The VI Bambuchess Chess Festival 2026 takes place from December 26–30, 2026, in Villablanca, Huelva, Spain. Escuela de Ajedrez Bambuchess and Villablanca City Council organize the festival at the Nave Municipal de Eventos.

The program includes two Masters groups, the Open IRT U2400, the Open IRT U1800, and the Bambuchess Christmas Blitz. Moreover, the festival offers international title-norm opportunities, FIDE-rated standard chess, and a total cash prize fund of €3,400.

The Masters groups run for five days. Meanwhile, the two open tournaments and the Christmas Blitz conclude on December 28. The organizer limits the complete festival to 120 participants and allocates places in payment order.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The festival uses different formats and time controls for each event. Therefore, players should review the conditions for their chosen section carefully.

Masters A and Masters B

Each Masters group consists of ten players who compete in a nine-round round robin. Moreover, the groups offer opportunities to achieve IM, WGM, and WIM norms.

Open IRT U2400

The Open IRT U2400 uses a seven-round Swiss system. Each player receives 60 minutes for the game and a 30-second increment after every move.

Open IRT U1800

The Open IRT U1800 offers eight Swiss-system rounds. Each player receives 30 minutes for the game, together with a 30-second increment from move one.

Bambuchess Christmas Blitz

The Christmas Blitz uses a nine-round Swiss system. In addition, every player receives three minutes and a two-second increment after each move.

The festival applies a 30-minute default time to the standard sections. Consequently, a player who arrives later may lose the game.

🏆 Prize Fund

The Open IRT U2400, Open IRT U1800, and Christmas Blitz offer a combined cash prize fund of €3,400, approximately $3,910.

Cash prizes do not accumulate unless the organizer approves an exception. Furthermore, Spanish tax withholding applies to individual prizes above €300.

Open IRT U2400 Prizes

Total section prize fund: €2,300 / approx. $2,650.

Open IRT U2400 Category Awards

Open IRT U1800 Prizes

Total section prize fund: €700 / approx. $810.

Open IRT U1800 Category Awards

Christmas Blitz Prizes

Total section prize fund: €400 / approx. $460.

Christmas Blitz Category Awards

Masters Awards

♟️ Sections / Groups

The festival offers five separate competitions. Therefore, players can choose an event that matches their rating and competitive goals.

Spanish players need a valid federation licence. Meanwhile, foreign players need an active FIDE identification number.

📅 Schedule

All times follow local time in Villablanca.

Masters A and Masters B

Open IRT U2400

Open IRT U1800

Christmas Blitz

📝 Registration

Players must register by email and complete payment before the organizer confirms their place. Moreover, the festival allocates its 120 places strictly in payment order.

Masters Entry Fee

Players should contact the organizer directly before applying for a Masters place.

Open IRT U2400 and U1800 Entry Fees

The returning-player rate applies to participants from the fifth Bambuchess Chess Festival.

The titled-player rate applies to GM, WGM, IM, WIM, FM, and WFM titleholders. Meanwhile, Spanish and regional age-group champions from U8 through U18 receive free entry.

Christmas Blitz Entry Fees

Blitz registration remains open through December 27, subject to capacity.

Required Registration Information

Players should email the following information:

1. Full first name and surname
2. Date of birth
3. Chess club
4. Chosen tournament
5. Recent player photograph for accreditation and table displays

Registration Email:
escuelabambuchess@gmail.com

Payment Details

Registration becomes complete only after the organizer receives the payment.

Registration Contacts

Jairo Samuel Lares: +34 650 59 64 67

Raquel Pablos Tenrero: +34 639 11 16 56

Email: escuelabambuchess@gmail.com

🏛️ Organizer

📍 Venue

Nave Municipal de Eventos – Calle Severo Ochoa s/n, 21590 Villablanca, Huelva, Spain.

The municipal event hall hosts all five festival competitions. Moreover, the venue stands within walking distance of central Villablanca and Pensión Villablanca.

The organizer arranges live transmission from selected top boards. In addition, partner restaurants will offer special menus for participating players.

Accommodation

Players can reserve the official accommodation options through the festival organizer. The prices below apply per room, per night.

Hotel Rural Terrablanca

Hotel Rural Terrablanca stands approximately 2 kilometres from the playing hall.

Pensión Villablanca

Pensión Villablanca stands approximately 500 metres from the playing hall.

Hostal San Silvestre

Hostal San Silvestre stands approximately 10 kilometres from the playing hall.

Players should request accommodation through:

Email: escuelabambuchess@gmail.com

Phone: +34 650 59 64 67

Accommodation payments use the same festival bank account. However, the payment reference should contain the player’s name and accommodation name.

🚌 How to Get There

The organizer works with Taxi Rodrigo Ayamonte to provide transfers from airports, railway stations, bus stations, and nearby towns. Therefore, international players should arrange their transfer before travelling.

Official Transport Contact

Taxi Rodrigo Ayamonte

Phone and WhatsApp: +34 686 08 87 57

Arrival Advice

Round 1 begins at 16:30 on December 26. Therefore, players should arrive early enough to confirm their participation and find their assigned boards.

December bus schedules may differ from regular weekday services. Consequently, participants should check the current M-316 timetable before travelling.

ℹ️ Other Information

Byes

Players in the Open IRT U2400 and Open IRT U1800 may request up to two half-point byes through Round 5.

After Round 5, every requested bye receives zero points. Players must submit requests in writing before the tournament or before the previous round ends.

Tie-Breaks

The Masters groups use the following tie-break criteria:

1. Direct Encounter
2. Greater Number of Wins
3. Sonneborn-Berger
4. Koya System
5. Rapid Playoff
6. Armageddon

The Open U2400, Open U1800, and Blitz use:

1. Direct Encounter
2. Buchholz Cut 1
3. Buchholz
4. Greater Number of Wins
5. Greater Number of Games with Black
6. Sonneborn-Berger

No-Shows

An unjustified absence may result in removal from the tournament. Moreover, the organizer may refuse the player’s entry at future Bambuchess festivals.

Accessibility

Players who require assistance because of a disability should state their needs during registration.

The organizer can assist with moving pieces, recording moves, or operating the clock. This service remains free, subject to availability.

Team Awards

The organizer calculates each club’s team score through its four highest-placed players.

When teams finish level, the organizer compares the combined Buchholz Total of those four players.

Live Broadcast

The organizer will broadcast games from selected top boards. Therefore, spectators can follow featured festival games online.

Pairings and Results

Chess-Results publishes the player lists, pairings, standings, and results separately for each event.

Masters A:
https://s1.chess-results.com/tnr1458042.aspx?lan=1&flag=30&turdet=YES&SNode=S0

Masters B:
https://s3.chess-results.com/tnr1458044.aspx?lan=1&flag=30&turdet=YES&SNode=S0

Open IRT U2400:
https://s2.chess-results.com/tnr1458046.aspx?lan=1&flag=30&turdet=YES&SNode=S0

Open IRT U1800:
https://s3.chess-results.com/tnr1458045.aspx?lan=1&flag=30&turdet=YES&SNode=S0

Christmas Blitz:
https://s2.chess-results.com/tnr1458048.aspx?lan=1&flag=30&turdet=YES&SNode=S0