The Selectist Chess Cup Presented by Starbucks — Sarıyer 2026 takes place on November 16–17, 2026, at Starbucks Sarıyer in Istanbul. Organized by Selectist and Starbucks, the event offers six Swiss rounds of classical chess in two rating categories. The tournament awards ₺70,000 in cash prizes at this individual branch.

Each player receives 60 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move. Moreover, Category A counts toward FIDE Standard ELO and Turkish UKD; Category B counts toward UKD only. The field is limited to 32 players per category, or 64 overall.

A valid Turkish Chess Federation license, age eligibility and advance payment are required. In addition, the Sarıyer event has its own registration link and venue, separate from the other Starbucks competition and the Selectist Chess Cup 2 at Frankhan on November 21–22.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

Each category follows a separate six-round individual Swiss system. Players start with 60 minutes and gain 30 seconds after every move. Consequently, games count as classical chess, and the organizer expects participants to follow the full FIDE Laws of Chess and current Turkish Chess Federation tournament procedures.

Category A counts for FIDE ELO Standard and TSF UKD ratings. However, Category B counts for TSF UKD only, so the second group is not a FIDE-rated event. Moreover, the competition imposes a 15-minute default time and does not restrict draw offers by move number.

The Turkish Chess Federation governs tie-breaks and appeals through its published procedures. In addition, the organizer covers the ELO contribution fee. Successful online application and valid payment documentation are essential because the 32-player limit in each section is enforced in order of completed registrations.

🏆 Prize Fund

This Sarıyer tournament has its own ₺70,000 cash prize fund, independent of the other Starbucks event. Furthermore, its prize chart includes a best-female-player cash award in each category, alongside places one to three.

Each category’s champion and best female player also receive a trophy. Likewise, the top three finishers and the best female player earn medals. These awards do not create separate women’s pairing sections. The official cash lines reconcile to ₺70,000 without relying on entry-fee assumptions.

♟️ Sections / Groups

Players select Category A or Category B according to their established ratings. Importantly, holding any FIDE ELO rating places a player within the published Category A definition, rather than Category B merely because the numerical ELO is low.

The entry categories are not separate age groups. Instead, they distinguish FIDE-rated from lower national-rating players. Therefore, applicants should disclose both their FIDE and UKD ratings and let the organizer confirm the correct section before paying.

📅 Schedule

All times use Istanbul local time (TRT, UTC+3). Each day includes three rounds. The registration desk operates only on the first morning; therefore, players must attend check-in and the technical meeting before Round 1.

The official timetable lists the last round at 5 PM on Tue, Nov 17, but gives no exact event finish time. Consequently, travelers should leave time for a long game and an awards ceremony rather than expect to depart immediately after the scheduled round start.

📝 Registration

First, use the official ${E(d.name)} registration form and select your eligible category. Then, follow the transfer instructions in the official regulations and email the receipt to poseidon.satranc.sk1@gmail.com. The organizer may remove an application after 24 hours if the receipt does not arrive.

Importantly, completing the TSF form does not override the entry limit. Moreover, a paid entrant must still comply with the license and rating rules. The organizer covers the FIDE rating contribution but does not waive the published ₺1,000 tournament fee.

The external Sarıyer registration link remains inside this description only. Therefore, the separate MyChess.Events Register for this tournament button retains its ordinary interest form and has no external registration URL.

🏛️ Organizer

Selectist produces events and operates the Frankhan cultural venue in Istanbul. During November 2026 it works with Starbucks to present two separate weekday chess tournaments, followed by its larger Selectist Chess Cup 2. The club Avcılar Poseidon Satranç Spor Kulübü handles the payment process described in the federation regulations.

The existing full Selectist organizer page already explains the business and its chess activities. Consequently, this event reuses that published profile instead of making a duplicate. Filiz Begüm Yeşilürdü serves as tournament director, and TSF Istanbul publishes the formal regulations.

📍 Venue

Play takes place at Starbucks Sarıyer Sahil, Yeni Mahalle Caddesi No:34, 34450 Sarıyer, Istanbul, Türkiye. This is a Starbucks café, not Frankhan, and the organizer’s map pin identifies its exact position. The Starbucks Türkiye directory confirms the branch’s published street details.

The Sarıyer Sahil branch stands on Yeni Mahalle Caddesi No:34 along the European-side Bosphorus waterfront. Moreover, the nearby commercial streets offer small restaurants and transit connections toward greater Istanbul.

The regulations identify the branch but do not publish a dedicated chess-room floor or special parking arrangement. Therefore, follow the event team’s venue instructions and verify any specific accessibility requirements before traveling.

🏨 Accommodation

The five individually listed Booking.com properties below provide options in the wider Sarıyer district. Their Stay22 links default to 2026-11-15 check-in and 2026-11-18 checkout, allowing a travel day before and after the two playing dates. Travelers may change dates, occupancy and room type.

The “from” hotel prices come from publicly indexed reference listings for other unspecified dates; they are not live quotes or guaranteed for November 2026. Therefore, the amount at checkout and the availability on tournament days may differ. In addition, some hotels require a taxi or local transit to the chess venue.

No special Selectist chess accommodation rate is announced for this location. Moreover, a room booking does not cover the tournament entry contribution. Compare distances to the actual Starbucks address rather than to Istanbul’s general city center.

🍽️ Nearby Restaurants & Cafés

The Starbucks branch offers café refreshments, while independent restaurants nearby can help with meals. However, each 60+30 game can take considerable time, so players should leave enough time to return before the next pairing.

Restaurant service and menus are independent of the chess event. Consequently, confirm weekday opening hours before leaving the playing venue. In addition, the organizer has not announced that an external meal is included in the entry fee.

🚆 How to Get There

The correct destination is Starbucks Sarıyer Sahil, Yeni Mahalle Caddesi No:34, 34450 Sarıyer, Istanbul, Türkiye. Use the official venue pin instead of the Frankhan address from the separate Selectist Chess Cup 2. Moreover, allow additional time for weekday Istanbul traffic and the 9 AM registration desk.

Use the Metro Istanbul and IETT bus services websites for live timetables. The tournament does not advertise an airport shuttle or an event transfer service.

ℹ️ Other Information

The Sarıyer Selectist Chess Cup stands alone as one two-day tournament with two rating sections and ₺70,000 in cash prizes. Category A earns FIDE ELO and UKD results, whereas Category B earns UKD results only. The other Starbucks event and the Frankhan chess competition have different registration forms and venue addresses.

The regulations also require a valid TSF license, timely confirmation of payment, age eligibility and compliance with the 15-minute default rule. Finally, check the official ${E(d.name)} regulations, specific online registration and Istanbul TSF announcement before the first round.