VII Festiwal Szachy w Ustroniu Łączą Pokolenia 2026 will take place from July 31 – August 8, 2026, in Ustroń, Poland. This is a chess tournament festival in Ustroń, Poland, in 2026.

Moreover, the festival brings a large multi-section chess program to one of southern Poland’s well-known mountain resort towns. Players can choose FIDE-rated classical groups, children’s tournaments, and additional festival activities.

In addition, the event offers a strong prize program across the main groups and a clear schedule for different player levels. Therefore, Ustroń gives players, juniors, clubs, families, and coaches a full summer chess festival in the Silesian Beskids.

♟️ Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

Classical Main Groups

The Masters, Open A, Open B, and Open C groups use 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move. Therefore, these sections offer a full classical chess rhythm across nine rounds.

The festival uses the Swiss System. In addition, the Masters, Open A, Open B, and Open C groups are submitted for FIDE rating calculation.

Children’s Groups

Groups D, E, and F use 60 minutes per player. These tournaments are designed for younger players and are not submitted for FIDE rating calculation.

Group D is for juniors born in 2014 or later. Meanwhile, Group E is for juniors born in 2016 or later, and Group F is for juniors born in 2018 or later.

Tie-Breaks and Byes

Final standings use points first. After that, the tie-break order is Buchholz Cut 1, Buchholz, Sonneborn-Berger, progressive score, direct encounter, number of wins, and number of wins with Black.

Players may request one half-point bye in Rounds 1–6. However, they must request it before the end of the last game of the previous round.

💰 Prize Fund

Prize Fund Overview

The confirmed cash prize fund in the main groups is 45,500 PLN, approx. $12,300. The prize program covers Masters, Open A, Open B, and Open C.

Prizes are listed as gross amounts. In addition, one player can receive only one cash prize.

Masters Prizes

Open-A Prizes

Open-B Prizes

Open-C Prizes

Children’s Groups Awards

Groups D, E, and F award cups, medals, gifts, and non-cash prizes. Moreover, each group winner receives a cup, while medals are awarded in boys’ and girls’ categories.

🏆 Sections / Groups

Main Festival Groups

The festival gives players several entry paths. Therefore, stronger players, club players, players born in 1976 or earlier, juniors, and lower-rated players can choose a suitable group.

Venue Split

Masters, Open A, and Open B take place at Dom Kultury Prażakówka. Meanwhile, Open C and the children’s groups use Szkoła Podstawowa Nr 2.

This structure helps the organizer manage a larger festival program. In addition, both listed venues are on Daszyńskiego Street in Ustroń.

📅 Schedule

Festival Opening and Office

Masters and Open A

Open B

Open C

Children’s Groups D, E, and F

📝 Registration

Registration Details

Players should register and pay before the relevant deadline. In addition, the organizer updates entry and payment lists through the festival website and tournament services.

The organizer does not accept extra entries directly before the first round. Therefore, players should complete registration and payment early.

Entry Fees for Masters, Open A, and Open C

Entry Fees for Open B and Children’s Groups

GM, WGM, IM, and WIM players do not pay an entry fee. Moreover, organized groups of more than 10 players can receive a 10% discount if they register and pay by bank transfer by June 30.

🧑‍💼 Organizer

Śląski Związek Szachowy organizes the VII Festiwal Szachy w Ustroniu Łączą Pokolenia 2026, with support from the City of Ustroń, Mokate, and UKS Pionier Jastrzębie-Zdrój. As a result, the event combines regional chess organization with strong local and partner support.

Moreover, the festival uses several tournament groups, side events, and youth sections. This structure creates a complete chess week for competitive players, junior groups, chess schools, and accompanying families.

Email: office@chessustron.pl
Phone: +48 606 170 194

📍 Venue

Main Playing Hall

Dom Kultury Prażakówka – Daszyńskiego 28, Ustroń, Poland

Additional Playing Hall

Szkoła Podstawowa Nr 2 – Daszyńskiego 31, Ustroń, Poland

Venue Notes

The main festival office and several groups use Dom Kultury Prażakówka. Therefore, players should treat this venue as the central reference point for arrival and festival information.

Open C and the children’s groups use Szkoła Podstawowa Nr 2, which is also on Daszyńskiego Street. As a result, the venue setup remains practical for families and clubs with players in different sections.

✈️ How to Get There

Travel to Ustroń

Ustroń is located in southern Poland, in the Silesian Voivodeship and the Cieszyn region. Therefore, players can travel through Katowice, Bielsko-Biała, Cieszyn, or nearby regional transport routes.

Visitors arriving from outside Poland can also use regional airport connections and continue by train, bus, or car. In addition, players should allow enough time before verification or their first round.

Local Planning

The festival uses more than one playing site. Therefore, players should check their group venue before the first round.

Since many rounds start in the morning or afternoon, staying close to Daszyńskiego Street can make the schedule easier. This is especially useful for families with children in D, E, or F groups.

ℹ️ Other Information

Festival Rules

The tournament follows current FIDE and Polish Chess Federation rules. In addition, the default time is 30 minutes.

Players may appeal an assistant arbiter’s decision to the chief arbiter after paying a 300 PLN deposit. The chief arbiter’s decision is final.

Electronic Devices

Players should not carry mobile phones or other communication devices during games. However, switched-off devices may be left in a designated place at the player’s own responsibility.

A player with a switched-on mobile phone or similar device in the playing hall loses the game. Therefore, players should prepare devices before entering the playing area.

Festival Atmosphere

The festival name means “Chess in Ustroń connects generations.” In addition, the event brings together adults, juniors, experienced players, and children’s groups in one summer program.

Finally, the VII Festiwal Szachy w Ustroniu Łączą Pokolenia 2026 offers FIDE-rated classical chess, junior tournaments, strong prize groups, and a broad chess festival setting in Ustroń.