Muscat, Jan 14
The Muscat Nights International Chess Championship 2026 officially gets underway on Thursday evening, featuring 270 players from 35 countries, marking one of the largest and most diverse chess events ever held in Oman. The tournament runs until January 24 and is part of the Muscat Nights festival, under the supervision of the Oman Chess Committee (OCC).
Speaking at a press conference held at Aloft Hotel, Ahmed bin Darwish al Balushi, OCC Chairman, said the rapid growth in participation reflects the tournament’s rising international reputation. He noted that last year’s edition attracted 207 players from 26 countries, while this year the number has increased significantly, confirming Oman’s growing status as a key destination on the global chess calendar.
He added that hosting a tournament of this scale goes beyond sporting value, bringing important economic and tourism benefits, as the large number of players and delegations helps stimulate tourism and promote Oman’s attractions. He also noted that establishing the championship as an annual event will further increase international participation and raise the standard of players and grandmasters in future editions.
Al Balushi explained that the strong reputation built by the first edition helped attract more international grandmasters this year, with players from different continents ensuring a high level of competition. All games will be broadcast live on Lichess, Chess.com and ChessBase, following the high global viewership recorded in the previous edition.
International-Standard Competition Format
The classical chess tournament will be played under the Swiss system over nine rounds, with a time control of 90 minutes per player plus 30 seconds per move, in accordance with Fide regulations. The competition is divided into two categories: Open A for players rated 2000 and above, and Open B for players rated below 2000, ensuring fair and balanced competition across all levels.
A Blitz Chess Championship has also been introduced, featuring nine rounds with a time control of three minutes plus two seconds per move, adding further excitement and fast-paced action.
Elite Grandmasters in Action
The championship features a distinguished lineup of international stars, led by Egyptian Grandmaster Ahmed Adly, Jordanian Grandmaster Ahmed al Khatib, Indian Grandmaster Pranesh, Belarusian Grandmaster Arkadij Naiditsch and Kazakh Grandmaster Alisher Suleymenov, giving the tournament significant technical weight and making the competition even more intense.
Al Balushi confirmed that the tournament will be officiated to the highest international standards, with Muslim al Wadhahi serving as Chief Arbiter, supported by Khalid al Hadidi, Yasser al Raisi, Ahmed al Kharousi, Ruqiya al Balushi and Kamal al Hinai, along with international arbiters from Bahrain, Yemen and Iran, ensuring neutrality and professional expertise.
All Fide regulations, including anti-cheating rules, will be strictly enforced. A 30-minute default time rule will apply, and tie-breaks will follow the official Swiss-system criteria.
Players from 35 Countries
Participants come from Algeria, Bahrain, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, South Africa, Singapore, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, France, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, North Macedonia, Philippines, Russia, Türkiye, the United States, Zambia, as well as players competing under the Fide flag.
Ahmed bin Mousa al Harassi, a member of the Muscat Nights Beach Events Committee, said the championship continues to enjoy strong public and media interest, noting that the previous edition exceeded one million online viewers, highlighting the tournament’s growing global media and commercial value.
Al Balushi added that the prize pool has been expanded this year across both main categories and the blitz tournament, with special awards for the best Omani players to support and encourage local talent. Several national team players are competing in Open A, alongside around 73 Omani players across other categories.
He concluded by stressing the committee’s strong focus on youth and junior players, as part of a long-term strategy to build a solid future for chess in Oman.
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