Khanty-Mansiysk has been a sustained centre of Russian chess investment since the early 2000s, hosting World Cup editions in 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2011 plus this annual round-robin named for Anatoly Karpov. The Yugra Chess Academy facility was purpose-built and remains one of the strongest dedicated chess venues in the country.
The 23rd Edition
Ten players, classical round-robin over eight days, no rapid or blitz tiebreaks. The 2026 field included two players from the Russian top ten and several invited foreign grandmasters of the 2600-2700 range. Prize fund ₽5 million, distributed across the top eight finishers.