15th Women’s Grandmaster Chess Festival
Krystyna Hołuj-Radzikowska Memorial
Wrocław
February 13-21, 2026
The Women’s Grandmaster Chess Festival
Krystyna Hołuj-Radzikowska Memorial is one of the most important chess events dedicated to the female chess community in Poland and Europe. Every year, it attracts grandmasters, masters and talented players from around the world, offering competition at the highest level and a rich tournament programme.
The festival commemorates Krystyna Hołuj-Radzikowska (1931–2006) – one of the most outstanding Polish chess players of the 20th century, nine-time Polish champion and representative of the country on the international stage.
Who is our Festival for?
The Festival is aimed at:
Participating in tournaments is a great opportunity not only to compete against strong opponents, but also to gain experience, new skills and wonderful memories of Wrocław.
Programme
During the nine-day celebration of the royal game, we have planned a series of fascinating events — from elite grandmaster matches to tournaments open to the wider public. We have made sure that everyone — from professionals to chess enthusiasts — will find something for themselves.
Grand Opening
4:00 p.m.
Tarczyński Opening Tournament
Jerzy Kubień Memorial
5:00 p.m.
The Open Blitz Chess Tournament is open to everyone. The fast pace of the games guarantees intense competition and unpredictable results. The tournament is open to players of all levels, creating a space for sporting competition and integration within the chess community. Chess::manager
Gold Medallists’ Match
5:15 p.m.
Match between the winners of the European Championships
Gothenburg 2005 vs Batumi 2025
5th Apolonia Litwińska Rapid Chess Tournament
The Apolonia Litwińska Rapid Chess Tournament is held in tribute to the outstanding Polish chess player and is an important part of the festival programme.
The tournament is open to players of all levels, creating a space for sporting competition and integration within the chess community. Details can be found on the tournament website. Chess::manager
Grandmasters Match
Poland – Rest of the World
The Grandmasters Match is the highlight of the 15th Women’s Grandmaster Chess Festival. In this prestigious match, the best Polish grandmasters will face representatives of leading foreign federations. This competition combines the long-standing tradition of the festival with the international character of the event and provides a unique opportunity to watch chess at the highest world level. Details coming soon
PROBIT Championships
7th Lutnia Oporowska Championships
Wrocław Grand Prix Final
The Wrocław Grand Prix Final is the culmination of a year-long series of tournaments played in 2025. The right to participate in the final will be granted to the highest-ranked players who have achieved the best results throughout the series
Lower Silesia Championship for players under 7
The Lower Silesia Under-7 Championship is aimed at the youngest chess players in the region. The tournament aims to popularise chess among children, enable them to gain their first tournament experience and select the best players in this age category. The competition focuses on educational values, sporting development and fair play. Chess::manager
Patroness
Krystyna Hołuj-Radzikowska is one of the most outstanding figures in the history of Polish women’s chess. She was one of the most successful Polish chess players of the 20th century, representing Poland internationally for many years and helping to lay the foundations for the success of women’s chess in our country.
During her rich career, she won the Polish championship nine times, dominating the national chess scene for over two decades. She also competed successfully in international tournaments, ranking among the world’s best players of her era. A particular achievement was winning the individual gold medal on the first board at the World Team Championships in 1957, which remains one of the most important successes in the history of Polish women’s chess to this day.
Krystyna Hołuj-Radzikowska was a multiple representative of Poland in chess Olympiads and world championships, valued not only for her excellent sporting skills, but also for her fair play, personal culture and commitment to the development of the chess community. After ending her active tournament career, she devoted herself to training and organisational work, contributing to the education of subsequent generations of female chess players.
The Women’s Grandmaster Chess Festival, named after her, is a tribute to her sporting achievements, her contribution to the popularisation of chess and her lasting influence on the development of female chess players in Poland. We continue to uphold the values she represented throughout her life: the pursuit of sporting excellence, respect for one’s rivals and a passion for the royal game.
Festival partners
