Make the Ascension long weekend a serious classical chess challenge at the Offene Internationale Stuttgarter Stadtmeisterschaft 2026, running May 14-17, 2026 in Ditzingen, Germany. The organizers offer three parallel Swiss tournaments (A, B, and C) that let you choose the right competitive band while you play seven rounds at a professional time control with increment. You can chase substantial top prizes in the A tournament and still compete for main prizes and category awards in the B and C tournaments, which keeps the standings meaningful across the full field.

SSV Zuffenhausen’s chess division hosts the event with support from TSF Ditzingen and SV Stuttgart-Wolfbusch and welcomes regional and international participants. The tournament caps the total field at 320 players and requires every participant to submit the official entry form on site before Round 1. You can register by bank transfer up to the published deadline, and you can also request a single half-point bye under the stated conditions. If you want a well-run, multi-section Swiss in the Stuttgart area with clear prize rules and a consistent schedule, this championship fits perfectly.

🗓️ Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

The organizer pays all prizes in euros, excludes double prizes, and uses Buchholz (discard the lowest Buchholz value) to determine prize distribution. The organizer guarantees the main prize lists when each section reaches its minimum participation threshold, and the organizer also offers additional category prizes under stated participation conditions.

A Tournament main prizes (guaranteed from 100 participants)

B Tournament main prizes (guaranteed from 80 participants)

C Tournament main prizes (guaranteed from 50 participants)

The organizer also lists category prizes for juniors, seniors, women, and rating groups in each tournament and ties those awards to minimum category participation. The organizer applies German tax law (EStG) for prize payments to players who do not pay taxes in Germany.

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The organizers run each tournament as a 7-round Swiss System event with a time control of 90 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes to finish, plus a 30-second increment per move from move 1. The organizers rate the A tournament for FIDE Elo and DWZ and rate the B and C tournaments for DWZ. The organizers use the German Chess Federation download list ratings with a reference date of May 7, 2026.

The organizers require a FIDE ID for participation in FIDE-rated competition and ask players to provide it during registration. Players without a rating must play in the A tournament unless the tournament management grants an exception upon prior written request. Players from foreign federations without Elo and without DWZ must provide written confirmation of playing strength from their federation.

The organizers allow each participant to take one half-point bye (0.5 points) once, exclude that round from Buchholz, and disallow a bye in the last round. Players must request a Round 1 bye by May 11, 2026, and must request any later bye no later than during the preceding round. The organizers apply a 30-minute default time from the round start.

📂 Sections / Groups

📅 Schedule

📝 Registration

Register by paying the entry fee via bank transfer no later than May 4, 2026. Use the bank details below and include your last name, first name, A/B/C tournament, Elo/DWZ, and chess club in the payment reference. Bring proof of the transfer to the tournament. The organizer charges an additional €10 when you pay in cash on May 14, 2026.

The organizer limits the total field to 320 participants and requires every participant (including preregistered players) to submit the completed official entry form to tournament management by 9:15 AM on May 14, 2026. If you cancel, the organizer keeps a €5 processing fee.

Bank transfer details: Account owner “SSV Zuffenhausen, Abt. Schach”; IBAN DE92 6009 0300 0402 0100 78; BIC GENODES1ZUF (Volksbank Zuffenhausen).

👥 Organizer

SSV Zuffenhausen’s chess division organizes the Offene Internationale Stuttgarter Stadtmeisterschaft with support from TSF Ditzingen and SV Stuttgart-Wolfbusch and manages registration, section placement, and tournament logistics through the official event channels. Michael Meier serves as the published contact for further tournament information and participant coordination.

• Email: info@stuttgarter-stadtmeisterschaft.de

• Phone: +49 7191 59075

• Website: https://www.stuttgarter-stadtmeisterschaft.de/

🏨 Venue

Stadthalle Ditzingen, Gyulaer Platz 5, 71254 Ditzingen, Germany
The tournament plays in the Stadthalle Ditzingen, a municipal event hall that hosts large public gatherings and supports multi-round chess schedules. The venue sits in central Ditzingen and keeps all rounds in one consistent playing location. Plan your arrival to meet the on-site entry form submission deadline on Thursday morning.

🛎️ Accommodation

PLAZA RESIDENCE Stuttgart-Ditzingen, Stettiner Str. 25-27, 71254 Ditzingen, Germany
The organizer lists special rates at PLAZA RESIDENCE Stuttgart-Ditzingen: single room €80 per night including breakfast and double room €90 per night including breakfast.

Phone: +49 7156 9620

🚗 How to Get There

Drive via A81 and take the Stuttgart-Feuerbach exit, then follow B295 toward Gerlingen/Ditzingen, turn left toward Ditzingen, and follow the local signs to the Stadthalle. Travel by public transport via Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof, take S-Bahn S6 toward Leonberg/Weil der Stadt to Ditzingen Bahnhof, then walk about 7 minutes to Stadthalle Ditzingen.

Bring your best endgame discipline and turn seven classical rounds into a strong result in the Stuttgart region this Ascension weekend.

🧾 Other

The organizer enforces a strict no-smoking rule throughout the Stadthalle and applies a 30-minute default time after each round starts. The organizer excludes double prizes and applies German tax law (EStG) to prize payments for players who do not pay taxes in Germany.