In Mari Victoria Tua Chess Festival – Open 2026 will take place on July 17-25, 2026 in Gdańsk, Poland. This summer tournament brings together club players, experienced competitors, ambitious juniors, and students for nine days of classical over-the-board chess in a university setting.

This is a chess tournament in Gdańsk, Poland, in 2026. The event uses a nine-round accelerated Swiss format, a classical time control, and a guaranteed cash prize fund. Therefore, it offers a strong option for players who want serious games, a clear schedule, and a practical city venue.

In addition, the tournament forms part of the wider In Mari Victoria Tua chess festival. As a result, the Open adds a stronger classical core to the broader event program. Moreover, the steady daily schedule makes planning easier for both local players and visitors.

🏁 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The tournament uses a classical chess time control of 90 minutes for the full game with a 30-second increment from move one. Pairings follow an accelerated Swiss system across nine rounds. Consequently, players get a full competitive week and enough games to shape meaningful final standings.

The event also applies clear tiebreak rules. First, it looks at direct encounter. Then it uses Buchholz Cut 1, Buchholz, Sonneborn-Berger, and progress. In addition, the default late-arrival limit is 30 minutes.

Players may also request byes under clear conditions. Up to Round 5, each player may take a half-point bye. From Round 6 onward, a player may request a zero-point bye. However, a Round 1 bye request must reach the organizers by July 16, while later requests must arrive before the end of the previous round.

🏆 Prize Fund

In Mari Victoria Tua Chess Festival – Open 2026 offers a guaranteed cash prize fund of PLN 6,000. The published list covers the top eight places. Therefore, the event rewards strong overall performance throughout the full nine-round schedule.

The organizers will pay prize money by bank transfer to the account named by the player in a written statement. In addition, prizes do not combine and do not split. Players must also attend the closing ceremony in order to receive their awards.

♟️ Sections / Groups

The published structure includes one main Open rather than several rating groups. Therefore, all accepted players compete in the same field and the same final standings table. At the same time, the 200-player limit keeps the event manageable for both players and organizers.

📅 Schedule

The schedule gives players a steady late-afternoon rhythm through most of the tournament. However, the final day starts earlier. As a result, participants can follow the event easily and plan the full week with less uncertainty.

📝 Registration

The tournament accepts entries through ChessManager until July 15, 2026. In addition, University of Gdańsk students, doctoral candidates, and staff may claim the reduced fee after they send proof of current status by email. Therefore, early registration remains the easier and safer option.

👤 Organizer

The University of Gdańsk and the Foundation for Students and Graduates of the University of Gdańsk organize this event together. They present a clear structure, a practical venue, and direct tournament communication. As a result, the Open feels well prepared and easy to manage for participants.

• Phone: +48 726 196 166
• Email: szachy@ug.edu.pl

📍 Venue

Main Library of the University of Gdańsk, ul. Wita Stwosza 53, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland

The tournament takes place in the Main Library of the University of Gdańsk. This university setting gives the event a calm and practical atmosphere for a nine-day classical tournament. In addition, the venue fits the overall structure of the festival very well.

🚗 How to Get There

The venue is located on Wita Stwosza 53 in Gdańsk, so players can use the full address for direct navigation before the opening meeting. Moreover, the university location makes daily travel easier for both local participants and visitors staying elsewhere in the city. Therefore, arrival planning should stay straightforward throughout the event.

In Mari Victoria Tua Chess Festival – Open 2026 offers a clear classical format, a guaranteed prize fund, and a steady nine-round schedule for players who want competitive summer chess in Gdańsk.