FIDE Women’s World Cup Round 5 tiebreaks: Divya Deshmukh stuns Harika Dronavalli to reach semifinals
The semi-finals are set: Lei Tingjie vs Humpy Koneru and Tan Zhongyi vs Divya Deshmukh Divya Deshmukh, the young IMfrom Nagpur, Maharashtra, continued her remarkable rise in the world of chess with a stunning victory over GM Harika Dronavalli in Batumi. In a tense rapid tiebreak, Divya secured a clean 2-0 win, eliminating one of India’s most experienced players and advancing to the semi-finals. With this victory, Divya joins her compatriot GM Humpy Koneru and Chinese top seeds GM Lei Tingjie and GM Tan Zhongyi in the final four. The semi-finals, set to be held at the Grand Bellagio venue starting tomorrow, will determine the three players who will qualify for the prestigious Women’s Candidates Tournament. They will join GM Alexandra Goryachkina and GM Zhu Jiner, who have already secured their spots via the Women’s Grand Prix. Divya will face former Women’s World Champion Tan Zhongyi in her semi-final match, while Humpy Koneru takes on Lei Tingjie in the other India vs China clash — a testament to the formidable strength both nations bring to the women’s chess circuit. Speaking on stage moments after Harika’s resignation, FIDE’s WIM Charlize van Zyl caught up with Divya, who was still visibly emotional. Reflecting on her performance, she said honestly, “I think I’m happy with the way I played, but I don’t think the second game went very well.” As the tournament enters its decisive stage, Divya Deshmukh’s breakthrough performance signals a generational shift in Indian chess. With youth, composure, and a fearless approach, she is proving to be a serious contender on the world stage — and perhaps a future challenger for the Women’s World Championship title. Let’s take a closer look at the games: In the first 15|10 rapid game, Divya targeted one of the lines that Harika plays quite often—the Classical Italian, Greco Gambit. Both players blitzed out their opening moves, showcasing excellent preparation. “The preparation has had a lot to say in this game, and I would like to thank my coach for that,” explained Divya in her post-game interview. In fact, Harika had played the exact same position—though with reversed colours—against Goryachkina in a 2021 tournament, so she was clearly familiar with the nuances of the line. However, things started to go wrong for Harika around move 22. The position was approximately equal, and a good sequence for Black would have been: 22…cxd4 23.cxd4 Bb4! — regrouping the bishop to f8, reinforcing the light-square defence. Instead, Harika went astray with 22…Qc6?, allowing Divya to grab a crucial pawn with 23.dxc5! dxe5 24.fxe5, leading to a critical turning point. Though White was a pawn up, her shattered pawn structure meant Black still had drawing chances—especially with a solid move like 24…Qe6, aiming to control the light squares. But Harika blundered again with 24…Rxe5?, allowing Divya to activate her pieces decisively. She placed her bishop on d4, bringing tremendous pressure on Harika’s king. A few moves later, Divya struck gold with a brilliant tactical sequence. She played the stunning 30.Bxg7! Rxg7 31.Rxg7 Qxg7, and now calmly followed up with 32.Kf1!, winning the queen for just a rook and a bishop. “I initially thought the combination wasn’t working because of 31…Kxg7, but then I found the idea with 32.Qf4 and saw that it was OK,” she explained after the game. There was still some technical work to do, but Divya converted her advantage with confidence and precision. Going into the second 15/10 game, Harika was forced to win with White to remain in contention. Her opening choice, a King’s Indian Attack, with an early exchange of queens, suits her positional style, but excellent technique is needed to grind a win from such positions. Harika was doing well – going out of the opening, she might have missed a chance in the following position: Divya was doing her best to exchange every piece she could – a draw would secure her spot in the semi-finals. Here Harika went 22.Bh2, understandably trying to keep as many pieces on the board as possible, in this case the bishop pair. However, the engine suggests that the best option would have been 22.Bxh4! Nxh4 and now 23.f5!, in an attempt to isolate the knight out of the game. Having missed this opportunity, Divya rerouted the knight to the strong d5 square and construct a fortress. From then onwards Divya kept the position in balance, and it seemed a draw was going to be the most likely outcome. But low on time, Divya blundered, allowing Harika her final opportunity. Instead of 63.Kf3?, which is a draw, Harika should have played 63.Bf4! (first on move 61 in a slightly different position) and after 63…Bxf4 (forced) 64.Kxf4, the king penetrates to e5 while the bishop goes to d3 – there is no way that Black can hold this ending with so many weaknesses. After missing this opportunity, Harika’s confidence was broken, and a few moves later she blundered a pawn and the game. “Zhu Jiner was definitely my toughest opponent up to now and winning the tiebreak against her gave me confidence for this one. I didn’t want to play tiebreaks but this is my fate, and for the moment it’s going well” were Divya’s final words. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX7Sg6AMzX8 Written by IM Michael Rahal (Batumi, Georgia) Photos: Anna Shtourman About the tournament: Scheduled to take place from July 6th to July 28th, the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Cup will gather together in Batumi (Georgia) the world’s best female chess players. A total of 107 players from 46 different federations are set to participate in the event, including seventeen of the current top twenty! Chess legends, seasoned professionals and emerging talents will play for the $50,000 first prize, in addition to three qualifying spots for the Candidates. The full pairings tree and day-by-day results can be found on the Women’s World Cup website.
Smart Moves Summit 2025: Shaping the future of education through chess
FIDE and the International School Chess Federation invite you to the Smart Moves Summit 2025, a groundbreaking international gathering exploring how chess can transform education. From classrooms to communities, from policy to practice, this event on August 4–5 brings together visionary educators, policy leaders, EdTech innovators, and social entrepreneurs to share real-world strategies that are changing how we teach and learn. This summit is more than a conference—it’s an investment in ideas, networking, and practical tools that can redefine education for generations to come. Why attend? – Get inspired by thought leaders who are already reshaping national education policies through chess – Discover strategies that make classrooms more inclusive, equitable, and effective – Learn from global models for funding and scaling school chess programs – Network with changemakers from over 30 countries and across disciplines – Take home practical solutions that can be applied in schools, nonprofits, or government initiatives Spotlight on speakers: Meet the changemakers Dana Reizniece-Ozola (Latvia) Former Minister of Finance and current FIDE Deputy Chair, Dana blends government policy and chess activism like no one else. Her session will explore how governments can integrate chess into national curricula—a must for any policymaker, education consultant, or federation leader. Why it’s worth it: Gain insights from someone who has implemented chess in both national governance and global programs supporting refugees and underserved youth. Timur Turlov (Kazakhstan) Entrepreneur, investor, and President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, Turlov has funded and launched one of the world’s most ambitious chess-in-schools programs. He’ll speak on how private sector leadership and public policy can align to create systemic change. Why it’s worth it: Understand how business thinking can drive educational transformation and discover replicable models of success. Robert Katende (Uganda) Founder of the SOM Chess Academy and inspiration behind Disney’s Queen of Katwe, Katende has used chess to uplift children from the slums of Kampala. His talk will focus on social impact, youth empowerment, and chess as a tool for hope. Why it’s worth it: Hear a first-hand story of transformation and gain ideas for launching purpose-driven programs with lasting community impact. Jennifer Shahade (USA) WGM, author, and podcast host, Shahade is a leading voice in gender equity and representation in chess. Her session will discuss creating inclusive chess spaces and using media to reshape narratives in education and sport. Why it’s worth it: Learn how to amplify voices, improve representation, and use storytelling to inspire a new generation. José Francisco “Pep” Suárez (Spain) Psychologist and ECU education commission member, Suárez specializes in using chess to support cognitive development, mental health, and classroom engagement. His hands-on training programs for teachers are used across Europe. Why it’s worth it: Discover practical, evidence-based methods for integrating chess into any school system—even with no prior chess experience. Jenny Ingber (USA) President of Chess in the Schools (NYC), Jenny has built a nonprofit that reaches thousands of underserved students annually with academic enrichment and chess instruction. She’ll speak on sustainable nonprofit models and outcomes-based program design. Why it’s worth it: Perfect for NGO leaders and school district administrators looking to implement high-impact programs with measurable success. Jerry Nash (USA) Chair of the FIDE Chess in Education Commission and architect of the global chess teacher training framework. He’ll lead sessions on educator certification, training systems, and implementation across diverse educational environments. Why it’s worth it: Gain access to tested tools and frameworks that can help scale your chess-in-education efforts across schools or entire regions. More speakers include: Kenneth Regan – Anti-cheating expert and data scientist: learn how fairness and integrity are maintained in educational play Michal Kanarkiewicz – Corporate strategist: how chess boosts executive functioning and decision-making Anandita Oberoi – Counselor and researcher: using chess in therapeutic and gifted education Tyron Davis III – Co-founder of The Gift of Chess: scaling global outreach through digital and real-world tools Jeremy Kane, Rita Atkins, Arlecia Taylor, Zachary Saine, Tyler Schwartz, Elliot Neff, David Heiser, and others. Reserve your place This event is a must for anyone serious about using chess to impact education—whether you’re a teacher, policymaker, chess federation leader, or EdTech founder. Get your tickets here: tickets.fide.com Learn more at the official website: worldschoolteam2025.fide.com/summit/
FIDE Council Meeting held online on June 18, 2025
The second FIDE Council Meeting of 2025 took place on July 18, alongside the ongoing FIDE Women’s World Cup. Held in an online format, the meeting addressed a range of important topics, including development projects, budget matters, the FIDE calendar, fair-play measures, and the approval of new player titles. New Grandmasters approved One of the key highlights of the meeting was the approval of 10 new Grandmasters. Among them is 21-year-old Bibisara Assaubayeva of Kazakhstan, who becomes the second Kazakhstani woman and the 43rd female player in history to earn the prestigious GM title. The full list of newly approved Grandmasters: * Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ, 13708694)* Leonardo Costa (GER, 16213955)* Julian Kramer (GER, 12921742)* Edgar Mamedov (KAZ, 13739980)* Christopher Noe (GER, 24692018)* Tao Pang (CHN, 8609950)* L R Srihari (IND, 46617116)* Milosz Szpar (POL, 1184989)* Artem Uskov (FID, 34254854)* Matthew J. Wadsworth (ENG, 415804) Key event dates confirmed The Council confirmed the dates for several major upcoming events on the FIDE calendar: * FIDE World Cup 2025 – October–November 2025, India* Women’s World Team Championship 2025 – November 2025, Linares, Spain* 2nd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities – October 2025, Kazakhstan Participation of neutral team at Women’s World Team Championship In line with FIDE’s policy of following IOC guidance and in accordance with practices adopted by several international sports federations — such as World Aquatics, the International Fencing Federation, and the International Gymnastics Federation — the Council approved the participation of a team of athletes of Russian nationality in the 2025 Women’s World Team Championship under the FIDE flag, subject to obtaining a non-objection letter from the IOC. This decision builds upon the precedent set by the January 2025 FIDE resolution, which allowed neutral teams of vulnerable groups (youth and players with disabilities) to participate in team competitions. All such entries are required to compete without national symbols, in full alignment with IOC policy. A complete list of decisions from the FIDE Council Meeting will be published in due course.
20th ICCD World Team Championships: Registration now open
The International Chess Committee of Deaf (ICCD) invites all ICCD member countries to participate in the 20th ICCD World Team Chess Championships. The event will be held in Roquetas de Mar, Spain from May 6-15, 2026 and include six competitions: 20th ICCD World Deaf Team Chess Championship 1st World Deaf Team Blitz Chess Championship 1st World Deaf Team Rapid Chess Championship 8th World Deaf Individual Blitz Chess Championship 14th ICCD Deaf Open Individual Chess Tournament 1st ICCD Open Individual Rapid Chess Tournament The ICCD encourages visually-impaired deaf chess players to participate in any of these events. Please complete and send FORM 1 to the ICCD Secretary General at iccd.gensecretary@gmail.com and the Organizing Committee: alfredogomez@iccdroquetasdemar.com Registration deadline (for submitting FORM 1): October 14, 2025 Participation in this ICCD World Deaf Chess Championship implies full acceptance of the present regulations. The ICCD Organizing Committee reserves the right to modify, replace or cancel any of the clauses or conditions set forth herein, as well as to make changes to the schedule, timetable, format or venue of the event should force majeure, justified organizational reasons or unforeseen circumstances arise. Any modifications will be officially communicated through the designated communication channels of the organization. 20th ICCD World Team Championships: Regulations, schedule, format (PDF)
FIDE World Cup 2025 to be hosted in India
The FIDE World Cup is coming to India this year! Scheduled for October 30 to November 27, 2025, the tournament will feature the world’s best players battling for the coveted title and qualification spots in the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament. Format The FIDE World Cup 2025 will feature 206 players competing in a knockout format—a dynamic and unpredictable system where the losing player in each round is eliminated. The event has used several formats over the years, but since 2021, it has followed a single-elimination format. Each round spans three days: two classical games on the first two days, followed by tie-breaks on the third day, if necessary. In the first round, the top 50 players receive byes, while players seeded from 51 to 206 compete, with pairings based on the principle of the top half versus the reversed lower half. What’s at stake? The top three finishers of the 2025 World Cup will earn direct qualification for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, which determines the challenger for the World Chess Championship. Qualification Paths Players can qualify for the World Cup through various avenues, including: Reigning World Champion as of June 1, 2025 Top four finishers from the FIDE World Cup 2023 Reigning Women’s World Champion as of June 1, 2025 2024 World Junior Champion U-20 Spots Africa Americas Asia Europe Granted 3 3 3 3 Top 8 juniors 0 0 6 2 Top 60 players 0 9 26 25 Total 3 12 35 30 Qualifiers from Continental events, accounting for 80 spots The highest-rated players in the June 2025 FIDE standard rating list, 13 players, who have not qualified by any of the above listed path Top 100 national federations from the 2024 Chess Olympiad open section, each receiving one spot 4 nominees of the FIDE President 2 nominees of the Organiser Detailed information on qualification can be found in the official FIDE handbook. India: A chess powerhouse This year’s World Cup being held in India is particularly exciting. India has become a dominant force in the chess world, thanks in part to five-time World Champion and FIDE Deputy President Viswanathan Anand, whose efforts and legacy have been instrumental in popularizing chess in the country. India’s young stars include Gukesh Dommaraju, who became the youngest FIDE World Chess Champion at 18, Praggnanandhaa R, the runner-up of the 2023 World Cup, and Arjun Erigaisi, currently ranked world number five. In 2024, both the Indian Open and Women’s teams claimed their first-ever gold medals at the Chess Olympiad—a historic achievement further highlighted by four individual gold medals won by Gukesh, Erigaisi, Deshmukh, and Agrawal. Additionally, Koneru Humpy secured gold at the 2024 FIDE Women’s Rapid Championship, and Vaishali Rameshbabu earned bronze at the 2024 FIDE Women’s Blitz Championship. Photo: Stev Bonhage India has also recently hosted major events, including the FIDE Chess Olympiad 2022, Tata Steel Chess India, the FIDE World Junior U20 Championships 2024, and the 5th leg of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix (April 2025). These accomplishments underscore India’s status as a global chess hub, making it a fitting venue for the FIDE World Cup 2025. FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky expressed his excitement: “We are thrilled to bring the FIDE World Cup 2025 to India, a country with a deep-rooted passion and support for chess. Indian chess fans’ enthusiasm has always been remarkable, and we anticipate great interest in the event among local chess lovers, both on-site and online. To enhance the experience, FIDE is committed to organizing numerous side events, featuring tournament participants and chess legends.” Further details, including the announcement of the host city, will be released in due course. FIDE looks forward to an exhilarating tournament that continues to celebrate and advance the game of chess worldwide. The list of qualified players: https://worldcup2025.fide.com/participants/