Chess tournaments in Savoie and Haute-Savoie: the 2026-2027 season calendar
Updated 18 October 2026 · Échecs en Savoie, independent guide
A chess tournament is played almost every weekend in Savoie or Haute-Savoie. For the 2026-2027 season, the FFE-rated calendar includes the Savoie championship in Aix-les-Bains (October to January), the Annemasse International Festival in October, blitz events in Chambéry, Albertville and Veigy-Foncenex, and in summer the La Plagne and Les Menuires opens.
Calendar surveyed on 18 October 2026 in the FFE tournament lists for Savoie and Haute-Savoie. Tournaments are added through the season: check these lists before you travel.
Definitions to know before a chess tournament
Round: one stage of the tournament. In each round, each player plays one game against a new opponent. A 9-round tournament means 9 games per player.
Time control: the thinking time given to each player, for example “1 h 30 + 30 s” (90 minutes plus 30 seconds added after each move). Under FIDE rules, the base time and 60 times the increment are added together: 10 minutes or less is blitz; more than 10 and less than 60 minutes is rapid; 60 minutes or more is a classical game.
Rating approval: a rated tournament sends its results to the FFE (and to FIDE if it is FIDE-rated). The games then count towards the players' Elo ratings.
Calendar of chess tournaments in Savoie (73)
| Date | Town | Tournament | Time control | Organiser |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Oct 2026 (past) | Aix-les-Bains | 2nd Aix-les-Bains Rapid | Rapid, 12 min + 5 s, 7 rounds | see FFE page |
| 10 Oct 2026 | Aix-les-Bains | Savoie Championship 2026-2027, rounds 1-2 | Classical, 1 h 30 + 30 s | Savoie committee |
| 24 Oct 2026 | Chambéry | 10th Chambéry Blitz | Blitz, 5 min + 3 s, 9 rounds | CEAC |
| 31 Oct 2026 | Albertville | 1st Halloween Tournament | Blitz, 3 min + 2 s, 11 rounds | Albertville Savoie Échecs |
| 7 Nov 2026 | Aix-les-Bains | Savoie Championship, rounds 3-4 | Classical | Savoie committee |
| 5 Dec 2026 | Aix-les-Bains | Savoie Championship, rounds 5-6 | Classical | Savoie committee |
| 16 Jan 2027 | Aix-les-Bains | Savoie Championship, rounds 7-9 | Classical | Savoie committee |
The Savoie championship is played over nine rounds spread across four weekends, so working players can compete without taking leave. According to the FFE pages, round 2 is played in Albertville. It is the département's benchmark classical tournament.
Calendar of chess tournaments in Haute-Savoie (74)
| Date | Town | Tournament | Time control | Organiser |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Sep, 10 Oct and 28 Nov 2026 | Annecy | Annecy Autumn Championship (rounds 1-3, 4, 5-7) | Classical | see FFE page |
| 20 Sep 2026 (past) | Évian-les-Bains | 20th Chablais Rapid | Rapid, 15 min + 5 s, 7 rounds | Évian Chess Circle |
| 17-23 Oct 2026 | Annemasse | 4th Annemasse International Festival: Masters, Promotion, Amateur | Classical, 1 h 30 + 30 s, 9 rounds (Masters) | CABE |
| 20 Oct 2026 | Annemasse | Festival Blitz | Blitz | CABE |
| 24 Oct 2026 | Annemasse | 7th Maurice David Open | Rapid, 12 min + 3 s, 11 rounds | CABE |
| 24 Oct 2026 | Annemasse | Haute-Savoie Youth Rapid Circuit | Rapid | see FFE page |
| 14-15 Nov 2026 | Le Grand-Bornand | Haute-Savoie Youth Championship (U8 to U16) | see FFE page | see FFE page |
| 28 Nov 2026 | Veigy-Foncenex | 6th Veigy Blitz | Blitz, 3 min + 2 s, 11 rounds | Veigy-Foncenex Chess Club |
The Annemasse International Festival, whose Masters tournament has a €16,000 prize fund in 2026, is the highlight of the autumn. It is organised by the same club as the La Plagne festival.
Spring and summer fixtures: the 2025-2026 season as a guide
The spring and summer 2027 tournaments have not all been published yet. Here are those of the previous season, which often return on the same dates:
| Date | Town | Tournament | Time control |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7-11 April 2026 | Cran-Gevrier (Annecy) | 1st Annecy Easter Open | Classical, 1 h 30 + 30 s, 7 rounds |
| 1 May 2026 | Excenevex | Hyper Blitz Excenevex Léman Échecs | Blitz, 3 min + 2 s, 22 rounds |
| 14-17 May 2026 | Vétraz-Monthoux | Haute-Savoie Open | Classical, 1 h 30 + 30 s, 7 rounds |
| 7 June 2026 | Albertville | 5th Tournoi des 4 vallées | Rapid, 15 min + 3 s, 7 rounds |
| 21 June 2026 | Veigy-Foncenex | 11th Veigy-Foncenex Rapid | Rapid, 15 min + 5 s, 7 rounds |
| 4-10 July 2026 | La Plagne | 6th International Festival | Classical (Masters, Promotion, Amateur) and blitz |
| 11-18 July 2026 | Les Menuires | 1st International Open | Classical (Masters, Promotion, Future) |
| 23-26 July 2026 | Chambéry | 1st Chess Triathlon (classical, rapid, blitz) | Three time controls |
The Chambéry Chess Triathlon, launched in July 2026, strings together a classical tournament, a rapid and a blitz: an original formula for testing your versatility. The summer resort tournaments are detailed on our pages on La Plagne and Les Menuires.
How to take part in a chess tournament
- Take out a licence through a club: A licence for classical tournaments, B licence enough for most rapid and blitz events. See our page on the chess licence in Savoie.
- Choose a suitable tournament: a one-day rapid is ideal for beginners; a multi-day classical open demands more commitment.
- Register with the organiser before the deadline given on the FFE page; some tournaments accept on-site entries, subject to availability.
- Arrive early for check-in, with your licence.
For a step-by-step guide, the Palais des Échecs explains how to take part in a chess tournament, from registration to conduct at the board.
How much does a tournament cost, and what can you win?
Entry fees vary by tournament and are shown on each FFE page: a local rapid event generally costs far less than a multi-day international open, and juniors often get a reduced rate. As for prizes, the gaps are considerable: €1,500 in prizes at the Maurice David Open, €16,000 for the Annemasse Masters, €20,000 for those at La Plagne and Les Menuires in 2026. In the opens, prizes by Elo band let average players hope for a reward.
Frequently asked questions
How do I take part in a chess tournament?
You need an FFE licence taken out through a club (A licence for classical games, B for most rapid and blitz events), then register with the organiser as set out on the tournament's page on the FFE website.
What is a round in chess?
A round is one stage of a tournament: each player plays one game in it. A 7-round tournament therefore involves 7 games per player, against different opponents.
What are the prizes in a chess tournament?
They depend on the tournament: €1,500 in prizes for the Annemasse Maurice David Open in 2026, €16,000 for the Masters tournament of the Annemasse festival, €20,000 for those at La Plagne and Les Menuires.
Where can I find the calendar of chess tournaments in Savoie?
On the FFE website, in the tournament list for committee 73 (Savoie) and 74 (Haute-Savoie). This guide reproduces the main ones as of the survey date.