FIDE World Senior Chess Championship 2026 Underway in Serbia
By Cameron W. · Tue, 03 Nov 2026
The FIDE World Senior Chess Championship 2026 has begun in Vrnjačka Banja, Serbia, with 385 players from 65 national federations competing in four sections.
The FIDE World Senior Chess Championship 2026 commenced in Vrnjačka Banja, Serbia, with an opening ceremony held in the hall of the Zepter Hotel.A total of 385 players from 65 national federations are participating in the event, including 44 Grandmasters and 8 Women Grandmasters.Championship OverviewThe championship is divided into two age groups – 50+ and 65+ – with Open and Women’s sections, all of which are 9-round Swiss tournaments with classical time control.The President of the Chess Federation of Serbia, Andrija Jorgić, expressed gratitude to FIDE and the Municipality of Vrnjačka Banja for their support, highlighting the significance of the event as a celebration of knowledge, experience, and love for the game of chess.FIDE Technical Delegate Gunnar Björnsson welcomed the participants on behalf of FIDE, wishing them success and noting the event's €50,000 prize fund and strong turnout of players from 65 countries.The President of the Municipality of Vrnjačka Banja, Boban Đurović, also addressed the attendees, emphasizing the municipality's pride in hosting the championship and the opportunity to provide top-level conditions for the competitors.The ceremony concluded with the ceremonial first move made by Đurović and Jorgić, followed by the official declaration of the competition's opening by Chief Arbiter Ashot Vardapetyan.