Giovanni Longo International Chess Museum opens in Marostica, Italy
The Giovanni Longo International Chess Museum – City of Marostica officially opened its doors on May 16 in Marostica, in the province of Vicenza, Veneto. The museum is located in the 14th-century Lower Castle, overlooking the city’s famous Chess Square, internationally renowned for the “Living Chess Game” staged every two years in autumn. It is the first museum of its kind in Italy and one of the very few dedicated chess museums in Europe. The museum was established thanks to a donation by Giovanni Longo, a distinguished collector who wished to make the objects he gathered over the years accessible to the public. The exhibition features around 150 items, including 90 chess sets and boards, displayed in a modern exhibition space designed to be fully accessible to visually impaired and hearing-impaired visitors, with a free app serving as an audio guide. The collection is extended across four rooms dedicated to four continents – Europe, America, Asia, and Africa – and includes both antique and contemporary works of exceptional beauty and value. Among the highlights are giant chess sets created by the Milanese artist Enrico Baj, a chess set designed by Max Ernst, and many other remarkable masterpieces. Speakers at the inauguration included the Mayor of Marostica, Matteo Mozzo; Mara Bizzotto, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy; Marco Zecchinato, Regional Councillor for Interregional Cooperation; and Luigi Maggi, President of the Italian Chess Federation (FSI). The guest of honor was Zurab Azmaiparashvili, President of the European Chess Union, who congratulated both the city and the Italian chess community on this extraordinary achievement. “The works come from all over the world,” explained donor Giovanni Longo, “and trace a journey through the centuries, from the 18th century to the present day, beginning with Chinese and Indian craftsmanship and arriving at contemporary interpretations of the game of chess. The exhibition includes chessboards and sets of every size, from miniature artifacts to monumental works measuring three by three meters, as well as sculptures, unique pieces, chess clocks, symbolic objects, and various curiosities.” “In this period of rapid growth for Italian chess,” added Maggi, “with the Federation reaching record numbers of members and affiliated clubs, we warmly welcome the opening of this Museum. It connects the present of this wonderful sport with its glorious past and gives Italy an exhibition space that highlights the inseparable bond between chess, art, and culture.”
Winners crowned at inaugural Turkic Nations Team Chess Championship
Astana stood at the crossroads of the Turkic world from May 14 to 17, 2026, capturing its significance across several domains. On the eve of the event, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan paid a state visit to the capital of Kazakhstan at the invitation of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Concurrently, on May 15, Turkistan hosted an informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States dedicated to Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development. Against this backdrop, the Kazakh National University of Sports in Astana hosted two major chess events: the inaugural Turkic Open and Women’s Team Chess Championships 2026 and the Turkic Youth U16 Chess Olympiad 2026. Timur Turlov, President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, highlighted the significance of this coincidence: “Kazakhstan is the first in the region to host this new tournament for the Turkic world. It is highly symbolic that the event coincides with the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Astana. Under our President’s policy, Kazakhstan is consistently strengthening its position within the Turkic space, and chess is becoming a prominent tool of this diplomacy. It is no longer just a sport, but a vital element of friendship between our nations.” Serik Zharasbayev, Vice Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, extended a warm welcome to the audience at the opening ceremony: “On behalf of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, I would like to thank all the participants and heads of delegations for joining us. I also want to personally thank Timur Turlov for his immense contribution as President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation. We are already seeing the fruits of this labor. Today, we have world-class players achieving great success on the international stage—talents like Kazybek Nogerbek and Bibisara Assaubayeva, who made history as our country’s first three-time World Rapid Champion. This is a monumental achievement. I wish everyone continued success. Onward to new heights and great victories!” In each of the three categories (Open, Women, and Youth U16), seven national teams competed in a round-robin system. The participating nations were Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, with the latter fielding two teams in each tournament as the host nation. Each team line-up consisted of four main players, one reserve, and a captain. The competitions used the new classical 45+30 format, allocating 45 minutes per game with a 30-second increment for every move. The guaranteed prize fund amounted to 27 million tenge (approximately 54,000 US dollars). The event was organized by FIDE, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kazakhstan Chess Federation (KazChess), the Kazakh National University of Sports, and the Akimat of Astana. Freedom Holding Corp. served as the General Partner of the championship. The Open Championship The open tournament brought together 13 Grandmasters and 18 International Masters. The battle for the title lasted until the last moments of the final round. The national team of Kyrgyzstan delivered the biggest upset of the final round by defeating the higher-rated Uzbek team with a score of 3-1, remaining undefeated on every single board. This result largely shaped the final standings: both Kazakhstan-2 and Kazakhstan-1 won their respective final matches to ascend to the top of the standings, followed by Azerbaijan. Final Standings (Turkic Open Team Chess Championships 2026): Kazakhstan-2: 9 match points, 13½ board points (Prize: 5 million tenge, approximately $10,000) Kazakhstan-1: 8 match points, 13 board points (Prize: 3.5 million tenge, approximately $7,000) Azerbaijan: 7 match points, 14½ board points (Prize: 2 million tenge, approximately $4,000) Uzbekistan: 7 match points, 12½ board points Turkey: 5 match points, 12 board points Kyrgyzstan: 5 match points, 9½ board points Turkmenistan: 1 match point, 9 board points Best Individual Board Results: Board 1: 1. IM Zhandos Agmanov (Kazakhstan-2, 4½ points); 2. GM Ahmad Ahmadzada (Azerbaijan, 4 points); 3. GM Saparmyrat Atabayev (Turkmenistan, 3½ points). Board 2: 1. GM Denis Makhnev (Kazakhstan-1, 4 points); 2. GM Ramazan Zhalmakhanov (Kazakhstan-2, 3½ points); 3. GM Misratdin Iskandarov (Azerbaijan, 3½ points). Board 3: 1. IM Aldiyar Ansat (Kazakhstan-1, 4 points); 2. IM Arda Camlar (Turkey, 3 points); 3. IM Satbek Akhmedinov (Kazakhstan-2, 3 points). Board 4: 1. IM Tologontegin Semetey (Kyrgyzstan, 3½ points); 2. IM Saidakbar Saydaliev (Uzbekistan, 3½ points); 3. IM Shiroglan Talibov (Azerbaijan, 2½ points). Board 5: 1. IM Murad Ibrahimli (Azerbaijan, 3½ points); 2. IM Umut Ata Akbas (Turkey, 3½ points). The Women’s Championship The Women’s tournament featured six International Masters, five Woman Grandmasters, and five Woman International Masters. The national team of Azerbaijan entered as the clear favorite, fielding the exact same powerhouse line-up that secured the silver medal at the 2025 World Team Chess Championship with IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva (2450, ranked world No. 25 in the FIDE standings) and IM Gunay Mammadzada (2374) on first and second boards, respectively. Uzbekistan’s formidable roster included WGM Afruza Khamdamova (2423, ranked world No. 34 in the FIDE standings) and WGM Umida Omonova (2357). The women’s competition was equally exciting, with Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan pitted against each other in the final round. Azerbaijan, having a two-point advantage, secured a draw against Uzbekistan to successfully defend their first-place position. Meanwhile, the Kazakhstan-1 team delivered a dominant 3½–½ victory over Turkmenistan to leapfrog Uzbekistan and claim the silver spot on the podium. Final Standings (Turkic Women’s Team Chess Championship 2026): Azerbaijan: 10 match points, 18½ board points (Prize: 5 million tenge, approximately $10,000) Kazakhstan-1: 9 match points, 16½ board points (Prize: 3.5 million tenge, approximately $7,000) Uzbekistan: 8 match points, 15½ board points (Prize: 2 million tenge, approximately $4,000) Kazakhstan-2: 6 match points, 13 board points Turkmenistan: 6 match points, 11 board points Kyrgyzstan: 2 match points, 4½ board points Turkey: 1 match point, 5 board points Best individual board results: Board 1: 1. WGM Afruza Khamdamova (Uzbekistan, 4½ points); 2. WGM Liya Kurmangaliyeva (Kazakhstan-2, 4 points); 3. WFM Lala Shokhradova (Turkmenistan, 3½ points). Board 2: 1. IM Meruert Kamalidenova (Kazakhstan-1, 5½ points); 2. WGM Umida Omonova (Uzbekistan, 3½ points); 3. WIM Assel Serikbay (Kazakhstan-2, 3 points). Board 3: 1. WGM Govhar
Bharat Singh Chauhan Re-elected as Chairman of Commonwealth Chess Association
Wasakaduwa, Sri Lanka, May 18, 2026 – Continuing his remarkable contribution towards the growth and development of chess over the last five decades, Mr. Bharat Singh Chauhan of India has been re-elected unanimously and unopposed as Chairman of the Commonwealth Chess Association (CCA) for the term 2026–2030. The elections were held during the Annual General Body Meeting of the Commonwealth Chess Association at Citrus Hotel, Wasakaduwa, Sri Lanka, on Sunday. Mr. Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidsh Sanusi of Malaysia was elected unopposed as Deputy Chairman, Mr. G. Luxman Wijesuriya of Sri Lanka as General Secretary, and Mr. Vicky Magu of South Africa as Treasurer. Mr. Hurrynarain Bhowany of Mauritius, Mr. Allan Herbert of Barbados, Mr. Benard Wanjala of Kenya, Mr. Craig Hall of New Zealand and Mr. Crition Tornaritis of Cyprus were also elected unopposed as Executive Members of the Association. The election process was conducted under the supervision of Hon’ble Santiago Pushpa Kumara Ekaratne, Retired Judge of the High Court, who served as the Returning Officer for the elections. During the meeting, the Association also resolved to introduce the Commonwealth School Chess Championship, with the inaugural edition scheduled to be held in Malaysia in October 2026. Mr. Chauhan’s re-election reflects the confidence and trust placed in his visionary leadership and longstanding dedication towards strengthening and promoting chess across the Commonwealth nations. Mr. Luxman Wijesuriya’s re-election as General Secretary is a testament to his exceptional administrative skills and valuable contribution to the smooth functioning and continued progress of the Commonwealth Chess Association.