9th International Open SKG Chess Tournament August 6 – 11, 2026 | Thessaloniki, Greece

Official Playing Venue:

Holiday Inn Hotel Thessaloniki

8 Monastiriou Str., Thessaloniki, Greece

https://maps.app.goo.gl/spPeoS28yqBFQC4M7

1. Organizing Committee

The chess club ‘SATH White Tower’, in cooperation with the Municipality of Thessaloniki, ESO Papafi "To Hroniko", and SA Moudanion, with the official support of the ESSTH-H (Chess Clubs Association of Thessaloniki-Halkidiki), proudly present the 9th Open International SKG Chess Tournament.

2. Tournament System & Groups

 Group A: 9-round Swiss System. Open to all players with a FIDE Rating ≥ 2000 (≥ 1900 for female players).

 Group B: 9-round Swiss System. Open to players with a FIDE Rating from 0 to 1999.

 Group C: 7-round Swiss System. Open strictly to junior players up to 12 years old (U12). Important Technical Notes:

 FIDE Rating Lists: All groups will be evaluated for FIDE and National ratings based on lists effective August 1, 2026.

 Group A Exceptions: A maximum of 10 players rated between 1850 and 1999 may be accepted into Group A with an increased fee.

 Requested Absences (Byes): Up to two (2) half-point (0.5) byes are permitted. Valid up to (and including) Round 5 for Groups A & B, and up to (and including) Round 3 for Group C.

3. Time Control & Default Time

 Groups A & B: 90 minutes for the entire game, with a 30-second increment per move starting from move one.

 Group C: 60 minutes for the entire game, with a 30-second increment per move starting from move one.

 Default Time: 30 minutes from the scheduled start of the round.

4. Official Playing Schedule

Groups A & B Schedule

Round / Event Day & Date Start Time

Round 1 Thursday, August 6 17:00

Round 2 Friday, August 7 10:00

Round 3 Friday, August 7 17:30

Round 4 Saturday, August 8 10:00

Round 5 Saturday, August 8 17:30

Round 6 Sunday, August 9 10:00

Round 7 Sunday, August 9 17:30

Round 8 Monday, August 10 17:00

Round 9 Tuesday, August 11 10:00

Closing Ceremony Tuesday, August 11 15:00

Group C Schedule (Juniors)

Round / Event Day & Date Start Time

Round 1 Thursday, August 6 17:00

Round 2 Friday, August 7 10:00

Round 3 Friday, August 7 17:30

Round 4 Saturday, August 8 10:00

Round 5 Saturday, August 8 17:30

Round 6 Sunday, August 9 10:00

Round 7 Sunday, August 9 17:30

Closing Ceremony Sunday, August 9 30 mins post-game

5. Tie-Break Criteria

1. Buchholz Cut-1: Sum of opponents' scores, excluding the lowest-scoring opponent.

2. Sonneborn-Berger: Total score of defeated opponents plus half the score of drawn opponents.

3. Buchholz Sum: Total sum of all opponents' scores.

4. Direct Encounter: Results of matches between tied players (if all tied have played each other).

5. Number of Victories: The player with the highest total number of wins.

6. Prize Fund & Regulations

Total Guaranteed Cash Prize Fund: €4,000

General Standings Prizes

Position /OPEN A /OPEN B /OPEN C

1st Place /€1,200 + Trophy /€400 + Trophy /Trophy

2nd Place /€700 + Trophy /€200 + Trophy /Trophy

3rd Place /€450 + Trophy /€100 + Trophy /Trophy

4th Place /€200 + Medal /€50 + Medal /Medal

5th Place €150 + Medal €50 + Medal Medal

Special Category Prizes

Category /OPEN A /OPEN B /OPEN C

1st Female /€100 + Trophy /€50 + Trophy /—

1st U2250 /€200 + Medal /— /—

Best Performance /€50 + Medal /€50 + Medal /—

1st Veteran (50+) /— /€50 + Medal /—

(1st U16 / Female U16) /— /Trophy /—

2nd-3rd U16 (Open/Fem) /— /Medal /—

(1st U14 / Female U14) /— /Trophy /—

2nd-3rd U14 (Open/Fem) /— /Medal /—

(1st U12 / Female U12) /— /— /Trophy

2nd-3rd U12 (Open/Fem) /— /— /Medal

 Hort System: The Hort system will be implemented for cash prize distribution among tied positions up to the 6th place.

 One Prize Rule: If a player qualifies for more than one cash prize, they will receive only the highest single award.

 Best Performance: Defined as performance minus initial rating. For unrated players, 1400 is assigned as initial.

 Minimum Participation: Special categories require more than four (4) participants to be included in the awards.

 Attendance Requirement: Winners must be personally present at the Closing Ceremony or forfeit the prize. (In special cases, notification of the organisers in advance is required)

 Youth Incentives: All children in U10 category (Group C) get medals. Gifts will be given to all Group C participants.

 Dynamic Pool: Cash prizes and categories might increase depending on registration numbers.

7. Entry Fees & Discounts

Group A Fees

Category / Rating Tier Entry Fee & Conditions

Titled Players FIDE ≥ 2500 [Women ≥ 2400] Free Entry + Double Room (B&B) OR €250 Pocket Money

Titled Players FIDE ≥ 2400 [Women ≥ 2300] Free Entry + Triple Room (B&B) OR €200 Pocket Money

FIDE Rating 2300 – 2399 [Women 2200 – 2299] €30

FIDE Rating 2200 – 2299 [Women 2100 – 2199] €40

FIDE Rating 2100 – 2199 [Women 2000 – 2099] €50

FIDE Rating 2000 – 2099 [Women 1900 – 1999] €60

FIDE Rating 1850 – 1999 (Max 10 players accepted) €90

Groups B & C Fees

Category / Rating Tier Entry Fee & Conditions

Group B: FIDE Rating 1800 – 1999 €40

Group B: FIDE Rating 1400 – 1799 €50

Group B: Players without a FIDE Rating €60

Group C: General Entry Fee (U12 Children) €35

Discounts (Non-Cumulative):

 Family Discount (2 members): 10% reduction off the total aggregated fee amount.

 Family Discount (3+ members): 20% reduction off the total aggregated fee amount.

 Players with Disabilities : 50% standard reduction on entry fees.

8. Registration & Payment Procedures

Registration Deadline: Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 22:00(EEST/GMT +3)

Registration Channels:

 Online Form: https://chess-venue.vercel.app/en/tournaments/cmneftg6f000004l7v7fm1w15

 Bulk Registrations: chess.tournament.skg@gmail.com (Include Name, FIDE ID, Group, and Phone)

 Phone Registrations: +30 6947879179

Official Payment Channels

 National Bank of Greece | IBAN: GR7201102110000021100854641 | Beneficiary: SATH 'Lefkos Pyrgos'

 Revolut | IBAN: LT623250055097487321 | BIC/SWIFT: REVOLT21

 IRIS Payments | Mobile ID: 00306948287015

Instructions: State the full name of the player and group in the transaction reference.

Send proof of payment to chess.tournament.skg@gmail.com to finalize entry.

Transfer fees must be covered by the sender.

Payment of the entry fee is automatic inclusion in the 1st round pairings.

9. Officials, Fair Play & Appeals

 Tournament Director: Stylianos Lagogiannis

 Chief Arbiter: IA Prodromos Gerontopoulos

 Deputy Chief Arbiter: FA Dimitrios Kioutsoukos

 Pairings & Live Games: IA Kleon Ballas

 Fair Play Officer: IA Georgia Grapsa (FPL)

Fair Play: FIDE Anti-Cheating rules apply strictly.

They can be found at : https://fpl.fide.com/anti-cheating-regulations/

Appeals must be submitted in writing within 30 minutes after the end of the game to the relevant arbiter. There is a €60 fee (refundable if upheld).

The appeals committee, consisting of 5 members, will be appointed by the organisers before the start of round 1.

10. Accommodation & Rates : Holiday Inn, Thessaloniki

Room Type - Option I: Bed & Breakfast - Option II: Half Board

Single Room - €90.00 / night - €108.00 / night

Double Room - €100.00 / night - €136.00 / night

Triple Room - €115.00 / night - €169.00 / night

Policies: Mention the chess tournament to book these rates. Half board includes buffet breakfast, dinner (3-course menu, drinks not included).

High speed internet access is included in all package options.

A 35% advance deposit is required to book. Rates exclude the statutory Greek Climate Crisis Resilience Tax of €15.00 per room/night (during months April to October)

Contact: info@hithessaloniki.gr | +30 231 0563100

11. General Regulations & Media

 Unexcused Absences: Failing to appear for a round without informing the arbiters before the pairings of the next round are published, results in immediate exclusion from the tournament.

 Photography: Restricted to official media for use only by the organisers. Spectators are allowed to take photos only for the first five (5) minutes of each round.

 Data Protection: Visual assets will be exclusively used to promote chess under federal regulations.

 Terms Acceptance: Registering implies complete acceptance of all terms within this invitation.

Official Information Channels:

• Official Website : www.skakithessaloniki.gr

• Viber Community : https://tinyurl.com/ymm7paaa

• Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/SkgChessOpen

On Behalf of the Organizing Committee