The rapid section of the FIDE U9–U17 Rapid & Blitz Chess Championship concluded on December 19 after nine exciting rounds played over three days in Antalya. Players now turn to the blitz portion of the event, which begins on December 20 and will be held over two days at an even faster pace.
The Blitz championships will again be contested in Open and Girls sections across five age categories: U9, U11, U13, U15, and U17. A total of 310 players, including 98 titled players and 2 Grandmasters, have registered for the Blitz event.
Those two Grandmasters are the Turkish youngsters Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş and Ediz Gürel, both World Top 100 players. Erdoğmuş, who claimed a silver medal in the U15 rapid section, and Gürel, competing in the U17 blitz, are among the top contenders.
Below are the newly crowned Rapid Champions in both Open and Girls categories:
Rapid Champions – Open
Rapid Champions – Girls
Pairing and results: s2.chess-results.com/tnr1318937.aspx?lan=1&SNode=S0
Official website: youthrapidblitz2025.tsf.org.tr/
Photo gallery: photos.app.goo.gl/8haNV29TMiGgSNvm8
The International School Chess Federation (ISCF) has launched a series of educational master classes to support young participants of the FIDE World U9–U17 Rapid & Blitz Championships 2025. Designed to enrich the championship experience, these sessions offer players, coaches, and parents practical insights into long-term development and high-level training methodology. Two master classes were held at the Aska Lara Hotel in Antalya, Türkiye.
On December 17, GM Rustam Kasimdzhanov, FIDE World Champion 2004 and one of the world’s most respected chess trainers, led an online session based on his extensive coaching experience. Kasimdzhanov has served as second to Viswanathan Anand in three World Championship matches, worked with Fabiano Caruana during the Candidates and the 2018 World Championship cycle, coached national teams including Germany (European Team Champions, 2011), and in 2025 was appointed Head Coach of the Uzbekistan Men’s National Team. His work with elite players provides invaluable perspective on sustained, long-term improvement.
The following day, December 18, FM/FT Alper Efe Ataman, Board Member of the Turkish Chess Federation, founder of Analiz Satranç publishing house, and author of Instructive Chess Miniatures, delivered a clear and structured in-person presentation on developing young talent, focusing on priority-setting, consistency, and sustainable progress.
For more information, visit ISCF social media @ischoolchess or the official website.
Written by Özgür Akman
Photos: Ozan Koşar