Tallinn Chess Festival to bring 16 international grandmasters to TalTech

TALLINN – International-level chess will be on display at the Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) assembly hall on Friday and Saturday, as the Tallinn Chess Festival’s two tournaments at the university are set to host over a hundred players from nearly 20 countries, including 16 international grandmasters.

The TalTech Rapid Tournament / Nomme Open will start on Friday at 4 p.m. in the assembly hall of TalTech's main building, followed by the 4th TalTech Blitz Tournament on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Notable players coming to Tallinn include Estonian chess legend Jaan Ehlvest, multiple-time German champion Daniel Fridman, one of Lithuania's top players Tomas Laurusas, Latvian grandmaster Arturs Neikšāns, and Polish chess legend Michał Krasenkow. Among the women, the most prominent participant is multiple-time US champion Anna Zatonskih. Additionally, three international grandmasters each will be arriving from Sweden and Slovakia.

According to the tournament's chief organizer, Urmas Randma, it is a good sign that many foreign players are returning to the Tallinn tournaments. "It seems they like Tallinn, Estonia, and our tournaments. For an organizer, this is a very good sign," Randma said.

Young players can compete in the same tournament as grandmasters

Alongside the international grandmasters, Estonian chess players and young talents are also invited to compete. Randma stated that one of the festival's goals is to give young players a chance to engage directly with top-level competitors.

"As an organizer, I especially encourage young chess enthusiasts to take an active part, because when else would they get the chance to play in the same tournament as grandmasters and other strong competitors?" Randma said.

In his view, chess is regaining popularity in Estonia. This is evident from the growing interest and participation in tournaments among both youths and adults.

TalTech's Vice-Rector for Entrepreneurship, Erik Puura, also sees a resurgence in chess popularity internationally. He notes that computers have not diminished interest in the game; instead, they enable fans to follow top tournaments in real time and analyze matches. The series "The Queen's Gambit" and popular chess content creators have also helped bring the game to a wider audience.

According to Puura, chess is also excellent training for leadership and decision-making. The game teaches players to formulate a plan, think several moves ahead, react to changing circumstances, and make timely decisions.

TalTech has an active chess club, led by Igor Krupenski and Nikita Rychagov, and the university is hosting international tournaments for the second consecutive year.

Randma considers the collaboration with TalTech crucial for Estonian chess. "In this distinguished university, Estonian chess has found a kindred spirit and a partner," he said. "I believe TalTech could definitely become one of Europe's leading universities for chess."

According to Randma, the most important aspect of the partnership is the shared desire to host high-level chess events. TalTech provides its main building's assembly hall for the tournaments, with both university staff and chess club members contributing to the organization.

Puura believes chess is a great fit for the environment of a technical university. "A new renaissance for chess has begun at TalTech as well," he said. "I am genuinely pleased that, as vice-rector, along with Rector Tiit Land, I have been able to support this endeavor for the second consecutive year."

The Tallinn Chess Festival will run from August 20 to 23 and will feature four international tournaments.

The festival kicks off on August 20 at 3 p.m. with an invitational handicap blitz tournament in the courtyard of the C’est La Vie cafe.

On August 21 at 4 p.m., the TalTech Rapid Tournament / Nomme Open will begin in the assembly hall of Tallinn University of Technology.

On August 22 at 11 a.m., the 4th TalTech Blitz Tournament will be held in the same location.

The festival's grand finale will take place on August 23 in the gaming hall on the third floor of T1 Venue.