Stanislovas Biržiškis Memorial Rapid Chess Tournament 2026
Stanislovas Biržiškis Memorial Rapid Chess Tournament 2026 returns to Pajūris on September 19 for the fourteenth edition of the community rapid memorial. Pajūris Stanislovas Biržiškis Gymnasium and Šilalė District Municipality organize an open A tournament together with a separate U12 B tournament. Moreover, both groups contain nine Swiss rounds and contribute to FIDE rapid rating.
The open section uses 12+5, while the U12 section uses 15+5. The current open-section notice has already moved additional applications to a waiting list, which means that an online application does not guarantee a place. Therefore, players should wait for direct acceptance before they arrange accommodation or long-distance travel. Finally, the school venue offers a strong local setting, although the small-town location requires careful transport planning.
📌 Event Details
| 📅 Date | September 19, 2026 |
| 🕒 Start Time | 10:00 |
| 🌍 Location | Pajūris, Šilalė District, Lithuania |
| 📍 Venue | Pajūris Stanislovas Biržiškis Gymnasium – Dariaus ir Girėno g. 35, LT-75289 Pajūris, Lithuania |
| 🏢 Organizers | Pajūris Stanislovas Biržiškis Gymnasium and Šilalė District Municipality |
| ♟️ Format | Two individual Swiss-system rapid tournaments |
| 🔢 Rounds | 9 in each section |
| 📊 Rating | FIDE rapid rating |
| 👤 Tournament Director | NA Tomas Veščiūnas |
| ⚖️ Chief Arbiter – A Tournament | NA Algirdas Rauduvė |
| 🔗 Chess-Results – A Tournament | https://chess-results.com/tnr1415010.aspx?lan=1&turdet=YES |
| 🔗 Chess-Results – B U12 Tournament | https://chess-results.com/tnr1415018.aspx?lan=1&turdet=YES |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
| Section | Eligibility | Time Control | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Tournament | Open | 12 minutes plus 5 seconds per move | 9 Swiss rounds |
| B Tournament | U12 | 15 minutes plus 5 seconds per move | 9 Swiss rounds |
The organizer submits both sections for FIDE rapid rating. In addition, each group uses its own Chess-Results file, so players must follow the correct pairing list.
The linked official regulations control tie-breaks, category rules, entry conditions, and the complete award structure. Therefore, participants should keep the latest version available.
🏆 Prize Fund
Total Published Cash Prize Fund: €750 / approx. $860.
| Published Award | Cash Prize |
|---|---|
| A Tournament – 1st Place | €300 |
| A Tournament – 2nd Place | €250 |
| A Tournament – 3rd Place | €200 |
This total combines the published first-, second-, and third-place cash prizes in Tournament A. In addition, the regulations may include category awards or U12 prizes; however, this page does not assign a monetary value to unverified or non-cash awards.
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Tournament A | Open rapid tournament |
| Tournament B | Players under 12 |
The current Tournament A notice uses a waiting list for additional applications. Consequently, waiting-list status does not authorize travel or guarantee participation.
🗓️ Schedule
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| September 19 | Before 10:00 | Arrival and section confirmation |
| September 19 | 10:00 | Published tournament start |
| During the Day | Nine rapid rounds in each section | |
| After the Final Round | Awards according to the official program |
The organizer will confirm the detailed round timetable through the official regulations or direct communication. Therefore, players should arrive early enough to solve any section or identity issue before 10:00.
📝 Registration
The organizer manages entries separately for Tournament A and Tournament B. Parents who enter a U12 player should verify the age cutoff, identification, federation data, supervision, and collection arrangements.
Because Tournament A currently uses a waiting list, players should request explicit acceptance before they book a room. In addition, they should check the correct Chess-Results file shortly before the event.
👤 Organizer
| Organizers | Pajūris Stanislovas Biržiškis Gymnasium and Šilalė District Municipality |
| Tournament Director | NA Tomas Veščiūnas |
| Chief Arbiter – A Tournament | NA Algirdas Rauduvė |
| School Website | https://pajuris.silale.lm.lt/ |
📍 Venue
Pajūris Stanislovas Biržiškis Gymnasium – Dariaus ir Girėno g. 35, LT-75289 Pajūris, Lithuania. The gymnasium hosts the tournament at Dariaus ir Girėno g. 35 in Pajūris. The school lies in a small town within Šilalė District rather than in Šilalė city itself.
Route planners should therefore include Pajūris and the LT-75289 postal code. Moreover, participants should expect fewer local transport and accommodation options than they would find in a larger city.
🚗 How to Get There
| Travel Option | Practical Information |
|---|---|
| By Car | Driving provides the most practical option for many participants. Enter the complete school address and allow time for rural roads and event parking. |
| By Intercity Bus | Compare services to Šilalė, Tauragė, Klaipėda, or another regional hub, then arrange the onward local bus or taxi to Pajūris. |
| From Šilalė | Continue by regional bus, taxi, or private car. Because weekend rural services may be limited, confirm the connection in advance. |
| From Klaipėda or Kaunas Airports | Both airports require a substantial onward road journey. International visitors should arrive in the region on the previous day. |
| Parking | Follow the school’s on-site signs and avoid blocking residential or school access. The organizer has not announced a guaranteed parking allocation. |
🏨 Accommodation Near the Venue
Accommodation inside Pajūris remains limited. Therefore, accepted players should compare local rural options with conventional rooms in Šilalė and should arrange the morning transfer before booking.
| Accommodation Option | Location and Practical Notes |
|---|---|
| Muontis Hotel, Šilalė | A conventional hotel in central Šilalė. Current details appear through Visit Šilalė. |
| Floros namai, Šilalė | Guesthouse rooms with Wi-Fi, private parking, and an electric-vehicle charging point. See Visit Šilalė. |
| Šerpyčiai Rural Homestead, Pajūris | A local rural option at Jūros g. 8 with sleeping places and basic facilities. See Visit Šilalė. |
| Pajūris Recreational Campsite | A free basic tent-camping area by the Jūra River rather than a hotel. See https://visitsilale.lt/tic-apgyvendinimas/. |
ℹ️ Other Information
- The event represents the fourteenth memorial edition.
- The program combines an open tournament and a separate U12 tournament.
- The organizer submits both sections for FIDE rapid rating.
- Tournament A currently uses a waiting list.
- Local room supply remains limited, so accepted players should book early.
- The memorial forms part of the school and district’s recurring community chess program.
🔗 Official Resources
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $860
Organizer
🎓 About the Organizer
Pajūris Stanislovas Biržiškis Gymnasium is a municipal educational institution in Pajūris, Šilalė District, Lithuania. Its history began in 1853, when a parish school opened in the town.
The institution expanded gradually from a primary school into a full secondary school. In 2006, it received the name of Stanislovas Biržiškis, a Lithuanian educator, agronomist, ethnographer, public figure, and chess enthusiast. The school gained gymnasium status in 2009.
Today, the gymnasium provides preschool, primary, lower-secondary, and upper-secondary education. It also offers extracurricular programs, sporting activities, cultural projects, and international educational initiatives.
Juozas Žymančius serves as Director of the Gymnasium. Together with teachers and community partners, the school promotes responsibility, knowledge, creativity, cooperation, and active participation.
♟️ Chess Tournaments and Activities
Chess holds an important place in the gymnasium’s extracurricular and sporting program. The school organizes competitions, maintains a student chess group, and supports participation in district and national school tournaments.
Its main public chess event is the annual Stanislovas Biržiškis Memorial Rapid Chess Tournament. The competition honors the person whose name the gymnasium carries and preserves his strong interest in chess.
The memorial has developed into a well-established tournament for adults, juniors, and young beginners. It attracts players from different parts of Lithuania and combines competitive chess with a strong local and educational tradition.
The 14th Stanislovas Biržiškis Memorial takes place at the gymnasium on September 19, 2026. The program includes an open A tournament and a separate B tournament for players under 12.
Both sections use the Swiss system and consist of nine rounds. The games count toward the FIDE rapid rating. Therefore, participants can enjoy a one-day community event while also competing under official international rating conditions.
The gymnasium organizes the tournament with Šilalė District Municipality, the Biržiškis family, Pajūris Eldership, Šilalė chess club Dvaras, and other local supporters. Tomas Veščiūnas serves as Tournament Director and manages participant registration.
🌱 School Chess and Youth Development
The gymnasium uses chess to develop concentration, logical thinking, patience, and responsible decision-making. Students can learn the game through extracurricular sessions and then progress into formal competitions.
The school also hosts district chess events for primary-school pupils. These competitions give young players their first experience of tournament rules, time limits, and structured play.
Pajūris students regularly represent the gymnasium in the Lithuanian School Games and other regional or national competitions. Moreover, the school’s teams have achieved strong results in Šilalė District qualification events.
The annual memorial creates an additional development pathway. Younger players can begin in the U12 section, while stronger juniors may enter the main tournament when they meet the rating conditions.
Through school instruction, district events, team participation, and its annual FIDE-rated tournament, Pajūris Stanislovas Biržiškis Gymnasium supports chess education in a rural Lithuanian community. It also brings together pupils, families, adult competitors, and experienced tournament players.
Hotels Near the Venue
Find nearby accommodation for this tournament location.
