By moving to the Salzlager, the tournament not only gains a new, striking venue, but also the opportunity to expand its capacity. Up to 450 active participants are expected at the Sparkassen Chess Trophy 2027. In doing so, the organiser, Initiative Pro Schach e.V., is sending a clear signal regarding the further development of Dortmund as a centre for chess.
Chess meets the Garden Show: a festival with something extra to offer
Being part of the 2027 International Garden Exhibition opens up new opportunities for the Chess Days. All active tournament participants will automatically be granted access to the IGA site for the duration of their participation. This makes the Sparkassen Chess Trophy a special experience that goes beyond the chessboard, combining sport, socialising and cultural experiences.
About the IGA 2027 in the Ruhr region
Top trainers strongly recommend regular study of well-explained classical games to improve your understanding of chess in the long term. 33 modern classics are explained in details on this video course.Under the theme ‘How do we want to live tomorrow?’, the 2027 International Garden Exhibition will present innovative solutions to future challenges in green infrastructure and urban development in the Ruhr region on an international stage and across three levels. The ‘GARDENS OF THE FUTURE’ section also provides the backdrop for presentations on horticulture, landscaping and plant production. The IGA Gardens of the Future are currently being created in Dortmund, Duisburg, Gelsenkirchen, Lünen and the Emscherland region.
Other local authorities in the Ruhr region are showcasing the region’s green treasures in the ‘OUR GARDENS’ section. The ‘MY GARDEN’ section gives residents the opportunity to get involved through private initiatives and collaborations. The International Garden Exhibition, featuring around 6,000 events, will take place from 23 April to 17 October 2027 – for the first time not in a single city, but across the entire metropolitan region. A total of around 3.1 million visitors are expected.
"Chess captivates people all over the world – across generations and national borders. We are therefore all the more delighted to welcome the International Dortmund Chess Days to the IGA 2027. Whether you’re sitting at the board yourself or cheering on the grandmasters as they play, this festival brings the fascination of chess to life for many people. With the salt warehouse as the venue and the blossoming ‘Garden of the Future’ right on the doorstep, chess fans can look forward to an extraordinary setting for their sport. This will be a wonderful addition to the Chess Days and to our IGA,” says Hanspeter Faas, spokesperson for the management board of IGA 2027 Ruhr."
From grandmasters to ambitious amateurs: chess for everyone
The concept of the International Dortmund Chess Days as a chess festival will remain central to the event in 2027. International grandmasters, top German players and ambitious club players will come together with chess enthusiasts from Germany and abroad. The blend of top-class competitive chess and an open, cross-generational field of participants is what gives the event its special character.
In this insightful video course, Grandmaster David Navara shares practical advice on when to calculate deeply in a position — and just as importantly, when not to.
In this insightful video course, Grandmaster David Navara shares practical advice on when to calculate deeply in a position — and just as importantly, when not to.
Free sample video: Introduction
Free sample video: Invisible moves
A key advantage of the new venue is that all open tournaments can be held simultaneously in the shared playing hall. This not only creates ideal organisational conditions but also emphasises the communal festival experience. Spectators can look forward to the popular live commentary on the top matches taking place on site again in 2027.
A special partnership for a special year in chess
Christian Jochmann, Managing Director of the organising body, Pro Schach e.V., is very much looking forward to the collaboration:
"Our partnership with the IGA 2027 is an exceptional opportunity for us. We are bringing the fascination of chess to a special venue, whilst at the same time opening up our festival to even more people.This is a major coup for our event and for Dortmund as a sporting hub. We look forward to working with our partners to organise a chess festival that will reach far beyond the chess community."
Further information on the 54th International Dortmund Chess Days will be published around the turn of the year. The specific tournament formats, the official announcements and the registration options are due to be announced then. Chess enthusiasts from Germany and abroad can therefore now mark the date in their diaries and look forward to further details about the chess festival as part of the IGA 2027.
Further information will be available at www.sparkassen-chess-trophy.de.
The Neo-London System offers many new, creative possibilities to present your opponents with serious problems in the early stages of the game.
