Diving Chess World Championship 2026
Tarnowo Podgórne, Poznań County, Poland | 16–17 May 2026

Dive. Think. Move. Breathe. Repeat.

In Diving Chess, each player thinks underwater and must make their move before resurfacing for air. Once one player comes up, the other dives. There are no clocks: your breath is your time control.
It’s a test of strategy, stamina, and composure under pressure. Every game is a battle of mind and lungs.

Why Compete?
Compete for the title of Diving Chess World Champion. Push both your chess skill and physical endurance. Play for a 30,000 PLN prize fund. Meet an international field of players and pioneers of the sport. Receive official Championship gear and gifts.

The Format
72 players total across 3 qualifying groups (Swiss, 4 rounds). The top 6 from each group advance to an 18-player Final (Swiss, 5 rounds).

How Diving Chess Works
The board is placed on the bottom of the pool (approx. 1.2m deep). The player to move must be underwater and complete their move before resurfacing. As soon as one player surfaces, the opponent must dive. Touch-move applies. Any displaced pieces must be corrected before resurfacing. A violation of any rule results in loss of the game.
Allowed: goggles, nose clips
Not allowed: diving masks or breathing equipment

Prizes
Total Prize Fund: 30,000 PLN
1st: 10,000 PLN | 2nd: 7,000 PLN | 3rd: 5,000 PLN
Prizes down to 12th place. Trophies and medals for the top 3.

Dates & Schedule
Saturday, 16 May — Qualifiers
Group I: 08:00–12:30
Group II: 12:30–16:30
Group III: 17:00–21:30
Sunday, 17 May — Final
11:00–17:00
Closing Ceremony: 17:30

Location
Tarnowskie Termy, Tarnowo Podgórne, Poznań County, Poland

Registration & Entry
Open to players aged 16+
Entry fee: 200 PLN (includes full access to the venue on both days)
72 places are allocated across three categories:
Invited players — 24 places reserved for selected competitors
FIDE-rated players — 24 places for the highest-rated FIDE rapid players who register
Open registration — 24 places allocated first-come, first-served

How to Register
Register during the entry window and pay the entry fee to confirm your place.

Bank account details:
Recipient: Stowarzyszenie Klub Sportowy Korona Zakrzewo
IBAN: PL 65 9072 0002 2017 0703 7784 0006
Reference: Diving WC + your name

Registration Timeline
Phase 1: 1–30 April 2026
Selected players then have 7 days to pay and confirm.
Phase 2 (if places remain): from 7 May 2026
Places allocated strictly by order of registration and payment.
Final participant list published: 14 May 2026

Ready to Take the Plunge?

If you can stay calm under pressure, think clearly underwater, and outplay your opponent…
We’ll see you at the bottom of the pool.