International Cidade Braga – Dia da Liberdade 2026 will be played on April 25, 2026 in Braga, Portugal, making it an attractive FIDE rated rapid chess tournament in northern Portugal in 2026. This over-the-board chess tournament in Braga, Portugal, in 2026 is part of the National Rapid Circuit and is open exclusively to federated players affiliated with FPX/FIDE. The event will be held at Ludoteca da Estufa and will use a Swiss format with 7 or 8 rounds, depending on the final number of participants, together with a 15 minutes + 3 seconds increment time control.

As a well-structured chess tournament in Braga, Portugal, International Cidade Braga – Dia da Liberdade 2026 combines a practical one-day schedule, official FIDE Rapid rating validity, and a broad prize structure across overall, rating, and youth categories. In addition, the event offers a strong local setting in Braga, clear registration rules, and a player-friendly venue, so it stands out as a solid spring rapid chess tournament for competitive club players and juniors.

🗓️ Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

Cash prizes are cumulative.

If the number of participants does not exceed 60, the prize amounts will be reduced by 50%.

Prizes for the Under 8 to Under 18 categories from first to third place will be awarded only if the number of registered participants reaches 100.

Prizes, trophies, and medals are awarded only to participants who have paid the entry fee, and all awards are presented only during the closing ceremony.

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The tournament will be played with a 15+3 rapid time control using the Swiss pairing system through SwissManager. The event will have 7 or 8 rounds, and the 8th round will be played only if the number of participants exceeds 55.

Pairings for the first round will be published 5 minutes before the start of the competition. The allowed default time is 10 minutes.

Tie-breaks are direct encounter between tied players if applicable, corrected Buchholz, full Buchholz, Sonneborn-Berger, and greater number of wins.

📂 Sections / Groups

The event has one open section for federated players affiliated with FPX/FIDE. However, the prize structure also includes separate awards for rating categories, youth categories, and club distinctions.

📅 Schedule

📝 Registration

👥 Organizer

Juventude Curiosa Chess Academy organizes International Cidade Braga – Dia da Liberdade 2026 in partnership with Cidade Curiosa, Braga City Council, Ludoteca da Estufa, and the Portuguese Chess Federation. The event strengthens Braga’s position as a host city for competitive rapid chess and brings together federated players for a full day of rated play in a strong local setting.

• Address: Parque Da Ponte, N101 634, 4715-053 Braga, Portugal

• Email: xadrezjuventudecuriosa@gmail.com

• Phone: +351910682591

• Website: https://juventudecuriosa.wixsite.com/juventude-curiosa

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcademiaXadrezBraga

🏨 Venue

Ludoteca da Estufa, Parque Da Ponte, N101 634, 4715-053 Braga, Portugal

The tournament will be played at Ludoteca da Estufa in Braga, the official venue listed in the regulations. The location at Parque Da Ponte gives players a practical setting for a full one-day rapid event. Because registration starts at 9:00 a.m., players should arrive early enough to complete check-in before the first round.

🚗 How to Get There

The venue is located at Parque Da Ponte in Braga, with the official address listed as N101 634, 4715-053 Braga. Players traveling by car can head directly to Ludoteca da Estufa, while those arriving from within Braga can use local city transport to reach the park area conveniently.

If you want a competitive rapid chess tournament in Braga with official rating validity, a broad prize