Tata Steel Chess Tournament
The Tata Steel Chess Tournament is one of the most prestigious events on the international chess calendar. Every January, the ‘Wimbledon of chess’ attracts the world’s very best chess grandmasters and up-and-coming top talents to the Netherlands. Together with thousands of amateur players, spectators and online visitors from all over the world, they ensure a wonderful chess festival in Wijk aan Zee every year. And they have been doing so since 1938!
Wijk aan Zee
The local community is very important to Tata Steel. Every year in January, during the usually quiet winter months, the chess tournament draws thousands of chess enthusiasts to the coastal village of Wijk aan Zee. It is a boost for the local economy, besides the cosy chess atmosphere that takes over the village. District (‘Wijk’) has become the nickname for the tournament over the years and truly a household name in the international chess world.
History
The chess tournament was first organised in 1938. It all started as an employee tournament of the steel company Koninklijke Hoogovens. At the company's site in Beverwijk, Dutchmen Philip Bakker and Jilling van Dijk crowned themselves the first (joint) winners.
In 1968, the tournament moved to Wijk aan Zee, where it was initially held at Hotel Kennemerduin and since 1979 at the De Mondriaan Community Centre. Since 2010, the tournament has been named after Tata Steel. Before then, the tournament was known as the Hoogoven Tournament (1938 – 1999) and the Corus Tournament (2000 – 2010).
Top chess players
Over decades of tradition and history, the Tata Steel Chess Tournament has attracted the biggest names in chess history. Spectators saw the rise and dominance of players such as Norway’s Magnus Carlsen, India’s Viswanathan Anand and Russia’s Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov.
With eight titles to his name, Magnus Carlsen holds the record for the most tournament victories. And after Jan Timman in 1985, with Jorden van Foreest winning in 2021 and Anish Giri winning in 2023, there have also been recent Dutch successes.
Amateurs
The combination of grandmasters and hundreds of amateurs playing at the same time in the same location is one of the unique features of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament. This combination symbolises the human connection that the tournament traditionally creates and is praised by chess grandmasters and amateurs alike.
Simultaneous Chess Exhibition for Young People
Since 2015, the Tata – Kids of Steel® Simultaneous Chess Exhibition for Young People has been a regular part of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament. Local children are challenged in their strategic thinking skills and play a simultaneous chess match against well-known chess professionals.
Would you like to participate? Watch the video here.
ChessFestival
The Chess Festival takes place during the second weekend of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament. A 2-day family festival with activities for young and old, where you can enjoy chess and all the wonderful things Wijk aan Zee has to offer! Watch the Chess Festival 2024 aftermovie here.
EN - Community Involvement- L2 Tata - Kids of Steel ®
Tata - Kids of Steel ® events are fun activities for children aged 8 to 13.
EN - Community Involvement - L1
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