Biel International Chess Festival

Switzerland's premier chess event, running for over 50 years in the beautiful lakeside town of Biel.

The Swiss Classic

The Biel festival combines an elite invitational with a massive open tournament, creating a unique atmosphere where amateurs and grandmasters share the same venue. The tournament has been particularly important for developing young Swiss talent and has hosted many of the world's top players over its five-decade history. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave won back-to-back editions in 2014-2015.