The 2026 European Senior Chess Championship is set to commence this Monday, 1 June, in Acqui Terme, Italy. The event will take place from 1 to 11 June at the Acqui Terme Conference Centre.
The event is played in two age categories: 50+ and 65+, Open and Women’s sections separately. The tournament gathers nearly 250 players coming from 34 European federations, including some of the sport’s most legendary names.
The top seeds of the Open 50+ competition are: GM Jean-Marc Degraeve (FRA, 2504), GM Henrik Danielsen (ISL, 2466), GM Johann Hjartarson (ISL, 2466), GM Throstur Thorhallsson (ISL, 2392) and IM Arnd Lauber (GER, 2387).
GM Zurab Sturua (GEO, 2484), GM Lubomir Ftacnik (SVK, 2417), GM Rainer Knaak (GER, 2401), GM Keith Arkell (ENG, 2397) and GM Margeir Petursson (ISL, 2387) headline the Open 65+ Championship.
The top-rated players of the Women’s 50+ Championship are WGM Elena-Luminita Cosma (ROU, 2241), WGM Elvira Berend (LUX, 2239), IM Elena Sedina (ITA, 2229), IM Silvia Alexieva (FRA, 2197), and WIM Gundula Heinatz (SUI, 2065).
Legendary GM Nona Gaprindashvili (GEO, 2185) is the top-seed of the Women’s 65+ competition, followed by WIM Ligia-Letitia Jicman (ROU, 2091), WIM Elena Krasenkowa (POL, 2006), Christiane Piquemal (FRA, 1976) and WFM Margarita Baliuniene (LTU, 1974).
Starting list of players for all sections can be found here.
The total prize fund of the event is 18.000 EUR, with the financial support of the European Chess Union (8000 euros). The donation to ECU is made by Mr. Evren Ucok and Monaco Chess Federation.
The Winners of each tournament will be awarded with trophies and medals, and the Winners of respective categories will clinch European Senior Chess Champion 2026 titles for the respective tournament section. According to FIDE regulations, the best-ranked three players from each category will qualify with personal rights to the World Senior Chess Championship 2027.
Detailed information about the event are available on the tournament webpage.
