Chess tournament for young people of all ages
The ONJK (Open Dutch Youth Chess Championships) is a chess tournament for young people of all ages from 6 to 18 years old. The chess tournament is for both talented players and novice competitive chess players. Both serious, longer chess games and shorter games for fun are played in the side programme.
For young people, it is a very valuable way to get acquainted with a multi-day chess tournament.
It is also a championship, where titles can be won, as well as tickets to the Dutch Youth Championship in their own age category in 2027.
Most of the participants come mainly for the atmosphere and to have a fun week with fellow chess players. Participants quickly make many friends whom they may meet again at other chess tournaments.
Registration
Go to the registration form.
The age categories
The age categories for the 2026 tournament are as follows:
Category ABC up to 18 years: born in 2008 or later
Category DE up to 12 years: born in 2014 or later
Category FGH up to 9 years: born in 2017 or later
Playing tempo
In group ABC, the “Fischer” playing tempo is used. The thinking time is 1.5 hours per person plus 30 seconds per move from the start of the game.
The playing tempo in the DE group is 40 minutes per person plus 30 seconds per move from the start of the game.
Three tournaments take place in the FGH group:
a one-day tournament of 13 rounds with 5 minutes per person plus 5 seconds per move from the start of the game;
a 2-day tournament of 9 rounds with 20 minutes per person plus 10 seconds per move from the start of the game;
a 3-day tournament of 9 rounds with 25 minutes per person plus 10 seconds per move from the start of the game.
Schedule and registration on the first day
See the program for the schedule. Registration on the opening day, July 30, is between 11:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Participants will receive an email with a link to the digital registration form, which they can use until Friday at 11:00 a.m., so they don’t have to wait in line (open from July 29).
Prizes
There are lots of prizes to be won again:
Group ABC
This year, there is €1,000 in prize money available in group ABC.
Top 10 overall:
1st €250, €150, €100, €50, €50, €50, €50, €25, €25 and €25
Top 3 girls (in case of double prizes, only the highest amount)
€100, €75 and €50
Trophies for the top 3 in A, B and C and top 3 Girls ABC
Extra prizes for best up to rating 1750, best up to rating 1600, best up to rating 1400
Titles + Tickets NJK 2027: A, B and C + 1x girl ABC
Group DE
Trophies for the top 3 in D overall, top 3 E and top 3 girls DE
Extra prizes for best up to rating 1600, best up to rating 1400, best up to rating 1200
Titles + Tickets NJK 2027: D and E + 1x girl DE
Group FGH 3-day tournament
Trophies for the top 3 in F overall, top 3 G and top 3 H, top 3 girls FGH
Can only win 1 prize. Double prize automatically moves on to next in line.
Extra prizes for best up to rating 1200, best up to rating 1000, best up to rating 800
Titles ONJK + Tickets NJK 2027: F, G and H + 1x girl FGH
Group FGH 2-day tournament
Trophies for the top 3 in F overall and top 3 girls FGH.
Only one prize can be won. Double prizes automatically go to the next in line.
Extra prizes for best up to rating 1200, best up to rating 1000, best up to rating 800.
ONJK rapid titles: F, G and H + 1x girl FGH
Group FGH 1-day tournament
Trophies for the top 3 in F overall and top 3 girls FGH.
Only one prize can be won. Double prizes automatically go to the next in line.
Extra prizes for best up to rating 1200, best up to rating 1000, best up to rating 800
ONJK Rapid Chess titles: F, G and H + 1x girl FGH
All prize winners will also receive the famous ONJK certificate.
Registration fee
Participants in groups ABC and DE pay €75 for the entire tournament.
Participants in the 3-day tournament for group FGH pay €43.50.
Participants in the 2-day rapid tournament for group FGH pay €29.50.
Participants in the 1-day rapid chess tournament for the FGH tournament pay €12.50.
Participants who take part in all 3 FGH tournaments pay €75 (€10.50 discount on individual prices).
Title holders (GM, WGM, IM, WIM, FM) who wish to play in the ABC group do not have to pay a registration fee. Individual participants with a rating of 2200 or higher do not have to pay a registration fee if they register before 1 July.
The registration fee can only be paid by invoice. Invoices will be sent by email shortly after registration.
Refund of registration fee: if registration is cancelled up to 14 days before the start of the championships, the full amount will be refunded. However, no refund of the registration fee is possible for cancellations made in the period of 2 weeks before the start on 30 July.
Rating processing
The results of the A, B, and C groups will be forwarded to FIDE. In addition, all results from all groups will be forwarded to the Royal Dutch Chess Federation (KNSB) for processing in the personal rating and/or youth rating.
If you would like the rating to be forwarded to another national chess federation, please contact the organization or the chief tournament director.