FIDE is bringing back its Open Aid Project in 2026 after a gap in recent years. The program, which launched during the pandemic to keep tournaments running and support chess professionals through economic hardship, proved so successful that organizers worldwide have demanded its return.
The initiative channels direct funding to open tournaments, treating classical chess as the lifeblood of competitive chess development. Over four editions, it became one of FIDE's most reliable ways to bolster the open circuit. Freedom Holding Corp will back the 2026 edition as FIDE's official development partner.
Tournament organizers can now apply for support if their events run between June and December 2026. The window matters. Open tournaments have struggled post-pandemic as sponsorship dried up and player participation became unpredictable. This funding removes that friction. A well-funded open tournament attracts strong fields, which attracts younger players, which builds the talent pipeline FIDE needs.
The program's return signals that FIDE recognizes open chess as the feeder system for elite play. You cannot have healthy world championship matches without robust classical tournaments feeding in strong challengers from everywhere. The Open Aid Project acknowledges that simple truth with money behind it.
WHY IT MATTERS: Open tournaments are where future world champions develop, and chronic underfunding was killing them. This restores a lifeline.