FIDE World Junior Rapid Championship 2025: Suyarov and Balabayeva capture titles
The FIDE World Junior Rapid Chess Championships concluded in Lima with remarkable victories that highlighted the strength of the new generation of players. IM Mukhammadzokhid Suyarov (Uzbekistan) and WGM Xeniya Balabayeva (Kazakhstan) are the newly crowned World Junior Rapid Champions, winning the open and girls’ sections, respectively. With two grandmasters and several strong international masters in the field, the open tournament was tightly contested and went down to the wire. Heading into the final ninth round, three Uzbek players—Mukhammadzokhid Suyarov, Mukhiddin Madaminov, and Khumoyun Begmuratov—shared the lead with 6.5/8, closely followed by six players (including top seed GM Denis Lazavik) on 6/8. After Madaminov drew with Maksim Tsaruk and Lazavik defeated Begmuratov, Suyarov got his shot at gold—a chance he did not miss. Playing the white side of a Ruy Lopez, he prevailed over Juan Jose Cano Alcaraz (Colombia), clinching the title with an excellent score of 7.5/9. Four players tied for second place, with Madaminov and Lazavik taking silver and bronze, respectively, thanks to superior Buchholz tiebreaks. Final standings Open The girls’ event was equally strong and exciting. Despite a second-round setback against WFM Varvara Poliakova (FIDE), Xeniya Balabayeva reeled off five straight victories to seize the lead. Peruvian Grandmaster Deysi Cori, one of Latin America’s most celebrated chess players, made a special appearance at the final round of the Women’s World Junior Rapid Chess Championship in Lima, where she made the ceremonial first move. Her participation highlighted the importance of inspiring the next generation and added a symbolic touch to the event’s closing day. Entering the final round on 6.5/8, half a point ahead of three pursuers, Xeniya achieved a winning position against one of her main rivals, WIM Afruza Khamdamova, but misplayed it and had to settle for a draw. That result was enough to secure the title, as her other challengers, Poliakova and Anna Zhurova, split the point after a long battle. Khamdamova and Poliakova earned silver and bronze, respectively, edging out Zhurova on tiebreaks. Final standings Girls Photos: Patricia Claros Aguilar Official website: fidewj2025.com/