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
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 🗓️ Dates | 17 – 24 January 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Hotel Continental, Hlavní třída 230/88, Mariánské Lázně, Czech Republic |
| ♟️ Organizer | AVE CHESS z.s. |
| 👤 Director | Petr Lausman |
| 👨⚖️ Chief Arbiter | IA Martin Dobrotka (SVK) |
| ⭐ Rating | All events FIDE & DWZ rated |
| 🏁 Registration Deadline | 6 January 2026 |
| 📧 Contact | office@avechess.cz • ave-kontakt@outlook.cz • +420 466 535 200 |
| 🌍 Website | https://www.czechtour.net/marienbad-open/ |
📂 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):
| Elo | With Organizer Stay | Without Organizer Stay |
|---|---|---|
| ≥ 2500 | 250 | 271 |
| ≥ 2450 | 291.5 | 312.5 |
| ≥ 2400 | 333.5 | 354 |
| ≥ 2350 | 375 | 396 |
| < 2350 | 500 * | 521 * |
| (*by invitation; IM discount 10 %) |
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):
| Elo | With Organizer Stay | Without Organizer Stay |
|---|---|---|
| ≥ 2350 | 166.5 | 187.5 |
| ≥ 2300 | 208.5 | 229 |
| ≥ 2250 | 250 | 271 |
| ≥ 2200 | 291.5 | 312.5 |
| < 2200 | 416.5 | 437.5 |
| (*FM/WFM/WIM discount 10 %) |
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):
| Category | With Organizer Stay | Without Organizer Stay |
|---|---|---|
| GM / IM / WGM / WIM | 0 | 0 |
| ≥ 2200 | 41.5 | 62.5 |
| ≥ 2000 | 50 | 71 |
| ≥ 1850 | 58.5 | 79 |
| ≥ 1700 | 66.5 | 87.5 |
| < 1700 / Unrated | 75 | 96 |
| 25 % discount for FM, players 65+, and women; + 12.5 EUR after 6 Jan |
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
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Jan (Fri) | 17:00 – 20:00 | Attendance A–D |
| 17 Jan (Sat) | 10:00 – 14:00 | Attendance A–D; 15:00 Draw Lots; 16:00 Round 1 (A–D) |
| 18 Jan (Sun) | 08:30–09:15 Rapid Reg.; 09:30 Rapid E; 16:00 Round 2 | |
| 19 Jan (Mon) | 16:00 Round 3 | |
| 20 Jan (Tue) | 09:00 & 16:00 Rounds 4–5 | |
| 21 Jan (Wed) | 16:00 Round 6 | |
| 22 Jan (Thu) | 09:15 – 09:45 Blitz Reg.; 10:00 Blitz F; 16:00 Round 7 | |
| 23 Jan (Fri) | 16:00 Round 8 | |
| 24 Jan (Sat) | 09:00 Round 9; 15:30 Closing Ceremony |
🏆 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
| Room Type | Price (€ / night, breakfast incl.) |
|---|---|
| Single Standard | 75 € |
| Double Standard | 87.5 € |
| Single Deluxe | 87.5 € |
| Double Deluxe | 100 € |
| Triple Room | 104 € |
| Family (4 beds) | 125 € |
🏘️ Apartments Central Park *** (1 km from venue)
| Room Type | Without Breakfast | With Breakfast |
|---|---|---|
| Single (shared bathroom) | 41.5 € | 45.5 € |
| Double (shared bathroom) | 50 € | 58 € |
| Studio (2 beds, private bath) | 58.5 € | 66.5 € |
| Triple Room | 75 € | 87 € |
| Quad Room | 92 € | 108 € |
🏨 Hotel Devin **** (250 m from venue)
Includes half-board + 2 spa procedures daily
| Room Type | Price (€ / night) |
|---|---|
| Single Superior | 83.5 € |
| Double Superior | 125 € |
| Single Deluxe | 96 € |
| Double Deluxe | 150 € |
🚗 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! ♟️
Organizer
AVE CHESS z.s. is a Prague-based non-profit organization dedicated to promoting chess through the organization of international tournaments and festivals. It is best known for managing the Czech Tour series and the prestigious Czech Open in Pardubice, one of the largest chess festivals in Europe.
♟️ Key Activities
- Czech Tour Series: AVE CHESS organizes a sequence of international chess festivals across various Czech cities, including Prague, Brno, Pilsen, Hradec Králové, Olomouc, and Mariánské Lázně.
- Czech Open: Held annually in Pardubice, this event features a wide range of tournaments, from grandmaster competitions to amateur and youth events.
- European Youth Chess Championship: In collaboration with the Czech Chess Federation and the European Chess Union, AVE CHESS co-organized the 2024 championship in Prague, catering to players under 8 to 18 years old.
- FIDE World Senior Team Chess Championship 2025: AVE CHESS is the official organizer of this upcoming event, scheduled to take place in Prague.