The Jerusalem Rapid Open 2026 is a major international FIDE-rated rapid chess tournament taking place in Jerusalem, Israel, on November 17–18, 2026. Organized by the Israel Chess Federation, the event will bring together a large international field for two intensive days of rapid chess at the Ramada Hotel Jerusalem.

Players will compete over 9 Swiss-system rounds at a time control of 15 minutes + 10 seconds increment per move. The tournament offers a substantial €45,000 prize fund (approx. $51,260), with prizes for the overall standings, women, seniors, juniors and multiple rating categories.

The stakes extend beyond the Open itself. The winner and runner-up will earn the opportunity to participate in a separate 12-player Closed Rapid Tournament in Jerusalem, scheduled for November 23–26, 2026, with a total prize fund of $250,000.

♟️ Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The tournament consists of 9 rounds played under the Swiss system.

The time control is:

15 minutes + 10 seconds increment per move from move 1.

The event is FIDE Rapid rated and is played according to the FIDE Laws of Chess and FIDE tournament regulations. FIDE anti-cheating rules and guidelines also apply.

The FIDE Rapid rating is used for pairings and prize categories. If a player does not have a FIDE Rapid rating, the higher of the player’s FIDE Classical or Blitz ratings is used for these purposes.

A player who is unrated in all three FIDE rating categories cannot win a rating-category prize.

Tie-Break Criteria

If two or more players finish with the same number of points, the following tie-break criteria apply in this order:

1. Direct Encounter
2. Buchholz Cut 1
3. Buchholz
4. Number of games played with Black
5. Greater Number of Wins

Byes and forfeits count as games played with White for the fourth tie-break criterion.

The decisions of the Chief Arbiter are final.

🏆 Prize Fund

The Jerusalem Rapid Open 2026 offers a total prize fund of €45,000 (approx. $51,260).

Overall Prizes

Special & Rating Prizes

If a player qualifies for more than one prize, only the highest prize is awarded.

Foreign players’ prizes are subject to 25% Israeli withholding tax. Prize payments will be made by bank transfer after the tax deduction, and an official withholding certificate will be provided.

Players who do not attend the Closing Ceremony are subject to a 20% reduction in their prize money.

Qualification for the Closed Rapid Tournament

The winner and runner-up of the Jerusalem Rapid Open will have the opportunity to participate in a separate elite rapid event in Jerusalem.

This qualification opportunity makes the Jerusalem Rapid Open particularly significant for players competing at the top of the standings.

🧩 Sections / Groups

The Jerusalem Rapid Open is played as one open tournament rather than separate rating sections.

Participation is open to all players with a valid FIDE ID.

Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and are subject to playing-hall capacity.

The maximum number of participants is:

400 players

The organizer reserves the right to accept or decline registrations in accordance with the tournament regulations.

The published starting list already contains a deep international field of Grandmasters, International Masters and other titled players.

Among the leading registered players are:

• GM Ruslan Ponomariov
• GM Alexey Sarana
• GM Denis Lazavik
• GM Igor Kovalenko
• GM Maxim Chigaev
• GM Arseniy Nesterov
• GM Daniel Fridman
• GM Evgeny Alekseev
• GM Alexander Motylev
• GM Leon Luke Mendonca
• GM Vojtech Plat
• GM Maxim Rodshtein
• GM Abhijit Gupta
• GM Ilia Smirin
• GM Yahli Sokolovsky
• GM Harika Dronavalli

The starting list remains subject to change before the tournament.

🗓️ Schedule

Tuesday, November 17, 2026

Attendance at the Opening Ceremony is mandatory for all players.

Wednesday, November 18, 2026

The Closing Ceremony time is approximate and depends on the completion of the final games.

The Organizing Committee reserves the right to amend the schedule or operational arrangements when necessary. Significant changes will be communicated to registered participants.

📝 Registration

The registration and payment deadline is:

November 1, 2026

Entry Fees

Israeli players must hold a valid Israel Chess Federation player card for 2026.

Israeli players without a valid player card must pay an additional €15 fee (approx. $20).

Registration and payment must be completed through the official form:

https://jerusalem.chess.org.il/register/

Payment of the registration fee constitutes confirmation of participation.

Players are responsible for checking that their names appear on the official Chess-Results participant list. According to the regulations, registered players are expected to appear on Chess-Results within 72 hours of payment.

Participants are also responsible for ensuring that all personal information submitted during registration is accurate.

After the November 1 deadline, the organizers reserve the right to decline late registrations.

Travel Support for Titled Players

The first 40 eligible foreign titled players to register can receive travel support.

The offer applies to GM, WGM, IM and WIM players who:

• represent a foreign federation;
• reside outside Israel; and
• are among the first 40 eligible titled players to register.

Players must provide a copy of their flight ticket. Without proof of travel, the stated travel allowance cannot be guaranteed.

👤 Organizer

Organizer: Israel Chess Federation
Contact Person: FA Andrei Gurbanov
Email: elitechess.israel@gmail.com
WhatsApp / Telegram: +972 52 296 7665
General Information WhatsApp: +972 54 685 0024

📍 Venue

Ramada Hotel Jerusalem – 6 Ze’ev Vilnay Street, Jerusalem, Israel

The tournament will be played at the Ramada Hotel Jerusalem, which serves as both the official playing venue and the organizers’ recommended accommodation option.

Free parking is available for tournament participants on a first-come, first-served basis.

Players who wish to stay at the Ramada are responsible for making and paying for their own hotel reservations. Accommodation is subject to availability, and participants are not required to stay at the official hotel.

The regulations also identify Prima Park Jerusalem Hotel, Yizhak Rabin Jerusalem Hostel and AFI Hotels as nearby accommodation alternatives.

🚆 How to Get There

✈️ From Ben Gurion Airport

Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) is approximately 45 km from the Ramada Hotel Jerusalem.

A convenient public-transport option is to travel by train from Ben Gurion Airport to Jerusalem–Yitzhak Navon Railway Station, then continue to the hotel by taxi, bus or other local transport.

Travel times can vary according to traffic, schedules and the day of the week.

🚆 From Jerusalem–Yitzhak Navon Station

Jerusalem–Yitzhak Navon Railway Station is approximately 1.1 km from the hotel.

From the station area, the hotel can be reached by local bus, taxi or on foot.

🚌 From Jerusalem Central Bus Station

Jerusalem Central Bus Station is also approximately 1 km from the Ramada Hotel Jerusalem.

Local bus connections operate between the Central Station area and stops near the hotel. A taxi ride is normally only a few minutes, while walking takes roughly 15 minutes.

Participants should check current public-transport schedules shortly before travelling.

ℹ️ Other Information

🛂 Visa & Entry Requirements

International participants are responsible for checking the entry and visa requirements applicable to their nationality.

Players should consult the latest official Israeli information regarding:

• visa requirements;
• passport requirements;
• ETA-IL requirements where applicable; and
• any other current entry conditions.

Players who require a visa are advised to contact the Organizing Committee as early as possible.

The organizers will provide the necessary tournament invitation documents upon request.

👔 Dress Code

Players are required to follow an appropriate dress code during the competition.

🛡️ Fair Play

FIDE anti-cheating regulations and guidelines apply throughout the tournament.

🚗 Parking

Free parking is available at the venue on a first-come, first-served basis.

🔄 Tournament Updates

The Organizing Committee reserves the right to amend the schedule or operational arrangements if necessary.

Any significant changes will be communicated to registered participants.

🌐 Official Links

Official Website:
https://jerusalem.chess.org.il/

Registration:
https://jerusalem.chess.org.il/register/

Chess-Results:
https://chess-results.com/tnr1478696.aspx

Israel Chess Federation:
https://www.chess.org.il/

For tournament questions, registration matters, travel-support eligibility or visa invitation documents:

Email: elitechess.israel@gmail.com
WhatsApp / Telegram: +972 52 296 7665