Regulations Ghent Open 2026
1. The latest version of the FIDE Laws of Chess (valid as of January 1, 2023) applies unless otherwise stated in the regulations below.
2a. The FIDE rated and unrated tournaments are played over 9 rounds according to the Swiss system.
2b. The 55+ tournament is played over 5 rounds according to the Swiss system. If there are more than 63 participants in this tournament, the Swiss system with accelerated pairings will be used.
3. Pairings are made based on the FIDE rating (standard) or on the national rating if the player does not have a FIDE rating (standard).
4a. Participants in the FIDE-rated tournament must have a FIDE ID with a valid licence or an active membership with the KBSB.
4b. Participants in the 55+ tournament must have been born before 1 January 1972.
5. The rate of play is fixed at 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move 1 onwards for the whole game.
6. It is permitted to arrive up to 1 hour late. This default time starts from the scheduled starting time according to the chief arbiter’s clock.
7. Any unannounced absence will result in immediate exclusion from the tournament, unless the player personally reports to the chief arbiter within the time frame of the current round.
8. If you wish to be excluded from the pairings for a particular round, fill in a form obtainable at the tournament direction.In the FIDE rated and unrated tournaments, it is possible to receive half a point (0.5) twice for an announced absence up to and including round 5.
9. Mobile phones and other electronic devices must be switched off. The observation that a device has not been switched off will be penalised as follows:
• first offense: a warning.
• the second time (within the same game): loss of the game.
10. If a player walks around bearing an electronic communication device on him during the game, he will immediately lose the game.
11. A player may not wear a watch during the game. If a player is found to be wearing a watch during a game, this will be punished in the same way as provided for in rule 9. If it concerns a watch with communication features (smartwatch), this will be punished according to rule 10.
12. If a player enters the playing hall after the start of the round, he may comply with rules 9-11 without any penalty before making the first move.
13. The score sheets must be filled in correctly and signed by both players. The winner or, in the event of a draw, the white player, deposits the score sheet in the tray provided for this purpose in the tournament hall.
14. The original score sheets remain the property of the organization and must be deposited by both players in the tray provided for this purpose in the tournament hall. Players may keep the carbon copy form.
15. Incorrectly communicated results can be corrected if they are communicated to the tournament direction at the latest 30 minutes after the start of the next game.
16. Games played with the wrong colour have no influence on the subsequent pairings.
17. Tie-break rules: 1. Direct Encounter 2. Progressive scores 3. Average Elo rating of the opponents. The prizes are shared in case of an equal number of points and cannot be cumulated. A player always receives the highest prize to which he is entitled.
18. Prizes that were not collected can be paid out by bank transfer if the player requests this before 01-09-2026 by sending an e-mail to open2026@kgsrl.be.
19. A complaint against a decision made by the chief arbiter must be submitted in writing to the organisation within 30 minutes after the end of the match. An appeals committee consisting of three chess arbiters will make a final decision after hearing both players. Pairings that have already been made cannot be changed by this decision.
20. As far as possible, players from the same club will not be paired against each other during the first three rounds. In the 55+ tournament, this rule applies to the first two rounds.
21. After the start of round 1, it is no longer possible to change the club number used for registration.
22. After the start of round 1, it is no longer possible to switch from one tournament to another.
23. The chief arbiter may, after a playing time of 4h30, decide to award a provisional result to a game that has not yet been completed in view of the pairings for the next round. This provisional result will of course be adjusted if the outcome of the game deviates.
24. Smoking is only allowed in the designated area. Compliance with this rule will be strictly monitored.
• The first time, you will receive a warning.
• The second time is equal to losing the game + immediate departure from the Sint-Barbaracollege for the current round.
• The third time, you will be excluded and must leave the Sint-Barbaracollege.
25. The information provided by players upon registration will be used for organisational purposes during the tournament. It may also be used for the organisation of future tournaments. Players may request access to their stored data or request that it no longer be retained by sending an e-mail to info@kgsrl.be.
26. The organisation reserves the right to refuse registrations without giving any reason.
