Notice Tournament Info

Golden Week Open 2026

01-03-2026
KandaDaigo

Tournament Regulations

Tournament overview

  • Tournament Name: Golden Week Open 2026
  • Date: Monday, May 04, 2026 – Wednesday, May 06, 2026
  • Format: 5-Round Swiss tournament, 90min+30sec/move, FIDE and National Standard Rated
    This tournament uses rating-based classes (Open and Group-A). Pairings will be made exclusively within each class, and no games will be played between players of different classes.
    * If the number of participants is no less than 32 in the class, the accelerated Swiss system will be used for the pairings.
  • Entry Criteria: Japan Chess Federation Members or Players with FNT Ticket
  • Entry Fee:
    Japan Chess Federation Annual Member:  ¥10,000 (tax included) U22 Discount ¥7,000 (tax included)
    Foreign Chess Nationality: FIDE Rating Holder ¥14,000 (tax included) UR ¥17,000 (tax included)
    *See Registration section for details
  • Tournament capacity: 100 players
  • Registration: Purchase tickets through [ Peatix ]
  • Registration Period
    Ticket-A: From 19:00 on March 1, 2026 to 23:59 on April 27, 2026
    Ticket-B: From 19:00 on March 1, 2026 to 23:59 on April 20, 2026
  • Organizer: Japan Chess Federation
  • Contact: japanchess.info@gmail.com

Classifications will be based on FIDE and National Standard Rating published in May 2026. 

Classification details

  • This tournament uses rating-based classes (Open and Group-A). Pairings will be made exclusively within each class, and no games will be played between players of different classes.
  • The tournament will be divided into Two groups, Open and Group A (U1700).
    Group A will be for players with a FIDE rating that is Under 1700 (UR to 1699). Players that are Under 1700 or UR will be assigned to the group of their choice when they register on Peatix. Participants who do not have a request at the time of registration will be assigned their group according to their rating.
  • The final decision regarding grouping will be made by the Japan Chess Federation.

Schedule

Mon (Holiday),  4 May
9:00-9:30 Check-in
9:40          Opening Ceremony
10:00        2025 Annual Awards Ceremony
10:30        R1
15:30        R2

Tue (Holiday), 5 May
10:30 R3
15:30 R4
Wed (Holiday),  6 May
10:30 R5
15:30 Prize Giving

Registration

Purchase tickets through [ Peatix ]

There are two types of tickets (Ticket-A and Ticket-B) that may be purchased at the time of application, depending on the chess nationality and JCF-membership status of the player.

Ticket-A: Normal ticket for annual membership

15,000yen /U22 12,000yen  (Limit: 70)

*U22 refers to players of Japan Chess Federation who have not reached the age of 22 by January 1, 2026. (i.e. were born in and after 2004).

  • Ticket-A can be purchased by those whose chess nationality is Japanese and who are either already annual members of the Japan Chess Federation at the time of the announcement of the regulations, or will become annual members of the Japanese Chess Federation.
    * Current members should ensure that their membership remains valid until the last day of the tournament. If your membership has expired, please renew it before check-in on the tournament day.  If you are not yet a member of the Japan Chess Federation, please purchase a ticket via Peatix first and promptly complete the membership registration process.
  • Players who don’t have a chess nationality but intend to acquire Japanese chess nationality are able to purchase Ticket-A. (This rule is for Japanese or who lives in Japan).

 Foreign Chess Nationality Ticket (FNT, Ticket-B) 

Rated: 14,000yen(Limit: 15) / UR: 17,000yen (Limit: 15)

  • The Foreign Chess Nationality Ticket (FNT, Ticket-B) can be purchased by players whose chess nationality is not Japan (JPN) and who are not annual members of the Japan Chess Federation. This ticket is only valid for this tournament.
    * If you are a member of the Japan Chess Federation on February 27th, you may also purchase Ticket-A.
  • The price is 14,000 yen for FIDE rated players and 17,000 yen for those who do not have a FIDE rating (UR).
  • A FIDE-ID is required to join this tournament. Those who do not have a FIDE-ID must obtain it from your federation in your country, and notify the organizer by email two weeks before the tournament. A ticket will be canceled if a player fails to notify FIDE-ID by the deadline.

(Reference)

Ticket

Chess Nationality

Membership Status of Japan Chess Federation

Entry Fee

Additional Conditions

Ticket-A

Japan / Other

Existing members joined before February 27

10,000yen

U22 7,000yen

Ensure that the membership is valid until the end of the tournament.

Japan

Non-member or new member joined after February 27

Membership Registration/Renewal

* limited for Japanese or who lives in Japan

FNT

(Ticket-B)

Other

Non-member

14,000yen

UR 17,000yen

  

* The limit of the number of each ticket might be variable by entry progress.

Notes Regarding Registration:

  • If you are not currently a member of the Japan Chess Federation, you must first purchase a ticket via Peatix and promptly complete the membership registration process.
  • Current members must ensure that their membership remains valid through the final day of the tournament. If necessary, please renew your membership in advance.
  • If the membership registration or renewal process is not completed by April 20, 2026 (14 days before the tournament), your entry will be canceled. In such cases, the participation fee will be fully refunded.
  • The Japan Chess Federation reserves the right to make the final decision regarding eligibility.

Notes After Registration:

  • After purchasing a ticket, your entry will be reflected on Chess-Results within about one week. Players whose membership registration or renewal has not been completed will not be listed. 
  • On the day of the tournament, you will be required to present the QR code displayed on your Peatix e-ticket. Ensure in advance that the QR code is displayed correctly.

Waiting List ticket:

  • A “Waiting List Ticket” will be sold at the same price along with the normal “Ticket” on Peatix.
  • A “Waiting List Ticket” may be purchased only when regular tickets have sold out due to capacity being reached. If a cancellation occurs, participation will be offered to waitlist ticket holders in the order of purchase, and the amount paid will be applied to the entry fee. When participation becomes available, a notification will be sent to the registered email address.
  • Waitlist arrangements will be handled up to April 28, 2026 (6 days before the tournament).
  • If the turn on the waiting list does not come up, the full purchase price will be refunded.
  • A Waiting List Ticked will be sold only fot Ticket-A in this tournament.

Cancellation Policy:

　If you wish to cancel your participation in the tournament, you must notify us via email at japanchess.info@gmail.com.

  • Cancellations made by 23:59 on April 27, 2026 (7 days before the tournament):
    • If the tournament has not reached full capacity –  Full refund
    • If the tournament has reached full capacity –  No refund
  • Cancellations made on or after 23:59 on April 27, 2026 (7 days before the tournament):
    • No refund under any circumstances
    • If the tournament is canceled due to natural disasters or organizer-related reasons, alternative measures will be considered.

　* All refunds will be processed according to Peatix’s regulations.

Awards

The prizes are as follows.

<Open>
1st 20,000 yen and plaque
2nd 15,000 yen and plaque
3rd 10,000 yen and plaque
4th ChessMood Prize and plaque
5th ChessMood Prize and plaque

<Group A (U1700)>
1st-3rd Plaque and ChessMood Prize
4th and 5th ChessMood Prize.

Tie-breaks will be used to determine winners. No two players will share the prize.  

Tournament Details

Tournament Rules

Pairing:

  • The starting order will be determined with reference to the FIDE Standard Rating. In case of equality, the order will be determined by the National Standard Rating, then by title, and finally by the player’s name (alphabetical order). The rating list published in May 2026 will be used.
  • Pairings will be conducted using Swiss-Manager and will follow the Swiss tournament. 
  • Pairings for Round 1 will be made and announced after the close of the registration/check-in period ends (9:30). Players who have not checked in by that time without prior notice will not be included in the Round 1 pairings and will receive 0 points for that round. If a player completes check-in before the end of all games in Round 1, they will be included in the pairings starting from the next round.
  • If a player who has not completed on-site registration on the day of the tournament without prior notice fails to inform the organizer of their intention to continue participating by the end of all games in Round 1, that player may be disqualified and removed from the tournament.

Tie-breaks:

  1. Direct Encounter
  2. Buchholz Cut-1
  3. Buchholz
  4. Sonneborn-Berger
  5. Sum of the ratings of the opponents
  6. Drawing of lots. 

Default Time:

  • If any player is not present within 30 min after the game starts, she/he shall lose the game by default (forfeit). The game is not rated. If a player loses a game by default without prior notice, the player may be declared to have lost all subsequent games by default.
  • If a player loses by forfeit without prior notice and fails to inform the organizer of their intention to continue participating by the end of all games in that round, the player may be disqualified and removed from the tournament.

Byes:

  • Pre-registered Byes: Bye requests must be submitted via the Bye Request Form by 18:00 on the day before the tournament. A pre-declared bye will be awarded 0.5 points; however, all bye requests for the final two rounds will be scored as 0 points. Bye requests submitted after the deadline will also be scored as 0 points. Players who take byes in two or more rounds will not be eligible for prizes.
  • Pairing-allocated bye will be one point.
  • For Bye requests or cancellations after the deadline on the day before the tournament, please contact japanchess.info@gmail.com. If a player missed the prior round without a Bye report,  and does not contact the above address by email before the pairings of the next round is published, he/she will be disqualified and will be excluded from the tournament.
  • If cancellation, see detail at “Cancellation Policy” above.

Electronic devices:

  • All electronic devices including smartphones, tablets or smartwatches must be turned off and stored away. Players are not allowed to keep it on him/her or take it outside of the venue in a bag. When a player breaks these rules, his/her game shall be immediately lost. Since the game is not a forfeit, ratings will be adjusted accordingly.
  • If a player needs to wear or carry an electronic device during play, the player must consult the arbiter at the time of registration.The arbiter will determine the appropriate action.
  • Observers and players who have completed their games are prohibited from using any electronic devices within the playing venue, except at designated times.

Notes on Games:

  • Players must use clocks, chess sets, and score sheets provided by the organizer.
  • Players are required to record the game accurately on the score sheet until the end of the game.
    After the game, both players shall verify the result recorded on the score sheet, sign it, and report the result to the arbiter.
  • The tournament will follow FIDE rules unless otherwise stated above.

Notes on Awards:

  • Prizes or prize money will not be awarded to winners who are absent from the award ceremony, unless prior approval has been obtained from the staff. If the organizer arranges delivery of prizes or prize money to a winner by mail or other means, the associated costs may be charged to the winner.

Media Related Rules

  • The tournament results will be posted on the Internet (chess-results.com) for reporting purposes. The game record may also be published on the Internet. Participants agree to the publication of their real names, results, and game records.
  • The organizer will take photos, record videos, and broadcast the event live. These may be published and used in media such as websites, SNS, video sites, and journals managed by Japan Chess Federation, or provided to the mass media in case of interviews. Participants shall agree to the publication and live broadcast of these photos and videos.
  • Observers are allowed to take photos for the first 10 minutes of each round. No photos are allowed after 10 minutes, except for the case with special permission.
  • Individuals who wish to use photos or videos of participants (during games, award ceremonies, etc.) must be careful to protect their privacy. In addition to obtaining comprehensive consent in advance, for example, in the case of minors, the permission of their guardians must be obtained, and due consideration must be given to the protection of personal information and portrait rights.

Miscellaneous

  • The organizer reserves the right for changing the above rules with adequate reason before and during the tournament. Due to the spread of infectious diseases or other unforeseeable circumstances, the organizer may be compelled to make unavoidable changes to the time control or cancel the tournament.
  • Please ensure that you can receive emails from the Japan Chess Federation (japanchess.info@gmail.com). Inquiries regarding eligibility and other matters sent from this address must be answered promptly. Failure to respond may result in cancellation of participation.
  • If a player has a high temperature or is feeling sick, the player must tell the staff and get out of the venue immediately. If the organizer determines that the player is sick, the organizer may order the player to get out.
  • Players may put on their masks at their own disposal. Even in cases where the player does not have a bad physical condition,the participants may be asked to wear a new mask if they have symptoms such as coughing or sneezing due to hay fever or other allergies.
  • The Japan Chess Federation shall not be responsible for any troubles between individuals.
  • If there is a discrepancy between English and Japanese, the Japanese version prevails. 

Organizer

Japan Chess Federation

 

Sponsor

 

 

 

 

Reference

Chess-Results (participants list)