Silvester Open 2025
Your Premier New Year’s Eve Chess Tournament in Frankfurt am Main!
Get ready for an unforgettable day of chess! We’re hosting 11 thrilling rounds under the Swiss System, with a time control of 10 minutes per game plus a 5-second increment per move.
The action begins at 9:30 AM, with doors opening at 8:45 AM. Entry Fee: €20 for adults / €10 for youth players.
Register for the Silvester Open 2025
Registration is now open!
Don’t wait—secure your spot today and be part of the excitement!
List of Participants
Join an impressive field of players! Over 80 competitors have already signed up, including powerful Grandmasters (GM) and International Masters (IM).
Follow the live, constantly updated list of participants on chess-results.com
Official Announcement – Silvester Open 2025
Offizielle Ausschreibung – Silvester Open 2025.pdf
To ensure a seamless start, all registered players with confirmed payments will be automatically paired for the first round.
Experience a perfectly organized tournament designed for your convenience! The award ceremony will be held immediately after the final round at approximately 5:30 PM, ensuring you get home in plenty of time to celebrate your victories and ring in the New Year.
Turnierinformationen
| Veranstalter | Schachfreunde Frankfurt 1921 e.V. |
| Datum | Tuesday, December 31, 2025 |
| Spielort | SAALBAU BiKuZ, Michael-Stumpf-Straße 2, 65929 Frankfurt am Main (directly at Höchst station). The playing hall is fully air-conditioned. |
| System of Play | 11 Rounds, Swiss System |
| Bedenkzeit | 10 minutes per game + 5 seconds increment per move |
| Wertung | The tournament will be submitted for FIDE Rapid rating evaluation. |
| Turnierleitung | Stefan Jäger (FIDE Arbiter), Stefan Schweitzer (Regional Arbiter) |
Schedule
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| – 09:00 Uhr | On-site check-in for late entries and players without confirmed payment. |
| 09:25 Uhr | Welcoming Remarks |
| 09:30 Uhr | Start of Round 1 |
| ca. 13:00 Uhr | 30-minute lunch break after Round 4 |
| ca. 17:30 Uhr | Award Ceremony immediately following the final round |
Registration & Entry Fee
Easy and secure online registration is the only way to sign up! Simply visit https://silvester-open.com.
| Category | Entry Fee (Online until Dec 29) | Entry Fee (Late Registration on Dec 31) |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | €20 | €30 |
| Youth (born 2008 or later) | €10 | €30 |
| Titled Players (GM, WGM, IM, WIM) | Free Entry | Free Entry |
- Online Registration Deadline: December 29, 2025, at midnight. Your registration is confirmed upon successful payment.
- Late Registration: Available on-site on the tournament day until 9:00 AM for an increased fee of €30 (cash only).
- Payment Options: PayPal, Credit Card, Direct Debit, Klarna, and more.
Prize Fund (Total: €1,750)
Everyone has a chance to win! A fantastic prize fund of €1,750 (guaranteed with 100+ players) makes participation incredibly rewarding. 1 In addition to €500 for the winner, there are attractive rating prizes and special awards for women, seniors, and youth players. 1
The prize fund is guaranteed with a minimum of 100 participants.
Main Prizes
- 1st Place: €500 + Trophy
- 2nd Place: €300
- 3rd Place: €200
- 4th Place: €100
- 5th Place: €50
Rating Prizes
(3 groups, determined by ELO/DWZ during the lunch break)
- Group A: 1st Place €50, 2nd Place €30
- Group B: 1st Place €50, 2nd Place €30
- Group C: 1st Place €50, 2nd Place €30
Special Prizes
- Best Woman: €50
- Best Senior 65+: €60
- Best Senior 75+: €50
- Best Youth U16/U14/U12/U10: €50 each
Rules for Prize Distribution:
- Ties for main and rating prizes will be resolved using the Hort system.
- Ties for special prizes (Youth, Seniors, Women) will be resolved using the Buchholz score. 4
- Each player can only win one prize (no double prizes). Prizes are awarded in the following priority: Main Prize > Rating Prize > Special Prize.
- Special prizes are awarded if there are at least 3 participants in that category.
Tournament Rules & Regulations
- Governing Rules: The tournament will be played according to the FIDE Laws of Chess for Rapid Chess (Appendix A.5). 6 The default time is 10 minutes after the official start of the round. 2
- Code of Conduct & Sanctions: By registering, participants agree to abide by the statutes and regulations of the World Chess Federation (FIDE), the German Chess Federation (DSB), and the Hessian Chess Federation (HSV). This includes all anti-doping, anti-cheating, and fair play regulations. Players suspended by any of these federations are not eligible to participate. The organizer reserves the right to expel players for gross unsportsmanlike conduct.
- Withdrawal Policy: Withdrawals must be submitted in writing (via email to mail@silvester-open.com). If a withdrawal is made less than 24 hours before the tournament begins (December 30, 2025, 9:30 AM), the entry fee will not be refunded.
- Consent for Data Use: The player agrees that necessary data for tournament administration (name, club, rating, results) will be stored electronically and published in participant and ranking lists, including online. Photos and games from the tournament may also be published. A player may object to the publication of individual photos at any time.
- Liability & Supervision: The organizer assumes no liability for lost or damaged property. No supervision is provided for underage participants; this responsibility remains with the parents or their respective club representatives.
- Miscellaneous: Stay energized! A variety of food and beverages will be available for purchase on-site. 1 A FIDE ID is required to participate in FIDE-rated tournaments. Information on how to apply for one can be found on the website of the German Chess Federation.
Fragen zur Anmeldung & Bezahlung
Do I need a FIDE ID to participate?
Yes! The Silvester Open is officially rated under FIDE Rapid rules, which makes a FIDE ID mandatory for all participants. If you do not have one yet, please apply for it in a timely manner through your national chess federation.
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Can I register on the day of the tournament?
Yes! On-site registration is possible on December 31st until 9:00 AM. Please note that the on-site entry fee is €30.
Was passiert, wenn ich kurzfristig krank werde?
Bei einem Rücktritt bis 24 Stunden vor Turnierbeginn (30.12., 09:30 Uhr) erstatten wir Ihnen das Startgeld zu 100% zurück. Eine kurze Nachricht per E-Mail genügt.
Wie ist die Verpflegung geregelt?
Für Energie ist gesorgt: Nach der 4. Runde (ca. 13:00 Uhr) legen wir eine 30-minütige Mittagspause ein. Der Spielort in Frankfurt-Höchst bietet zudem zahlreiche Verpflegungsmöglichkeiten in unmittelbarer Umgebung.
Sind Titelträger vom Startgeld befreit?
Wir schätzen starke Spieler! GM, WGM, IM und WIM sind vom Startgeld befreit (startgeldfrei).
Kann ich das Startgeld auch per Banküberweisung zahlen?
Ja, eine Zahlung per klassischer Banküberweisung ist ebenfalls möglich. Bitte nutzen Sie dafür folgende Bankverbindung:
- Empfänger: Die Schachfreunde Frankfurt 1921 e.V.
- IBAN: DE75 5019 0000 7100 5845 35
- BIC: FFVBDEFF
- Bank: Frankfurter Volksbank
- Verwendungszweck: Silvester-2025 + [Ihr Name]
Bitte beachten Sie, dass Ihr Startplatz erst nach Zahlungseingang auf unserem Konto verbindlich reserviert ist.