FIDE Special Tasks Director Akaki Iashvili visits Armenia to strengthen chess education cooperation
Akaki Iashvili, FIDE Special Tasks Director, recently undertook an official working visit to Yerevan, Armenia. His first stop was the Armenian State Pedagogical University – the institution responsible for training Armenia’s chess teachers. He was warmly welcomed by Acting Rector Lilit Mkrtchyan, who provided an overview of the university’s mission and academic activities. Rector Mkrtchyan highlighted the university’s Chess degree programme, which prepares teachers to integrate chess into the classroom. She emphasized why Armenia regards chess as a serious academic discipline – not merely a game – and outlined the institution’s international collaborations. She explained why Armenia treats chess as a serious academic subject rather than merely a game and also spoke about the university’s international activities. Also present at the meeting were Vice-Rector Mariam Ispiryan and International Grandmaster Smbat Lputian – Founder-President of the Chess Academy of Armenia, Director of the “Chess” Scientific Research Institute, pioneer of the “Chess in Schools” programme, and First Vice-President of the Armenian Chess Federation. Akaki Iashvili also visited the “Chess” Scientific Research Institute, based at the university. This institute is truly unique: nowhere else in the world does an institution dedicated entirely to researching chess as a school subject for children exist. Its work focuses on pedagogical methodologies, the cognitive and personal developmental benefits of chess education, and the continuous refinement of teaching practices. Akaki Iashvili also visited Yerevan’s School No. 38, where he observed the programme in action. During his visit, he attended lessons, interacted with students and teachers, and witnessed firsthand how chess is seamlessly woven into the daily curriculum. The parties also reviewed a number of strategic matters, including FIDE’s new event regulations, and several additional areas of cooperation. As part of the itinerary, an inspection visit was conducted at the Tsaghkadzor resort, situated 2,100 meters above sea level near Lake Sevan. The venue is under consideration as a potential host venue for future FIDE events.
Vaishali conquers Women’s Candidates to set up world title showdown against Ju Wenjun
Vaishali Rameshbabu will challenge Ju Wenjun for the Women’s World Championship after winning the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates outright with a score of 8.5/14. In an exciting final round, Vaishali defeated Kateryna Lagno in a magnificent display of technique, while Bibisara Assaubayeva could only manage a draw in her game against Divya Deshmukh. Javokhir Sindarov, already crowned winner of the FIDE Candidates before the final round, made a quick draw with Wei Yi, allowing both Anish Giri and Fabiano Caruana to move up in the standings with two fantastic final-round victories over Matthias Bluebaum and Andrey Esipenko, respectively. Let’s take a closer look at the action that unfolded in this exciting afternoon of chess. The ceremonial opener was performed by Marina Stylianides, Director of Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort by Korantina Homes. She played 1.e4 in the game between Vaishali and Lagno, which would ultimately decide the winner of the FIDE Women’s Candidates. Before the final round began, there were essentially two clear favourites to win the event, with four others still holding outside chances. Bibisara Assaubayeva needed a must-win game with the Black pieces against Divya Deshmukh. In reality, she never came close to achieving that goal; in fact, had Divya managed her time better, she might even have found a winning continuation just before the time control. The eventual draw left the door wide open for R. Vaishali: a victory against Kateryna Lagno would secure her the title. Vaishali rose to the occasion, delivering one of her best games of the tournament. Thanks to excellent home preparation, she won a pawn early in the opening and steadily converted that advantage. Her accuracy was remarkable, especially in the sharp and complex Sicilian Defence Dragon Variation, scoring an impressive 96% with only a single minor inaccuracy. Speaking at the postgame press conference, Vaishali expressed her delight: “It’s amazing, a dream come true for me. When I lost to Zhu Jiner, everything suddenly opened up, and I’m happy I was able to stay focused in the last two rounds and give my best.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziTMy3hs_gc Vaishali was deeply appreciative of the support she had received throughout her journey: “I would like to thank my parents and family; without them, I wouldn’t be here. Also, my amazing team, who have helped me every day, and all of my sponsors who have supported me for many years. Last year, I lost a lot of rating; apart from the Grand Swiss, my results were poor. So, I really have to thank my team for making this possible.” She also spoke about the sacrifices her family made over the years for both her and her younger brother, R. Praggnanandhaa: “For a family, it’s a long journey to have two professionals at home. My family had to make many sacrifices in the beginning, but for about 10 years now we’ve had support from sponsors. It’s been a collective family effort over many years, and each of us plays a part.” In the remaining games, Anna Muzychuk and Zhu Jiner pushed hard for their slim chances of reaching a tiebreak, but ultimately fell short. Both players delivered near-flawless performances, and a draw was agreed on move 56. In the last game of the afternoon, Aleksandra Goryachkina secured her second consecutive victory, defeating Tan Zhongyi and finishing tied for third place in the final standings. In the FIDE Candidates Tournament, the tension eased somewhat after Javokhir Sindarov secured overall victory the previous day. Even so, three of the four games were still fiercely contested. Sindarov himself made a very quick draw against Wei Yi, trading off all the pieces and leaving the playing hall in under ten minutes. Meanwhile, the other games unfolded at a much sharper pace. Praggnanandhaa R and Hikaru Nakamura also finished quickly, blitzing out 33 moves of home preparation before agreeing to a draw. Nakamura later mentioned that he had analyzed the lineup to move 26 earlier that morning. The remaining two games provided the real excitement. Anish Giri delivered a magnificent victory over Matthias Bluebaum, finishing the tournament with an impressive 8.5/14 – a score that, under different circumstances, might well have been enough to win the event. At the press conference, Anish Giri expressed great satisfaction with his performance: “I have played a lot of great games here, and I’m very happy with many of my wins, especially against Fabiano Caruana. Today was also a really good game against Matthias Bluebaum.” He also shed light on his preparation: “I had analysed the position, but I didn’t expect it to appear today. It’s a very bold and risky line, so I was impressed to see Matthias go for it and play in such an attacking style.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo-II92wmTY In the final game of the FIDE Candidates Tournament, Fabiano Caruana produced a brilliant victory against Andrey Esipenko, quite possibly one of the finest games of his career. In a Dragon-style Sicilian Defence, Caruana unleashed a powerful positional exchange sacrifice, instantly recognized by top engines as the best move. With the stunning 13…Rxc3!, Fabiano gave up the rook to shatter White’s queenside structure. After 14.bxc3, he methodically increased the pressure against his opponent’s weakened, queenside-castled king. If instead 14.Qxe3, then 14…Nxe4 would have given Black strong compensation for the exchange. The final position, where Esipenko resigned, perfectly illustrates the difficulty of defending such positions. White’s queen is under attack, while the looming 41…Nc4 checkmate leaves no viable defense. Final standings The fan zone was packed to capacity this afternoon, highlighted by a lively Q&A session with tournament winner Javokhir Sindarov. Former Women’s World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk also delighted spectators by providing live commentary during the round. Several players took time to interact with fans as well, posing for photos and signing autographs, adding to the vibrant atmosphere of the event. Official website: https://candidates2026.fide.com/ Event photo gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fide/ Written by IM Michael A. Rahal (Cyprus) Photos: Michal Walusza, Niki Riga
FIDE World Cadet and Youth Rapid & Blitz Championship 2026 kicks off in Vrnjačka Banja, Serbia
The FIDE World Cadet and Youth Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship officially commenced today in Vrnjačka Banja, celebrated as the capital of chess and tourism in Serbia. The event attracted around 450 participants from 40 national federations competing across six age groups – U8, U10, U12, U14, U16, and U18 – in Open and Girls’ categories. Both the rapid (April 15–17) and blitz (April 19–20) competitions follow an 11-round Swiss format. The top-seeded players in the Open events include Aleksandr Usov (2468), Khumoyun Begmuratov (2467), Nikolay Averin (2461), Aldiyar Ansat (2440), David Kaufman (2417), and Alex Villa Tornero (2414). Afruza Khamdamova (2367), Diana Preobrazhenskaya (2304), Zarina Nurgaliyeva (2256), Diana Khafizova (2234), Elnaz Kaliakhmet (2222), and Sara Mijic (2191) top the Girls’ starting list. The opening ceremony took place in the packed hall of Hotel Zepter, beginning with the anthems of the Republic of Serbia and FIDE. Speeches were delivered by the President of the Chess Federation of Serbia, Andrija Jorgić; the representative of the World Chess Federation, Ozgur Solakoglu; the State Secretary of the Ministry of Sports, Ratko Nikolić; and the Mayor of Vrnjačka Banja, Boban Đurović. In his address, the President of the Chess Federation of Serbia, Andrija Jorgić, expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Sports as the most important partner on the path to an ever-better chess Serbia, as well as to the municipality of Vrnjačka Banja for their selfless help and support. “I would also like to thank FIDE and its President, Mr. Dvorkovich, for the trust they have placed in us in organizing this championship. I believe that we will once again justify that trust and that our country will host many similar competitions in the future. I would like to welcome everyone to Vrnjačka Banja and wish the participants good moves and great results,” Jorgić said. Speaking on behalf of FIDE, FIDE Ozgur Solakoglu welcomed the young competitors: “As the FIDE Representative, it is a true pleasure to welcome you all to Vrnjačka Banja for the start of the FIDE World Cadet and Youth Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship 2026. This beautiful town has become a home for world chess – and today we proudly celebrate our third FIDE World Chess Event here. To all the young talents in this hall: this championship is your stage. Your energy, your creativity, and your fearless approach to the game are what make events like this so special. Rapid and blitz are formats that reward courage, quick thinking, and a big heart – and I know you bring all of that with you. Enjoy every moment. Play with passion, play fair, and always learn from your mistakes. Do not forget also to enjoy the side events.” The State Secretary of the Ministry of Sports, Ratko Nikolić, praised the organizers and reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to supporting chess as a tool for youth development:. “Chess is not just a game. It is a school of patience, discipline, logic, and respect for the opponent. In a time of rapid change, these values are what young people need more than ever. That is why it is important that through competitions like this, not only champions are built, but also character. Dear competitors, you are the best ambassadors of your countries. Every game you play is an opportunity to show not only your knowledge but also fair play, dignity, and mutual respect. Regardless of the result, your participation here is already a great success,” Nikolić said. The Mayor of the municipality, Boban Đurović, reminded those present that Vrnjačka Banja has had the honor of hosting numerous prestigious chess competitions in the past few years and is once again confirming its title as the “Queen of Chess.” “This epithet is the result of a decade-long dedication to the development of chess and the organization of significant chess events, and each of them has further strengthened Vrnjačka Banja’s position as an important center of chess activities. Today’s championship continues that story. It is a great honor to host such an event, for which I am immensely grateful to the World Chess Federation, the Ministry of Sports, and the Chess Federation of Serbia, which is successfully led by a great friend of Vrnjačka Banja, Mr. Andrija Jorgić,” Đurović said. In the end, Mr. Đurović and Mr. Jorgić symbolically made the first move, after which Chief Arbiter Nenad Dorić officially declared the competition open. Photos: Chess Federation of Serbia / Nemanja Šipka Official website: https://wcyrb.beochess.rs/
FIDE Grand Swiss 2027 on Isle of Man announced
FIDE is proud to announce the Grand Swiss 2027, to be held on the Isle of Man. The flagship event, featuring a record $900,000 prize fund, will bring together 170 players across the Open and Women’s sections combined and will take place from May 10 to 25 on the Isle of Man. Two spots for FIDE Candidates 2028 will be at stake in each section. “We are happy to return again to the Isle of Man, which hosted the very first FIDE Grand Swiss back in 2019, as well as the 2023 edition. The event in 2027 is going to be special in many ways – and FIDE is grateful to the Scheinberg family for the long-standing commitment, contributing to the whole string of tournaments throughout these years. I am happy to share that the Scheinberg family plans to keep supporting FIDE activities in the years to come – to the benefit of players and fans,” said Emil Sutovsky, FIDE CEO. “We will be happy to host this prestigious event again,” said Isai Scheinberg. “Ever since 2019, when we joined forces with the then newly-elected FIDE leadership, we felt that our support goes for a good cause. We intend to keep supporting top-level events both on the Isle of Man in 2027 and also the FIDE Candidates 2028, as our partnership with the present FIDE leadership goes from strength to strength.” Full details and regulations will be published by FIDE by the end of April.