The Prague Chess Festival 2026 opened Sunday with a strong international field that includes Tata Steel 2026 champion Nodirbek Abdusattorov, David Navara, and several other top-50 players. The nine-player round-robin runs through March 21 at the historic Prague playing venue.
Prague has built its festival into one of the best mid-range super-tournaments on the calendar. The category is not quite as high as Tata Steel or the autumn super-tournaments, but the playing conditions are excellent and the local support for chess is among the strongest in Europe.
Abdusattorov arrives fresh off his Tata Steel title, and his 2026 form has been exceptional. He is the heavy favorite. David Navara is a real threat on home ground. Navara has won in Prague before and plays with a freedom in his own country that he does not always show abroad.
The format is a round-robin with one rest day in the middle. Prague's playing hall is open to spectators, and the opening ceremony drew the largest crowd in the festival's history. Round one begins at 14:00 local time. Live coverage on Chess.com and the Prague Chess Society website.