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The event drew extensive attention online, with hundreds of thousands of viewers following the matches, including audiences from countries that typically avoid Israeli events.
By Shula Rosen
The Jerusalem Masters chess tournament opened this week at the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem, drawing elite international players and a global online audience as Israel hosted one of its largest competitive chess events since the war.
The rapid-chess competition brought 12 top players to Jerusalem, including five members of Israel’s national team, five international grandmasters, and the two winners of the Jerusalem Open held the previous week.
The Masters, which ran from Nov. 30 through Dec. 3, formed the second stage of the broader Jerusalem Chess Festival.
Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand headlined the field, joined by leading Indian player Arjun Erigaisi, Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi, former World Cup winner Peter Svidler, and Vladimir Fedoseev. Anand last appeared in Jerusalem in 2018 during Israel’s 70th-anniversary events.
Organizers said the choice of venue was deliberate. Israel Chess Federation Chairman Dr. Zvika Barkai worked with Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion to stage the event in the capital. Barkai told The Jerusalem Post that the setting was intended to impress visiting players and create a shared space focused on dialogue and calm. “We needed a place that would fit the players and impress people from around the world,” he said.
Jonathan Riss, managing director of the museum, said the tournament aligned with the institution’s mission of fostering engagement and respectful exchange. He said hosting the Masters reinforced the museum’s role as a hub for international initiatives.
The event drew extensive attention online, with hundreds of thousands of viewers following the matches, including audiences from countries that typically avoid Israeli events. “When it comes to chess, they are our friends. They don’t care about politics,” Barkai said.
The Jerusalem Open featured 450 players from 38 countries, with its top two finishers advancing to the Masters. The Masters offered a $140,000 prize fund, part of a total festival pool of $170,000 supported by private donors.
Israel Chess Federation CEO Gil Borochovsky said the tournament carried significance beyond competition. “Beyond the sporting value, this is an extraordinary cultural celebration,” he told The Jerusalem Post, describing the event as a bridge between Jerusalem, chess, and tolerance.
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