World Senior Team Chess Championship 2026 gets underway in Durrës

The 2026 World Senior Team Chess Championship officially began on 19 April at the Grand Blue Fafa Resort in Durrës, Albania, on the Adriatic coast. Staged in a five-star venue, the event offers an atmosphere worthy of a world-class competition thanks to the quality of the playing hall and the comfort provided to the participants. Holding an important place on the FIDE calendar, the championship once again shows how high the level of competition remains in senior categories, while also serving as a major gathering point for masters from different generations.

This year, the 50+ section features 36 teams from 23 countries. The 65+ section, meanwhile, is the largest part of the event, with 54 teams representing 28 countries. Based on average rating, the leading teams in the 50+ group are USA 1, England 1, and Kazakhstan, with Italy, Iceland, and Alkaloid Chess Club also among the notable contenders. The presence of renowned grandmasters such as Michael Adams, Simen Agdestein, and Jaan Ehlvest further raises the sporting level of the competition. In the 65+ section, the rating favorites include Lasker SGK, England I, and Iceland, while Montenegro, the FIDE team, and France 1 are also considered strong candidates for the podium. The participation of legendary grandmasters like Artur Yusupov, John Nunn, and Sergey Janovsky underlines the prestige of this age category.

In accordance with FIDE regulations, the Open and Women’s competitions were merged because there were not enough registrations to hold separate women’s events. The opening ceremony was conducted by Chief Arbiter IA Mahdi Abdulrahim, who also introduced the dignitaries. Albanian Chess Federation President Erald Dervishi, European Chess Union President Zurab Azmaiparashvili, and FIDE Council Vice President Georgios Makropoulos each delivered brief welcome speeches and wished the players success. In events like this, the significance goes beyond results alone; the championship also helps carry chess culture across generations, making the senior team competition a living stage for the game’s classical heritage.

The first round has already been completed, and the pre-tournament favorites opened with convincing victories, as expected. In the 50+ section, USA I vs. Philidor Brothers (France) stood out among the featured pairings, while in the 65+ section, Lasker Schachstiftung GK vs. England 4 drew particular attention. Although the early results brought few surprises, team chess is often shaped in later rounds by squad depth, board-point balance, and strategic lineup decisions. The major gathering in Durrës stands out not only as a world championship, but also as a showcase of experience, resilience, and chess knowledge built over many decades.