Regulations
Masters (closed Grandmasters Triathlon)
| Tournament's Director | IA Laurent Freyd |
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Arbiter
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Dates
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July 11–24, 2026
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Venue
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Main stage of the Concert Hall, Biel Congress Center.
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Tournament type
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A. Qualification phase:
- Classical: round robin (first leg)
- Rapid: round robin (reversed colours relative to classical game)
- Blitz: double round robin
B. Final phase: return match in classical time control with the first four players (only the first three if the 4th is more than 12 points behind the first) at the end of qualification phase. Players conserve points acquired during the qualification phase.
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Pairings number
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During the Opening Ceremony, a drawing of lots will determine the pairings for the ACCENTUS Chess960 and for the blitz games. Starting numbers for the classic will be chosen by the players in the order of the standings of Accentus Chess960. The resulting pairings with reversed colours will be used for the rapid games.
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Time control
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Classical: 120 minutes for the first 40 moves + 30 minutes for the rest of the game + 30 seconds increment as of move 41.
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Rapid: 15 minutes + 5 seconds increment per move.
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Blitz: 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment per move.
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Schedule
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July 11, 10.30 am: Technical meeting
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| July 11, 11.30 am: Opening Ceremony | |
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July 12, 2 pm: Rapid
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July 13: Rest day
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July 14–18, 2 pm: Classical (round robin)
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July 19, 2 pm: Blitz
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July 20: Rest Day
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July 21–23, 2 pm: Final phase: Classical rd 6–8
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July 24, 10.30 am: Closing Ceremony
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Courtesy
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Out of respect for the opponent, the photographers and the sponsors, the players are expected to appear in time before the game start.
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Prizes
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CHF 10'000/7'500/5'000/3'000/2'000/1'000.
Total prize fund: CHF 28'500.
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Scores and tie-breaks
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Classical: 4 points for a win; 1½ point for a draw; 0 point for a loss.
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Rapid: 2 points for a win; 1 point for a draw; 0 point for a loss.
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Blitz: 1 point for a win; ½ point for a draw; 0 point for a loss.
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Final standings will be established according to the number of points scored, cumulating the three series (classical+rapid+blitz).
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In case of a tie, the ranking in the ACCENTUS Chess960 decides upon the final ranking of the Triathlon and the corresponding prizes.
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Rating
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Each series is rated for the related FIDE rating (Standard, Rapid, Blitz).
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| Tournament's results are counting for the FIDE Circuit 2026-2027 (to be confirmed). | |
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Laws of chess
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Any player arriving at the board more than 10 minutes after the start of the round (resp. 5 minutes in rapid and 2 minutes in blitz) will lose by forfeit, except in cases of force majeure.
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Draw offers aren't allowed before move 41 in the Classical tournament.
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Players aren't allowed to carry or use any electronic devices during their games.
They are advised to enter the playing hall without such devices or otherwise to deposit these at the arbiter's desk.
According to the anti-cheating guidelines of the FIDE, there is a suitable detector available in the tournament hall.
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Declaration of consent
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With your participation you agree that photographic material may be recorded and used.
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Generation Challenge (invitational Triathlon)
| Tournament's Director | IA Laurent Freyd |
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Arbiter
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Dates
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July 11–24, 2026
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Venue
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Main stage of the Concert Hall, Biel Congress Center.
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Tournament type
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A. Qualification phase:
- Classical: round robin (first leg)
- Rapid: round robin (reversed colours relative to classical game)
- Blitz: double round-robin
B. Final phase: return match in classical time control with the first four players (only the first three if the 4th is more than 12 points behind the first) at the end of qualification phase. Players conserve points acquired during the qualification phase.
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Pairings number
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During the Opening Ceremony, a drawing of lots will determine the pairings for the ACCENTUS Chess960 and for the blitz games. Starting numbers for the classic will be chosen by the players in the order of the standings of Accentus Chess960. The resulting pairings with reversed colours will be used for the rapid games.
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Time control
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Classical: 120 minutes for the first 40 moves + 30 minutes for the rest of the game + 30 seconds increment as of move 41.
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Rapid: 15 minutes + 5 seconds increment per move.
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Blitz: 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment per move.
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Schedule
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July 11, 10.30 am: Technical meeting
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| July 11, 11.30 am: Opening Ceremony | |
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July 12, 1 pm: Rapid
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July 13: Rest day
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July 14–18, 2 pm: Classical (round robin)
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July 19, 2 pm: Blitz
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July 20: Rest Day
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July 21–23, 2 pm: Finale phase: Classical rd 6-8
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July 24, 10.30 am: Closing Ceremony
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Courtesy
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Out of respect for the opponent, the photographers and the sponsors, the players are expected to appear in time before the game start.
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Prizes
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CHF 5'000/3'500/2'500/1'500/1'000/500.
Total prize fund: CHF 14'000.
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Scores and tie-breaks
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Classical: 4 points for a win; 1½ point for a draw; 0 point for a loss.
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Rapid: 2 points for a win; 1 point for a draw; 0 point for a loss.
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Blitz: 1 point for a win; ½ point for a draw; 0 point for a loss.
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Final standings will be established according to the number of points scored, cumulating the three series (classical+rapid+blitz).
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In case of a tie, the ranking in the ACCENTUS Chess960 decides upon the final ranking of the Triathlon and the corresponding prizes.
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Rating
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Each series is rated for the related FIDE rating (Standard, Rapid, Blitz).
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| Tournament's results are counting for the FIDE Circuit 2026-2027. | |
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Laws of chess
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Any player arriving at the board more than 10 minutes after the start of the round (resp. 5 minutes in rapid and 2 minutes in blitz) will lose by forfeit, except in cases of force majeure.
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Draw offers aren't allowed before move 41 in the Classical tournament.
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Players aren't allowed to carry or use any electronic devices during their games.
They are advised to enter the playing hall without such devices or otherwise to deposit these at the arbiter's desk.
According to the anti-cheating guidelines of the FIDE, there is a suitable detector available in the tournament hall.
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Declaration of consent
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With your participation you agree that photographic material may be recorded and used.
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ACCENTUS Chess960 (ACC)
| Tournament director | IA Laurent Freyd |
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Arbiter
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Date
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Saturday, July 11, 2026
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Venue
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Main stage of the Concert Hall, Biel Congress Center
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Tournament type
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Round robin (5 rounds) + 2 rounds.
Chess960: The starting position will be drawn before each round.
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| Time control | 15 minutes + 5 seconds increment per move |
| Schedule | 2 pm - 7.30 pm |
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Courtesy
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Out of respect for the opponent, the photographers and the sponsors, the players are expected to appear in time before the game starts.
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Planche des prix
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The final ranking of this tournament is used as a tie break in cas of equality of points in the Grandmaster Triathlons.
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| Tiebreak |
The following tie break will be used to establish the final standings:
1. Direct encounter
2. Number of wins with Black
3. Number of wins
4. Age (from younger to older)
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Laws of chess
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Any player arriving at the board more than 5 minutes after the start of the round will lose by forfeit, except in cases of force majeure. |
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Players aren't allowed to carry or use any electronic devices during their games.
They are advised to enter the playing hall without such devices or otherwise to deposit these at the arbiter's desk.
According to the anti-cheating guidelines of the FIDE, there is a suitable detector available in the tournament hall.
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Declaration of consent
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With your participation, you agree that photographic material may be recorded and used.
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Master Tournament (MTO)
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Main Arbiter
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IA Ana Srebrnič
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Dates
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July 13–23, 2026
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Venue
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Concert Hall, Biel Congress Center.
Smoking is strictly prohibited within the whole building.
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Tournament type
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10 rounds, Swiss system.
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Time control
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100 minutes for the first 40 moves + 30 minutes for the rest of the game + 30 seconds increment per move.
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Schedule
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July 13–18, 2 pm: rd 1–6
July 19: Rest day
July 20–23, 2 pm: rd 7–10
July 23, 15' after the end of the last game: Prize-giving (except for the first three players*)
July 24, 10.30 am: Prize-giving for the first three players
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Prizes
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CHF 6'000, 4'500, 3'500, 2'800, 2'300, 1'800, 1'500, 1'400.
Non-cash prize for the best U16, the best player without title (GM/IM/WGM/WIM) and the best Swiss player.
Total prize fund: CHF 23'800 + non-cash prizes.
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Prizes are valid with 100 participants or more. With fewer participants, they are reduced pro rata.
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Prizes will be awarded according to the final ranking ("Hort System" won’t be applied).
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Prizes are non-cumulative.
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| Eligible for the title as best Swiss player are Swiss citizens and settled foreigners (settlement permit C) with FIDE Federation SUI. | |
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In order to receive their prizes, the top three winners are required to stand on the podium during the prize-giving ceremony.
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| Each day, the best game of the round is rewarded with a non-cash prize. | |
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Ranking
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1. Points scored
2. Direct encounter
3. Sonneborn-Berger 4. Buchholz Cut 1 (worst score excluded)
5. Elo average of opponents (FIDE standard)
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Eligibility
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FIDE rated players (lists May, June or July 2026) with at least 1900 standard FIDE rating.
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The admission of a player player is decided solely by the organization. This decision is final.
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Registration
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CHF 250 or € 250 (born 2010+: CHF 150 or € 150), by bank transfer until July 08, 2026, based on the invoice received by e-mail after the online registration. After this date, cash payments are made on site with a surcharge of CHF 20. Deadline: July 13, 12:15 pm.
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For GM, IM, WGM and WIM the participation is free of charge. Titled players must also confirm their participation until 12:30 pm at the latest on Monday, July 13.
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Check-in
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All participants with "paid" status on the website should confirm their presence at the registration desk until 12:30 pm at the latest on Monday, July 13.
Players who don't confirm their participation on time will not be paired in the 1st round. Only players with confirmed status (marked in green) on the players list will be paired for the 1st round:
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Laws of chess
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Any player arriving at the board more than 30 minutes after the start of the round will lose by forfeit, except in cases of force majeure.
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It is forbidden to enter the playing area with any electronic device such as a mobile phone or a smart watch.
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All players must comply with strict anti-cheating measures in accordance with the FIDE rules.
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Pairings and results
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The starting list is based on the July 2026 FIDE standard rating list.
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The pairings for the first round will be published at 1:45 pm. For all subsequent rounds, the pairings will be published online until one hour after the end of the previous round. Pairing of Round 7 will be published at 8 pm in the evening after rest day.
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| Players may request a maximum of one bye (½ point) until 6th round included. Request for a bye must be made on the previous day until 5 minutes after the end of the round by sending an e-mail to the arbiter. | |
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Players have to deliver the original copy of the scoresheet and register the result at the arbiter's desk. Otherwise the result of the game will be recorded as 0-0.
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In case of disagreement with the arbiter's decision, you can appeal verbally against it with the chief arbiter. This needs to be done immediately.
The decision of the chief arbiter is final.
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The tournament will be submitted for the FIDE standard and German rating list.
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| It is possible to achieve a FIDE norm. | |
| Tournament’s results are counting for the FIDE Circuit 2026-2027. | |
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Declaration of consent
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With your participation you give permission for the usage of photos/videos - in which you appear - in any publication.
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Amateur Tournament (ATO)
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Main Arbiter
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IA Ana Srebrnič
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Dates
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July 14–23, 2026
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Venue
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Concert Hall, Biel Congress Center.
Smoking is strictly prohibited within the whole building.
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Tournament type
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9 rounds, Swiss system.
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Time control
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90 minutes for the first 40 moves + 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an addition of 30 seconds per move starting from move one.
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Schedule
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July 14–18, 2 pm: rounds 1–5
July 19: Rest day
July 20–23, 2 pm: rounds 6–9
July 23, 15' after the end of the last game: Prize-giving (except for the first three players*)
July 24, 10.30 am: Prize-giving for the first three players
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Prizes
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CHF 1'200, 1'000, 800, 600, 500, 400, 300, 200.
Non-cash prize for the best U16.
Total prize fund: CHF 5'000 + non cash prize. |
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Prizes are valid with 100 participants or more. With fewer participants, they are reduced pro rata.
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Prizes will be awarded according to the final ranking ("Hort System" won’t be applied).
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| Prizes are non-cumulative. | |
| Each day, the best game of the round is rewarded with a non-cash prize. | |
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In order to receive their prizes, the top three finishers are required to stand on the podium during the prize-giving.
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Ranking
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1. Points scored
2. Direct encounter
3. Sonneborn-Berger 4. Buchholz Cut 1 (worst score excluded)
5. Elo average of opponents (FIDE standard)
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Eligibility
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Players without standard FIDE rating (but registered by a national federation) or with FIDE standard rating not higher than 2000 Elo in all three rating lists of May, June and July 2026.
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Players who like to participate, but don’t have a FIDE ID yet, should contact the corresponding officer of their federation or the tournament arbiter by e-mail, in order to receive the FIDE ID needed for the online registration in time.
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The admission of a player is decided solely by the organization. This decision is final.
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Registration
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CHF 180 or € 180 (born 2010+: CHF 100 or € 100), by bank transfer until July 08, 2026, based on the invoice received by e-mail after the online registration. After this date, cash payments are made on site with a surcharge of CHF 20. Deadline: July 14, 12:15 pm.
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Team
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Team registration of three players will be on site no later than Thursday, July 16, 2 pm. At least three teams must be entered for the competition to take place.
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No extra charge in participating at this competition.
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The team ranking is calculated as the sum of the achieved scores of the three members of the team. In case of a tie, the team with the lowest Elo average wins. Prize in kind for the best team.
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Check-in
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All participants with "paid" status on the website should confirm their presence at the registration desk until 12:30 pm at the latest on Tuesday, July 14.
Players who don't confirm their participation on time will not be paired in the 1st round. Only players with confirmed status (marked in green) on the players list will be paired for the 1st round:
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Laws of chess
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Any player arriving at the board more than 30 minutes after the start the round will lose by forfeit, except in cases of force majeure.
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It is forbidden to enter the playing area with any electronic device such as a mobile phone or a smart watch.
|
|
|
All players must comply with strict anti-cheating measures in accordance with the FIDE rules.
|
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Pairings and results
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The starting list is based on the July 2026 FIDE standard rating list.
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The pairings for the first round will be published at 1:45 pm. For all subsequent rounds, the pairings will be published online until one hour after the end of the previous round. Pairings of Round 6 will be published at 8 pm in the evening after the rest day.
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| Players may request a maximum of one bye (½ point) until 5th round included. Request for a bye must be made on the previous day until 5 minutes after the end of the round by sending an e-mail to the arbiter. | |
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Players have to deliver the original copy of the scoresheet and register the result at the arbiter's desk. Otherwise the result of the game will be recorded as 0-0.
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In case of disagreement with the arbiter's decision, you can appeal verbally against it with the chief arbiter. This needs to be done immediately.
The decision of the chief arbiter is final.
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The tournament will be submitted for the FIDE standard and German rating list.
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Declaration of consent
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With your participation you give permission for the usage of photos/videos - in which you appear - in any publication.
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Fast Standard 1700+ (WT1)
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Main Arbiter
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IA Florian Zarri
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Dates
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July 20–24, 2026
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Venue
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Concert Hall, Biel Congress Center.
Smoking is strictly prohibited within the whole building.
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Tournament type
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9 rounds, Swiss system.
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Time control
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60 minutes for the game with an addition of 30 seconds per move starting from move one.
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Schedule
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July 20-23, first round of the day 10 am; second round 2 pm.
July 24, last round 10 am; prize-giving 15' after the end of the last game.
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Prizes
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CHF 800, 600, 500.
Non-cash prize for the best U16.
Total prize fund: CHF 1'900 + non cash prize. |
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Prizes are valid with 50 participants or more. With fewer participants, they are reduced pro rata.
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If 30 participants or fewer are registered by the start of the tournament, the WT1 will be merged with the WT2. In this case, category prizes will be awarded separately for players rated 1700+ Elo.
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| Prizes are non-cumulative. | |
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In order to receive their prizes, the top three finishers are required to stand on the podium during the prize-giving.
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Ranking
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1. Points scored
2. Direct encounter
3. Sonneborn-Berger 4. Buchholz
5. Elo average of opponents
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Eligibility
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Open to all players with at least 1700 Elo (FIDE standard list) on July 01, 2026. |
| Players rated 1700+ Elo at the time of registration before 01.07.26, and who have 1699- on this date will be automatically moved into the list of participants for the WT2. | |
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The admission of a player is decided solely by the organization. This decision is final.
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Registration
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CHF 100 or € 100 (born 2010+: CHF 50 or € 50), by bank transfer until July 15, 2026, based on the invoice received by e-mail after the online registration. After this date, cash payments are made on site with a surcharge of CHF 20. Deadline: July 20, 09:15 am.
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Check-in
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All participants with "paid" status on the website should confirm their presence at the registration desk until 9:30 am at the latest on Monday, July 20. Players who don't confirm their participation on time will not be paired in the 1st round.
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Laws of chess
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Any player arriving at the board more than 30 minutes after the start the round will lose by forfeit, except in cases of force majeure.
|
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It is forbidden to enter the playing area with any electronic device such as a mobile phone or a smart watch.
|
|
|
All players must comply with strict anti-cheating measures in accordance with the FIDE rules.
|
|
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Pairings and results
|
The start list is based on the July 2026 FIDE standard rating list.
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The pairings for the first round will be published at 09:45 am. For all subsequent rounds, the pairings will be published online until one hour after the end of the previous round.
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| Players may request a maximum of one bye (½ point) until 5th round included. Request for a bye must be made at the latest just after the last game of the previous round ended by direct communication to the main arbiter or by sending an e-mail. | |
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Players have to register the result at the arbiter's desk. Otherwise the result of the game will be recorded as 0-0.
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In case of disagreement with the arbiter's decision, you can appeal verbally against it with the chief arbiter. This needs to be done immediately.
The decision of the chief arbiter is final.
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The tournament will be submitted for the FIDE standard rating list.
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Declaration of consent
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With your participation you give permission for the usage of photos/videos - in which you appear - in any publication.
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Fast Standard Elo 1699- (WT2)
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Main Arbiter
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IA Florian Zarri
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Dates
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July 20–24, 2026
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Venue
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Concert Hall, Biel Congress Center.
Smoking is strictly prohibited within the whole building.
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Tournament type
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9 rounds, Swiss system.
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Time control
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60 minutes for the game with an addition of 30 seconds per move starting from move one.
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Schedule
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July 20-23, first round of the day 10 am; second round 2 pm.
July 24, last round 10 am; prize-giving 15' after the end of the last game.
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Prizes
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CHF 600, 500, 400.
Non-cash prize for the best U16.
Total prize fund: CHF 1'500 + non cash prize. |
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Prizes are valid with 50 participants or more. With fewer participants, they are reduced pro rata.
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If 30 participants or fewer are registered by the start of the tournament, the WT2 will be merged with the WT1. In this case, category prizes will be awarded separately for players rated under 1700 Elo.
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| Prizes are non-cumulative. | |
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In order to receive their prizes, the top three finishers are required to stand on the podium during the prize-giving.
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Ranking
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1. Points scored
2. Direct encounter
3. Sonneborn-Berger 4. Buchholz
5. Elo average of opponents (players without Elo are estimated at 1500 Elo)
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Eligibility
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Open to all players with no more than 1699 Elo (FIDE standard Elo, unrated players included) on July 01, 2026. |
| Players rated 1699- Elo at the time of registration, and who have 1700+ after June 30, 2026, will be automatically moved into the list of participants for the WT1. | |
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Players who like to participate, but don’t have a FIDE ID yet, should contact the corresponding officer of their federation or the tournament arbiter by e-mail, in order to receive the FIDE ID needed for the online registration in time.
|
|
|
The admission of a player is decided solely by the organization. This decision is final.
|
|
|
Registration
|
CHF 80 or € 80 (born 2010+: CHF 40 or € 40), by bank transfer until July 15, 2026, based on the invoice received by e-mail after the online registration. After this date, cash payments are made on site with a surcharge of CHF 20. Deadline: July 20, 9:15 am.
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Check-in
|
All participants with "paid" status on the website should confirm their presence at the registration desk until 9:30 am at the latest on Monday, July 20. Players who don't confirm their participation on time will not be paired in the 1st round.
|
|
Laws of chess
|
Any player arriving at the board more than 30 minutes after the start the round will lose by forfeit, except in cases of force majeure.
|
|
It is forbidden to enter the playing area with any electronic device such as a mobile phone or a smart watch.
|
|
|
All players must comply with strict anti-cheating measures in accordance with the FIDE rules.
|
|
|
Pairings and results
|
The start list is based on the July 2026 FIDE standard rating list.
|
|
The pairings for the first round will be published at 9:45 am. For all subsequent rounds, the pairings will be published online until one hour after the end of the previous round.
|
|
| Players may request a maximum of one bye (½ point) until 5th round included. Request for a bye must be made at the latest just after the last game of the previous round ended by direct communication to the main arbiter or by sending an e-mail. | |
|
Players have to deliver the original copy of the scoresheet and register the result at the arbiter's desk. Otherwise the result of the game will be recorded as 0-0.
|
|
|
In case of disagreement with the arbiter's decision, you can appeal verbally against it with the chief arbiter. This needs to be done immediately.
The decision of the chief arbiter is final.
|
|
|
The tournament will be submitted for the FIDE standard rating list.
|
|
|
Declaration of consent
|
With your participation you give permission for the usage of photos/videos - in which you appear - in any publication.
|
Free Style Chess Tournament [960] (FSC)
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Main arbiter
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IA Florian Zarri
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Dates
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July 13 - 19, 2026
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| Venue |
Concert Hall, Biel Congress Center.
Smoking is strictly prohibited within the whole building.
|
| Tournament type |
7 rounds, Swiss system.
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| Time control |
60 minutes for the game with an addition of 30 seconds per move starting from move one.
|
| Schedule |
10 am
Prize-giving: 15' after the end of the last game in the playing hall
|
|
Prizes
|
CHF 800, 600, 500.
Non-cash prize for the best U16.
Total prize fund: CHF 1'900 + non cash prize. |
|
Prizes are valid with 50 participants or more. With fewer participants, they are reduced pro rata.
|
|
| Prizes are non-cumulative. | |
|
In order to receive their prizes, the top three finishers are required to stand on the podium during the prize-giving.
|
|
|
Ranking
|
1. Points scored
2. Direct encounter
3. Sonneborn-Berger
4. Buchholz
5. Elo average of opponents (priority: FIDE standard rating, then national rating, otherwise evaluated at 1500 Elo)
|
|
Eligibility
|
Open to all players.
|
|
The admission of a player is decided solely by the organization. This decision is final.
|
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| Registration |
CHF 140 or € 140 (born 2010+: CHF 70 or € 70), half price for players who also participate to ATO or MTO, by bank transfer until July 08, 2026, based on the invoice received by e-mail after the online registration. After this date, cash payments are made on site with a surcharge of CHF 20. Deadline: July 13, 09:15 am.
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| GM, IM, WGM, WIM pay CHF 70 or € 70 (half if they play MTO) by bank transfer until July 01, 2026. After this date, the same registration fee as for other players applies. | |
| Check-in |
All participants with "paid" status on the website should confirm their presence at the registration desk until 9:30 am at the latest on Monday, July 13. Players who don't confirm their participation on time will not be paired in the 1st round.
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| Laws of chess | Any player arriving at the board more than 30 minutes after the start of the round will lose by forfeit, except in cases of force majeure. |
| It is forbidden to enter the playing area with any electronic device such as a mobile phone or a smart watch. | |
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All players must comply with strict anti-cheating measures in accordance with the FIDE rules.
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| The start list is based on the July 2026 FIDE standard rating list. | |
| Pairings and results |
The pairings for the first round will be published at 9:45 am. For all subsequent rounds, the pairings will be published online until one hour after the end of the previous round. The initial position will be announced 5 minutes before the start of the round. Players will be asked to set up their board in accordance.
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Players may request a maximum of one bye (½ point) until 5th round included. Request for a bye must be made on the previous day before 2 pm by sending an e-mail to the arbiter.
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Players have to deliver the original copy of the scoresheet and register the result at the arbiter's desk. Otherwise the result of the game will be recorded as 0-0.
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In case of disagreement with the arbiter's decision, you can appeal verbally against it with the chief arbiter. This needs to be done immediately.
The decision of the chief arbiter is final.
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Declaration of consent
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With your participation you give permission for the usage of photos/videos - in which you appear - in any publication.
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Swiss Rapid Fischer Random Championship (960)
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Main Arbiter
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IA Laurent Freyd |
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Dates
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July 11, 2026
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Venue
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Concert Hall, Biel Congress Center.
Smoking is strictly prohibited within the whole building.
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Tournament type
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7 rounds, Swiss system.
Chess960: The starting position will be drawn before each round.
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Time control
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15 minutes + 5 seconds increment per move.
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Schedule
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2 pm
Prize-giving: 15' after the end of the last game in the playing hall
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Prizes
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CHF 250, 150, 100.
Cup for the best Swiss player.
Total prize fund: CHF 500. |
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Prizes will be allocated according to the final ranking ("Hort System" won’t be applied).
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| Eligible for the title of the best Swiss player are Swiss citizens as well as settled foreigners (settlement permit C) with FIDE Federation SUI. | |
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In order to receive their prizes, the top three winners are required to stand on the podium during the prize-giving.
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Ranking
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1. Points scored
2. Direct encounter
3. Sonneborn-Berger 4. Buchholz
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Eligibility
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Open to every player, included those not registered in a federation.
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The admission of a player is decided solely by the organization. This decision is final.
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Registration
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CHF 20 or € 20 (born 2010+ and GM/IM/WGM/WIM: CHF 10 or € 10), by bank transfer until July 08, 2026, based on the invoice received by e-mail during the online registration. After this date, cash payment on site with a surcharge of CHF 20. Deadline: July 11, 1 pm.
No surcharge for GM/IM/WGM/WIM.
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Check-in
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All participants with "paid" status on the website should confirm their presence at the registration desk until 1:30 pm at the latest on Saturday, July 11. Players who don't confirm their participation on time will not be paired in the 1st round.
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Laws of chess
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Any player arriving at the board more than 15 minutes after the start the round will lose by forfeit, except in cases of force majeure.
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It is forbidden to enter the playing area with any electronic device such as a mobile phone or a smart watch.
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All players must comply with strict anti-cheating measures in accordance with the FIDE rules.
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Pairings and results
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The start list is based in priority on the July 2026 FIDE rapid rating list, then on FIDE standard rating, then on national list. Unrated players are listed in alphabetical order at the end of the start list.
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Players have to enter the result at the arbiter's desk. Otherwise the result of the game will be counted as 0-0.
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An arbiter's decision may be appealed orally to the main arbiter immediately in case of disagreement. The decision of the main arbiter is final.
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Declaration of consent
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With your participation you give permission for the usage of photos/videos - in which you appear - in any publication.
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Rapid Tournament (RAP)
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Main Arbiter
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IA Laurent Freyd
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Dates
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July 12, 2026
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Venue
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Concert Hall, Biel Congress Center.
Smoking is strictly prohibited within the whole building.
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Tournament type
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9 rounds, Swiss system.
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Time control
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15 minutes + 5 seconds increment per move.
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Schedule
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Start round 1: 10:45 am
Lunch break after round 3
Start round 4: 2 pm Prize-giving: 15' after the end of the last game of round 9
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Prizes
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CHF 800, 700, 600, 500, 400, 300, 200, 100.
Non-cash prize for the best player without title (GM/IM/WGM/WIM), the best Swiss player, the best U16 and the best player <2000 Elo.
Total prize fund: CHF 3'600 + non-cash prizes. |
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Prizes are valid with 120 participants or more. With fewer participants, they are reduced pro rata.
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Prizes will be awarded according to the final ranking ("Hort System" won’t be applied).
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Prizes are non-cumulative.
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| Eligible for the title of the best Swiss player are Swiss citizens and settled foreigners (settlement permit C) with FIDE Federation SUI. | |
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In order to receive their prizes, the top three winners are required to stand on the podium during the prize-giving.
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Ranking
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1. Points scored
2. Direct encounter
3. Sonneborn-Berger 4. Buchholz Cut 1 (worst score excluded)
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Eligibility
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Open to all. Players who like to participate, but don’t have a FIDE ID yet, should contact the corresponding officer of their federation or the tournament arbiter by e-mail, in order to receive the FIDE ID needed for the online registration in time.
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The admission of a player is decided solely by the organization. This decision is final.
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Registration
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CHF 50 or € 50 (born 2010+ and GM/IM/WGM/WIM: CHF 20 or € 20), by bank transfer until July 08, 2026, based on the invoice received by e-mail after the online registration. After this date, cash payments are made on site with a surcharge of CHF 20. Deadline: July 12, 10:00 am.
No surcharge for GM/IM/WGM/WIM.
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Check-in
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All participants with "paid" status on the website should confirm their presence at the registration desk until 10:15 am at the latest on July 12. Players who don't confirm their participation on time will not be paired in the 1st round. |
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Laws of chess
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Any player arriving at the board more than 15 minutes after the start of the round will lose by forfeit, except in cases of force majeure.
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It is forbidden to enter the playing area with any electronic device such as a mobile phone or a smart watch.
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All players must comply with strict anti-cheating measures in accordance with the FIDE rules.
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Pairings and results
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The start list is based in priority on the July 2026 FIDE rapid rating list, then on FIDE standard rating, then on national list. Unrated players are listed in alphabetical order at the end of the start list.
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Players have to register the result at the arbiter's desk. Otherwise the result of the game will be recorded as 0-0.
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An arbiter's decision may be appealed orally to the main arbiter immediately in case of disagreement. The decision of the main arbiter is final.
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The tournament will be submitted for the FIDE rapid rating.
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Declaration of consent
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With your participation you give permission for the usage of photos/videos - in which you appear - in any publication.
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Blitz Tournament (BTZ)
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Main Arbiter
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IA Laurent Freyd |
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Dates
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July 19, 2026
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Venue
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Concert Hall, Biel Congress Center.
Smoking is strictly prohibited within the whole building.
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Tournament type
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13 rounds, Swiss system
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Time control
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3 minutes + 2 seconds increment per move
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Schedule
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Start round 1: 2 pm
Two short breaks planned (after round 5 and 10)
Prize giving: 15' after the end of the last game of round 13. |
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Prizes
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CHF 800, 700, 600, 500, 400, 300, 200, 100.
Non-cash prize for the best player without title (GM/IM/WGM/WIM), the best Swiss player, the best U16 and the best player <2000 Elo.
Total prize fund: CHF 3'600 + non-cash prizes.
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Prizes are valid with 120 participants or more. With fewer participants, they are reduced pro rata.
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Prizes will be awarded according to the final ranking ("Hort System" won’t be applied).
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Prizes are non-cumulative.
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| Eligible for the title as best Swiss player are Swiss citizens and settled foreigners (settlement permit C) with FIDE Federation SUI. | |
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In order to receive their prizes, the top three winners are required to stand on the podium during the prize-giving.
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Ranking
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1. Points scored
2. Direct encounter
3. Sonneborn-Berger 4. Buchholz Cut 1 (worst score excluded)
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Eligibility
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Open to all. Players who like to participate, but don’t have a FIDE ID yet, should contact the corresponding officer of their federation or the tournament arbiter by e-mail, in order to receive the FIDE code needed for the online registration in time.
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The admission of a player is decided solely by the organization. This decision is final.
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Registration
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CHF 50 or € 50 (born 2010+ and GM/IM/WGM/WIM: CHF 20 or € 20), by bank transfer until July 15, 2026, based on the invoice received by e-mail after the online registration. After this date, cash payments are made on site with a surcharge of CHF 20. Deadline: July 19, 1 pm.
No surcharge for GM/IM/WGM/WIM.
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Check-in
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All participants with "paid" status on the website should confirm their presence at the registration desk until 1:15 pm at the latest on July 19. Players who don't confirm their participation on time will not be paired in the 1st round. |
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Laws of chess
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Any player arriving at the board more than 3 minutes after the start of the round will lose by forfeit, except in cases of force majeure.
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It is forbidden to enter the playing area with any electronic device such as a mobile phone or a smart watch.
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All players must comply with strict anti-cheating measures in accordance with the FIDE rules.
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Pairings and results
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The start list is based in priority on the July 2026 FIDE blitz rating list, then on FIDE standard rating, then on national rating list. Unrated players are listed in alphabetical order at the end of the start list.
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Players have to register the result at the arbiter's desk. Otherwise the result of the game will be recorded as 0-0.
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In case of disagreement with the arbiter's decision, you can appeal verbally against it with the chief arbiter. This needs to be done immediately.
The decision of the chief arbiter is final.
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The tournament will be submitted for the FIDE blitz rating.
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Declaration of consent
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With your participation you give permission for the usage of photos/videos - in which you appear - in any publication.
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Biel Hospital Center Total Chess (TRI)
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Main Arbiter
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IA Florian Zarri |
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Dates
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July 20–24, 2026 |
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Venue
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Concert Hall, Biel Congress Center.
Smoking is strictly prohibited within the whole building.
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| Tournament Type | 5 rounds of Total Chess (Chess Triathlon): Each round consists of a match against the same opponent in three games (Blitz, Rapid & Fast Standard). |
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Time controls
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Blitz: 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment per move.
Rapid: 10 minutes + 5 seconds increment per move.
Fast Standard: 60 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move.
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| Scores |
The round is decided (1 point for a win, ½ for a draw, 0 for a loss) by the combined score from all three games ("goal average"):
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| Ranking |
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Schedule
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July 20-24, round 1-5: 9 am
Prize-giving: July 24, 15' after the end of last game.
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Prizes
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CHF 700, 500, 300. Non-cash prize for the best U16.
Total prize fund: CHF 1'500 + non cash prize. |
| Prizes are valid with 50 participants or more. With fewer participants, they are reduced pro rata. | |
| Prizes are non-cumulative. | |
| In order to receive their prizes, the top three finishers are required to stand on the podium during the prize-giving. | |
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Eligibility
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Open to all players. |
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The admission of a player is decided solely by the organization. This decision is final.
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Registration
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| CHF 50 or € 50 (born 2010+: CHF 20 or € 20), by bank transfer until July 15, 2026, based on the invoice received by e-mail after the online registration. After this date, cash payment on-site with a surcharge of CHF 20. Deadline: July 20, 8:15 am. | |
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Check-in
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All participants with "paid" status on the website should confirm their presence at the registration desk until 8:30 am at the latest on Monday, July 20. Players who don't confirm their participation on time will not be paired in the 1st round.
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Laws of chess
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Any player arriving at the board more than 75 minutes after the start the round will lose by forfeit, except in cases of force majeure |
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It is forbidden to enter the playing area with any electronic device such as a mobile phone or a smart watch.
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| All players must comply with strict anti-cheating measures in accordance with the FIDE rules. | |
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Pairings and results
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The starting list is based on the July 2026 FIDE standard rating list. Players without such a rating will be alphabetically classified at the bottom of the starting list .
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| The pairings for the first round will be published at 8:45 am. For all subsequent rounds, the pairings will be published online until one hour after the end of the previous round. | |
| Players have to deliver the original copy of the scoresheet and register the result at the arbiter's desk. Otherwise the result of the game will be recorded as 0-0. | |
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In case of disagreement with the arbiter's decision, you can appeal verbally against it with the chief arbiter. This needs to be done immediately.
The decision of the chief arbiter is final. |
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| The tournament will not be submitted for the FIDE ratings. | |
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Declaration of consent
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With your participation you give permission for the usage of photos/videos - in which you appear - in any publication.
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Solving Contest (PLT)
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Tournament direction
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Date
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July 19, 2026
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Venue
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Vereinssaal, Kongresshaus, Zentralstr. 60, 2502 Biel. Smoking is strictly prohibited in the entire building.
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Tournament type
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6 problems to solve as fast as possible (max. 90 minutes).
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| Schedule |
Registration closes: 11:15 am
Solving contest: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Prize-giving: 1:30 pm
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Prizes
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1st prize: CHF 100 + (artistic) chess books for all participants, gifted by tournament's direction. |
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Ranking
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1. Points (max. 5 points by problem)
2. Time spent
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| Eligibilty | Open to all. |
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Registration
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CHF 20 or € 20 (2010+: CHF 10 or € 40) payable on site or by bank transfer until 15 July 2026, based on the invoice received by e-mail during the online registration. After this date, cash payments are made on site with a surcharge of CHF 10. Deadline: July 19, 11 am.
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| Participants without FIDE-ID use the code 1234567 in the registration form. | |
| Miscellaneous |
This tournament doesn't count for any rating list.
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| All electronic devices of players and spectators must be switched off, with the exception of cameras and video recorders. | |
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Declaration of consent
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With your participation, you give permission for the usage of photos/videos - in which you appear - in any publication.
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VINETUM Youth Tournament (JTO)
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Main Arbiter
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IA Jonas Studer
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Date
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July 18, 2026
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Venue
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Vereinssaal, Biel Congress Center
Smoking is strictly prohibited in the entire building.
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Tournament type
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7 rounds, Swiss system
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Time control
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10 minutes + 10 seconds increment per move
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Schedule
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Rounds 1–3: 11:00 am – 1:15 pm
Lunch buffet open as of 12:30 pm Rounds 4–7: 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Prize-giving: 15 minutes after the end of the last game |
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Prizes
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Prizes in kind for every player. Cup for the winners.
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Ranking
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1. Number of points scored
2. Buchholz
3. Sum of Buchholz
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Eligibility
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Open to every young player born 2008 or later, rated or unrated.
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Age groups
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Players with an Elo rating: born 2008 or later
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Unrated players - U11: born 2015 or later
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Unrated players - U18: born 2008-2014
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| Last minute adjustments are possible in order to have an equivalent number of participants in each category | |
| Tournament for accompanying persons in the afternoon. Registration on site. | |
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Registration
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Free of charge, lunch meal included!
In case of need, the accompanying persons are requested to order per mail until July 15, 2026 their vouchers for meal (CHF 20 each, to be payed cash on-site).
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| Online registration until July 17, 2026. Participants without FIDE-ID use the code 1234567 in the registration form. | |
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Check-in
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All participants must confirm their presence at the registration desk on Saturday, July 18, 2026, from 9 am to no later than 10 am. Players who don't confirm their participation on time will not be paired in the 1st round.
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Laws of chess
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Illegal moves don't lose the game, but the rule "touched piece, played piece" is applied.
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Miscellaneous
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The tournament won’t be rated.
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Electronic devices of players, accompanying persons and spectators must be switched off in the tournament hall except for cameras and video recorders.
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Declaration of consent
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With your participation you give permission for the usage of photos/videos - in which you appear - in any publication.
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Simul (SIM)
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Main Arbiter
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IA Ana Srebrnič |
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Date
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July 10, 2026; 6 pm
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| Venue | Congress Center, Zentralstr. 60, 2502 Biel/Bienne |
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Tournament type
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IM Lu Miaoyi faces up to twenty opponents simultaneously!
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Eligibility
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Open to everybody.
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Registration
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CHF 30 (2010+: CHF 10), by bank transfer until July 08, 2026, based on the invoice received by e-mail after the online registration.
Seats are limited – book now!
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| Participants without FIDE-ID use the code 1234567 in the registration form. | |
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Declaration of consent
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With your participation you give permission for the usage of photos/videos – in which you appear – in any publication.
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© Copyright 2026 - Biel International Chess Festival