Tata Steel Chess Tournament
The Tata Steel Chess Tournament is an annual chess tournament held in January in Wijk aan Zee, the Netherlands.[1] It was called the Hoogovens Tournament from its creation in 1938 until the sponsor Koninklijke Hoogovens merged with British Steel to form the Corus Group in 1999, after which the tournament was renamed the Corus Chess Tournament. Corus Group was taken over by the Tata Group and became Tata Steel Europe in 2007,[2] with the tournament changing to its current name in 2011. It has also been referred to as "Wijk aan Zee" since the venue change from the town of Beverwijk to the town of Wijk aan Zee in 1968. Despite the name changes, the series is numbered sequentially from its Hoogovens beginnings; for example, the 2025 event was referred to as the 87th Tata Steel Chess Tournament.[3][4]
Top grandmasters compete in the tournament, but regular club players are welcome to play in the lower groups.[1] The Masters group pits fourteen of the world's best players against each other in a round-robin tournament, and has sometimes been described as the "Wimbledon of Chess".[5][6] Since 1938, there has been a long list of very strong winners; of the fifteen undisputed World Chess Champions since the first tournament in 1938, only five – Alexander Alekhine, Vasily Smyslov, Bobby Fischer, Ding Liren and Gukesh Dommaraju – have not won it. In 2001, nine of the top ten players in the world participated.[1]
Magnus Carlsen holds the record for most wins at the tournament, with eight. Viswanathan Anand is the only other player to have won the event five or more times, with five titles to his name. R Praggnanandhaa is the defending champion after defeating Gukesh in the tiebreaks in 2025.
Until recently, players ending on the same score shared the title. The first tie-break was held in 2018, with Magnus Carlsen defeating Anish Giri to clinch the title.[6] As of the 2025 edition, if two or more players lead with the same score at the end of the round-robin, they all take part in the tiebreaks to determine the sole winner. The time control of the tiebreaks is blitz, and then sudden death.[a][7]
Tournament history
Hoogovens Beverwijk
The early tournaments were very small, starting with groups of four in 1938, and entry restricted to Dutch players. The first four tournaments continued this way, until 1942, when it was expanded to six players, and in 1943 to eight players. No tournament was held in 1945 due to World War II. The first international tournament was held in 1946, with the field expanded to ten, and invitations to Alberic O'Kelly de Galway (Belgium) and Gösta Stoltz (Sweden) along with a Dutch contingent of eight.[1]
The 1946 tournament was one of the first European international chess tournaments after World War II. Food shortages were still a problem in Europe, so the post-tournament banquet featured pea soup, "inexpensive fare of the common people". In subsequent years pea soup has been served as the first course of the concluding banquet, a tradition continued when the tournament was moved from Beverwijk to Wijk aan Zee.[8]
Normal people have to see Naples before they die..., but a chess grandmaster has to win the Wijk aan Zee tournament first of all.
The tournament field was increased to twelve in 1953, and an international women's tournament was also held. In 1954, the tournament field was returned to ten players, but the strength of the competitions increased. The field was greatly enlarged to 18 in 1963, and although it reduced to 16 in 1964, the event had become the strongest international chess tournament in the world.[9]
As the tournament grew in stature, it began to offer lower groups such as a B-group (sometimes called "Challengers" in contrast to group-A or "Masters"), and occasionally a C-group. There also began a tradition to operate a year on year policy of inviting the winner of the B-group to the A-group.[1][10]
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The winners of the top group were:[10][11]
Winners 1938-1967 # Year Winner(s) Country Score % 1 1938 Jilling Van Dijk 
Netherlands
2½/3 83.3 Philip Bakker Netherlands
2 1939 Nicolaas Cortlever Netherlands
3/3 100.0 3 1940 Max Euwe Netherlands
3/3 100.0 4 1941 Arthur Wijnans Netherlands
2½/3 83.3 5 1942 Max Euwe Netherlands
4½/5 90.0 6 1943 Arnold van den Hoek Netherlands
5½/7 78.6 7 1944 Theo van Scheltinga Netherlands
5/7 71.4 – 1945 No competition[b] 8 1946 Alberic O'Kelly de Galway .svg.png)
Belgium
7/9 77.8 9 1947 Theo van Scheltinga Netherlands
7½/9 83.3 10 1948 Lodewijk Prins Netherlands
6½/9 72.2 11 1949 Savielly Tartakower 
France
6½/9 72.2 12 1950 Jan Hein Donner Netherlands
7/9 77.8 13 1951 Hermann Pilnik 
Argentina
6½/9 72.2 14 1952 Max Euwe Netherlands
7½/9 83.3 15 1953 Nicolas Rossolimo France
9/11 81.8 16 1954 Hans Bouwmeester Netherlands
6/9 66.7 Vasja Pirc .svg.png)
SFR Yugoslavia
17 1955 Borislav Milić SFR Yugoslavia
6½/9 72.2 18 1956 Gideon Ståhlberg 
Sweden
6½/9 72.2 19 1957 Aleksandar Matanović SFR Yugoslavia
6½/9 72.2 20 1958 Max Euwe Netherlands
5½/9 61.1 Jan Hein Donner Netherlands
21 1959 Friðrik Ólafsson 
Iceland
7½/9 83.3 22 1960 Bent Larsen 
Denmark
6½/9 72.2 Tigran Petrosian 
Soviet Union
23 1961 Bent Larsen Denmark
7½/9 83.3 Borislav Ivkov SFR Yugoslavia
24 1962 Petar Trifunović SFR Yugoslavia
6/9 66.7 25 1963 Jan Hein Donner Netherlands
12/17 70.6 26 1964 Paul Keres Soviet Union
11½/15 76.6 Iivo Nei Soviet Union
27 1965 Lajos Portisch 
Hungary
10½/15 70.0 Efim Geller Soviet Union
28 1966 Lev Polugaevsky Soviet Union
11½/15 76.6 29 1967 Boris Spassky Soviet Union
11/15 73.3
Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee
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The tournament was moved to the Dutch seaside town Wijk aan Zee in 1968.[12] Starting from 1982, the tournament mostly settled to its present number of 14 players. The winners of the top group were:[10][11]
Winners 1968-1999 # Year Winner(s) Country Score % 30 1968 Viktor Korchnoi Soviet Union
12/15 80.0 31 1969 Mikhail Botvinnik Soviet Union
10½/15 70.0 Efim Geller Soviet Union
32 1970 Mark Taimanov Soviet Union
12/15 80.0 33 1971 Viktor Korchnoi Soviet Union
10/15 66.7 34 1972 Lajos Portisch Hungary
10½/15 70.0 35 1973 Mikhail Tal Soviet Union
10½/15 70.0 36 1974 Walter Browne 
United States
11/15 73.3 37 1975 Lajos Portisch Hungary
10½/15 70.0 38 1976 Ljubomir Ljubojević SFR Yugoslavia
7½/11 77.8 Friðrik Ólafsson Iceland
39 1977 Gennadi Sosonko Netherlands
8/11 72.7 Efim Geller Soviet Union
40 1978 Lajos Portisch Hungary
8/11 72.7 41 1979 Lev Polugaevsky Soviet Union
7½/11 68.2 42 1980 Walter Browne United States
10/13 76.9 Yasser Seirawan United States
43 1981 Gennadi Sosonko Netherlands
8/12 66.7 Jan Timman Netherlands
44 1982 John Nunn 
United Kingdom
8½/13 65.4 Yuri Balashov Soviet Union
45 1983 Ulf Andersson Sweden
9/13 69.2 46 1984 Alexander Beliavsky Soviet Union
10/13 76.9 Viktor Korchnoi .svg.png)
Switzerland
47 1985 Jan Timman Netherlands
9/13 69.2 48 1986 Nigel Short United Kingdom
9½/13 73.1 49 1987 Nigel Short United Kingdom
9½/13 73.1 Viktor Korchnoi Switzerland
50 1988 Anatoly Karpov Soviet Union
9/13 69.2 51 1989 Viswanathan Anand 
India
7½/13 57.7 Gyula Sax Hungary
Zoltán Ribli Hungary
Predrag Nikolić SFR Yugoslavia
52 1990 John Nunn United Kingdom
8/13 61.5 53 1991 John Nunn United Kingdom
8½/13 65.4 54 1992 Valery Salov .svg.png)
Russia
8½/13 65.4 Boris Gelfand .svg.png)
Belarus
55 1993 Anatoly Karpov Russia
2½/4[c] 56 1994 Predrag Nikolić .svg.png)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
7/9 77.8 57 1995 Alexey Dreev 
Russia
2½/4[c] 58 1996 Vasyl Ivanchuk 
Ukraine
9/13 69.2 59 1997 Valery Salov Russia
8½/13 65.4 60 1998 Viswanathan Anand India
8½/13 65.4 Vladimir Kramnik Russia
61 1999 Garry Kasparov Russia
10/13 76.9
Corus tournament
From 2000, the formal name for the tournament was changed to the "Corus Chess Tournament".[12] The winners of the A-group were:[10][11]
Winners 2000-2010 # Year Winner(s) Country Score % 62 2000 Garry Kasparov Russia
9½/13 73.1 63 2001 Garry Kasparov Russia
9/13 69.2 64 2002 Evgeny Bareev Russia
9/13 69.2 65 2003 Viswanathan Anand India
8½/13 65.4 66 2004 Viswanathan Anand India
8½/13 65.4 67 2005 Peter Leko Hungary
8½/13 65.4 68 2006 Viswanathan Anand India
9/13 69.2 Veselin Topalov 
Bulgaria
69 2007 Levon Aronian 
Armenia
8½/13 65.4 Teimour Radjabov 
Azerbaijan
Veselin Topalov Bulgaria
70 2008 Levon Aronian Armenia
8/13 61.5 Magnus Carlsen 
Norway
71 2009 Sergey Karjakin Russia
8/13 61.5 72 2010 Magnus Carlsen Norway
8½/13 65.4
Tata Steel tournament
From 2011, the formal name changed to the "Tata Steel Chess Tournament".[12] The winners of the Masters section were:[10][11]
Winners 2011-present # Year Winner Country Score % 73 2011 Hikaru Nakamura United States
9/13 69.2 74 2012 Levon Aronian Armenia
9/13 69.2 75 2013 Magnus Carlsen Norway
10/13 76.9 76 2014 Levon Aronian Armenia
8/11 72.7 77 2015 Magnus Carlsen Norway
9/13 69.2 78 2016 Magnus Carlsen Norway
9/13 69.2 79 2017 Wesley So United States
9/13 69.2 80 2018 Magnus Carlsen Norway
9/13 69.2 81 2019 Magnus Carlsen Norway
9/13 69.2 82 2020 Fabiano Caruana United States
10/13 76.9 83 2021 Jorden van Foreest Netherlands
8½/13 65.4 84 2022 Magnus Carlsen Norway
9½/13 73.1 85 2023 Anish Giri Netherlands
8½/13 65.4 86 2024 Wei Yi 
China
8½/13 65.4 87 2025 R Praggnanandhaa India
8½/13 65.4
Multiple winners
The following players have won the tournament more than once; years where they shared the title are bolded.
| Player | Country | Wins | Tournaments Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magnus Carlsen | Norway
|
8 (1 shared) | 2008, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2022 |
| Viswanathan Anand | India
|
5 (3 shared) | 1989, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2006 |
| Max Euwe | Netherlands
|
4 (1 shared) | 1940, 1942, 1952, 1958 |
| Levon Aronian | Armenia
|
4 (2 shared) | 2007, 2008, 2012, 2014 |
| Victor Korchnoi | Soviet Union Switzerland
|
4 (2 shared) | 1968, 1971, 1984, 1987 |
| Lajos Portisch | Hungary
|
4 (1 shared) | 1965, 1972, 1975, 1978 |
| Jan Hein Donner | Netherlands
|
3 (1 shared) | 1950, 1958, 1963 |
| Efim Geller | Soviet Union
|
3 (3 shared) | 1965, 1969, 1977 |
| Garry Kasparov | Russia
|
3 | 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| John Nunn | United Kingdom
|
3 (1 shared) | 1982, 1990, 1991 |
| Walter Browne | United States
|
2 (1 shared) | 1974, 1980 |
| Anatoly Karpov | Soviet Union Russia
|
2 | 1988, 1993 |
| Bent Larsen | Denmark
|
2 (2 shared) | 1960, 1961 |
| Predrag Nikolić | SFR Yugoslavia Bosnia and Herzegovina
|
2 (1 shared) | 1989, 1994 |
| Friðrik Ólafsson | Iceland
|
2 (1 shared) | 1959, 1976 |
| Lev Polugaevsky | Soviet Union
|
2 | 1966, 1979 |
| Valery Salov | Russia
|
2 (1 shared) | 1992, 1997 |
| Gennadi Sosonko | Netherlands
|
2 (2 shared) | 1977, 1981 |
| Nigel Short | United Kingdom
|
2 (1 shared) | 1986, 1987 |
| Jan Timman | Netherlands
|
2 (1 shared) | 1981, 1985 |
| Veselin Topalov | Bulgaria
|
2 (2 shared) | 2006, 2007 |
| Theo van Scheltinga | Netherlands
|
2 | 1944, 1947 |
See also
Notes
- ^ The format and number of games is decided by the number of tied players.
- ^ Due to World War II.[1]
- ^ a b Edition was held as a single-elimination tournament[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Frey, Eduard (13 January 2023). "Ten Trivia about the Tata Steel Tournament series, the Wimbledon of Chess". ChessBase. Archived from the original on 15 January 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
- ^ "India media upbeat on Tata's win". BBC News. 1 February 2007. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
- ^ "Masters & Challengers". Tata Steel Chess. 18 January 2025. Archived from the original on 18 January 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
- ^ Ahmed, Shahid (2 February 2025). "Gukesh or Praggnanandhaa - Who will win 87th Tata Steel Masters?". ChessBase. Archived from the original on 11 February 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
- ^ Barden, Leonard (12 January 2018). "Magnus Carlsen aims for strong showing at 'Wimbledon of chess' event". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Magnus Carlsen wins Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2018". FIDE. 29 January 2018. Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
- ^ "Format". Tata Steel Chess. Archived from the original on 7 February 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
- ^ Damsky, Yakov; Sugden, John (25 August 2005). The Batsford Book of Chess Records. Batsford Books. p. 164. ISBN 0-7134-8946-4.
- ^ Golombek, Harry (1977). Golombek's Encyclopedia of Chess. Crown Publishers. p. 143. ISBN 0-517-53146-1.
- ^ a b c d e "All-time Tournaments – Tata Steel Chess". Tata Steel Chess. Archived from the original on 18 January 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Former Champions". Tata Steel Chess. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ a b c Green, Nathaniel (26 August 2024). "Tata Steel Chess: A Photo Retrospective". Chess.com. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
External links
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