Winners crowned at World Senior Team Championship 2026 in Durrës, Albania
After ten thrilling days of competition, the World Senior Team Championship 2026 has concluded in Durrës, Albania.. In the final round, of the 50+ section USA 1 drew quickly on board 1 against Iceland, securing first place. The remainder of the podium was decided at the very last moment: Italy pressed hard against Norway Oslo on board 2 and ultimately won by 2.5–1.5. Despite catching up on match points with the leader, Italy finished behind the USA on tiebreaks (game points). Kazakhstan swept Iceland Vestfirdir 4–0 to take bronze, while England 1 defeated the USA Women’s team by the same margin to finish fourth. Iceland and Hungary followed closely in the final standings. Despite their loss in the final round, the USA Women retained first place in the women’s standings, ahead of Czech Republic Women and Kazakhstan Women. Final standings – 50+ In the 65+ category, things were much tighter going into the final round, with Germany – Lasker in 1st place on 13 team points and six teams were sharing 2nd–7th place and fighting for a spot on the podium. In the end, Germany – Lasker prevailed over Slovakia (2.5–1.5) to claim the title with 15 team points. Italy secured silver by defeating England 2 (3–1). A four-way tie for third ensued, with Iceland clinching the bronze medal on tiebreaks after drawing their match against England 1. Among women’s teams, the FIDE Women’s team held onto their lead with a final-round draw against Poland Amateurs 65, finishing as the top female squad. Germany Women and Latvia Women completed the podium. Final standings – 65+ Throughout the event, participants displayed exceptional fighting spirit, resilience, and sportsmanship – powerfully reaffirming that chess is a game for all ages. Text and photos: WFM/IA Georgia Grapsa Official website: https://wstcc.com/
Second Continental Online Chess Championships for Prisoners: Registration deadline approaching
The FIDE Continental Online Chess Championships for Prisoners will return for its second edition in May 2026, with competitions scheduled across four continents. Building on the success of the inaugural 2025 event, this initiative is a cornerstone of FIDE’s Chess for Freedom programme – a global effort to expand opportunities for intellectual engagement, personal development, and social reintegration through chess. The first Continental Online Chess Championships for Prisoners, held in May 2025, marked a major milestone in the Chess for Freedom programme, bringing together teams from correctional institutions around the world in structured online competition. That pioneering event demonstrated the power of chess to create connection and opportunity even in challenging circumstances, reinforcing the value of regular regional championships as a complement to FIDE’s established intercontinental events. The 2026 Continental Championships will again feature separate regional competitions for the following continents: Africa – May 12, 2026 Americas – May 14, 2026 Europe – May 19, 2026 Asia – May 21, 2026 Each continental championship will take place over a single day, with teams from correctional facilities within the region competing online on Chess.com. The format (round-robin or Swiss) will be determined by the number of registered teams to ensure competitive balance and maximum engagement. National federations and correctional institutions are invited to register teams representing: One men’s correctional facility team One women’s correctional facility team One juvenile team (players under 20) Countries that organise national prison chess championships may qualify additional teams, expanding access to regional competition. The championships feature rapid time control (10 minutes with a 5-second increment) and are structured to maintain fair play and security, with oversight and technical support coordinated by FIDE and its partners. As in the first edition, the focus remains on providing meaningful competitive opportunities while upholding the integrity of the event and the dignity of participants. Continental champions will be recognised with official titles and certificates, and all participants will receive acknowledgement for their achievements. FIDE encourages participating institutions to share reports and photos, where permitted by local regulations, to highlight the ongoing impact of chess behind bars. Registration & key dates Registration deadline: May 1, 2026 (no entry fee) Registration: Click [HERE] to register Technical meeting: May 5, 2026 (via Zoom) Correctional institutions must complete the online registration form and confirm their team’s participation via email to Mikhail Korenman at mikhail.korenman@ccsheriff.org. On May 5, three technical meetings will be held at 8:00 CET, 13:00 CET, and 16:00 CET. Team representatives are required to attend one of them. So far, 84 teams have registered for the competition: Europe – 24 men’s, 6 women’s and 4 juvenile teams Asia – 13 men’s, 5 women’s and 5 juvenile teams Africa – 4 men’s, 4 women’s and 5 juvenile teams Americas – 12 men’s and 2 women’s Notably, teams from Belgium, Albania, and Madagascar will make their championship debuts in 2026. The 2nd Continental Online Chess Championships for Prisoners reflect the continued evolution of the Chess for Freedom programme – reinforcing FIDE’s commitment to using chess as a constructive force for inclusion, empowerment, and personal growth around the world. Regulations for 2nd Continental Online Chess Championships for Prizoners (PDF)