The Isle of Man will once again host FIDE Grand Swiss 2027
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has announced that the Grand Swiss 2027, one of the most important qualifying events in the world championship cycle, will be held on the Isle of Man from May 10 to 25, 2027. A total of 170 players will compete across the Open and Women’s sections. One of the headline features of the event is its record $900,000 prize fund. Even more significantly, each section will offer two qualifying spots for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2028, making the Grand Swiss one of the key checkpoints on the road to the world title.
The Isle of Man is no ordinary host for this event; it holds a special place in the history of the Grand Swiss. The tournament was first staged there in 2019 and quickly established itself as one of the most prestigious elite Swiss-system events in chess. The 2023 edition was also held on the island. FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky underlined that this return is not only symbolic but institutionally significant as well, stressing that the long-term support of the Scheinberg family has been of enormous value to both players and chess fans. Sutovsky also noted that the continuation of this partnership in the coming years is highly encouraging for the stability of top-level chess events.
Isai Scheinberg, one of the key backers behind the event, said he was pleased to host the prestigious tournament once again. He explained that the partnership established with the current FIDE leadership since 2019 has continued to grow stronger, and that they intend to support not only the 2027 Grand Swiss on the Isle of Man but also the broader pathway leading to the FIDE Candidates 2028. This statement shows that the financial and organizational backing is not limited to a single event, but extends to the wider structure of the world championship cycle.
By its very nature, the Grand Swiss is a unique tournament because it brings together elite grandmasters and ambitious rising players in the same field. Thanks to the Swiss system, a large number of participants can face high-level opposition in a compact format, often producing surprise results and dramatic battles in the standings. Given the direct qualification spots for the Candidates, the 2027 edition is expected to become one of the most talked-about events of the season not only because of its prize fund, but also because of its impact on the world championship race. FIDE stated that the full details and official regulations for the tournament will be published by the end of April.