Monaco Championship 2026: Levacic and Dornbusch claim titles
IM Damir Levacic and WGM Tatiana Dornbusch are newly crowned chess champions of еру Principality. The Monaco Chess Championship 2026, a 7-round Swiss tournament held from February 23 to March 1, brought together the country’s leading players with man and women competing in the same pool. The event not only determined the national titleholders but also finalized the selection of the teams representing Monaco at the upcoming Chess Olympiad. Open and women’s titles IM Damir Levacic emerged as the clear winner of the tournament, scoring 5.5/7 to secure the title of Monaco Champion 2026. Despite suffering a third-round defeat at the hands of top seed GM Amir Bagheri, Levacic finished strongly with three straight victories to clinch the title. Five players shared second place on 5 points, reflecting the highly competitive nature of the championship: GM Amir Bagheri Riccardo Costalonga GM Igor Efimov FM Alexis Cahen FM Patrice Verdier Tie-break criteria determined the final ranking among the players on equal points. WGM Tatiana Dornbusch secured the title of Women’s Champion of Monaco 2026, finishing as the highest-ranked female player with a score of 4.5/7. She edged out WIM Marija Zvereva who achieved the same score but had an inferior Buchholz-tiebreak. WCM Svetlana Berezovska and WCM Fiorina Berezovsky also completed solid tournaments. Complete final standings Monaco teams for the Chess Olympiad Based on the results of the national championship and selection criteria, the Monaco Chess Federation confirmed the following line-ups for the forthcoming Chess Olympiad: Open team IM Damir Levacic GM Amir Bagheri Riccardo Costalonga GM Igor Efimov FM Alexis Cahen Women’s team WGM Tatiana Dornbusch WIM Marija Zvereva WCM Svetlana Berezovska WCM Fiorina Berezovsky WIM Julia Lebel (82) The composition of both teams combines experienced titled players with motivated competitors, aiming to represent Monaco with strength and stability on the international stage.
FIDE March 2026 Rating List – Correction
According to Article 0.2.1 of the FIDE Rating Regulations, a tournament and its playing schedule must be registered: 0.2.1 Not later than 30 days before the tournament starts, if one of the players in the tournament is rated in excess of 2700, or a female player rated in excess of 2500. Due to an oversight in the approval process, the Russian Chess Crown match was included in the March 2026 FIDE Rating List in breach of these regulations. Once the error was identified, the Qualification Commission (QC) removed the event from the FIDE Rating System in accordance with the applicable rules. As a result, Sergey Karjakin’s status has been changed to inactive, and he has been removed from the list of active players in the FIDE rating list. The FIDE Qualification apologises for any issues this may have caused with the release of the new rating list, and will work at improving the approval process in the future. The current standard rating list is available here: https://ratings.fide.com/top_lists.phtml?list=open
Chess and Education Summit to take place in San José, Costa Rica
As part of the Year of Chess in Education 2026, the Chess in Education Summit will be held on March 20-21 in San José, Costa Rica, bringing together educators, policymakers, and chess development leaders from across the Americas and beyond. Organised in cooperation with FIDE, the Confederation of Chess for the Americas (CCA), the Costa Rican Chess Federation (FCA), and the Ministry of Public Education of Costa Rica, the summit will focus on practical models for integrating chess into school systems, with an emphasis on inclusion, student well-being, and ease of implementation for teachers. The event will also serve as a platform for regional cooperation. Ministerial delegations from several Latin American countries, including Guatemala, Venezuela, and El Salvador, have been invited to participate, alongside national authorities from Costa Rica such as Leonardo Sánchez, Minister of Public Education, and Donald Rojas, Director of the National Institute of Sports and Recreation (ICODER). A key outcome of the summit will be the launch of a national pilot programme introducing classroom-based chess education in ten Costa Rican schools, developed jointly by FIDE, CCA, FCA, and the Ministry of Public Education. As part of the public programme, a Women’s Chess Tournament coordinated by Carolina Muñoz will take place on March 20, highlighting the role of chess in empowering girls and women through education and sport. “During the Year of Chess in Education, our priority is to support countries in implementing chess in classrooms in a meaningful and accessible way. The initiative launched in Costa Rica shows how national authorities and the chess community can work together to place chess at the service of education and student well-being,” said Dana Reizniece, Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board. Registration and participation The Chess in Education Summit will take place at the Costa Rica Tennis Club in San José and is open to education authorities, teachers, academics, chess federations, and organisations working in educational and social development. The summit sessions will run over two days, with keynotes on day one (Friday, March 20), and workshops on day two (Saturday, March 21). Participants may attend either in person or online. In-person registration provides full access to conference sessions, workshops, networking opportunities, and event materials. Participation is limited due to venue capacity. The international in-person participation package is USD 150 and includes access to the full conference programme and all meals on March 20-21. Virtual participation is available worldwide via live streaming of keynote sessions. Register here: National participants (Costa Rica): https://forms.gle/9XUSYJtutKodWDp2A(This form also includes links to the new international registration forms.) International participants (English): https://forms.gle/NGkka3Fw6QR6UgAB8 International participants (Spanish): https://forms.gle/UxLdm5wiv1WYXLRBA Official website: https://chessedusummit.com Contact: cumbre@chessedusummit.com
FIDE March 2026 rating list published
The FIDE March 2026 rating list was primarily shaped by the Tata Steel Masters and Challengers tournaments that concluded on February 1 alongside several Swiss events in across the globe. Both the Open and Women’s top 10 saw significant changes. Nodirbek Abdusattorov returned to the Open top 5 after a 19-month absence, thanks to his victory in the Tata Steel Masters. Bibisara Assaubayeva re-entered the Women’s top 10 following her strong performance in the Tata Steel Challengers. Photo: Michal Walusza Biggest rating gains in top 100 (Open and Women) Gunawardhana, Devindya Oshini WIM SRI 2347 (+87) Suleymanli, Aydin GM AZE 2653 (+25) Van Foreest, Jorden GM NED 2729 (+24) Woodward, Andy GM USA 2631 (+23) Abdusattorov, Nodirbek GM UZB 2771 (+20) Yip, Carissa IM USA 2486 (+20) Sindarov, Javokhir GM UZB 2745 (+19) Assaubayeva, Bibisara GM KAZ 2516 (+19) Erdogmus, Yagiz Kaan GM TUR 2687 (+18) Li, Rachael WIM USA 2375 (+17) Atwell, Rose FM USA 2354 (17) Photo: Anna Shtourman Devindya Oshini Gunawardhana (pictured above) tops the list of biggest rating gainers in February, following her highly successful European tour. The teenager from Sri Lanka earned impressive 87 points across two SixDays Budapest tournaments and the 24th Rochefort Chess Festival – Masters. Aydin Suleymanli delivered a strong performance in the 2026 Azerbaijani Championship winning bronze and netting 15 points which he added to ten points gained from the Tata Steel Challengers. Photo: Michal Walusza Jorden Van Foreest (pictred above), Javokhir Sindarov and Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus shone in the Tata Steel Masters posting substantial rating increments. Notably, all three reached their career-high positions in the top 100 Open. Andy Woodward (pictured below) and Carissa Yip delivered in the Tata Steel Challengers. The event’s winner, Woodward, collected 23 rating points to debut in the top 100 Open, while Yip made her first appearance in the Women’s top 15. Photo: Michal Walusza Finally, Rachael Li and Rose Atwell overperformed in the 17th Annual Southwest Class Championship with Atwell debuting in the top 100 Women.
Ghana Chess Association successfully elects new executive council members
Accra, Ghana – February 22, 2026 – On Saturday, February 21, 2026, the Ghana Chess Association held a congress to elect a new executive council, as mandated by the association’s constitution. The elections were organised and supervised by a three-person electoral committee chaired by Mr. Ambrose Amexo. Voting took place from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, after which the results were declared and the new executives were sworn in by a senior member of the Ghana Olympic Committee. The results were as follows: PRESIDENT Acheampong David: 14 (17.07%) Ashley Christiana Naa Merley: 68 (82.93%) VICE PRESIDENT (ADMINISTRATION) Ayiku Angela Naa Amerley (Yes): 77 (93.9%) Ayiku Angela Naa Amerley (No): 2 (2.44%) VICE PRESIDENT (TECHNICAL) Fomevor Clinton Cephas: 65 (79.27%) Tandoh Charles Raymond Appiah: 16 (19.51%) GENERAL SECRETARY Kporxah Maxwell Kwasi (Yes): 77 (93.9%) Kporxah Maxwell Kwasi (No): 3 (3.66%) FINANCIAL SECRETARY Mills-Pappoe Benjamin Adoayi (Yes): 73 (80.02%) Mills-Pappoe Benjamin Adoayi (No): 5 (6.1%) TREASURER Dzima Betty (Yes): 76 (92.68%) Dzima Betty (No): 3 (3.66%) ORGANISING SECRETARY Acheampong George Koomson: 62 (75.61%) Senyegah Paul: 18 (21.95%) PLAYERS’ REPRESENTATIVE Anhwere Bernard (Yes): 78 (95.12%) Anhwere Bernard (No): 1 (1.22%) YOUTH COORDINATOR Benson Maud (Yes): 76 (92.68%) Benson Maud (No): 2 (2.44%)
Uganda finalises Olympiad line-up at 2026 National Championship
The 2026 Uganda National Chess Championship (Super 12) has concluded after three consecutive weekends of high-level competition and 11 demanding rounds of classical chess, officially determining Uganda’s representatives for the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The championship, organised by the Uganda Chess Federation (UCF), brought together the country’s strongest twelve players in each section under the round-robin format. With Olympiad qualification at stake, every round carried significant weight, producing tense encounters, decisive moments and dramatic shifts in the standings. Open section: A battle to the final round The Open section lived up to expectations, with qualification places remaining uncertain until the very end. Nyola Wasswa Mark emerged as the clear winner after delivering a consistent performance across all 11 rounds, scoring 8.5/11 and finishing a full point ahead of the chasing pack to secure the national title. Among the tournament’s defining games was the encounter between current national coach Ssonko Mathias Allan and former national coach FM Harold Wanyama. In a result that reshaped the leaderboard, Ssonko prevailed in a fiercely contested battle. Despite the significance of that victory, final tie-break calculations placed both players narrowly outside the top five qualification spots, highlighting the extraordinary competitiveness and depth of the field. Final standings – Open Women’s Section: A Generational Shift The Women’s section marked a historic turning point, producing what is now the youngest Olympiad team in Uganda’s history. Four of the five qualifiers are under 20, reflecting the growing strength of youth development structures and the emergence of a confident new generation. Players affiliated with KTLCA Chess Club featured prominently among the leaders, underlining the impact of sustained grassroots programmes. One of the most symbolic moments of the championship came when the youngest participant, Suhana Yadav, defeated the experienced WCM Asaba Juliet in a dynamic and hard-fought game. The result captured the spirit of transition that characterised the event a blend of experience meeting rising ambition. Final standings – Women The championship concluded with a dignified closing ceremony attended by members of the UCF Executive Committee and led by the UCF President. In his address, he commended the players for their resilience and fighting spirit throughout the demanding schedule, noting that the championship demonstrated both the depth of talent and the evolving competitive standards of Ugandan chess. With the national team now confirmed, attention shifts to preparations for the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, where Uganda will join federations from across the globe in the most prestigious team event on the international chess calendar. Photos: Ivan Mukuye, Bani Chess – Arthur Mukunya
Romanian Championship 2026: Bogdan-Daniel Deac and Corina-Isabela Peptan claim titles
GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac and IM Corina-Isabela Peptan triumphed at the 2026 edition of the Romanian Championship. Deac won his second national title (his first came back in 2021), while Peptan claimed her 13th (!) women’s crown. The event took place in Timișoara from February 14–22 across three sections – Open, Women, and Amateurs – all 9-round Swiss tournaments with classical time control. Top seed Deac lived up to expectations and emerged as champion, but it was no walk in the park for him. Deac got off to an excellent start, winning four straight games and taking the lead, but GM David Gavrilescu caught up with him in the very next round. Deac surged ahead again, only to share the top spot after Round 7 – this time with another strong competitor IM Filip Magold. In the penultimate round, Deac scored a crucial victory over FM Artiom Vedmediuc and pulled away again, as Magold drew with Constantin Lupulescu. Heading into the final round a half point ahead of Magold, Deac drew with IM Henry Edward Tudor and secured the title with an impressive score of 7.5/9, as his main rival also split the point with Gavrilescu. Magold and Lupulescu (who pulled off a final-round victory) tied for second place on 7/9, with the former claiming silver due to superior tiebreaks. Final standings – Open Top seed in the women’s event, Corina-Isabela Peptan, also rose to the occasion, claiming her record-breaking thirteenth national title. Peptan reeled off four consecutive victories in Rounds 3–6 and seized the lead, which she never relinquished. Drawing three final games proved sufficient to claim the crown. IM Andreea-Marioara Cosman finished a half point behind the champion for silver, while WGM Elena-Luminita Cosma edged out four competitors on superior Buchholz score to complete the podium. Final standings – Women Răzvan-Cătălin Tudoroiu emerged as the winner in the Amateur section. Final standings – Amateurs Photos: Federația Română de Șah
Mahammad Muradli and Ulviyya Fataliyeva win Azerbaijani Championship 2026
Mahammad Muradli and Ulviyya Fataliyeva are the newly crowned Azerbaijani chess champions. In the final matches, Muradli defeated Shakhriyar Mamedyarov to win the competition for the third time, while Fataliyeva prevailed over Ayan Allahverdiyeva to claim her maiden national title. The 2026 Azerbaijan Championships took place in the country’s capital, Baku, from February 6-22. Both the open and women’s competitions were knockout tournaments (two-game matches with tiebreakers if needed) played under classical time controls. The total prize fund was 62,000 AZN (~$36,500 USD) for the open section and 30,000 AZN (~$17,500 USD) for the women’s event. The open tournament, which attracted 30 participants, began with a preliminary round. The winners advanced to join the seeded players in the Round of 16. Muradli smoothly progressed to the quarterfinals, where he defeated Eltaj Safarli in the rapid tiebreaker. At this stage, the 2025 Azerbaijani champion Rauf Mamedov was eliminated, losing to IM Read Samadov. The rating favorite and last year’s finalist, Mamedyarov, needed no tiebreaks to reach the semifinals. In the semifinals, Muradli convincingly outplayed Samadov in the second classical game after drawing the first, securing his place in the final. The other semifinal match was much tenser and saw Mamedyarov battle past the young Aydin Suleymanli, winning the third rapid game to advance. The first game of the final between Mamedyarov and Muradli ended in a draw after a sharp tactical battle. In the second game, Muradli took full advantage of Mamedyarov’s mistake right out of the opening, winning the match and the title. In the match for third place, Suleymanli defeated Samadov twice to claim the bronze medal. In the women’s event, top seed IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva confirmed her pre-tournament favorite status, cruising past her opponents and advancing to the final. Somewhat surprisingly, her opponent in the title match was the seventh seed, WIM Ayan Allahverdiyeva, who eliminated defending champion Gunay Mammadzada in the quarterfinals and became the revelation of the tournament. Despite a substantial rating difference, the final match was very close. After the opponents exchanged victories in the classical games, Fataliyeva took control in the tiebreak, capturing her first national title. Gulnar Mammadova defeated Turkan Mammadyarova 1.5-0.5 in the match for third place to complete the podium. Photos: Azerbaijan Chess Federation
FIDE introduces World Cadet Championship cycle U8-U12 2026
Starting in 2026, FIDE is introducing a new and exciting championship cycle for the Under 8, Under 10, and Under 12 age categories, with the aim of strengthening the global pathway for young players and increasing the clarity and prestige of FIDE youth competitions. Under this new structure, the FIDE World Cadets Cup U8-U12 serves as a unique and qualifying event of the cycle, while the FIDE World Cadets Championships U8, U10, and U12, held later in the year, represent the final stage where world titles are decided. This distinction is central to the updated cycle and ensures greater clarity for federations, players, and parents. As part of this update, the event previously known as the World Cadet Championship U8-U12 has been renamed the FIDE World Cadets Cup U8-U12. While the competitive format and playing conditions remain unchanged, the new name reflects the event’s role as a global, merit-based competition that brings together the strongest young players from around the world and acts as a gateway to the World Cadets Championships later in the year. The inaugural edition of the FIDE World Cadets Cup under this new structure will take place from June 15-28, 2026 in Batumi, Georgia, and will follow the same proven system used in recent editions of the World Cadet Championships, with separate tournaments for boys and girls in the U8, U10, and U12 categories. Who can play? Each national federation is entitled to nominate one invited player per age category and gender, for a total of up to six players, along with one head of delegation holding a valid FIDE ID. In addition to these federation nominations, invited players also include those who finished in first to third place at the previous World Cadets Championships and World Cadets Cup, as well as the champions of the most recent Continental Cadet Championships. National federations may also register additional players and accompanying persons, subject to confirmation by the Organizing Committee, with all related costs covered by the federation, while FIDE-affiliated organizations may register players too and FIDE-endorsed chess academies may do so through their respective national federations. Venue Batumi provides an ideal setting for this global youth event. The city has a strong track record of hosting major international competitions, including the 2018 Chess Olympiad and recent top-level FIDE events, and benefits from Georgia’s deep-rooted chess culture and extensive organisational experience. The proven ability of Georgian Chess Federation and local organisers to deliver world-class events makes Batumi a trusted and familiar destination for federations and players alike. Commenting on the upcoming event, Akaki Iashvili, Chair of the FIDE Events Commission and President of the Georgian Chess Federation, said: “This event is an important opportunity for young players to test themselves on the world stage and to experience international chess at the highest organisational level. Georgia is proud to welcome the global chess community to Batumi once again, and we look forward to hosting the next generation of champions in a city with a deep love for the game.” FIDE member federations are kindly reminded that the registration deadline for the FIDE World Cup U8-U12 is April 15, 2026. Important dates of the cycle April 15, 2026 Deadline for federation registration for FIDE World Cup U8-U12 June 15-28, 2026 FIDE World Cup U8-U12 November 10-17, 2026 FIDE World Cadet Championships U8, U10, U12 with only 48 players in total More information about the FIDE World Cup U8-U12 can be found on the official website: wcc2026.fide.com/ Regulations for FIDE World Cadets’ Championship Cycle 2026 (PDF) For any additional queries, federations may contact the organisers directly at wcc@fide.com. The FIDE World Cup U8-U12 marks an important step in reinforcing the international competitive pathway for young players and underlines FIDE’s continued commitment to developing chess talent from the earliest stages on the global stage. FIDE World Cadets Championship U8, U10, U12 It is important to note that the FIDE World Cadets Championships U8, U10, and U12, held later in the year (November, 10-17), are a final-stage event with a limited field. A total of 48 players will participate, with only eight players per each of the six age categories. All participants in the World Cadets Championships qualify as personal right players and receive free full-board accommodation. Qualification places are allocated as follows: 3 spots – the three winners of the FIDE Cadets World Cup4 spots – one nomination from each continent. The nominations shall be sent by the continental President’s offices.1 spot – nomination from the organizing federation This structure ensures that the World Cadets Championships bring together the very strongest performers from the global qualification pathway.
FIDE Director for Chess Development visits Togo
The Togolese Chess Federation (FTDE) welcomed FIDE Director for Chess Development, Grandmaster Nigel Short, for an official visit aimed at promoting and structuring the game across Togo. The visit is part of FIDE’s ongoing efforts to support national federations in Africa and foster sustainable chess growth on the continent. During the visit, discussions focused on expanding the chess player base, structuring clubs, and enhancing coach training programs. The delegation and FTDE leadership shared strategies to create an environment conducive to discovering new talent and strengthening the organization of chess nationwide. As part of the program, the FTDE organized a conference on the educational value of chess, bringing together young players and key partners, including the National Social Security Fund. Nigel Short highlighted the role of chess in developing concentration, decision-making skills, and strategic thinking, while emphasizing that regular tournaments and fostering a love for the game are critical to nurturing emerging talent. FTDE President Me Ndjellé Abby Edah emphasized the federation’s commitment to democratizing chess starting from schools and broadening the licensed player base to boost Togo’s competitiveness at regional and international levels. Commenting on FIDE’s support for Africa and Togo, Tshepiso Lopang, President of the African Chess Confederation, said: “FIDE’s continued engagement and support provide our federations with the tools and guidance needed to grow chess from the grassroots to the elite level. Nigel Short’s visit to Togo exemplifies FIDE’s commitment to nurturing talent and strengthening chess infrastructure across the continent.” The visit also provided an opportunity to launch the Chess Popularization Program (PIVE), designed to promote chess among youth and integrate the game into educational and community settings. Supported by FIDE, the program aims to cultivate early interest in chess and expand participation across Togo. Photos: African Chess Confederation