Wednesday 14 / January / 2026
MUSCAT- The Oman Chess Committee has confirmed its full administrative and technical readiness for the launch of the Muscat Nights International Chess Championship 2026, which begins this evening and runs until January 23, featuring wide international participation with 270 male and female players from 35 countries. The announcement was made during a press conference held on Wednesday at Aloft Hotel, where full details of the tournament were revealed. The event is regarded as one of the leading FIDE-rated chess tournaments in the region.
Ahmed Darwish Al Balushi, Chairman of the Oman Chess Committee, said the 2026 edition represents a successful continuation of last year’s inaugural tournament, stressing that the significant increase in both the number of players and participating countries reflects the growing international confidence in the championship. He explained that the 2025 edition featured 207 players from 26 countries, while this year’s tournament has expanded to 270 players from 35 countries, underlining Oman’s rising status on the global chess map.
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 also pointed out that the strong reputation and success of the first edition played a major role in attracting a larger number of international grandmasters this year, with players from different continents ensuring a high technical standard and intense competition throughout the event. All rounds will be broadcast live on Lichess, Chess.com, and ChessBase, following the huge global viewership recorded by 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.
High-Level Officiating and Governance
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.
