Prague Open 2026
Prague Open 2026 is the 24th International Prague Chess Festival, staged at the Olympik complex in Prague and organized by AVE CHESS within the Czech Tour series. The festival features multiple sections—Open A (IM Open), Open B (FIDE Open), Open 30+, Rapid, and Blitz—offering classic Czech hospitality, reliable organization, and professional conditions for titled and aspiring players alike.
📌 Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | 9 – 16 January 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Prague, Czech Republic |
| 🏟️ Venue | Olympik Hotel complex (Tristar/Congress/Artemis), Praha 8 |
| 🏁 Tournament Type | FIDE-rated Open Festival (multiple sections) |
| 🧩 Tournament System | Swiss System |
| 🔢 Number of Rounds | 9 (Classical A, B, 30+); 7 (Rapid); 11 (Blitz) |
| ⏱️ Time Control | Classical: 90/40 + 30′ to finish, +30″ from move 1 · Rapid: 10′+5″ · Blitz: 3′+2″ |
| 🏢 Organizer | AVE CHESS z. s. (CZECH TOUR) |
| 👤 Festival Director | Petr Lausman |
| 👨⚖️ Chief Arbiter | IA Martin Dobrotka |
| 🔖 Rating | FIDE (Standard / Rapid / Blitz) |
💰 Prize Fund
| Section | Prize Distribution | Special Prizes | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open A (IM Open) | 20,000 · 15,000 · 10,000 · 7,000 · 5,000 · 3,000 · 2,000 · 2,000 · 1,000 · 1,000 | Best woman 1,000 · Senior 60+ 1,000 · Best U16 1,000 · Best U12 1,000 | 70,000 CZK |
| Open B (FIDE Open) | 3,000 · 2,000 · 1,000 · 1,000 · 500 · 500 | Best woman 1,000 · Senior 60+ 1,000 · Best U12 1,000 · Best by category 1,000 (1600–1699, 1500–1599, 1400–1499, unrated) | 15,000 CZK |
| Open 30+ | 5,000 · 3,000 · 2,000 · 1,000 | Best woman 1,000 · Senior 65+ 1,000 · Best 1700–1999 1,000 · Best 1400–1699 1,000 | 15,000 CZK |
| Rapid | 2,000 · 1,500 · 1,000 · 500 | — | 5,000 CZK |
| Blitz | 2,000 · 1,500 · 1,000 · 500 | — | 5,000 CZK |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
- System: Swiss System
- Classical (Open A, B, 30+): 9 rounds · 90 minutes for 40 moves + 30 minutes to finish, with 30 seconds increment from move 1 · Default time 60 minutes
- Rapid: 7 rounds · 10′ + 5″ increment
- Blitz: 11 rounds · 3′ + 2″ increment
👥 Sections / Groups
- Open A (IM Open): Open to all players · IM norm capable
- Open B (FIDE Open): Open to players under 2000 FIDE or unrated
- Open 30+: Open to players born in 1996 or earlier
- Rapid Tournament: Open to all · One-day event (11 January)
- Blitz Tournament: Open to all · One-day event (14 January)
📅 Schedule
| Date | Event / Rounds | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Jan | Attendance A/B/30+ | 18:00–20:00 |
| 9 Jan | Attendance A/B/30+ · Round 1 (A/B/30+) | 10:00–14:00 · 16:00 |
| 10 Jan | Rounds 2–3 (A/B/30+) | 09:00 · 16:00 |
| 11 Jan | Rapid Registration · Rapid Tournament (7 rds) · Round 4 (A/B/30+) | 08:15–09:15 · 09:30–13:30 · 16:00 |
| 12 Jan | Round 5 (A/B/30+) | 16:00 |
| 13 Jan | Round 6 (A/B/30+) | 16:00 |
| 14 Jan | Blitz Registration · Blitz Tournament (11 rds) · Round 7 (A/B/30+) | 08:45–09:45 · 10:00–13:00 · 16:00 |
| 15 Jan | Round 8 (A/B/30+) | 16:00 |
| 16 Jan | Round 9 (A/B/30+) · Closing Ceremony | 09:00 · 15:30 |
📝 Registration
- Application deadline: 1 January 2026 (late fee after this date)
- Starting fees (EUR):
- Open A: GM/IM/WGM/WIM free · Others 50–146 depending on rating
- Open B: 50–83.5 depending on rating/unrated
- Open 30+: 62.5 / 83.5
- Rapid / Blitz: 8.5 each
- Discounts: 25% for FM, women, seniors 65+
- Late entry fee: +12.5 EUR
- Attendance before start mandatory; payments in EUR, CZK, USD, or cards
🏢 Organizer
AVE CHESS z. s. (CZECH TOUR) is one of Central Europe’s most prolific chess organizers, known for running large international chess festivals with multiple sections, IM/GM norm events, and rapid/blitz side tournaments. They have decades of experience hosting competitions in Prague, Pardubice, Brno, and other cities. Their team manages hall setup, arbiters, live pairings, and player services across parallel sections, tightly coordinating schedules designed for both titled and club players.
- Address: AVE CHESS z. s., Příčná 1892/4, 110 00 Prague, Czech Republic
- Phone: +420 466 535 200
- Mobile: +420 608 203 007
- Email: office@avechess.cz · ave-kontakt@outlook.cz
🏟️ Venue
Olympik Hotel complex (Tristar / Congress / Artemis), Praha 8
— Multiple hotels and halls in one area
— Breakfast included in accommodation packages
— Playing halls, analysis rooms, and facilities on-site
— 100 m from Invalidovna Metro (Line B)
— Parking available for participants
🛏️ Accommodation
- Olympik Artemis (****): Single 73 € · Double 87.5 € · Triple 108.5 €
- Olympik Congress (****): Single 60.5 € · Double 69 € · Triple 96 €
- Olympik Tristar (***): Single 58.5 € · Double 66.5 € · Triple 91.5 €
- Prices include breakfast · Municipal fee 50 CZK/night per person (18+)
🚉 How to Get There
- By Air: Arrive at Prague Airport (PRG), 25–35 min by taxi or 45–60 min by public transport
- By Metro: Line B (yellow) to “Invalidovna” · Olympik complex is ~100 m from exit
- By Train: From Praha hl.n. (main station) · Metro C→B or tram to Invalidovna
- By Car: On-site parking at Olympik (special rates for players)
Prague Open 2026 combines five tournaments in one festival—Open A, Open B, Open 30+, Rapid, and Blitz—delivering professional organization, generous prizes, and the charm of Prague in January. The Olympik complex hosts everything under one roof: accommodation, playing halls, and easy metro access. Players can chase IM norms, improve their FIDE rating, or enjoy the high-energy Rapid and Blitz days. Join the tradition of the Czech Tour and experience one of Europe’s most popular winter chess festivals in the historic city of Prague.