Vladimir Tukmakov celebrates his 80th birthday
A renowned Grandmaster, chess author, and successful coach, Vladimir Tukmakov celebrates his 80th birthday today. Born in 1946 in Odessa – a city famous for its rich chess traditions – Tukmakov displayed promise from a young age, becoming a true leader of the post-WWII generation of Soviet chess talents. He quickly established himself as an excellent team player. His career first blossomed when he contributed to, and later captained, the USSR team to consecutive victories in the World Student Team Championship from 1966 to 1972, earning nine gold medals along the way. Tukmakov earned the Grandmaster title in 1972 following strong performances in elite events. These included second-place finishes at the USSR Championships in Riga (1970), Baku (1972), and Moscow (1983), finishing behind Korchnoi, Tal, and Karpov, respectively. In his only Olympiad appearance in 1984, he secured team gold. He also represented the USSR at the European Team Chess Championships in 1973, 1983, and 1989, collecting an impressive five gold medals (three team, two individual). At the momentous USSR vs. Rest of the World match in London (1984), Tukmakov made a surprising but important contribution. Starting as a reserve for the Soviet team, he was twice asked to substitute for Smyslov on board 4 and once for Polugaevsky on board 3. He delivered a positive score against Ljubojević (one win, one draw) and Korchnoi (one draw). In international tournaments, his best results include 2nd place (behind Fischer) at Buenos Aires 1970; 2nd (behind Karpov) at Madrid 1973; shared 1st (with Jansa and Ivkov) at the IBM Amsterdam Tournament 1974; 1st at Decin 1977; shared 1st (with Sax) at Las Palmas 1978; 1st at Vilnius 1978 (ahead of Tigran Petrosian); and 1st at Malta 1980. Later, he finished 2nd (behind Yusupov) at Yerevan 1982 and 2nd (behind Miles) at Tilburg 1984. Tukmakov also won the strong Lugano Open in 1985 and the 30th Reggio Emilia Tournament in 1987/88. At the Amsterdam OHRA-B Open in 1990, he shared first place with Judit Polgár. Additionally, he won the Canadian Open Chess Championship in 1989 and 1994. Photo: Maria Emelianova After transitioning from active play in the late 1980s, Tukmakov became a highly successful coach. He headed the Ukrainian national team starting in 2004, leading it to gold medals at the Chess Olympiads in Calvià (2004) and Khanty-Mansiysk (2010), along with multiple European and world team medals. Recognized as FIDE Trainer of the Year in 2010 and recipient of the trainer’s “Oscar,” he has mentored top players including Anish Giri and Wesley So. In 2024, he received FIDE’s Best Trainer award as part of the FIDE 100 celebrations. Tukmakov has also authored bestselling chess books such as Profession: Chess Player (2010), Modern Chess Preparation (2012), and Risk and Bluff in Chess (2015), offering insights into professional chess strategy and psychology. We wish Vladimir Tukmakov many more years of highly productive and creative work!
FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026: A clash of generations
Experience meets ambition as eight elite players compete for the right to challenge the Women’s World Champion. In three weeks’ time, eight of the best female chess players in the world will compete in a double round-robin for the right to challenge the reigning Women’s World Champion, China’s Ju Wenjun. The FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament is scheduled to begin on March 28 at the Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort, located on the western side of the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. Over fourteen rounds of classical play, the tournament will determine who advances to contest the crown in the final stage of the World Championship cycle. In accordance with FIDE regulations, players from the same federation must meet in the early rounds of the tournament. The full pairings for each round have already been released – check here. The 2026 field artfully blends experienced Candidates veterans such as Anna Muzychuk, Tan Zhongyi, Kateryna Lagno, and Aleksandra Goryachkina with energetic next-generation contenders like Zhu Jiner, Divya Deshmukh, Vaishali Rameshbabu, and Bibisara Assaubayeva, making for a dynamic tournament narrative. Given the double round-robin format, the matchups between seasoned players and rising stars will be critical, especially when psychological endurance and preparation depth become deciding factors heading into the final rounds. Expect a diverse range of styles – from Vaishali’s tactical dynamism to Tan Zhongyi’s refined strategic approach. Let’s take a closer look at the contenders, sorted by their current March 2026 FIDE ratings. Zhu Jiner (China, 2578) Photo: Mark Livshitz A world-class Chinese grandmaster, Zhu has rapidly climbed the elite ranks and enters Cyprus as the highest-rated participant. She qualified by winning the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024–25 series, consistently finishing in top places across the Grand Prix legs and showcasing her dynamic, aggressive style. Renowned for her sharp, top-notch opening preparation and excellent middlegame tactical skills, Zhu enters the competition as a serious contender for the top spot. Her only potential vulnerability is inexperience at the Candidates level – this will be her debut in the event. Tan Zhongyi (China, 2535) Photo: Michal Walusza A former Women’s World Champion (2017–2018) and proven classical player known for strategic depth, Tan Zhongyi qualified via her third-place finish in the 2025 Women’s World Cup. She has been part of multiple World Championship cycles as both champion and challenger; her experience boosts her psychological resilience. After finishing runner-up in the 2022–2023 cycle, she reaffirmed her strength in long classical events in 2024 by winning the Women’s Candidates Tournament in Toronto to earn another world title shot. Tan is widely regarded as a deeply strategic and resilient player, combining classical foundations with modern practical strength. Less dependent on tactical chaos, she thrives on accumulating advantages move by move and grinding down her opponents in slightly better endgames. In a Candidates-style double round-robin, her stability and experience make her particularly dangerous over 14 rounds, where consistency often outweighs short bursts of brilliance. Aleksandra Goryachkina (FIDE, 2534) Photo: Mark Livshitz Widely considered one of the most complete and technically refined players in women’s chess, Goryachkina combines deep preparation, positional mastery, and exceptional endgame precision. She announced her arrival at the very top in 2019 by winning the Women’s Candidates Tournament and earning the right to challenge Ju Wenjun for the world title, coming within touching distance of the crown in a tightly fought match. Peaking in 2021 at 2611 – one of the very few female players to have crossed that mark – she captured the 2023 Women’s World Cup and more recently added a major milestone by claiming her first World Championship title, winning the Women’s World Rapid Championship in Doha 2025. A perennial top-ranked player, Goryachkina brings depth of elite experience. She qualified as runner-up in the 2024–25 FIDE Women’s Grand Prix series and will be a strong candidate to challenge for first place based on her performance in the cycle. Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine, 2522) Photo: Michal Walusza Anna Muzychuk enters the Women’s Candidates as one of the most accomplished players of her generation, with sustained success across formats and a career spanning more than two decades at the top level. A Grandmaster since 2012, she became only the fourth woman in history to break the 2600 rating barrier. Her achievements in faster time controls are particularly notable: she is a three-time world champion, winning the Women’s World Blitz title in 2014 and completing a rapid and blitz double in 2016.In classical chess, Muzychuk reached the final of the 2017 Women’s World Championship, where she lost to Tan Zhongyi in rapid tiebreaks. In recent years, she has remained a consistent presence among the world’s leading players, highlighted by two first-place finishes in the 2025 Women’s Grand Prix and a first-place finish at Norway Chess Women 2025. Muzychuk joins the Candidates as a late replacement for Humpy Koneru, entering the field less than a week before the start of the tournament. After coming close through several qualification paths in 2025, she now has another chance to fight for a place at the summit of the women’s world championship cycle. Bibisara Assaubayeva (Kazakhstan, 2516) Photo: Michal Walusza Qualified for Cyprus as the highest-placed contender in the FIDE Women’s Events 2024–25 series, Assaubayeva is one of the most distinctive talents in women’s chess. Unlike purely positional grinders, she thrives in active positions where initiative and momentum matter. The winner of the Women’s World Blitz Championship in 2021, 2022, and again in 2025, she shows exceptional composure in knockout and fast-paced formats, while her classical results have progressed steadily, culminating in the grandmaster title. Her recent strong finishes in women’s circuit events showcase her resilience and adaptability. In January 2026, Assaubayeva delivered a strong performance in the Tata Steel Challengers, gaining 19 rating points and reaching a career-high rating of 2516. Making her Women’s Candidates debut, she will be willing to create fire on the board with her aggressive, unafraid style. Bibisara is especially effective when games become concrete and calculation-heavy. Kateryna Lagno (FIDE, 2508) Photo: Michal Walusza With