European Individual Senior Chess Championship 2025
Breathe in the Adriatic breeze and prepare your best endgames—Rabac 2025 blends tournament-tier classical chess with the charm of an Istrian coastal retreat. From September 26 (arrival) to October 6, 2025 (departure), four sections—50+ Open, 50+ Women, 65+ Open, 65+ Women—converge at the “Sunny Rabac” restaurant by Valamar for a 9-round Swiss festival. Mornings invite pebble-beach walks, afternoons ignite deep strategic fights, and evenings finish with sunset analysis—an ideal rhythm for both competitors and companions.
🏆 Prize Fund and European Senior Chess Titles 2025
- Total prize fund: €8,000 across categories
- European titles awarded:
- European Senior Champion: 50+ (Open), 65+ (Open)
- European Senior Women Champion: 50+, 65+
- Prize per player only (no duplication); ties split by Hort system
| Place | Open 65+ | Women 65+ | Open 50+ | Women 50+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | €1,000 | €400 | €1,000 | €400 |
| 2 | €750 | €300 | €750 | €300 |
| 3 | €550 | €200 | €550 | €200 |
| 4 | €400 | — | €400 | — |
| 5 | €250 | — | €250 | — |
| 6 | €150 | — | €150 | — |
Top-3 in each category receive personal rights (with board & lodging) for the World Senior Championship 2026.
♟ Event Details and Key Facts — European Senior Championship 2025
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | Arrival: Fri Sep 26, 2025 · Rounds: Sep 27 – Oct 5 · Departure: Mon Oct 6, 2025 |
| City | Rabac, Croatia |
| Venue | “Sunny Rabac” restaurant by Valamar |
| Sections | 50+ Open, 50+ Women, 65+ Open, 65+ Women (women’s events separate; if <9 players, merged with Open and women’s prizes kept) |
| Eligibility | Players reaching 50 or 65 by Dec 31, 2025; previous top-3 have personal rights in same or higher category |
| System | 9-round Swiss |
| Time Control | 90’/40 + 30’ (rest), +30″/move from move 1 |
| Default Time | 15 minutes (forfeit time) |
⏰ Tournament Schedule — Rabac 2025
| Day | Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri | Sep 26 | — | Arrivals |
| Fri | Sep 26 | 21:00 | Technical Meeting |
| Sat | Sep 27 | 15:00 | Round 1 |
| Sun | Sep 28 | 15:00 | Round 2 |
| Mon | Sep 29 | 15:00 | Round 3 |
| Tue | Sep 30 | 15:00 | Round 4 |
| Wed | Oct 1 | 15:00 | Round 5 |
| Thu | Oct 2 | 15:00 | Round 6 |
| Fri | Oct 3 | 15:00 | Round 7 |
| Sat | Oct 4 | 15:00 | Round 8 |
| Sun | Oct 5 | 14:00 | Round 9 |
| Sun | Oct 5 | 21:00 | Closing & Prize-Giving |
| Mon | Oct 6 | — | Departures |
♛ Registration and Entry Fees — European Senior Chess Championship 2025
- Entry deadline: Friday, Aug 29, 2025
- Entry fee: €120 per player (ECU fee included)
- Hotel deposit: €200 per person (no bank charges) to secure room
- Payments:
- Owner: Croatian Chess Federation
- IBAN: HR78 2481 0001 1200 11240
- SWIFT: KREZHR2X
- Bank: Agram Banka d.d.
- Confirmation: Entries are confirmed by the Organizer upon receipt
🏨 Travel and Accommodation — Rabac Senior Chess 2025
Booking note: Official hotels are bookable only via the organizers for the championship period.
Valamar Sanfior Hotel & Casa 4★ — ~4 min walk to hall
- Full Board: €87 p.p. (double) · €119 (single)
- Half Board: €73 p.p. (double) · €105 (single)
- Official website: Valamar Sanfior Hotel & Casa
Valamar Bellevue Resort 4★ — ~10 min walk (~1 km)
- Full Board: €92 p.p. (double) · €125 (single)
- Half Board: €78 p.p. (double) · €111 (single)
- Official website: Valamar Bellevue Resort
Official transfers (arrival/departure days):
- Pula Airport (PUY): €40 per person, one-way
- Trieste Airport (Italy): €80 per person, one-way
Private taxi on other dates available—request during registration.
🏛 Organizer — Croatian Chess Federation
The Croatian Chess Federation (Hrvatski šahovski savez), under the auspices of the European Chess Union, organizes the 2025 European Senior Championship in Rabac. With a strong tradition of international events, the federation ensures professional standards, fair play, and a player-first experience on the Adriatic coast.
Contact:
- Tournament Director: IM Branimir Jukić — [email protected] · +385 99 1666 388
- Chief Arbiter: TBA (to be announced by ECU)
- General Email: [email protected]
🔥 Why You Should Participate — European Senior Chess Championship 2025
- Play for European Titles: Compete for the prestigious European Senior Champion and European Senior Women Champion crowns in the 50+ and 65+ categories.
- World Championship Qualification: Finish in the top 3 of your section and earn personal rights with free board & lodging for the World Senior Championship 2026.
- Fair & Professional Organization: Enjoy a seamlessly run tournament under ECU standards, with experienced arbiters, anti-cheating measures, and world-class conditions.
- Scenic Adriatic Setting: Combine your chess battles with the beauty of Croatia’s coast—pebble beaches, clear waters, Mediterranean greenery, and relaxing walks by the sea.
- Community & Friendship: Meet fellow senior players from across Europe, reconnect with rivals and friends, and experience the warm Croatian hospitality.
This is more than just a chess tournament—it’s a celebration of passion, tradition, and international camaraderie.
Additional Details
Playing Venue - “Sunny Rabac” restaurant by Valamar
Prize Fund - €8,000
Organizer - Croatian Chess Federation
Organizer Phone - +385 99 1666 388
Organizer email - [email protected]
Tournament Director - IM Branimir Jukić
Time control - 90’/40 + 30’ (rest), +30″/move from move 1
Number of rounds - 9
Tournament system - SWISS
Rating - FIDE
Regulations -
Organizer
Founded in 1912, the Croatian Chess Federation (HŠS) has shaped chess development nationwide—running national championships, youth circuits, senior festivals, and international opens that bridge grassroots participation with elite competition. Affiliated with FIDE since 1992, the federation aligns with international norms and contributes actively to the European chess calendar.
As a long-standing partner of the European Chess Union (ECU), the Federation blends professional tournament management with the hospitality and culture of Croatia’s Adriatic coast—creating events that spotlight both sporting excellence and memorable host-city experiences.
Today, HŠS invests in transparency, digital tools, and inclusivity. Its mission is to promote chess as competitive sport and educational asset, supporting players of every age—from first tournament steps to lifelong senior play.