The III IRT OATD Alicia L. Guelman U2400 2026 will take place from December 11–19, 2026, at the historic Club Argentino de Ajedrez in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This international classical chess tournament is scheduled for nine Swiss-system rounds and is open to eligible players in its Under 2400 competition. Its central Recoleta playing hall is located at Paraguay 1858, a chess club established in 1905.

The tournament is organized by Jorge Guelman and Lic. Pablo Sanz, with IA Nicolas Gabriel Garcia acting as Chief Arbiter and FA Tomas Marinesco as Deputy Chief Arbiter. Games use 60 minutes plus a 30-second Fischer increment from move one and count for FIDE Standard rating. The official Chess-Results page maintains the starting list and the competition administration through Swiss-Manager.

The advertised monetary fund is ARS 2,000,000, equivalent to approximately US$1,290 at the November 6, 2026 reference rate. This includes five general prizes totaling ARS 1.4 million and six category awards of ARS 100,000 each. Entry costs vary by membership and payment date. The guide below explains the complete published prize distribution, event conditions, organizer contacts, venue, accommodation options and travel arrangements.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The III IRT OATD Alicia L. Guelman is a nine-round Swiss-system competition. In a Swiss tournament, opponents are assigned throughout the event according to scores and pairing restrictions, not by a fixed round-robin schedule. Players normally continue in the competition after losing a game. The Under 2400 title indicates the competition’s rating-defined field; specific eligibility questions should be verified with the organizers.

The game clock is 60 minutes per player with a 30-second Fischer increment from the first move. This allows a classical game to last longer than the original two-hour combined allotment, because additional time is credited after every move. The Chess-Results database explicitly classifies the tournament as Standard rather than Rapid or Blitz.

Swiss Pairing Structure

Swiss pairings group competitors according to current tournament points while respecting the applicable color and opponent restrictions. Unlike a round robin, players are not guaranteed to meet everyone else in the field. Since the event spans nine days and nine rounds, entrants should plan to remain available throughout the announced playing period.

International Standard Rating

The organizer has registered the event for FIDE Standard calculation. Players should supply their current FIDE identification details when entering and verify that their name and federation are recorded correctly on the official tournament list. Contact the registration team before the competition if a rating history or title affects Under 2400 eligibility.

Fair Play and Attendance

The accessible tournament overview does not specify a precise default time, electronic-device storage method or bye policy. These matters should follow the arbiter’s official instructions and the current FIDE Laws of Chess. Competitors should arrive before each announced round and not assume that rules used for other club tournaments automatically apply here.

🏆 Prize Fund

The tournament announces ARS 2,000,000 in cash prizes. The official Chess-Results description provides an individual breakdown: five overall placing awards adding to ARS 1,400,000, plus six special-category awards of ARS 100,000 each. The listed values sum exactly to the advertised total.

Overall Ranking Awards

The principal award goes to the first-place finisher and is worth ARS 500,000. Second through fifth receive ARS 300,000, ARS 250,000, ARS 200,000 and ARS 150,000, respectively. These are cash awards within the one Under 2400 Open, not separate playing events.

Six Special Prizes

Four prizes reward leading competitors below specific rating thresholds: Under 2150, Under 2000, Under 1850 and Under 1700. Two further categories recognize the leading over-70 competitor and the best eligible club member. Each award is ARS 100,000. The published announcement does not specify whether players may combine a placement prize with a category award, so competitors should confirm the final award rules.

USD Equivalent for International Players

At a reference exchange rate of approximately ARS 1,545 per US$1 on November 6, 2026, the official ARS 2 million fund equals about US$1,294. MyChess.Events displays a rounded US$1,290 for quick comparison. Actual dollar value can change between registration, the event and prize payment.

♟️ Sections / Groups

The 2026 edition has one main Under 2400 tournament. Participants share a single nine-round Swiss pairing pool. The rating and membership categories in the prize table represent additional awards, not independent groups requiring separate tournament registration.

Under 2400 Eligibility

The tournament is advertised as a SUB-2400 / Under 2400 IRT. Participants should confirm their FIDE Standard rating and any edition-specific rating-history requirements before registering. A general award for lower-rated players does not automatically guarantee unrestricted entry for players above the tournament’s overall upper rating limit.

Rating Classifications

The prize thresholds of 2150, 2000, 1850 and 1700 create rating-based recognition across the field. They should not be mistaken for separate game sections: a player rated under 1700 can still meet a stronger participant in the main Swiss system. The club’s tournament administrator will determine final award eligibility using the adopted rating list.

Age and Membership Awards

The published special prize list additionally recognizes players aged over 70 and members of Club Argentino de Ajedrez. Since the notice does not specify the exact age calculation date or how overlapping prizes are treated, check with the club before relying on a particular award classification.

📅 Schedule

The tournament is scheduled for Friday, December 11, through Saturday, December 19, 2026, with nine Swiss rounds recorded on Chess-Results. The event spans nine calendar days, although the public listing excerpt does not confirm individual daily start times. For that reason, round clocks are not invented below.

Confirm Round Times Before Traveling

The Chess-Results interface provides a timetable view for the event. Participants should consult the latest version or contact the club using the official WhatsApp number. Avoid assuming that every round begins at the same time, particularly if the club adjusts sessions for weekends or other activities.

Planning a Nine-Round Competition

Each round uses a standard clock with a 30-second increment, and game length depends on the number of moves. Players may want to allow two or more hours per game plus travel and preparation time. A central Buenos Aires hotel can reduce the daily journey to the club.

Last-Day Travel

Saturday, December 19 is the final advertised date. Those traveling outside Buenos Aires should confirm the ninth-round start and any prize presentation arrangements before booking a nonrefundable departure. Do not assume the final day ends before lunch without a verified timetable.

📝 Registration

Players register through Club Argentino de Ajedrez, which publishes a WhatsApp and telephone contact specifically for tournament information: +54 9 11 3585-9796. Entry fees vary according to club membership and the date on which a player enters. The initial reduced tariff remains available until November 15, 2026.

Early Registration

The club offers a reduced entry fee for registration through November 15. Members pay ARS 35,000 and other players pay ARS 50,000. These fees apply before the stated cutoff, subject to the organizer’s confirmation of payment and membership eligibility.

Later and Playing-Day Registration

After the cutoff and up to the day of play, members pay ARS 45,000 while general entrants pay ARS 60,000. Participants should ask the club how and when payment must be completed. The Chess-Results notice does not publish a verified payment account for this particular edition, so no third-party bank details are reproduced here.

How to Contact the Organizer

Send the tournament title, player’s name, FIDE ID, federation, rating and preferred contact information to the club via its official WhatsApp number. Request confirmation of the starting time and participation requirements, then check that the player’s details appear correctly on the Chess-Results starting list.

🏛️ Organizer

Club Argentino de Ajedrez is a historic Buenos Aires chess club founded in 1905. Its headquarters in Recoleta, at Paraguay 1858, host chess instruction, regular club activities, competitions and events. The institution is known for preserving important material connected with the 1927 Alekhine–Capablanca World Championship match and for contributing to Argentina’s chess community for more than a century.

The III IRT OATD Alicia L. Guelman is organized by Jorge Guelman and Lic. Pablo Sanz, with Pablo Sanz acting as Tournament Director. The event’s chief arbiter is IA Nicolas Gabriel Garcia, supported by deputy arbiter FA Tomas Marinesco. The official Chess-Results record identifies the competition as an international Standard-rated nine-round Swiss event.

MyChess.Events has a dedicated Club Argentino de Ajedrez organizer profile associated with this tournament. The club’s official website provides information about its history, tournament program and chess education, while the 2026 event listing contains the current prize, entry and pairing details.

📍 Venue

The tournament takes place at Club Argentino de Ajedrez, Paraguay 1858, Recoleta, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. This is the club’s permanent playing headquarters, not a hotel or temporary conference venue. The official club website and the City of Buenos Aires local-clubs registry independently confirm the same street address.

The city registry identifies the property as a chess and Go club with two playing rooms and a library. The location lies in the Recoleta district of Buenos Aires, close to the broader central city area. Visitors should navigate to the precise Paraguay Street address because the name “Club Argentino” may also refer to unrelated organizations elsewhere.

Verified GPS Coordinates

The City of Buenos Aires’ georeferenced club dataset records the venue at latitude −34.59889195781496 and longitude −58.393892362805836. These are coordinates for the registered club property, not an approximation based on the geographical center of Buenos Aires. They have also been saved in the tournament’s MyChess.Events location fields.

Chess Club Facilities

The club maintains space for games, instruction and historical chess displays. Its museum includes artifacts associated with important chess matches and players, creating a distinctive setting for the tournament. Players should follow the direction of the organizers when moving between the entrance, playing rooms and any museum areas.

🏨 Accommodation

The tournament is at Club Argentino de Ajedrez, Paraguay 1858, Recoleta, Buenos Aires. The hotels below are within the broader central Recoleta neighborhood, where visiting players can arrange a practical route to the chess club.

Booking links open each named hotel for a suggested stay from 2026-12-10 to 2026-12-20, allowing arrival the day before and departure the day after the tournament. You may change dates or guest numbers when booking. Taxes, room availability, actual rates, included meals and cancellation conditions must be checked on the property page.

Practical advice: This is a nine-day classical event: confirm the full stay cost and the exact route to Paraguay 1858. No official tournament hotel block has been published.

🚆 How to Get There

The playing venue is in Recoleta, Buenos Aires, at Paraguay 1858. Buenos Aires offers an extensive urban transport network, international airport connections, taxis and rideshare services. International players should plan the full journey to the club rather than simply navigate to central Buenos Aires.

✈️ Arriving at Ezeiza International Airport

Ministro Pistarini International Airport (Ezeiza) serves international visitors to Buenos Aires. After arrival, choose an official airport transfer, taxi or appropriate public transport connection toward the city. Traffic conditions can affect the trip, particularly on workdays, so allow a buffer before the first game.

✈️ Arriving at Aeroparque

Jorge Newbery Airport (Aeroparque) handles a wide range of domestic and regional flights and is closer to much of central Buenos Aires than Ezeiza. From there, players can arrange a direct road transfer to Recoleta or investigate urban transit routes. The best option depends on travel time, baggage and arrival hour.

🚇 Buenos Aires Subway and Public Transport

The city has multiple Subte lines and bus routes serving central neighborhoods. The club’s Recoleta address is within the urban core, although any station-to-door walking time must be verified against the specific service used. For the December 2026 event, check public transport timetables, service interruptions and local routing before departure.

🚕 Taxi or Rideshare

For direct travel, provide the driver with the complete name and address: Club Argentino de Ajedrez, Paraguay 1858, CABA. This helps avoid confusion with other facilities that have “Argentino” in their names. Confirm the pickup and destination with the service before starting the trip.

🚶 On Foot from Nearby Hotels

Participants staying in Recoleta can consider walking to the venue when the route is suitable. Use the club’s georeferenced property coordinates and the exact street number to plan the final approach. Allow time for check-in, pairings announcements and locating your board before each game.

Departure After Round Nine

The competition concludes on Saturday, December 19. Confirm the final-round schedule and any prize collection arrangements before booking onward flights. Airport transfers can be affected by Buenos Aires traffic and holiday-season travel demand, so keep sufficient time between the end of the game and departure.

ℹ️ Other Information

♟️ Chess at a Historic Argentine Club

Established in 1905, the Club Argentino de Ajedrez has a distinctive connection to Argentina’s chess history. Visitors can learn about the institution’s heritage while participating in a nine-round international Swiss event. The club is known for educational activities, historical material and long-running chess competitions.

🏆 Eleven Advertised Prize Awards

The tournament’s ARS 2 million cash fund is supported by an individual allocation for five top finishers and six additional category winners. The breakdown is included in the Prize Fund section, so participants can distinguish the official aggregate from any individual cash award.

📝 FIDE Standard and Participation

Chess-Results records the tournament as Standard-rated, with a 60+30 clock and nine Swiss rounds. The registered player list may change before December 11, so competitors should verify their current entry status with the club and not rely on an earlier list of competitors.

📱 Competition Conduct

Players should review the final arbiter’s guidance on electronic devices, late arrivals, byes and appeals. The accessible online summary does not provide a complete fair-play section, so generic rules from unrelated competitions should not be substituted for the tournament’s official instructions.

🔗 Useful Official Links