Activist group Extinction Rebellion blocked the entrances to the Tata Steel Chess tournament in Wijk aan Zee. Approximately one hundred activists from the environmental movement gathered outside the De Moriaan building on January 17th, half an hour before the start of the first Round. A pile of coal, preliminarily estimated at two tons, was dumped in front of the main entrance, and some demonstrators chained themselves to the doors.

The protesters’ goal is to make a statement against the main sponsor of the event, whom they accuse of “causing brain damage in children”. The XR movement is calling for a complete end to coal burning in steel mills in the Wijk aan Zee area.

The start of the first round was delayed until order was restored and safety for participants and spectators was ensured. To prevent possible problems and inconveniences during play, the organizers placed earplugs at all chess boards.

Around 2:20 PM local time, the organizers announced that police had restored access to the building.

The 2025 edition of the Tata Steel Chess tournament also saw protests by Extinction Rebellion, which lasted for several days. Protesters blocked entrances and created significant noise from outside, disturbing the concentration of the chess players inside.