2027 EU Chess Academy - Expression of Interest

What if your next chess move took you to Amsterdam to play a world-class grandmaster?

The Chess Academy Europe is a one-of-a-kind programme open to all students across universities in the EU and the UK, whether you're a seasoned competitor or just love the game. In partnership with Team Liquid, IMC is bringing together the brightest student chess players in Europe for a chance to qualify through an online Swiss-format tournament on Chess.com and, if you advance, travel to Amsterdam to compete in the championship finals against the best student players on the continent.

This is more than a chess tournament. It's an opportunity to step inside one of the world's leading trading firms, connect with IMC's traders, researchers and technologists, and experience what it's like to think fast, compete hard, and perform under pressure. These are the skills that define both great chess players and the people who thrive at the world's top trading firms.

What You'll Do

Compete at the highest level: Qualify through an online Swiss-format tournament on Chess.com and, if you advance, travel to Amsterdam to compete in the championship finals against the best student players in Europe.

Play a world-class grandmaster: All finalists take part in a showmatch experience with an elite grandmaster — a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sit across the board from one of the game's best.

Learn from the best: Finalists will take part in an exclusive masterclass led by top grandmasters, an opportunity to hear how the world's elite players think about the game.

Go behind the scenes at IMC: Tour IMC's Amsterdam office and get a firsthand look at the environment where some of the world's fastest and most sophisticated trading takes place.

Build your network: Connect directly with IMC traders, researchers, technologists, and recruiters. Whether or not a career in trading is on your radar, this is a rare chance to meet and learn from world-class professionals.

Ready to Apply?

Applications aren't open yet — register your interest through the form below and we'll be in touch in January when applications open.

Open to all enrolled students regardless of chess rating or experience level, and all majors and academic backgrounds. If you love the game and want to test yourself against the best, we want to hear from you.

About Us

IMC is a research-driven trading firm where quantitative modeling, machine learning, and engineering shape how modern markets are traded. A stabilizing force in markets since 1989, we provide liquidity across trading venues, delivering the best outcome in value and risk management to investors. Using our own technology and capital, we build proprietary systems and algorithms that operate across global markets. Our researchers, traders, and engineers work as a collective, combining rapid experimentation, advanced infrastructure, and real-time feedback to turn insight into execution and execution into advantage.