The 21st Festival della Befana 2027 takes place January 3–6, 2027, in Rome, Italy, at the Mercure Roma West hotel and conference center. Organized by S.S. Lazio Scacchi A.S.D., this winter festival offers two separately paired classical Swiss tournaments over four days, with a choice of sections for different rating levels.

Players compete in Open A, for ratings of at least 1500, or Open B, for ratings below 1700. Each section has six rounds at 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move. The organizers publish several entry-fee categories. Visitors can stay at the playing hotel or arrange other accommodation in southern Rome. This listing covers the classical competition, not a separately advertised rapid event.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The A and B tournaments use independent six-round Swiss pairings. Entrants play opponents in their chosen section rather than entering a single combined standings table. The chess clock is 90 minutes for the game with a 30-second increment per move. This is a classical time control, and each game’s actual length depends on its move count.

The competitions are included in the federation calendar as standard-rated events. Players should check their FIDE identification and applicable Italian federation membership arrangements with the organizer. Chess players who have both international and national ratings should confirm which published rating list applies to their eligibility.

The six-round event lasts four days and includes two double-round days. A double-round day has two separate classical games; the time needed between them may be limited. Since the available official announcement does not specify the full six-round timetable, players should obtain their section’s final round times directly before buying transportation.

♟️ Sections / Groups

The festival consists of two separate classical sections. Both use the same 90+30 clock and six-round Swiss format. Their rating ranges intentionally overlap between 1500 and 1699, so some players may satisfy the numerical descriptions for both groups. The organizer decides the final placement under its official eligibility rules.

Select a section carefully when making an entry. Players coming from a foreign federation should check whether any domestic rating is also relevant. The Open A rating threshold is a minimum, while the Open B threshold is a maximum; neither group is simply an age category. Separately scheduled rapid games should not be confused with these six classical rounds.

📅 Schedule

The regional federation lists the event for Sunday, January 3, through Wednesday, January 6, 2027, in the Rome time zone (CET, UTC+1). Its event window begins at 3 PM on January 3 and ends at 9 PM on January 6. These are the published overall event boundaries, not individually verified starting times for Round 1 or Round 6.

Each classical group has six rounds across four days, with two double-round days. The available 2027 source does not identify which specific days contain two rounds or provide an authoritative start time for every round. Therefore, no unconfirmed Monday or Tuesday clock times are inserted here. Request the detailed organizer timetable for the section you are entering.

Players arriving on Sunday should leave time to check in at the hotel or tournament desk, locate the playing room and prepare for their first game. Anyone leaving Rome on Wednesday should allow sufficient time for the final game and any prize ceremony before traveling to a railway station or airport.

📝 Registration

The organizer directs entrants toward advance registration through Vesus. Use the official Festival della Befana 2027 listing or the organizer’s website to find the correct current-entry instructions. A verified event-specific direct registration URL was not available, so this page does not guess one.

Confirm the eligible discount category before payment. A sibling discount may have conditions on the family members’ registration, and it should not be assumed to combine with another reduction. The published national event text also gives a conflicting weekday for a stated pre-registration date. As a result, no unreliable deadline has been entered in this listing or the site’s registration controls.

Competitors should verify that their entry and federation details have been received and that they have been placed in the intended A or B section. Accommodations, meals and transfers are separate expenses unless the organizer expressly states otherwise. If you have any doubt about entry timing or eligibility, contact S.S. Lazio Scacchi directly before making a nonrefundable travel booking.

🏛️ Organizer

S.S. Lazio Scacchi A.S.D. is an amateur chess sports association based in Rome. It participates in the Italian chess community through competition, player development and chess instruction. The organization promotes local and rated events, including this January festival, and maintains an official website with club and tournament news.

Its administrative contact details are separate from the Mercure Roma West playing address. Tournament participants should always use the hotel venue for arrival and the official announcement for competition conditions. Visit the MyChess.Events organizer profile for a fuller introduction to the association.

📍 Venue

Mercure Roma West, Viale Eroi di Cefalonia 301, 00128 Rome (RM), Italy

The tournament’s named location is the Mercure Roma West, a conference hotel in southern Rome near the Grande Raccordo Anulare. The venue has rooms for overnight guests and meeting facilities for events. Using the full street address is important: it is in the city’s southern district, not next to the main tourist attractions or Rome Termini.

The property operates an on-site restaurant, Radici, which is one option for meals between games. Staying at the hotel may be particularly helpful on days with two classical rounds, since it avoids a separate journey to the playing hall. Restaurant service, room availability and any parking arrangements should be checked with the hotel.

Travelers using public transport can approach via EUR Fermi on Metro Line B, then connect to bus 705 toward Cefalonia. The hotel entrance is at Viale Eroi di Cefalonia 301. Confirm the tournament’s precise floor or playing room at reception rather than relying only on the hotel’s general entrance.

🏨 Accommodation

For out-of-town competitors, the most convenient choice may be Mercure Roma West, the tournament’s own playing property. Another identifiable hotel in southern Rome is JC Hotel, which requires a separate transfer to the tournament building. Both options below link to the specific accommodation property, rather than to a generic Rome hotel search.

The search dates start with January 2 check-in and January 7 checkout, one day before and after the scheduled tournament. These dates can be changed when booking. Prices, live vacancies, room types and cancellation conditions are not asserted here; check the reservation screen carefully before payment.

Players who expect lengthy games or want to rest between two daily rounds may benefit from staying at the playing venue. A less central alternative is most practical for visitors using a car or taxi. Neither independent reservation link promises an organizer discount or includes a chess entry fee. Confirm any special package directly with the tournament organizer.

🍽️ Nearby Restaurants & Cafés

The hotel has its own restaurant, but players may want to visit a different place for a meal. Two independent businesses on Via di Mezzocammino provide options in the surrounding southern Rome neighborhood. The area is less compact than Rome’s historic center, so check the route and allow sufficient travel time before a round.

Check each establishment’s actual January 2027 schedule, especially over the Epiphany holiday. A nearby venue may not open for lunch, and service times can change. When you have a double-round day, consider using the hotel restaurant or arranging food with adequate time to return to the playing room.

🚆 How to Get There

The tournament’s exact destination is Mercure Roma West, Viale Eroi di Cefalonia 301, 00128 Rome (RM), Italy. From the main rail network, use Rome Metro Line B to EUR Fermi and continue by bus 705 toward the Cefalonia area. This final transfer matters because the hotel is not directly at a Metro entrance. Travelers should consult the transport operator for updated holiday services.

See the hotel’s official location instructions and the Rome public transport operator ATAC for service and route information. Flights and late-night transfers can take longer during holiday periods. Avoid relying on an unconfirmed final-round time when planning a same-day flight home.

ℹ️ Other Information

The festival takes place around Epiphany, January 6, a public holiday in Italy. Public transport, restaurants and other businesses may have holiday hours; confirm arrangements before traveling. The venue is in southern Rome, so sightseeing visits to central attractions require additional time to reach the playing hall again.

The official sources confirm the tournament dates, classical sections, six rounds, time control and the advertised entry-fee categories. They do not provide a reliably complete 2027 prize breakdown or a full clock-by-clock schedule in the material verified for this listing. Therefore, no prize total or individual round time has been invented. Consult the current regional chess federation announcement for tournament updates.