Scheldemond Chess Tournament kicks off in Vlissingen with 214 players

The Scheldemond Chess Tournament 2026 opened in Vlissingen, Netherlands, running from August 1 to 8. The open international event features 214 participants competing over nine Swiss‑system rounds with a classical time control of 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, then 30 minutes plus a 30‑second increment per move.

Top‑seeded players include Raunak Sadhwani, Erwin L’Ami, Max Warmerdam, Lucas van Foreest and several other grandmasters. The opening ceremony was attended by KNSB chairman Dirk Hoogland, tournament organizer Hans Groffen and Scheldemond College manager Eric Koopmans. Competitors represent federations from the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Singapore, Cyprus, England, Afghanistan, Denmark and others, making the tournament a notable gathering for the chess community.