group sizes according to the final number of entries.
They do not split the top five prizes; they pay each main place as a full amount according to the final standings.
The on-site cafeteria serves snacks and drinks throughout the weekend, so you can stay at the venue between rounds.
You can open your 2026 chess season in Avesta, mix rapid and classical time controls in one compact weekend, and fight for prizes, rating points, and the Dalarna district title at Dala Open 2026.