Chess Slovak Open® 2026 unveils another star of the closed Chess Slovak Masters tournament. Germany’s number one GM Alexander Donchenko – one of Europe’s strongest grandmasters – is heading to Skalica.
One step from the Candidates
Donchenko’s biggest success came in 2025, when he reached the quarter-finals of the FIDE World Cup – beating three players rated above 2700 along the way. The result brought him within touching distance of a Candidates Tournament berth.
A grandmaster with an elite rating
Alexander Donchenko (born 22 March 1998) earned the grandmaster title in 2015. His current rating is 2640, with a career peak of 2684 in August 2023. In 2023 he won the prestigious Tata Steel Challengers in Wijk aan Zee and broke into the world elite; in 2024 he became German Blitz Chess Champion.
An elite field in Skalica
Donchenko will compete in the closed Chess Slovak Masters 2026 alongside other grandmasters – the organisers aim for a record average rating above 2600. The Chess Slovak Open® 2026 festival takes place 22–30 August 2026 at the House of Culture in Skalica.
We look forward to watching one of Europe’s best players in action in the Záhorie region!