The VCH New Year Chess Tournament 2027 – Greifswald takes place on January 15–17, 2027, at VCH Hotel Greifswald in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. Schach Events and the host hotel organize this established New Year competition, giving local and visiting chess players a full weekend of classical games. The tournament offers five rounds with German DWZ rating evaluation.

Players may compete in groups based on their playing strength if at least 33 participants register. The organizers also plan a separate under-12 group if at least six eligible children enter with a DWZ below 1200. As a result, the format can accommodate different levels without separating participants from the shared venue and timetable.

The hotel offers special accommodation arrangements through Schach Events. Players can register online, stay at the venue and take part in an optional Saturday evening bowling event. The first round begins Friday at 6:00 PM, while Sunday’s final round starts at 2:00 PM. The organizer will hold the award ceremony by approximately 6:30 PM.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The organizers plan five Swiss-system rounds and use SwissManager for computer pairings. Every player receives 90 minutes for the first 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the remainder of the game. The official event regulations also apply FIDE Guidelines III.4 and a 15-minute default time. Participants should therefore arrive well before each published round start.

All sections receive German DWZ rating evaluation. At equal scores, the tournament uses Buchholz with one lowest result discarded, followed by progressive score and opponents’ average rating. This sequence determines final rankings when players finish with the same number of points.

🏆 Prize Fund

Each main playing group offers a prize schedule of €415 (approximately US$465), provided the conditions in the official regulations are met. The organizers guarantee the listed group prizes when they run a single group or the field reaches at least 40 participants. The group awards comprise five overall placements and three category prizes, while children’s prizes follow a separate noncash arrangement.

Category awards may recognize women, junior participants or particular DWZ ratings, depending on the number of eligible entrants. The organizers also distribute trophies and certificates. Players in the U12 group receive chess-related prizes rather than the standard main-group cash schedule.

♟️ Sections / Groups

The organizer may divide the competition into separate DWZ-rated groups if at least 33 people register. Each such group normally contains between 16 and 28 players. The actual group allocation therefore depends on the final entry list rather than fixed advance rating limits.

The under-12 section is conditional: organizers will form a separate children’s group when at least six players born in 2015 or later register with DWZ below 1200. Children under 12 who have a DWZ above 1200 may choose the appropriate main tournament rating group. The organizer confirms allocations after registrations have been reviewed.

📅 Schedule

Friday evening starts the classical tournament, followed by two games on Saturday and two on Sunday. All times use local German time (CET).

The Saturday bowling evening costs €8.50 per person, including lane and shoe hire. Participants can indicate interest in this optional program when registering. Competitors should allow enough time for their Sunday evening departure, particularly if they expect to receive an award.

📝 Registration

Complete the official VCH New Year Tournament 2027 registration form by December 23, 2026. The entry fee is €25. The form collects participants’ personal and playing details, accommodation preferences and interest in the optional bowling evening.

For direct inquiries, contact Guido Springer at GuidoSpringer@schachevents.de or by phone at +49 3834 254313. The organizers also accept registrations using the contact details published in the official event announcement. Review the payment instructions supplied on the organizer’s website before sending the entry fee.

🏛️ Organizer

Schach Events, managed by Guido Springer in Greifswald, conducts this tournament together with VCH Hotel Greifswald. The organizers run chess competitions in the region, including the established VCH New Year Tournament. This competition began in 2007 and later adopted its current compact five-round weekend format.

Schach Events coordinates registrations, DWZ-based group allocation, tournament pairings and the hotel accommodation arrangements. Participants can consult the official event website for the latest playing information.

📍 Venue

VCH Hotel Greifswald is located at Wilhelm-Holtz-Straße 5–8, 17489 Greifswald, Germany. The property includes guest rooms, conference facilities and a bowling center. The tournament uses the hotel as its playing venue, making an overnight stay convenient for visitors entering all five rounds.

Greifswald lies near the Baltic Sea coast, between the island of Rügen and Usedom. The university and Hanseatic city offers a compact setting for a January chess weekend. Participants staying elsewhere in town should plan their arrival at the hotel before Friday’s registration window.

🏨 Accommodation

VCH Hotel Greifswald — Tournament Accommodation

Schach Events arranges special hotel prices for registered tournament participants. The property uses apartment-style accommodation: two rooms share one bathroom. Players can choose either shared bathroom use or an option where the neighboring room remains unoccupied.

These special rates apply to bookings through Schach Events and may change if taxes change. Request your room through the tournament registration form rather than relying on public hotel rates. Additional hotel facilities and general contact information appear on the VCH Hotel website.

🚆 How to Get There

By Rail

Greifswald has rail connections to regional and long-distance services through northeastern Germany. Visitors arriving at Greifswald railway station can continue by local transport or taxi to Wilhelm-Holtz-Straße. Check the transport connection and hotel arrival time before traveling, especially if you plan to reach Friday’s 5:00 PM check-in.

By Car

Drivers can reach Greifswald through the regional road network linking it with the A20 motorway. Enter VCH Hotel Greifswald, Wilhelm-Holtz-Straße 5–8 into the navigation system. Consult the hotel directly about parking arrangements and availability.

For International Visitors

International travelers can compare flight and onward rail routes through northern German transport hubs. Because the tournament starts on Friday evening and finishes Sunday evening, an arrival on Friday afternoon and departure after the awards ceremony will require careful connection planning.

ℹ️ Other Information

Optional Bowling Evening

The organizers schedule a bowling evening on Saturday from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Participation costs €8.50 per person and includes lane and shoe hire. The hotel has an on-site bowling facility, so participants do not need to travel to a separate location for the activity.

DWZ Rating and Player Information

The event uses German DWZ ratings, and its conditional sections depend on registration numbers. The organizers publish players and results through Chess-Results. Players should confirm their correct personal information on the entry list ahead of the first round.

Useful Official Links

Official tournament announcement · Online registration · Chess-Results