Press release
The grenke Chess Festival will return to Karlsruhe in 2026. For the first time, the grenke Freestyle Chess Open will be a qualifying tournament for the FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship.
From April 2 to 6, 2026 (Easter), the Karlsruhe Congress Centre will once again become the meeting place for the international chess scene. The Schachzentrum Baden-Baden e.V. (Baden-Baden Chess Centre) is organizing the two main tournaments, which are set to attract around 3,000 participants, together with its partners, grenke AG and Freestyle Chess.
This video course features the ins-and-outs of the possible setups Black can choose. You’ll learn the key concepts and strategies needed to add this fantastic opening to your repertoire. An easy-to-learn and yet venomous weapon.Among the participants are multiple world champion Magnus Carlsen and Germany's number one Vincent Keymer. Carlsen achieved a historic result in Karlsruhe last year, winning all nine games.
The strongest chess player of this era in Karlsruhe, Magnus Carlsen | Photo: Dariusz Gorzinski
The grenke Chess Festival 2026 will once again comprise two tournaments of equal standing: the grenke Freestyle Chess Open and the grenke Chess Open for classical chess. Both competitions will be held in parallel, at one venue and under identical conditions. Players may switch from the grenke Chess Open to the grenke Freestyle Chess Open until the fifth round – a key feature of the Karlsruhe format.
The grenke Freestyle Chess Open is the first open tournament to award qualifying places for the World Championship in Freestyle Chess. The winner of the Open A qualifies for the 2027 FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship. In addition, the three highest-ranked women in the Open A will receive places for the 2026 FIDE Freestyle Chess Women's World Championship.
Both Opens will be played with classical time control over nine rounds using the Swiss system.
The grenke Freestyle Chess Open has a total prize fund of €215,000, of which €205,250 is allocated in the Open A. The winner will receive €60,000 and qualify for the World Championship.
Each round begins with a newly drawn starting position, announced immediately before play begins.
"Karlsruhe has been synonymous with open chess on an extraordinary scale for years", says tournament director Sven Noppes. "In 2026, we will combine this openness with a clear sporting perspective for the first time: World Championship qualification in an open tournament".
"This step is possible thanks to the special structure of the festival", says Jan Henric Buettner, CEO of Freestyle Chess. "Karlsruhe brings breadth, excellence, and sporting consistency together in one place".
Instead of forcing you to memorise endless lines, Raja focuses on clear plans, typical ideas, and attacking motifs that you can apply in your own games without delay. A short, focused, and practical repertoire.
Grandmaster Harshit Raja, India’s 69th GM, has created a practical and powerful 1.e4 repertoire - perfect for players who want to play aggressively without drowning in opening theory. Whether you’re playing online or over-the-board, this course gives you solid attacking weapons that are easy to learn, fun to play, and difficult for opponents to face.
Free sample video: Introduction
Free sample video: Scandinavian Defence
Jan Henric Buettner
Christian Bossert, Chairman of the Baden-Baden Chess Center, adds: "Without grenke's long-term commitment, an open tournament of this magnitude would be inconceivable. In 2026, this will be reflected in the prize fund, the number of participants, and the new sporting significance".
With over 3,000 registrations, the grenke Chess Festival has established itself as the largest open chess festival in the world. In 2026, a new dimension will be added to its size: World Championship qualification in an open format.
Registration is now open on the tournament website www.grenkechessopen.de. All further information on the schedule, tournament format, and prize money is available there.
Contact:
Schachzentrum Baden-Baden e. V.
Email: td@grenkechessopen.de
Web: www.grenkechessopen.de
Let our authors show you how Carlsen tailored his openings to be able to outplay his opponents strategically in the middlegame or to obtain an enduring advantage into the endgame.
