The Serbia Open 2026 was officially declared open today at the Metropol Palace Hotel in Belgrade, marking the beginning of one of Europe’s most established and internationally diverse summer chess festivals.
Organized by the Chess Federation of Serbia under the patronage of the Ministry of Sports of the Republic of Serbia, this year’s edition has brought together around 550 players representing 38 national federations, ranging from world-class grandmasters and experienced professionals to ambitious young talents taking their first steps on the international stage.
Over the next ten days, Belgrade will once again become a meeting point for the global chess community, where players from every continent will compete, exchange ideas, and share a passion for the game that transcends borders, cultures, and generations.
The official opening ceremony was attended by numerous distinguished guests, including FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich; Minister of Sports of the Republic of Serbia Zoran Gajić; President of the Chess Federation of Serbia Andrija Jorgić; President of the Olympic Committee of Serbia Dejan Tomašević; Secretary General of the Olympic Committee of Serbia Dejan Bojović; Secretary General of the Sports Association of Serbia Goran Marinković; Provincial Secretary for Sports and Youth Dane Basta; Manager of the City of Belgrade Miroslav Čučković, as well as representatives of state institutions, sponsors, and partners.
Welcoming the participants, the President of the Serbian Chess Federation, Andrija Jorgić reflected on the remarkable growth of Serbia Open since its establishment and thanked everyone whose commitment has helped shape the tournament into one of the leading international opens in the region.
“This festival was created as a unique opportunity for talented young Serbian players to gain valuable experience by competing against strong international opponents. The fact that more than 20 medalists from the Serbian Chess Federation Youth Festival are participating in this tournament is clear evidence that we have achieved that objective.
For us at the Serbian Chess Federation, the months ahead are of exceptional importance. Our performances in the upcoming official team competitions will show where we stand in comparison with the strongest teams in Europe and the world. In just a few weeks, our junior national teams will travel to the Czech Republic for the European Youth Team Championship, and in mid-September, our national teams will proudly represent Serbia at the Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan,” said Andrija Jorgić
Speaking on behalf of the Olympic Committee of Serbia, Dejan Tomašević highlighted chess as a sport that embodies discipline, education, responsibility, and strategic thinking. He praised the organizers for building an event that strengthens Serbia’s reputation as a reliable host of major international competitions and wished all participants a successful tournament.
In his address, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich congratulated the Chess Federation of Serbia for the continued development of the tournament, noting that Serbia Open has become a respected fixture on the international chess calendar. He welcomed the participants from around the world and expressed his confidence that the tournament would once again be well remembered.
“FIDE has always regarded Serbia as a strong partner and a true supporter of chess. Not only has your country hosted many historic chess events, but in recent years you have also organised the inaugural Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities and the memorable match between two outstanding grandmasters, Hans Niemann and Ian Nepomniachtchi. On behalf of FIDE, I would like to thank Serbia for its continued support of chess and of our shared mission. Personally, I am deeply grateful for your friendship and cooperation, and I look forward to strengthening our partnership and bringing even more international chess events to Serbia in the years ahead,” said Arkady Dvorkovich.
As part of the FIDE President’s visit to Belgrade, he held a meeting with the key officials of the Ministry of Sports of the Republic of Serbia and the Serbian Chess Federation. The parties discussed the various avenues of mutual cooperation and the possible inclusion of chess into the program of Expo 2027 in Belgrade.
Concluding the ceremony, Minister of Sports Zoran Gajić reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting chess and recognized the role that events such as the Serbia Open play in promoting Serbia internationally while creating opportunities for future generations of players.
“I am especially pleased that this year’s edition is the most numerous in the history of the tournament and also the largest chess tournament in Europe this year. More than 550 chess players from 38 national federations have gathered in Belgrade to showcase their knowledge, skill, patience, and sportsmanship over the next ten days. This is the best confirmation that Serbia is recognized as a reliable host of major international sporting events.
Chess is much more than a game. It is a school of thinking, discipline, responsibility, and respect for one’s opponent. It teaches us that every move carries weight, that success comes through patience, knowledge, and persistence. These are precisely the values we wish to cultivate in younger generations and which sport, in all its forms, conveys to society,” said Zoran Gajić
With the official addresses concluded, Minister of Sports Zoran Gajić formally declared Serbia Open 2026 open. The ceremony was followed by the traditional ceremonial first moves on the top board of the Masters Tournament, officially launching nine days of world-class chess competition and welcoming the first games of this year’s festival.
The Opening Ceremony drew broad media interest, with coverage provided by leading national and international television broadcastersand online media platforms.
Their presence highlighted the increasing prominence of Serbia Open as an internationally recognized chess festival and an important fixture on the FIDE tournament calendar.
Competition continues until July 22, with live broadcasts of the games, daily reports, and complete results available through the tournament’s official communication channels.
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