Iivo Nei (1931-2026)
The chess world mourns the passing of Estonian Honorary Grandmaster Iivo Nei, who passed away at the age of 94. Born on 31 October 1931 in Tartu, Estonia, Nei enjoyed an illustrious chess career spanning over eight decades. Showing early promise, he recorded his first notable result in 1948, tying for first place at the Soviet Union Junior Championship. An eight-time Estonian Champion (1951, 1952, 1956, 1960–1962, 1971, and 1974), Nei won the Baltic Republics Championships in 1961 (Palanga), 1962 (Tartu), 1963 (Estonia), and 1964 (Pärnu). He also competed in the prestigious Soviet Championships on four occasions. At the peak of his career, Nei achieved the International Master title in 1964. That same year, he tied for first with Paul Keres at the Hoogovens tournament in Beverwijk (later known as Corus, and now Tata Steel), finishing ahead of Lajos Portisch, Borislav Ivkov, Bent Larsen, and Bruno Parma. He later secured solid results in Beverwijk 1966 (5th), Zinnowitz 1966 (4th–6th), and Tallinn 1969 (2nd–3rd). In recognition of his consistently strong results from the 1950s through the 1970s, the FIDE Council awarded Nei the title of Honorary Grandmaster in February 2024. Nei’s legacy extends far beyond his own playing achievements. He served as a highly productive trainer for Women’s World Champions Nona Gaprindashvili and Maia Chiburdanidze, and most notably, he was one of Boris Spassky’s seconds in the legendary 1972 World Championship match against Bobby Fischer in Reykjavik. He co-authored the seminal book Both Sides of the Chessboard with American Grandmaster Robert Byrne, offering an unparalleled, intimate perspective on the drama and tension of the 1972 match. For over 25 years, Nei was one of the leading chess coaches in Estonia, mentoring generations of strong players. He also served for many years as the FIDE Representative for Zone 1.7 (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania). Through his writing, commentary, and role as a trainer, Iivo Nei acted as a vital bridge between the Soviet chess school and the rest of the world. Even during the height of the Cold War, his collaborations with Western players and journalists helped foster mutual respect across the Iron Curtain. FIDE, alongside the global chess community, extends its deepest condolences to Iivo Nei’s family, his friends, and the Estonian Chess Federation. Photo: Vallo Kruuser | Delfi Meedia
Deise Pereira retains title of Cabo Verde Women’s National Chess Champion
Deise Pereira has retained her title as Cape Verde’s Women’s National Chess Champion, winning the 2026 edition of the National Championship held in the city of Mindelo from July 2 to 5. The champion mathematically secured the victory in the penultimate round by defeating three-time national champion Célia Rodriguez Guevara, who won the 2022, 2023, and 2024 editions. Célia, who was unable to defend her title in 2025, ultimately fell short in her attempt to reclaim the national crown. Deise Pereira delivered an excellent performance throughout the competition, finishing undefeated with a record of six wins and one draw, which was conceded only in the final round. With this performance, she totaled 6.5 out of a possible 7 points, confirming her supremacy in national women’s chess. Célia Rodriguez Guevara finished as runner-up with 6 points, while the third place on the podium went to newcomer Crisele Neves, who put up a strong showing earning 4 points. One of the most notable aspects of this edition was the strong presence of the new generation of Cabo Verdean women’s chess. Of the eight participants in the tournament, only the top two finishers were outside of the youth age bracket, while the remaining six players were between 13 and 16 years old – a promising indicator for the future of the sport in the country. With this victory, Deise Pereira reinforces her status as one of the leading figures in Cabo Verdean women’s chess, in a tournament marked by high competitiveness and the emergence of young talent. Text and photos: Federação Cabo-verdiana de Xadrez
First Naroditsky Memorial Rapid and Blitz: Javokhir Sindarov claims double crown
Javokhir Sindarov achieved a remarkable double victory at the inaugural Naroditsky Memorial Rapid and Blitz, winning both the Rapid and Blitz Final events. The First Naroditsky Memorial Rapid and Blitz took place at the Marriott City Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, from July 3–5, 2026. The event brought together elite play, the vibrant creator community, and the chess community at large. The festival featured a $50,000 total guaranteed prize fund and awarded FIDE Circuit and US Chess Grand Prix points. The NMRB was open to all players – professionals and amateurs – regardless of rating. Capacity was limited to 300 players for the inaugural edition. The programme included Rapid and Blitz Championships, Creator Invitational, and Blitz Final featuring the top ten performers from the Masters Blitz. During the opening ceremony of the blitz event, FIDE’s Daniel Naroditsky Best Creator Award was announced before Elena Schuman, Daniel’s mother, made the ceremonial first move. The award recognises the extraordinary contribution Naroditsky made as a player, educator, commentator, and content creator. Through his streams and videos, he combined elite chess knowledge with an exceptional ability to make people feel welcome in the game. The Rapid Masters event, a seven-round Swiss tournament, turned into an exciting duel between Javokhir Sindarov and Aravindh Chithambaram, who both finished on 6/7 to share first place. Sindarov went on to win the blitz tiebreaker 2–0 to claim the title. In the Challengers section, Andrew Fletcher emerged victorious with 6.5 points. The World Championship Challenger continued his excellent form in the Blitz Finals, winning clear first place with an impressive score of 7.5/9. Wesley So finished second with 7/9, while NM Ethan Sheehan caused a minor sensation, clinching third place with 6/9 in a highly competitive field. IM John Bartholomew (pictured below) dominated the first Naroditsky Memorial Creator Invitational, winning the title with a perfect score of 9/9. Runner-up IM Levy Rozman scored 7/9. Naroditsky Memorial final standings – Rapid Masters Naroditsky Memorial final standings – Blitz Final Naroditsky Memorial final standings – Creator Invitational Photos: Charlotte Chess Center Official Naroditsky Memorial website: https://www.cltccf.org/naroditskymemorial
Alireza Firouzja triumphs in historic Armageddon finish to win Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia 2026
In one of the most dramatic finishes in Grand Chess Tour (GCT) history and the first ever to be decided by an Armageddon tiebreak, GM Alireza Firouzja of France captured the Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia 2026 title, the third stop of the 2026 GCT, after surviving a stunning final-day comeback by wildcard GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov from Uzbekistan. “When the world’s best players meet, chess wins,” said Augusta Dragic, President of the Super Foundation. “Congratulations to Alireza Firouzja on an outstanding victory, and thank you to every participant for making Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia an exceptional showcase of elite chess. We look forward to the next stop on the Grand Chess Tour in Saint Louis.” Marking the thrilling midway point of the Grand Chess Tour, the 2026 Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia brought ten of the world’s elite grandmasters to Zagreb from June 29 to July 6. The second of three rapid and blitz spectacles on the 2026 tour, the event boasted a stellar 10-player lineup that consisted of six full-tour competitors and four powerhouse wildcards. Headlining the field was reigning World Champion and wildcard Gukesh Dommaraju, alongside full-tour standouts Vincent Keymer, Alireza Firouzja, Anish Giri, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, Jorden van Foreest, and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Joining them were elite wildcards Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Bogdan-Daniel Deac, and multiple-time Croatian champion Ivan Saric. Firouzja looked destined for victory after building a commanding three-point lead heading into the final day, but he lost several games while Abdusattorov produced a remarkable comeback to force a tiebreaker. After two rapid games without a winner, Firouzja prevailed in the decisive Armageddon blitz game to clinch the title and earn $47,500. Abdusattorov finished in second place and received $42,500. “The Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia was an exciting event and the perfect way to conclude the European legs of the 2026 Grand Chess Tour,” said Michael Khodarkovsky, Executive Director of the GCT. “Now we are looking forward to the second half of the tour in St. Louis, Missouri. Saint Louis rapid and blitz and the Sinquefield Cup will determine the top four players who will ultimately compete in the Final for the 2026 GCT title.“ “Today was probably the worst Blitz day of my career. I scored just three out of nine, which was a horrible performance, but these things happen. The important thing is that I managed to win the tiebreak, said Firouzja. “Going into the penultimate round, I knew I had to beat Gukesh just to force the playoff, and fortunately I found the chances when I needed them. I’ve definitely had smoother tournament victories, but I’ll gladly take this one.” Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia 2026 final standings: With three events complete, the race for the 2026 GCT Finals is beginning to take shape. Despite not competing in Croatia, GM Fabiano Caruana retains the overall Tour lead, while GM Vincent Keymer moved into second. Firouzja’s victory vaults him into third in the standings, with Wesley So rounding out the current top four as the Tour heads to the United States for its second half. The 2026 GCT Finals will conclude in Saint Louis, Missouri – the Chess Capital of America –where the Saint Louis Chess Club will host the final two regular-season events before the season culminates with the Grand Chess Tour Finals. Text and photos: Grand Chess Tour Official website: https://grandchesstour.org/