The 24th International Chess Festival Marienbad Open 2026 takes place from 17-24 January 2026 in the picturesque spa town of Mariánské Lázně (Marienbad), Czech Republic.
Part of the prestigious CZECH TOUR series, this festival brings together players of all levels — from grandmasters to enthusiastic amateurs — offering multiple FIDE-rated tournaments, professional organization, and a welcoming international atmosphere.

🗓️ Event Details

📂 Tournaments

A) Grandmaster Tournament (GM)

• Round-robin (10 players, 9 rounds)

• Entry: players with Elo ≥ 2350, average ≥ 2400

• Time control: 90 min/40 moves + 30 min + 30 s/move

• Prizes: 5 000 / 3 000 / 2 000 CZK

• Starting fee (EUR):

B) International Master Tournament (IM)

• Round-robin (10 players, 9 rounds)

• Entry: players with Elo ≥ 2200, average ≥ 2250

• Time control: same as GM event

• Prizes: 3 000 / 2 000 / 1 000 CZK

• Starting fee (EUR):

C) Marienbad Open (Main 9-Round Swiss)

• Open to all players

• Time control: 90 min/40 moves + 30 min + 30 s/move

• Prizes: 30 000 CZK total (8 000 / 6 000 / 4 000 / 2 000 / 1 000 / 1 000 + special prizes)

• Starting fee (EUR):

D) Open Seniors 50+

• Born 1976 or earlier

• Time control: same as Marienbad Open

• Prizes: 20 000 CZK total (6 000 / 4 000 / 3 000 / 2 000 / 1 000 + specials)

• Entry fee (EUR): **62.5 / 83.5 ** (with / without stay)
  25 % discount for FM, 65+, and women; + 12.5 EUR after 6 Jan

E) Rapid Tournament

• 18 January 2026 • 7 rounds • 10 min + 5 s/move

• Open to all players

• Starting fee: 8.5 EUR

• Prizes: 1 500 / 1 000 / 500 CZK + material prizes

F) Blitz Tournament

• 22 January 2026 • 11 rounds • 3 min + 2 s/move

• Starting fee: 6.5 EUR

• Prizes: 1 000 / 700 / 500 CZK + material prizes

📅 Schedule

🏆 Ranking & Prize Allocation

• GM & IM: Points → SB → Direct Encounter → Draw of Lots

• Open, Seniors, Rapid, Blitz: Points → Buchholz cut-1 → Buchholz → SB → Wins with Black

• Prize Sharing: GM/IM – equal among ties; Open/Seniors – Hort System; Rapid/Blitz – no split

🏨 Accommodation

🏩 Hotel Continental **** (Playing Venue)

Free pool & sauna access included

🏘️ Apartments Central Park *** (1 km from venue)

🏨 Hotel Devin **** (250 m from venue)

Includes half-board + 2 spa procedures daily

🚗 How to Get There

• By Air: Prague (Václav Havel Airport) or Karlovy Vary; train/bus to Mariánské Lázně

• By Train: Direct Prague – Mariánské Lázně service; station ≈ 15 min walk from venue

• By Car: Easy access via D5/E49 highway; hotel parking available

📝 Registration & Payment

• Online application: https://www.czechtour.net/applications/

• Payment on arrival (in EUR, CZK, USD or by card)

• Players must attend before Round 1

• Foreign players require a valid FIDE ID

Other

• Discounts: 5 % for 2nd Czech Tour event, 10 % for 3rd, 15 % for 4th etc.

• Photography & Media: Participation implies consent to use images for promotion.

• Czech Tour 2025/26: Series includes Hradec Králové, Brno, Prague, Pilsen and Mariánské Lázně.

Enjoy the elegance of a Czech spa city while competing in a world-class chess event — the Marienbad Open 2026 offers a perfect mix of international chess, comfort, and culture! ♟️