ORGANISERS:        Pafos Municipality & Pafos Chess Club

FEDERATION:        Cyprus Chess Federation

TOURNAMENT VENUE: Attikon & Palia Ilektriki Multiculture Spaces – Pafos

TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR: Charis Konstantinides

MAIN ARBITER:     Giorgos Yiapanis

PLAYING SYSTEM: 9 rounds, Swiss System

Two Main Groups: Group A>1800, Group B<1900

Players with a rating between 1800 and 1900 can choose to play in either Group A or Group B.

The organizer may choose to place a limited number of participants in a different group than the one determined by their ELO rating.

The top five winners of Group B in the 4^th Pafos International Chess Tournament 2026 may choose to play in Group A.

FIDE title norms are possible!

There will also be a side event (Group C) running in parallel: an unrated tournament for young children, featuring 7 rounds (45’ + 30” increment) and special awards.

TIMETABLE:          

Registration for participation closes at 18:00, 23 April 2027

Registration confirmations until 12:00 p.m. (noon), Sunday 25 April 2027.

Pairing for the first round 14.30 p.m. Monday 25 April 2027

Opening Ceremony: Sunday 25 April 2027, starting at 15:30

Closing Ceremony:   Saturday 1 May 2027, starting at 16:00

Attention! A player who arrives half an hour (30 minutes) later than the scheduled start of a round loses the game by forfeit.

A player can take up to two exceptions of half point until round 5. The player should inform the chief arbiter before the pairings for the next round.

TIME CONTROL: 90΄ for 40 moves + 15 min until the end of the game + 30” per move from the first move.

TIE BREAKS:

1. The result between the two players
2. Buchholz
3. Median Buchholz
4. Sonnenborn-Berger

 PARTICIPATION FEE (according to FIDE standard rating on the 1^st of April 2027):

Free – Players with ELO above 2400 + titled players (GM, WGM, IM) and Women Chess Players with ELO above 2300

40 € for players with ELO 2300-2399 (Women with ELO 2200-2299)

50 € for players with ELO 2200-2299 (Women with ELO 2100-2199)

60 € for players with ELO 2000-2199 (Women with ELO 1900-2099)

60 € for veteran players > 55 years old

70 € for all other players

Players with ELO between 1751 – 1800 can join the A’ group, with extra entry fee of 30 €

50 € for the players of B Group

40 € for the players of C Group

 PRIZES: Total Prize Fund 5.000 Euro

• For equally matched players, the prices will be shared by the Hort system (50% of the prices are shared equally and the other 50% are shared according to the tie breaks

• If a player wins two Special categories, he/she takes the bigger prize

• Special prizes will be awarded based on the participant’s age

 ANTI-CHEATING MEASURES

 The organizer will implement strict measures to prevent any possible cheating attempts.
This implies detailed control before entering the playing hall, delayed transmission of games, control of the playing venue and prevention of any mutual verbal and non-verbal communication.

The Chief Arbiter will be encouraged to develop a system for conducting random checks during the tournament.

 OBJECTIONS –APPEALS COMMITTEE

The Appeals Committee, comprising three full members and two runner-up members, will be appointed by the Organizing Committee before the tournament begins. If a member of the Appeals Committee is related to an athlete involved in the objection, they will be excluded and replaced by a runner-up member. Protests against decisions of the Chief Arbiter must be submitted in written form to the Chairman of the appeals committee within 15 minutes after the end of the respective game. The protest must be accompanied with the sum of 60 €, as a deposit from the signatory. If the appeal is granted, the sum shall be returned immediately. If the appeal is refused, the deposit is forfeited to the organizer. The appeal must be lodged by the player. The decisions of the Appeals Committee are final.

ACCOMMODATION AND HOTEL INFORMATION:

Accommodation is not restricted, and players can book the hotels or rooms of their choice directly. There are special offers from hotels for tournament players. Please contact the organisers for more information.

REGISTRATION:

Please fill the Registration form available on the website. Alternatively, you may download and fill the Registration form by hand, and send a scan or a photo to: info@pafoschess.com

We will confirm your registration via email within 24hrs.

For more information you may contact us at +357 99610468 (WhatsApp, Viber available).

ENTRY FEE DEPOSIT DETAILS:

Participants may pay the entry fee with a bank transfer at the following bank account:

BANK OF CYPRUS account number 357039645233

IBAN CY52002001950000357039645233

SWIFT/BIC BCYPCY2N

Account owner: Skakistikos Omilos Paphou

Please indicate the name of the player during the transfer.

Kindly note that all bank transfer fees need to be paid by the participants.

Please, send your entry fee deposit bank receipt with your name by e-mail to: info@pafoschess.com

If a player has difficulty making a bank transfer, please contact us.

The deadline for paying the deposit is April 2. After this date, an increase of 20 € will apply in the entry fees.