Freestyle Chess Tour removes “World Championship” claim from its regulations
UPDATE: Today, February 04, the organizers of the “Freestyle Chess Tour” fully deleted from its Regulations the reference to the “World Championship” title. Following this change in the regulations, players wishing to participate in the 2025 “Freestyle Chess Tour” are no longer required to sign the waiver note. In recent days, FIDE has been engaged in extensive discussions with the “Freestyle Chess Tour” regarding the potential recognition of their event as a World Championship. Despite our willingness to collaborate—including offering a waiver to the participants of the planned 2025 competition, waiving the fee for the 2025 edition, and requesting an end to unfounded accusations against FIDE and undermining classical chess—no agreement was reached. The “Freestyle Chess Tour” has chosen not to acknowledge FIDE’s existing authority over the World Championship title and has opted to remain a privately organized tournament, primarily featuring hand-picked elite players, rather than an open and transparent qualification process. A true World Championship must be inclusive, with transparent qualification pathways that follow FIDE’s rules and regulations—established with the consensus of the global chess community—as seen in the FIDE World Championship cycle. Without these principles, the integrity of the title is at risk. Taking this into consideration, players wishing to participate in the 2025 Freestyle Chess Tour event are required to sign the waiver note by 18:00 CET, February 4, 2025, to remain eligible for the official FIDE World Championship cycle. We note that this document does not impose new requirements on the players but provides them with a one-off exception from their existing contractual obligations towards FIDE. However, if the “Freestyle Chess Tour” removes the “World Championship” title from their event, these restrictions will not apply. FIDE remains open to collaboration, but we are firm in our commitment to protecting the integrity and history of the World Championship and the entire chess community.
Call for Submissions: FIDE Veteran Support Program 2025
The International Chess Federation is pleased to announce the continuation of its support for chess veterans. Grants will be awarded to distinguished players, coaches, and organizers aged 65 and older. Anyone meeting this age requirement who has contributed to the development of chess and is facing an unstable financial situation is eligible to apply. As in previous years, we invite federations, clubs, and individuals to submit applications, including a CV of the nominee, to the FIDE Secretariat at office@fide.com. The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2025.
Praggnanandhaa R wins Tata Steel Masters 2025
Praggnanandhaa R has emerged as the champion of the Tata Steel Masters 2025, securing his maiden “Wimbledon of Chess” title. In a dramatic turn of events, the World Champion Gukesh D, who had led for most of the tournament and entered the final round as a joint leader with 8.5/12, suffered a crucial loss as White against his compatriot Arjun Erigaisi Meanwhile, Praggnanandhaa, the other co-leader, had a chance to claim the title outright but needed to hold an inferior position against Vincent Keymer. However, he was unable to do so, and as a result, both Gukesh D and Praggnanandhaa finished with 8.5/13, tying for first place. To determine the champion, a blitz tiebreaker was held. After the opponents traded blows in the first two games, Praggnanandhaa turned tables in the third sudden-death encounter to win down-a-pawn endgame and clinch the title. This victory marks a major milestone in Praggnanandhaa’s career, further solidifying his place among the chess elite. Nodirbek Abdusattorov netted 8/13 and came third. Final standings Masters The Challengers event saw the triumph of Thai Dai Van Nguyen, who scored an impressive 9.5/12. This stellar performance secured him a spot in next year’s Masters. Final standings Challengers Photos: Tata Steel Chess, Jurriaan Hoefsmit Official website: tatasteelchess.com/en
Queens’ Online Chess Festival returns for its 5th edition
We are thrilled to announce that the Queens’ Online Chess Festival 2025 returns in March for its 5th edition! The Queens’ Online Chess Festival is a series of continental women’s online blitz tournaments, open to all female chess players worldwide. Our goal is to create a special opportunity for all female players, no matter the location, age or level – to come together and participate in this unique event for women’s chess. The registration is free of charge and the event will take place online on the platform Tornelo, from March 1-28, 2025. Sections of the Festival The Festival consists of two competitions: Queens’ Women Open Tournament (open to all female participants with FIDE ID). Continental qualifying events running from the 1st till 9th of Match and Semi-Final and Final scheduled on March 16th and 28th, respectively; Unrated Princesses’ tournaments (female players with no FIDE rating) Qualifiers for “East” and “West” with Finals in groups U9, U11, U13, U15 & U17 (for U17 – born on 1.1.2008 or later). The qualification stage is scheduled for March 15th, and Finals will be held on March 28th. Awards The winner of The Queen Festival Chess Tournament will be invited to the 46th World Chess Olympiad 2026 in Uzbekistan. The hotel accommodation for 3 nights full board (if the winner is U18, then accompanying person can also stay in the hotel with full board). The official Cup award ceremony for the Queens’ Festival 2025 will take place during the Olympiad 2026. The Queen Festival Chess Tournament offers a prize fund of 1000 euros. The first-place winner will receive 500 euros, the second-place winner will receive 300 euros, and the third-place winner will receive 200 euros. The winner of each Qualification in the Queens’ Festival tournaments: Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe, will receive a physical trophy and the title of the Queens’ Festival Continental Queen. The winner of the Princess Festival will receive a physical trophy. Additionally – each participant will receive an electronic certificate of participation. The first ten winners in all qualification tournaments will be entitled to two 45-minute training sessions with Women Grandmasters. Details to be announced. Queens’ Women Open Tournament Registration form: https://forms.gle/fwespf37anAfSFvj9 Registration deadlines: The qualification tournaments and semi-finals will be 9 or 11-round Swiss tournaments with 3+2 time control, depending on the number of participants, while the final will be a round-robin with 5+5 time control (7 rounds). Unrated Princesses’ Tournament Registration form: https://forms.gle/zNX9Jo7EbFemkzwm6 Registration deadline: March 8th 2025 Unrated players U17 (born on 01.01.2008 or later) can play in both the Queens’ Women’s Open tournament and the Unrated Princesses’ tournament. We are looking forward to your registrations! Regulations-Queens-Festival-2025 (PDF) FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess official website: wom.fide.com/
FIDE February 2025 rating list published
The world’s top 10 rankings remain unchanged in January, as the chess battles of the new year have only just begun. The first major event of 2025, Tata Steel, is nearing its conclusion in Wijk aan Zee, but the results from the Masters and Challengers sections will only be reflected in the March rating list. Biggest gains in top 100 Open and Women Van Foreest, Machteld FM NED 2367(+54) Rakshitta Ravi WGM IND 2365(+44) Efroimski, Marsel IM ISR 2398 (+9) Daulyte-Cornette, Deimante IM FRA 2384 (+9) Sindarov, Javokhir GM UZB 2700 (+8) Van Foreest, Jorden GM NED 2688 (+8) Fedoseev, Vladimir GM SLO 2724 (+7) Dardha, Daniel GM BEL 2652 (+7) Machteld Van Foreest (pictured below) became the indisputable winner in this category, adding 54 rating points to her tally. The younger sister of Jorden and Lucas Van Foreest made a triumphant return to the top 100 Women after a one-year hiatus, thanks to her strong performances at the Groningen Open and the 2024-25 4NCL Division 3 Bishops. Photo: Michal Walusza Another standout performer was Rakshitta Ravi, whose impressive showing at the 2025 Rilton Cup earned her 44 rating points. The 19-year-old Indian talent has been on a steep upward trajectory, accumulating 80 points over the last two months. The only classical chess event influencing the top 100 Open was Bundesliga 2024-2025 where Vladimir Fedoseev, Javokhir Sindarov, Jorden Van Foreest and Daniel Dardha gained rating points from their performances. Photo: Israel Chess Federation Meanwhile, Marsel Efroimski (pictured above) dominated the Israeli Women’s Championship, scoring an impressive 8.5/9 and earning 9 rating points. Unlike the classical rating lists, the rapid and blitz rankings saw significant shifts, largely due to the recently concluded 2024 European Women’s Rapid and Blitz Championship. Several players who excelled in the rapid event in Monte Carlo made notable rating gains: Eline Roebers (+33), Yuliia Osmak (+26), Lela Javakhishvili, (+23), Mai Narva (+22) and the champion, Anna Ushenina (+18), to name a few. Photo: Lennart Ootes A similar pattern emerged in the blitz event, where standout performances led to impressive rating increases: Michalina Rudzinska (+95! pictured above), Stavroula Tsolakidou (+57), Eline Roebers (+38), the new champion Alexandra Maltsevskaya (+24) and Nino Batsiashvili (+22) and Anna Ushenina (+21).
Yair Parkhov and Marsel Efroimski win 42nd Israeli Championship
GM Yair Parkhov and IM Marsel Efroimski have emerged as the new champions of Israel. The 42nd Israeli Chess Championship was held at the Yam Suf Hotel in Eilat from January 20–28. Organized by the Israel Chess Federation with support from the Lottery and the Eilat Municipality, the event was initially scheduled for late 2024 but was postponed to January 2025 due to organizational reasons. Open Championship In the open category, 32 players—including 11 GMs, 6 IM, and 8 FM—competed in a 9-round Swiss tournament for a total prize fund of 85,000 NIS. The competition was fiercely contested, with at least two players sharing the lead for most of the event. Heading into the final round, GMs Yahli Sokolovsky and Yair Parkhov (pictured below, left) were tied at the top with 6/8, half a point ahead of Yeshaayahu Tzidkiya and Ido Gorenstein. In the final round, Sokolovsky and Gorenstein agreed to a quick draw, while Parkhov secured a critical victory over Yeshaayahu Tzidkiya, finishing with 7/9 to claim the title. Sokolovsky ended half a point behind, earning the silver medal, while Yannay Ben Ari clinched bronze with a final-round win and a superior Buchholz score over Gorenstein. Final standings Open 1 GM Parkhov, Yair 2508 7 2 GM Sokolovsky, Yahli 2535 6½ 3 IM Ben Ari, Yannay 2453 6 4 GM Gorshtein, Ido 2565 6 5 IM Tzidkiya, Yeshaayahu 2479 5½ 6 IM Veinberg, Nimrod 2400 5½ 7 IM Rozen, Eytan 2504 5½ 8 IM Bronstein, Or 2451 5½ 9 GM Boruchovsky, Avital 2532 5 10 GM Alekseev, Evgeny 2518 5 Women’s Championship The women’s championship, a 10-player round-robin with a prize fund of 25,000 NIS, was dominated by IM Marsel Efroimski. As the top seed, Efroimski steamrolled the competition, winning eight games and conceding just a single draw to finish three points ahead of a group of four players. IM Masha Klinova, FM Dana Kochavi, WIM Noga Orian, and WFM Ronit Levitan all tied for second place with 5.5/9. Klinova and Kochavi secured silver and bronze respectively based on tiebreaks. Final standings Women 1 IM Efroimski, Marsel 2389 8½ 2 IM Klinova, Masha 2235 5½ 3 FM Kochavi, Dana 2345 5½ 4 WIM Orian, Noga 2155 5½ 5 WFM Levitan, Ronit 2085 5½ 6 WFM Tashkinova, Sofiia 2150 5 7 WCM Gadasi, Noam 1962 3½ 8 Ingel, Mica Bar 1995 3 9 Vardi, Shlomit 1842 1½ 10 Kluchik, Julia 1922 1½ Photos: Israel Chess Federation Official website: https://www.chess.org.il/
FIDE WGP Monaco 2025 preview
The 2025 FIDE calendar kicks off with the third leg of the Women’s Grand Prix, hosted in the beautiful setting of Monaco. Renowned as a global hub for women’s chess, Monaco recently staged the European Women’s Rapid and Blitz Championship, further solidifying its status as a top chess destination. This luxurious venue sets the stage for an elite competition, as ten of the world’s strongest female chess players battle for crucial Grand Prix points. Venue The tournament will take place at the Novotel Hotel Monte Carlo. Ideally located in the heart of Monaco, near iconic landmarks, this Green Key-certified venue is the perfect setting for this prestigious chess event. Photo: https://all.accor.com/ About the Event The Women’s Grand Prix Series 2024–25 features 20 players, with each player participating in three of the six tournaments. Each event is a 10-player round-robin, where participants earn points based on their final standings. The series winner is determined by the total cumulative points earned across all three tournaments played. Prize Fund: €80,000 per event, with an additional €120,000 distributed among the top 10 finishers in the overall standings. Qualification: The top two players from the series will qualify for the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament. Participants Aleksandra Goryachkina Goryachkina enters Monaco riding high after her dominant performance in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, where she won the second leg of the Grand Prix with an undefeated run, earning 130 Grand Prix points. Kateryna LagnoLagno, a consistent force in the Women’s Grand Prix series, will compete in her second leg of the 2024-25 cycle after Shymkent. As the winner of the first leg of the 2022–23 series, she remains a formidable contender. Bibisara AssaubayevaBibisara has excelled in her Grand Prix debut, finishing second in Tbilisi and third in Shymkent. Leading the standings with 182.5 points, she has her final opportunity to secure additional points, as players participate in only three of the six legs. With her strong form, she is undoubtedly one to watch. Sarasadat KhademalshariehSara, another debutant in the 2024–25 series, replaces Ju Wenjun, who opted not to participate. While her first leg in Tbilisi didn’t go as planned, she recently claimed silver at the European Women’s Rapid Championship in Monaco, a result that could boost her confidence on familiar ground. Harika Dronavalli Making her first appearance in this series, Harika enters fresh off her triumph as a member of the gold-medal-winning Women’s Olympiad team. A consistent performer in past Grand Prix cycles, she is expected to put in another strong performance in Monaco. Humpy KoneruHumpy delivered a mixed performance in Shymkent, finishing fifth despite a strong start. However, she capped off 2024 by winning the FIDE Women’s World Rapid Championship, a significant boost to her confidence ahead of Monaco. Elisabeth PaehtzA veteran of the Women’s Grand Prix, Paehtz is participating in her third consecutive series. She previously competed in the Shymkent leg and continues to be a steady presence among the women’s elite. Tan ZhongyiFormer World Champion Tan Zhongyi had a stellar 2024, beginning with her victory in the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament. In Shymkent, she narrowly missed out on first place, finishing just behind Goryachkina. Batkhuyag MunguntuulMunguntuul earned her spot in this series with a standout performance at the 2023 FIDE Grand Swiss. Monaco marks her second leg after a challenging outing in Shymkent. Alexandra KosteniukThe former World Champion is playing her second leg in this cycle after competing in Tbilisi. Recently, she won bronze at the European Women’s Blitz Championship in Monaco, showing she is still a force to be reckoned with. 2024–25 Women’s Grand Prix Schedule: Tbilisi, Georgia: August 14-25, 2024 Shymkent, Kazakhstan: October 29 – November 9, 2024 Monaco: February 17-28, 2025 Cyprus: March 14-25, 2025 India: April 13-24, 2025 Austria: May 6-17, 2025 The third leg of the Women’s Grand Prix in Monaco is set to deliver world-class chess as the strongest female players compete. With crucial Grand Prix points and qualification spots for the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament at stake, the tournament is set to showcase the very best of competitive chess in a stunning venue. For all the information, visit the official website. You can also follow the games live and watch the action with our wonderful commentators GM Alojzije Jankovic & IM Almira Skripchenko on YouTube.
Social Chess Research Conference announced
FIDE is thrilled to invite you to the Social Chess Research Conference, an online event bringing together researchers, educators, practitioners, and chess enthusiasts to explore how chess contributes to improving quality of life, fostering social development, inclusion, empowerment, and rehabilitation. Date: Saturday, February 22, 2025Time: 15:00 CETLocation: Online This unique conference serves as a platform to highlight innovative applications of chess, from research breakthroughs to real-world stories of empowerment and hope. Conference Themes Discover the transformative role of chess in various social contexts: Chess for Freedom: Exploring the impact of chess on prisoners, fostering rehabilitation, critical thinking, and a sense of purpose. Chess for Protection: Supporting refugees and vulnerable groups, providing stability, focus, and hope during difficult circumstances. Chess for Recovery: Investigating the role of chess in aiding recovery from addiction and chronic illnesses, including cancer. Infinite Chess: Empowering children with autism spectrum disorder, enhancing cognitive and social skills. Chess for Longevity: Promoting mental and emotional well-being in the elderly, combating memory loss, and fostering active aging. Chess for Change and Hope: Bringing positive change to underserved communities, including children in slums, orphans, and marginalized groups. Why Attend? This conference offers an inspiring blend of keynote presentations, interactive discussions, and thought-provoking panels, connecting a diverse community of individuals dedicated to leveraging chess as a tool for social transformation. Registration https://forms.gle/6quumvjkrAxadBWG8
FIDE AC extends ban and revokes title of IM Andrejs Strebkovs over harassment of female players
The FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission Appeal Chamber has issued its decision regarding the case of IM Andrejs Strebkovs. The case involved accusations of sending offensive and inappropriate materials, including pornographic images and used condoms, to female chess players, some of whom were minors. These actions disrupted events such as the 2021 Women’s Grand Swiss Tournament and caused significant harm to the affected players and the broader chess community. In its initial ruling, the EDC First Instance Chamber found IM Andrejs Strebkovs guilty of several breaches of FIDE’s ethics and disciplinary code, imposing a five-year ban from all FIDE-rated events. Strebkovs appealed this decision, denying his involvement and challenging the evidence and FIDE’s authority to handle the case. FIDE, in turn, filed a cross-appeal, seeking a harsher sanction, including a longer ban and the revocation of Strebkovs’ International Master title, emphasizing the harm done to women and minors in chess. After a thorough review, the Appeal Chamber upheld the evidence presented, which included DNA analysis and findings from a police investigation, and confirmed FIDE’s jurisdiction over the matter. The Chamber also found Strebkovs guilty of additional violations related to threatening and obscene behavior under FIDE’s rules. It was noted that the respondent did not express any remorse or empathy towards the victims. The Chamber also highlighted the gravity of the acts committed, which involved systematic and organized attacks against a vulnerable group – women and minors. A further aggravating factor noted was the prolonged period during which the respondent acted with impunity, coupled with his persistence in advocating for views on sexual harassment and abuse that are incompatible with the standards of the FIDE family. These actions, the Chamber concluded, evidenced a “clear repudiation of his membership” and had a severe and harmful impact on the sport, both at the individual and institutional levels. As a result, the Appeal Chamber extended Strebkovs’ ban to 12 years and revoked his International Master title, citing the severity and deliberate nature of his actions: “In the case at hand, the respondent seriously failed in his position as a role model, being the holder of an IM title. Moreover, he uses this title to coach and thus remain in contact with a community of young players among whom he can choose his victims or inquire about potential victims, and as long as the respondent is in contact with his sphere of influence, he will always be a threat to the entire chess community and especially the vulnerable groups he targets.” Commenting on the decision, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, who also served as the cross-appellant in this case, said: “This decision sends a strong message that there is no place in chess for such unacceptable behavior. FIDE is committed to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all players, particularly women and minors, who must feel safe and respected in our community.” The EDC Appeal Chamber’s ruling reflects the gravity of the misconduct and its impact on the chess community. By addressing such serious violations decisively, FIDE aims to protect the sport’s integrity and ensure that all players can participate in an environment free from harm or intimidation. The full text of the decision can be found here.
Former FIDE President Fridrik Olafsson turns 90
The fourth FIDE President, Fridrik Olafsson, was born on this day in 1935 in Reykjavík. Serving a single term from 1978 to 1982, succeeding Max Euwe and preceding Florencio Campomanes, Olafsson left an indelible mark on the history of the organization. His tenure as FIDE President was the culmination of a remarkable career and a life devoted to chess. Olafsson was the pioneer who placed Iceland on the world chess map, long before the iconic Fischer-Spassky match was even conceived. Here’s a fun fact you might have heard: Iceland boasts the highest number of Grandmasters per capita in the world, with 13 GMs on an island of approximately 325,000 people. Olafsson was the first, earning the title in 1958. And he was not an ordinary Grandmaster, but a world-class one, who can boast victories over Bobby Fischer, Tigran Petrosian, and Mikhail Tal. Notalbly he defeated each of these legendary World Champions, twice! In 1980, Olafsson added another illustrious scalp to his collection under unique circumstances. At the age of 45, with his best playing years behind him and in the middle of his term as FIDE President, he participated in the prestigious Clarin Tournament in Buenos Aires, organized by Argentina’s largest newspaper. The tournament featured a star-studded field, including World Champion Anatoly Karpov, as well as Larsen, Timman, Ljubojevic, and Najdorf. Despite his administrative duties, Olafsson delivered a respectable performance, scoring 6 points out of 13 games. The highlight, however, was his victory over Karpov. This game remains unique in chess history: the reigning FIDE President defeated the reigning World Champion in an official game—a feat unlikely to be repeated. With this win, Olafsson also joined the exclusive “Mikhail Chigorin Club,” reserved for players who have defeated a reigning World Champion without ever holding the title themselves. Fridrik’s successful career took off in 1952 when he became Icelandic Champion at the age of 17. This would be the first of the total six victories that he would achieve on this competition, and a golden ticket to travel abroad and compete in international competitions, where he quickly proved his worth. In 1953, he became Scandinavian Champion, and won a bronze medal in the World Junior Championship. His first major international success came at the Hastings International Tournament during New Year’s 1955-56. Arriving late and without a hotel reservation, he spent his first night in a Hastings police station cell, courtesy of a kind officer. Undeterred, Olafsson went on to share first place with Viktor Korchnoi. Olafsson took part in the 1958-1960 World Championship cycle, finishing 5th/6th at the 1958 Interzonal tournament in Portoroz. This result gave him the Grandmaster title, as well as a spot in the 1959 Candidates Tournament played in Yugoslavia. These were the two events in which he scored his two victories over Bobby Fischer. But probably his most memorable victory in the Candidates was the one against Tigran Petrosian. His game had been adjourned, and when it was resumed, they played on a balcony overlooking Zagreb’s Republic Square. According to the historian Golombek, “A giant demonstration board had been erected, and a crowd of 5,000 assembled to watch. Olafsson won, to great acclamations. When he tried to go back to the hotel, the crowd insisted on carrying him on their shoulders.” Despite his chess achievements, Olafsson balanced his career with a legal profession, working as a lawyer for the Icelandic Ministry of Justice until 1974. After losing the 1982 FIDE elections, he was appointed Secretary-General of the Icelandic Parliament, the highest-ranking administrative role in the institution. Through his achievements both on and off the board, Fridrik Olafsson earned a very special place in the history of chess. We congratulate Fridrik Olafsson on his 90th birthday and wish him good health and happiness! Photos: https://reykjavik.is/, http://skaksogufelagid.is, http://gahetna.nl and FIDE archive