The XXIII Open Internacional de Ajedrez Gran Hotel Bali 2026 takes place from November 28 to December 5, 2026, in Benidorm, Alicante, Spain. The tournament serves as the main Open A competition of the XXIII Festival Internacional de Ajedrez Gran Hotel Bali, one of Spain’s established international chess festivals.

Players compete over nine rounds of classical chess with a time control of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment from move one. Moreover, the tournament counts for FIDE standard rating and can produce FIDE title norms when players meet the applicable requirements. The organizer primarily admits players rated 1800 or higher on the November 2026 FIDE list, although it may approve individual exceptions.

The Open A offers 31 published cash prizes worth €16,800, approximately $19,270, plus an additional non-cash invitation for the champion. Meanwhile, the full Gran Hotel Bali Chess Festival runs from November 27 to December 8 and distributes €40,000 across 111 prizes in its different competitions.

📌 Event Details

The Open A brings together titled professionals, strong club players, juniors, and international competitors in one FIDE-rated section.

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The XXIII Open Internacional de Ajedrez Gran Hotel Bali uses a nine-round Swiss system.

Each player receives 90 minutes for the entire game plus 30 seconds after every move from move one. Therefore, players can compete at a full classical time control throughout all nine rounds.

The tournament sets a 30-minute default time. Consequently, players who arrive more than 30 minutes after the official starting time may lose by default.

Half-Point Byes

Players may request up to four half-point byes during the first seven rounds.

However, the organizer does not award half-point byes in Rounds 8 or 9.

Before the tournament, players can submit bye requests until three days before the event begins. The organizer must confirm the request by email.

During the tournament, players must request a bye directly from the Chief Arbiter. Normally, they must do so during the first hour of the current round for the following round.

Tie-Breaks

Unless the Open A regulations specify another method, the festival applies the following tie-break order to individual Swiss tournaments.

🏆 Prize Fund

The Open A publishes 31 cash prizes worth a combined €16,800, approximately $19,270.

In addition, the champion receives a trophy and an invitation to the Open Semana Santa 2027 under the conditions offered by that organizer.

The festival states that prizes are subject to applicable Spanish tax withholding.

🥇 General Classification

The first 20 players receive cash prizes.

📊 U2200 Prizes

📊 U2100 Prizes

Rating-category prizes remain open to players from lower rating groups when applicable under the festival rules.

🇪🇸 Valencian Community Prizes

For prize purposes, the organizer considers a player part of the Valencian Community when that player holds a valid licence with the Federación de Ajedrez de la Comunidad Valenciana at the start of the tournament.

🏨 Gran Hotel Bali Guest Prizes

Players who meet the official accommodation conditions can compete for five additional hotel-guest prizes.

To qualify, players must provide their hotel reservation number during tournament registration. They must also provide the final hotel invoice when claiming a prize.

For Open A, the normal accommodation requirement is at least seven paid nights at Gran Hotel Bali.

Players whose accommodation is provided free by the organizer do not qualify for the hotel-guest prizes.

Prize Allocation Rules

Prizes are not cumulative.

If a player qualifies for more than one award, the organizer assigns the prize with the highest monetary value. If two prizes have equal value, the published priority applies in this order:

General Classification → Rating Categories → Special Prizes

A player who withdraws or fails to appear in either of the final two rounds loses eligibility for prizes unless the organizer accepts a previously communicated force-majeure reason.

Furthermore, the top three players in the general classification must attend the closing ceremony to retain their prize rights, except when the organizer approves a justified absence.

🧩 Sections / Groups

This page covers Open A, the strongest classical section of the Gran Hotel Bali International Open.

The organizer primarily admits players with a FIDE rating above 1799.

The organizer may also invite or admit players at its discretion.

Players with a lower rating may consider the festival’s separate Sub-2000 Group B, subject to that tournament’s eligibility rules.

📅 Schedule

The Open A runs across eight calendar days. Sunday, November 29 features the only double-round day.

The playing hall opens 15 minutes before the official start of every round.

📝 Registration

Registration remains open until November 24, 2026, or until the organizer reaches the tournament’s capacity.

Players must complete registration in two steps.

First, they must pay the relevant tournament fee. Afterwards, they must submit the Open A registration form and attach proof of payment.

Entry Fees

GM and WGM players from any country receive free entry.

Moreover, IM and WIM players registered with the Valencian Community receive free entry.

GM/WGM players and other titled players above 2400 FIDE can contact the organizer to ask about possible accommodation conditions.

Registration Procedure

Step 1 – Payment:
https://ajedrezenelbali.com/registro/

Step 2 – Open A Registration Form:
https://ajedrezenelbali.com/inscripcion-open/

Players must keep a PDF, JPG, or screenshot of their payment receipt because the registration form requires proof of payment.

Participants who plan to stay at Gran Hotel Bali should enter their hotel reservation number in the registration form.

Payment Methods

Players within the European Economic Area can use the payment methods offered by the organizer, including bank card and bank transfer. Bizum is also available in Spain.

Players outside the European Economic Area should use bank card payment under the organizer’s published instructions.

The sender must cover any bank-transfer charges.

👤 Organizer

The Club Deportivo Tossal de la Cala organizes the Gran Hotel Bali Chess Festival.

For general tournament questions, players can also use:

Email: contact@ajedrezenelbali.com
Phone: +34 634 16 93 84

For Open A registration questions:

Email: inscripciones1@ajedrezenelbali.com

The arbitral team currently lists:

Chief Arbiter: IA Vicente Fernando Gómez Roca
Deputy Chief Arbiter: IA Pablo A. Arranz Martín

📍 Venue

Gran Hotel Bali, Salón Terraza de Cristal, Floor +1 – Calle del Actor Luis Prendes 4, 03502 Benidorm, Alicante, Spain.

The Gran Hotel Bali hosts the Open A directly in its conference facilities. Therefore, participants who stay at the official hotel can combine accommodation, meals, and tournament play at one property.

The hotel stands in Benidorm’s La Cala area, approximately 350 metres from Poniente Beach.

GPS coordinates:
Latitude: 38.53201741
Longitude: -0.1642678678

Hotel Website:
https://www.granhotelbali.com/

🏨 Official Hotel Offer

The festival offers a dedicated Gran Hotel Bali promotion for chess participants.

Players should book through the hotel’s official website and use promotional code:

AJE26

The organizer advertises a 15% discount on the available hotel rate when guests use this code.

In addition, bookings under the tournament promotion include free cancellation until two days before arrival and do not require advance payment at the time of booking, subject to the published hotel conditions.

Reservations: +34 966 813 612
Email: reservas@grupobali.com

Players who want the reduced tournament entry fee and eligibility for hotel-guest prizes must provide their reservation number during tournament registration.

🚆 How to Get There

Gran Hotel Bali lies in the western part of Benidorm, close to Poniente Beach.

✈️ By Air

Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport (ALC) is the nearest major airport.

Gran Hotel Bali lists the airport at approximately 55 km from the hotel.

After arrival, players can continue to Benidorm by coach, taxi, private transfer, or rental car.

🚆 By Rail / TRAM

The nearest major rail and transport connection is approximately 5 km from the hotel.

Benidorm’s public transport network provides onward connections across the city and to surrounding areas. Players can complete the final journey to Gran Hotel Bali by local transport or taxi.

🚗 By Car

Use the full hotel address for navigation:

Gran Hotel Bali – Calle del Actor Luis Prendes 4, 03502 Benidorm, Alicante, Spain.

The hotel provides a private garage. Participants should request a parking space on arrival.

ℹ️ Other Information

🎯 FIDE Norm Opportunities

The organizer explicitly lists the Open A as valid for FIDE norms.

However, an individual norm still depends on the player’s performance, opponents, titles, federations, ratings, and all other applicable FIDE title requirements.

The 2025 edition demonstrated the tournament’s norm potential: four IM norms were achieved during that event.

🌍 International Participation

The Gran Hotel Bali Open attracts a highly international field.

In 2025, Open A welcomed 206 players from 41 countries. The field included 16 GM/WGM players and 99 FIDE-titled participants.

The festival as a whole reported approximately 1,600 players during the previous edition.

🎪 Gran Hotel Bali Chess Festival

The Open A forms part of the larger XXIII Festival Internacional de Ajedrez Gran Hotel Bali, which runs from November 27 through December 8, 2026.

The festival publishes €40,000 across 111 prizes in all competitions combined.

Other 2026 events include:

The 2026 edition introduces the International U2400 Team Cup, an open three-player team competition for players of all ages and nationalities.

⚡ International Night Blitz

The separate XVII International Night Blitz takes place on December 2 at 22:30.

The tournament includes an Open Group A and a Sub-2000 Group B.

Players must register separately for the Blitz.

🛡️ Fair Play & Electronic Devices

The festival applies the FIDE Laws of Chess, FIDE tournament regulations, FIDE anti-cheating regulations, current FEDA rules, the festival’s General Regulations, and the Open A-specific regulations.

Players may not possess electronic devices in the playing area while their games remain in progress.

The prohibition includes mobile phones, tablets, smartwatches, headphones, and similar electronic equipment.

Furthermore, players may not use or possess such devices in corridors, stairs, bathrooms, or other tournament areas while their game continues.

A player who needs an electronic device for medical reasons must obtain authorization from the arbitral team.

👥 Spectators

The playing hall generally admits only accredited staff and players who are currently competing.

Therefore, spectators do not have unrestricted access to the playing area.

However, the organizer may allow limited access at the beginning of selected Open A rounds for photography when conditions permit.

⚖️ Appeals

A player may appeal a decision of the Chief Arbiter to the tournament’s Competition Committee.

The player must submit the appeal in writing within 30 minutes after the game ends.

In addition, the appeal requires a €100 deposit, approximately $120.

The organizer returns the deposit only when the committee decides in favor of the player.

The Competition Committee’s decision is final.

💰 Claiming Prize Money

Prize winners must contact:

premios@ajedrezenelbali.com

The deadline to complete the prize-claim procedure is December 20, 2026.

Players must provide the required identification documents and payment information.

The organizer pays prizes by bank transfer to an account within the European Union. Players living outside the EU who cannot provide such an account may use PayPal.

After the organizer verifies all required documents, it states that payment will take place within a maximum of 30 days.

🚭 Playing Hall Rules

Smoking and vaping are prohibited inside the playing hall and throughout the hotel.

Players may not consume food in the playing area. Moreover, beverages must use a closed container or cap to reduce the risk of spills.

The organizer also requires suitable dress and personal presentation for an international chess tournament.

🔗 Official Resources