Kasparov Returns to Antwerp Chess Week, Faces Belgian Stars
Chess legend Garry Kasparov is returning to Antwerp this autumn for an expanded chess week that will see the former world champion face off against Belgian media personalities, entrepreneurs, and young talents in a simultaneous exhibition at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA). The event, organized by Your Next Move, runs from October 11 to 29 and marks a significant expansion of the annual chess gathering into a multi-event festival.
A Chess Week Built for Belgium
Your Next Move, founded in 2009 by Antwerp-based entrepreneur Inge Geerdens, has grown from a single exhibition match into a full-fledged chess week. The 2026 edition features not only Kasparov but also British grandmaster Nigel Short and American chess influencer Levy Rozman — better known as GothamChess to his millions of followers.
According to Het Laatste Nieuws, the highlight of the week will be the main event on October 21 at KMSKA, where Kasparov will play a simultaneous exhibition starting at 19:30. His opponents will include Belgian media personality Viktor Verhulst, economist and author Geert Noels, and VTM journalist Rob Van Herck, alongside young finalists who qualify through pre-selection rounds.
From 400 Young Players to a Seat Opposite a Legend
The path to facing Kasparov begins on October 11 at DPG Media in Antwerp, where 400 children aged 6 to 14 (birth years 2012 through 2020) will compete in pre-selection rounds for the chance to sit across from the 13th World Chess Champion. The Royal Belgian Chess Federation, which has partnered with Your Next Move for the 2026 edition, notes that participation is free of charge — lowering barriers for young talent from all backgrounds.
“Our dream is to celebrate a Belgian World Champion by 2035,” says Inge Geerdens, co-founder of Your Next Move. “It is ambitious, but great achievements always start with the decision to make the first move.”
A Day of Grandmasters at KMSKA
October 21 will be a full day of elite chess at KMSKA. In the afternoon at 14:00, British grandmaster Nigel Short — who famously faced Kasparov in the 1993 World Chess Championship — will conduct his own simultaneous exhibition. Among his challengers will be Antwerp Mayor Els van Doesburg, who participated in the 2025 edition against Kasparov. Short will also provide live commentary during the main evening event.
Kasparov’s main event in the evening promises to be a spectacle. During the 2025 edition, the 63-year-old grandmaster defeated all 20 opponents in just two hours, including billionaire entrepreneur Marc Coucke, who finished third. Coucke, reflecting on the experience, told VRT NWS that facing Kasparov is “like dribbling with a ball against Messi. That one time you get past him, it never happens.”
Beyond the Board: AI, Influencers, and the Future of Chess
The chess week extends well beyond the simultaneous matches. On October 19, Kasparov will deliver a keynote at the Vestar Congress Center titled “Exploring the Future of AI and Human Intelligence” — drawing on his historic matches against IBM’s Deep Blue in the 1990s to explore the evolving relationship between human and artificial minds. Tickets for the keynote are priced at €200 (excl. VAT).
Closing the week on October 29 at Play Zuid, Levy Rozman (GothamChess) will host an interactive live show in partnership with Chess.com, combining chess analysis with audience participation — a nod to the growing influence of online chess content creators in popularizing the game.
What This Means for Belgian Chess
The expansion of Your Next Move into a full chess week signals a strategic investment in chess development in Belgium. The involvement of prominent figures from business (Geert Noels, Dietert Gielen), media (Viktor Verhulst, Rob Van Herck), and politics (Mayor Els van Doesburg) highlights chess as a cross-sectoral networking activity that bridges generations and industries.
With the Royal Belgian Chess Federation’s institutional backing and the ambitious goal of producing a Belgian world champion by 2035, Your Next Move is positioning itself as more than just an exhibition — it’s a long-term talent development pipeline. The free entry model for children’s pre-selections and the inclusion of players of all skill levels suggest a deliberate strategy to democratize access to competitive chess.
What to Watch For
As October approaches, several questions remain: How many children will qualify from the pre-selections to face Kasparov? Will additional celebrity challengers be announced? And perhaps most intriguingly — given his outspoken political commentary during his 2025 visit, when he gave interviews warning about Russian expansionism — will Kasparov use this platform for more than just chess?
For now, Antwerp is preparing to welcome one of the greatest minds in the history of the game. Tickets for the main event at KMSKA are priced at €300 (excl. VAT) for VIP access, with more information available on the Your Next Move website.