The 1st Kolping & Xeque Mate Brasil International FIDE-Rated Chess Open 2026 takes place from December 4–6, 2026, at Associação Católica Kolping in São Paulo, Brazil. Organized by Xeque & Mate Brasil in partnership with the host club, the event offers six rounds of classical chess for players with ratings below 2400. The playing hall is at Rua Barão do Triunfo 1213, Brooklin Paulista, roughly 600 meters from Campo Belo metro station.

The Open uses the Swiss system, with a clock of 60 minutes plus a 30-second increment from move one. Games count toward both FIDE Standard and Brazilian national ratings. The tournament is limited to 150 players, and the published program schedules two rounds on Friday, two on Saturday and two on Sunday. International Arbiter André Salama serves as chief arbiter, while Davy D’Israel is listed as tournament director.

Prizes depend on participation: the organizer advertises R$2,000 for up to 60 entrants or R$3,500 when at least 61 enter. The maximum advertised fund is approximately US$640 using the November 6, 2026 reference exchange rate. Entry fees depend on the registration period, with special discounts and exemptions for eligible titleholders, younger players, seniors and Kolping members. Below are the verified playing schedule, prize brackets, fee rules, registration and venue information.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The tournament features six rounds using Swiss pairings. Unlike a round-robin competition, participants are not scheduled to play everyone in the field. Instead, the organizer pairs competitors according to their developing results while observing relevant color and opponent restrictions. The event is administered in Swiss-Manager, and its international ratings appear in the official Chess-Results record.

Every player receives 60 minutes for the entire game and an additional 30 seconds for every completed move. This is a Fischer increment rather than a delay. It can extend the length of a game beyond the original two hours of combined clock time, so competitors should allow flexibility between scheduled sessions.

FIDE and Brazilian Ratings

Chess-Results identifies the competition as a Standard-rated event for international and national calculation. Participants should supply accurate identification and federation information and check their starting-list records once entered. Brazilian players must be current with the relevant CBX player fee, according to the organizer’s regulations.

Under 2400 Requirement

The organizer labels the event Sub 2400. Anyone whose rating is near the upper threshold should confirm eligibility using the organizer’s applicable rating list before paying. Category awards for women, juniors or seniors do not create separate games or independent pairings.

Attendance and Playing Rules

Participants should check the pairing notices before each round and follow the chief arbiter’s instructions concerning electronic devices, fair play and lateness. The accessible registration announcement does not specify a separate default-time rule, so that figure should not be imported from an unrelated event.

🏆 Prize Fund

The official regulations specify two different monetary prize schedules based on turnout. For a field of up to 60 participants, the published fund is R$2,000. With 61 or more registered players, the fund increases to R$3,500. These amounts are in Brazilian reais, not Argentine pesos. Trophies and medals accompany the listed cash awards.

Prize Schedule — Up to 60 Participants

Prize Schedule — At Least 61 Participants

Prize Conditions and USD Equivalent

The organizer specifies that awards are not cumulative and must be collected in person at the prize ceremony. At the reference exchange rate of 1 USD ≈ R$5.5037 on November 6, 2026, the higher R$3,500 prize level is approximately US$636, displayed as US$640 after rounding. The R$2,000 lower tier is approximately US$363. Actual dollar values may differ when prizes are paid.

♟️ Sections / Groups

The competition is a single Under 2400 Open, not a series of independent rating or age sections. Everyone plays in the same six-round Swiss pool. The various women’s, senior, youth and club-member categories describe awards within this one tournament.

One Tournament, Several Awards

Participants may qualify for a general placing prize, a special category or both, but the rules do not allow cash prizes to be accumulated. The participant receives the applicable single award under the organizer’s distribution conditions. Younger and older players still participate in the main Swiss tournament rather than a separate competition.

Rating and Federation Membership

The Open is identified as Under 2400, and players must meet all rating and federation registration requirements. Brazilian participants should ensure their CBX registration or player dues are current. Overseas players should confirm FIDE ID and eligibility before submitting an entry.

📅 Schedule

All six rounds have official starting times. The tournament begins with an opening ceremony Friday afternoon, followed by two rounds each day from December 4 to December 6, 2026. The times below are local to São Paulo, Brasília Time (UTC−3).

Friday Opening and Two Rounds

Players should reach Associação Católica Kolping before the 3:00 PM opening. Round 1 starts at 3:30 PM, with Round 2 at 7:00 PM. Because the competition uses a 60+30 classical clock, a lengthy first game could leave only a limited rest period before the second round.

Saturday and Sunday

Saturday’s rounds begin at 2:30 PM and 6:00 PM. Sunday’s games start at 10:00 AM and 2:30 PM. These times are confirmed in the registration regulations; players should nevertheless check any last-minute announcements from the organizers for changes.

Prize Ceremony

The regulations require prize recipients to attend the award ceremony in person. However, a specific ceremony hour is not given in the accessible timetable. Players expecting an award should plan to remain at the venue after the last game rather than leave immediately after Round 6.

📝 Registration

Registration is offered through the official Esporte3 platform linked by the organizer. Fees are charged according to a time-based release schedule, with reduced rates or free entry for eligible titled, senior and junior participants. The maximum capacity is 150, so tournament places may close before the final entry date.

Late Registration and First Round

According to the event rules, registrations completed by December 3, 2026 may play Round 1. Players registering on December 4, the event’s first day, can join only from Round 2 with half a point. This is an unusual and important participation condition, so late entrants should verify it directly with the organizer before paying.

Special Entry Categories

FM and WFM titleholders, eligible seniors and U12 participants pay R$150. Meanwhile, qualifying GMs, IMs, WGMs, WIMs and Associação Católica Kolping members have free entry. In all cases, the player must still register and satisfy eligibility requirements; a free category is not a guaranteed place after capacity is reached.

Payment Processing

Esporte3 notes that service charges may apply in addition to the registration price. Before paying, check the current ticket category and displayed amount. The organizer’s main event page also contains its official registration instructions, which should take precedence over unrelated third-party chess listings.

🏛️ Organizer

Xeque & Mate Brasil is a São Paulo chess education and tournament organization with more than three decades of activity. It runs competitions for schools, clubs and adult players and works with community partners to organize rated events. Its December 2026 Kolping tournament is held in partnership with Associação Católica Kolping, which provides the playing venue.

Chess-Results lists Davy D’Israel as tournament director and International Arbiter André Salama as chief arbiter. These officials oversee the six-round Swiss tournament and its FIDE and national rating reports. The event’s entry system and prize levels are published by the chess organizer.

The existing Xeque & Mate Brasil organizer profile on MyChess.Events is linked to this competition. The official organizer website provides additional events, educational activities and chess news, while the Kolping event page explains the current rules and venue arrangements.

📍 Venue

The tournament takes place at Associação Católica Kolping, Rua Barão do Triunfo 1213, Brooklin Paulista, São Paulo, SP 04602-005, Brazil. This is a community association venue in the Brooklin neighborhood, not a hotel. The organizer’s event announcement and the Esporte3 registration page independently give the same playing address.

Verified GPS Position

A local business directory identifies Associação Católica Kolping at latitude -23.6187891, longitude -46.6782832. These coordinates are specific to the named association at its published street number rather than a point at the center of São Paulo. They are saved to the event’s location fields.

Access and Campo Belo Metro

The organizer places the playing venue roughly 600 meters from Campo Belo metro station. This provides a practical option for visitors who would prefer to avoid city-center traffic. Check the walking directions before leaving the station, particularly if carrying luggage or traveling in the rain.

Parking and Amenities

The Esporte3 registration page states no parking as an event facility. Participants should not assume that entry includes a private parking space at Associação Católica Kolping. The club provides a community setting for chess, but the tournament organizer has not advertised a dedicated accommodation package in the accessible regulations.

🏨 Accommodation

The tournament takes place at Associação Católica Kolping on Rua Barão do Triunfo 1213 in Brooklin Paulista. The three options below are independently bookable hotels in the wider Campo Belo and Brooklin / Morumbi areas; they are not at the chess venue, and the last two require a local trip.

Each hotel link targets an individual named property, with a suggested stay from 2026-12-03 to 2026-12-07 (arrival before the first day, departure after the final day). You can change dates and guest details on the booking site. Room inventory, live prices, taxes, breakfast, cancellation terms and accessibility conditions must be checked at booking.

Practical planning: The playing site is near Campo Belo station according to the organizer’s directions. Match the hotel’s actual address to Rua Barão do Triunfo 1213 and leave time for traffic, particularly before Friday afternoon games. No official tournament hotel code is published.

🚆 How to Get There

São Paulo has extensive urban transport connections. The playing hall is in Brooklin Paulista at Rua Barão do Triunfo 1213, south of the historic city center. The organizer recommends its proximity to the Campo Belo metro station as a useful landmark for participants.

🚇 By Metro

Take the relevant metro connection to Campo Belo and plan the final walk to the club. The organizer estimates approximately 600 meters between the station and the venue. Check São Paulo’s current transit timetable, train operations and station exits on the day of your trip.

✈️ From São Paulo–Congonhas Airport

Congonhas Airport serves domestic flights and lies in the southern part of São Paulo. Travelers arriving there can compare a taxi, rideshare or a public-transport connection to Brooklin. Actual trip duration depends on traffic and the time of arrival; give the driver the full Kolping street address.

✈️ From São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport

Guarulhos is a major international gateway. Visitors can use airport rail and metro connections or book a road transfer toward the Brooklin district. Because the airport is outside central São Paulo, allow sufficient time for the journey, especially before Friday’s opening and first round.

🚗 By Road

Drivers should navigate to Associação Católica Kolping, Rua Barão do Triunfo 1213, Brooklin Paulista. The registration site does not indicate event parking. Check nearby legal public or commercial parking if driving, and allow time to walk from the vehicle to the venue.

🚕 Taxi and Rideshare

For a direct transfer, share the venue’s exact street address and verify the mapped location. The São Paulo metropolitan area contains many associations and community centers, so using the named Associação Católica Kolping reduces the risk of arriving at an unrelated Kolping facility.

Sunday Return Travel

The final game begins at 2:30 PM on December 6. The organizer requires prize recipients to attend the awards ceremony after play, but does not publish a fixed finishing time. Travelers should avoid bookings that require a departure immediately after the scheduled start of Round 6.

ℹ️ Other Information

♟️ International Rating Tournament

This is the first published edition of the Kolping & Xeque Mate Brasil international rating tournament. It offers six rounds of Standard chess and is open to an Under 2400 field. Swiss-Manager will administer the starting list, pairings and results, with official rating calculations after the competition.

🏆 Two Published Prize Levels

Because prizes depend on attendance, the monetary fund is R$2,000 for 60 or fewer participants and R$3,500 with 61 or more. The MyChess.Events Prize Fund comparison field displays the maximum announced value of US$640; the lower-tier equivalent is about US$360. No single cash fund is guaranteed regardless of turnout.

📋 Federation Requirements

The rules require Brazilian players to be in good standing with their CBX player fee. Competitors should also check their FIDE records, rating eligibility and registration before the event. Late registrations on December 4 are subject to the organizer’s special Round 2 entry arrangement.

🏅 Awards Ceremony

Cash awards are not cumulative and must be collected by attending the prize ceremony in person. Additional trophies and medals recognize women, juniors, seniors and Kolping members. These special prizes are not separate tournaments.

🔗 Useful Official Links