(haipo) – Tomorrow it happens: The Israel Chess Championship will open in Acre from January 19 to 27, 2026, and will bring together the best names in the Israeli chess industry. The prestigious competition, open to the general public, will include hundreds of participants, including international masters and artists, including Adi Menachem (17), from Moshav Ofer in the Hof Carmel Regional Council, Israeli Champion under the age of 14 and National Vice Champion under the age of 16, who is considered one of the most outstanding talents in the young generation.
The main chess event of the year
The Israel Chess Championship will be held at the initiative of the Israel Chess Federation, the Acre Municipality and the Lottery, and will be the most prestigious event on the competition schedule for the sport in Israel. During the nine days of the championship, hundreds of players are expected to participate, including top-tier international grandmasters and artists. The cash prizes to be distributed will total approximately 90 shekels.
Young talent from Carmel
Among the intriguing participants this year is Adi Menachem, 17, a resident of Moshav Ofer on the Carmel Coast. Menachem has already accumulated impressive achievements at a young age, including winning the title of Israeli champion under the age of 14 and runner-up in the country under the age of 16.
"It will be very exciting and challenging," says Menachem ahead of the competition. "Competing against the best players in the country is a special experience and an opportunity to learn and progress."
One game that changed lives
Menachem's connection to chess began almost by accident. "When I was in second grade, I stayed home one day because I wasn't feeling well," he recalls. "I got bored and asked my dad to teach me how to play chess." That first game became a lifelong path over the years, leading him to the top of young chess in Israel.
"A world where no two games are the same"
For Menachem, chess is much more than a sporting competition. “It’s an endless mental challenge, a whole world in which no two games are the same,” he explains. His daily routine includes long hours of studying, practicing, and analyzing games, especially during competition periods.
“My dream is to keep moving forward and get as far as possible. Every step is part of the journey.”
A supportive family and the challenges of the periphery
Behind his success is also a supportive family. His mother, Talia, notes that “chess develops thinking, memory, and the ability to cope with stress,” and his father, Uri, emphasizes the challenge involved in the path to success: “It requires time, travel, and a considerable financial investment, especially when growing up in the periphery and without sufficient support.”
Chess for the whole community
Beyond the battles on the board, the Israel Championship in Acre will also include extensive community activity. The city will host happenings and chess events in educational institutions and public spaces, with the aim of bringing the residents of Acre and the region closer to the "Game of Kings" and emphasizing its contribution to the development of strategic thinking, perseverance and mutual respect.
Continued momentum in the Israeli chess industry
The championship will be held about a month after the conclusion of two major chess events organized by the Israel Chess Federation: the Jerusalem Open Championship, which was attended by over 450 players from 39 countries and was the first sporting event in Israel since the outbreak of the "Iron Swords" War; and the Jerusalem Masters, which was attended by some of the best chess players in the world, including former world champion Vishy Anand, alongside players from the Israeli national team.
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