Frederik Svane wins Sardinia World Chess Festival 2026 as Faustino Oro secures historic grandmaster title
The third edition of the Sardinia World Chess Festival has come to a successful close, once again confirming its place among the strongest open tournaments in Italy. The event was proudly hosted by the Club Hotel Marina Beach in Orosei, offering an exceptional setting that combined high-level chess with the beauty of Sardinia. Svane triumphs after tight finish Germany’s Frederik Svane claimed victory in Open A with an impressive score of 7½/9. In a dramatic final round he scored a crucial victory over Murali Karthikeyan of India, clinching clear first place. Behind him, the battle for the podium was extremely close. Haik Martirosyan, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Mamikon Gharibyan all finished on 7/9, sharing second place. The final order was decided by tiebreaks, with Martirosyan taking second place, Nepomniachtchi third, and Gharibyan fourth. Historic milestone for Faustino Oro One of the defining moments of the tournament came from Faustino Oro, who achieved his final Grandmaster norm, becoming the second-youngest Grandmaster in chess history. In the final round, Oro faced Ian Nepomniachtchi on the top board. Having already secured the required performance of 6/9, Oro only needed the game to take place for the norm to be valid. Nepomniachtchi’s participation ensured this crucial requirement, allowing Oro to complete his historic achievement regardless of the game result. Closing ceremony and distinguished guests The closing ceremony was a festive conclusion to the event, celebrating the winners across all sections. Prizes were awarded in the presence of: GM Roberto Mogranzini, organizer and tournament director Danilo Mallò, President of the Sardinian Regional Chess Committee Gerhard Bertagnolli, Chief Arbiter of the tournament Their presence underlined the strong cooperation between organizers and regional chess authorities, contributing to the success of the festival. A unique chess experience in Sardinia Beyond the competition, players enjoyed the outstanding conditions offered by the Club Hotel Marina Beach, combining high-level chess with the beauty of Sardinia – its beaches, hospitality, and relaxed atmosphere. This unique blend of sport and location continues to make the Sardinia World Chess Festival a special event on the international calendar. Looking ahead At the closing ceremony, organizers officially announced the next edition of the Sardinia World Chess Festival to take place from May 2 to May 9, 2027, and invited players from around the world to return for another unforgettable experience. With record participation, a stronger field than ever, and historic achievements, the 2026 edition has set a new benchmark for the festival – leaving players and fans already looking forward to next year. All final standings can be found on the official results pages: Open A:https://s1.chess-results.com/tnr1251111.aspx?lan=1&art=4&fed=ARG&flag=30&SNode=S0 Open B:https://s2.chess-results.com/tnr1407196.aspx?lan=1&art=4&fed=ARG&turdet=YES&flag=30&SNode=S0 Open C:https://s1.chess-results.com/tnr1407197.aspx?lan=1&art=0&fed=ARG&turdet=YES&flag=30&SNode=S0 Photos: KNZO Photography
Hans Niemann wins first leg of 2026 Grand Chess Tour: Super Rapid & Blitz Poland
U.S. Grandmasters sweep the podium in Poland; next stop: Super Chess Classic Romania The first leg of the 2026 Grand Chess Tour (GCT) concluded in Warsaw as American Grandmaster (GM) Hans Niemann, competing in his first GCT appearance as a wildcard player, claimed victory at Super Rapid & Blitz Poland with a standout performance against one of the strongest fields in international chess. The Super Rapid & Blitz Poland kicked off the eleventh season of the Grand Chess Tour. Located in the heart of Warsaw, the Super Rapid and Blitz Poland was the first of three speed-chess events each with a $200,000 total prize fund. The event started with nine rounds of rapid action, followed by eighteen rounds of blitz, for a total of 135 games spread across seven days, from May 3-10. The tournament featured five tour players along with five wildcards. “It was an exciting tournament and a great kickoff to the 2026 season,” said Michael Khodarkovsky, Executive Director of the GCT. “Warsaw has developed a bit of a tradition where wildcard players rise to the occasion and win the event – last year it was Vladimir Fedoseev, and this year continues that storyline. It speaks to the depth of the field and the unpredictability that makes the Grand Chess Tour so compelling.” Niemann led an impressive American sweep of the podium in Warsaw, with GM Fabiano Caruana finishing second and GM Wesley So taking third, marking a dominant 1-2-3 finish for the United States on the global stage. “Congratulations to Hans Niemann on an impressive breakthrough victory in his Grand Chess Tour debut, and congratulations to Fabiano Caruana and Wesley So on an incredible all-American podium sweep,” said Augusta Dragic, President of the Super Foundation. “The Grand Chess Tour continues to showcase the excitement, intensity, and global appeal of elite chess competition, and Warsaw once again delivered unforgettable moments for chess fans around the world.” Super Rapid & Blitz Poland overall standings: Place Player Rapid pts Blitz pts Total pts Prize money 1 GM Hans Niemann 13 9½ 22½ $50,000 2 GM Fabiano Caruana 9 13 22 $40,000 3 GM Wesley So 12 9 21 $30,000 4 GM Vladimir Fedoseev 11 7 18 $20,000 5 GM Alireza Firouzja 6 11½ 17½ $15,000 6 GM Gukesh Dommaraju 9 8 17 $11,000 7-9 GM Javokhir Sindarov 8 8½ 16½ $9,000 7-9 GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave 8 8½ 16.5 $9,000 7-9 GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda 9 7½ 16½ $9,000 10 GM Radoslaw Wojtaszek 5 7½ 12½ $7,000 “After the rapid, I wasn’t stressed – I genuinely couldn’t believe I could lose three games in a row and still be leading. I was asking myself, why do I feel so bad and still be in front? It was a real rollercoaster,” said Niemann. “In the end I’m just happy I won. Anything could have happened, but all the stars aligned. It’s a great privilege and honor to win.” Outside of the historic American sweep of the podium, one of the tournament’s most closely watched storylines was the highly anticipated matchup between reigning World Champion GM Gukesh Dommaraju and GM Javokhir Sindarov – expected to be their only over-the-board meetings ahead of their upcoming World Championship clash. Gukesh captured victory in their rapid game, while Sindarov responded by winning both blitz encounters, adding even more intrigue to one of chess’s most anticipated emerging rivalries. The GCT now heads to Bucharest for the second leg of the Tour, the Super Chess Classic Romania, set to begin May 12 as the first classical event of the 2026 season. The tournament will feature a 10-player round-robin format with a total prize fund of $475,000 and includes all nine full-tour participants alongside Romanian GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac, competing as the event wildcard. Text: Grand Chess Tour Photos: Grand Chess Tour / Lennart Ootes Official website: https://grandchesstour.org/