The New Zagreb Classic 2027 will take place from February 5–7, 2027, at the Sheraton Zagreb Hotel, Kneza Borne 2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. The international chess tournament is organized by ŠK Novi Zagreb together with the New Zagreb Classic organizing committee. It brings five rating-based sections into one venue for a three-day, five-round classical competition. All five groups play under the Swiss system, giving players a complete FIDE-rated event across one Friday afternoon and two weekend days.

The festival offers an officially itemized €3,000 cash prize fund (approximately US$3,350), with €2,100 distributed in Open A, €590 in Open B and €310 in Open C. In addition, the organizers award trophies, medals and Kasparov Chess Academy participation-fee discounts across the five groups. Each participant receives 90 minutes for the game plus a 30-second increment from move one. Open A starts at 2000 FIDE Elo, while the remaining groups provide options for developing competitive players, including an U18 section for players rated below 1500.

The tournament has grown into an established international event since its launch in 2024. According to an official FIDE report, the 2026 edition welcomed 506 competitors from 36 federations, reflecting its appeal to adults, juniors, club competitors and titled players. For the 2027 event, the organizing committee has also published a complete round schedule, tournament entry fees and accommodation offers at the Sheraton and Palmers Lodge Zagreb. These practical arrangements make it possible to plan the chess competition and a short city visit together.

📌 Event Details

The organizer uses the same competition site for the regulations, event registration form, accommodation details and entry fees. Therefore, a player can review the group requirements, complete the online entry form and make accommodation requests through one official point of contact. The playing venue also serves as the primary tournament hotel, connecting all five rating groups in one central Zagreb location.

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

Every section uses five rounds of classical chess with Swiss pairings. Each player starts with 90 minutes and gains 30 seconds after every move, starting from the first move. The organizer applies this same time control in Open A through Open E, so players in different rating groups share a consistent playing format. Friday features one afternoon round, followed by two games on Saturday and two on Sunday. Consequently, entrants should prepare for two full-length games on consecutive weekend days.

All groups count toward FIDE rating, and entrants must have an established FIDE identification record. The event accepts players regardless of nationality and gender, subject to the section conditions. Players may ask the organizers to enter a higher category, with an additional €10 fee for playing outside their regular rating group. This option makes the group-selection process flexible for players who prefer stronger opposition. The organizing committee administers these requests through the official event registration process.

Technical Tie-Breaks

The organizers publish a complete tie-break sequence. First, the standings use Buchholz Cut-1; second, Buchholz Median-1; and third, full Buchholz. The fourth criterion is the Arranz method, followed by Sonneborn–Berger. The remaining criteria examine the number of wins, direct encounter, number of games played with Black, and finally drawing of lots. Because both cash awards and category prizes can depend on final placing, players competing near the top of their section should be familiar with this published order.

Playing-Hall Regulations

The published default time is 60 minutes from the scheduled start of each round. A player who arrives after that period loses the game. In the playing area, the organizer prohibits mobile phones and other electronic devices unless the tournament director approves their use. Participation also requires acceptance of the event regulations and the FIDE Laws of Chess applicable on the tournament date. Thus, players should arrange their personal devices before each round and be at the venue before the scheduled start.

🏆 Prize Fund

The organizers announce €3,000 in cash prizes, distributed across Open A, Open B and Open C. The published award tables add up to €2,100 for Open A, €590 for Open B, and €310 for Open C. Using the European Central Bank reference rate of EUR 1 = USD 1.1150 on October 27, 2026, the total equals US$3,345, displayed as approximately US$3,350. Beyond cash prizes, the festival also recognizes players in multiple senior, junior and women’s categories with trophies and medals.

Open A — Overall Prizes

Open A — Women’s Prizes

Open A offers the festival’s largest individual prize, €720, and awards five places in the overall classification. Its additional three women’s prizes provide another €410 in published awards. Together, the €1,690 overall allocation and the €410 women’s allocation make up the €2,100 Open A cash pool. For competitors choosing between groups, this section offers the strongest rating threshold and the deepest cash-award structure.

Open B — Cash Prizes

Open B awards €460 across four overall places and €130 across two women’s places, bringing its section allocation to €590. As a result, competitors in the 1800-plus rating category have a separate cash-prize structure alongside the main Open A awards. Players can also pursue the tournament’s trophies and age-category distinctions, which cover a wider range of performances than the cash table alone.

Open C — Cash Prizes

Open C distributes €310 in cash prizes, comprising three overall places and one women’s award. The organizers also offer recognition through medals and trophies in the younger age categories. Open D and Open E take part in the festival’s broader awards program, with results recognized through those noncash prizes. This structure allows the same international festival to celebrate both stronger competitive results and achievements by developing junior players.

Trophies, Medals and Academy Awards

The competition includes 30 trophies and 90 medals. Published categories cover overall places, S50 seniors, U20 juniors, several cadet age brackets and leading female players. The youngest age bands extend to U8 in Open E. Moreover, Kasparov Chess Academy provides participation-fee discounts for the first three places in each of the five groups. These academy awards are separate benefits from the cash prize fund.

♟️ Sections / Groups

The festival combines five FIDE-rated classical sections in one playing venue. Group placement follows the rating thresholds on the official New Zagreb Classic page. Open A has the highest stated threshold, while Open E provides a separate under-1500 competition for players younger than 18. Every group plays the same five-round Swiss schedule and uses the same 90-minute-plus-30-second clock setting. Accordingly, players from several rating bands can attend as part of the same club or family trip.

Open A and Open B

Open A starts at a FIDE Elo of 2000 and includes the largest cash prize pool. Its overall and women’s tables distribute €2,100 across eight listed awards. Open B begins at 1800 Elo and offers €590 in cash awards to four overall places and two women’s places. Both groups also recognize leading seniors, juniors and cadets. The stronger rating thresholds make these sections attractive to players who prefer opposition drawn from the upper tiers of the event’s five-group format.

Open C and Open D

Open C starts at 1650 Elo. In addition to the full five-round classical competition, this group awards €310 across its overall and women’s classifications. Open D starts at 1500 Elo and includes its own overall, senior, junior and cadet awards. Both divisions use the same round schedule as the higher groups, allowing participants to share accommodation and travel arrangements with players competing in Open A or Open B. The event’s category structure provides a progression from local club competition toward stronger international tournament play.

Open E — Under-1500 Youth Group

Open E is a youth section for players under 18 whose FIDE Elo is below 1500. Its published awards recognize the top three overall players as well as leading U16, U14, U12, U10 and U8 competitors. Additional female categories provide distinctions through several of these age bands. The section uses the festival’s standard five-round Swiss format, making it an opportunity for young entrants to gain classical FIDE-rated experience in the same international setting as the adult sections.

The organizer accepts requests to compete in a higher-rated group. Entrants using this arrangement should select the desired category on the official registration form and follow the event’s stated supplementary fee. For juniors competing with teammates or family members in other sections, the shared timetable offers the additional advantage of synchronized breaks and game starts throughout the weekend.

📅 Schedule

The tournament takes place over three consecutive days, February 5–7, 2027. The organizers publish one round on Friday and two rounds on each weekend day, with the same starting times for Open A through Open E. Friday also contains the registration confirmation window and the opening ceremony. All times below are local to Zagreb, where Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) applies in February.

Players complete the opening round on Friday afternoon, followed by a double-round Saturday. As a result, the weekend schedule has a morning game and a second game at 3:00 PM, giving competitors a period for lunch, rest and preparation. The same pattern repeats on Sunday, ending with the fifth round and the awards ceremony. Participants staying at the Sheraton can return directly to their rooms between games, while those using other accommodation should plan their trips around the published starting times.

Friday’s in-person confirmation ends at 3:00 PM, before the 3:30 PM opening ceremony and 4:00 PM first round. The organizer also provides an online confirmation period earlier that afternoon. Therefore, entrants arriving from another city should allow enough time to reach the hotel, complete the appropriate confirmation procedure and locate the playing area before the opening game.

📝 Registration

Registration takes place through the official New Zagreb Classic 2027 website. The form collects the player’s name, surname, contact email, telephone number, FIDE identification, selected group and any additional requests. Entrants can also indicate interest in Sheraton accommodation and tournament lunches. The published fee scale depends on the group selected and on whether the application and payment reach the organizer by January 25, 2027.

Entry Fees

How to Complete an Entry

First, open the event registration form and enter the player’s personal and contact details. Next, choose the appropriate section from Open A through Open E using the published rating limits. The form also includes special requests for entrants seeking a higher category and optional fields for hotel accommodation and tournament meals. Finally, follow the organizer’s payment instructions and retain the payment confirmation. The event’s official page provides the bank transfer details for ŠK Novi Zagreb.

The base fees apply to registrations and payments made by January 25. From January 26, a €10 surcharge applies to late entry or payment. The organizer also charges €10 for entry into a tournament group other than the player’s rating group. Cancellations submitted before January 29 at 3:00 PM fall within the published refund window. Players using the official registration form can combine their competition entry with requests for the tournament’s accommodation and meal offers.

FIDE Registration and Arrival

Every participant must have a FIDE identification record. The organizer uses this information to place players in the correct rating category and submit the tournament results for FIDE rating. The Friday confirmation schedule provides two arrival options: online confirmation between noon and 2:00 PM and in-person confirmation from 2:00 to 3:00 PM. The opening ceremony begins at 3:30 PM, followed by the first classical round at 4:00 PM.

🏛️ Organizer

ŠK Novi Zagreb (Novi Zagreb Chess Club) organizes the event together with the New Zagreb Classic organizing committee. The club is based at Trnsko 4b, Zagreb, Croatia, and has developed the competition as a way to give players of different ages and strengths access to an international chess environment. The tournament began in 2024, combining a significant rated field with a short, accessible weekend program. The organizing committee also coordinates the registration process, partner hotels and prizes.

In its February 2026 report, the International Chess Federation described how a group of four founders developed the event into a large European weekend open. That year’s edition brought together 506 participants from 36 federations. The fields included grandmasters, international masters, junior talents and players taking part in their first major rated event. This mix of playing strengths helps explain why the organizers preserve five distinct rating groups in the February 2027 tournament.

Organizing Committee

The official committee lists Andrej Stanković as head of Novi Zagreb Chess Club and Mario Živić as its secretary. Aleksandar Holiga and Maxim Vinogradov are also members of the organizing committee. For tournament questions and event registration correspondence, the organizer publishes the email address newzgclassic@sknovizagreb.hr.

📍 Venue

The festival will be played at the Sheraton Zagreb Hotel, Kneza Borne 2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. This five-star hotel occupies a central Zagreb location near the city’s main railway station. Sheraton Zagreb is part of Marriott’s hotel portfolio and includes event facilities, restaurants and guest accommodation under the same roof. The 2027 organizer has selected the property as both the competition site and its official hotel partner.

According to the hotel’s own website, Sheraton Zagreb offers conference and event spaces alongside dining and recreational facilities, including an indoor swimming pool and spa. These features make it suitable for hosting a multi-section chess event with players and accompanying families. The central address also provides access to the city’s public transport network and to the major arrival points used by visitors traveling from elsewhere in Croatia or abroad.

The Friday program begins with confirmation of entry before the opening ceremony and first round. Players can use the hotel address when planning their final journey and should identify the festival’s event area when entering the property. The hotel’s central location is especially useful for participants arriving by rail or choosing the official accommodation offer.

🏨 Accommodation

The tournament organizers have arranged accommodation offers at two Zagreb properties: Sheraton Zagreb Hotel, which also hosts the games, and Palmers Lodge Zagreb, a budget accommodation partner. The official event website publishes the relevant room rates and discounts together with the 2027 tournament information. Players can therefore compare staying directly at the playing venue with a lower-cost option elsewhere in the city.

Official Tournament Hotel — Sheraton Zagreb

Sheraton Zagreb offers tournament participants €100 per night for a single room and €110 per night for a double room. Both rates include bed and breakfast and the local tax. The organizers list an additional bed at €35 per night when available. They also offer cancellation without a charge up to 10 days before arrival under the tournament hotel arrangement. Reservation contact information is supplied after tournament registration.

Lunch at the Playing Hotel

The organizer’s meal program provides a buffet lunch at €23 per person per day, with one drink included. Children under 12 receive a 50% discount. Lunch reservations close on January 30, 2027, and participants should make the reservation through the organizing committee. This arrangement is useful on Saturday and Sunday, when the tournament schedules a 9:30 AM round followed by a 3:00 PM round. Booking lunch in advance can make it easier to use the break for food, rest and preparation.

Budget Partner — Palmers Lodge Zagreb

Palmers Lodge Zagreb is located at Ulica kneza Branimira 25, Zagreb. The organizer advertises a 20% discount for participants in the New Zagreb Classic 2027. To use the offer, guests should identify themselves as tournament entrants and quote the code NZGCC27 when contacting the property. This option provides a different type of accommodation from the Sheraton while retaining access to central Zagreb.

Families and teams can compare these two arrangements according to their daily schedule and preferred room type. Staying at Sheraton gives competitors direct access to the playing venue, while Palmers Lodge offers a separately advertised participant discount. Because the official tournament site provides both offers, entrants can include their accommodation needs in the same planning process as tournament registration.

🚆 How to Get There

From Zagreb Franjo Tuđman Airport

International visitors can arrive through Franjo Tuđman Airport Zagreb (ZAG). The airport’s official transport guide identifies Pleso Prijevoz as the operator of the shuttle service linking the airport with Zagreb Central Bus Station. The operator lists an approximate journey of 35–40 minutes. From the central bus station, visitors can continue toward Sheraton Zagreb by city transport or taxi. The airport also lists ZET route 290, which connects Kvaternik Square with Velika Gorica via the airport.

For participants arriving on Friday, the competition’s first round begins at 4:00 PM. Therefore, travel planning should account for the transfer from the airport to the hotel and the separate registration-confirmation period at the venue. The official airport page provides links to current bus services and transport operators, allowing visitors to select a connection for their actual arrival time.

By Train and Intercity Bus

Zagreb Glavni kolodvor is the main railway station in the city and a useful arrival point for travelers heading to the Sheraton. The hotel occupies a central location on Kneza Borne, while the railway station serves domestic and international rail journeys. The city’s central intercity bus station also provides connections with destinations in Croatia and neighboring countries. Travelers arriving by the airport shuttle will reach that bus station before completing the final transfer to the hotel.

By Car and Local Transport

The organizers publish a parking guide for the hotel area, including the Sheraton garage and nearby public parking. The Sheraton garage is listed at €2 per hour or €20 per day. Parking Zone 1 around the hotel is listed at €1.60 per hour or €13.30 per day. Other facilities named by the organizer include Garage Branimir and Garage Petrinjska. Drivers can compare these centrally located options when approaching Zagreb.

The central Zagreb venue gives international players several travel options. Visitors can combine a flight with the airport shuttle, arrive by railway services to the main station, or travel by coach and then take local transport to Kneza Borne. Players traveling with chess equipment, large luggage or younger children may find a direct final transfer especially convenient before registration confirmation.

ℹ️ Other Information

An International Weekend Chess Event

New Zagreb Classic began in 2024 as a project designed to bring international chess competition to local players in Zagreb. As the event expanded, it continued to include competitors of many ages and rating levels. FIDE reported that the 2026 edition attracted 506 players representing 36 federations, with competitors ranging from first-time rated entrants to titled players. The structure supports a common tournament experience while retaining separate rating-based groups for competitive balance.

In the 2026 event, IM Vladyslav Larkin of Ukraine won Open A ahead of FM Vinko Malada of Croatia and FM Nicolas Perossa of Italy. The 2027 tournament continues the same core concept of five classical rounds over a weekend and offers a new prize schedule and accommodation package. Players interested in the development of the festival can read the FIDE feature about its growth.

Participation, Competition and Awards

Tournament players should arrive with the registration confirmation and their FIDE identification information. The organizers apply the 60-minute default time and the published technical tie-break criteria throughout the event. After the fifth round on Sunday, the awards ceremony brings together competitors across the five groups. The ceremony recognizes cash-prize winners in Open A, B and C, as well as the broader trophy, medal and academy-award categories.

🔗 Useful Official Links