Participants announced for Tata Steel Challengers 2026

Today, the participants for the Tata Steel Challengers 2026 have been announced. This chess tournament is the second tier of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament. The winner earns a spot in the prestigious Masters tournament in 2027. The 14 participants come from all over the world and represent a mix of established grandmasters and promising talents.

Jeroen van den Berg, Tournament Director of Tata Steel Chess Tournament: “The Challengers field is once again a wonderful mix of experience and young talent. What’s special this year is that four women will compete for the Challengers title. We are also proud to welcome players such as Vasyl Ivanchuk (56 years old), a living legend and former Masters winner in 1996, alongside rising stars like Faustino Oro (12 years old) and Andy Woodward (15 years old). And of course, it’s fantastic that Eline Roebers, one of the Netherlands’ greatest talents, is back. This promises to be a spectacular tournament.”

Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2026 

The Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2026 will take place from January 16 to February 1, 2026, in the Dutch coastal town of Wijk aan Zee. During this 88th edition, tradition, talent, and top-level sport come together in an event that attracts thousands of visitors and gives the region a boost. In addition to the grandmasters, hundreds of amateurs will participate in parallel tournaments.

Challengers 2026 Participants

The 14 Challengers competing in this 88th edition – listed with their official FIDE ratings as of November 1, 2026, year of birth, and nationality – are:

Average rating: 2544