VCH-Open 2026 will take place from August 28 to 30, 2026, in Greifswald, Germany. The tournament will be hosted at VCH Hotel Greifswald and organized by VCH Hotel together with Schach Events.
The event will be played over five Swiss-system rounds. Each player will receive 90 minutes for the first 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game. The tournament will be submitted for DWZ rating calculation.
Depending on the number and rating distribution of participants, the field may be divided into DWZ-based groups. The cash prize fund is €415 per group / approx. $480 per group when the published guarantee conditions are met.
🗓️ Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | August 28–30, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Greifswald, Germany |
| 🏛️ Venue | VCH Hotel Greifswald |
| ♟️ Format | 5-round Swiss system |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 90 minutes for 40 moves + 30 minutes for the rest of the game |
| ⭐ Rating | DWZ rated |
| 🔢 Number of Rounds | 5 |
| 👥 Sections | Possible DWZ-based groups; possible separate U12 group |
| 💰 Prize Fund | €415 per group / approx. $480 per group |
| 👤 Organizer | Schach Events |
| 🌐 Chess-Results | https://chess-results.com/tnr1427287.aspx?lan=1 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The competition will consist of five Swiss-system rounds. Each player will have 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the remainder of the game. Pairings will be generated with Swiss-Manager.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| System | Swiss system |
| Rounds | 5 |
| Time Control | 90 minutes for 40 moves + 30 minutes for the rest of the game |
| Pairing Program | Swiss-Manager |
| Rating Calculation | DWZ |
| Default Time | 15 minutes |
The tie-break order is:
- Buchholz score with one cut
- Progressive score
- Average rating of opponents
🏆 Prize Fund
The cash prize fund is €415 per group / approx. $480 per group. The full cash-prize structure per group is guaranteed when the tournament is played as one group or when the total field reaches at least 40 participants.
| Prize | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st Place | €100 |
| 2nd Place | €75 |
| 3rd Place | €60 |
| 4th Place | €50 |
| 5th Place | €40 |
| Three Category Prizes | €30 each |
Each group winner will also receive a trophy, while certificates will be awarded within the groups. Category prizes may include women, youth, or DWZ categories depending on the final number of participants in each category.
♟️ Sections / Groups
The tournament may be divided into DWZ-based groups when at least 32 players participate. Each group is expected to contain approximately 16 to 26 players.
A separate U12 group may be created when at least six children born in 2014 or later register for the event.
📅 Schedule
Friday, August 28, 2026
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 17:00–17:45 | On-site registration |
| 18:00 | Round 1 |
Saturday, August 29, 2026
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 09:00 | Round 2 |
| 14:00 | Round 3 |
| 19:00–21:00 | Optional bowling activity |
Sunday, August 30, 2026
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 09:00 | Round 4 |
| 14:00 | Round 5 |
| By approximately 18:30 | Award ceremony |
📝 Registration
Players can register through the official online registration form. The registration deadline is August 7, 2026.
| Registration Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Entry Fee | €25 |
| Registration Deadline | August 7, 2026 |
| On-site Registration | August 28, 2026, from 17:00 to 17:45 |
| Registration Page | https://schachschule-greifswald.de/schach-events/vch-open/vch-open-2026/anmeldung/ |
The entry fee should be transferred to the following account:
| Payment Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Account Holder | Schachschule Greifswald |
| IBAN | DE43 3002 0900 5350 9370 80 |
| BIC | CMCIDEDDXXX |
| Payment Reference | VCH-Open, participant name |
The optional bowling activity costs €8.50 per person, including lane use and shoes.
👤 Organizer
| Organizer Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organizer | Schach Events |
| Representative | Guido Springer |
| Chief Arbiter | Guido Springer |
| GuidoSpringer@schachevents.de | |
| Phone | +49 3834 254313 / +49 1520 1912093 |
📍 Venue
VCH Hotel Greifswald – Wilhelm-Holtz-Straße 5–8, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
The tournament will be played at the hotel complex, which also offers accommodation, restaurant facilities, and an on-site bowling center.
🚆 How to Get There
VCH Hotel Greifswald is located approximately 1.5 km south of Greifswald railway station. The historic city center can be reached on foot in approximately 20 minutes.
A local bus stop is located approximately 150 metres from the hotel.
ℹ️ Other Information
Accommodation
Accommodation can be booked directly through Schach Events at VCH Hotel Greifswald. Room prices include breakfast and apply only to bookings arranged through the tournament organizer.
| Accommodation Option | Price per Night |
|---|---|
| Single Room, Shared Bathroom | from €55 |
| Twin Room, Shared Bathroom | from €75 |
| Single Room, Private Bathroom | from €67.50 |
| Twin Room, Private Bathroom | from €99 |
| Double Room for Single Use | from €82.50 |
| 3-person Apartment | €130 |
| 4-person Apartment | €150 |
| 5-person Apartment | €172 |
Official Tournament Page
https://schachschule-greifswald.de/schach-events/vch-open/vch-open-2026/
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $480 per group
Organizer
♟️ About the Organizer
Schach Events is a chess tournament organizer based in Greifswald, Germany. Guido Springer manages its tournament activity and serves as the main contact for players. The organizer focuses on recurring over-the-board chess competitions in Greifswald.
Schach Events organizes several tournaments each year at VCH Hotel Greifswald. Its program includes shorter weekend competitions and longer classical events. The weekend tournaments usually feature five rounds and German DWZ rating calculation. The longer events normally feature seven rounds with both DWZ and FIDE rating calculation.
The organizer publishes tournament regulations, registration forms, schedules, participant information, and results through its official website. Players can also contact Guido Springer directly by email or telephone. This structure gives participants one central source for tournament planning and registration.
🏆 Chess Events and Activities
The main Schach Events tournament series includes the VCH-Neujahrsturnier, VCH-Open, Ryck-Open, and Greifswalder Springer. These events take place at different points during the year. The official tournament archive includes editions from many previous seasons.
The VCH-Neujahrsturnier and VCH-Open usually use a five-round weekend format. Organizers may divide players into rating groups when enough participants register. Some editions also provide a separate group for younger players.
The Ryck-Open and Greifswalder Springer use a longer format. The Ryck-Open 2026 runs from July 15 to 19, 2026. It features seven Swiss-system rounds and allows up to 50 participants. The event counts for both DWZ and FIDE rating.
🌍 Player Services and Tournament Support
Schach Events works with VCH Hotel Greifswald on its main tournament program. The hotel serves as the playing venue for the recurring events. This arrangement allows players to compete and stay at the same location.
The organizer also coordinates selected accommodation options for tournament participants. Official event pages provide room information and booking conditions. Players can request accommodation when they submit their tournament registration.
Some tournament programs include additional activities such as bowling evenings. Youth competitions have also accompanied selected editions of the Greifswalder Springer. These activities expand the event program beyond the classical rounds.
Hotels Near the Venue
Find nearby accommodation for this tournament location.
