2026 Australia and New Zealand - Chess Academy

What if your next chess move took you to Sydney to play the world champion?

The Chess Academy Australia and New Zealand is a one-of-a-kind program open to all students across Australia and New Zealand colleges and universities, 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 the country for a chance to qualify through an online Swiss-format tournament on Chess.com and, if you advance, travel to Sydney to compete in the championship finals against the best student players in the country.

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 Sydney to compete in the championship finals against the best student players in the country.
• Play Magnus Carlsen: All finalists take part in a showmatch experience with the World Chess Champion, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sit across the board from one of the greatest players in history.
• Learn from the best: Finalists will take part in an exclusive masterclass led by Magnus and Grandmaster Robert Hess, an opportunity to hear how two of the world's elite players think about the game.
• Go behind the scenes at IMC: Tour IMC's Sydney 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.

Key Dates

• Applications Close: Sunday, November 1 2026
• Eligibility Notifications: Wednesday November 4 2026
• Virtual Qualifiers: Monday 9 November, Tuesday 10 November, Wednesday 11 November 2026
• Championship at IMC Sydney: Wednesday 9 December 2026

What You'll Need

• Currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate student at an Australian or New Zealand college or university
• Participants enrolled at a university in New Zealand must also hold New Zealand citizenship
• 18 years of age or older
• A valid Chess.com account
• Available to compete in the virtual qualifiers during the week of 9, 10 or 11 November 2026
• Available to travel to Sydney for the finals on 9 December 2026
• Open to all majors and academic backgrounds, all skill levels welcome

Ready to Apply?

Applications are open to all enrolled students regardless of chess rating or experience level. If you love the game and want to test yourself against the best, we want to hear from you.

Apply by Sunday 1 November 2026.

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.