FIDE WORLD SENIOR CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2026

November 2nd - 15th, Vrnjacka Banja, Serbia

Venue: Hotel Zepter

Invitation & Regulations

Registration Form

Registered Players

Media

Results

Side Events

Vrnjačka Banja

Vrnjačka Banja is the largest and most famous spa resort in Serbia, informally called "the queen of spa tourism". It is located 200 km south from Belgrade. Vrnjačka Banja is rich in mineral water which are known for their healing properties. Apart from health tourism, Vrnjačka Banja is also famous for other interesting things. Vrnjačka Banja also has the status of a chess symbol, and in the last two years the following competitions have been successfully organized at the same place:

2023: European Individual Championship
2024: European Club Cup & European Club Cup for Women
2025: FIDE World School Chess Championships
2025: FIDE World Amateur Chess Championships
2026: FIDE World Cadet & Youth Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships

ARRIVALS TRANSFER - INFORMATION 👈

valid around October 30th

Event Schedule

Monday	November 2^nd	All day	Arrival day
Tuesday	November 3^rd	10:30	Technical meeting
Tuesday	November 3^rd	14:00	Opening ceremony
Tuesday	November 3^rd	15:00	Round 1
Wednesday	November 4^th	15:00	Round 2
Thursday	November 5^th	15:00	Round 3
Friday	November 6^th	15:00	Round 4
Saturday	November 7^th	15:00	Round 5
Sunday	November 8^th	All day	Rest day
Sunday	November 8^th	11:00	Side Event: V. Banja Trophy
Monday	November 9^th	15:00	Round 6
Tuesday	November 10^th	15:00	Round 7
Wednesday	November 11^th	15:00	Round 8
Thursday	November 12^th	15:00	Round 9
Friday	November 13^th	15:00	Round 10
Saturday	November 14^th	14:00	Round 11
Saturday	November 14^th	21:30	Closing ceremony
Sunday	November 15^th	All day	Departure day

Accommodation

Hotel Zepter ****

	Single	Double	Triple	4-persons
Full Board	105€	85€	76€	N/A
Half Board	97€	77€	68€	N/A

Hotel Kralj ****

Fully booked!

Apartments ZepterMe ****

	Single	Double	Triple	4-persons
Full Board	110€	90€	81€	81€
Half Board	102€	82€	73€	73€

Hotel Fontana ****

Fontana ****	Single	Double	Triple	4-persons
Full Board	109€	87€	81€	81€
Half Board	101€	79€	73€	73€

Regulations

Participation Rights

In accordance with the FIDE tournament regulations, there shall be the following categories:
3.1.1 Open 50+, open to all players who are 50 or older in 2026.
3.1.2 Open 65+, open to all players who are 65 or older in 2026.
3.1.3 Women 50+, open to all women who are 50 or older in 2026.
3.1.4 Women 65+, open to all women who are 65 or older in 2026.

Technical Regulations

FIDE rated Swiss system will be used with 11 rounds played. The Championships shall be governed by the General Regulations for FIDE Competitions. Time control is 90 minutes for 40 moves and additional 30 minutes to the end of the game, plus 30 seconds increment from move one. Default time is 30 minutes. Any player who arrives at the chessboard after the default time shall lose the game unless the Chief Arbiter decides otherwise.

Prize fund

Total prize fund is 50.000 EUR.

OPEN 50+: (19.700 EUR)
1^st place 5.000,
2^nd place 4.000,
3^rd place 3.000,
4^th place 2.200,
5^th place 1.600,
6^th 1.200,
7^th 900,
8^th 700,
9^th 600,
10^th 500

WOMEN 50+: (7.000 EUR)
1^st place 2.500,
2^nd place 2.000,
3^rd place 1.500,
4^th 1.000

OPEN 65+: (15.000 EUR)
1^st place 4.000,
2^nd place 3.000,
3^rd place 2.000,
4^th place 1.500,
5^th place 1.200,
6^th 1.000,
7^th 800,
8^th 600,
9^th 500,
10^th 400

WOMEN 65+: (5.300 EUR)
1^st place 2.000,
2^nd place 1.500,
3^rd place 1.000,
4^th 800

SPECIAL PRIZES 75+: (3.000 EUR, not cumulative)
1^st place 1.000,
2^nd place 800,
3^rd place 600,
Women 1^st place 600