Two Classics Of The Chess Calendar Unveil Line-Ups—And Hans Niemann Finally Gets An Invite

They are two of the best-loved fixtures in the chess calendar that carry bucket-loads of prestige and history, and this week they've been busy announcing line-ups.

The XTX Markets London Chess Classic and the Tata Steel Masters, the "Wimbledon of chess", are back. And so is "bad boy of chess" GM Hans Niemann.

For Tata, a return was already a lock-in for January. It is an institution with big-money backers. The London Chess Classic, however, has seen several big venue changes down the years and is on a slightly less secure footing. So this is great news.

The Classic remains the UK's premier chess event, and only remaining tournament that has true international class. It's not quite as top-level as it was in the days when GM Magnus Carlsen and co were regulars, but it's still strong.

Being so late in the year, the Classic's Open tournament—which takes place alongside the invitational—has the added bonus of being one of only a few opportunities left to grind out FIDE Circuit points.

The 2025 edition will take place at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, London, between November 26 and December 5. So far, eight of the ten grandmasters have been announced for the Elite Group with the other names to follow soon.

GM Gawain Maroroa Jones, the champion of the 2024 XTX Markets London Chess Classic, will be back to defend his Elite Group title.

Jones, who lost his wife WIM Sue Maroroa two years ago in tragic circumstances, was a hugely popular winner a year later. He was captured celebrating with his children afterwards in one of the most enduring chess images of 2024.

Jones is up against Ukraine's world number 59 GM Pavel Eljanov, American GM Sam Shankland, the fast-rising Greek GM Nikolas Theodorou and the record-breaking world's youngest grandmaster GM Abhimanyu Mishra.

The home contingent includes GM Luke McShane, known as the world's strongest amateur GM, former Russian champion turned England team regular GM Nikita Vitiugov, and the English legend and nine-time British champion GM Michael Adams.

Two more names are due to be announced in the coming weeks, with rumours of GM Anish Giri being on the roster.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the line-up for January's 2026 Tata Steel Chess Masters in Wijk aan Zee, the Netherlands, was also unveiled.

The names are a treat for chess fans, and promise a truly brilliant tournament. But one name sticks out: Niemann.

Since being accused of cheating by Carlsen in 2022—an accusation Niemann strongly denied—Niemann has been battling hard to clear his name. His defamation lawsuit against Carlsen was settled out of court, with rumours of a large pay-out, but Niemann felt he was blacklisted by tournament organizers. Opportunities to play in elite-level tournaments were indeed limited. Mud stuck, until now.

Niemann, who has risen up the rankings to world number 17 mostly playing opens and funding his own matches, said his invite to Tata Steel was the first he's received for three years. On X, he expressed his gratitude.

One less surprising name is Giri, the Dutch number-one and 2023 champion. Giri is in imperious form having won the FIDE Grand Swiss in September and booked his place in the 2026 FIDE Candidates tournament.

Reigning World Champion GM Gukesh D, who is finishing the year strongly, will also be in town. As always, his presence will take a lot of the focus.

The 19-year-old Indian nearly claimed the title last January but lost in a playoff to fellow countryman and friend GM Praggnanandhaa R. GM Arjun Erigaisi also joins the familiar Indian contingent who now must be considered amongst the world's best.

Another player on a bit of streak is the German talent GM Vincent Keymer, who currently sits at world number-four in the live list. He will play alongside compatriot GM Matthias Bluebaum, who finished second at the Grand Swiss and is also going to the Candidates.

Other names to look out for are 14-year-old Turkish prodigy GM Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, GMs Nodirbek Abdusattorov, GM Javokhir Sindarov, and making his Wijk debut GM Thai Dai Van Nguyen. GMs Jorden van Foreest, Aravindh Chithambaram and GM Vladimir Fedoseev, the fiery Russian who now represents Slovenia, complete the list.

It really is a fascinating line-up.