Launched together with the MOVE Foundation and powered by BETBY, the tournament will bring eight of the world’s top grandmasters to Barcelona from 18 to 20 January 2027.
The MOVE Cup, a new elite chess tournament bringing the world’s top grandmasters to Barcelona, was officially announced today at a press conference in Barcelona. The MOVE Cup powered by BETBY will take place from 18 to 20 January 2027 during ICE Barcelona week.
The MOVE Cup is a new competition that aims to become a regular highlight on the global chess calendar, with a charity aim at its core. The prize fund of 300 000 EUR will be matched by the same amount for charity, as the tournament is being launched together with the MOVE Foundation, created to support chess growth, young talent, and research on chess and mental health.
Following its earlier coverage of plans for the MOVE Cup, Ace Alliance attended the press conference as the MOVE Foundation’s media partner and will share further news and updates ahead of the tournament.
Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen is the first revealed player of the line-up and was present in Barcelona for the announcement. The other seven grandmasters will be revealed one by one in the coming weeks.
Magnus Carlsen, the world’s number one, said,
I’m looking forward to coming back to Barcelona in January to play. The city has a real feeling for chess. Rapid is a format where every game can turn in a moment, which makes it exciting to play and to watch. I also like the fact that the prize fund is matched for the MOVE Foundation, and it will help the growth of the game and young players.
Leonid Pertsovskiy, CEO and co-founder of BETBY, said:
Chess is a game of clear thinking, analysis, patience and resilience. After the successful chess event during ICE Barcelona 2026, we wanted to bring the world’s best players back to this city for something bigger and more ambitious. The MOVE Cup is that step. The ambition of the MOVE Cup is to become a regular event on the global chess calendar, and we at BETBY are proud to support that.
The tournament will be played in rapid chess, a format fast enough to keep the tension high from the first move to the last. It is designed for both a live audience and online viewers: spectators at the venue will be able to follow live commentary on headphones while scores update on large screens. The competition will end with a knockout final on the closing night, followed by the trophy ceremony.
The MOVE Cup is launched together with the MOVE Foundation and has had a not-for-profit aim at its core from the very beginning. The prize fund of 300 000 EUR is matched by an equal contribution to the MOVE Foundation, which supports chess growth, young talent, and research on chess and mental health. Any additional money that will be raised during the tournament will be distributed equally between the prize fund and the foundation. The MOVE Cup will open with a charity event during ICE Barcelona in which the top players will face donors and partners in a hand-and-brain format.
Inese Dabola, member of the board of the MOVE Foundation, said:
We at the MOVE Foundation are aiming to support young people and communities who may not otherwise have access to the opportunities the game can create. Nurture the new generation of players. Focus efforts on bringing the chess boards to every house, to the streets, make chess an organic part of daily life. We work for people of all backgrounds, generations, and communities to feel seen, included, empowered, and welcomed in the chess world.
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