Zhu Jiner to replace Lei Tingjie in FIDE WGP 2024–25 Series
GM Lei Tingjie has withdrawn from the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024–25 for personal reasons. In accordance with WGP regulations, she will be replaced by GM Zhu Jiner (pictured above), who is now set to compete in the FIDE WGP legs in Cyprus, India, and Austria. Zhu Jiner has held the Grandmaster title since 2023 and is currently China’s fifth-ranked female player. She won the Girls’ U14 section of the World Youth Chess Championships in Khanty-Mansiysk in 2016. In 2017, she finished third in the Asian Zone 3.5 behind Zhai Mo and Ni Shiqun, earning qualification for the Women’s World Chess Championship 2018. That same year, she was awarded the FIDE Woman International Master (WIM) title. In 2018, she won the bronze medal at the Women’s China Rapid Chess Championship. Zhu Jiner competed in the first three legs of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2022–23. In Astana, the first leg, she finished third with 6.5/11. In Munich, she tied for fifth place with 5.5/11, and in New Delhi, she tied for first place with Aleksandra Goryachkina and Bibisara Assaubayeva, scoring 6/9. Her performance in New Delhi secured her final GM norm, and in August 2023, she was officially awarded the Grandmaster title, becoming the 41st woman in history to achieve this distinction. The fourth leg of the FIDE WGP 2024–25 will take place in Cyprus from March 14–25, with Zhu Jiner replacing Lei Tingjie in the draw. The full pairings can be found below: FIDE Women’s Grand Prix Cyprus 2025 Pairings (PDF) FIDE WGP official website: https://womengrandprix.fide.com/ Photo: Lennart Ootes
Goryachkina clinches second FIDE WGP 2024-2025 title in Monaco after dramatic finale
We have reached the end of a spectacular Grand Prix leg in Monaco, filled with intense battles, unexpected turns, and a newly crowned champion. After nine grueling rounds, three players—Aleksandra Goryachkina, Batkhuyag Munguntuul, and Humpy Koneru—finished tied for first place. However, it was Goryachkina who emerged as the tournament winner, securing her second Grand Prix leg victory, thanks to the superiour Sonneborn-Berger tiebreak. The final round delivered high-stakes drama, with Munguntuul and Goryachkina drawing their encounter, allowing Humpy Koneru to join them at the top after defeating Bibisara Assaubayeva. Meanwhile, Alexandra Kosteniuk bounced back with a victory over Elisabeth Paehtz, Tan Zhongyi and Harika Dronavalli drew, and in a shocking twist, Sarasadat Khademalsharieh defeated Kateryna Lagno, dashing her hopes for the title. Yesterday’s results had already reshaped the leaderboard, with Goryachkina and Munguntuul catching up to Lagno, setting up a final-round showdown. The stakes were high: a win in Munguntuul-Goryachkina would likely secure first place for the winner, while Lagno needed a victory against Khademalsharieh to stay in contention. With everything on the line, the last round was a fitting climax to an unforgettable event. Round 9 results Batkhuyag Munguntuul 1/2-1/2 Aleksandra GoryachkinaAlexandra Kosteniuk 1-0 Elisabeth PaehtzTan Zhongyi 1/2-1/2 Harika DronavalliHumpy Koneru 1-0 Bibisara AssaubayevaSarasadat Khademalsharieh 1-0 Kateryna Lagno Batkhuyag Munguntuul – Aleksandra Goryachkina This was the game everyone had their eyes on. The tournament’s bottom seed, Batkhuyag Munguntuul, delivered a phenomenal performance in Monaco, while Goryachkina, the winner of the previous Grand Prix leg, fought her way to the top after an early setback in round one. A victory for either would have secured at least a shared first place, while a draw would have left the final standings uncertain, depending on Lagno’s result. The opening choice—a Berlin Defense in Ruy Lopez—was particularly interesting, as it is known for its drawish tendencies. However, throughout this tournament, we have seen dynamic interpretations of this setup, and this game was no exception. Both players sought complications, but multiple exchanges eradicated any attacking chances, leading to a draw. Goryachkina remains the clear favorite in the overall Grand Prix standings and will play her third and final leg in Cyprus (March 14-25). Will she cement her place at the top? Meanwhile, Munguntuul, who had a tough start in Shymkent but shone in Monaco, will return for the Indian leg (April 13-24). What will her third appearance bring? Alexandra Kosteniuk – Elisabeth Paehtz A King’s Indian Defense quickly turned favorable for White, both on the board and on the clock. Alexandra first advanced on the queenside, securing a strong outpost for her knight, and then took full advantage of Black’s passive pieces and ill-timed counterplay on the kingside. Both players have not had great time management in this tournament, and today they exchanged long tanks – for more than 20 minutes at some points. A key moment came at move 18 when Black faced a recapture dilemma: Kosteniuk noted in her post-game interview that King’s Indian players instinctively want to recapture on f5 with a pawn, but here, Black’s passive position demanded either 18…Bxf5 or 18…Nxf5 instead. After further simplifications, White’s advantage became undeniable due to Black’s misplaced pieces and weak pawn structure. The game concluded with a tactical shot following 36. Bb4, making White’s passed a-pawn a decisive factor. Paehtz, understandably determined to win, took risks, but Kosteniuk—bouncing back from her previous loss—remained composed and converted the advantage. Paehtz started the tournament strongly but lost momentum. However, with her next appearance in Cyprus, she has the opportunity to regain her form. Meanwhile, Kosteniuk will return for the final Grand Prix leg in Austria. Tan Zhongyi – Harika Dronavalli Both players entered the round with confidence after winning their previous games. While neither had a standout tournament, ending on a strong note was crucial—especially for Harika, who will play in Cyprus next, and Tan, who is set to challenge the Women’s World Champion in just four weeks. Tan, trailing the leaders by just half a point, still had an outside chance of winning, making this game all the more significant for both players. It began with a Sicilian but quickly deviated from mainline theory. White appeared more comfortable in the resulting closed position, securing a strong outpost knight. However, her other pieces were passive, preventing any decisive breakthroughs. As the game progressed, Black found chances for a kingside initiative, but the position remained balanced. Eventually, the queenside opened up, leading to multiple exchanges and leaving Black with a passed a-pawn. Dronavalli could have forced a draw by trading queens but opted to continue, given her slightly more active pieces. Despite Black’s winning pawns, the ensuing complications allowed Tan’s queen to remain a constant threat. Ultimately, the game ended in a hard-fought draw. Tan will soon be in China for the World Championship match before returning for the Grand Prix final leg in Austria (May 6-17)—will she compete as the newly crowned World Champion? Meanwhile, Harika, despite an underwhelming performance in Monaco leg, will have two more chances to shine in Cyprus and India. Humpy Koneru – Bibisara Assaubayeva Trailing the leaders by half a point, Humpy had every reason to go all in, and that’s precisely what she did. Her opponent, Assaubayeva, struggling with health issues and sitting at the bottom of the standings, was likely not at her sharpest. An early mistake cost her a pawn, and from there, Humpy dictated the game. Here, instead of 11…c6 or 11…Nh5 Black played 11…Nd7?, allowing 12. Qxd8 Rxd8 13. Nb5, attacking the c7-pawn. Despite being down material early, Assaubayeva fought on, posing as many problems as possible. However, Humpy’s experience prevailed, and she secured a critical victory, joining the tournament leaders. This was Assaubayeva’s final Grand Prix leg, while Humpy will return to compete in India, playing on home turf. Sarasadat Khademalsharieh – Kateryna Lagno Lagno had led the tournament for multiple rounds and played a quick draw on the previous day. But with her co-leaders facing off, she needed a win. Unfortunately, pushing
Boris Spassky (1937–2025)
FIDE is deeply saddened by the passing of Boris Spassky, the tenth World Chess Champion, at the age of 88. Spassky was born in 1937 in Leningrad and recognized as a chess prodigy from an early age. He earned the Grandmaster title at 18 and made his Candidates Tournament debut in 1956 (Amsterdam) at 19. Though Spassky showed immense promise, he missed the next two World Championship cycles after failing to qualify for the Interzonals. However, he resumed his quest for the chess crown eight years later. After defeating Keres (1965), Geller (1965), and Tal (1965) in the Candidates matches, Spassky earned the right to challenge Tigran Petrosian for the world title. Though Boris lost the 1966 match in Moscow, he fought his way back and, three years later, defeated Petrosian in their rematch (Moscow, 1969) by a score of 12½–10½, becoming the tenth World Chess Champion. Spassky held the title until 1972, when he famously lost to Bobby Fischer in Reykjavik, one of the most iconic matches in chess history. A symbol of rivalry between the USA and USSR during the Cold War, the “Match of the Century” was held in Reykjavik, Iceland, and boasted a record-breaking prize pool of $250,000, dwarfing other sports’ rewards. The showdown between an American and a Soviet drew unparalleled media coverage, with major outlets present. The match was broadcast to 50 million viewers. The contest lasted 21 games, and Fischer won 12½ to 8½, becoming the eleventh World Chess Champion. This victory propelled chess into the mass media spotlight. Spassky continued competing at the highest level, notably reaching the Candidates semifinal in 1974 and the final in 1977. A two-time USSR Champion (1961 and 1973), Spassky played for the Soviet team in seven Chess Olympiads (1962–1978), winning thirteen medals (team and individual) and scoring 69 points in 94 games (+45−1=48). An independent spirit and true chess artist, Spassky felt constrained by the Soviet system. In 1976, he emigrated to France with his third wife, became a French citizen in 1978, and later represented France in three Olympiads (1984–1988) on board one. In 2012, Spassky returned to Russia. The first genuinely universal player, Spassky was not an opening specialist, but he excelled in complex and dynamic middlegame positions, where he was in his element. FIDE extends its sincere condolences to Boris Spassky’s family, friends, and loved ones.
PDC webinar on 2025 FIDE Funding Guidelines announced
Dear FIDE members, We are happy to announce that FIDE starts its Planning and Development Funding programme 2025 cycle on the 1st of March 2025. All beneficiaries entitled to the funding programme are welcome to submit their requests for 2025 development projects. FIDE PDC has published the new 2025 FIDE Funding guidelines with some adaptations and amendments of 2025 here: https://pdc.fide.com/guidelines2025/. We would like to invite you to the FIDE PDC Webinar initiated to discuss the new guidelines with amendments, new application procedure, format of applying for funds and other important changes related to the FIDE Planning and Development programme and procedure. The FIDE PDC Webinar will take place on March 03, 2025, at 14.00 pm CET via ZOOM platform. Link to the webinar is below: us06web.zoom.us/j/83941940294?pwd=a9WxS5mqbC3q4fPN0saPNqC1RxEF7k.1 Meeting ID: 839 4194 0294Passcode: 801501Topic: FIDE PDC Funding Programme 2025 – start of the cycleTime: Mar 3, 2025 02:00 PM Paris Tap mobile +15074734847,,83941940294#,,,,*801501# US+15642172000,,83941940294#,,,,*801501# US Dial by your location +1 507 473 4847 US• +1 564 217 2000 US• +1 646 876 9923 US (New York)• +1 646 931 3860 US• +1 669 444 9171 US• +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)• +1 689 278 1000 US• +1 719 359 4580 US• +1 253 205 0468 US• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)• +1 305 224 1968 US• +1 309 205 3325 US• +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)• +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)• +1 360 209 5623 US• +1 386 347 5053 US• +1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 839 4194 0294Passcode: 801501 Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kgAfCsiXP Looking forward to seeing you at the webinar, FIDE PDC Team
WSTCC 2025: USA and England crowned champions
From February 16–27, 2025, Prague hosted the World Senior Team Chess Championship. After over ten days and nine exciting rounds, the champions emerged in every category. 50+ Category Top-seeded USA (GM Ehlvest, GM Kaidanov, GM Shabalov, GM Novikov, and IM Rachels) secured first place in the 50+ competition, finishing with 15/18 points after defeating Confluentia in the final round. Team Italy (GM David, GM Godena, IM Bellini, IM Bellia, and IM D’Amore) also won their last match, equaling the USA’s score but had to settle for silver due to inferior tiebreaks (game points). Kazakhstan (GM Kazhgaleyev, GM Kotsur, GM Temirbayev, IM Tikzhanov, and IM Min), who led the event after eight rounds, faced a tough last-round pairing against England 1. After tense battles on all four boards, the match ended in a draw, leaving Kazakhstan with bronze, while England 1 finished in fourth place. Several players had a truly amazing event and delivered outstanding performances. GM Michael Adams scored 6.5/8 on the top board, only losing to GM Ftacnik in round seven, earning him the gold medal for board one. GM Alexander Shabalov (USA) claimed gold on board three. GM Mark Hebden (England) dominated board four. IM Carlo D’Amore greatly contributed to Italy’s success, winning the reserve board medal. Final standings 50+ England 1 (GM Nunn, GM Flear, GM Kosten, IM Large, and FM Chapman) dominated the 65+ category from start to finish, playing on the top board from round two onwards and conceding only two match draws. Lasker Schachstiftung GK (GM Knaak, GM Jussupow, GM Meister, and Dr. Koehler), the top-seeded team, remained undefeated but managed only five match wins, finishing second. Germany’s Saxonia secured the bronze medal. Final standings 65+ Legendary GMs Rainer Knaak and Artur Jussupow convincingly won their respective frist and second boards. FM Mario Sibilio played amazing chess and delivering exceptional performance on board three. IM Large (England 1), scored an impressive 7/8, becoming the best performer on board four. The medal for the reserve board goes to IM Giffard of France 1. The women’s teams competed in the same pools as the men but were ranked separately. In the 50+ category, Czech Republic claimed gold, finishing ahead of China (silver) and the USA (bronze). In the 65+ category, Latvia took first place, followed by Czech Republic (silver) and Poland (bronze). This event once again proved that age is just a number, but chess is timeless. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Official website: https://www.wstcc2025.net/ Photos: Ave Chess and Mark Livshitz
Three-way tie sets up explosive final round at FIDE WGP Monaco
The penultimate round of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in Monaco delivered a dramatic spectacle, with four out of five games ending decisively. Goryachkina, Tan, Munguntuul, and Harika all scored victories, setting the stage for a thrilling final round. Three players now share the tournament lead, ensuring an exciting finish. On a lighter note, Bibisara Assaubayeva celebrated her 21st birthday today, receiving chocolates and flowers from the organizers as a thoughtful gift before her game. Virginie Cotta, the General Secretary of Société des Bains de Mer, made the ceremonial first move on her board. Also present today was the Berezovsky chess family—mother Svetlana and daughter Fiorina—who represented Monaco at the FIDE Olympiad last year. It was a pleasure to catch up with them at the event. As the tournament nears its conclusion, fatigue is naturally setting in. Some players opted to conserve their energy, while others fought fiercely for every point. As always, the round featured high-level chess and intense battles across the boards. Round 8 results: Aleksandra Goryachkina 1-0 Sarasadat KhademalshariehKateryna Lagno 1/2-1/2 Humpy KoneruBibisara Assaubayeva 0-1 Zhongyi TanHarika Dronavalli 1-0 Alexandra KosteniukElisabeth Paehtz 0-1 Batkhuyag Munguntuul Aleksandra Goryachkina – Sarasadat Khademalsharieh As often happens towards the end of a tournament, fatigue took its toll on Khadem, who suffered her third consecutive loss. Sarasadat played somewhat passively again, though she still sought to create counterplay, staying true to her fighting spirit. Goryachkina, however, capitalized on her opponent’s weaknesses and demonstrated her trademark consistency, even in the latter stages of the event. Emerging from a closed Ruy Lopez, the game was slow and positional—an environment in which Goryachkina has thrived throughout the tournament. White built up a comfortable position and gradually improved her pieces as Black struggled to generate play. Khadem’s game unraveled as she allowed unnecessary activity, dropped a pawn without compensation, and overlooked tactical nuances, ultimately ceding full control. In a completely lost position, she resigned on move 50. With this victory, Goryachkina joins Lagno and Munguntuul in the lead, setting up a high-stakes final-round encounter against the latter. Kateryna Lagno – Humpy Koneru After a grueling six-hour battle against Zhongyi Tan in the previous round, Lagno opted for a quick draw against Humpy Koneru. Leading the standings by half a point, with Koneru trailing just behind, the decision was pragmatic as she looks to maintain her position heading into the final round. Bibisara Assaubayeva – Tan Zhongyi Unfortunately for Assaubayeva, Tan had no birthday presents to offer over the board. Playing a closed Ruy Lopez, White made a few questionable decisions, allowing Black to dictate the pace of the game. Despite occasional chances to escape, Assaubayeva remained on the back foot, and Tan secured a commanding advantage. The game reached a critical moment after 37…Nxg2, where White’s best option was the dynamic 38.Qxg2 f4 39.Rxe5 Rxe5 40.Rxe5 Rxg3, followed by sacrificing the queen with 41.Rxd5. This would have given White practical chances in a queen vs. rook-and-knight endgame. Instead, White captured on e5 immediately, allowing 38…Nxe1, after which the position was completely lost. The game concluded with 39.Rxd5 Kg8 40.Nxf5 Qa8—Black’s queen attacking the rook and the threat 41…Qa2+ sealed White’s fate. Harika Dronavalli – Alexandra Kosteniuk Dronavalli has steadily regained confidence after her rocky start, and today she finally notched her first win of the event. The game, a King’s Indian Attack with both sides fianchettoing on the kingside, quickly turned sharp as White aggressively advanced on the queenside. The players reached a middlegame with opposite-colored bishops, where White had a far-advanced but isolated c-pawn. Kosteniuk faced an important decision here. A retreat with 25…Bb6 was the safer choice, but she opted for the more natural 25…e5, which, while seemingly strengthening the bishop, but slightly exposed her king exposed. The situation worsened for Black after the pseudo-active 26…f5, opening position even more. A decisive moment came when Kosteniuk moved her king forward 28…Kf6? only to retreat immediately after 29.Bd5 Kg7. Again after the reserved 29…Bb6 Black would have been just slightly worse. Not only did this misstep cost Alexandra a couple of tempi, but she also spent 10 minutes deliberating over the move, leaving herself in time trouble. As played, Dronavalli seized the moment with the spectacular 30.Rxd4!, a thematic sacrifice exploiting Black’s open king. White continued with precise play, dismantling Black’s kingside defenses and clinching a much-needed victory. Elisabeth Paehtz – Batkhuyag Munguntuul This was undoubtedly the game of the round, as underdog Munguntuul struck at a crucial moment to join the leaders. The game, a Semi-Slav, quickly veered off mainline theory, and Paehtz initially seemed to have the upper hand with an active position and a dominant outpost knight on d6. The tide shifted when Paehtz played 27.Ne4 (27.Rd1 was a more natural and stronger option), allowing Black’s rook to establish itself on d5, equalizing. After 28.a5 Munguntuul upset the balance with an interesting practical sacrifice 28…Bxe5! The engines may not fully agree with this move but it presented White with some problems. Paehtz’s biggest mistake came here. White needed to play 33.Rg1 to ensure back-rank safety, but instead, she played 33.Re1? allowing 33…Qc3! After 34.Qxc3 bxc3 35.Rec1 c2 36.h3, it was too late, and 36…Rd1 sealed her fate. Though Paehtz briefly created counterplay with a passed a-pawn, Munguntuul remained composed, converting her kingside pawn two-pawn advantage into a well-earned victory. This incredible performance places her among the tournament leaders—an impressive feat in what is shaping up to be the best event of her career. With three players—Lagno, Goryachkina, and Munguntuul—now sharing the lead, the final round of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in Monte-Carlo promises a dramatic showdown. Don’t miss the action—tune in for the final round and witness history unfold! Standings after Round 8: Kateryna Lagno – 5Batkhuyag Munguntuul – 5Aleksandra Goryachkina – 5Humpy Koneru – 4.5Tan Zhongyi – 4.5Alexandra Kosteniuk – 3.5Harika Dronavalli – 3.5Bibisara Assaubayeva – 3Sarasadat Khademalsharieh – 3Elisabeth Paehtz – 3 Round 9 pairings and dates The ninth and final round of the third leg in the
Singapore Championship 2025: Tin Jingyao and Gong Qianyun retain titles
GM Tin Jingyao and WGM Gong Qianyun successfully defended their titles as Singapore’s national chess champions. The 76th Singapore National Championship, featuring a record prize pool, took place at the Asian Civilisations Museum from February 4–25. Men and women competed in a single event but were ranked separately. GM Tin Jingyao dominated the tournament, achieving a perfect score of 9/9 with an impressive tournament performance rating of 3000. GM Siddharth Jagadeesh finished second, 2.5 points behind the champion, while four players—IM Enrique Paciencia, FM Jayden Wong, Tang Yiheng, and Elliot Wong—tied for third place with 6/9. Paciencia claimed bronze thanks to a superior Buchholz tiebreak score. In the women’s competition, WGM Gong Qianyun won her 11th National Championship title after defeating WIM Anjela Khegay in an exciting tiebreaker. Both players had finished the tournament with 5/9. This victory marks an extraordinary milestone, as it is also Gong’s 10th consecutive title, cementing a decade of her supremacy in Singaporean women’s chess. WIM Anjela Khegay took silver, while Eden Pang completed the podium with bronze. Final standings: 1 GM Tin, Jingyao 2582 9 2 GM Siddharth, Jagadeesh 2496 6½ 3 IM Paciencia, Enrique 2259 6 4 FM Wong, Zhenyong Jayden 2393 6 5 Tang, Yiheng 1969 6 6 Wong, Yen-Hsiu Elliot 1847 6 7 IM Susilodinata, Andrean 2359 5½ 8 WGM Gong, Qianyun W 2297 5 9 WIM Khegay, Anjela W 2037 5 10 AGM Kapoor, Satvik 2116 5 Photos: Singapore Chess Federation
FIDE World Youth Championships 2025 in Durres, Albania: Registration Open
FIDE and the Albanian Chess Federation invite all national chess federations to participate in the 2025 FIDE World Youth Chess Championships (U14, U16, and U18). The competitions will be held in Durres, Albania, from October 3 (arrival) to October 16 (departure). Each national federation may register one official player in each category (Under 14, Under 16, and Under 18, Open and Girls). This totals six official players plus one accompanying person (with a valid FIDE ID) per federation, all of whom are invited by the organizers. Additionally, players who finished 1st–3rd in the 2024 World Youth Championships (U14, U16, U18), as well as the gold medalists of the most recent Continental Youth Championships, earn the personal right to participate in the corresponding or a higher age category. Registration deadline: August 2, 2025. Invitation letter and regulations (PDF) FIDE World Youth Chess Championships 2025 official website: https://worldyouth2025.fide.com E-mail: worldyouth@fide.com
FIDE World Junior Championship 2025 begins in Petrovac, Montenegro
The FIDE World Junior Chess Championship kicked off in Petrovac, Montenegro, on Tuesday, February 25. The competition, open to players under 20 years old, features two categories: Open and Girls. Nearly 230 players from 44 countries are participating in the event with 157 players (including 12 GMs) from 63 countries in the open section. The highest-rated player in the tournament is GM Daniel Dardha (2651) from the Belgium. The Girls’ section has attracted 98 players, including seven WGMs from 27 countries. IM Lu Miaoyi (2432) from China is the tournament’s top seed. The championship’s first day featured a technical meeting led by Chief Arbiter IA Nebojsa Baralic and FIDE Technical Delegate Sergei Indeikin. The opening ceremony took place before Round 1, graced by the presence of Montenegro’s Minister of Sports and Youth, Dragoslav Scekic; Jovan Milovic, President of the Montenegro Chess Federation; and FIDE delegate Sergei Indeikin. Minister Scekic and MCF President Milovic made the tournament’s symbolic first move. The opening round of the Junior World Chess Championship in Petrovac provided the spectators with an abundance of fighting games and upsets despite a significant Elo and experience differences on most of the boards. One of the tensest games of the first round was played on board 3. One of the pre-tournament favorites GM Aleksey Grebnev representing FIDE faced FM Mateu Boci of Albania. The game started with the Nimzo-Indian Defence with Aleksey opting for a sub-variation of the Rubinstein system recently popularized by Richard Rapport. Black did not react in the most principled way and proceeded to develop in the Colle – Zukertort reversed fashion. Objectively, White got a small positional advantage aided by the f3-pawn effectively restricting Black’s minor pieces. However, the position remained mostly unclear and full of life. A few moves later Grebnev went for an interesting pawn structure transformation with a long-term plan of transferring his passive e2-knight to a glorious central outpost on e5. However, this plan takes a long time to execute and Mateu generated counterplay on the kingside with a typical AlphaZero-inspired h-pawn thrust. The position was getting increasingly sharp and complex with White finally achieving his strategic goals but severely weakening his king in the process. The first critical moment came on move 35, when, in mutual time trouble Grebnev went all with 35. Qxc6 – a greedy decision which should have backfired. Instead, 35. Rh2 would have allowed White to fight on equal terms albeit Black is probably to be preferred in a practical game. The young Albanian player reacted energetically, activating both rooks and putting his opponent on the verge of crushing defeat. Objectively, Black’s attack was decisive. However, nerves seemed to take their toll at this point–Mateu did not consider a professional decision to first repeat the position a couple of times to reach the time control with 39…Nh1+ 40. Kg1 Ng3 41. Kf2. With 30 extra minutes on the clock, Boci was very likely to crown his attack with a victory. In fact, the cold-blooded 41…Rb2 (or even 41…Ra2) puts White in zugzwang as both 42. Qf3 and 42. Qa8+ Kh7 43. Qf3 are met with Nh1+ -+. Instead, disaster struck as Black blundered with 39…Qh5??, missing 40. Qa8+! Kh7 41. Qf3! +-. Suddenly 41…Nh1 does not work anymore because of 42.Ke3! Aleksey was quick to capitalize on his lucky chance as Black had to exchange Queens and the resulting endgame was hopeless for him due to a very strong passed d-pawn. Grebnev went on to convert easily, finishing the game with a nice tactical shot. A heartbreaking loss for FM Mateu Boci, who played an inspired game against a very strong opponent. Still, if he continues to perform at the same level, more GM scalps will be coming his way soon. And for GM Grebnev this narrow escape may very well boost his confidence. After all, you cannot be a champion without a little luck involved. Standings after Round 1 Open Standings after Round 1 Girls Photos: Vlada Crne Gore Official webste: worldjunior2025.sahcg.me/
Heartbreak for Sara Khadem: A costly resignation shocks FIDE WGP
The seventh round of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix delivered a mix of unexpected turns, missed chances, and a heartbreaking moment for Sara Khadem. While four games ended in draws, the biggest shock came in Khadem’s game against Humpy Koneru, where Khadem resigned in a drawn position—an agonizing outcome after five and a half hours of play. As the tournament nears its climax, the competition is intensifying. Kateryna Lagno has held the lead for several rounds, but today’s results have shaken up the standings, making it anyone’s game. Humpy Koneru’s win propelled her to joint second place alongside Aleksandra Goryachkina and Batkhuyag Munguntuul, setting the stage for an unpredictable finish. The day began with a special visit from three basketball players from the Monaco Basketball Association, who made the ceremonial first move. In a show of support for women’s sports, they exchanged one of their team jerseys for a specially designed shirt from the FIDE Women’s Commission. Also in attendance for the ceremonial first move was Inna Bazhenova, founder of TAEX who is a key sponsor in this event. Round 7 results: Elisabeth Paehtz 1/2-1/2 Aleksandra GoryachkinaBatkhuyag Munguntuul 1/2-1/2 Harika DronavalliAlexandra Kosteniuk 1/2-1/2 Bibisara AssaubayevaZhongyi Tan 1/2-1/2 Kateryna LagnoHumpy Koneru 1-0 Sarasadat Khademalsharieh Elisabeth Paehtz – Aleksandra Goryachkina The first game to conclude was between Paehtz and Goryachkina, lasting just 30 minutes. A threefold repetition was reached by move 13—a curious decision by Goryachkina, given that she trails Lagno by just half a point. Whether it was a strategic choice to conserve energy remains unclear. Batkhuyag Munguntuul – Harika Dronavalli Munguntuul has had a strong tournament so far, winning her first game against Kosteniuk and then drawing the rest – escaping in some, and not converting advantages in others, but always demonstrating tenacity and often surprising her opponents. On the other hand, Dronavalli’s event so far has been the opposite making this game not just dependent on skill but also the opponnents’ mental states. Both players were overly cautious, spending a lot of time on their moves – even 20 minutes at some point. White attained a promising position out of a Sicilian Kalashnikov but misplayed on the queenside giving Black a chance to fight for more than just a draw. But Dronavalli understandably remained solid, forcing multiple trades leading to an equal position. Eventually, the game was drawn by a three-fold repetition. For Harika, this result with black pieces is not bad, particularly when it is easy for a player to lose objectivity whilst struggling in an event. Alexandra Kosteniuk – Bibisara Assaubayeva Assaubayeva, leading the overall Grand Prix standings, has not been in her best form in this event, missing opportunities in games which she normally would not have (as she did in her game yesterday). But today her play can be characterized as more passive than usual where White got an early advantage out of a King’s Indian Defense, an opening in which Black could either get an active play or enter something boring, requiring accuracy in defense. Assaubayeva, seeming visibly unenthused in the game (likely due to the nature of the position as well as her ill health), found herself in a tough situation. Luckily for her Kosteniuk did not find the best continuation and ended up in “only” in a better position. Soon the opponents liquidated into an endgame, both sides had the bishop pair and a rook, and five pawns. But White’s pieces were much more active, with her rook on an open file, and a better pawn structure given Black’s isolated e-pawn. After Bibisara’s impetous h7-h5 push on move 29, engines’ evaluation bar indicated White’s decisive advantage. However, it was important for White to take a steady approach and bring the king out with 31.Kf2, which is always useful in the endgame. Perhaps afraid of 31…h4 by Black (to which White can react with 32.Kf3 followed by either Kg4 or Ke4), she played the natural 31.g4? dropping a lion share of her advantage. Black’s best response was to ignore the pawn and bring the rook back into the game with 31…Rd8. But instead, she did capture 31…hxg4, and Kosteniuk responded quickly with the incorrect 32.Bxg4? when capturing with the pawn made much more sense and would also have allowed the white rook activity on the h-file. In the game, White tried lunging the h-pawn forward, but Black was able to completely hold the position and take the game to an eventual draw. Tan Zhongyi – Kateryna Lagno The game to watch this round was most definitely between Tan and Lagno – considering that Lagno is currently leading the standings, and Tan seems to have gotten her mojo back after securing an impressive victory against Sara Khadem. In a version of the King’s Indian Defense, Lagno took the game out of main theory with 6…a5, but Tan, possibly well versed in the line, immediately responded with the accurate 7.0-0. This moment set the expectations for the high level of the game and the psychology too. After a couple of White’s inaccuracies (the Nd5-Ne3 maneuver looks strange) Black came out of the opening comfortably, and soon the opponents entered a very complicated queenless middlegame. As the game progressed, White found herself in trouble and had to navigate the chaos with only 1 minute on her clock, compared to her opponent’s 14 minutes. In an excellent display of skill, Tan not only managed to equalize the position in the time scramble but suddenly turned the tables and got a chance took over the advantage. Here Black should have simply captured the pawn on g5 with an equal position but instead Kateryna played 35…Bd4?? allowing 36.f4! with an absolutely wining position for White. Opposite colored bishops are known for drawish tendencies but in this particular case Black is hopeless as her queenside pawns are too weak. But White missed a golden opportunity and erred with 36.Kd3? and after 36… Bxe5 37.c5 emerged with a superior but far from winning position. After the chaotic mess, the opponents