FIDE announces regulations for Women’s Circuit 2026-2027
The regulations were officially approved by the FIDE Council and cover the period from 1 January 2026 The FIDE Women’s Circuit 2026-27 is a series of top women’s tournaments. Players are awarded Ranking Points (RP) based on performance in these key events. The 2026-2027 edition broadly mirrors the Open Circuit’s structure in widening the scope of eligible tournaments. Some of the key aspects of the new regulations: – The regulations cover the period from 1 January 2026 to 21 December 2027. The Women’s World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2026 and 2027 are eligible regardless of those cut-off dates. – To be included in the Women’s Circuit, a tournament must have the Tournament Average Rating (TAR) not below 2300 for the majority of tournaments (and not below 2400 for FIDE‐rated women’s tournaments pre‐approved by the FIDE Global Strategy Commission). – The ”Tournament Average Rating” (TAR) is now calculated based on the top 12 players in a tournament. If there are fewer than 12 players in the tournament, then the average rating of all the players in the tournament will go towards calculating TAR. – The final score is the sum of the top 12 event scores, or all their event scores if the number of tournaments is under 12. – In order to be eligible to qualify for the FIDE Women’s Candidates 2028, a player’s final score shall consist of at least eight tournaments, including at least five with standard (classical) time control. The regulations for the 2026-2027 Women’s Circuit can be found [HERE] Current standings on the Women’s Circuit Leaderboard Sixteen players now appear on the Women’s Circuit Leaderboard after the recently concluded European Women’s Rapid & Blitz Championships. The rapid champion Nino Batsiashvili from Georgia holds the early lead in the Women’s Circuit, with 13.86 points. She is followed by the blitz champion Eline Roebers on 11.81 points and former Women’s World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk, who finished second in the rapid event, with 10.48 points. The other players are on single-digit scores. We maintain dedicated pages on our website for the FIDE Women’s Circuit 2026 – 2027 featuring the latest information on eligible tournaments, current standings, and regulations. Visit: FIDE Women’s Circuit 2026 – 2027
Empowering teachers, inspiring students: FIDE Chess in Education at Madras Christian College
Chennai, January 22–24, 2026 – A quiet revolution in classroom learning unfolded at Madras Christian College (Autonomous) as the FIDE Chess in Education Commission (CIE), in partnership with the Emmanuel Chess Centre, inaugurated the Chess in Education – Preparation of Teachers’ (PoT) Course. Held at the Blue Whale Hall, MMIP, MCC, the three-day intensive programme focused on equipping teachers – especially from the Tribal Welfare Department – with the skills to bring chess into classrooms, reaching nearly 27,000 tribal children across Tamil Nadu. The course extended far beyond chess fundamentals. Over three immersive days, WIM Rita Atkins and Dr. Joseph Ebenezer guided participants in using chess as a structured pedagogical tool to strengthen academic skills, cultivate critical thinking, and foster life skills. Through interactive sessions, live demonstrations, and hands-on exercises, teachers explored how chess enhances problem-solving, decision-making, and mental agility – making learning both engaging and meaningful. Dr. P. Wilson, Principal of MCC, welcomed the gathering with warmth, expressing his delight at seeing chess embedded into educational institutions and underscoring the transformative potential of innovative learning approaches. WIM Rita Atkins, EDU Secretary of FIDE CIE, also presented the Tamil and English editions of the FIDE Chess in Education Course Book, localizing a globally accredited curriculum for Tamil Nadu schools. The programme received strong support from Tmt. G. Lakshmi Priya, IAS, Secretary to Government, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, who spoke passionately about how chess can empower children from marginalized communities, enhance equity, and improve learning outcomes. Thiru S. Annadurai, C.L.S., Director of the Tribal Welfare Department, highlighted the Department’s pride in partnering with FIDE CIE and Emmanuel Chess Centre to take chess education to the grassroots, ensuring that children in remote tribal regions have access to world-class, future-ready learning opportunities. The initiative received strong governmental backing. Ms. G. Lakshmi Priya, IAS, Secretary to the Government, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, spoke passionately about how chess can empower children from marginalized communities, enhance equity, and improve learning outcomes. Thiru S. Annadurai, C.L.S., Director of the Tribal Welfare Department, expressed pride in partnering with FIDE CIE and the Emmanuel Chess Centre to bring world-class, future-oriented learning opportunities to remote tribal regions. At the valedictory session on January 24, Dr. Veena Eswaradas highlighted chess’s cognitive benefits, including enhanced analytical reasoning and mental flexibility. Certificates were awarded to 54 participants who successfully completed the PoT Course. Dr. Joseph Ebenezer, Senior Lead Instructor for FIDE CIE, FIDE Trainer, and Candidate Master, emphasized the programme’s global standards and pedagogical rigor. Of the graduates, 34 earned the FIDE School Instructor (SI) title, qualifying them to implement chess-based learning in schools. SI title holders included: Government Tribal Residential Schools / EMRS: C. Gajalakshmi; M. Thangadurai; Sivasankari; Kabildev K; Suresh D; S. Pugazhenthi; R. Chandra Somu; M. Suresh; E. Sathish Kumar; R. Nithiyanandham; Gobi S; Rajakumar D; Duraiswami P; Chandru D; Deenadhayalan V; P. Sivakumar; Madhan Kumar L; Govindhammal R; M. Gowri Rani; Gnanasakthi S; Samikkannu P; Jeevitha G; Settu T; A. Anbuchelvan. Madras Christian College (Autonomous) alumni: Genita Gladys A; Joshua Anand Samuel; Jim Isaac; Gracelin Victoriya K; Dr. Ishvar Mohan; Dr. N. Prabhu. Women’s Christian College alumni: Pon Margret A; Dr. M. Getzi. Meston College of Education alumni: Aparna A; Jecinth Evlyn J. Other participants: Dr. Emma Kalpana; Bharaneeshwaran V. Chess sets and the Winning Moves DVD were provided to schools to support classroom implementation. This initiative marks a major step in mainstreaming Chess in Education across Tamil Nadu, empowering teachers and students with innovative, future-ready learning tools while fostering cognitive development, critical thinking, and 21st-century competencies at the grassroots level.