38th Pula Open 2026: Tradition, Talent & the Adriatic by the Sea 🌊♟️
~260 players. 9 rounds. One of Europe's most loyal chess communities returned for the 38th time.
In June 2026, the city of Pula, Croatia, on the Istrian peninsula, once again hosted the 38th Pula Open, one of the longest-running and most beloved international chess festivals in Europe. Outpost Chess is proud to continue our partnership in promoting this remarkable event, which has now welcomed players to the Adriatic coast for nearly four decades.
This year's edition gathered around 260 players from across Europe and beyond, returning to the elegant Hotel Park Plaza Histria for nine days of classical chess by the sea.
🏆 Open Section Podium
After 9 hard-fought rounds, the standings were settled with characteristic intensity:
🥇 1st place: IM Vladyslav Larkin - Champion of the 38th Pula Open
🥈 2nd place: GM Egor Bogdanov
🥉 3rd place: GM Zaur Mammadov
🏅 Women's Section
The top trophy in the women's section went to Narmin Mammadova, continuing her strong recent record at Pula.
Among the standout performances was Ana Berke, who finished in the top 6 of the women's section - while also being honored for 15 years of participation at Pula Open (more on the loyalty awards below). A double celebration.
💰 Around 20 Prize Winners Across Categories
True to Pula Open tradition, the tournament distributed close to 20 cash prizes across age, rating, and federation categories, recognizing strong performances across the entire field, not just the top of the standings.
📊 Full results, standings, and pairings:
👉 38th Pula Open – Chess Results
🎖️ A Pula Open Tradition: Honoring Loyal Players
What makes Pula Open special isn't just the chess — it's the community that returns year after year. This edition, the organizers once again presented commemorative plaques to players whose loyalty to the tournament spans decades:
🏅 10 years of participation:
- Boris Grbac
- Lorenz Karali
- Marko Rubil
- Marco Vincenzi
🏅 15 years of participation:
- Ana Berke
🏅 20 years of participation:
- Mirjana Medić
- Igor Fattorich
🏅 25 years of participation:
- Zlatko Konić
A quarter-century at the same tournament. That isn't just chess — that's a chess life.
📹 Streaming Comes to Pula
This year the organizers welcomed an ** chess streamer** at the venue. Young but experienced CM Loris Tavernier was given his own dedicated table at the playing hall and full permission to bring his streaming equipment, opening a new chapter for how Pula Open reaches fans worldwide.
A small change with big implications: tournament coverage isn't just for those in the playing hall anymore. The Adriatic chess scene now has a window directly to a global audience.
🎥 Technology & Live Broadcast
For the live broadcast of the games, ID Chess once again provided the technical infrastructure, replacing traditional DGT-equipped boards with their AI-powered move-recognition system. Fans following from home could watch the top boards stream live throughout all 9 rounds.
ID Chess continues to be one of the most reliable solutions for tournaments that want to deliver high-quality broadcast coverage without the hardware overhead of fully wired boards.
🤝 Meet the Organizing Team
A tournament of this scale only runs because of the team behind it:
- Organizer: Chess Club Pula
- Tournament Director: Valter Valković
- Chief Arbiter: IA Kristian Valković
- Deputy Chief Arbiter: WIM Lena Govedarica (CEO of Outpost Chess)
- Arbiter team: the dedicated crew of arbiters who made sure every round, every pairing, and every clock ran smoothly across all 9 days
A special mention to the entire arbiter team and organizing crew , Pula Open's reputation is built as much on the warmth, professionalism, and competence of the people running it as on the strength of the field. The smooth flow of ~260 players across nine days of classical chess is no small feat, and the team delivered.
📸 Relive the Tournament
Podium shots, the special-award ceremony, behind-the-scenes from the arbiter table, and a few unforgettable moments by the sea, we've captured plenty of memories from this year's event.
👉 Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for the full gallery.
👉 For media inquiries or higher-resolution photos, contact us at info@outpostchess.com.
📢 Are You Organizing a Chess Tournament?
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We provide:
- Promotion to a global community of 103,000+ chess players across web, mobile, and social channels
- Participant registration solutions for tournaments of all sizes: OTB classical, rapid, blitz, online, or hybrid
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Whether you're organizing a 50-player local rapid or the next 38-year-old classic, Outpost is built to help your tournament grow.
📩 Get in touch: info@outpostchess.com
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Don't Miss the 39th Edition
✨ The Pula Open isn't just a tournament, it's a chess tradition by the sea. History, hospitality, world-class competition, and a community that returns year after year (some for 30+ years running).
📝 Sign up at OutpostChess.com to stay informed about our Tournament Calendar and the events you won't want to miss.
See you in Pula in 2027! 🌊♟️
Team Outpost
