2026-FISU-WUC-Mindsports-Bulletin-3 LATEST

2026 FISU World University Championship Mind Sports · Liaocheng, China · Issued October 9, 2026

OC Welcome Message

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FISU President’s Message

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1. Overview

1.1 The Host City — Liaocheng

Liaocheng, located in western Shandong Province, China, has a semi-arid continental climate, covering an area of 8,628 square kilometers with a permanent population of 5.9 million. Born of water and beautified by its lakes, the city embodies both the profound heritage of Yellow River agrarian civilization and the openness of canal-based commerce, earning it the title ‘Water City North of the Yangtze, and Pearl of Two Rivers’. Dongchang Lake, shimmering with rippling waves, is hailed as the ‘Venice of Northern China’, while the Guangyue Tower, standing for over six centuries, bears witness to the city’s enduring history. As an emerging hub for mind sports in China, Liaocheng promotes ‘wisdom empowerment’ and has built a system that spans all age groups. The city has over 400,000 enthusiasts, and more than 400 schools and kindergartens offer chess and related programs, demonstrating rapid growth in mind sports. Looking ahead, Liaocheng aims to expand its ‘mind sports +’ strategy, building an integrated ecosystem of competitions, training, research, and industrialization, and to become a model smart city that blends tradition with modern vitality.

1.2 Event Information

The Championship will be held from October 11 to 16, 2026, at the Arcadia International Hot Spring Hotel in Liaocheng, China.

Official Website: https://mindsports2026.fisu.net/

1.3 The Climate

From 8 to 17 October, the historical average temperature in Liaocheng is 60.4 °F, with an average maximum temperature of 63.9 °F and an average minimum temperature of 46.9 °F. This period, marking the transition from summer to autumn, brings little rainfall, dry air, and mostly clear skies with gentle sunshine, creating ideal conditions for the Mind Sports. Athletes from around the world can stay at their best, fully focused on strategic play and the minds exchanges, and immerse themselves in this vibrant celebration of youthful intellect.

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2. General Schedule (Provisional)

This General Schedule is provisional, to be confirmed at the General Technical Meeting.

The Service Center, Accommodation area, Conference Center, Competition Building are all located within the Arcadia International Hot Spring Hotel.

Date	Time	Program	Location
Thursday, 8 October	All Day	ITO、NTO、NUSF Registration	Comprehensive Service Center
	All Day	Venue Inspection and Coordination with Relevant Teams	Competition Venue, Athlete Residence
Friday, 9 October	All Day	ITO、NTO、NUSF Registration	Comprehensive Service Center
Saturday, 10 October	All Day	ITO、NTO、NUSF Registration	Comprehensive Service Center
	09:30-11:00	CISCA Meeting	Meeting Room 1, First Floor, Conference Center
	18:30-20:30	General Technical Meeting Chess	Meeting Room 1, First Floor, Conference Center
	20:30-22:30	General Technical Meeting Bridge	Meeting Room 5, Second Floor, Conference Center
	19:00-20:30	Glow Night Run 5-6km	Athletes’ Residence to Ancient Water City
	16:00-21:00	Mind Sports Carnival	Plaza in front of the Competition Building
Sunday, 11 October	9:30-11:10	Bridge Competition Round 1	Dongchang Hall, Competition Building
	9:00	Chess Competition Round 1	Phoenix Hall, Competition Building
	11:25-13:05	Bridge Competition Round 2	Dongchang Hall, Competition Building
	14:30-16:10	Bridge Competition Round 3	Dongchang Hall, Competition Building
	14:00	Chess Competition Round 2	Phoenix Hall, Competition Building
	16:25-18:05	Bridge Competition Round 4	Dongchang Hall, Competition Building
	19:30-21:00	Opening Ceremony	Liaocheng Gymnasium
	16:00-21:00	Mind Sports Carnival	Plaza in front of the Competition Building
Monday, 12 October	9:30-11:10	Bridge Competition Round 5	Dongchang Hall, Competition Building
	9:00	Chess Competition Round 3	Phoenix Hall, Competition Building
	11:25-13:05	Bridge Competition Round 6	Dongchang Hall, Competition Building
	14:30-16:10	Bridge Competition Round 7	Dongchang Hall, Competition Building
	14:00	Chess Competition Round 4	Phoenix Hall, Competition Building
	16:25-18:05	Bridge Competition Round 8	Dongchang Hall, Competition Building
	16:00-21:00	Mind Sports Carnival	Plaza in front of the Competition Building
Tuesday, 13 October	9:30-11:10	Bridge Competition Round 9	Dongchang Hall, Competition Building
	9:00	Chess Competition Round 5	Phoenix Hall, Competition Building
	11:25-13:05	Bridge Competition Round 10	Dongchang Hall, Competition Building
	14:00	Chess Competition Round 6	Phoenix Hall, Competition Building
	14:30-16:10	Bridge Competition Round 11	Dongchang Hall, Competition Building
	16:25-18:05	Bridge Competition Round 12	Dongchang Hall, Competition Building
	18:00-20:00	Cultural Activity	visit the Ancient Water City
	16:00-21:00	Mind Sports Carnival	Plaza in front of the Competition Building
Wednesday, 14 October	9:30-11:10	Bridge Competition Round 13	Dongchang Hall, Competition Building
	9:00	Chess Competition Round 7	Phoenix Hall, Competition Building
	11:25-13:05	Bridge Competition Round 14	Dongchang Hall, Competition Building
	14:30-16:10	Bridge Competition Round 15	Dongchang Hall, Competition Building
	14:30	Blitz Games (Total: 9 Rounds)	Phoenix Hall, Competition Building
	16:25-18:05	Bridge Competition Round 16	Dongchang Hall, Competition Building
	18:00-20:00	Cultural Activity	visit the Ancient Water City
	20:00-22:00	Additional Pairs Tournament	Dongchang Hall, Competition Building
	16:00-21:00	Mind Sports Carnival	Plaza in front of the Competition Building
Thursday, 15 October	9:30-11:10	Bridge Competition Round 17	Dongchang Hall, Competition Building
	9:00	Chess Competition Round 8	Phoenix Hall, Competition Building
	11:25-13:05	Bridge Competition Round 18	Dongchang Hall, Competition Building
	16:00-21:00	Cultural Activity	visit the Linqing Dongwanyuan Garden
	16:00-21:00	Mind Sports Carnival	Plaza in front of the Competition Building
Friday, 16 October	9:30-11:10	Bridge Competition Round 19	Dongchang Hall, Competition Building
	09:00	Chess Competition Round 9	Phoenix Hall, Competition Building
	11:25-13:05	Bridge Competition Round 20	Dongchang Hall, Competition Building
	14:30-16:10	Bridge Competition Round 21	Dongchang Hall, Competition Building
	17:20-18:40	Awarding Ceremonies	Lecture Hall, Conference Center
	19:00-20:00	Closing Ceremony
	16:00-21:00	Mind Sports Carnival	Plaza in front of the Competition Building
Saturday, 17 October	before 14:00	Departure

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3. Transportation

3.1 Arrival & Departure

All delegations shall confirm their itinerary details with the Organizing Committee one day prior to departure. Should there be any changes to the itinerary, please notify the Organizing Committee promptly. Please ensure smooth email communication to facilitate timely liaison on all potential itinerary adjustments.

All participating delegations shall promptly submit accurate information including means of arrival and return transportation, specific times, train/bus numbers, and stations via either the FISU GMS or email.

Based on the submitted itineraries, the Organizing Committee will provide pickup/drop-off services at official reception points and arrange dedicated shuttles for all official activities.

3.1.1 Official Points of Arrival

Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport, China and Liaocheng West High-Speed Rail Station, China. The Organizing Committee provides dedicated arrival services only at the official points of arrival.

Delegations arriving at non-official points of entry will not receive pickup, ground transfer, or other arrival/departure services, and shall be responsible for all transportation and customs clearance procedures from the point of entry to the event venue.

• Arrival Airport: Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport
• Airport Website: https://www.jnairport.com/
• Arrival High-Speed Rail Station: Liaocheng West Station
• Railway Website: https://www.12306.cn/en/index.html

3.1.2 Pick-up Service

Dedicated staff will be stationed at the designated exit, and official welcome signs will be displayed there. Upon arrival, please watch for and identify the on-site staff. The welcome sign is shown in the figure below.

Shuttle vehicles will be arranged according to the number of arriving delegation members. Unless necessary, the vehicles will not make any intermediate stops and will proceed directly to the Arcadia International Hot Spring Hotel.

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4. On-Site Accreditation Process

Upon arrival at the Arcadia International Hot Spring Hotel, delegation members are requested to proceed to the designated service desk to complete on-site accreditation.

Please bring valid identification documents for all participating members. The information will be verified on-site, and accreditation cards will then be issued.

The accreditation cards are mandatory for admission to the event premises such as sports venues, restaurants, accommodations, transportation and all other services. Participants shall carry them at all times.

Foreign visitors are requested to activate the cross-border payment function of their VISA cards in advance.

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5. Competition

5.1 Chess

5.1.1 Events and format

Competition events

• 1. Men’s/Women’s Classical Games
  The mixed team classification will be determined based on the results of the individual events.
• 2. Men’s/Women’s Blitz Games
  The mixed team classification will be determined based on the results of the individual events.

Competition format

• All events will be conducted over 9 rounds using the Swiss System.
• Classical Games: 60 minutes per competitor, with a 30-second increment per move.
• Blitz Games: 3 minutes per competitor, with a 2-second increment per move.

5.1.2 Competition Regulations

5.1.2.1 The competition will be conducted in accordance with the FIDE Handbook 2025.

5.1.2.2 The draw procedure will be conducted during the Technical Meeting. Sofia Rules are applied. No draw offer before move 30.

5.1.2.3 Default time:
Classical Games: 15 minutes
Blitz Games: No default time

5.1.2.4 Tie-Break System:

The order of players that finish with the same number of points shall be determined by application of the following tie-breaking procedures in sequence, proceeding from (a) to (b) to (c) to (d) to (e) the extent required:

• (a) Results of direct encounters between the tied players (applies only if all tied players have played each other),
• (b) Buchholz Cut 1,
• (c) Buchholz,
• (d) The greater number of games played with black,
• (e) The Greater number of wins.

5.1.2.5 Team Ranking

The team’s total score will be calculated based on the valid individual scores of competitors from the same team. The calculation will be as follows:

If the number of male competitors is equal to or exceeds 1.5 times the number of female competitors, the team classification shall be determined by the sum of the placings of the two best placed male competitors and the best placed female competitor.

If the number of female competitors is equal to or exceeds 1.5 times the number of male competitors, the team classification shall be determined by the sum of the placings of the two best placed female competitors and the best placed male competitor.

In the event of a tie between teams, the following criteria will be applied in order:

• Sum of the individual points of the competitors
• Total number of wins.

Only teams with three or more competitors, including at least one man and one woman, will be considered for team classification.

5.1.2.6 Pairings.

The pairing is determined according to the international ELO rating system. Players without an ELO rating will be positioned at the bottom of the starting list in alphabetical order.

The pairings for all rounds will be generated using the most recent version of the Swiss Chess Software, “Swiss Manager”. This facilitates the straightforward publication of results and pairings on the website “chess-results”.

5.1.3 Competition Venue of Chess

5.2 Bridge

5.2.1 Bridge Regulations

5.2.1.1 Competition Events

EVENTS	OPEN	MEN’s	MEN’s	MIXED
Teams	√	√	√	√
Pairs	√

5.2.1.2 Competition System

Competition format

The competition shall adopt a single round-robin system. Standings for each category shall be calculated separately based on the round-robin results.

• A. All participating teams shall be eligible for the Open Teams ranking.
• B. Teams fielding only male players throughout all matches shall be eligible for the Men’s Teams ranking.
• C. Teams fielding only female players throughout all matches shall be eligible for the Women’s Teams ranking.
• D. Teams fielding at least one male player and one female player in every round, with mixed partnerships (male-female pairs) accounting for no less than 50% of all total partnerships played throughout the competition, shall be eligible for the Mixed Teams ranking.
• E. A partnership shall be eligible for the Butler Pairs ranking provided that the number of boards they have played together accounts for no less than 60% of the total boards played by either individual player, and no less than 50% of the total boards of the entire competition.

Draw

The draw shall be conducted by team leaders prior to the competition. Teams from the same delegation shall be scheduled to play against each other in priority. If the total number of participating teams is odd, one team shall receive a bye each round, and the team with a bye shall be awarded 12 Victory Points for that round.

Application of Rules

The bridge competition shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of the FISU Technical Handbook and the latest competition rules and relevant regulations of the World Bridge Federation (WBF). In case of dispute in the interpretation of the rules, the English text shall be regarded as authoritative.

5.2.2 Competition Venue of Bridge

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6. Protest

• The International Control, Supervision and Arbitration Committee (CISCA) shall be responsible for receiving and handling non-technical disputes.
• Protests must be submitted in writing to the CISCA by the Head of Delegation or Deputy Head of Delegation. The Organizing Committee shall immediately forward all protests to the CISCA Chair.
• EUR 50 deposit shall be required for each protest. The deposit shall be refunded if the protest is upheld.

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7. Catering & Accommodation

In addition to the basic accommodation and catering services provided by the Organizing Committee, any additional hotel expenses must be paid by card on-site and cannot be charged to the room account.

7.1 Hotel Services

The complimentary laundry service applies only to regular washable garments. Dry cleaning, special care, and express services are not included. Unused laundry allowances cannot be carried forward or exchanged for cash.

7.2 Check-in and Check-out

Check-in:

Check in is available from 7:00. Upon arrival at the Arcadia International Hot Spring Hotel, delegation members are requested to proceed to the designated service desk to complete on-site Check-in after complete financial verification.

Check-out:

• Check-out before 14:00: no additional fee will be charged.
• Check-out from 14:00 to 18:00: a half-day accommodation fee will be charged.
• Check-out after 18:00: a full day’s accommodation fee will be charged.

7.3 Accommodation

The Organizing Committee will follow the principle of room allocation by delegation with final arrangements subject to actual room availability. Due to variations in room type configurations, the room types assigned to each delegation may differ. Your understanding is greatly appreciated.

During the event, in addition to providing accommodation for all delegations, spare vacant guest rooms within the residential area will be available for public sale, meaning non-event guests will also be staying at the hotel compound. The Organizing Committee will set up a 24-hour police standby room (Rooms 3251 and 3253) in the residential area and deploy police officers to carry out unscheduled patrols so as to safeguard the safety of the residential environment. All delegations may rest assured of their accommodation.

7.4 Catering Services

The Comprehensive Service Center on the first floor of the hotel offers a wide range of dining options. Detailed information on the dining areas is provided below.

Dining Hours:

• Breakfast: 7:00–10:00
• Lunch: 12:00–15:00
• Dinner: 19:00–22:00

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8. Ceremonies

8.1 Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremony will be held from 19:30 to 21:30 on October 11 at Liaocheng Gymnasium. Transportation will be arranged by the Organising Committee and proceed to the Opening Ceremony venue before 18:50.

• All delegations must wear the official delegation uniform.
• Delegations must not bring any university or national flags, or any other ethnic, cultural, or religious symbols or items.
• For security reasons, bags and sports equipment are strictly prohibited. Only phones and cameras are allowed.
• All delegation members are required to attend the Opening Ceremony and participate in the march pass.
• Each delegation will be led into the venue by a delegation name placard, while the country/region name placard will be carried by volunteers.
• Each delegation will assign a flag bearer to carry on its flag during the march pass.

Opening Ceremony Programme

• March pass of participating delegations. Each delegation will be preceded by a placard displaying its name and accompanied by its flag
• Playing of the National Anthem of the People’s Republic of China and Salute to the National Flag
• The FISU CISCA Chair gives a speech and invites the highest authority of Liaocheng declare the FISU World University Championship Mind Sport open.
• The highest authority of Liaocheng declares the FISU World University Championship Mind Sport open.
• Playing of the FISU Anthem and Salute to the FISU Flag
• Oaths
• Cultural Performance

8.2 Award Ceremony

The Award Ceremony is scheduled to take place on the afternoon of October 16, following the completion of all scheduled competitions, at the Lecture Hall on the first floor of the Conference Center, Arcadia International Hot Spring Hotel. The Organizing Committee will notify all delegations of the exact time in advance, based on the competition schedule.

All participants attending the Award Ceremony must face the flags during the flag-raising ceremony and the playing of the FISU Anthem.

Medalists must wear the official delegation uniform. Medalists must not bring any university or national flags, or any other ethnic, cultural, or religious symbols or items, onto the podium. Medalists must remove their hats and sunglasses during the ceremony. Bags and sports equipment are strictly prohibited. Only phones and cameras are allowed.

Following the Award Ceremony, medalists must follow the instructions of the media representatives and cooperate with media interviews.

8.3 Closing Ceremony

The Closing Ceremony will be held at 19:00-20:00 on 16 October, in the Lecture Hall on the first floor of the Conference Center of the Arcadia International Hot Spring Hotel.

• Officially accredited delegation members are required to take part in the Closing Ceremony.
• Marching athletes and delegation officials must wear their official delegation uniform.
• All participants must not bring any university or national flags, or any other ethnic, cultural, or religious symbols or items. Bags and sports equipment are strictly prohibited. Only phones and cameras are allowed.

Closing Ceremony Programme

• Delegation Flags Procession
• Playing of the National Anthem of the People’s Republic of China and Salute to the National Flag
• Closing Speech by the Representative of the Organizing Committee
• Closing Speech by the FISU CISCA Chair
• Playing of the FISU Anthem and Salute to the FISU Flag
• Return of the FISU Flag to FISU by the Organizing Committee
• Cultural Programme

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9. Cultural Activities

All food, beverages, and purchases at the cultural activities are at the participants’ own expense.

Register at the Event Service Center (formerly the Accreditation Center of the Comprehensive Service Center).

9.1 Mind Sports Carnival

Venue: Front plaza of the Competition Building, Arcadia International Hot Spring Hotel, Liaocheng

Date & Time: October 10–16, 16:00–21:00

Activities:

• ICH exhibitions and performances, including hands-on experiences of traditional crafts and opportunities to taste local specialties from Linqing;
• Exhibition and sales of chess books, chess equipment, and event-themed cultural and creative products;
• Interactive mind sports activities and experiences;
• Interactive activities presented by sponsors.

9.2 Liaocheng Glow Night Run

Location: Arcadia International Hot Spring Hotel – The Ancient Water City

Date & Time: October 10, 19:00–20:30

Registration: Participants may register in advance at the Reception Center of the Arcadia International Hot Spring Hotel. Registration closes at 18:00 on October 9.

Capacity and Format:

A total of 900 participants will take part in the 5 km Glow Night Run, with 450 participants in the first group and 450 in the second group.

Route:

Start at the Arcadia International Hot Spring Hotel → Lakeside Ring Road of The Ancient Water City → South Gate of The Ancient Water City → Central Square of Guangyue Tower → West Gate of The Ancient Water City → Lakeside Ring Road of The Ancient Water City → Finish at the Arcadia International Hot Spring Hotel.

9.3 Visit the Ancient Water City

Venue: The Ancient Water City

Date & Time: October 13–14, 18:00–20:00

Registration: Participants may make a reservation at the Reception Center of the Arcadia International Hot Spring Hotel in advance. On-site registration is also available.

Activities: Participants will receive a Mind Sports-themed Ancient City Activity Passport. Complete interactive activities at five designated locations to collect stamps. Participants who collect all five stamps can redeem commemorative event gifts and cultural and creative souvenirs from the Ancient Water City.

The five designated locations are:

Haiyuan Pavilion, Central and Eastern European Countries Specialty Products Pavilion / Zhuangyuan Tower, Central Square of Guangyue Tower, Liaocheng Gifts, Former Site of Liaocheng County Office.

Shuttle Service: Shuttle buses will operate on a continuous loop between the hotel and the Ancient Water City from 18:00 to 20:00 on October 13 and 14.

9.4 Linqing Dongwanyuan Food Carnival

Venue: Dongwanyuan, Linqing City

Date & Time: October 15, 16:00–21:00

Registration: Participants may make a reservation at the Reception Center of the Arcadia International Hot Spring Hotel. Registration closes at 18:00 on October 14.

Activities: Participants can explore the gardens, landscapes, and traditional architecture of Dongwanyuan and experience the historical character of Linqing during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

The activity will feature live performances, including a light-and-drum show, large-scale interactive parades, and iron-flower performances.

Participants can also visit the Canal Intangible Cultural Heritage and Cultural Creative Store to explore traditional crafts such as gourd carving, paper-cutting, and sugar painting, and experience selected ICH crafts firsthand.

A variety of local specialties will also be available, offering an opportunity to experience the distinctive food culture of Linqing.

Shuttle Service:

• Departure: 16:00 on October 15 from the Arcadia International Hot Spring Hotel
• Return: 19:30 from the exit of Dongwanyuan
• Estimated arrival at the hotel: 21:00

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10. Medical Services & Anti-Doping

10.1 Medical Services

The Organizing Committee will set up a Medical Office at the official accommodation area for delegations (Rooms 2201 and 2203), staffed by one doctor and one nurse, to provide 24-hour medical coverage.

Two medical stations will be set up at the main competition venues for Chess and Bridge, respectively, each staffed by one doctor and one nurse.

An ambulance equipped with professional emergency medical equipment and staffed by qualified medical personnel will be stationed outside the Competition Building and remain on standby 24 hours a day.

Designated Hospital: Liaocheng People’s Hospital

10.2 Anti-Doping

The Championship will strictly comply with the anti-doping regulations of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International University Sports Federation (FISU). Selected athletes will be subject to anti-doping testing.

All athletes must cooperate with the anti-doping testing procedures. Once notified, the athletes must stay within the sight of chaperon at all times. No toilet, no shower shall be allowed before doping test finished. No outside food shall be allowed before testing to avoid food contamination.

The Doping Control Station and a Doping Control Waiting Room are located on the third floor of the Comprehensive Service Building.

In the event of violation, the relevant results will be disqualified and disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with the applicable regulations.

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11. Contact Information

• OC Contact Person: Angel Kang  +86 193 0343 5213
• 24H English-speaking Medical Coordinator: Zhang Ying  +86 134 1010 4579
• Official Email: fisu2026_ms_lia@163.com
• Registration Link: https://gms-fisu.net/#/login
• Official Website: https://mindsports2026.fisu.net/
• WhatsApp: Angel Kang  +86 158 7144 4790

Note: Only one delegation leader from each delegation may scan the QR code to join the WhatsApp.