Nodirbek Abdusattorov emerged as the winner of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2026. After thirteen rounds of top-level chess in Wijk aan Zee, the Uzbek grandmaster claimed the Tata Steel Masters title on his fourth attempt.
The 88th edition of the tournament, often referred to as the “Wimbledon of chess”, was held from 16 January 16 to February 1 and once again brought together the world’s best players, emerging talents and hundreds of amateur chess players under one roof.
A thrilling final weekend
The battle for first place remained open until the very last round. Going into the final 13th round, no fewer than five players were still in contention for the Masters title: Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Javokhir Sindarov, Hans Niemann, Vincent Keymer and Jorden van Foreest.
Abdusattorov had come agonizingly close to winning the tournament in the previous three editions, each time staying among the leaders until the final weekend. In 2026, he finally converted that consistency into overall victory, adding his name to the tournament’s long list of champions.
Reaction from the tournament director
Tournament director Jeroen van den Berg praised the winner’s performance:
“What a great achievement by Nodirbek Abdusattorov. He played at a very high and stable level throughout the tournament. In recent years he was always very close, and now he has rightfully won the title. I congratulate him warmly and of course invite him to return next year to defend his crown in Wijk aan Zee.”
Andy Woodward wins the Challengers
In the Tata Steel Challengers, Andy Woodward emerged victorious after a closely contested tournament. With his win, Woodward earns an invitation to compete in the Tata Steel Masters 2027, continuing the tournament’s long-standing tradition of promotion from the Challengers group.
Vasyl Ivanchuk and Aydin Suleymanli both remained in the race for the Challengers title until the final round!
Global reach and new highlights
The Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2026 once again attracted a worldwide audience. Games from De Moriaan were followed live by hundreds of thousands of viewers each day, with peak viewing numbers reaching close to one million.
New this year was the Tata Steel Chess Rapid Tournament at Hotel Hoge Duin, adding an extra dimension to the event’s already extensive program. Alongside the Masters and Challengers, the tournament also featured numerous amateur tournaments, the Tata Steel Chess Festival for families and children, and live commentary at Café de Zon.
Looking ahead
After the final games concluded, the prize ceremony took place in De Moriaan, bringing the 88th edition of the tournament to a close.
The 89th edition of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament will be held from 15 to 31 January 2027 in Wijk aan Zee. Once again, world-class grandmasters, rising talents and amateur players will come together for two weeks of chess at the highest level.
Text and photos: tatasteelchess.com/
Official website: tatasteelchess.com/