With World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen opting not to feature in the upcoming 88th Tata Steel Chess Tournament, world champion D Gukesh will be the biggest name in the mega event, which is one of the most coveted
in the calendar. The event will be played from January 16 to Sunday, February 1, in Wijk aan Zee.
Dubbed the ‘Wimbledon of Chess’, the tournament will show its youngest-ever lineup this year, with an average age of just 23.
The event features four of the world’s top 10 players and 10 from the top 30, reaffirming the Dutch village’s status as a global hub of chess excellence.
The tournament will feature 14 top chess stars, along with their FIDE ratings and world rankings as of October 1. Among the participants are Arjun Erigaisi, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, Anish Giri and Vincent Keymer.
The field also features Gukesh, Nodirbek Abdusattarov, Hans Niemann and Javokhir Sindarov, along with Vladimir Fedoseev, Aravindh Chithambaram, Jorden van Foreest, Matthias Blübaum, Thai Dai Van Nguyen and Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus.
The tournament maintains a brilliant average rating of 2725. The Challengers tournament lineup will be revealed next month.
Previous winners include Praggnanandhaa last year, Wei Yi in 2024, Giri in 2023, Carlsen in 2022 and van Foreest in 2021.
“I know how important this tournament can be for your career. It’s a chance to measure yourself against the absolute world elite and to develop as a player. I’m excited to shine once again in Wijk aan Zee,” Giri said.
The event provides a major boost to the Dutch village’s local community during the quiet winter month of January, drawing thousands of visitors and offering strong support to local businesses and the region.
Amateur players compete in parallel events alongside the main Grandmaster tournament, with many turning it into an annual holiday tradition and forming enduring friendships in the Dutch village.
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