Tarun and I recently played in the 39th Hassloch Chess Tournament, held from 22nd–25th May 2026 at the Ernst Reuter School in Hassloch, Germany. Hassloch is located in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate in southwest Germany, near Mannheim and Ludwigshafen.
Despite the heat, the tournament turned out to be a very enjoyable experience filled with good chess and friendly people.
Journey to Hassloch
Our journey began in Dublin, where we took a flight to Frankfurt. From there, we travelled by train to Mannheim and finally onward to Hassloch. The connections were smooth, and the trip itself was enjoyable.
The weather during the tournament was very warm, with temperatures ranging from around 25 to 30 degrees Celsius. Our accommodation was around a 30-minute walk from the playing venue, so every morning and evening we walked to and from the hall. By the time we reached the venue, we were already sweating heavily from the heat.
Thankfully, the tournament canteen became a lifesaver throughout the event.
Excellent Food and Tournament Atmosphere
The canteen at the venue was fantastic. There were plenty of cold drinks and juices available to help players cool down between rounds. They also served cakes, coffee, sandwiches, and proper lunch meals including steaks, fries, sausages, and salads.
One of the highlights came on the second day of the tournament when free ice cream was given out to all players and visitors. In the middle of the heatwave, it tasted amazing.
The tournament itself had a great atmosphere. It was held inside a school sports hall with plenty of seating areas and analysis boards. After each round, players gathered around chess boards analysing games and discussing ideas, which created a lively and friendly environment.
Just across the street from the venue was the Hassloch Chess Club, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year — a remarkable milestone for the club.
Fantastic Organisation
Tournament organiser Philipp Scholz did a fantastic job throughout the event. He helped us with accommodation arrangements and was incredibly friendly and helpful from start to finish.
The arbiters also deserve praise for running the tournament smoothly. Every round started on time, and ensured that fair play measures were properly maintained throughout the competition.
Tournament Results
The tournament was jointly won by GM SL Narayanan and GM Vitaly Kunin, both of whom played consistently strong chess throughout the event.
Tarun had a nice tournament and finished in third place overall.
As for me, I was not entirely happy with my games, as several of them did not turn out the way I had hoped. Still, I was happy to win the Best Woman Prize.
Games and Chess Highlights
SL Narayanan vs Valentin Udelnov
One thing that always fascinates me is how grandmasters manage to convert positions that appear completely equal. GM SL Narayanan demonstrated exactly that in his game against Valentin Udelnov.
Tarun vs Mansur Mukazhanov
Tarun played an exciting attacking game against Mansur Mukazhanov.
Can you find the mate in 11?
Meeting GM SL Narayanan
One of the most memorable moments of the tournament came after the prize-giving ceremony. We spent some time chatting with GM SL Narayanan, who was incredibly humble and friendly.
It is not every day that you get the opportunity to meet and speak with a super grandmaster. As it happened, we were staying in the same hotel, so we ended up walking back together while continuing our conversation about chess and tournaments. It was a really nice experience.
Looking Forward to Returning
Overall, we had a great time at the 39th Hassloch Chess Tournament. The combination of good chess, excellent organisation, and friendly people made it a very enjoyable event.
We are already looking forward to returning again in the future.