In its 52nd edition, the renowned chess festival will be part of the official FIDE Circuit 2025 for the first time. This will give the traditional Sparkassen Chess Trophy even more international significance and make it even more attractive for many top players.
The FIDE Circuit, which was first introduced in 2023 and will continue in an expanded form in 2025, comprises selected top tournaments worldwide. Points that the players collect there will go directly towards qualifying for the Candidates Tournament Series of the World Chess Championship. The aim of the Circuit is to create a transparent and performance-orientated qualification system that rewards outstanding tournament performances throughout the year.
The inclusion of the International Dortmund Chess Days concerns the A-Open from 2 to 10 August 2025 in the Circuit. It emphasises the high sporting quality and the great international reputation of the tournament, which has always attracted world-class players. Grandmasters can now collect valuable FIDE Circuit points to qualify for the next Candidates Tournament.
Thanks to his victory at the 2025 European Championship and second place at the 2025 German Individual Championship, GM Matthias Blübaum could still be in contention here. A total of 16 grandmasters have already registered for the A-Open. There is a clear limit of 200 registrations, so early registration will secure a starting place for those interested before the tournament is fully booked.
Current list of participants at:
List of Participants
Picture: Stage of the Sparkassen Chess Trophy 2023, Dariusz Gorzinski