The 31st Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival starts on 15th August 2025
One of the world’s most prestigious chess festivals is back with its 31st edition! The crown jewel of the festival, Abu Dhabi Masters, is all set to take place from 15th to 24th August 2025 in Abu Dhabi. With a total prize fund of USD 55,500, the event promises to be a great thrill for players as well as fans. The festival will feature 14 different exciting tournaments to offer an opportunity for players of all levels. Like every year, the stakes are high, with USD 15,000 reserved for the winner of the Masters event! Scroll down to explore what’s in store at this chess festival! Photo: Abu Dhabi Chess Festival
The 30th edition of one of the strongest Chess tournaments in the World
The 1st edition of the Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival took place back in 1991. Emirati International Master Saeed Ahmed Saeed (2435) was the Champion of the first edition! 29 more editions of this prestigious tournament have taken place since then. While the player list for this year's event is yet to be officially announced, one can expect a strong field of titled players from around the world, as always.
A total of 14 different chess tournaments will take place as part of the Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival 2024, scheduled from 14th to 25th August. The major attraction, as always, is the Masters tournament, known for its incredibly strong field. While the player list for this year is yet to be officially announced, the event is expected to draw several Grandmasters and titled players from around the world. We can expect players from more than 60 countries to take part in this event!
Venue
The official hotel for the festival will be announced soon, and it is expected to be one of Abu Dhabi’s luxurious 5-star hotels for players' comfort and convenience. The room rates will be similar to last year.
Various events, Prize money, and Eligibility:
There are a total of 14 events taking place across the span of the 31st Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival, from 15th to 24th August. Here's a brief description of the events:
There is a special online event planned as well - the Abu Dhabi Masters Online on 22nd August! There is an attractive prize fund of USD 10,000, open to all titled players. Check out the image below for detailed information on the Online events and the Blitz arena for all players.
There is one rest day for the Masters event after the 7th round, but there are no rest days for any of the other events. Here's the schedule of the entire proceedings:
Following are the details of the Prize money structure spread across the 14 events to be held throughout the festival. All the prize money amounts are in US Dollars.
How to register for the tournament?
The tournament registrations will be closed on 15th July 2025. You can go and register for the tournament at this link. Here's what the tournament registration page looks like:
There are various entry fees for various events. Check out all the details regarding entry fees and registration below:
