Trofeul Cavalerii Mării Negre 2026 – 3rd Edition
Trofeul Cavalerii Mării Negre 2026 – 3rd Edition takes place in Năvodari from October 28 to November 1. CS Șah Club Galați organizes four junior sections at Centrul de Afaceri Năvodari. Moreover, the festival separates FIDE-rated U10 and U20 tournaments from two introductory sections for unregistered juniors.
The FIDE U10 and U20 sections use seven Swiss rounds at 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move. The two unregistered sections use seven rounds at 25 minutes plus ten seconds per move. Therefore, families should verify the correct section and player-list link before arrival.
The organizer publishes no entry fee and a complete net cash prize schedule totaling RON 37,200. In addition, Hotel La Scoica Land offers a published accommodation option. The official page contains a small date typo in one activity line, so the reconciled festival dates remain October 28 to November 1.
📌 Event Details
| 📅 Dates | October 28–November 1, 2026 |
| 🌍 Location | Năvodari, Romania |
| 📍 Venue | Centrul de Afaceri Năvodari – Bulevardul Mamaia Nord 6, 905700 Năvodari, Romania |
| 🏢 Organizer | CS Șah Club Galați |
| 👤 Contact Person | Lucian Jugaru |
| ♟️ Sections | FIDE U10, FIDE U20, Unregistered U10, and Unregistered U20 |
| 🔢 Rounds | 7 in each section |
| ⏱️ FIDE Time Control | 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move |
| ⏱️ Unregistered Time Control | 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move |
| 💳 Entry Fee | Free |
| 💰 Fixed Net Cash Prize Fund | RON 37,200 |
| 🔗 Chess-Results – FIDE U10 | https://chess-results.com/tnr1386391.aspx?lan=1 |
| 🔗 Chess-Results – FIDE U20 | https://chess-results.com/tnr1386122.aspx?lan=1 |
| 🔗 Chess-Results – Unregistered U10 | https://chess-results.com/tnr1439331.aspx?lan=1 |
| 🔗 Chess-Results – Unregistered U20 | https://chess-results.com/tnr1439329.aspx?lan=1 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The FIDE U10 and U20 sections use 90+30. Consequently, those tournaments receive classical playing conditions and require notation.
The unregistered U10 and U20 sections use 25+10. Therefore, they follow a shorter introductory format while remaining separate from the FIDE fields.
All four sections contain seven Swiss rounds. Moreover, families should confirm the correct attendance time because the FIDE and unregistered schedules start on different days.
🏆 Prize Fund
The official organizer page publishes a RON 37,200 fixed net cash prize fund. Using the ECB reference rates dated June 26, 2026, the verified total equals approximately $8,100 after the established upward rounding rule.
The complete regulations allocate prizes among the four sections and special classifications. Players should confirm eligibility and non-cumulative conditions before the awards ceremony.
| Award / Item | Published Information |
|---|---|
| Total Fixed Net Cash Prizes | RON 37,200 |
| Entry Fee | Free |
| Prize Allocation | Four tournament sections and official special categories |
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section / Category | Eligibility | Format / Award |
|---|---|---|
| FIDE U20 | Eligible registered juniors under the final age rule | Seven rounds, 90+30 |
| FIDE U10 | Eligible registered juniors under the final age rule | Seven rounds, 90+30 |
| Unregistered U20 | Eligible juniors without federation registration | Seven rounds, 25+10 |
| Unregistered U10 | Eligible juniors without federation registration | Seven rounds, 25+10 |
The organizer’s latest regulations determine final eligibility and award allocation. Therefore, participants should report any incorrect section or category before the first round.
🗓️ Schedule
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| October 28 | 16:00 | Technical meeting |
| October 28 | 16:30 | Opening ceremony |
| October 28 | 17:00 | FIDE sections Round 1 |
| October 29 | 10:00 | FIDE sections Round 2 |
| October 29 | 17:00 | FIDE sections Round 3 |
| October 30 | 10:00 | FIDE sections Round 4 |
| October 30 | 17:00 | FIDE sections Round 5 |
| October 31 | 10:00 | Festival simultaneous exhibition under organizer notice |
| October 31 | 15:30 | FIDE Round 6; unregistered sections Rounds 1–4 |
| November 1 | 10:00 | FIDE Round 7 |
| November 1 | 11:00 | Unregistered sections Rounds 5–7 |
| November 1 | After final games | Awards ceremony |
📝 Registration
The organizer publishes free entry for the festival. Nevertheless, families must register through the official channel and wait for section confirmation.
Questions may be directed to Lucian Jugaru at +40 744 131 263 or jugarul@yahoo.com. Moreover, parents should verify age eligibility, federation status, accommodation, and arrival time.
👤 Organizer
CS Șah Club Galați organizes the third edition. Lucian Jugaru appears as the principal registration and event contact.
The four Chess-Results records form one official program. Consequently, this page groups their shared venue and logistics while preserving the different eligibility and time controls.
📍 Venue
Centrul de Afaceri Năvodari – Bulevardul Mamaia Nord 6, 905700 Năvodari, Romania.
The business centre hosts the playing halls in Năvodari. Moreover, the location lies near the Mamaia Nord coastal accommodation area.
Families should confirm the tournament entrance and room allocation. Therefore, they should arrive before the technical meeting or section-specific check-in.
🚗 How to Get There
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| From Constanța railway station | Continue by regional bus, taxi, rideshare, or arranged transfer toward Năvodari and Mamaia Nord. |
| From Mihail Kogălniceanu Airport | Use a pre-arranged transfer, taxi, or rental car and confirm the current road route. |
| By car | Enter Bulevardul Mamaia Nord 6 and confirm participant parking. |
| By regional bus | Check current Constanța–Năvodari services because seasonal frequencies may change. |
| Departure planning | The final sections and awards take place on November 1, so families should avoid an early return booking. |
Transport schedules, road conditions, and parking rules can change. Therefore, participants should verify the route shortly before departure and retain the organizer’s contact details.
🏨 Accommodation Near the Venue
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Hotel La Scoica Land | The organizer publishes a rate of 250 lei per double room per night with breakfast. Booking contact: +40 728 726 422. |
| Phoenicia Holiday Resort | A Mamaia Nord option with onward road travel to the business centre. |
| Năvodari guesthouses | The surrounding area offers apartments and guesthouses. Verify heating, breakfast, parking, and cancellation terms for late October. |
Accommodation is not included unless the organizer confirms otherwise. Consequently, players should verify price, availability, cancellation terms, breakfast hours, and the exact venue transfer directly with the property.
ℹ️ Other Information
- Four junior sections form one festival.
- Every section contains seven rounds.
- FIDE sections use 90+30.
- Unregistered sections use 25+10.
- Entry is free under the official announcement.
- The fixed net cash total is RON 37,200.
- The official page contains a minor date typo in one activity line.
- Families should verify federation status before choosing a section.
✅ Final Checks Before Travel
Before departure, participants should recheck the accepted-player list, current regulations, venue address, and organizer messages. Moreover, they should save the route and leave enough time for attendance confirmation.
Tournament information can change as registration closes. Therefore, the latest official notice takes priority over preliminary listings. In addition, players should reconfirm round times, section placement, fees, awards, and transport shortly before the event.
Finally, visitors should keep the organizer’s contact details available during the journey. Consequently, they can resolve a delayed connection, room change, or entry question without relying on an older document.
🧭 Practical Tournament Planning
Players should store the official links offline before travel. Moreover, they should take a screenshot of their accepted entry and note the tournament contact.
A compact tournament can still require a full day away from home. Therefore, participants should prepare water, permitted snacks, medication, charging arrangements, and a realistic return plan.
In addition, every player should check the current Laws of Chess and the event-specific electronic-device policy. Consequently, phones and smart devices should remain switched off and stored exactly as the arbiter instructs.
🔗 Official Resources
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $8,100
Organizer
♟️ About CS Șah Club Galați
CS Șah Club Galați is an active chess organization based in Galați, eastern Romania. The club has operated since 2009 and supports both competitive chess and grassroots development. It works with children, juniors, adult players, schools, coaches, and local institutions. Therefore, its activities extend beyond regular club competition.
The organization provides a structured environment where players can learn, practice, and compete. In addition, CS Șah Club Galați promotes chess as an educational activity that develops concentration, patience, strategic thinking, and responsible decision-making. The club’s official programs include training groups for beginners, intermediate players, and advanced competitors. It has also offered individual preparation and online training sessions.
🎓 Chess Training and Junior Development
Junior development plays a central role in the work of CS Șah Club Galați. The club helps young players progress from their first lessons to rated competitions and national-level events. Coaches adapt the training process to each player’s experience and competitive goals. As a result, students can build their skills gradually while gaining practical tournament experience.
Moreover, the club cooperates with schools, children’s institutions, municipal organizations, and other chess associations. These partnerships help introduce chess to children who may not otherwise have access to organized instruction. For example, the club supported a free school chess project in Grivița, Galați County. More than 100 pupils initially showed interest in that initiative. Consequently, the project demonstrated the strong demand for accessible chess education outside major urban centers.
🏆 Tournaments and Chess Activities
CS Șah Club Galați organizes and supports a broad range of chess events. Its program includes classical, rapid, junior, school, team, and FIDE-rated competitions. The club has developed recurring events such as the Trofeul Șah Club Galați and the Cavalerii Mării Negre Trophy. It also contributes to school circuits, community competitions, and joint events across Galați and Brăila.
The Cavalerii Mării Negre series has become one of the club’s most ambitious junior projects. Its program combines FIDE-rated tournaments for registered players with separate sections for children who are new to organized chess. The festival also includes age-category prizes, club classifications, educational activities, and opportunities to meet leading Romanian players. The third edition takes place in Năvodari from October 28 to November 1, 2026. It offers four junior sections and free participation.
In addition, the club regularly cooperates with organizations such as the Șah în Școală program, CSM Galați, schools, universities, parishes, and local authorities. These partnerships allow the organizer to reach different age groups and communities. Therefore, CS Șah Club Galați combines competitive tournament organization with long-term chess education and regional development.
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