Japan Open 2026 | 日本チェス連盟

Tournament Regulations

Tournament overview

Tournament Name: Japan Open 2026

Dates: Saturday, 21 November 2026 – Wednesday, 25 November 2026

Venue: X Wave Makuhari (Chiba City, Mihama Ward) 1-3 Nakase, Mihama-ku

Chiba City, Makuhari Techno Garden A Building[map]

3 min walk from JR Keiyō Line “Kaihin-Makuhari” Station (North Exit)

10 min walk from Makuhari Messe

Format: 9-round Swiss, 90 min + 30 sec/move, FIDE & National Standard Rated

Entry Fee:

Master Category (FIDE Rating 2000 or higher)

15,000 yen – 30,000 yen (tax included)

* Entry fee varies depending on the FIDE standard rating.

* Title holder who satisfies the requirement is free.

* See ”Entry” section for details.

Challenger Category (FIDE Rating below 2100)

Japan Chess Federation Members: 18,000 yen (tax included)
U22 discounted price 15,000 yen (tax included)

Foreign Chess Nationality: FIDE rated 27,000 yen (tax included)
Unrated (UR) 32,000 yen (tax included)

Tournament capacity: 180 players in total

Registration: Purchase tickets through [Peatix]

Registration Period:

- Master / Challenger Ticket-A: 31 July 2026 (Fri) 12:00 – 14 November 2026 (Sat) 23:59
- Challenger FNT (Ticket-B): 31 July 2026 (Fri) 12:00 – 7 November 2026 (Sat) 23:59
Organizer: Japan Chess Federation
Contact: japanopen.chess@gmail.com
(different from federations ordinary email address)

Schedule

Master / Challenger

21 November (Sat)

9:00–10:00 Check-in

10:20–10:50 Technical Meeting (Opening Ceremony)

11:00 Round 1

16:00 Round 2

22 November (Sun)

09:30 Round 3

15:30 Round 4

23 November (Mon, Holiday)

09:30 Round 5

15:30 Round 6

24 November (Tue)

09:30 Round 7

15:30 Round 8

25 November (Wed)

09:30 Round 9

15:00 Award Ceremony

Entry / Entry Fee

The tournament consists of two categories: Master and Challenger.

Purchase tickets that you wish to through [Peatix].

Master Category (FIDE Rating 2000 or higher) (Limit: 50 players)

Entry fees are based on FIDE Standard Rating at the time of ticket purchase:

GM 2400 or higher, IM/WGM 2300 or higher, WIM 2200 or higher: Free

However, a deposit of 15,000 yen will be collected and refunded after completing all 9 rounds.

2300 or higher : 15,000 yen
2200–2299 : 20,000 yen
2100–2199 : 25,000 yen
2000–2099 : 30,000 yen

Additional rules:

Up to three players who meet the conditions below and who are Japanese chess nationality, registered in the Challenger category, and have a FIDE rating of 1900 or higher, may be permitted to participate in the Master category by paying the fee difference.

Players wishing to apply must first register for the Challenger category and then contact japanopen.chess@gmail.com (deadline: 7 November).

Youth (U18) player (1 slot)
Player who finished within the top 10 at the Japan Chess Classic (0–1 slot)
Highest‑rated applicant among the remaining candidates (1 slot)

If a player qualifies for more than one of (1)–(3), the second‑ranked candidates for each slot will be considered, with priority in the order (1) → (2) → (3).

If a player’s rating falls below 2000 in the November rating update, the player will be moved to the Challenger category. In such cases, the fee difference will be refunded.

Challenger Category (FIDE Rating 2100 and below)

Eligibility for Ticket-A or Ticket-B depends on chess nationality and Japan Chess Federation membership status.

If a player’s rating exceeds 2000 in the November update (when previously it had been under 2000), the player may switch to Master by paying the fee difference.

Ticket-A: Normal ticket for Japan Chess Federation annual membership (Limit: 80)

18,000 yen
U22: 15,000 yen U22 = JCF annual members who will not reach age 22 by 31 December 2025 (born in 2004 or later).

Rules:

JCF annual members must purchase Ticket-A.
Membership must remain valid through the final day of the tournament.
Non-members or expired members must purchase Ticket-A and promptly complete membership registration.
Players without a chess nationality who are Japanese nationals or currently residing in Japan may purchase Ticket-A.

Ticket-B: Foreign Chess Nationality Ticket (FNT)

27,000 yen (FIDE rated)
32,000 yen (UR)
Limits: 40 (rated) /10 (UR)

Rules:

Players whose chess nationality is not Japan must purchase Ticket-B.
However, players who are JCF annual members as of 31 July may purchase Ticket-A regardless of chess nationality.
Players without a FIDE ID must obtain one through their federation and notify the organizer by email at least two weeks before the tournament. Failure to do so results in cancellation.

(Reference: Table of the categories for the Challenger tournament)

Ticket	Chess Nationality	Japan Chess Federation Membership	Entry Fee	Additional Conditions
Ticket-A	Japan / Other	active annual member	18,000 yen U22 15,000 yen	Ensure that the membership is valid until the end of the tournament.
Japan	New or Not Renewed annual member	Membership Registration/Renewal *limited for Japanese or who lives in Japan
Ticket-B (FNT)	Other	Non-member	27,000 yen UR 32,000 yen

Ticket

Chess Nationality

Japan Chess Federation Membership

Entry Fee

Additional Conditions

Ticket-A

Japan / Other

active annual member

18,000 yen

U22 15,000 yen

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

Japan

New or Not Renewed annual member

Membership Registration/Renewal

*limited for Japanese or who lives in Japan

Ticket-B

(FNT)

Other

Non-member

27,000 yen

UR 32,000 yen

NB:The limit for each ticket category may vary depending on the number of applications.

Notes Regarding Registration:

If you wish to purchase Ticket-A and are not currently a member of the Japan Chess Federation, you must first promptly complete the membership registration process and purchase your ticket via Peatix only after your membership has been confirmed. Non-members are not permitted to purchase tickets. Current members must ensure that their membership remains valid through the final day of the tournament. If necessary, please renew your membership in advance.
For Ticket A applicants, If the membership registration or renewal process is not completed by 7 November , 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 About Venue Rules:

No eating or drinking is allowed inside the venue, except for bottled beverages for hydration and light snacks such as candy and chocolate.

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 15 November (6 days before the tournament).
If the turn on the waiting list does not come up, the full purchase price will be refunded.

Cancellation Policy:

　If you wish to cancel your participation in the tournament, you must notify us via email at japanopen.chess@gmail.com (different from federations ordinary email address).

Cancellations made by 23:59 on 7 November (14 days before the tournament): Full refund

Cancellations made on or after 00:00 on 8 November (13 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.

Prizes / Awards / Qualification

Master Category

1st: 300,000 yen + Trophy
2nd: 150,000 yen + Plaque
3rd: 80,000 yen + Plaque
4th: 50,000 yen
5th: 30,000 yen
6th: 15,000 yen
7th–10th: 5,000 yen

Best Women (Top 3):

1st: 30,000 yen + Plaque
2nd: 20,000 yen
3rd: 10,000 yen

Challenger Category

1st: 50,000 yen + Plaque + ChessMood Prize
2nd: 30,000 yen + Plaque + ChessMood Prize
3rd: 20,000 yen + Plaque + ChessMood Prize
4th: 10,000 yen + ChessMood Prize
5th: 5,000 yen + ChessMood Prize
6th–10th: 3,000 yen

Special Prizes

Chess.com Prize
Top 10 players in the Challenger Category, other than title holders (CM/WCM or above):

1st: 6-month Diamond Membership

2nd-3rd: 3-month Diamond Membership

4th-10th: 1-month Diamond Membership

Qualification for Japan Chess Championship 2026

Top 5 players in the Master category whose chess nationality is Japan will earn seeds for the 2026 Japan Chess Championship.

Tie-breaks will determine standings. Prizes will not be shared.

Accommodation

Participants who have completed their entry for the tournament may stay at the accommodation facility attached to the venue. For pricing, application procedures, and all other details, please refer to here.

Appeals

Appeals against decisions of the Chief Arbiter or other arbiters must be submitted in writing with the player’s signature to the Chair of the Appeals Committee.

A deposit of 20,000 yen must accompany the appeal. If the appeal is upheld, the deposit will be refunded; otherwise, it is forfeited.

Members of the Appeals Committee will be announced at the Technical Meeting before Round 1.

Dress Code

All players must wear business casual or smart casual attire appropriate for the tournament.

Prohibited items:

Shorts
Slippers
Sunglasses
Sports caps
Revealing clothing

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 November 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. 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

Direct Encounter
Buchholz Cut-1
Buchholz Cut-2
Greater Number of Wins with Black
Rating Performance
Drawing of Lots

Byes:

Pre-registered Byes: Byes: Bye requests must be submitted via the Bye Request Form by 18:00 on the day before the tournament. If a player has more than 3 requested byes, the player will not qualify for prizes.
(For Challenger category) 0.5 points will be awarded for pre-requested Byes, and 0 points for Bye requested after the deadline. The requested Bye for the final 2 rounds shall be given 0 points.
Pairing-allocated bye will be one point.
For Bye requests or cancellations after the deadline on the day before the tournament, please contact japanopen.chess@gmail.com (different from federations ordinary email address). 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.
In the case of cancellation, see detail at “Cancellation Policy” above.

Default Time

Players arriving 30 minutes after the start of the round lose by default. The game will not be 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.

Electronic Devices

Mobile phones, tablets, cameras, smartwatches, and all other electronic devices are strictly prohibited in the playing hall. Players may not carry them on their person during the game, nor may they bring them into the playing hall inside a bag. This rule applies regardless of whether the device is powered on or off. Any player who violates this rule will lose the game immediately (not by default).
The use of smartphones or any communication devices is also prohibited for spectators and for players who have finished their games while inside the venue. A booth will be provided in the playing area for depositing electronic devices.

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 organizer japanopen.chess@gmail.com (different from federations ordinary email address). 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.