Niemann’s Last-Minute Entry Turns Prague Masters Into True Super Tournament
This time last year GM Hans Niemann, the wild-haired bad-boy of chess, was something of a pariah in the game.
Struggling to get invites after being banned in 2024 from the influential Saint Louis Chess Club premises, and therefore all its tournaments, Niemann feared he was also being blacklisted by the big Western organisers. Word had got around, it seemed, that he was trouble.
Perhaps it was something to do with that business with GM Magnus Carlsen? There was also a hotel room that got smashed up—allegedly.
As a result, Niemann was starved of action. It got so bad he even found himself playing in Moscow at the Aeroflot Open, an event most top GMs wouldn't touch. Not unreasonably, Niemann wasn't pleased about it.
But that's not the case anymore.
During 2025 Niemann fought hard to get himself back on the invite list, even putting up his own money to lay on challenge matches which showed his relevance. He turned it around.
Now the 22-year-old with the dream of becoming the first U.S. World Champion since Bobby Fischer is reaping the rewards as he's getting top-level invite after invite. Niemann's also stormed up the FIDE rankings to number 21 in the world.
The start of 2026 has been a huge contrast to what came last year. Finally, he seem to be fully accepted again. In January, Niemann was welcomed to the prestigious Tata Steel Masters in the Netherlands, although a witness said he did have to climb a fence to get in.
Last weekend Niemann competed in the first FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship in Germany, where he finished fifth in a stacked field. Niemann has been everywhere. If only he could get an invite from Saint Louis, his redemption arc would be complete.
This week it was announced Niemann has been handed a dramatic late call-up to the Prague International Chess Festival. It's another reward for his work and his arrival will also instantly supercharge one of Europe’s fastest-rising elite tournaments.
The 2725-rated American replaces Prague-based GM Thai Dai Van Nguyen in the Masters section. It is disappointment for Nguyen, but it turns what was already a stacked lineup into a full-blown super-tournament.
Niemann said on X: "Honored to return to Prague. Really looking forward to playing such a strong event."
With World Champion GM Gukesh D and world number-four GM Vincent Keymer already confirmed, Niemann’s last-minute entry raises both the strength just days before the first move is played.
Simply put: Prague just got a lot more dangerous.
Late swap, instant upgrade
Nguyen’s withdrawal, for unknown reasons, created an unexpected vacancy, and organisers moved quickly to bring in Niemann. The 22-year-old is a gift to organisers; he's desperate to play, unpredictable and he's a player everyone wants to talk about. In short, he's box office.
It’s a significant upgrade in pure rating terms, pushing the tournament’s average comfortably past the 2700 mark
Prague Gets Bigger
The Prague Masters may not have the century-old history of some chess events, but it has risen fast.
Launched in 2019, the Prague International Chess Festival was designed to mirror the famous Tata Steel tournament format—combining a top-level Masters section with Challengers and open events to showcase both elite stars and rising talent.
It didn’t take long to attract big names.
Early editions featured world-class players including the GMs Ding Liren, Anish Giri and Sam Shankland, helping establish Prague as a serious stop on the global circuit.
In recent years, it’s become a launching pad for the next generation. Players like GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov and the Indian GM Aravindh Chithambaram have delivered breakthrough performances there, using Prague as a springboard to the world elite.
But there’s no doubt about one thing: this year is bigger.
What was already one of the strongest tournaments of early 2026 is now something more.
It's not just elite anymore.
It's a super-tournament.
This year's Prague Masters will take place in the Don Giovanni Hotel from February 25 to March 6.