Husan Turdialiev turns 70
Renowned chess arbiter and organizer Husan Turdialiev has turned 70 today. Born in 1956 in Boysun (Southern Uzbekistan), Turdialiev graduated from Tashkent State University and after retiring from government structures, he devoted himself to chess, excelling in refereeing and organizing various competitions. In 2001, Turdialiev was awarded the title of International Arbiter and, for over 25 years, has compiled an impressive resume officiating major chess competitions, including the following: Chief arbiter at FIDE Zone 3.4 Championships (2008, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019); the 2012 and 2014 FIDE Grand Prix and the 2013 FIDE Women’s Grand Prix legs in Tashkent; the 2023 Women’s Candidates; and the 2016 and 2023 editions of the Asian Championships, as well as many international tournaments in Beirut, Sharjah, Astana, Tashkent, and Samarkand. Line arbiter at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships (2018, 2019). Deputy chief arbiter at the 2014 World Championship match between Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand and the 2025 World Junior Championship. FIDE Chess Olympiads – 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012 (match arbiter); 2016 and 2024 (sector arbiter); 2022 (a member of the Appeal Committee). In 2002, he was elected President of FIDE Zone 3.4 and has held this position to the present day. FIDE sincerely congratulates Husan Turdialiev and wishes him many years of productive work and many happy returns of the day!
FIDE World Championship Match 2026 – Call for bids
The FIDE World Chess Championship Match is the pinnacle of the FIDE World Championship Cycle. The 2026 edition will decide who will reign over the chess world for the next two years – the reigning world champion, Gukesh D (India), or the challenger, Javokhir Sindarov (Uzbekistan). The upcoming clash will be the youngest-ever chess world championship match. Both Gukesh and Sindarov will be 20 at the time it begins. The World Championship Match 2026 is provisionally scheduled between November 23 and December 17, 2026. FIDE is opening a bidding procedure to host the event. 1.2 The basic provisions are the following: a) Total duration of the event – up to 25 days b) The Regulations shall be approved by July 1, 2026. с) Estimated total budget of the event – 8,500,000 (eight million five hundred thousand) USD d) Minimum prize fund – 2,500,000 (two million five hundred thousand) USD e) FIDE fee – 1,100 000 (one million one hundred thousand) USD f) Payment for commercial, sponsorship, and broadcasting rights shall be specified in the bidders’ proposals. g) The Organiser shall respect the rights of the FIDE sponsors and partners, including for the video broadcast. 1.3 The Applicant shall fill in the Bidding Form. The Applicant must indicate the exact breakdown of the budget by item, including proposals for payments to FIDE for the commercial and sponsorship rights, payment for the broadcasting rights, and the distribution of sponsorship and broadcasting rights between FIDE and the Organisers. A signed copy shall be submitted as an e-mail message to the FIDE Secretariat to office@fide.com no later than May 31, 2026, by 23:59 Lausanne time. The bid should be accompanied by the relevant supporting documents. FIDE has the right to extend this deadline if considered necessary. All the documents shall be submitted in English. 1.4 FIDE reserves the right to enter into additional negotiations with any of the Applicants in order to improve or modify the bid. 1.5 The final decision of FIDE will be based on the totality of all the proposed conditions and interests of chess development.
FIDE and ISCF announce dates for African and American Continental Stages of the World Schools Team Championship 2026
FIDE and the International School Chess Federation (ISCF) are pleased to announce the dates for the African and American Continental stages of the World Schools Team Championship 2026 (WSTC 2026). As part of the global WSTC cycle, continental events bring together leading school teams from around the world, with best teams qualifying for the Grand Final at the end of the year. African Continental StageCape Town, South AfricaJuly 6–11, 2026 (arrival: July 6, departure: July 11) American Continental StageSan Jose, Costa RicaAugust 11–16, 2026 (arrival: August 11, departure: August 16) Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President: “We are delighted to launch two new continental school championships in Africa and the Americas as part of our Year of Chess in Education. These regions are emerging chess hubs with tremendous potential. In recent years, we have seen significant progress in their chess infrastructure and school programs, and these championships will help drive that growth even further. FIDE will continue to provide support as part of our long-term strategy to expand the game beyond its traditional centers.” Timur Turlov, ISCF President:“I am very pleased to see the expansion of continental school championships to Africa and the Americas. These initiatives are an important step in strengthening youth engagement and building sustainable chess ecosystems in both regions. I look forward to the upcoming events in Cape Town in July and San Jose in August, which will undoubtedly inspire a new generation of players.” The format and competition regulations remain consistent across all continental stages. Each event will be played in a team format under official FIDE regulations, ensuring a high level of sporting and organizational standards. Each participating team must consist of: four main players one reserve one non-playing captain Teams are required to include both boys and girls (with limited exceptions for single-gender schools), and all players must meet the age eligibility criteria as outlined in the Regulations. In line with the Year of Chess in Education 2026, each continental stage will also feature an educational programme alongside the competition, including masterclasses, workshops, and cultural exchange activities. National federations are kindly invited to plan their national selection processes and prepare their teams for participation. Registration for both events will open in due course. Further details, including invitation letters and logistical information, will be published soon. Regulations for World Schools Team Championship 2026 (PDF) For inquiries, please contact: worldschoolteam@fide.com Official website: https://worldschoolteam2026.fide.com/