The VI Open Chess Menorca 2027 takes place from March 30 to April 4, 2027, in Ciutadella de Menorca, Spain. The festival combines two nine-round classical Opens with a closed Masters Tournament and a FIDE-rated Night Blitz.
The main Open uses a 9-round FIDE Swiss system with a classical time control of 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move from move one. Moreover, both Open A and Open B count for FIDE standard rating.
Players can choose between Open A and Open B according to their FIDE rating. Meanwhile, six invited players compete in a separate double round-robin Masters Tournament. The festival also adds a nine-round Blitz event on Thursday night.
♟️ Event Details
| Event Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏆 Tournament | VI Open Chess Menorca 2027 |
| 📅 Dates | March 30 – April 4, 2027 |
| 🌍 Country | Spain |
| 📍 Location | Ciutadella de Menorca, Menorca, Balearic Islands |
| 🏨 Venues | MarSenses Paradise Club Hotel**** and Sagitario Princesa Playa**** |
| ♟️ Main Format | 9-round FIDE Swiss |
| ⏱️ Classical Time Control | 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE rated |
| 🧩 Main Sections | Open A and Open B |
| ⚡ Additional Event | 9-round Night Blitz |
| 👑 Parallel Event | 6-player closed Masters Tournament |
| 👥 Organizer | Chess Menorca |
| 🎯 Tournament Director | FM David Pons Carreras – FIDE ID 2217791 |
| ⚖️ Chief Arbiter | IA Eduardo López Rodríguez – FIDE ID 22225501 |
| ⚖️ Deputy Chief Arbiter | IA José Francisco Suárez Roa – FIDE ID 2203650 |
| 🔗 Chess-Results – Open A | https://s2.chess-results.com/Tnr1488848.aspx?SNode=S0&lan=2 |
| 🔗 Chess-Results – Open B | https://s2.chess-results.com/tnr1488863.aspx?SNode=S0&art=0&flag=30&lan=2&turdet=YES |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Open A and Open B each consist of nine rounds under the FIDE Swiss system.
| Competition | System | Rounds | Time Control | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open A | FIDE Swiss | 9 | 90+30 | FIDE Standard |
| Open B | FIDE Swiss | 9 | 90+30 | FIDE Standard |
| Masters Tournament | Double Round Robin | 10 | 30+10 | FIDE Rapid |
| Night Blitz | Swiss | 9 | 3+2 | FIDE rated |
The organizers use Swiss-Manager for the Open pairings. In addition, initial rankings use the players’ FIDE ratings.
A player who arrives more than 30 minutes after the scheduled start may lose the game. However, the arbiter retains discretion under the published regulations.
Byes
Players may request up to two half-point byes during the Open. However, half-point byes are not available in the final two rounds.
A Round 1 bye must be requested before 2:00 PM on March 30. Players may also request zero-point byes during the competition.
🏆 Prize Fund
The festival publishes an overall prize and training value of more than €70,000 – approximately $80,780+.
The Open competitions offer more than €32,500 in cash prizes. In addition, players can win €10,000 worth of Chessable training and chess courses. The closed Masters Tournament adds another €27,500 in cash prizes.
Prizes are not cumulative. Therefore, when a player qualifies for more than one award, the published prize rules determine which award takes priority.
Open A – Main Prizes
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 🥇 1st | €8,000 + Trophy |
| 🥈 2nd | €5,000 + Trophy |
| 🥉 3rd | €3,500 + Trophy |
| 4th | €2,500 |
| 5th | €2,000 |
| 6th | €1,500 |
| 7th | €1,000 |
| 8th | €800 |
| 9th | €600 |
| 10th | €500 |
Open A – Special Cash Prizes
| Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st Woman | €1,000 + Trophy + Chessable benefits |
| 2nd Woman | €700 + Chessable benefits |
| 3rd Woman | €500 + Chessable benefits |
| Best Menorcan Player | €150 + Trophy + Chessable benefits |
| Best U18 | €150 + Trophy + Chessable benefits |
| 1st M50 | €350 + Trophy |
| 2nd M50 | €200 |
| 1st M65 | €350 + Trophy |
| 2nd M65 | €200 |
Additional Chessable prizes are available for the 2150–2300, 2000–2149, 1850–1999 and Under 1850 FIDE rating categories.
Open B – Main Prizes
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 🥇 1st | €600 + Trophy |
| 🥈 2nd | €400 + Trophy |
| 🥉 3rd | €250 + Trophy |
| 4th | €200 |
| 5th | €150 |
| 6th | €100 |
| 7th | €100 |
| 8th | €75 |
| 9th | €50 |
| 10th | €50 |
Open B – Special Prizes
| Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st Woman | €200 + Trophy + Chessable benefits |
| 2nd Woman | €150 + Chessable benefits |
| 3rd Woman | €100 + Chessable benefits |
| Best Menorcan Player | €50 + Trophy + Chessable benefits |
| Best U18 | Trophy + Chessable benefits |
| Best U14 | Chessable benefits |
| 1st M50 | €100 + Trophy |
| 1st M65 | €100 + Trophy |
Additional Chessable awards are available in the 1600–1800 and 1400–1599 FIDE categories.
Masters Tournament
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 🥇 1st | €8,000 + Trophy |
| 🥈 2nd | €6,500 |
| 🥉 3rd | €5,000 |
| 4th | €3,500 |
| 5th | €2,500 |
| 6th | €2,000 |
Night Blitz
The separate Night Blitz offers €1,000 in cash prizes.
| Prize | Amount |
|---|---|
| 🥇 1st | €300 |
| 🥈 2nd | €200 |
| 🥉 3rd | €150 |
| 4th | €100 |
| 5th | €50 |
| Best U2100 | €40 |
| Best U2000 | €40 |
| Best U1900 | €40 |
| Best U1800 | €40 |
| Best U1700 | €40 |
For age-category prizes, U18 means players born in 2009 or later, while U14 means 2013 or later. Meanwhile, M50 applies to players born in 1977 or earlier and M65 to players born in 1962 or earlier.
🧩 Sections / Formats
♟️ Open A
Open A is available to players with a FIDE rating above 1850.
| Detail | Open A |
|---|---|
| Rating Requirement | FIDE Elo above 1850 |
| Rounds | 9 |
| System | Swiss |
| Time Control | 90+30 |
| Rating | FIDE Standard |
♟️ Open B
Open B is available to players with a FIDE rating below 2000.
| Detail | Open B |
|---|---|
| Rating Requirement | FIDE Elo below 2000 |
| Rounds | 9 |
| System | Swiss |
| Time Control | 90+30 |
| Rating | FIDE Standard |
Players may request permission to play in the higher group. The organizer then reviews the request before confirming the section.
Spanish-flagged players must hold a valid 2027 Spanish federation licence. Meanwhile, players representing another FIDE federation must have a FIDE ID.
👑 Masters Tournament
A separate six-player closed Masters Tournament runs alongside Open A and Open B.
The Masters uses a double round-robin format. Therefore, each participant plays ten games at 30 minutes + 10 seconds per move.
⚡ Night Blitz
The festival also includes a nine-round FIDE-rated Blitz tournament on Thursday, April 1 at 10:00 PM.
Games use 3 minutes + 2 seconds per move. Moreover, the Blitz takes place after Round 5 of the classical Open.
The Blitz entry fee is €15, and players may register until one hour before the start.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, March 30 | 1:30 PM | Masters Tournament Opening Ceremony |
| Tuesday, March 30 | 3:00–4:00 PM | Open Welcome & Player Accreditation |
| Tuesday, March 30 | 6:00 PM | Open Round 1 |
| Tuesday, March 30 | 6:00 PM | Masters Round 1 |
| Wednesday, March 31 | 10:00 AM | Open Round 2 |
| Wednesday, March 31 | 5:00 PM | Open Round 3 / Masters Round 2 |
| Wednesday, March 31 | 7:00 PM | Masters Round 3 |
| Thursday, April 1 | 10:00 AM | Open Round 4 |
| Thursday, April 1 | 5:00 PM | Open Round 5 / Masters Round 4 |
| Thursday, April 1 | 7:00 PM | Masters Round 5 |
| Thursday, April 1 | 10:00 PM | Night Blitz – 9 rounds |
| Friday, April 2 | 5:00 PM | Open Round 6 / Masters Round 6 |
| Friday, April 2 | 7:00 PM | Masters Round 7 |
| Saturday, April 3 | 10:00 AM | Open Round 7 |
| Saturday, April 3 | 5:00 PM | Open Round 8 / Masters Round 8 |
| Saturday, April 3 | 7:00 PM | Masters Round 9 |
| Sunday, April 4 | 9:30 AM | Open Round 9 |
| Sunday, April 4 | 10:00 AM | Masters Round 10 |
| Sunday, April 4 | 1:30 PM | Masters Closing Ceremony |
| Sunday, April 4 | 3:30 PM | Open Closing Ceremony |
📝 Registration
Registration for the VI Open Chess Menorca 2027 opens on September 18, 2026.
Players may either book an official accommodation package or register for the tournament without a package.
Tournament Entry Without Accommodation Package
| Player Category | Entry Fee |
|---|---|
| Adult | €180 |
| U18 | €140 |
| M65 | €140 |
| Chess Menorca Student – Adult | €120 |
| Chess Menorca Student – U18 | €100 |
| Chess Menorca Student – M65 | €100 |
Players who register without a package must pay the full fee at registration.
Official 5-Night Packages
Official packages include:
- five nights’ accommodation at one of the two tournament hotels;
- full board;
- Open tournament entry;
- transfer between the hotel and Menorca Airport or port, depending on the selected option.
| Room Type | 5-Night Package Rate |
|---|---|
| Single | €750 |
| Double | €580 per person |
| Triple | €480 per person |
| Quadruple | €480 per person |
| Double Suite | €680 per person |
| Triple Suite | €590 per person |
These package rates remain valid until December 31, 2026. However, prices may change from January 1, 2027.
A 30% deposit is due when booking. The remaining 70% must be paid before February 1, 2027.
The official hotels open for tournament guests from March 29.
Registration:
https://openchessmenorca.com/index.php/inscripcions-a-partir-del-18-de-setembre/?lang=en
👥 Organizer
| Contact | Information |
|---|---|
| Organizer | Chess Menorca |
| Tournament Director | FM David Pons Carreras |
| info@openchessmenorca.com |
📍 Venue
The festival uses two four-star hotels in the Cala’n Bosch / Son Xoriguer area of Ciutadella de Menorca.
MarSenses Paradise Club Hotel** – Carrer Circumval·lació, 313, 07769 Cala en Bosc, Illes Balears, Spain**
Sagitario Princesa Playa** – Gran Vía, 17, 07769 Son Xoriguer, Ciutadella de Menorca, Illes Balears, Spain**
Open A and Open B use the festival’s two official hotels. Meanwhile, the Masters Tournament takes place at Sagitario Princesa Playa, while the Night Blitz takes place at MarSenses Paradise Club.
Both hotels are close to the beaches and tourist areas of Cala’n Bosch and Son Xoriguer.
🚆 How to Get There
| Travel Option | Route / Information |
|---|---|
| ✈️ By Air | Fly to Menorca Airport (MAH) and continue to the tournament hotels in the Ciutadella / Cala’n Bosch area. |
| 🚢 By Ferry | Players arriving through a Menorca port can continue to the official hotels by road or use an organizer transfer when included in their package. |
| 🚌 Organizer Transfer | Tournament packages can include transfers between the airport or port and the official hotels. Arrival transfers operate on March 29–30. |
| 🚌 Return Transfer | Organizer transfers back to the airport or port are available on April 4–5 for eligible package holders. |
| 🚗 By Car – MarSenses | Carrer Circumval·lació, 313, 07769 Cala en Bosc, Illes Balears, Spain |
| 🚗 By Car – Sagitario | Gran Vía, 17, 07769 Son Xoriguer, Ciutadella de Menorca, Illes Balears, Spain |
ℹ️ Other Information
🏨 Accommodation
The tournament’s official accommodation programme uses MarSenses Paradise Club Hotel** and Sagitario Princesa Playa**.
Packages include five nights with full board, tournament entry and selected transfers. Therefore, players who want accommodation, meals and tournament logistics in one booking can use the official package.
⚖️ Tiebreaks
Open standings use the published tiebreak sequence beginning with Buchholz Cut 1 and Sonneborn-Berger. Additional published criteria then apply if players remain tied.
If every published tiebreak remains equal, players contest two 5+3 games. Finally, an Armageddon game at 5 minutes versus 4 minutes decides the tie if necessary, with White required to win.
📱 Electronic Devices
Players may not bring mobile phones or other electronic devices into the playing hall. Moreover, the organizers may use metal detectors to enforce this rule.
🏅 Prize Eligibility
A player who withdraws or fails to appear during either of the final two rounds loses eligibility for prizes or trophies.
In addition, the organizer may require prize winners to attend the closing ceremony to receive their awards.
🔗 Official Links
Official Website:
https://openchessmenorca.com/?lang=en
Schedule:
https://openchessmenorca.com/index.php/programa/?lang=en
Rules & Regulations:
https://openchessmenorca.com/index.php/reglament/?lang=en
Prizes:
https://openchessmenorca.com/index.php/premis/?lang=en
Rates & Accommodation Packages:
https://openchessmenorca.com/index.php/preus/?lang=en
Night Blitz:
https://openchessmenorca.com/index.php/blitz-nocturn/?lang=en
Contact:
https://openchessmenorca.com/index.php/contacte/?lang=en
Chess-Results
Open-A:
https://s2.chess-results.com/Tnr1488848.aspx?SNode=S0&lan=2
Open-B:
https://s2.chess-results.com/tnr1488863.aspx?SNode=S0&art=0&flag=30&lan=2&turdet=YES
Masters Tournament:
https://s2.chess-results.com/tnr1488875.aspx?SNode=S0&art=0&flag=30&lan=2&turdet=YES
Blitz:
https://s3.chess-results.com/tnr1488866.aspx?SNode=S0&art=1&flag=30&lan=2&turdet=YES
Organizer
♟️ About Chess Menorca
Chess Menorca (Associació Chess Menorca) is a chess association based on the island of Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain. The organization was launched in 2021 as an island-wide project created by David Pons Carreras and Oriol Masip, drawing on their previous experience in chess education and competition. Its objective extends beyond tournament organization: Chess Menorca promotes chess through schools, training programs, community initiatives, and international events across the island.
Chess Menorca operates chess-school programs for children and maintains an active educational program for the 2026–2027 season. The association has also developed chess workshops, summer activities, school projects, technical training, and initiatives designed to bring chess to different municipalities and social groups. However, its most internationally visible project is the Open Chess Menorca, launched in 2022 and held annually in Ciutadella. The tournament has grown rapidly from a new island open into an event attracting hundreds of players from around the world.
FM David Pons Carreras is the President of Chess Menorca and serves as Tournament Director of the Open Chess Menorca. He is also one of the principal figures behind chess development on the island. The association’s organizing team includes Oriol Masip, Francesc Pons, and Miquel Mas, among others. In 2026, Chess Menorca staged its largest event to date: the V Open Internacional Chess Menorca, held from April 7–12 with close to 600 participants, more than 50 represented countries, 228 titled players, and a special Masters tournament featuring several of the world’s strongest grandmasters.
📜 Development of Chess Menorca
The Associació Chess Menorca was presented publicly in June 2021. From the beginning, its plans combined competitive chess with education and social development.
David Pons had already spent years developing the Escacs a les Escoles de Menorca program. Chess Menorca expanded this concept into a broader island project, with ambitions to establish chess activities throughout Menorca, support areas without permanent chess schools, encourage women’s chess, and use chess in educational and social settings.
The association continues this work today. Its official platform is accepting registrations for 2026–2027 chess classes, with different weekly training options for children and developing players.
🎓 Chess Education and Community Programs
Chess education is a core part of the association’s identity. Chess Menorca has worked to introduce chess through schools and extracurricular programs rather than limiting its activities to established tournament players.
The organization has also developed summer educational activities combining chess with study sessions, mathematics, creative workshops, music, and other learning experiences. In these programs, chess is used to strengthen decision-making, concentration, planning, analytical thinking, and problem-solving.
Institutional support remains important. In 2026, the Consell Insular de Menorca continued its cooperation with Associació Chess Menorca for the Ajedrez en las Escuelas / Escacs a les Escoles program for the 2025–2026 academic year.
🌟 Open Chess Menorca
The Open Chess Menorca is the association’s flagship international event. Its first edition was held in 2022, with Chess Menorca working alongside local chess organizations and institutional partners.
The event expanded rapidly over its first five editions. The V Open Internacional Chess Menorca took place from April 7–12, 2026 in Ciutadella de Menorca, with play hosted at the MarSenses Paradise Club Hotel and Hotel Sagitario Princesa Playa.
The main classical competition consisted of nine Swiss-system rounds at 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move. Open A was designed for players above 1850 FIDE, while Open B served players below 2000. The festival also included a night blitz tournament and, for the first time, a powerful invitational Masters competition.
Overall participation reached close to 600 players from more than 50 countries, including approximately 228 titled players. The tournament program offered more than €60,000 in cash prizes and chess training awards.
🌍 2026 Masters and International Field
The new Masters event dramatically increased the international profile of the 2026 festival. Its six-player field featured reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, Richard Rapport, Leinier Domínguez Pérez, former World Champion Ruslan Ponomariov, Pentala Harikrishna, and Nihal Sarin.
The competition used a double round-robin rapid format of 30 minutes plus 10 seconds per move. Nihal Sarin won the Masters with 6/10, finishing ahead of Ponomariov and Rapport.
Meanwhile, GM Abhimanyu Mishra won Open A with 7.5 points. Philippe Arnau Delgadillo won Open B, also with 7.5 points, while José Vicente Jiménez won the night blitz competition with 8 points.
The size and strength of the field marked a major step in the development of Chess Menorca. In addition, the tournament brought hundreds of visiting players to Menorca outside the island’s peak summer tourism season, linking competitive chess with destination promotion.
🏆 Organization and Partnerships
The 2026 Open Chess Menorca was directed by David Pons. The wider Chess Menorca team also included Oriol Masip, Francesc Pons, and Miquel Mas, whose organizational work was highlighted by the Federació Balear d’Escacs following the tournament.
Chess Menorca works with local institutions, sponsors, hotels, and the wider Balearic chess community to stage its events. Public support has also played a significant role in the Open’s growth, while the association maintains its separate year-round educational activities across Menorca.
Hotels Near the Venue
Find nearby accommodation for this tournament location.
