Jerusalem Masters Chess Tournament Offers Record $101,000 Prize

Jerusalem will host the Masters chess tournament from November 23-26, featuring a record-breaking first-place prize of $101,000. This prize is the highest ever awarded in a chess competition in Israel and surpasses the $100,000 prize from the recent World Blitz Championship in Qatar by $1,000. The total prize pool for the Masters tournament is $250,000, also a record for an Israeli chess event. The four-day competition aims to position Jerusalem as a major hub for international chess by attracting top players globally.

Prior to the Masters, the Jerusalem Open rapid chess championship will take place on November 17-18 at the Ramada Hotel, as part of the Maccabiah events. This tournament offers a substantial prize fund of 45,000 euros, with the top two finishers earning free entry into the Masters. Over 300 players have already registered for the Jerusalem Open, now in its third year, with expectations of hundreds of international participants from around 30 countries.

Notable players expected at the Jerusalem Open include reigning European champions Roman Dychtjarov and Anastasia Nesterova, along with Israeli European U20 champion Yahli Sokolovsky and Alina Kashlinskaya. Former FIDE World Champion Ruslan Ponomariov, Igor Kovalenko, and Alexey Sarana are also slated to compete. Additionally, promising young players with ratings above 2,600, such as Denis Lazavik, Igor Semonenko, and Leon Luke Mendonca, are expected, as is Arseniy Nesterov, the 2025 Russian national champion.

According to the Israel Chess Association, the list for foreign players eligible for support filled up within a week, with continued requests from international players. Rapid chess involves shorter time limits per player, leading to faster-paced games compared to classical chess. These events are organized by the Ministry of Culture and Sport, the Jerusalem Municipality, and the Israel Chess Association.

Dr. Zvika Barkai, Chairman of the Israel Chess Association, stated the goal was to create an unmissable event in Jerusalem, emphasizing that the $101,000 prize signifies belief in Israeli chess and the capacity to host top-tier international events. Gil Borochovsky, CEO of the Israel Chess Association, noted significant interest from elite players, anticipating a world-class standard for the tournament.