Biel Chess Festival 2026: Aronian Opens the Masters Rapid

The 59th Biel International Chess Festival 2026 launches its Masters Rapid with Levon Aronian, Le Quang Liem and rising stars battling in Round 1.

The 59th Biel International Chess Festival 2026 is under way, and its Masters Rapid event has served up an eye-catching opening round. In Round 1, Levon Aronian was paired against Aydin Suleymanli, Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus faced Matthias Bluebaum, and Le Quang Liem took on Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara. These games were still in progress as the round got going, so the results are yet to be decided, but the pairings alone promise plenty of fighting chess.

Biel is one of the most respected festivals on the calendar, and this year's Masters is part of a Triathlon format, meaning players compete across more than one type of chess during the festival. Rapid chess, the format on show here, gives each player a shorter amount of thinking time than a classical game. That speeds everything up and rewards good instincts, quick calculation, and calm decision-making under pressure.

There is a lovely mix of experience and youth in these pairings. Aronian is one of the game's most creative and admired grandmasters, while Erdogmus represents the wave of talented young players making their mark on the international stage. For students watching at home, that contrast is worth noticing: chess is a game where a well-prepared young player can sit across the board from a seasoned star and hold their own. Preparation, courage, and a clear plan matter more than age.

Here is a learning takeaway you can use in your own rapid games. Because the clock ticks faster, it helps to have a small number of openings you know well rather than trying to memorise everything. Play the moves you understand, develop your pieces quickly, get your king safe by castling early, and save your deep thinking for the moments that truly matter. Many rapid games are decided not by a brilliant combination, but by one player staying calm while the other rushes.

We will follow how the Masters Rapid unfolds at Biel and share results as they become official. In the meantime, try setting a timer for your next practice game and see how your decisions change when the clock is your opponent too. Learning to think clearly with less time is one of the most useful skills a growing player can build, and events like Biel are the perfect place to watch it done at the highest level.