Norway Chess was launched in 2013 with the aim of bringing together the world's best chess players. Already in its first edition, Norway Chess stood out for its professionalism. The games were played at unique and fascinating venues in the Stavanger region, including the gardens of Flor & Fjære, the University of Stavanger, Utstein Monastery and Stavanger Concert Hall. Thanks to television coverage and strong sponsor support, Norway Chess quickly set new standards for the presentation of elite chess worldwide.
In 2019, the Norwegian Chess Federation introduced a new time control of two hours per player without increment, plus ten seconds per move from move 40. This adjustment brought a faster and more dynamic rhythm to the classical games, increasing tension and spectator interest. The Armageddon playoff was also introduced that same year (explained below).
In 2024, Norway Chess introduced Norway Chess Women - the world's first super-tournament for women with equal conditions to the one featured in the open section. The parallel tournament takes place at the same venue and offers an identical playing format, the same number of participants and the same prize money as the open. This sent a clear signal, as it marked an important step towards greater equality in professional chess.
Norway Chess 2026 brings together an impressive selection of the world’s strongest chess players for another notable edition. For the first time, the event is being hosted in the capital, Oslo, where the two tournaments, Norway Chess and Norway Chess Women, will take place.
Norway Chess features world champion Gukesh Dommaraju alongside defending champion, former world champion and world number-one Magnus Carlsen, Germany's number one and Norway Chess debutant Vincent Keymer (who just won the Super Chess Classic in Romania), as well as elite GMs Alireza Firouzja, Wesley So and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu.
In Norway Chess Women, world champion Ju Wenjun, Zhu Jiner, Humpy Koneru, Bibisara Assaubayeva, defending champion Anna Muzychuk and Divya Deshmukh will take part.
The winners of the 2025 edition, local hero Magnus Carlsen and Ukrainian GM Anna Muzychuk | Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza
The rounds of both tournaments will take place from 25 May to 5 June, each starting at 17:00.
Friday 29 May and Wednesday 3 June are rest days.
Both tournaments will be played in the same format and with the same prize fund: each tournament is a double round-robin with six players, meaning that every participant faces every other player twice. First place receives 700,000 Norwegian kroner (around €65,000), second place 350,000 NOK, third place 200,000 NOK, fourth place 170,000 NOK, fifth place 150,000 NOK and sixth place 120,000 NOK.
Time control
Classical game: each player has 120 minutes, with an increment of 10 seconds added from move 41.
Armageddon: the game begins within 20 minutes of the end of the classical game. The player with the white pieces in the classical game also has white in the Armageddon game. White has 10 minutes and Black has 7 minutes, with both players receiving one second per move from move 41. If the Armageddon game is also drawn, Black wins.
Scoring
If two players are tied on points at the end of the tournament, a two-game match with a time control of 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move will be played. If this match is drawn, an Armageddon game will be played. White has 5 minutes and Black 4 minutes, with an increment of 3 seconds per move.
If more than two players share first place, a double round-robin tournament will be held with the following tiebreak criteria: A: Sonneborn-Berger. B: Most wins. C: Most wins with Black. D: Drawing of lots. Tiebreaks for the main tournament: A: Sonneborn-Berger. B: Most wins. C: Most wins with Black.
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