5 september 2026

Chess & Mates Festival

Royal library of Belgium

What to do at the chess & Mates Festival?

Festival Activities

Saturday 5 September 2026

Chess & Mates Open

The Chess & Mates Open consist of two casual chess tournaments set in the heart of Brussels, hosted in the historic Royal library of Belgium.

  • Rapid tournament

    • 10:00 AM - 2:30 PM

    • 7 rounds

    • 10 min + 3 sec

    • Three strength- based categories (Red, Yellow & Black mates)

  • Blitz tournament

    • 3:30 PM - 5:30PM

    • 7 rounds

    • 3 min + 2 sec

    • Three strength- based categories (Red, Yellow & Black mates)

Winners

The winner of each tournament (6 in total) and the best boy and girl under 12 year will earn an exclusive seat at the simultaneous exhibition against an international Grandmaster.

Other prices will be announced later.

Saturday 5 september 2026

Finals

18h30-20h30

The winner of each tournament (6 in total), the best boy and girl under 12 year and our sponsors will challenge Judit Polgar, the Queen of Chess in the Palace of Charles of Lorainne during a simultaneous exhibition. More information about this prestigious exhibition will be announced later. Would you like to become a partner to the event?

Judit Polgar

The Queen of Chess

Judit Polgar is the strongest female chess player in history and the only woman to have consistently competed on equal terms with the world’s best men, reaching a world ranking of No. 8. A global ambassador for chess in education, she created the Judit Polgar Method, helping children develop key skills through chess. Judit Polgar began playing chess at the age of five. In 1989, at just twelve years old, she became the No.1–ranked woman in the world; a position she held for the next 26 years.

Early Bird Tickets

€35 (single ticket) and €45 (combi ticket) if you register before 30/05

€40 (single ticket) and €50 (combi ticket) if you register after 30/05

Youth Discount (< 24 years old)

€25 if you register before 30/05 and €35 if you register after 30/05

Combi Tickets

Blitz and Rapid Tournament

  • €50

KBR Red Mates - Combi ticket

Ticket for both the rapid and blitz tournament - players with an elo between 0 and 1000

  • €50

KBR Yellow Mates - Combi ticket

Ticket for both the rapid and blitz tournament - players with an elo between 1000 and 1500

  • €50

KBR Black Mates - Combi ticket

Ticket for both the rapid and blitz tournament - players with an elo between 1500 and 2000

Rapid tickets

Only for the Rapid tournament

  • €45

KBR Red Mates - Rapid

Ticket for the rapid tournament - category of players with no elo or an elo below 1000

  • €45

KBR Yellow Mates - Rapid

Ticket for the rapid tournament - category of players with an elo between 1000 and 1500 elo

  • €45

KBR Black Mates - Rapid

Ticket for the rapid tournament - category of players with an elo between 1500 and 2000

Blitz Tickets

Only for the Blitz tournament

  • €45

KBR Red Mates - Blitz

Ticket for the blitz tournament - category of players with no elo or an elo below 1000

  • €45

KBR Yellow Mates - Blitz

Ticket for the blitz tournament - category of players with an elo betwoon 1000 and 1500

  • €45

KBR Black Mates - Blitz

Ticket for the blitz tournament - category of players with an elo between 1500 and 2000

Youth Discount

< 24 years old

  • €35

KBR Red Mates - Youngster Ticket

Combi ticket for a person younger than 24 years old with no elo or an elo below 1000

  • €35

KBR Yellow Mates - Youngster ticket

Combi ticket for a person younger than 24 years old with an elo between 1000 and 1500

  • €35

KBR Black Mates - Youngster ticket

Combi ticket for a person younger than 24 years old with an elo between 1500 and 2000

Practical Information

Venue

Royal library of Belgium

Mont des Arts 28,

1000 Brussels

Prices

More information later

Registration

Rapid tournament

9:30 AM

Blitz tournament

3 PM