Wesley So wins 2025 Sinquefield Cup
Wesley So emerged as the winner of the 2025 Sinquefield Cup, edging out Fabiano Caruana and Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa in a dramatic blitz playoff. The American grandmaster, who was born in the Philippines, replicated his 2016 success by winning this prestigious event for the second time. The 2025 Sinquefield Cup—the final classical event and concluding leg of the Grand Chess Tour season—featured a $350,000 prize fund and took place at the World Chess Hall of Fame in St. Louis, Missouri, from August 18–28. With an exceptionally strong field, the event was fiercely contested, ending with three players tied for first place on 5.5/9. Caruana seized an early lead after scoring back-to-back wins over defending champion Alireza Firouzja and Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Praggnanandhaa, who opened his campaign with a brilliant first-round victory against World Champion Gukesh D, caught up with the leader in Round 7 after defeating Firouzja. That same round marked a turning point for So, who finally broke his streak of six straight draws by overcoming Gukesh and joining the race for first place. Heading into the final round, Caruana and Praggnanandhaa led with 5/8, closely followed by Levon Aronian and So on 4.5/8. First, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave made a quick draw with Jan-Krzysztof Duda, securing the top position in the overall GCT standings. Then Aronian, taking a pragmatic decision, split the point with Praggnanandhaa, a result that guaranteed both players spots in the 2025 GCT Finals. Caruana’s draw with Gukesh left So with a chance to force a tie for first. Rising to the occasion, So outplayed Abdusattorov, scoring a victory on demand and joining the leaders. A three-way blitz playoff was held to determine the champion. In the first game, Praggnanandhaa defeated Caruana after capitalizing on a crucial mistake by the American on move 24. In the second, So dismantled Praggnanandhaa’s queenside defense, forcing resignation. With this win, Wesley needed only a draw against Caruana to clinch the title—and he delivered, achieving this so-much-needed result after a hard-fought battle. Despite his triumph in the Sinquefield Cup, So narrowly missed qualification for the Grand Chess Tour Finals, falling short by just half a point. The Finals, featuring Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Fabiano Caruana, Levon Aronian, and Praggnanandhaa R, and will be held from September 28 to October 3 in São Paulo, Brazil. Photos: Lennart Ootes and Crystal Fuller | Saint Louis Chess Club Official website: grandchesstour.org/
Call of interest for panels of arbiters and world events 2026-2027
Dear colleagues, International and FIDE arbiters, According to the new Regulation B.06.4 FIDE Regulations for the Appointment of Arbiters in World Events (effective from July 20th 2023), the FIDE Arbiters’ Commission is proud release a new process for the selection of arbiters in the Panels (Green, Blue, Red and Yellow) for the next cycle 2026-2027. The call of Interest for Panels of arbiters and World Events 2026-2027 is open for one month, from August 28th 2025 to September 27th 2025, 23:59 CEST for all FIDE Arbiters and International Arbiters with a valid FIDE license. All arbiters who wish to officiate in World Events have to submit their application via Chamilo* (https://arb-learn.fide.com/). * Chamilo is the ARB Training Portal, which we are using to support the process. We will take advantage of the call of interest to include colleagues who haven’t followed training sessions yet under this new system. Survey link >>> Please fill in this survey to help us identify your wishes and availability for the Panels and World Events scheduled in 2026-2027. Arbiters will be assigned according to the Regulations (B06.4), depending on their experience, to panels which will be used to assign positions in tournaments. GENS UNA SUMUS! IA Ivan SyrovyChairman FIDE Arbiters’ Commission IA Nebojsa BaralicSecretary FIDE Arbiters’ Commission
Winners crowned at the 23rd European Union Youth Chess Championship
The 23rd European Union Youth Chess Championship 2025, organized by Šachový klub Světlá nad Sázavou under the patronage of the European Chess Union (ECU) and in cooperation with the Czech Chess Federation, concluded on Wednesday, August 27, in Roznov pod Radhostem. After final rounds full of fighting spirit and tension, the winners emerged in all categories: U8 Boys Lev Jevglevski (EST, 9 out of 9!) David-Christian Talaba (ROU) Daniel Sava (ROU) U8 Girls Sophia-Lenina Matala (ROU) Sare Adam (FRA) Pausader Ines Bravo (FRA) U10 Boys Filip Sirbu (FRA) Matelo Vinet (FRA) Thomas Lobina (FRA) U10 Girls Julia Szczurek (POL) Melania-Cristina Grigore (ROU) Karina Ser (LTU) U12 Boys Matvii Bilochenko (POL) Alexandru-Daniel Pasca (ROU) Krisjanis Lazars (LAT) U12 Girls Maelys Manouvel (FRA) Lila Rzadkowska (POL) Agnieszka Slusarczyk (POL) U14 Boys Andrii Diachek (POL) FM Vlad Petroff (ROU) Simon Matejka (SVK) U14 Girls Tess Hujova (CZE) Kaja Rzadkowska (POL) Olga Debowska (POL) Complete results are available HERE. The top three finishers in each category received a cup and a diploma. All participants were awarded a commemorative medal, and the eight European champions each won a notebook. The next five players in each category also received valuable prizes. Additionally, every player was given a tournament T-shirt featuring the EUYCC logo. The prizes were presented by the event director, Zdenek Fiala. The organizers also awarded special prizes for the best game in each of the final four rounds. The recipients of these brilliance awards were: Pastor Zuccolo Matteo (FRA), Melania-Cristina Grigore (ROU), Lila Rzadkowska (POL), Daniel Belocky (CZE), Sare Adam (FRA), Evienne Jongejan (NED), Klara Svabova (CZE), Kaja Rzadkowska (POL), Lev Jevglevski (EST), Julia Szczurek (POL), Alexandru-Daniel Pasca (ROU), Zsofia Bolla (HUN), Ines Bravo Pausader (FRA), Karina Ser (LTU), Yanis-Andrei Ganea (ROU), and FM Vlad Petroff (ROU). The organizers extend their gratitude to all players for their performance and fair play, to the parents and coaches for their cooperation, to the arbiters for smoothly running the tournament, and to all partners for their support. The next edition of the European Union Youth Chess Championship U8-14 will also be held in Roznov pod Radhostem from August 17 to August 26, 2026. Written by Zdenek Fiala, director Sachovy klub Svetla nad Sazavou Photo gallery: rajce.idnes.cz/sachysvetla/album/euycc-2025 Official website: chess.cz/mistrovstvi-evropske-unie/