Renewal of Public Commentary at Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2026

In 2026, the Tata Steel Chess Tournament will take an important step in renewing its public commentary. An idea that has been around for some time is now taking definitive shape.

Live broadcast commentary

Starting with Tata Steel Chess 2026, live broadcast commentary will take place in Café de Zon in Wijk aan Zee, in English and in the presence of an audience. What chess fans follow at home or on the go via their screens can now also be experienced live on-site. For regular visitors, this is a change, however this new setup better fits the current times and also offers logistical advantages.

Tournament Director Jeroen van den Berg: “We realize this is a significant change. Dutch public commentary in Wijk aan Zee – and previously Beverwijk – has been a permanent feature of our tournament for many years. We owe a great deal of gratitude to the Dutch commentators, all of whom have contributed to the current status of our tournament. Nevertheless, we are convinced that this step fits the digital era we live in. Although the language changes from Dutch to English, the essence remains the same: a place where chess enthusiasts come together to jointly experience the tournament.”

We are convinced that this step fits the digital era we live in

What will change?

• Dutch public commentary will be discontinued.
• Instead, there will be live English-language broadcast commentary in Café de Zon, provided by internationally renowned commentators.
• The audience is still welcome in Café de Zon. During breaks and before/after each round, analyst Tom Bottema will provide commentary in Dutch.

Commentators

These commentators have been internationally acclaimed and are well-known to the chess audience for over ten years.

Find more info about the live commentary via this link