The Figueira da Foz – Sabir Ali – International Tournament 2026 will take place from November 8–15, 2026, at the Sweet Atlantic Hotel & Spa in Figueira da Foz, Portugal. Celebrating its 20th edition, the tournament is one of the established classical events on the Portuguese international chess calendar and forms part of the Portugal Chess Tour.

The tournament features nine rounds of classical chess and is rated for both FIDE and the Portuguese Chess Federation (FPX). Its playing conditions are suitable for Grandmaster and International Master title norms, giving ambitious players an opportunity to pursue international norms while competing in a strong open field.

A total of €8,750 / approx. $10,050 in cash prizes is available. The prize structure rewards the top ten overall finishers while also providing cumulative awards for women and senior players. Participation is limited, with places guaranteed only to the first 50 registered players.

♟️ Event Details

The 20th edition combines a nine-round international Open with classical FIDE-rated play, title-norm opportunities, and a substantial cash prize fund at a seafront venue in central Figueira da Foz.

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

All nine rounds use the same classical time control. Players receive a long first time period followed by an additional 30 minutes for the remainder of the game.

The published default time is 60 minutes. A player whose presence has not been verified within one hour of the scheduled round start loses the game by default.

A player who defaults without an accepted force-majeure reason is normally withdrawn from the tournament.

Byes

Players may request a maximum of three byes during the tournament.

A bye must be requested before the pairings for the relevant following round are produced. Special first-round procedures apply because the organizer requires confirmation before Round 1 pairings.

🏆 Prize Fund

The tournament offers €8,750 / approx. $10,050 in cash prizes, together with trophies for selected awards.

The ten highest finishers receive the main overall prizes.

Women’s Prizes

Women’s awards are cumulative, so an eligible player may receive one of these prizes in addition to an overall prize.

Senior Prizes

Additional cumulative awards are available for senior players.

All prizes are presented on the final day during the Festival Closing Ceremony at the Sweet Atlantic Hotel.

🧩 Sections / Groups

The tournament is played as one combined Open section rather than separate rating divisions.

Women’s and senior categories are additional prize classifications, not separate playing sections.

The single-field format is particularly important for players seeking title norms because the event is designed to meet applicable conditions for GM and IM norm opportunities.

🗓️ Schedule

Most rounds begin at 5:30 PM, giving players much of the day free between games. November 10 is the only double-round day, while the final round begins Sunday morning.

The Festival Closing Ceremony and prize presentation will follow the final round at the Sweet Atlantic Hotel.

📝 Registration

The standard tournament entry fee is €50 / approx. $60. Grandmasters and International Masters are exempt from paying the entry fee.

The entry fee must be paid before the beginning of Round 1.

First-Round Confirmation

Registration alone does not guarantee inclusion in the first-round pairings.

Players must confirm their presence with the Chief Arbiter by 4:30 PM on November 8, one hour before Round 1.

The Chief Arbiter may exceptionally accept another confirmation method when the reason for not confirming in person is justified and the player is expected to arrive before the 60-minute default time.

A player who fails to confirm and does not properly notify the organizer may be removed from the tournament while remaining liable for the entry fee.

👥 Organizer

Mário Póvoa Leitão serves as Tournament Director, while International Arbiter Carlos Dias is the Chief Arbiter. International Arbiter Francisco Carapinha is also part of the organizing team.

📍 Venue

The tournament is played at the Sweet Atlantic Hotel & Spa, a four-star seafront property in central Figueira da Foz.

Sweet Atlantic Hotel & Spa – Avenida 25 de Abril 21, 3080-086 Figueira da Foz, Portugal

The hotel is located close to Praia da Claridade and provides suites, restaurant facilities, spa services, free Wi-Fi, meeting spaces, and 24-hour reception.

Public parking is available around the hotel. During the tournament period in November, surrounding public parking is listed by the hotel as free.

The tournament regulations also state that players can request preferential accommodation conditions through the organizer.

🚆 How to Get There

Figueira da Foz has a railway station with direct regional connections to Coimbra B, where players can connect with Portugal’s long-distance rail network.

For international visitors, reaching Portugal by air and continuing to Coimbra by long-distance rail before transferring to a Figueira da Foz service is a practical public-transport option.

ℹ️ Other Information

The 2026 tournament is the 20th edition of the Figueira da Foz international event. The tournament has developed a strong international profile and regularly attracts titled players from Portugal and abroad.

The current 2026 registered field already includes numerous Grandmasters and International Masters, reinforcing the event’s ability to provide strong opposition and appropriate conditions for players pursuing international title norms.

Fair Play

The tournament uses a dedicated Fair Play Panel chaired by Dr Mário Mourato.

Security personnel may inspect personal belongings, and electronic devices are not permitted in the playing hall. Players must comply with the instructions of the Fair Play Panel and arbiters throughout the tournament.

Playing Hall Rules

Several additional conduct rules apply inside the playing area:

• game analysis is not permitted in the playing hall;
• smoking and eating are prohibited in the playing hall;
• shorts, flip-flops, tracksuits, hats, and caps are not permitted during games;
• players must observe appropriate standards of conduct and personal hygiene.

Tiebreaks

The regulations list three possible tiebreak systems:

• Tournament Performance Rating;
• Buchholz Cut 2;
• Buchholz.

The applicable ordering is to be drawn by lot after Round 9.

The tournament is governed by current FIDE and Federação Portuguesa de Xadrez regulations. If differences arise between the Portuguese, Spanish, and English versions of the tournament rules, the English-language version prevails.