7th International Youth Chess Festival "Lake Queen" 2026 - RISING STARS (North Macedonia, Struga, 5-8/9/2026)

GENERAL REGULATIONS

1. Invitation

Chess Club "Youth Chess School" Struga is pleased to invite all young chess players to participate in the 7th International Youth Chess Festival "Lake Queen" 2026 – RISING STARS, to be held at Hotel Drim, Struga, (North Macedonia) from 5–8 September 2026.

2. Eligibility for Participation

 The tournaments are divided into age categories:

• A Tournament – U20 (players born in 2006 or later)

• B Tournament – U16 (players born in 2010 or later)

• C Tournament – U12 (players born in 2014 or later)

• D Tournament – U10 (players born in 2016 or later)

• E Tournament – U8 (players born in 2018 or later)

A player may enter a higher age category but is not permitted to enter a lower age category than the one corresponding to their year of birth.

All players are required to confirm their participation by registering in person at the playing hall of Hotel Drim in Struga no later than 10:30 a.m. on 5 September 2026.

The Organizer reserves the right to invite players who do not meet the eligibility criteria set out in these Regulations.

3. Playing System

The list of registered players will be published on the Chess-Results website: https://s3.chess-results.com/tnr1450341.aspx?lan=1&flag=30&turdet=YES&SNode=S0

The tournament will be played according to the Swiss system in 7 rounds, in accordance with the FIDE Laws of Chess for standard chess.

Time control:

А Tournament – 60 minutes + 30 seconds per move starting from move one.

B Tournament – 60 minutes + 30 seconds per move starting from move one.

C Tournament – 60 minutes + 30 seconds per move starting from move one.

D Tournament – 30 minutes + 30 seconds per move starting from move one.

E Tournament – 30 minutes + 10 seconds per move starting from move one.

Depending on the number of participants, the Organizer reserves the right to change the format and number of tournaments (including merging categories), to be agreed and announced at the opening of the festival.

Tournaments A, B, and C will be rated by FIDE.

4. Prize

The guaranteed total prize fund amounts to 30,000 denars (500 EUR).

Suitable material prizes are awarded to participants in Tournaments D and E!

А Tournament 12.000 den

1st place 5.000

2nd place 3.000

3rd place 2.000

Best female player 1.000

Best Player from Struga 1.000

B Tournament  9.500 den

1st place 3.500

2nd place 2.500

3rd place 1.500

Best female player 1.000

Best Player from Struga 1.000

C Tournament 8.500 den

1st place 3.000

2nd place 2.000

3rd place 1.500

Best female player 1.000

Best Player from Struga 1.000

Additional prizes

- Trophies and medals for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in all tournaments;

Gold medals for the best players:

• Under 18

• Under 14

 Medals for girls in all tournaments:

• Gold

• Silver

• Bronze

Gold medals for the best players from Struga in all tournaments

Gold medal for the youngest participant of the festival

Certificates of participation for all competitors

Payment of Cash Prizes:

• For domestic players, prizes will be paid via bank transfer no later than 10 days after the end of the festival;

• For foreign players, prizes will be paid in cash on the day of the closing of the festival.

5. Tie-break Criteria

In case of equal points, the following tie-break criteria will be applied:

• Buchholz (-1)

• Buchholz

• Greater number of wins

• Progress

Special prizes are not cumulative. If a player wins a prize in the general classification, the

special prize shall be awarded to the next best-placed eligible participant in the respective

category.

6. Tournament Committee

• The Tournament Committee shall consist of 3 members (a chairman and members)

• Responsible for resolving all possible appeals and disputes

• Its decisions are final and binding.

7. Festival entry fee:

8. Registration and deadlines

• Registration: 01.09.2026

• The deadline for hotel reservations is: 01.09.2026

PLAYER REGISTRATION

• Early hotel reservation deadline: 15.08.2026

HOTEL RESERVATIONS

9. Playing Hall, Reservations Accommodation

The tournament will be played in the Congress Hall of Hotel Drim in Struga.

Reservations must be made exclusively through the Organizer.

А Tournament A (U20) 900 denars

B Tournament B (U16) 800 denars

C Tournament C (U12) 600 denars

D Tournament D (U10) 500 denars

E Tournament E (U8) 500 denars

Hotel Drim Struga – 4★ Superior – http://www.drim.com.mk

The prices are valid for accommodation from 4 to 8 September and apply to both players and accompanying persons..

Single room per person – full board 75 eur

Double room per person – full board 55 eur

Triple and quadruple rooms per person – full board 50 eur

Children up to 6 years – full board Free

Children up to 12 years (in a room with 2 adults) – full board 32 eur

Early booking 5% discount

The price includes: Spa center, Fitness center, Bowling alley

10. Schedule

Date Activities Time

05.09.2026 Arrival

05.09.2026 Registration 10:30 A.M

05.09.2026 Opening Ceremony 11:00 A.M

05.09.2026 1 round 11:30 A.M

05.09.2026 2 round 17:00 P.M

06.09.2026 3 round 10.00 A.M

06.09.2026 4 round 17.00 P.M

07.09.2026 5 round 10.00 A.M

07.09.2026 6 round 17.00 P.M

08.09.2026 7 round 09:00 A.M

08.09.2026 Departure

The closing ceremony will be held 30 minutes after the end of the last game.

11. For information

International Youth Chess Festival “Lake Queen”

FB: International Youth Chess Festival "Lake Queen"

Information : Youth Chess School Struga

Tel: +389 77 897 218

Tournament Director: Gjoko Koteski

E-mail: lake_queen@yahoo.com

Organizer

Chess Club "Youth Chess School" Struga