FIDE Al-Ain ACMG Academy launch: A new era of global talent development
The FIDE Trainers’ Commission is delighted to announce the official launch of the FIDE Al-Ain ACMG Academy, scheduled to begin on 1 December 2025. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich emphasized that this flagship initiative represents a cornerstone of FIDE’s long-term global strategy to develop young chess talents and ensure that every federation has equal access to world-class instruction. “The FIDE Al-Ain ACMG Academy reflects our vision of a truly global chess community — one where talent, passion, and opportunity meet. By connecting young players with some of the greatest trainers in history, we are building a bridge to the future of chess education and giving every federation the chance to nurture its next generation of champions,” said Dvorkovich. Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Sultan bin Shakhbout Al Nahyan, President of the Al Ain Chess & Mind Games Club, presented the launch of FIDE Al-Ain ACMG Academy as a project of global importance: “This Academy is more than a training project — it is a dream shared by us and FIDE that every child deserves the chance to learn, dream and become a champion. Together with the FIDE Trainers’ Commission, we are creating a global platform that welcomes every young player, no matter where they come from — to engage in high-level training and learn from some of the greatest minds in chess history.” The Academy brings together a constellation of legendary chess minds — including Hou Yifan, Rustam Kasimdzhanov, Alexander Khalifman, Vladimir Chuchelov, Artur Jussupow, Iossif Dorfman, Adrian Mikhalchishin, Ramesh R B, Vladimir Potkin, Aleksey Dreev, Vladimir Malakhov, Yevgeniy Vladimirov, Melikset Khachiyan, Yannick Gozzoli, Farrukh Amonatov, Alonso Zapata, and other great lecturers to be announced soon — who will deliver a comprehensive 400-hour training program designed to inspire and elevate the next generation of champions. Training will be conducted in twelve specialized groups, across four languages (English, Russian, Spanish, and French), and will run from December 2025 to May 2026. The curriculum blends advanced chess instruction with personal development sessions, emphasizing both intellectual growth and character building. A key highlight of the program will be the FIDE Al-Ain ACMG Academy Training Camp, which will take place in two stages — an online phase followed by an in-person camp in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates, scheduled for mid-January 2026. Participation in the camp will be determined based on selection criteria to be announced at a later stage. FIDE invites all National Chess Federations to nominate four promising young players — two boys and two girls aged 8 to 16 — to take part in this prestigious program. Nominations should be submitted by completing the [Registration Form] and sending it to trainers@fide.com no later than 14 November 2025. The FIDE Al-Ain ACMG Academy embodies FIDE’s enduring commitment to excellence, inclusivity, and the advancement of chess education worldwide — shaping not only future grandmasters but also future leaders through the universal language of chess. For more details and updates, please visit the FIDE Trainers’ Commission website.
FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships 2025: Registration period nearing close
What better way to end the year than with a high-stakes chess tournament featuring the world’s top players, a one-million-euro prize fund, and popular fast-paced time controls? The 2025 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships offer exactly this to chess players and fans around the globe. This year, from December 25-31, the annual event heads to Doha, Qatar – a world-class setting for a world-class competition. Registration is now open, and FIDE invites all eligible players to take part in one of the most exciting events on the chess calendar. [Register now] Event overview Rapid: Open section: 13 Swiss rounds Women’s section: 11 Swiss rounds Blitz: Two-stage format: Swiss stage: 19 rounds (Open), 15 rounds (Women) over two days Knockout stage: Only the top four players from the Swiss stage proceed to the semifinals (Open and Women). Matches in the knockout are over four games, and ties after these lead to a “sudden death” game. Prize fund Open Rapid Championship: €350,000 Open Blitz Championship: €350,000 Women’s Rapid Championship: €150,000 Women’s Blitz Championship: €150,000 Eligibility Players with a FIDE rating of 2550 (Open section) or 2250 (Women’s section) or higher in any recent FIDE rating list (Standard, Rapid, or Blitz) are eligible to participate. Reigning national champions also qualify regardless of rating. Players who do not meet the above criteria may be nominated by the FIDE President and/or the organiser. Registration Entry fee: $100 for the Open section and $50 for the Women’s section. Late entry fee: Double the original fee if paid less than 10 days before the tournament. The list of registered players includes: Open: Gukesh D, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Levon Aronian, Vasyl Ivanchuk, Arjun Erigaisi, Volodar Murzin, Praggnanandhaa R, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Shakriyar Mamedyarov, Wesley So, Anish Giri, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Women: Humpy Koneru, Vaishali R, Zhu Jiner, Lei Tingjie, Bibisara Assaubayeva and Nana Dzagnidze. Travel & accommodation support Open section players rated above 2750 and women’s section players rated above 2500 will have travel and accommodation covered. The 2024 medalists (gold, silver, bronze) will have full accommodation covered. Accompanying person fee: Accompanying person’s fee in amount of 100 USD must be paid by 1 November 2025, which covers: Transportation during the event: airport-hotel-airport, hotel-playing hall-hotel; Accreditation; Visa support; General admission ticket Registration can be done [HERE]. The deadline for submitting entries is November 01, 2025. All foreign players and their accompanying persons shall stay only in the official hotels, which can be booked while completing the registration form. Regulations for 2025 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships: Open (PDF) Women’s (PDF) With exciting formats, strong incentives for top performers, and full global attention, the stage is set in Doha for one of the landmark events of the chess calendar.