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Milan RomanPresident of the Slovak Chess Federation
sk

Events

Chess events

Tournaments I run or founded – from a world-class festival to events for children and young players.
Milan Roman with the Masters 2026 players on the stage of the Skalica House of Culture
Presentation of the Masters 2026 players · Photo: Chess Slovak Open 2026 (M. Masaryková, T. Danada)

2026

Chess Slovak Open 2026

International chess festival in the House of Culture in Skalica, 22–30 August 2026. Seven tournaments for professionals, club players and the wider chess public. The Masters was the strongest chess tournament in Slovak history.

  • JOJ Šport television broadcast live from Skalica – the first live television broadcast of chess in Slovakia.
  • A television chess magazine was produced in Skalica and will be re-broadcast.
  • The games enter international chess databases under the name Skalica, and chess fans all over the world followed the online broadcast.
  • Local players, children and juniors played in the same hall as world-class grandmasters.

My role: Tournament Director

players
140+
countries
19
Masters average rating
2603
Official Chess Slovak Open websiteJOJ Šport – live broadcast from Skalica (Slovak)
  • Milan Roman opening the Chess Slovak Open 2026 festival on the stage of the Skalica House of Culture
    Opening of the Chess Slovak Open 2026 in the House of CulturePhoto: Chess Slovak Open 2026 (M. Masaryková, T. Danada)
  • The full playing hall of the Skalica House of Culture during the Chess Slovak Open 2026
    A full hall – players from 19 countriesPhoto: Chess Slovak Open 2026 (M. Masaryková, T. Danada)
  • Milan Roman at the Masters 2026 prize-giving
    Masters 2026 prize-giving ceremonyPhoto: Chess Slovak Open 2026 (M. Masaryková, T. Danada)
  • Players shaking hands at an evening tournament in the Skalica brewery
    Evening tournament in the Skalica breweryPhoto: Chess Slovak Open 2026 (M. Masaryková, T. Danada)
  • Commentary studio of the Chess Slovak Open live broadcast
    Live broadcast from Skalica to the whole worldPhoto: Milan Roman archive
  • Milan Roman with Grandmaster Ján Plachetka
    With GM Ján Plachetka, the first Slovak grandmasterPhoto: Slovak Chess Federation

2026

Trdelník Open 2026

I came up with and founded this tournament to spread the good name of Skalica and bring chess players to the town. It is named after the Skalica trdelník, a pastry with EU Protected Geographical Indication. The first edition was organised by the Skalica Chess Club in summer 2026.

My role: idea, founder and Tournament Director

Results on sachyskalica.sk

2025

Children and Youth Chess Festival – GPX Skalica

A tournament for children and young players, organised on 26 April 2025 by the Skalica Chess Club in cooperation with the town of Skalica.

My role: Tournament Director

Tournament document on sachovespravy.sk (PDF, Slovak)

For partners

What the festival brings to Skalica

Next Chess Slovak Open: 21–29 August 2027.

  • Hotels and restaurants

    Players, coaches, arbiters and parents from almost twenty countries stay for nine days in hotels and guesthouses in and around Skalica and eat in local restaurants – at the end of summer, when the tourist season is over.

  • Tourism

    In their free time they explore Skalica and its surroundings – the Rotunda, the Baťa Canal, Holíč, Kopčany and the wineries – and take home trdelník, wine and memories.

  • Skalica on the world map

    A live broadcast on JOJ Šport, a TV magazine, online broadcasts and international game databases. Skalica is talked about where ordinary advertising would never reach.

  • An opportunity for local players

    Children, juniors and amateurs play in the same hall as grandmasters. Volunteers and local companies gain experience with an international event.

Partnerships, tournaments, media

Would you like to work together on a chess event, support chess in Slovakia or are you preparing an article? Get in touch.

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