The SERPIANO Over 50 5Days Open 2026, April 29-May 3, 2026, in Serpiano, Switzerland combines a relaxed lake-and-mountain setting with five rounds of classical, FIDE-rated chess inside a dedicated hotel venue. Swiss Chess Tour runs the event for senior players who want serious standard-play games with a clear Swiss-system structure, a practical midweek-to-weekend schedule, and a comfortable on-site base for the full tournament.
You get a compact 5-round Swiss with increment, Buchholz as the technical tie-break, and an early-round bye option that supports travel flexibility. The tournament awards a published CHF 1,450 cash prize fund when at least 16 players participate and adjusts the payout pro rata when entries fall below that level, keeping the sporting incentives aligned with the final field size.
🗓️ Event Details
| 📅 Dates | April 29-May 3, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Serpiano, Switzerland |
| ♟️ Format | 5-round Swiss System |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE rated (Standard) |
| 📂 Sections | Over 50 (5Days) |
| ⏱️ Time control | 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move |
| 💳 Entry fee | CHF 100; IM/GM/U16: CHF 80; FSTI discount: -20% |
| 💰 Prize fund | CHF 1,450 (from 16 players; otherwise pro rata) |
| 👤 Eligibility | Over 50 |
| 🧩 Organizer notes | Each player may request a 1/2-point bye in the first 3 rounds; technical tie-break: Buchholz |
🏆 Prize Fund
| Prize | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total cash prize fund | CHF 1,450 (from 16 players; otherwise pro rata) |
| 1st Prize | CHF 400 |
| 2nd Prize | CHF 300 |
| 3rd Prize | CHF 200 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The tournament plays a 5-round Swiss with a time control of 90 minutes plus 30 seconds increment per move and rates games for FIDE standard rating. Each player may request a 1/2-point bye in the first 3 rounds. The tournament uses Buchholz as the technical tie-break.
📂 Sections / Groups
The event runs as a single Over 50 section across five rounds.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Weekday | Time | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 29, 2026 | Wednesday | 1:00pm–1:50pm | Check-in |
| April 29, 2026 | Wednesday | 2:00pm | Round 1 |
| April 30, 2026 | Thursday | 2:00pm | Round 2 |
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | 2:00pm | Round 3 |
| May 2, 2026 | Saturday | 4:00pm | Round 4 |
| May 3, 2026 | Sunday | 10:00am | Round 5 |
| May 3, 2026 | Sunday | After Round 5 | Awards |
📝 Registration
Register online through the official Swiss Chess Tour registration page and complete the entry process with the organizer.
Registration page: https://swisschesstour.com/1/serpiano_festival_4366510.html
Organizer contacts: https://swisschesstour.com/1/contacts_3401351.html
👥 Organizer
Swiss Chess Tour, led by Claudio Boschetti, runs the Serpiano senior event as a structured 5-day classical tournament hosted at Hotel Serpiano, combining a clear round schedule with FIDE-rated play and an on-site hotel base designed for a complete chess holiday experience.
Email: swisschesstour@bluewin.ch
Phone: +41 79 620 53 26
Website: https://www.swisschesstour.com/
🏨 Venue
Hotel Serpiano, Via Serpiano, CH-6867 Serpiano, Switzerland
Hotel Serpiano hosts the full tournament program on site, providing a single-location playing experience throughout the event. The hotel setting supports a stay-and-play routine that fits a five-day chess schedule.
🛎️ Accommodation
Hotel Serpiano offers special business room rates per room, per night, including buffet breakfast and VAT. The local tourist tax of CHF 4.10 per person per night is not included.
Comfort Single (1 single bed): CHF 99 per night
Comfort Double (2 beds): CHF 148 per night
The hotel provides free Wi-Fi and free nearby parking. The hotel also offers access to the spa center with pool, whirlpool, sauna, and steam bath, and it provides a bathrobe for use during your stay.
🚗 How to Get There
Travel directly to Hotel Serpiano at Via Serpiano, CH-6867 Serpiano and plan your arrival to complete check-in before Round 1 on Wednesday. Use the hotel’s nearby free parking when you arrive by car.
Bring your best classical form and turn five rounds in Serpiano’s lake-and-mountain setting into a complete spring tournament experience.
Additional Details
Prize Fund - CHF 1,450
Organizer
The Swiss Chess Tour stands as Switzerland’s foremost circuit of open tournaments, dedicated to promoting over-the-board chess across the country’s most scenic regions. Since its inception, the Tour has organized marquee events such as the Lenzerheide Amateur, the Pontresina Open, the Biel Masters, and the Lugano Summer Festival, drawing both aspiring talents and seasoned grandmasters. Each tournament under the Swiss Chess Tour banner features FIDE-rated, norm-eligible formats, live digital pairings, and professional side-events—ensuring a world-class experience for every participant.
Beyond its flagship opens, the Swiss Chess Tour sustains year-round activity through rapid and blitz series, scholastic workshops, and community outreach in partnership with local clubs and cultural institutions. Tournament Director Claudio Boschetti and his team of certified International Arbiters deliver precise pairings, clear rule enforcement, and multilingual support. Their commitment to hospitality extends to curated excursion packages—lake cruises, mountain tram rides, and guided Old-Town tours—that blend competitive chess with Swiss cultural immersion.