FIDE is backing a fresh set of open tournaments for 2026 under its Open Aid Project, selecting events based on classical time controls, field strength, historical standing, geography, and prize fund distribution. The organization put extra weight on tournaments that support women, veterans, and players from developing nations.
The Open Aid Project started as a pandemic lifeline. During COVID-19, when tournament circuits collapsed, FIDE created it to keep chess professionals employed and events afloat. What began as emergency relief has stuck around. It's now a permanent fixture of how FIDE supports the global open tournament scene.
The selection criteria matter here. FIDE isn't just handing money to prestigious events in wealthy countries. They're looking at real competitive depth, not just names, and they're actively rewarding organizers who build inclusive prize structures. That's a meaningful shift in how major chess organizations think about development.
The 2026 lineup hasn't been fully detailed yet, but this announcement signals FIDE's commitment to decentralizing opportunity beyond the elite super-tournaments. Open tournaments are where talent gets discovered, where lower-rated players get rating points, where the professional circuit actually functions for ordinary players. Supporting them properly matters more than most casual followers realize.