OFFICIAL REGULATIONS
DATES
2-4 October 2026
VENUE
ORGANIZER
OFFICIAL HOTEL
Aqua SPA Hotel Zlatograd
€5 000 GUARANTEED PRIZE FUND
€4 000 CLASSICAL U2400
€1 000 BLITZ OPEN
Contents
1. Purpose and format of the festival
2. Golden Rhodopes Classical U2400
3. Classical tournament schedule
4. Prize fund - Classical U2400
5. Special prizes
6. Prize distribution rules
7. Tie-break criteria
8. Golden Rhodopes Blitz Open
9. Prize fund - Blitz Open
10. Total festival prize fund
11. Rules of play
12. Fighting chess rule
13. Electronic devices and Fair Play
14. Recording moves
15. Publication of pairings and results
16. Official festival hotel
17. Entry fees
18. Registration
19. Arbiter team
20. Appeals
21. Award ceremony
22. Organizer's rights
23. Contacts
Classical U2400 - 7 rounds FIDE - Standard rating - Time control 60+30
Blitz Open - 9 rounds - FIDE Blitz rating - Time control 3+2
Total guaranteed cash prize fund: €5 000. Cups, medals and other non-cash awards are provided in addition to the cash prize fund.
1. PURPOSE AND FORMAT OF THE FESTIVAL
Chess Club "Leader" - Zlatograd organizes the inaugural edition of the GOLDEN RHODOPES
CHESS FESTIVAL, a three-day chess festival combining high-level competitive chess with the
opportunity to enjoy a relaxing SPA stay in the heart of the Rhodope Mountains.
The festival consists of two separate tournaments:
GOLDEN RHODOPES CLASSICAL U2400 - a 7-round classical tournament rated for FIDE Standard rating;
GOLDEN RHODOPES BLITZ OPEN - an open blitz tournament with a 3+2 time control, to be held on Saturday evening.
The total guaranteed cash prize fund is €5 000. Cups, medals and other non-cash awards are
provided in addition to the cash prize fund.
2. GOLDEN RHODOPES CLASSICAL U2400
2.1. Eligibility
Bulgarian and foreign players with a published FIDE Standard rating of 2399 or lower are eligible to participate, as are players without a published international rating.
Eligibility and rating-category prizes will be determined according to the official FIDE Standard Rating List for October 2026.
Unrated players must have a valid FIDE ID or complete the required registration procedure through their national federation before the start of the tournament.
2.2. System
The tournament will be played over 7 rounds using the Swiss System - FIDE Dutch System, in accordance with the applicable FIDE regulations.
Pairings will be generated using pairing software approved for FIDE-rated Swiss tournaments.
2.3. Time Control
60 minutes for the entire game, with a 30-second increment per move starting from move one.
The tournament will be submitted for FIDE Standard rating.
2.4. Scoring
A win scores 1 point, a draw ½ point and a loss 0 points. The final standings will be determined by the total number of points scored.
3. CLASSICAL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, 2 October 2026
Time Schedule
09:30-12:30 Arrival, registration and confirmation of participation
12:30 Technical meeting
13:00 Official opening
13:30 Round 1
17:30 Round 2
Saturday, 3 October 2026
Time Schedule
09:30 Round 3
13:30 Round 4
17:15-17:45 Blitz Open registration
18:00 Opening of the Golden Rhodopes Blitz Open
18:10-20:30 Blitz tournament
20:45 Blitz tournament award ceremony
Sunday, 4 October 2026
Time Schedule
08:00 Round 5
11:15 Round 6
14:30 Round 7
17:40-18:00 Official closing and award ceremony
The Organizer reserves the right to make minor changes to the schedule if necessary. Participants will be informed in due time of any such changes.
4. PRIZE FUND - CLASSICAL U2400
Main Prizes - €2 800
Place Cash Prize Additional Award
1st place €1000 "Golden Rhodopes Champion" Cup + gold medal
2nd place €600 Silver medal
3rd place €450 Bronze medal
4th place €300 -
5th place €250 -
6th place €200 -
Total Main Prizes: €2 800
5. SPECIAL PRIZES - €1 200
Category Prize
Best female player €100 + cup
Best U18 player €175 + medal
Best U14 player €150 + medal
Best S60 player €175 + medal
Best player rated ≤2199 €200
Best player rated ≤1999 €175
Best player rated ≤1799 €125
Best player from Chess Club "Leader" - Zlatograd €100 + cup
Total Special Prizes: €1 200
TOTAL CLASSICAL PRIZE FUND €4 000
The U18 category includes players born in 2008 or later.
The U14 category includes players born in 2012 or later.
The S60 category includes players born in 1966 or earlier.
Rating categories are determined according to the official FIDE Standard rating for October 2026. A player without a published FIDE Standard rating is not eligible for a prize in the U2200, U2000 or U1800 rating categories.
6. PRIZE DISTRIBUTION RULES
Cash prizes are not shared between players with the same number of points. Final placing will be determined by the tie-break criteria specified in these Regulations.
A player may receive only one cash prize.
If a player qualifies for both a main prize and a special prize, the player will receive the higher-value cash prize.
If the two prizes are of equal value, the main prize takes precedence and the special prize passes to the next eligible player.
Cups, medals and other non-cash awards may be received irrespective of this rule.
7. TIE-BREAK CRITERIA
In the event of equal scores, places will be determined by the following tie-break criteria, applied in order:
Buchholz Cut 1 (BH-C1);
Buchholz (BH);
Sonneborn-Berger (SB);
Direct Encounter (DE) - direct result, where applicable;
Number of Games Won (WON);
Number of Games Won with Black (BWG).
Tie-breaks will be calculated in accordance with the FIDE Tie-Break Regulations in force on the date of the tournament.
8. GOLDEN RHODOPES BLITZ OPEN
The Blitz tournament will be held on Saturday evening, 3 October 2026, as a separate event within the festival.
8.1. Eligibility
The Blitz tournament is OPEN to all players, with no international rating restriction.
This allows Grandmasters, International Masters and other players rated above 2400, who are not eligible for the Classical U2400 tournament, to participate in the Blitz Open.
8.2. System
9 rounds, Swiss System.
8.3. Time Control
3 minutes plus a 2-second increment per move starting from move one - 3+2. The tournament will be submitted for FIDE Blitz rating.
8.4. Schedule
17:15-17:45 Registration and confirmation
18:00 Opening
18:10 Start of Round 1
approx. 20:30 Finish
9. PRIZE FUND - BLITZ OPEN
€1 000 - Top Six Places
Place Prize
1st place €350 + cup + gold medal
2nd place €220 + silver medal
3rd place €160 + bronze medal
4th place €110
5th place €90
6th place €70
TOTAL: €1 000
Cash prizes are not shared. In the event of equal scores, the same tie-break criteria will be used insofar
as they are applicable to the tournament.
10. TOTAL FESTIVAL PRIZE FUND
Tournament Prize Fund
Golden Rhodopes Classical U2400 €4 000
Golden Rhodopes Blitz Open €1 000
TOTAL €5 000
Prize fund check: €2 800 main + €1 200 special = €4 000 Classical; €1 000 Blitz; total €5 000.
Cups, medals and other non-cash awards are not included in the €5 000 prize fund and are provided additionally by the Organizer.
*The Organizer will withhold 10% tax from all cash prizes before payment where applicable under the tax legislation in force in the
Republic of Bulgaria. All amounts stated in these Regulations are gross amounts.
11. RULES OF PLAY
All games will be played in accordance with the FIDE Laws of Chess in force.
For the Classical U2400 tournament, the default time is 30 minutes after the announced starting time of the round. A player who does not arrive within this period will lose the game by forfeit, unless the Chief Arbiter decides otherwise due to duly established exceptional circumstances.
For the Blitz Open, a player may arrive no later than the expiry of their initial time, unless the Chief Arbiter announces otherwise before the start of the tournament.
12. FIGHTING CHESS RULE
In the Classical U2400 tournament, players may not agree to a draw before Black has completed move 30.
Before that point, a draw is possible only in cases provided for by the FIDE Laws of Chess, such as stalemate, threefold repetition or another valid claim under the Laws.
The purpose of this rule is to encourage meaningful and fighting chess throughout the festival.
13. ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND FAIR PLAY
FIDE requirements concerning mobile phones, smart watches and other electronic communication devices apply in the playing venue.
Mobile phones and other communication devices may not be used during a game.
The Organizer and the arbiter team may conduct checks in accordance with FIDE regulations and Fair Play principles.
Any attempt to cheat, use external assistance or otherwise violate sporting ethics may result in
immediate removal from the tournament and reporting to the competent authorities.
14. RECORDING MOVES
In the Classical U2400 tournament, players are required to record their moves in accordance with the FIDE Laws of Chess.
Where possible, the Organizer will provide electronic DGT boards on the leading boards, and selected games may be broadcast online.
15. PUBLICATION OF PAIRINGS AND RESULTS
The starting list, pairings, results and final standings will be published on Chess-Results and through the festival's official information channels.
The pairing for the next round is considered official once it has been published by the arbiter team.
16. AQUA SPA HOTEL ZLATOGRAD - OFFICIAL FESTIVAL HOTEL
The festival will take place at Aqua SPA Hotel Zlatograd, 1 Progress Street, 4980 Zlatograd, Bulgaria.
Special GOLDEN RHODOPES - CHESS & SPA accommodation conditions will be arranged for participants and accompanying persons.
CHESS & SPA PACKAGE - 2 NIGHTS
2-4 October 2026
Accommodation + breakfasts + dinners + use of the SPA area.
Price: [to be announced]
CHESS & SPA PACKAGE - 3 NIGHTS
1-4 October 2026
Suitable for players who wish to arrive in Zlatograd on Thursday.
Accommodation + breakfasts + dinners + use of the SPA area.
Price: [to be announced]
Separate rates will be announced for:
• single occupancy;
• double room;
• triple room;
• family accommodation;
• children and accompanying persons.
The SPA packages may include access to a mineral-water pool, Jacuzzi, Finnish sauna, infrared sauna, steam bath, salt room, relaxation area and fitness centre, as well as internet access and parking, subject to the conditions agreed with the hotel.
The booking procedure for the special tournament rates will be announced separately.
17. ENTRY FEES
Classical U2400 40 EUR
Blitz Open 20 EUR
Both Tournaments 50 EUR
The Organizer may offer preferential entry fees to members of Chess Club "Leader" - Zlatograd, titled
players and participants who book the official Chess & SPA package.
18. REGISTRATION
Advance registration is mandatory.
The following information is required for registration:
• full name;
• FIDE ID;
• federation;
• FIDE Standard rating;
• year of birth;
• club;
• contact telephone/e-mail;
• participation in Classical U2400;
• participation in Blitz Open;
• hotel accommodation requirements.
Deadline for advance registration: 30 September 2026.
Registration after this deadline is subject to availability and approval by the Organizer.
19. ARBITER TEAM
Chief Arbiter Kyamran Bilyal
Deputy Chief Arbiter [to be announced]
Arbiters [to be announced]
All decisions concerning the Laws of Chess and the conduct of the competition will be made in
accordance with the applicable FIDE regulations and these Regulations.
20. APPEALS
If required, an Appeals Committee consisting of three members and alternates will be appointed before the start of Round 1.
An appeal against an arbiter's decision must be submitted in writing within 15 minutes after the
conclusion of the relevant game/round.
Appeal fee: €50. If the appeal is upheld, the fee will be refunded.
21. AWARD CEREMONY
The Blitz Open award ceremony will take place on Saturday evening immediately after the tournament concludes.
The official closing and award ceremony for the Classical U2400 tournament will take place after the final round on 4 October 2026.
Prize winners are expected to attend the ceremony in person unless an acceptable reason for absence has been agreed in advance.
22. ORGANIZER'S RIGHTS
By submitting an entry, each participant accepts these Regulations and consents to their name, sporting results, games and photographs taken in the public areas of the event being used for coverage and promotion of the festival, in compliance with applicable law.
In the event of unforeseen circumstances, the Organizer reserves the right to make justified changes to the schedule and organizational arrangements without altering the principal sporting format or the announced guaranteed prize fund.
Any matters not expressly covered by these Regulations will be governed by the applicable FIDE rules and regulations.
23. CONTACTS
Organizer Chess Club "Leader" - Zlatograd
Tournament registration Chief Arbiter: Kyamran Bilyal
Tel.: +359 895 474 730
E-mail: k.bilyal@outlook.com
Hotel accommodation Information on bookings under the special Golden Rhodopes Chess & SPA
conditions will be published together with the final package rates.
GOLDEN RHODOPES CHESS FESTIVAL 2026
T H R E E DAY S . T W O TO U R N A M E N T S . O N E C H A M P I O N ' S W E E K E N D.
€5 000 GUARANTEED PRIZE FUND
2-4 OCTOBER 2026 | ZLATOGRAD, BULGARIA
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