Wellness Chess Tour GP17 Siófok Residence Hotel Balaton 2026
Wellness Chess Tour GP17 Siófok Residence Hotel Balaton 2026 takes place from December 10 – 13, 2026, at Residence Hotel Balaton Conference & Wellness in Siófok, Hungary. The event is the 17th station of the Wellness Chess Tour Grand Prix series.
This is a chess tournament in Siófok, Hungary, in 2026. Players will compete in a 7-round Swiss open with classical time control and no Elo rating limit.
The tournament also serves as the Somogy County Individual Chess Championship. In addition, players can enjoy hotel-based playing conditions, half-board accommodation offers, unlimited wellness access, and evening side activities.
♟️ Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏆 Tournament | Wellness Chess Tour GP17 Siófok Residence Hotel Balaton 2026 |
| 📅 Dates | December 10 – 13, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Siófok, Hungary |
| 🏛️ Venue | Residence Hotel Balaton Conference & Wellness |
| 📌 Address | Erkel Ferenc utca 49, 8600 Siófok |
| ♟️ Format | 7-round Swiss open |
| 🧩 Sections | One open section |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE-rated international tournament |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 90 minutes per player + 30 seconds per move |
| 💰 Prize Fund | HUF 280,000 / approx. USD 920 |
| 📝 Registration Deadline | December 9, 2026 |
| ⏳ Default Time | 60 minutes |
| 🏆 Championship Status | Somogy County Individual Chess Championship |
| ⚡ Side Event | Schnell tournament on December 12 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Players receive 90 minutes for the game, plus a 30-second increment per move. This time control gives the event a classical tournament format across four playing days.
The tournament uses a 7-round Swiss system. Since there is no Elo rating limit, players from different rating levels can compete in the same open field.
The default time is 60 minutes. Therefore, players should still arrive early, check pairings before each round, and avoid unnecessary forfeit risk.
Tie-breaks follow this order: corrected Buchholz, full Buchholz, and progressive score.
💰 Prize Fund
The tournament offers a published prize fund of HUF 280,000, which equals approximately USD 920. The prizes are guaranteed from at least 50 participants.
Prize Fund Overview
| Prize / Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st place | HUF 100,000 |
| 2nd place | HUF 60,000 |
| 3rd place | HUF 35,000 |
| 4th place | HUF 25,000 |
| 5th place | HUF 20,000 |
| 6th place | HUF 10,000 |
| Rating-category prizes | HUF 15,000 each |
| Total published prize fund | HUF 280,000 / approx. USD 920 |
Cash prizes are not shared. In addition, prizes may be subject to Hungarian tax and contribution rules.
Special Prize Categories
The Somogy County Individual Championship awards trophies, medals, certificates, and non-cash prizes to eligible local players. Eligible players must have a Somogy County address card or play for a Somogy County chess club.
The main tournament also includes special prizes for the best non-prizewinning youth player, player over 60, and female player. Moreover, the organizer awards rating-category prizes for the best non-prizewinning players between 0 and 2000 Elo when at least five players qualify in the category.
🧩 Sections / Groups
The event has one open section. All players compete in the same 7-round Swiss tournament.
The tournament has no Elo rating restriction. As a result, it can welcome titled players, club players, local championship participants, and ambitious improving players in the same field.
The event also belongs to the Wellness Chess Tour Grand Prix series. Players can collect GP points across the season and compete for final series rewards.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, December 9 | — | Registration deadline |
| Thursday, December 10 | 10:00 | Registration |
| Thursday, December 10 | 11:00 | Round 1 |
| Thursday, December 10 | 16:00 | Round 2 |
| Friday, December 11 | 09:00 | Round 3 |
| Friday, December 11 | 15:00 | Round 4 |
| Friday, December 11 | 19:30 | Alszik a város game |
| Saturday, December 12 | 09:00 | Round 5 |
| Saturday, December 12 | 15:00 | Round 6 |
| Saturday, December 12 | 19:30 | Schnell tournament |
| Saturday, December 12 | 21:00 | Alszik a város game, if requested |
| Sunday, December 13 | 09:00 | Round 7 |
| Sunday, December 13 | After Round 7 | Prize ceremony |
Players should arrive on Thursday morning in time for registration. In addition, they should plan carefully for the double-round days on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
📝 Registration
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Registration Deadline | December 9, 2026 |
| Registration Email | sporty207@gmail.com |
| Entry Fee for Players Above 2200 Elo | HUF 9,000 |
| Entry Fee for 2100–2199 Elo | HUF 12,000 |
| Entry Fee for Players Under 2100 Elo | HUF 14,000 |
| Free Entry | GM, WGM, and IM players |
| Foreign Player HPL Fee | HUF 8,000 |
| Organizer / Information | József Jeszenszky |
| Contact Phone | +36 30 640 3361 |
Players who enter in advance will receive confirmation from the organizer. Moreover, participants should make sure their license and registration details meet the tournament requirements before arrival.
Players who participate in at least six Wellness Chess Tour stations receive a HUF 2,000 entry-fee discount from the seventh station onward in 2026. Club discounts may also apply when at least five paid players from the same chess club register for the event.
👥 Organizer
József Jeszenszky organizes the Wellness Chess Tour GP17 Siófok Residence Hotel Balaton 2026. The event forms part of the wider Wellness Chess Tour series, which combines rated chess, hotel stays, and leisure programs across multiple tournament stations.
Phone: +36 30 640 3361
Email: sporty207@gmail.com
🏛️ Venue
Residence Hotel Balaton Conference & Wellness – Erkel Ferenc utca 49, 8600 Siófok, Hungary
The tournament takes place in the conference room of Residence Hotel Balaton Conference & Wellness in Siófok. The hotel venue gives players one practical location for games, accommodation, meals, wellness, and rest during the tournament.
The hotel offer includes access to wellness services from 09:00 to 21:00. These include wellness pools, indoor and outdoor hot tubs, Finnish sauna, steam cabin, aroma cabin, and salt cabin with infrared elements.
🛏️ Accommodation
Residence Hotel Balaton Conference & Wellness offers a special tournament package for December 10–13, 2026. The package covers 4 days and 3 nights with half board.
| Accommodation Option | Price |
|---|---|
| Single standard room | HUF 38,900 per room / night |
| Double occupancy | HUF 26,500 per person / night |
| Children aged 0–5 | Free |
| Children aged 6–13 | HUF 18,000 per person / night |
| Children aged 14+ | Full price |
The room price includes breakfast, dinner, wellness access, indoor programs, playroom use, Wi-Fi, bathrobe and towel use, parking in front of the hotel subject to capacity, and VAT.
The tourist tax is HUF 750 per person per night for guests over 18. Late checkout until 15:00 may be available for HUF 10,000.
Room reservations should be sent to József Jeszenszky by email.
🚆 How to Get There
Players should travel to Residence Hotel Balaton Conference & Wellness at Erkel Ferenc utca 49, 8600 Siófok.
Drivers can use the full hotel address for navigation. Free open-air parking is available in front of the hotel subject to capacity, and street parking may also be available nearby.
The hotel also has a closed parking area with 16 spaces. The published fee for the closed parking area is HUF 2,000 per car per day.
ℹ️ Other Information
The Wellness Chess Tour Grand Prix system rewards players who take part in multiple stations. Players who compete in at least six stations appear in the overall GP standings, and the top five players in the final table receive year-end rewards.
Players who complete at least 10 of the 18 Grand Prix stations can qualify for a guaranteed wellness weekend for two people in a selected hotel. The three fastest players to complete 10 stations receive those wellness weekend rewards with a partner or companion.
The tournament also offers indoor leisure options such as chess, table tennis, darts, rex table, foosball, and board games. Outdoor options may include bicycle rental, boating, sailing, and organized city programs for an extra fee.
Wellness Chess Tour GP17 Siófok Residence Hotel Balaton 2026 offers a FIDE-rated chess weekend in Siófok, with a classical open format, hotel-based comfort, wellness access, and a strong Grand Prix series context.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $920
Organizer
♟️ About the Organizer
Wellness Chess Tour is a Hungary-based chess tournament organizer led by József Jeszenszky, who has organized and managed competitions since 2012. The tour builds its events around wellness hotel chess events, where players can find accommodation, meals, spa or wellness facilities, and the playing hall in one location.
The organizer focuses on practical tournament weekends for players who want serious over-the-board games with a complete stay-and-play setup. Its events take place in hotel and spa destinations across Hungary and nearby countries. As a result, players can combine competitive chess with travel, rest, and straightforward event logistics.
🏆 Chess Events and Activities
Wellness Chess Tour runs an active Grand Prix competition series with regular tournament stations in cities and resort areas such as Miskolctapolca, Harkány, Pécs, Szentgotthárd, Esztergom, Hévíz, Lendava, and Selce-Crikvenica. The calendar includes multi-day open tournaments, hotel-based competition weekends, and Premium International Chess Tournament events in Budapest.
Many Wellness Chess Tour events use a seven-round Swiss format and a classical 90+30 time control. Several events also carry FIDE standard rating evaluation, which makes the tour attractive for players who want rating progress and serious tournament practice. In addition, the tour often adds blitz side events, Grand Prix points, loyalty discounts, and group discounts for players from the same chess association.
The series has a clear competitive identity. Players can follow the annual Grand Prix table, collect points across stations, and compete for final prizes linked to repeated participation. Therefore, the organizer supports both one-time tournament visitors and regular players who travel through the series.
🌍 Player Experience and Community
Players can expect a compact tournament rhythm, direct registration by email, and practical communication with the tournament director. Most events place the playing hall inside the same hotel complex as the accommodation and wellness facilities. This format reduces travel between rounds and helps players focus on their games.
The tour suits adult competitors, titled players, club players, and ambitious improvers who want FIDE-rated open tournaments in a relaxed hotel setting. Moreover, the event structure gives accompanying family members and guests a more comfortable weekend format. Wellness Chess Tour also connects chess with spa towns, conference hotels, seaside venues, and regional travel destinations. Overall, the organizer gives players a recognizable route into classical chess in Hungary and selected international tournament stops.
Hotels Near the Venue
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