European Women’s Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships 2026
The European Women’s Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships 2026 will take place from Thursday, 8 January to Monday, 12 January 2026 in Monaco, hosted at the Hotel Novotel Monte-Carlo. Bringing together Europe’s strongest women, the championships feature a single-day Blitz and a two-day Rapid under the auspices of the European Chess Union, with substantial prize funds and professional organisation in the heart of Monte-Carlo.
Set a stone’s throw from Monaco-Monte-Carlo railway station, the venue offers smooth access, modern halls and on-site amenities, making it ideal for a compact, high-level speed-chess festival. Clear ECU tie-break procedures, strict anti-cheating rules, and an experienced arbiter team ensure a fair competitive environment for titled stars and ambitious rising talents alike.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 🗓️ Dates | 8-12 January 2026 (arrival 8 Jan; Blitz 9 Jan; Rapid 10-11 Jan; departures 12 Jan) |
| 📍 Location | Hotel Novotel Monte-Carlo, 16 boulevard Princesse Charlotte, 98000 Monaco |
| ♟️ Format | Blitz: 13-round Swiss • Rapid: 11-round Swiss |
| ⏱️ Time Control | Blitz: 3′+2″ • Rapid: 15′+10″ (from move 1) |
| ⭐ Rating | ECU event; FIDE Rapid/Blitz Laws apply; ECU tie-breaks for standings/prizes |
| ✅ Eligibility | Open to players from ECU-member federations |
| 💵 Entry Fees | Blitz: €20 (incl. ECU fee) • Rapid: €40 (incl. ECU fee) |
| 🧾 Deadlines | Registration by 19 Dec 2025 • Payments (entry & hotel) due by 1 Dec 2025 |
| 🧑⚖️ Chief Arbiter | Stéphane Escafre (FRA) |
| 👤 Tournament Director | Jean-Michel Rapaire — Email: cemc@libello.com • Phone: +33 6 50 57 63 54 |
| 🏛️ Organiser | Fédération Monégasque des Échecs (FME), 5 rue des Oliviers, MC-98000 Monaco |
🏆 Prize Fund
Blitz — Total €15,200
| Prize | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st–3rd | €2,000 • €1,700 • €1,500 |
| 4th–8th | €1,300 • €1,100 • €1,000 • €800 • €700 |
| 9th–12th | €600 • €500 • €400 • €300 |
| 13th–20th | €200 each |
| Category | Best 50+ €200 • 2nd 50+ €100 • Best U2200 €100 • Best U2000 €100 • Best U1800 €100 • Best U1600 €100 • Best MNC €200 • 2nd MNC €100 |
| Regional | PACA resident: 1st €300 • 2nd €200 • Alpes-Maritimes resident: €200 |
Rapid — Total €31,300
| Prize | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st–3rd | €5,000 • €4,000 • €3,000 |
| 4th–8th | €2,200 • €2,000 • €1,800 • €1,600 • €1,400 |
| 9th–12th | €1,200 • €1,000 • €800 • €600 |
| 13th–20th | €400 each |
| Category | Best 50+ €400 • 2nd 50+ €200 • Best U2200 €200 • Best U2000 €200 • Best U1800 €200 • Best U1600 €100 • Best MNC €250 • 2nd MNC €150 |
| Regional | PACA residents: 1st €600 • 2nd €400 • 3rd €300 • 4th €200 • Alpes-Maritimes resident: €300 |
Money prizes follow ECU tie-breaks and are non-cumulative (each player receives the single highest prize they qualify for).
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Blitz: 13 rounds, 3 minutes + 2 seconds from move 1.
Rapid: 11 rounds, 15 minutes + 10 seconds from move 1.
Swiss pairings; ECU regulations and tie-break order apply.
Anti-cheating and device rules strictly enforced in the playing hall.
📂 Sections / Groups
| Championship | Section |
|---|---|
| European Women’s Blitz | Single women’s open section |
| European Women’s Rapid | Single women’s open section |
📅 Schedule
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, 8 Jan 2026 | 15:00–21:00 | Arrival & registration |
| Fri, 9 Jan 2026 | 10:00–13:00 | Blitz registration |
| Fri, 9 Jan 2026 | 13:00 | Blitz opening |
| Fri, 9 Jan 2026 | 13:30–18:30 | Blitz Rounds 1–13 • Closing |
| Sat, 10 Jan 2026 | 10:00–13:30 | Rapid registration |
| Sat, 10 Jan 2026 | 14:00 | Rapid opening |
| Sat, 10 Jan 2026 | 14:15–18:50 | Rapid Rounds 1–5 |
| Sun, 11 Jan 2026 | 10:00–16:30 | Rapid Rounds 6–11 |
| Sun, 11 Jan 2026 | 19:00 | Rapid closing ceremony |
| Mon, 12 Jan 2026 | — | Departures |
📝 Registration
Who may enter: Players representing ECU-member federations.
How to register: Email the Tournament Director at cemc@libello.com with player details (name, federation, FIDE ID, ratings, section).
Entry fees & hotel payments: Must arrive by 1 December 2025.
Bank transfer (EUR):
Beneficiary: Fédération Monégasque d’Échecs
Bank: BNP Paribas, 1 boulevard des Moulins, 98000 Monte-Carlo
IBAN: MC58 3000 4091 7000 0032 9698 976
BIC: BNPAMCM1XXX
Fees are non-refundable; players bear bank charges. Invoices on request.
👥 Organizer
Fédération Monégasque des Échecs (FME) — Monaco’s national chess federation and organiser of major ECU/FIDE women’s events, working with an experienced arbiter team to deliver a top-class rapid & blitz festival in central Monte-Carlo. FME oversees all logistics, venue operations, hospitality, and media.
Address: 5 rue des Oliviers, MC-98000 Monaco
Email: cemc@libello.com
Phone: +33 6 50 57 63 54
Website: https://www.europechess.org/
🏨 Venue
Hotel Novotel Monte-Carlo
16 boulevard Princesse Charlotte, 98000 Monaco
A modern, centrally located hotel-conference property roughly 100 m from Monaco-Monte-Carlo railway station, offering comfortable halls for top-level rapid and blitz, on-site F&B, and quick access to cafés and services around the station district.
🛎️ Accommodation
Novotel Monte-Carlo: Single with breakfast €186 • Double with breakfast €206.
Aparthotel Adagio Palais Joséphine (24 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 06240 Beausoleil): Studios/Apartments with kitchens; suitable for small teams or families.
Aparthotel Adagio Monte Cristo (2A rue des Martyrs de la Résistance, 06240 Beausoleil): Studios/Apartments; breakfast available; local tourist tax applies.
Early booking is recommended around the New Year period; check hotel payment deadlines associated with registration.
🚗 How to Get There
From Nice Airport (NCE): Direct bus to Monaco; or tram/train via Nice-Saint-Augustin/Nice-Ville to Monaco-Monte-Carlo.
By rail: Frequent TER trains to Monaco-Monte-Carlo; the hotel is a short walk from the station.
By car: Use central Monaco parking; allow time for traffic and parking guidance near the venue.
Make your first event of the year a rapid-and-blitz showcase on the Riviera — the European Women’s Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships 2026 in Monaco pair elite organisation with serious prizes and a superb city-centre venue.