Celebrating chess: The 52. International Dortmund Chess Days 2025

by ChessBase
6/27/2025 – From 2 to 10 August, the focus in Dortmund will not be on football, but on chess. As part of the 52nd Dortmund Chess Days in the Alte Schmiede, the Sparkassen Chess Trophy will be held, featuring European champion Matthias Blübaum, among others, and an international women's tournament. | Photo: Dinara Wagner (left) and Elisabeth Pähtz (right)
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ChessMood partners with the Sparkassen Chess Trophy 2025

Additional prizes for the top 3 in the B Open

The International Dortmund Chess Days are delighted to welcome a new partner in 2025: the international online chess platform ChessMood will be the official sponsor of the "Game of the Day". This award goes to the best game of the round in the open tournaments every day, with the winner receiving a three-month premium membership to ChessMood worth $297.

The selection is made daily by a panel of experts led by commentator GM Artur Jussupow and IM Patrick Zelbel. Participants from the A and B Open can submit their games in the evening to compete for this special honour, which is then awarded the following day on stage at the Alte Schmiede cultural centre.

In addition, the Sparkassen Chess Trophy 2025 is creating new incentives for up-and-coming players in the B Open. The top three finishers in the B Open will receive an exclusive invitation to participate free of charge in the A Open of the 2026 International Dortmund Chess Days. This measure underscores the organiser's commitment to promoting talented players and enabling them to advance to higher performance classes.

The Sparkassen Chess Trophy 2025 will take place from 2 to 10 August at the Alte Schmiede cultural centre in Dortmund. With prize money totalling €20,000 and a diverse field of participants, the tournament promises exciting games and a chess festival for all players. From beginners to European champion Matthias Blübaum in the A Open, it will be an attractive event for all levels of play.

Registration is still open, and the organiser, Initiative Pro Schach e.V., expects a full house with 200 participants in each of the two open tournaments. In addition, the International Women's Tournament will take place in Dortmund with the participation of the two best German female chess players, Elisabeth Pähtz and Dinara Wagner.

Further information and registration at: https://sparkassen-chess-trophy.de/

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