Lublin hosts the II Arche Chess Open A (FIDE 1700+) from Saturday, February 21 to Saturday, February 28, 2026 in Lublin, Poland. The event brings together players with FIDE rating above 1700 for a 9-round classical Swiss open at the modern Arche Hotel, with games rated by FIDE and the Polish Chess Federation. Organizers design the tournament to help ambitious players gain experience, fight for strong cash prizes, and push their international rating upward in a professional environment.

The open combines a full week of evening rounds with clear entry conditions, structured tie-break rules, and a broad prize scheme that rewards top finishers and young talents. Titled players enjoy special conditions that include free entry and, for selected grandmasters and international masters, complimentary accommodation at the host hotel. A starting field capped at 70 players keeps the atmosphere focused and competitive while still offering a friendly setting for the local chess community.

🗓️ Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

The main cash prizes reward the overall top finishers, and numerous cups and material prizes recognize juniors, adults, and age categories.

Overall prizes:

Junior and women prizes:
• Best junior U18: cup + material prize
• Best junior U16: cup + material prize
• Best junior U14: cup + material prize
• Best junior U12: cup + material prize
• Best junior U10: cup + material prize
• Best junior U8: cup + material prize

• Best girl U18: cup + material prize
• Best girl U14: cup + material prize
• Best girl U10: cup + material prize
• Best woman 19+: cup + material prize

Adult age-group prizes:
• Best 19+: cup + material prize
• Best 29+: cup + material prize
• Best 39+: cup + material prize
• Best 49+: cup + material prize
• Best 59+: cup + material prize

Each player receives one prize only; prizes do not combine. Every participant also receives a commemorative medal and diploma.

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

Organizers use a classical FIDE time control of 90 minutes for the game plus 30 seconds increment per move from move one. The tournament follows a 9-round Swiss system and counts for FIDE rating and national Polish rating.

Tie-break order:
• Total points
• Buchholz Cut-1
• Buchholz
• Number of wins
• Sonneborn-Berger

Players who arrive more than 10 minutes after the official start of a round lose the game by forfeit. The event uses current FIDE Laws of Chess and emphasizes fair play.

📂 Sections / Groups

📅 Schedule

📝 Registration

Any player with FIDE rating above 1700 may enter by paying the entry fee and sending a confirmation email to the arbiter.

Entry fees:
• 250 PLN (standard) or 200 PLN for members of SSz Cebularz Lublin if payment arrives by January 20, 2026
• 350 PLN (standard) or 250 PLN for members from January 21, 2026

Titled players (GM, IM, FM, CM, WGM, WIM, WFM, WCM) do not pay entry fees but must pay a 300 PLN deposit, which the organizer returns after the player completes all 9 rounds.

Bank transfer details:
• Account number: 02 1140 2004 0000 3102 8425 0242
• Recipient: Stowarzyszenie Szachistów Cebularz Lublin
• Address: ul. Kwarcowa 22/10, 20-583 Lublin, Poland
• Transfer title: “Wpisowe, [player name] – Arche Open”

After payment, players send an email to cebularzlublinszachy@gmail.com with:
• Full name
• Full date of birth
• Payment confirmation
• Name of the tournament: Arche Open

The organizer limits entries to 70 players and accepts registrations in order of confirmed payment.

👥 Organizer

Stowarzyszenie Szachistów Cebularz Lublin and the chess school “Droga do Mistrzostwa” Dawid Czerw jointly organize the II Arche Chess Open A. They coordinate registration, pairings, rating submissions, and all event logistics.

Main contact and arbiter email: cebularzlublinszachy@gmail.com

Chief Arbiter: IA Aleksander Kędzierski

🏨 Venue

The tournament takes place at Hotel Arche, ul. Zamojska 30, 20-105 Lublin, Poland. The hotel offers modern playing halls, on-site accommodation, and catering facilities in a convenient location within the city.

🛎️ Accommodation

Grandmasters and international masters with rating 2350+ receive complimentary accommodation at Hotel Arche in a double room with breakfast during the tournament period, subject to individual agreement with the organizer. The organizer limits the number of such places to four and finalizes exact conditions directly with invited players.

Other participants may book rooms at Hotel Arche or in nearby hotels independently.

🚗 How to Get There

Lublin lies in eastern Poland with good road and rail connections. Drivers follow main approach routes to Lublin and then continue to ul. Zamojska 30, where Hotel Arche stands close to the city center. Travelers arriving by train can reach Lublin Główny station and continue by local bus, taxi, or a short ride-share trip to the hotel.

Ambitious players who choose this event gain a full week of FIDE-rated classical chess, a rich prize structure, and a professional tournament atmosphere in one of eastern Poland’s key chess hubs.

🧾 Other

• The tournament follows current FIDE Laws of Chess and requires fair-play behavior from all participants.
• Players may keep a switched-off phone or communication device only if they store it in a separate bag and never handle it during the game without the chief arbiter’s consent; violations lead to sanctions under Article 12.9 of the FIDE rules.
• Any clearly switched-on device or audible signal from a device results in loss of the game.
• Spectators who enter the playing hall with an active phone may receive a ban from the hall until the end of the event.
• Players must not hold conversations during their games; arbiters apply disciplinary measures for breaches.
• Players insure themselves individually; each participant (or their legal guardian) bears responsibility for any material damage.
• Legal guardians or authorized adults supervise minors throughout the event.
• Organizers process personal data only for rating and tournament classification; participants may withdraw consent for image publication at any time by contacting the organizer by email.