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Young finalists · October 21, 2026

The six kids facing Kasparov

Out of 400 players at the preselections at DPG Media on October 11, these six young chess players earned a seat opposite Garry Kasparov at KMSKA.

Nand De Smet

Nand De Smet

Eeklo · 2014

Tristan Verhagen

Tristan Verhagen

Antwerpen · 2014

Ludwig Brand

Ludwig Brand

Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe · 2012

Ilias Majees

Ilias Majees

Beringen · 2015

Ivan Bolhov

Ivan Bolhov

Brussel · 2013

Odilon Seyns

Odilon Seyns

Turnhout · 2013

Photos: Rahim Aharar

Main event · October 21, 2026

The challengers facing Kasparov

Well-known entrepreneurs and media figures took on grandmaster Garry Kasparov at the KMSKA.

Viktor Verhulst

Viktor Verhulst

Mediapersoonlijkheid & Ondernemer

Geert Noels

Geert Noels

Econoom, Auteur & Ondernemer

Econopolis

Dietert Gielen

Dietert Gielen

Finance Manager

Finoptive

Els Aerts

Els Aerts

Audiovisueel Storyteller

VRT & Nerdland

David Ziegler

David Ziegler

Co-Founder & CCO

D-CRBN

Rob Van herck

Rob Van herck

Journalist

DPG Media

Piet Spiessens

Piet Spiessens

Ondernemer

TechExpert.be

Peter De Roover

Peter De Roover

Kamervoorzitter

N-VA

Idan Gotlib

Idan Gotlib

Student

David Gotlib

Arturo Reyes

Arturo Reyes

CFO

Belfius

Jan Vertonghen

Jan Vertonghen

Ex-profvoetballer

Jan Vertonghen Foundation

Seppe Lambert

Seppe Lambert

13 en bijzonder gepassioneerd. En nu ook heel moedig!

Photonics

Berten Bastiaens

Berten Bastiaens

Toernooiwinnaar

Astrea

Didier Depuydt

Didier Depuydt

Zaakvoerder

Interieurwerken Depuydt

2025 edition

Looking back at 2025

The challengers and young talents who faced Kasparov in 2025.

Kasparov with young challengers

Youth challengers against Kasparov

Young chess talents who faced the legendary Garry Kasparov.

Theodor Bürger
Dousik Vatsa
Oriiana Babii
Lucas Vermeulen
Jonathan van Heinsbergen

All challengers

Marc Coucke
Marc Coucke
Bart De Wever
Bart De Wever
Els van Doesburg
Els van Doesburg
Wannes Nys
Wannes Nys
Nonso Ezeoke
Nonso Ezeoke
Wim Jansen
Wim Jansen
Gill Scheltjens
Gill Scheltjens
David Gotlib
David Gotlib
Dennis Vangeneugden
Dennis Vangeneugden
Mateo Leclercq
Mateo Leclercq
Nico Ramacker
Nico Ramacker
Serge Lamoral
Serge Lamoral
Floris Penninckx
Floris Penninckx
Gijs Apperloo
Gijs Apperloo
Sam Oosterlynck
Sam Oosterlynck
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logo ynm

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