The 2026 European Individual Chess Championship gets underway in Katowice
The Polish city of Katowice has become the stage for one of the most prestigious open events on the European calendar. The 2026 European Individual Chess Championship began with a total of 501 players, setting a new participation record in the history of the event. Competitors from 43 European federations will battle over the next two weeks in an 11-round marathon for a €100,000 prize fund as well as crucial qualification places for the next FIDE World Cup.
The opening ceremony, held shortly before the first round, once again underlined the sporting and institutional importance of the championship. Among those attending were European Chess Union President Zurab Azmaiparashvili, Katowice Mayor Marcin Krupa, Polish Chess Federation President Radoslaw Jedynak, ECU Vice Presidents Gunnar Bjornsson and Alojzije Jankovic, FIDE Secretary General Lukasz Turlej, President of the Silesian Chess Association Michal Pazdziora, and MOKATE President Adam Mokrysz. Following the ECU anthem and the national anthem of host country Poland, local and international officials highlighted the value of the tournament both for the city and for European chess as a whole.
Mayor Marcin Krupa expressed his pleasure at welcoming players and guests to Poland, noting that Katowice was proud to host one of the year’s most important European tournaments. ECU President Zurab Azmaiparashvili thanked everyone involved in staging the event, especially the Polish Chess Federation and the local organizing team in Silesia, stressing that major events of this kind make European chess stronger and more united. In his message to the players, he placed special emphasis on the spirit of fair play, the quality of the struggle, and the creative achievements that will be produced over the board.
The European Individual Championship is widely regarded as one of the toughest competitions on the continent, because it offers not only medals but also pathways to elite-level events. Its 11-round Swiss-system format tests both the depth of preparation and the psychological resilience required in large open fields. This year’s edition in Katowice brings together a broad mix of participants, from established grandmasters to rising young talents. That combination reflects both the breadth of the European chess scene and the level of competition, while also suggesting that the standings may shift dramatically from round to round in the days ahead.