The XXXV Festival Internacional d’Escacs de La Pobla de Lillet – Memorial Joan Barnola i Espelt brings top competitive chess back to August 5-13, 2026 in La Pobla de Lillet, Spain, set in the mountain town of La Pobla de Lillet (Barcelona province). This international chess tournament runs as an over-the-board Swiss System event with 9 rounds and FIDE-rated classical chess games, featuring two playing groups and a strong mix of titled and club players.

In 2026, the XXXV Festival Internacional d’Escacs de La Pobla de Lillet – Memorial Joan Barnola i Espelt continues the long-standing tradition of summer chess in La Pobla de Lillet, Spain, combining a serious competitive atmosphere with a vacation-friendly setting. The tournament offers a confirmed EUR 7,000 cash prize pool and awards across both sections, while keeping the focus on fair play, clear pairings procedures, and a consistent daily round rhythm.

🗓️ Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

Prize rules (official):

• Cash prizes are not divisible and not accumulative.

• Trophies are accumulative.

• The organizer pays cash prizes after applying the current legal withholding.

• Stage (section) classification uses FIDE rating in both groups.

• Players collecting prizes must attend the prize ceremony and present ID (DNI/NIE/passport).

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The XXXV Festival Internacional d’Escacs de La Pobla de Lillet – Memorial Joan Barnola i Espelt uses a 9-round Swiss System format. The time control is 90 minutes for the game plus a 30-second increment per move from move 1. The arbiter sets clocks at the scheduled start time, and a player who arrives more than 1 hour late loses the game.

The organizer produces pairings with Swiss Manager and publishes them online on Chess-Results and at the playing venue. The tournament applies the following tie-break order for both Group A and Group B: Total Buchholz, Buchholz -1, Individual, Sonneborn-Berger, and Recursive performance.

📂 Sections / Groups

📅 Schedule

📝 Registration

👥 Organizer

Club d’Escacs Lillet organizes the XXXV Festival Internacional d’Escacs de La Pobla de Lillet – Memorial Joan Barnola i Espelt as part of its long-running summer chess tradition in La Pobla de Lillet, Spain. The organizing team coordinates registration, pairings publication, and prize distribution while keeping the event aligned with FIDE regulations and the official tournament rules.

• Email: escacslillet@gmail.com

• Email: josepsalvador@gmail.com

• Phone: Josep Salvador Casals: 630625152

• Phone: Jordi Capellades: 676245521

• Website: https://escacs-lillet.webnode.es/obert-internacional2/

🏨 Venue

Pavelló Poliesportiu Municipal, C/ Àngel Guimerà, 4, La Pobla de Lillet, Barcelona, Spain
The organizer hosts the games in the municipal sports hall. The venue supports accessibility for players with physical disabilities under regional regulations. The pavilion also offers bar service on site.

🛎️ Accommodation

Refugi Quatre Cases, Paratge del Clot del Moro s/n (next to the cement museum, about 2 km from La Pobla de Lillet)
Phone: 938 257 017 / 659 130 689 | Email: refugiquatrecases@gmail.com | Website: https://refugiquatrecases.wordpress.com/

Hostal Cal Pericas, C. Furrioles de Dalt, 2, La Pobla de Lillet, Spain
Phone: 650 635 090 | Email: info@hostalcalpericas.com | Website: https://hostalcalpericas.com/

Albergue La Sala, Crta de Guardiola – La Pobla de Lillet km 6, La Pobla de Lillet, Barcelona, Spain
Email: reserves@peretarres.org | Website: https://www.peretarres.org/es/casas-colonias-albergues/casas-colonias-albergues-cataluna-baleares/busca-tu-casa-colonias-albergue/albergue-la-sala-pobla-de-lillet-barcelona

🚗 How to Get There

Travel to La Pobla de Lillet, Barcelona, Spain, and then continue locally to the playing venue at Pavelló Poliesportiu Municipal, C/ Àngel Guimerà, 4. Plan arrival time carefully on Round 1 day so you can complete registration formalities before the first scheduled round.

Come for the chess, stay for the atmosphere, and make the XXXV Festival Internacional d’Escacs de La Pobla de Lillet – Memorial Joan Barnola i Espelt the highlight of your summer tournament calendar in La Pobla de Lillet, Spain.