Richmond International Chess Festival 2026 takes place from December 26 – 30, 2026, at Richmond Curling Club in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. The festival offers a 9-round classical tournament and a bonus blitz event.
This is a chess tournament in Richmond, Canada, in 2026. Players will compete in rated Swiss-system sections with a classical time control of 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move.
The event offers a guaranteed prize pool of CA$6,000 / approx. $4,300. In addition, the festival introduces an annual champion’s trophy, with each year’s winner added to the trophy record.
♟️ Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏆 Tournament | Richmond International Chess Festival 2026 |
| 📅 Dates | December 26 – 30, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Richmond, British Columbia, Canada |
| 🏛️ Venue | Richmond Curling Club – 5540 Hollybridge Way, Richmond, BC V7C 4N3, Canada |
| ♟️ Format | 9-round Swiss classical tournament |
| 🧩 Sections | Open, U2000, U1600 |
| ⭐ Rating | Open and U2000: FIDE + CFC rated; U1600: CFC rated only |
| ⏱️ Classical Time Control | 90 minutes per player + 30 seconds per move |
| ⚡ Bonus Blitz | 9-round FIDE + CFC rated blitz open |
| ⏱️ Blitz Time Control | 3 minutes per player + 2 seconds per move |
| 💰 Prize Fund | CA$6,000 / approx. $4,300 |
| 📝 Early Bird Deadline | November 27, 2026 |
| 📝 Regular Entry Deadline | December 20, 2026 |
| 📝 Rush Entry Deadline | December 24, 2026 |
| 👥 Organizer | Fraser Valley Chess Academy |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Players receive 90 minutes for the game, plus a 30-second increment from move one. This time control applies to the main classical tournament.
The classical event uses a 9-round Swiss system. The Open and U2000 sections count for both FIDE and CFC rating. Meanwhile, the U1600 section counts for CFC rating only.
The bonus blitz tournament uses 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move. It has 9 rounds and one Open section.
Players may request up to two half-point byes. However, bye requests for the final round do not apply and will count as zero-point byes.
Tie-breaks for non-cash prizes follow this order: direct encounter, Buchholz, and cumulative score of opponents.
💰 Prize Fund
The tournament offers a guaranteed prize pool of CA$6,000 / approx. $4,300.
The organizer may split cash prizes equally among tied players. However, tie-breaks decide non-cash prizes and trophy placement.
Free entry is available for players rated 2300 and above, with no prize-money deduction. In addition, the organizer may offer travel conditions to outstation GMs and IMs before the early bird deadline.
🧩 Sections / Groups
The classical tournament has three sections.
Open is the main section. It counts for both FIDE and CFC rating and suits higher-rated players who want the strongest field.
U2000 also counts for FIDE and CFC rating. This section gives ambitious club players a strong classical tournament with international rating calculation.
U1600 counts for CFC rating only. It gives developing players a suitable section during the same five-day festival.
The organizer may modify sections based on actual entries and player composition. Therefore, players should check the final section structure before the event begins.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, December 26 | 10:00 | Round 1 |
| Saturday, December 26 | 15:00 / ASAP | Round 2 |
| Sunday, December 27 | 10:00 | Round 3 |
| Sunday, December 27 | 15:00 / ASAP | Round 4 |
| Monday, December 28 | 10:00 | Round 5 |
| Monday, December 28 | 15:00 / ASAP | Round 6 |
| Tuesday, December 29 | 10:00 | Round 7 |
| Tuesday, December 29 | 15:00 / ASAP | Round 8 |
| Wednesday, December 30 | 10:00 | Round 9 |
| Wednesday, December 30 | 15:00 / ASAP | Prize distribution |
| Wednesday, December 30 | 16:00–18:00 | Bonus Blitz Open |
Players should plan carefully for the double-round days from December 26 to 29. In addition, they should leave enough time for the bonus blitz event after the final classical round.
📝 Registration
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Registration Method | Online registration through Fraser Valley Chess Academy |
| Early Bird Entry Fee | CA$130 + GST |
| Early Bird Deadline | November 27, 2026 |
| Regular Entry Fee | CA$150 + GST |
| Regular Entry Deadline | December 20, 2026 |
| Rush Entry Fee | CA$180 + GST |
| Rush Entry Deadline | December 24, 2026 |
| Bonus Blitz Entry Fee | CA$15 |
| Play-up Fee | CA$30 within 100 rating points; CA$50 within 200 rating points |
| Free Entry | Players rated 2300 and above |
| CFC Membership | Required |
| Organizer Email | admin@fraservalleychess.com |
Players should register online and select the correct Richmond International section. Moreover, they should make sure their CFC membership is valid before the first round.
Players without a FIDE ID should follow the organizer’s instructions during registration. If a player chooses to obtain a CFC membership independently, that player must complete it before Round 1 and send the CFC ID to the organizer.
Full refunds are available until the registration deadline. After that deadline, the organizer does not issue refunds.
👥 Organizer
Fraser Valley Chess Academy organizes Richmond International Chess Festival 2026. The academy runs rated chess events in British Columbia and uses this festival to bring a strong year-end tournament to Richmond.
Phone: +1 778 558 3796
Email: admin@fraservalleychess.com
🏛️ Venue
Richmond Curling Club – 5540 Hollybridge Way, Richmond, BC V7C 4N3, Canada
The tournament takes place at Richmond Curling Club in Richmond, British Columbia. The venue gives players a practical playing location close to local roads, accommodation options, and visitor services.
Players should use the full venue address when planning travel. In addition, they should arrive early before each round because the festival has morning starts and several double-round days.
🚆 How to Get There
Players should travel to Richmond Curling Club – 5540 Hollybridge Way, Richmond, BC V7C 4N3, Canada.
Richmond sits in the Metro Vancouver area and has strong access by road, transit, and air. Players arriving from outside British Columbia can use Vancouver International Airport, which is located in Richmond.
From the airport or Vancouver area, players can continue by taxi, rideshare, public transit, or car. Since Round 1 starts at 10:00 on December 26, players should avoid tight same-day arrival plans.
ℹ️ Other Information
A valid CFC membership is mandatory for participation. In addition, players should keep electronic devices turned off during live rounds and away from the playing table.
Food and beverages are not allowed during live games. Photos and videos are allowed during the first five minutes of each round, but players and visitors should avoid disturbing games.
Parents, guardians, and spectators must stay quiet in the playing area. Any outside assistance to a player can lead to immediate disqualification.
Richmond International Chess Festival 2026 offers a strong year-end chess event in British Columbia, with classical rated sections, a guaranteed prize pool, and a bonus blitz tournament.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $4,300
Organizer
♟️ About the Organizer
Fraser Valley Chess Academy is a chess academy and tournament organizer in Langley, British Columbia. The organization works from its Langley chess center and serves players across the Fraser Valley, Greater Vancouver, and other British Columbia chess communities. Its activity combines structured chess lessons, weekly club play, after-school programs, camps, and rated tournaments.
The academy started in 2022 and has grown into an active chess organizer with multiple locations and a broad event calendar. Its main Langley venue hosts lessons, club meetings, tournament preparation, and competitive events. In addition, Fraser Valley Chess Academy works with schools and local partners to give young players a practical route from training into over-the-board competition.
🏆 Chess Events and Activities
Fraser Valley Chess Academy runs a wide range of CFC-rated chess tournaments and FIDE-rated events. Its tournament calendar includes the Fraser Valley Rapid Series, Fraser Valley Classical Series, Spring Classical, Keres Memorial, Summer Champions Open, BC Youth Chess Championship, BC Inter-School Chess Championship, and other youth or club events. These tournaments give players regular chances to compete in classical, rapid, and blitz formats.
The organizer uses structured sections, published schedules, rating requirements, online registration, and clear tournament policies. Many events include Swiss-system pairings, national rating evaluation, and prize funds. Some classical events also include FIDE rating evaluation, which gives ambitious players a path toward international rating progress.
Youth chess has a major place in the academy’s work. Fraser Valley Chess Academy organizes scholastic tournaments, inter-school championships, junior rapid events, and training-linked competitions. Moreover, its chess club activity includes monthly blitz tournaments and weekly meetups in Langley and other locations. As a result, players can move from lessons and club practice into rated tournament chess with a clear competitive pathway.
🌍 Player Experience and Community
Players can expect a busy and practical chess environment with lessons, clubs, tournaments, and event communication under one organizer. The Langley center gives local players a consistent base for weekly chess, while tournament events across British Columbia help connect the academy with a wider competitive scene. Therefore, juniors, adults, beginners, and rated players can all find suitable chess activity.
The academy’s programs also serve schools and families. Its after-school chess programs, youth events, and training groups help children build regular playing habits before entering tournament sections. In addition, the academy provides equipment, organized registration, and event policies that make participation easier for new families.
For stronger players, Fraser Valley Chess Academy offers classical chess events in British Columbia, rapid events, blitz side events, and major weekend tournaments. The academy’s work with events such as the Keres Memorial and BCYCC gives players access to larger competitive fields and stronger opposition. Overall, Fraser Valley Chess Academy plays an active role in the modern British Columbia chess calendar.
Hotels Near the Venue
Find nearby accommodation for this tournament location.
