VI Chess Festival for the Cup of the Mayor of Kolbudy 2026 takes place in Kowale, Poland, from June 28 to July 5, 2026. The festival will be played at Szkoła Podstawowa w Kowalach, a school venue in the Gdańsk metropolitan area.

The event offers six tournament groups. Group A is the main FIDE-rated classical tournament, while Groups B, C, and D give developing players a chance to compete in rating-based sections. In addition, the festival includes a U12 junior event and an open blitz tournament.

The structure works well for different playing levels. Moreover, the organizers provide a long main classical event, shorter rating-category tournaments, a junior section, and a blitz side event in one festival program.

🏁 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The festival uses Swiss-system tournaments across all groups. Group A has 9 rounds with 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move. This group also counts for FIDE rating, so foreign players must have a valid FIDE ID from their national federation.

Group B has 8 rounds with 60 minutes per player. Meanwhile, Groups C and D use shorter formats. Group C has 7 rounds with 30 minutes per player, and Group D has 6 rounds with 30 minutes per player.

The U12 tournament, Group E, has 9 rounds with 10 minutes plus 5 seconds per move. In addition, Group F is an open blitz tournament with 11 rounds and a 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move time control.

Players can earn Polish chess categories in Groups A, B, C, and D. The maximum allowed lateness is 30 minutes, so players should reach the board before that limit.

💰 Prize Fund

The festival publishes PLN 9,350 in confirmed prize value, approx. USD 2,600, across Groups A, B, C, and D. Group A has PLN 5,300 in cash prizes, approx. USD 1,470. Groups B, C, and D offer EMPiK gift cards with a combined value of PLN 4,050.

Group A – Main Cash Prizes

Group A – Special Cash Prizes

Special prizes apply only when at least three players compete in the relevant category.

Groups B, C, and D – EMPiK Gift Cards

These gift-card prizes apply separately in Groups B, C, and D. In addition, the organizers plan surprise prizes.

Prize details for Groups E and F will be announced separately. All participants receive diplomas. Moreover, prizes may be combined, but players must collect them in person at the end of the tournament. If a player misses the prize ceremony, the award passes to the next eligible player.

♟️ Sections / Groups

The section structure gives players several entry paths. Therefore, experienced players can choose Group A, while developing players and juniors can enter a section that better fits their current level.

📅 Schedule

Groups B, C, and D continue with the next rounds after a short break of about five minutes following the last game of the previous round.

📝 Registration

Entry Fees

Registration becomes valid only after the player pays the entry fee to the UKS Gedanensis Gdańsk account. Therefore, players should complete both the registration form and the payment before the deadline.

👤 Organizer

The Municipality of Kolbudy, Szkoła Podstawowa w Kowalach, and UKS Gedanensis Gdańsk organize the festival together. The event brings a broad chess program to Kowale and combines classical, junior, and blitz chess during one summer festival.

Phone: +48 501 184 879
Email: asiaj3@wp.pl

📍 Venue

Szkoła Podstawowa w Kowalach, ul. Apollina 7, 80-180 Kowale, Poland

The playing venue is the primary school in Kowale, inside the Kolbudy municipality and close to Gdańsk. It gives the festival a practical local setting for a multi-day chess program with several groups.

🛏️ Accommodation

The organizer does not arrange accommodation reservations. Therefore, players and families should book hotels, apartments, or guesthouses independently in Kowale, Gdańsk, or nearby towns.

🚗 How to Get There

Kowale lies in the Gdańsk metropolitan area, so players can reach the venue from Gdańsk by car, taxi, or local transport. In addition, visitors arriving from other Polish cities can travel first to Gdańsk and then continue to Kowale.

The venue address is ul. Apollina 7, 80-180 Kowale, which works well for map navigation and taxi transfer planning.

ℹ️ Other

The festival follows current FIDE and Polish Chess Federation rules. In addition, the chief arbiter’s decisions during the tournament are final.

Players take responsibility for their health, insurance, and ability to participate. Moreover, minors must stay under adult supervision during the tournament.

By registering, participants accept the tournament regulations and agree to the organizer’s use of tournament photos, video, interviews, and audio materials for information and promotional purposes.

VI Chess Festival for the Cup of the Mayor of Kolbudy 2026 offers a broad summer chess program near Gdańsk, with a FIDE-rated main event, youth sections, rating-based groups, blitz chess, and clear playing conditions.