World Chess Weekly: Flurry Of Tournament Line-Ups Revealed As Tata Steel Hots Up
Chess fans have a weekend to look forward to as one of the most watchable events of the year reaches its climax—but Tata Steel Chess in the Netherlands is not the only event vying for attention.
Round 11 of the 2026 Tata Steel Chess Masters kicks off on Friday after the rest day with GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov still ahead on 6.5/10, with a pack of three behind the Uzbek on 6/10.
The chronically underestimated German GM Matthias Bluebaum is among them.
Bluebaum wowed onlookers with a punchy 25-move Round 9 win on Wednesday over Dutch number-one GM Anish Giri. In doing so, the 28-year-old crossed the important 2700 mark in the live ratings.
His win was something to behold.
After the game, Bluebaum said: "I wouldn't have even dreamt of this, to be honest."
Bluebaum and Giri will both compete in the 2026 FIDE Candidates tournament starting in March after securing qualification last year.
Bluebaum, despite his stellar 2025, was discounted as a contender this week by GM Ian Nepomniachtchi. You can read the two-time Candidates winner's thoughts here.
Abdusattorov also had a strong 2025, ending the year as London Chess Classic champion, although he missed out on Candidates qualification. Right now he's the clear favourite to start 2026 by winning the Tata Steel Masters.
You can follow the tournament will full commentary on the official Tata Steel Chess site here.
The Grand Chess Tour
While Wijk aan Zee heads into its final weekend, the tournament calendar for the rest of the year has been taking shape with a flurry of announcements.
The U.S.-based Grand Chess Tour (GCT), the project backed by the American multi-millionaire chess enthusiast Rex Sinquefield, revealed the full list of participants for 2026.
Reigning World Champion GM Gukesh D, who is currently playing at Tata Steel, and 2025 Tour winner GM Fabiano Caruana head the confirmed line-up competing for a $2 million prize pot.
They are followed by GMs Vincent Keymer, Giri, Alireza Firouzja, Praggnanandhaa R, Wesley So, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and Levon Aronian.
These nine full tour participants will compete in both classical tournaments and two of three rapid and blitz events.
Two more wild cards will follow, with GM Magnus Carlsen likely to be one of them. However, he is unlikely to compete in the classical events.
It is worth noting that Keymer, another German who had a brilliant 2025 rising to four in the world rankings, is now getting invites to the top table of chess. This will be his first Grand Chess Tour.
Superbet Rapid & Blitz Poland, sponsored by the Superbet Foundation, will kick off the GCT on May 3 in Warsaw. Ten players will battle for $175,000 in prizes. The event will feature five full-tour players and five wild card players.
The tour will conclude with the GCT Finals in August at the Saint Louis Chess Club.
"The GCT has always represented the highest level of professional chess," said Garry Kasparov, legendary World Champion and GCT co-founder.
"What distinguishes the GCT is not only the strength of the field, but the integrity, tradition and global vision behind it. This season's line-up reflects exactly why the Tour remains the ultimate stage for elite players and fans of the game."
Norway and Prague
Norway Chess has been drip-dripping its player announcements for the latest edition taking place at the end of May in the tournament's new home of Oslo.
This week the organisers revealed that Indian GM Divya Deshmukh will make her debut in the third Norway Chess Women in 2026.
Deshmukh really hit the big-time in 2025 and is set for an even bigger 2026. Last year she won the FIDE Women’s World Cup, earning the Grandmaster title and qualification for the Women’s Candidates 2026. At just 19 years old, she became the fourth Indian woman in history to achieve the GM title.
"I’m incredibly excited to be competing in Norway Chess," she said. "It’s my first time in the country, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what Norway is like.
"I can’t wait to experience this unique format and compete in such a prestigious tournament. To all the fans rooting for me, thank you for the love and encouragement, see you all there!"
Launched in 2024, Norway Chess Women is the world’s first fully equal super tournament for women in chess, staged in parallel with the main Norway Chess event.
The tournament features the same format, number of players, playing conditions and prize fund as the open event, setting a new benchmark for gender equality in professional chess.
Organisers have already revealed reigning Norway Chess Women champion GM Anna Muzychuk will return in 2026 to defend her title.
Carlsen, Norway's GOAT of chess, is the star attraction confirmed in the open event, as always. Carlsen has taken part in every edition and has won seven of them. He will be joined by Praggnanandhaa.
The announcements seem to be coming player-by-player, so we should know more next week.
The other big event coming up is the Prague International Chess Festival, which has announced an impressive line-up for this year's edition which will take place in the Don Giovanni Hotel from February 25 to March 6.
Keymer, Abdusattorov and Gukesh take part alongside GMs Parham Maghsoodloo, Jorden van Foreest, Aravindh Chithambaram, Nodirbek Yakubboev, David Anton Guijarro, Thai Dai Van Nguyen and the always-popular David Navara.
So this week has seen a huge information dump for the coming months. However, we do have the end of Tata Steel Chess to enjoy. Round 11, here-we-come!