The XXVII Sants-City of Barcelona International Chess Open 2026 will take place from August 21 to 30, 2026, in Barcelona, Spain. The tournament will be played at the Centre Cívic Cotxeres de Sants and nearby rooms in the Sants district.

The event features three rating-based groups and a 10-round classical format. Group A is open to all players, while Groups B and C are designed for players below specific FIDE rating limits.

All groups are valid for FIDE and Catalan rating. The tournament also forms part of the XXII Catalan Circuit, where it is classified as a Superior A category event. The listed cash prizes total €21,920 / approx. $25,080.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The tournament will be played over 10 rounds using the FIDE Dutch Swiss system.

Each player receives 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment from move one.

Byes and Absences

Players may request up to two byes.

Byes must be requested before the end of the previous round. A last-round bye is treated as withdrawal from the tournament.

No half-point byes are awarded.

A player who misses a round without a justified reason may be removed from the tournament. Players who cannot attend a round must inform the arbiters during the previous round.

Tie-Break Criteria

Match-Play Tie-Breaks

Match-play tie-breaks apply to the top eight tied players in Group A after the final round.

They also apply if there is a tie for first place in Group B or Group C.

Match-play games are scheduled to start at 17:00 on Sunday, August 30, 2026.

🏆 Prize Fund

The listed cash prizes total €21,920 / approx. $25,080.

Cash prizes are not cumulative. A player cannot receive more than one cash prize, except for age-category awards, which are compatible with general or rating-section prizes.

Players are eligible only for the prizes of the group in which they compete.

Prize money is paid by bank transfer and is subject to the applicable Spanish tax withholding.

Group A – General Prizes

Group A – Rating Prizes

Group B – General and Rating Prizes

Group C – General Prizes

Group A – Women’s Prizes

Trophies and Additional Awards

Age-Category Eligibility

In Group A, GMs and IMs are excluded from the Senior 60+ trophy.

♟️ Sections / Groups

The tournament has three groups.

Players who are eligible for more than one group may choose which group to enter.

Players who do not state a group during registration will be placed in the most suitable group by the organizing committee.

Initial ranking is based first on FIDE rating, then Catalan rating, then Spanish national rating where applicable, and finally alphabetical order. Other local or national ratings may be recognized by the organizing committee.

📅 Schedule

Rounds are played at 16:30, except for the final round, which starts at 09:30 on August 30.

The main playing hall opens one hour before each round.

📝 Registration

Players must complete registration and payment online before August 20, 2026, at 14:00.

The registration is not final until the payment has been processed by the bank.

Registration Forms

Entry Fees

The organizer may cancel a registration. Because venue capacity is limited, players are accepted in order of completed registration.

All players must have a valid FIDE licence.

🏛️ Organizer

The event is organized by the Federació Catalana d’Escacs and the Secretariat d’Entitats de Sants Hostafrancs i la Bordeta, with support from Barcelona City Council.

The tournament organization is led by Àlex Sulleva Baiget and David Ayza León.

📍 Venue

Centre Cívic Cotxeres de Sants – Carrer de Sants 79, 08014 Barcelona, Spain.

The main playing hall is the Auditori del Centre Cívic Cotxeres de Sants. The tournament may also use nearby rooms.

The venue is accessible for people with physical disabilities and is air-conditioned.

Accommodation

The tournament website provides accommodation information for players and accompanying persons.

Players should contact the accommodation providers directly and mention the Sants International Chess Open when making arrangements.

🚆 How to Get There

The tournament venue is located in the Sants district of Barcelona, close to major metro, rail and local transport connections.

Arrival Advice

Players should arrive early enough for anti-cheating checks before each round.

The main hall opens one hour before the start of the round. Most rounds begin at 16:30, while the final round begins at 09:30.

ℹ️ Other Information

Electronic Devices

Mobile phones and other electronic communication devices are forbidden in the main playing venue during play.

The organizer provides a locker service at the entrance of the main hall.

In other playing rooms, electronic communication devices must not be connected. If a connected device is brought into play or produces a sound, the arbiter may apply a penalty.

Anti-Cheating Measures

Players may not use notes, sources of information, advice, mobile phones, media, analysis tools or another chess set during the game.

Games may be checked through the FIDE Internet-based Game Screening Tool, including broadcast games, online published games, norm-related games and selected games.

Appeals

Appeals against a Chief Arbiter’s decision must be submitted in writing to the Appeals Committee no later than 30 minutes after the end of the incident.

The Appeals Committee’s decisions are final.

A complaint form will be available to players.

Prize Payment

Cash prizes are paid by bank transfer.

Prize winners must provide the required identification and bank-account information. For minors, the legal representative’s identification and signature are required.

Team Classification

Only clubs with at least four participating players may compete for team awards.

The team score is based on the weighted final placing of the four best players from the same club. Group A standings count directly, while Group B and Group C placings are multiplied by two.

The two clubs with the lowest total score receive trophies.

Player Conduct

Players must behave in a manner consistent with the dignity of chess, both inside and outside the venue.

Photos, Video and Publicity

By registering, players authorize the use of tournament photographs, video images and necessary identification data for tournament communication and promotion.