Community Tournament Recap: Winter Open 2026
Over 200 players competed in our biggest tournament yet. Here are the highlights, upsets, and brilliant games.
The Winter Open 2026 was our most ambitious community tournament to date, with over 200 players competing across three rating sections. Here's a look at the highlights.
By the Numbers
- **212 participants** from 14 countries - **636 games** played over 3 days - **47 decisive games** in the Open section alone - **Average game duration**: 28 minutes
Highlights
### The Upset of the Tournament In Round 3 of the Open section, an unrated newcomer defeated a 1900-rated player with a stunning queen sacrifice that led to a forced checkmate in 12 moves. The game has already been viewed over 5,000 times on ReplayChess.
The Longest Game
At 97 moves, the Round 5 encounter between two 1600-rated players in the U1800 section was a marathon. The game featured two rook endgames, a fortress attempt, and a dramatic breakthrough on move 89.
What's Next
Our Spring Blitz Championship is scheduled for March 2026. Registration opens February 15th. We're also introducing a new team format — stay tuned for details!