Pilsen Open 2026
14th International Chess Festival
part of CZECH TOUR 2026 Series
28th March – 4th April 2026, Plzen, Czech Republic
Place: Parkhotel Plzeň ****, U Borského parku 31, PlzenOrganizer: AVE CHESS z. s.
Festival director: Michal Horacek
Chief arbiter: FA Petr Lausman
Announced tournaments
A) 28th March – 4th April 2026: round-robin GM tournament – Petr Neuman´s memorial
- GM norm, rating for ELO FIDE and DWZ
- 10 players in the group, average rating >= 2400
- participation of players with ELO FIDE >= 2350 (the organizer reserves the right to accept a player whose ELO does not meet requirements of the tournament, starting fee is marked with *)
- round system of 9 rounds, 2x 1,5 h/40 + 30 min + 30 s/move
- waiting time 1 h in case of late arrival
- financial prizes in CZK: 5 000, 3 000, 2 000
- starting fee in EUR:
| players accommodated through the organizer | other players | |
| ELO FIDE >= 2500 | 250 | 271 |
| ELO FIDE >= 2450 | 291.5 | 312.5 |
| ELO FIDE >= 2400 | 333.5 | 354 |
| ELO FIDE >= 2350 | 375 | 396 |
| ELO FIDE < 2350 | 500 | 521 |
- IM discount of 10 %
- A discount for previous participation in Czech Tour series cannot be applied to the tournament
B) 28th March – 4th April 2026: round-robin IM tournament – Stefan Gros memorial
- IM norm, rating for ELO FIDE and DWZ
- 10 players in the group, average rating >= 2250
- participation of players with ELO FIDE >= 2200 (the organizer reserves the right to accept a player whose ELO does not meet requirements of the tournament, starting fee is marked with *)
- round system of 9 rounds, 2x 1,5 h/40 + 30 min + 30 s/move
- waiting time 1 h in case of late arrival
- financial prizes in CZK: 3 000, 2 000, 1 000
- starting fee in EUR:
| players accommodated through the organizer | other players | |
| players accommodated through the organizer | other players | |
| ELO FIDE >= 2350 | 166.5 | 187.5 |
| ELO FIDE >= 2300 | 208.5 | 229 |
| ELO FIDE >= 2250 | 250 | 271 |
| ELO FIDE >= 2200 | 291.5 | 312.5 |
| ELO FIDE < 2200 | 416.5 | 437.5 |
- FM, WFM and WIM discount of 10 %
- A discount for previous participation in Czech Tour series cannot be applied to the tournament
C) 28th March – 4th April 2026: PILSEN OPEN
- open rating tournament with rating for ELO FIDE and DWZ
- participation of players without age and performance limitations
- Swiss system of 9 rounds, 2 x 1,5h / 40 + 30 min + 30s / move
- waiting time is 1 h in case of late arrival
- starting fee in EUR:
| players accommodated through the organizer | other players | |
| GM, IM, WGM a WIM | 0 | 0 |
| ELO FIDE >= 2200 | 41.5 | 62.5 |
| ELO FIDE >= 2000 | 50 | 71 |
| ELO FIDE >= 1850 | 58.5 | 79 |
| ELO FIDE >= 1700 | 66.5 | 87.5 |
| ELO FIDE < 1700 and without ELO FIDE | 75 | 96 |
- discounts on starting fee: 25 % for FM, players over 65 years of age and women
- players registered after 18 March 2026 pay extra 12.5 EUR
- financial prizes in CZK (payment in EUR possible): 10 000, 6 000, 5 000, 4 000, 3 000, 2 000, best woman 1 000, best senior over 60 years of age 1 000, best player up to 16 years of age 1 000, best player up to 12 years of age 1 000, best player with ELO FIDE 1900–1999, 1800–1899, 1700–1799, 1600–1699, 1500–1599 and under 1500 1 000 (40 000 CZK altogether, fusion of prizes is possible)
- material prizes for other players
D) 29th March 2026: open tournament in rapid chess
- participation of players without age and performance limitations
- Swiss system of 7 rounds, 2 x 10 min + 5s/move
- rating for rapid ELO FIDE
- starting fee: 8.5 EUR
- financial prizes in CZK: 1 500, 1 000, 500
- material prizes for other players
- applications for this tournament are not registered and it is possible to register for it only on the day of launching of the tournament
E) 3rd March 2026 open blitz tournament
- participation of players without age and performance limitations
- Swiss system of 11 rounds, 2 x 3 min. + 2s/move
- rating for rapid ELO FIDE
- starting fee 6.5 EUR
- financial prizes in CZK: 1 000, 700, 500
- material prizes for other players
- applications for this tournament are not registered and it is possible to register for it only on the day of launching of the tournament
Criteria used for ranking and prizes distribution
- A and B tournaments: 1. number of points, 2. S.-B., 3. mutual game, 4. Lot
- C, D and E tournaments: 1. number of points, 2. Buchholz Cut 1, 3. Buchholz, 4. Sonnenborn-Berger, 5. the greater number of games played with black
- prizes in A and B tournaments are divided equally among first 3 players with the same number of points; in tournament C are distributed according to Hort system among such number of players which corresponds to the number of advertised prizes; prizes in tournaments D and E are not divided
Accommodation
Parkhotel Plzen ****
(the playing hall is situated here)- single rooms STANDARD with a shower and WC, price including breakfast 75 EUR/room and night
- double rooms STANDARD with a shower and WC, price including breakfast 87.5 EUR/room and night
- single rooms SUPERIOR with a shower and WC, price including breakfast 83.5 EUR/room and night
- double rooms SUPERIOR with a shower and WC, price including breakfast 100 EUR/room and night
Accommodated persons over the age of 18 pay the municipal fee in the amount of 25 CZK (~ 1 EUR) / night upon arrival at the reception.
Schedule
| Sat 28/3 | 10.00 - 15.00 | Attendance A, B, C |
| 15.15 | Drawing lots A, B | |
| 16.00 | 1st round A, B, C | |
| Sun 29/3 | 8.30–9.15 | Registration D |
| 9.30–13.30 | Tournament D | |
| 16.00 | 2nd round A, B, C | |
| Mon 30/3 | 16.00 | 3rd round A, B, C |
| Tue 31/3 | 9.00 | 4th round A, B, C |
| 16.00 | 5th round A, B, C | |
| Wed 1/4 | 16.00 | 6th round A, B, C |
| Thu 2/4 | 16.00 | 7th round A, B, C |
| Fri 3/4 | 9.15–9.45 | Registration E |
| 10.00–13.00 | Tournament E | |
| 16.00 | 8th round A, B, C | |
| Sat 4/4 | 9.00 | 9th round A, B, C |
| 15.00 | Solemn conclusion |
Other information
- Complete your obligatory applications together with accommodation orders by 18 March 2026 on http://www.czechtour.net/applications/ or by e-mail to office@avechess.cz, alt. ave-kontakt@outlook.cz
- Starting fee and accommodation payments will be collected during the registration in cash in EUR (at the amount given in these regulations), CZK (in the rate 24:1 compared to prices given in these regulations) or USD or by debit and credit cards: Eurocard/Master Card, Maestro, VISA, VISA Electron, JCB or Diners Club. Attendance before starting the tournament is mandatory for all participants.
- Discount on starting fee and accommodation price - 5% discount in 2nd start in the tournament held within the frame of this year CZECH TOUR Series, or 10% in 3rd start, 15% in 4th start etc. (only starts from all tournaments for individuals played with rating min. 2 x 1,5h + 30s/move are counted)
- By participating in the tournament, the player gives the organizer the right to take photos and videos with his person and to use them.
- Interesting things and photos: Facebook, Instagram, Zonerama
Festivals arranged within the frame of CZECH TOUR International Chess Festivals Series Autumn 2025 and Winter 2026
| 1–8 Nov 2025 | 15th HRADEC KRALOVE OPEN |
| 8–15 Nov 2025 | 14th BRNO OPEN |
| 9–16 Jan 2026 | 23rd PRAGUE OPEN |
| 17–24 Jan 2026 | 24th MARIENBAD OPEN |
| 28 Mar – 4 Apr 2026 | 14th PILSEN OPEN |
| 24 Feb – 6 Mar 2026 | 8th PRAGUE INT. CHESS FESTIVAL |
Contact to the organizer
AVE CHESS z.s., Pricna 1892/4, 110 00 Prague, Czech Republictel. + 420 - 466 535 200
mobile phone + 420 - 608 203 007
e-mail: office@avechess.cz, alt. ave-kontakt@outlook.cz
