Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2026 Officially Underway!

Wijk aan Zee, 17 January 2026 – In a completely packed De Moriaan community hall, the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2026 officially got underway this afternoon. The start of the tournament was delayed due to actions by protesters. The 88th edition of the world-famous chess event was opened by Hans van den Berg, CEO of Tata Steel Nederland, together with tournament director Jeroen van den Berg.

The Tata Steel Chess Tournament – known worldwide as the “Wimbledon of Chess” – annually attracts the world’s best chess grandmasters, emerging talents, hundreds of amateurs, and thousands of visitors to Wijk aan Zee. The tournament has a rich history dating back to 1938 and has grown from an internal company competition (formerly Hoogovens) into an international top-level sporting event of global stature. Over the decades, legendary players such as Viswanathan Anand, Garry Kasparov, Anatoly Karpov and Magnus Carlsen, who won multiple titles here, have competed in De Moriaan. In earlier years, illustrious names including Max Euwe, Mikhail Botvinnik, Mikhail Tal and Boris Spassky played in Beverwijk.

Battle Begins

This year once again, 28 top players are taking part: 14 in the Masters group and 14 in the Challengers group. Immediately after the ceremonial gong, all participating international masters and grandmasters took their seats behind the boards for their first game of the tournament, officially igniting the battle for the prestigious titles. A remarkable feature of the Masters field is its average age of just 23 years: never before has the tournament featured such a young lineup. In the Challengers group, no fewer than four women are competing for the title, including the Netherlands’ own Eline Roebers, who made history earlier this year by becoming the first Dutch woman to win the European Blitz Chess Championship.

Important Role of the Local Community

During the opening ceremony, CEO Hans van den Berg emphasized the special character of the tournament: “The Tata Steel Chess Tournament brings together creativity, strategic thinking and innovation – values that are central both to chess and to our organization.” He also referred to the important role of the local community and the unique atmosphere that the tournament creates in Wijk aan Zee year after year.

Extensive Program Full of Tradition

The event distinguishes itself through the combination of grandmasters and amateurs competing under one roof, a tradition that symbolizes connection and accessibility within the chess world. In addition to the games in De Moriaan, the tournament once again offers an extensive program for the local community, including the annual Tata Steel Chess Festival for families and children.

The games can be followed live in De Moriaan and worldwide online. More information can be found at www.tatasteelchess.com.