Szentgotthárd hosts the Wellness Chess Tour GP4 from Thursday, March 19 to Sunday, March 22, 2026 in Szentgotthárd, Hungary. This Grand Prix station combines a 7-round Swiss open with a wellness hotel setting, which lets players compete for prize money while staying on site with half-board options. The organizers also position the event as part of a larger 2026 series where participants collect Grand Prix points across multiple stations.
The tournament takes place at the Gotthard Therme Hotel & Conference and schedules two rounds per day on Thursday through Saturday, followed by a final Sunday morning round. The organizers offer a 500,000 HUF prize fund plus special prizes tied to participation thresholds, and they run an additional blitz event on Saturday evening. This stop suits competitive players who want rated-style classical games in a relaxed hotel environment.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | March 19-22, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Szentgotthárd, Hungary |
| 🏨 Venue | Gotthard Therme Hotel & Conference, 9970 Szentgotthárd, Füzesi út 3/b, Hungary |
| ♟️ Format | 7-round Swiss system, Open |
| ⏱️ Time control | 90 minutes per player + 30 seconds per move from move 1 |
| 💳 Entry fee | 9,000 HUF (LIVE 2200+) · 12,000 HUF (LIVE 2199–2100) · 14,000 HUF (LIVE under 2100) · GM/WGM/IM: free |
| 💰 Prize fund | 500,000 HUF (about €1,250) guaranteed with at least 70 participants |
| 🧩 Organizer notes | Registration deadline: Wednesday, March 18, 2026 |
🏆 Prize Fund
Main prizes
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | 200,000 HUF |
| 2nd | 120,000 HUF |
| 3rd | 80,000 HUF |
| 4th | 50,000 HUF |
| 5th | 25,000 HUF |
| 6th | 25,000 HUF |
Special prizes (conditions apply)
| Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| Best unrewarded Vas County competitor | Prize awarded when at least 5 competitors qualify |
| Best unrewarded youth (1st place) | Prize awarded when at least 5 competitors qualify |
| Best unrewarded female | Prize awarded when at least 5 competitors qualify |
| Best unrewarded competitor over 60 | Prize awarded when at least 5 competitors qualify |
| Best unrewarded ELO 0–1800 | 15,000 HUF (when at least 5 competitors qualify) |
| Best unrewarded ELO 1801–2000 | 15,000 HUF (when at least 5 competitors qualify) |
Prize rules:
-
The tournament does not share prizes.
-
Prizes are subject to taxes and contributions.
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The tournament runs a 7-round Swiss open.
Time control:
-
Each player receives 90 minutes for the game and gains 30 seconds per move from move 1.
Tiebreaks:
-
Refined Buchholz (Cut 1)
-
Buchholz
-
Sonneborn-Berger
-
Progressive score
📂 Sections / Groups
The tournament runs one section as an Open Swiss event.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Weekday | Time | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 19, 2026 | Thursday | 10:00 | On-site registration opens |
| March 19, 2026 | Thursday | 10:55 | Opening |
| March 19, 2026 | Thursday | 11:00 | Round 1 |
| March 19, 2026 | Thursday | 16:00 | Round 2 |
| March 20, 2026 | Friday | 09:00 | Round 3 |
| March 20, 2026 | Friday | 15:00 | Round 4 |
| March 21, 2026 | Saturday | 09:00 | Round 5 |
| March 21, 2026 | Saturday | 15:00 | Round 6 |
| March 21, 2026 | Saturday | 19:30 | Blitz tournament |
| March 22, 2026 | Sunday | 09:00 | Round 7 |
📝 Registration
Players register by email before the deadline.
Email: sporty207@gmail.com
Registration deadline:
-
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Entry fee:
-
9,000 HUF for LIVE 2200+
-
12,000 HUF for LIVE 2199–2100
-
14,000 HUF for LIVE under 2100
-
GM, WGM, and IM title holders enter free
Discounts:
-
Players who participate in at least 6 stations receive a 2,000 HUF discount at each location from the 7th station onward in 2026.
-
When at least 5 paid players from the same chess club register, the organizer applies a per-person discount based on the entry-fee level.
-
Discounts do not combine.
👥 Organizer
Wellness Chess Tour runs this Grand Prix station as part of its 2026 competition series and coordinates both tournament operations and hotel-package support for players and accompanying guests.
Email: sporty207@gmail.com
Phone: +36 30 616 1886
Phone: 0043-664-5940988
Website: www.wellnesschesstour.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellnesschesstour
🏨 Venue
Gotthard Therme Hotel & Conference hosts the tournament in its conference facilities at 9970 Szentgotthárd, Füzesi út 3/b, Hungary. The venue combines on-site playing space with hotel services and wellness access options that suit a multi-day chess schedule.
🛎️ Accommodation
Gotthard Therme Hotel & Conference (half board)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Double room (2 people) | 28,500 HUF per person per night |
| Single room | 45,600 HUF per night |
| Family room | 63,000 HUF per room |
Lipa Hotel (breakfast included)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Single room | 19,500 HUF per night |
| Double room (2 people) | 28,500 HUF per night |
| Triple room (3 people) | 38,800 HUF per night |
| Apartment (3–4 people) | 45,000 HUF per night |
| Apartment (1–2 people) | 38,800 HUF per night |
| Dinner | 6,000 HUF per adult per occasion · 3,000 HUF per child (ages 4–10) per occasion |
Booking:
Email: sporty207@gmail.com
🚗 How to Get There
You can travel to Szentgotthárd and continue locally to Füzesi út 3/b to reach the Gotthard Therme Hotel & Conference. Plan arrival on Thursday morning so you can complete registration before Round 1.
Compete for Grand Prix points and prize money while you enjoy a full chess-and-wellness weekend in Szentgotthárd.
🧾 Other
-
The organizers award Grand Prix points for placements at each station in the competition series.
-
The organizer reserves the right to change the announcement details.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - €1,250
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
Find nearby accommodation for this tournament location.
