The Temple of chess in Switzerland since 1968.
Uninterrupted since 1968, the Biel International Chess Festival ran their 53rd edition under Covid19 constraints in July 2020. Despite the huge challenge to implement health protection measures, the organisers demonstrated their motivation to perpetuate this strong chess tradition, even with a reduced number of tournaments in the festival.
A true institution constantly innovating for chess fans!
Over more than 50 years, Biel hosted many chess festivals, including 3 Interzonal Tournaments (among them, the last one in the history of FIDE in 1993). Open tournaments, GMT (grand master closed tournament), matches … The festival wishes to offer new challenges and formats for the players and chess fans. In 2019 was introduced a concept of chess triathlon (Classical / Rapid / Blitz), even amended with a Chess 960 step in 2020!
Chess Partner ID Card & collaboration
| Type of partner | World class chess event |
| Name | Biel/Bienne International Chess Festival |
| Established | 1968 |
| Website | www.bielchessfestival.ch |
| Dates | Yearly, end of July |
| Contribution | On board since 2018 Chief Arbiter of the Grand Master Tournament |