Inias Vissenaekens 25.09.2025
On the weekend of September 13–14, chess took over the center of Brussels. The Bourse and the Royal Galleries of Saint Hubert turned into chess arenas for the first-ever Chess & Mates Festival in Brussels – two days of competition, side events, and plenty of fun.
Saturday’s Chess & Mates Open brought in more than 200 players – completely sold out. The morning kicked off with rapid games (10+3), and later blitz took over (3+2). Everyone was split into three categories based on level (Red, Yellow, and Black Mates). Wins, draws, and even participation all gave points, and at the end of the day the top eight in each category punched their ticket to Sunday’s knockout finals.
I was there with a Chessnut booth, showcasing all the boards: Chessnut Go, Air, Air+, Move, and Evo. The automatically moving Chessnut Air turned out to be the crowd favorite – people were fascinated by it. It was a blast demonstrating the boards while others enjoyed the tournament atmosphere.
After the epic day, we all went to unwind at the afterparty, where I met up with my friend Fiona Steil-Antoni (Fionchetta). We even found a variant where we could finally beat her: dice chess 🎲. Long story short: it was a night full of laughs, good company, and not everyone stayed sober 😉 .
The finals took place in the stunning Royal Galleries, with quarterfinals, semifinals, and the big showdown in front of a live audience.
But for me, the real highlight was the Duo Cup. I teamed up with one of my students – and let’s just say I took being Magnus a bit too literally by showing up late and missing the entire first round 🤦♂️. After that rocky start, though, we didn’t lose a single game (well, except for one where I accidentally said “king” instead of “knight” and threw away a four-pawn advantage… OTB misclicks are real).
The finals themselves were brought to life by Fionchetta (Fiona Steil-Antoni), joined by Marigje Degrande (U14 World Champion), who provided commentary. It was an amazing experience to witness.
When I wasn’t playing, I was running the Chessnut booth. Once again, the automatic Chessnut move stole the show. Everyone wanted to see it in action, and it really proved how tech can make chess exciting and help connect the online chess boom with over-the-board tradition.
The festival wasn’t just about results. From the Saturday afterparty to the Duo Cup and the prize ceremony, the atmosphere was all about community, fun, and celebrating chess together. By Sunday evening, everyone went home tired but smiling.
What made Chess & Mates in Brussels special is how it acted as a bridge between online chess and traditional club play. Long classical tournaments aren’t for everyone, but this kind of event is accessible, social, and fun – exactly the kind of experience that can bring new people into the chess world.
Brussels showed that chess can be cool, inclusive, and modern, all while honoring its traditions. The Brussels edition of Chess & Mates wasn’t just a tournament – it was a celebration, and hopefully the start of many more to come.
