The Sardinia World Chess Festival will take place from May 3 to May 10, 2026, in Orosei, Sardinia.
The event is hosted at the luxurious Club Hotel Marina Beach in Orosei, which serves as both the official hotel and the playing venue. The total prize fund for the festival is 50,000 €.
The tournament’s “Open A” section features a formidable lineup of international superstars. The field is headlined by none other than GM Ian Nepomniachtchi (2729), the two-time World Chess Championship challenger, whose presence immediately elevates the festival prestige.
Joining him at the top of the seeding are GM Parham Maghsoodloo (2720), the Iranian powerhouse known for his uncompromising style and former European Champions GM Ivan Saric (2654) and GM Aleksandar Indjic (2616).
The festival is organized into three main categories to accommodate various skill levels:
Open A: For players with a FIDE rating ≥ 2000.
Open B: For players rated between 1200 and 1999.
Open C: For players rated below 1699.
All tournaments will be played over 9 rounds using the Swiss System. The time control is set at a classical 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move.
Tournament Director GM Roberto Mogranzini has emphasized that the event is designed to combine “intellectual competition with the discovery of a land rich in tradition”. Beyond the 64 squares, participants have a packed social calendar, including:
- A special tour to the world-renowned Cala Goloritzé beach on May 7.
- An organized football match on May 9.
- Evening entertainment at the piano bar and access to private beach facilities.
With a field of international grandmasters competing for a 10,000 € first prize in the Open A section , the Sardinia World Chess Festival 2026 combines high-level competition with its premier location on the Sardinian coast.
