Winners crowned at 1st FIDE World Blitz Solving Championship and International Team Tournament
Last night, trophies and medals were awarded to the best competitors in the 1st FIDE World Blitz Solving Championship, as well as in the International Team Tournament. In the boys U-8 category, Kairat Abdul-Malik from Kazakhstan emerged victorious, while Ibragim Atabekov and Mihail Shishov from Russia claimed silver and bronze, respectively. In the girls U-8 group, Shreyanshi Jain from India placed first; Miraslava Shatsila from Belarus finished second, while Venera Zhakisheva took third position. Trophies and medals in this age group were presented by Zoran Stanimirović, President of the Chess Federation of Vojvodina. Daniil Kaminskii from Russia won first place in the boys U-12 category, silver went to competitor Aryan Mehta from India, while Konstantin Alekseev also from Russia completed the podium. Alexandra Aymerich Sazonova won the competition in the girls’ section; Husnorakhon Khusnitdinova from Uzbekistan claimed silver, while Zhansaya Sholpanbek from Kazakhstan took bronze Awards in this group were presented by Boban Nikolić, President of the Assembly of the Chess Federation of Serbia. In the boys U-18 group, Turbat Todmunkh from Mongolia captured gold, while silver and bronze were won by competitors from Serbia, Aleksandar Kutanjac and Aleksa Avramović. The best in this girls’ group was Darya Efimova from Russia, second place went to Esther Prieto Rol from Spain, and third place was taken by Nika Venskaya from Belarus. Trophies and medals were awarded by Igor Lukić, President of the Chess Federation of Central Serbia. After that, awards were presented to the best teams in the International Team Tournament in rapid chess, which attracted 58 teams. Team PFO from Russia lifted the trophy in the U-10 category; silver went to the team Intellect Academy, also from Russia, while the team from Serbia took bronze. Among girls, the most successful were competitors from Russia, the team Polar Bears, followed by the team from Ukraine – Ukrainian Chess queens, while team from Poland took third place. Awards in this category were presented by Saša Jevtić, the tournament director. In the U-14 category, teams from Russia claimed gold and silver, while Uzbekistan placed third. The team from Belarus won first place in the girls’ section; second and third place went to Russian teams Gusinaya-sila and Oranges. Trophies and medals were awarded by Ozgur Solakoglu, the FIDE delegate at this tournament. Finally, awards for the best in the U-18 category were presented by the President of the Chess Federation of Serbia, Andrija Jorgić. In the open competition, the trophy went to the team Just Winners from Russia, second place to the team Spain 018 from Spain, and third to the Russian team Llama-knights. Among girls, the most successful were competitors from Slovenia; in second position was the team from Spain; and third-placed competitors were from the team of Serbia. Photos: Chess Federation of Serbia / Nemanja Sipka Official website: https://wcyrb.beochess.rs/
From little stars to World Champions: Sweden’s Chess Party unites 2,500 participants
The second day of the Chess Party, held on April 18 in Stockholm, Sweden, at Avicii Arena, brought together rising talents, seasoned players, and global icons such as Magnus Carlsen, Judit Polgar, Levy Rozman, Pia Cramling, Anna Cramling, Andrea Botez, and many more in a vibrant celebration of the game. With around 2,500 participants and 25 events across two days, the festival has quickly established itself as one of the most dynamic gatherings in the international chess calendar. The day began with the Little Star Girls Blitz, a tournament dedicated to girls under 18. Opened by Swedish Grandmaster Pia Cramling, the event set a welcoming and supportive tone. Designed as a fun and encouraging competition, it provided a platform for young girls to experience chess in a positive environment. The tournament is part of a broader international initiative led by the FIDE Women’s Commission, aiming to inspire more girls worldwide to take up and enjoy the game. Running alongside it was the Queen’s Party, an inclusive and engaging tournament for women of all backgrounds, welcoming beginners and those eager to explore chess, develop their skills, or perhaps discover for the first time that they truly belong in the chess community. Between rounds, participants were treated to a special highlight: a talk by Judit Polgar, widely regarded as one of the greatest female players in history. At the same time, a large-scale open tournament brought together approximately 1000 players. Open to all regardless of age, rating, or experience. It embodied the festival’s inclusive spirit. Schackfyran is the competition where everyone is valuable. It is also the world’s largest class chess competition, where as many as 25,000 fourth graders from over 1000 classes participate each year. Since its inception in 1979, Schackfyran has taught over half a million 10-year-olds to play chess! Every year, the project reaches a third of all Swedish schoolchildren in fourth grade. Jesper Hall, CEO of ChessParty, and one of the driving forces behind the festival, Chairman of the European Chess Union (ECU) Education Commission: “This initiative actually dates back to 1979, and at its core, it’s a social project. The goal is not to turn children into top chess players, or even necessarily to make them much stronger at chess. The real aim is to strengthen the group. We show that every child matters by using the ‘1-2-3 pawn system’: one point for participation, two for a draw, and three for a win. This way, it’s not about having elite players; it’s about including as many children as possible. Stronger players support the weaker ones, helping and encouraging them. The idea is to involve the whole class and create a sense of unity through chess.” One of the main highlights of the day was a talk by Henrik Carlsen, who shared the story of how Magnus Carlsen began his journey in chess. He spoke about Magnus’s early challenges, his development as a young player, and the key factors behind his rise to becoming the world’s strongest chess player. The session was highly engaging, especially for younger members of the audience, who showed great interest in the story. As a special surprise, they were also given the opportunity to ask questions directly to Magnus Carlsen, who joined the Chess Party online. And of course, the presence of Levy Rozman, better known as GothamChess, generated huge excitement among attendees. He took part in a meet-and-greet session that drew hundreds of fans, many of whom queued for the chance to take a photo with him. Later in the day, GothamChess took to the main stage for a live show alongside Judit Polgar and Anna Cramling. The two-hour event was packed with instruction, humor, and lively interaction with the audience. Known for his entertaining and accessible content, Levy Rozman brought his signature dynamic and engaging style to the stage. Levy Rozman about the event: “I’m meeting people from all over the world who came here for this event, and that’s what makes it so great.” The event featured a strong representation of women in chess, including Judit Polgar, the strongest female player of all time, alongside Pia Cramling, a legendary figure in Swedish chess, and Anna Cramling, a popular chess streamer and content creator. Together, they discussed the challenges women continue to face in chess, including the difficulties of competing at the highest level and the barriers that can discourage long-term participation. The conversation also explored possible solutions, particularly how to better support young girls entering the game. A key topic was the system of titles in chess, including the existence of separate titles for women and men. Why they were introduced, whether they remain necessary, and whether a unified system could be possible in the future. Overall, the discussion highlighted important steps needed to increase engagement, promote inclusion, and ensure that women in chess have equal opportunities to succeed and be recognized on equal terms with their male counterparts. Dana Reizniece, Deputy Chair of the Management Board of FIDE presented the audience with two important topics: “Chess and leadership” and “future of chess”. Dana Reizniece stated: “We are now part of what is, in its own way, the largest chess celebration, a festival where tournaments, live lessons, training camps, shows, and inspiring talks take place over several days. Alongside this, we present initiatives such as our exhibition, where chess is used as a tool for integration and for building a better society. The girls’ tournament is especially important to us; it’s a tradition we bring to many countries to spark energy and inspiration in young girls who are discovering chess. At the same time, chess offers valuable lessons that go far beyond the board, teaching skills and perspectives that can be applied in many areas of life.” Alongside other distinguished guests, former Women’s World Champion Antoaneta Stefanova was also part of the event. She took part in a simultaneous exhibition and delivered a masterclass, sharing her experience and insights with participants. The program also featured David Howell, a well-known