Tata Steel & Beyond: How A Tournament In A Little Coastal Town Kicked Off Chess In 2026

Описание: The chess season begins where history lives — in Wijk aan Zee. In this episode, we return to the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, often called the “Wimbledon of chess.” But 2026 was unlike any of its previous 87 editions. For the first time in decades, the tournament featured the youngest lineup in its history. With Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, and Fabiano Caruana absent, the average age dropped to just 21 and the oldest player in the field was Anish Giri at 31.

There was no clear favorite. Yet nearly all of the world’s strongest players were present: Vincent Keymer, Praggnanandhaa, Abdusattorov, Gukesh, and other rising stars. The timing made everything even more intense — the tournament took place just ahead of the Candidates, the Olympiad, and the World Championship match.

We explore the growing rivalry between India and Uzbekistan, a clash of two new chess superpowers, and speak with the tournament director about how this historic lineup came together. We also dive into the unique atmosphere of Wijk aan Zee, where for two weeks a quiet seaside village becomes the true capital of the chess world — cafés, bars, and living rooms filled with games, debates, and broadcasts.

We meet key figures of the chess industry, including the editor of New In Chess, reflecting on how chess media has evolved over the last 40 years — from print to platforms, from journals to a chess player’s social network.

As the Candidates race heats up, we begin a new series of portraits with Anish Giri, for whom Wijk aan Zee is home ground. He reflects on his season, his qualification path, and his chances in the Candidates Tournament. Twelve rounds. Two weeks. Constant tension. Every day mattered.

In the end, Nodirbek Abdusattorov finally claimed the title after years of coming close, while the results reshaped the global rankings. For the first time in years, no Indian player remained in the 2750+ elite club, as Uzbekistan’s stars surged forward — setting the stage for the Olympiad, the Candidates, and the next chapter of world chess.


Media Attribution
Photos
Hoogoven Schaaktoernooi 1946. Winnaar Albéric O'Kelly de Galway. Rechts vooraan Gösta Stoltz by Fotopersbureau De Boer
Hoogovens-schaaktoernooi te Wijk aan Zee 1973, eerste ronde, M. Tal. by Anefo / Mieremet, R.
Paul van der Sterren (r) tegen Anatoli Karpov by Rob Bogaerts / Anefo
Jan Timman tegen Garry Kasparov op Hoogovens Schaaktoernooi 1999 by Fotopersbureau De Boer
Magnus Carlsen and Anish Giri shake hands to agree to a draw in round 1 of Tata Steel Chess 2020 in Wijk aan Zee by Marien Raat CC BY-SA 4.0
Anish Giri, chess grandmaster. Wijk aan Zee by Stefan64 CC BY-SA 3.0
Anish Giri, chess grandmaster by Stefan64 CC BY-SA 3.0
Anish Giri, chess grandmaster from the Netherlands, 2017 by Stefan64 CC BY-SA 3.0
GM Veselin Topalov by Wolfgang Jekel CC BY 2.0
Veselin Topalov 'at work' on the Corus Chess Tournament in Wijk aan Zee/Nederlands, January 2008 by Dages CC BY-SA 3.0
Hoogoven Schaaktoernooi, opening hoofdklasse 1948 by Fotopersbureau De Boer
Norwegian chess player Magnus Carlsen by Fotopersbureau De Boer
Sipke Ernst versus Carlsen, CCT, Wijk aan Zee [Corus Chess Tournament] by Fotoburo De Boer
Anand (blancas) vs. Builes (negras) by Oscar Javier García Baudet CC BY 3.0
Magnus Carlsen, Warsaw 2005 by Paweł Suwarski, Poland
Krantenartikel Hoogtij van het Kennemer Schaakleven, 1942
Hoogoven Schaaktoernooi Schaken, links winnaar O'Kelly de Galway, rechts Gösta Stolz 1946 by Fotopersbureau De Boer
Schakers Dr. Euwe , Kottnauer en O'Kelly by Bram Wisman / Anefo
Viswanathan Anand, chess grandmaster from India. Corus chess tournament, Wijk aan Zee, 2010 by Stefan64 CC BY-SA 3.0
Chess Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, No. 1 rated in the world, in play in round seven of the Tata Steel tournament in Wijk aan Zee, The Netherlands. By Frans Peeters CC BY-SA 2.0
Viktor Korchnoi & Viswanathan Anand, Hoogovens Chess Tournament 1990 by Fotoburo De Boer
De laatste ronde van het Hoogoven-schaaktoernooi, medewinnaar Anand (India) in actie by Rob Bogaerts / Anefo
Wijk aan Zee, Donation by Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie (NIMH, Netherlands Institute of Military History) 2018. CC BY-SA 4.0
Viswanathan Anand, chess grandmaster from India. Corus chess tournament, Wijk aan Zee, 2010 by Stefan64. CC BY-SA 3.0
From beauty to brains, Magnus Carlsen, the recently crowned World Chess Champion, will play 20 different games against 20 different players simultaneously, by Intel Free Press (cropped) CC BY-SA 2.0
Erdogmus Yagiz /Michal Walusza/FIDE
Sindarov Javokhir /Michal Walusza/FIDE
Woodward Andy /Michal Walusza/FIDE
Arjun Erigaisi & Nodirbek Abdusattorov /Anna Shtourman/FIDE
Vassily Ivanchuk , by Gennadiy Titkov, CC BY-SA 3.0