Atyrau Open 2026 International Chess Tournament
(Stage 3 of the Kazakhstan Chess Cup 2026)
The overall management and organization of the Tournament shall be carried out by the Kazakhstan
Chess Federation (KCF) with the support of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of
Kazakhstan as well as the Department of Physical Education and Sport of Atyrau region
Dates: October 11 (arrival day) – October 21 (departure day), 2026;
Playing venue: to be published on the KCF website.
Masters Tournament
Main Prizes KZT 37 750 000 ≈ USD 75 500
The Stage consists of two tournaments (hereinafter the Tournaments):
• Masters tournament;
• Open tournament.
The Tournaments shall be FIDE rated.
The Tournaments shall be held as 9-round Swiss system events in accordance with FIDE Laws of
Chess.
Pairings shall be made using the Swiss Manager software.
Time control: classical 90+30 (90 minutes for the entire game with an increment of 30 seconds per
move starting from move one).
Any player arriving at the chessboard more than 30 minutes after the start of the session shall lose
the game by default.
Draw offers are prohibited before move 30.
Fair play (anti-cheating) measures shall be implemented in accordance with the FIDE Anti-Cheating
Regulations under the standard protection level. A 15-minute broadcast delay shall be applied.
All players must adhere to the dress code (Business Casual, Smart Casual; shorts and slippers are not
allowed).
Smoking in the playing hall is prohibited.
A player who has finished their game is considered a spectator and must leave the tournament hall.
Registration opens on July 29, 2026.
Registration for the tournaments is accepted at the following link: https://opencups.kazchess.kz until
September 11, 2026;
Contact Information
Tournament Director: Vice President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, Marat Yesenov
Tournament Technical Director: Anuar Ismagambetov, tournaments@kazchess.kz.
Chief Arbiter: To be appointed by the ACC (Arbiter’s Council of Kazakhstan)
Tournament Secretary: To be appointed by the ACC
Tournament Manager: To be appointed, tournaments@kazchess.kz