Nightmare Start For 'Wimbledon Of Chess' As Climate Activists Target Venue

Tournament organisers at the 2026 Tata Steel Chess Tournament endured a public relations nightmare over the weekend after climate activists disrupted the opening day of the prestigious event.

The start of play on Saturday was delayed by nearly an hour and a half after activists from Extinction Rebellion dumped more than two tonnes of coal outside the entrance to the playing hall.

They also chained themselves to the gates, and unfurled a banner reading “No Chess on a Dead Planet.”

Social media footage showed trucks unloading coal at the venue, leaving hundreds of players and spectators stranded outside as authorities assessed the situation.

According to one attendee, there was chaos outside and GM Hans Niemann was seen climbing over a fence to get in.

Posting on Reddit, the attendee said: "Before we could even get inside, access to the venue was blocked and everything became pretty chaotic. Players, spectators and staff were stuck outside, trying to figure out how to get in.

"I briefly spoke with Hans Niemann, who was clearly confused by the situation and found it strange that the police wouldn’t let him through. Eventually, he just climbed over a fence himself to get inside.

"Arjun Erigaisi, on the other hand, stayed surrounded by police and security and didn’t dare to climb over the fence. At some point, several security guards started helping kids who were participating in the amateur tournament by lifting them over the fences, so they could still play.

"Once inside, the contrast was surreal: people calmly setting up chess boards and games starting, while loud alarm sounds could still be heard from outside."

In a statement, tournament organisers said the delay was decided in consultation with local authorities to ensure the safety of players, staff and visitors.

While stressing their respect for the right to protest, the organisers appealed for the international sporting and cultural event to be allowed to proceed without disruption.

The protest once again put the spotlight on Tata Steel’s environmental record in the Netherlands, where the company’s Dutch subsidiaries are facing a lawsuit alleging health damage caused by emissions from their operations.

Tata Steel is one of the few big sponsors in chess. The tournament, which started in 1938 as an employee event for Dutch steel producer Koninklijke Hoogovens, adopted its current name in 2011.

The tournament boasts a rich history. Over the decades, legendary players such as GMs Viswanathan Anand, Garry Kasparov, Anatoly Karpov, and Magnus Carlsen—who won multiple titles here—played chess in De Moriaan, as well as illustrious names from earlier times, including Max Euwe, Mikhail Botvinnik, Mikhail Tal, and Boris Spassky in Beverwijk.

However, should Tata Steel ever pull out, the tournament would surely come crashing down and it would be a catastrophe for the game.

This is not the first time Extinction Rebellion have targeted the tournament. The group did so two years ago by blocking roads leading to the venue.

Tata Steel CEO Hans van den Berg was present at the venue and addressed the players before the first round finally got underway. Apologising for the delay, van den Berg said the Netherlands strongly respected the right to demonstrate, but expressed regret over the disruption caused to the tournament.

When the chess eventually began—90 minutes later than scheduled—the drama spilled onto the board.

FIDE World Cup winner GM Javokhir Sindarov pulled off a remarkable 78-move escape to draw against reigning World Champion GM Gukesh D, bringing a gripping first day of the Masters event to a close.

Several top players appeared unsettled by the delayed start. GMs Vladimir Fedoseev, Anish Giri and Praggnanandhaa R all blundered early in their games, suffering defeats at the hands of GMs Niemann, Vincent Keymer and Arjun Erigaisi respectively.

The Challengers section began at a slower pace but still produced four decisive games. Among the standout results were GM Bibisara Assaubayeva’s victory over GM Andy Woodward and a notable win by 14-year-old IM Lu Miaoyi against GM Max Warmerdam.

Despite the chaotic opening, the 88th edition of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament eventually settled into rhythm.

However, the protest, delayed schedules and high-profile upsets ensured that the first day will be remembered for reasons extending far beyond the moves played on the board.