FIDE Grand Swiss 2025: Prize fund increases to record $855,000, with six new spots for women
The 2025 edition of the Grand Swiss – one of the strongest open chess tournaments in the world – will feature a significant prize fund boost, along with six additional spots in the Women’s. FIDE has introduced key updates to the regulations for the 2025 Grand Swiss and Women’s Grand Swiss, which will take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from September 3 to 15 this year. The changes include a significant increase in the prize fund in both competitions, and providing more spots for players in the Women’s event. A substantial rise in prize money In a significant step towards elevating the prestige of the event, both tournaments will see a substantial increase in the prize money, compared to the previous editions. The Open prize fund will rise from $460,000 to $625,000, a 36% increase, while the Women’s fund sees an even bigger leap, from $140,000 to $230,000—up 64%. “A prize fund increase of this scale isn’t just about numbers—it’s a statement. But it is not just about the prizes. Year after year, FIDE is delivering on our promise to provide more opportunities and better conditions for the wider range of players. We are grateful to Uzbekistan for hosting the Grand Swiss in 2025, and we are looking forward to the tournament in Samarkand to become another landmark event,” FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky said. More qualification spots for women The Women’s Grand Swiss will expand to 56 players, with six new spots added to the lineup. Of the six new spots – four players will qualify based on the June 2025 FIDE Standard Rating List, while two wild cards will be awarded by the organizers. “I am particularly happy about the new spots in the women’s event – as this increase aims to broaden participation and enhance competition,” FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said. “We are exceptionally pleased to have been able to increase the funding for both events, as more players will be able to share prizes. This also gives more chances to emerging talents to further develop their careers, and that has been one of the main goals of FIDE,” Dvorkovich added. Path to the Candidates Apart from being the gathering point for the world’s strongest Grandmasters, the Grand Swiss remains a crucial qualification event, with the top two finishers in both the Open and the Women’s competition securing places in the 2026 Candidates Tournament. Full regulations for both the Open and the Women’s event are published here: FIDE Grand Swiss 2025https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/GrandSwiss FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss 2025https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/WomenGrandSwiss About the FIDE Grand Swiss: Held every two years, the Grand Swiss brings together many of the strongest chess players in the world and is considered to be one of the most difficult chess tournaments to win. The first Grand Swiss was held in 2019 in the Isle of Man and was won by GM Wang Hao, who scored 8/11. The 2021 edition was moved from the Isle of Man to Riga due to Covid restrictions on the island and was won by GM Alireza Firouzja in the Open and Lei Tingjie in the inaugural Women’s event. The 2023 Grand Swiss was won by India’s Vidit Gujrathi in the Open and Vaishali Rameshbabu in the Women’s competition.
Eldiyar Orozbaev and Begimai Zairbek Kyzy win 2025 Kyrgyzstan Championship
IM Eldiyar Orozbaev and WFM Begimai Zairbek Kyzy are the new chess champions of Kyrgyzstan. Organized by the Kyrgyz Chess Union in collaboration with the Directorate for Non-Olympic Sports of the Kyrgyz Republic, and supported by the general sponsor, financial company MBulak, the 2025 Kyrgyzstan Chess Championship took place from February 13 to 23 at Kyrgyz State Technical University, named after I. Razzakov. A total of 92 players participated in the championship, including 65 men and 27 women. Both the open and women’s events were Swiss tournaments (eleven and nine rounds, respectively) with classical time control. A panel of arbiters, led by IA Aziz Umarbekov, officiated the competitions. The open tournament was fiercely contested, culminating in a tiebreaker to determine the national champion. Remarkably, five of the top ten finishers, including the champion, are under twenty years of age. After IMs Eldiyar Orozbaev, Asylbek Abdyjapar, and Semetei Tologon Tegin tied for first place with 9/11, the top two players based on Buchholz tiebreak scores—Orozbaev and Abdyjapar—competed in a rapid tiebreak match. Top seed Orozbaev emerged victorious, winning both games to claim the title. Despite his excellent performance, Abdyjapar had to settle for second place, while Tologon secured bronze. Final Standings – Open 1 IM Orozbaev, Eldiyar U20 2403 9 2 IM Abdyzhapar, Asylbek 2353 9 3 IM Tologon Tegin, Semetei 2353 9 4 IM Khoroshev, Nikita 2359 8 5 CM Momunaliev, Ruslan U14 2032 7½ 6 Sulaimanov, Tilekmatali U18 1744 7½ 7 CM Sharshenbekov, Emir U16 2078 7 8 NM Takyrbashev, Bolot 2042 7 9 IM Markov, Mikhail 2255 7 10 IM Zhakshylykov, Erzhan U18 2310 7 In the women’s competition, which also featured a very young lineup, WFM Begimai Zairbek Kyzy (pictured below) claimed the national title with a strong score of 7.5 points out of 9. WFM Nuray Sovetbekova finished second, just half a point behind, while WCM Aizhan Sezdbekova completed the podium with 6.5 points. Final Standings – Women 1 WFM Zairbek Kyzy, Begimai 1848 7½ 2 WFM Sovetbekova, Nurai U20 1940 7 3 WCM Sezdbekova, Aizhan U16 1881 6½ 4 WCM Lesbekova, Assel 1952 6 5 WCM Zhanybekova, Begimay U18 1909 6 6 Tursunalieva, Nurelina U14 1697 6 7 Sagynbekova, Zhibek U12 1609 5½ 8 Poliak, Margarita U12 1762 5½ 9 Zhunusbekova, Aimonchok U16 1907 5 10 Sabyrbekova, Aizhan U14 1537 5 This event showcased the high level of competition in Kyrgyzstan, with the country’s best players battling for the titles. The Kyrgyz Chess Union expresses its gratitude to all participants, sponsors, and partners for their support in advancing chess in Kyrgyzstan. Congratulations to the winners! Photos: Kyrgyz Chess Union
Goryachkina and Tan strike back as Women’s Grand Prix heats up in Monaco
Round 6 of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in Monaco saw players return from their rest day with renewed energy as Tan Zhongyi and Aleksandra Goryachkina secured important victories whilst all other games were drawn. After a well-deserved rest day, the players were back for Round 6 of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in Monaco with a mix of refreshed determination and strategic focus. While some participants joined an organized excursion to explore Monaco, others opted for rest and quiet preparation. The impact of these choices varied, as some players returned reinvigorated, while others struggled to find their rhythm. The round delivered a mix of decisive results and hard-fought draws, with Aleksandra Goryachkina and Tan Zhongyi scoring crucial wins to keep their tournament alive. Meanwhile, Kateryna Lagno held her lead despite drawing her game, setting the stage for an intense second half of the tournament. Results Aleksandra Goryachkina 1-0 Humpy KoneruSarasadat Khademalsharieh 0-1 Zhongyi TanKateryna Lagno 1/2-1/2 Alexandra KosteniukBibisara Assaubayeva 1/2-1/2 Batkhuyag MunguntuulHarika Dronavalli 1/2-1/2 Elisabeth Paehtz Aleksandra Goryachkina – Humpy Koneru The Ruy Lopez is arguably one of, if not the top, most-played openings in the world which is why it is quite interesting that by move 10, Koneru took the game into a position not played before by introducing a novelty 10…Rd8. However, it was White who had an edge in subsequent play. Our commentators noted that Humpy played perfect chess, essentially completely equalizing. The opponents eventually reached a dry four-rook endgame that seemed to be heading to a draw (although it was always guaranteed to be a long grind – typical of both players) when Black, playing with only a minute, massively erred on move 39: Here, Humpy played 39…Ra8? instead of 39…Re8 (39…Ra4). White quickly capitalized on this mistake by doubling rooks on the h-file, which along with the threat of e6, spelled big danger for Black. After 40.Rh3 Ree8 41.Reh1 Kf8 42.e6 Ra4? 43.exf7 White eventually got to f7-pawn, created two advanced passers to score a full point. With this victory, Goryachkina has clawed her way back into the race, sitting just half a point behind leader Kateryna Lagno. Sarasadat Khademalsharieh – Tan Zhongyi Tan Zhongyi, the Women’s World Championship Challenger, had struggled in Monaco before the rest day, with four draws and a loss in her first five games. However, as is often the case at the elite level, a break proved invaluable—Tan came back rejuvenated and delivered a strong performance. Playing with Black in Queen’s Gambit Declined, Tan quickly gained a superior position, but White still have defensive resources. In the critical phase around move 40, both players entered time trouble, leading to mutual inaccuracies. The engine evaluated this as -0.4, indicating a slight edge for Black. However, Tan’s position was much easier to play in a real game, with an active queen and bishop, as well as White’s exposed king. Khadem soon bulked under pressure, attempting to trade queens when she desperately needed to find a defensive move with her knight. Instead of 42.Nd2! with a holdable position, Sara played 42.Qb2? but after 42… Qe4+ 43. Kd2 Qg2+ 44. Kc3 Qf3+ 45. Kd2 Be4! it was all over for White. Tan systematically picked up White’s weak pawns, eventually forcing resignation by move 60. This victory is a much-needed boost for Tan as she seeks to build momentum in the tournament’s second half. Kateryna Lagno – Alexandra Kosteniuk At 99% accuracy for both players, this was an exceptionally precise game. A well-known line of the Four Knights Scotch, lead to a fascinating sequence of desperado trades. The resulting endgame left both players with a rook, bishop, and a few pawns, with Lagno holding an extra pawn. However, opposite-colored bishops ensured complete equality, making a draw the logical conclusion. A threefold repetition sealed the result. Lagno remains the sole tournament leader, albeit with a shrinking margin. Bibisara Assaubayeva – Batkhuyag Munguntuul A Sicilian Taimanov quickly became an exciting affair, with Black pushing on the queenside, and White pressuring in the center and kingside. Then, at move 13, Black – already down in time by 30 minutes – made a serious mistake by castling Kingside onto a semi-open g-file. After castling, Black’s king fell out of the frying pan into from the fire. White had a golden opportunity to lauch a dangerous kingside attack with 14.Qh5 f5 15.Rg1 (followed by pushing g4). Given Assaubayeva’s aggressive style, this move was right up her alley—yet she hesitated, spending 13 minutes before choosing 14.h4 instead. Munguntuul defended resourcefully, gradually reaching a balanced position hold a draw. After the game, Assaubayeva admitted that she missed the key attacking idea of Rg1 followed by g2-g4. She also revealed that she has been struggling with health issues, affecting her form. Despite this, she remains determined to finish strong and is aiming for at least one victory before the tournament ends. Harika Dronavalli – Elisabeth Paehtz The game began with 1.c4, transposing into a Sicilian Accelerated Dragon with a Maroczy Bind. Paehtz demonstrated good preparation, employing the thematic idea of advancing her a-pawn, quickly gaining a time advantage on the clock. Both players invested a significant amount of time in subsequent maneuvering and by move 27 Harika was down to less than 5 minutes. However, in a wise practical decision, she opted to simplify the position, trading into an opposite-colored bishop endgame, which offered complete equality. A draw was agreed soon after. With just three rounds remaining, the battle for first place is heating up. Kateryna Lagno continues to lead, but Goryachkina’s win has put her within striking distance, joined by tournament underdog Batkhuyag Munguntuul. Standings after Round 6: 1 GM Kateryna Lagno 2515 4 2 IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul 2331 3½ 3 GM Aleksandra Goryachkina 2546 3½ 4 GM Alexandra Kosteniuk 2484 3 5 GM Zhongyi Tan 2561 3 6 GM Humpy Koneru 2523 3 7 IM Sarasadat Khademalsharieh 2458 3 8 GM Elisabeth Paehtz 2427 2½ 9 IM Bibisara Assaubayeva 2492 2½ 10 GM Harika Dronavalli 2489 2 Round seven
First Continental Online Chess Championships for Prisoners announced
The first-ever Continental Online Chess Championships for Prisoners will take place in May 2025, marking a significant milestone in the effort to bring chess into correctional institutions worldwide. As part of the Chess for Freedom initiative, this expansion provides incarcerated individuals with new opportunities for intellectual engagement, rehabilitation, and reintegration into society. The event will feature separate championships for four continents: Africa – May 13, 2025Americas – May 16, 2025Europe – May 20, 2025Asia – May 23, 2025 Tournament Format & Eligibility Each championship is a team event, open to correctional institutions within their respective continents. Each country may register up to three teams: One team from a male correctional facility One team from a female correctional facility One team from a juvenile correctional facility (under 20 years old) Additional teams may be invited from countries that organize national championships among prisoners. Each team will consist of four players, with an unlimited number of substitutes. All participants must be incarcerated individuals, and anonymity will be maintained in accordance with legal regulations. The tournaments will be played on Chess.com, using a 10-minute + 5-second increment time control. The format – Round Robin or Swiss System – will depend on the number of participating teams. The top two teams in each continental event will advance to the Championship Match (which will be held on the second day) to determine the continental winner. Registration & Key Dates Registration Deadline: May 1, 2025 Registration Link: Click HERE to register Technical Meeting: Week of May 5, 2025 (via Zoom) Correctional institutions must complete the online registration form and confirm their team’s participation via email to Mikhail Korenman (mikhail.korenman@ccsheriff.org). Since its launch in 2021, the Chess for Freedom initiative has introduced chess to correctional institutions around the world, demonstrating its value as a tool for education, personal development, and social reintegration. The introduction of continental-level championships represents a step forward in expanding access to the game, allowing teams from different regions to compete on a larger stage. For full tournament details, please refer to the official event guidelines. Regulations for Continental Online Championships for Prisoners (PDF)
World Senior Championships 2025: Four-way tie in 50+; England leads 65+
The 2025 World Seniors Team Chess Championship in Prague is entering its final stages. With just three rounds to go, both the 50+ and 65+ competitions remain wide open, setting the stage for an exciting finish. After six rounds in the 50+ section four teams–England 1, USA, Slovakia and Italy– share the lead on 10/12 points with England 1 holding the top spot due to a greater number of points. Round 7 will feature key matchups between the leaders, as USA faces Italy while Slovakia takes on England 1. In the women’s standings, China leads with 8/12 points, closely followed by Czech Women and the USA. 50+ standings after Round 6 In the 65+ category, England 1 leads with 11/12 points, having won five matches and drawn just one against Lasker Schachstiftung GK, which trails by a single point on 10/12. Five teams—France, England 2, Israel, Hungary, and Norge – OSS—are tied for third place. Round 7 will see England 1 tested by France, while Lasker Schachstiftung GK faces Norge – OSS, and England 2 plays Israel. 65+ standings after Round 6 The tournament has already produced many remarkable encounters, with the best game of each round being awarded a special prize. GM Lexy Ortega from Italy won the first-round award (a small chess horse), followed by English GM Michael Adams, Swedish IM Nils-Gustaf Renman, Dutch FM Prakken Gerrit and Moshe Gal of Israel (pictured below). On the rest day, February 22, participants had the opportunity to take a guided tour of Prague, the stunning capital of the Czech Republic. Additionally, a blitz tournament was held, with Jaan Ehlvest emerging as the winner. Photos: Ave Chess
Midway through FIDE WGP Monaco: All draws in Round 5
As the third leg of the 2024/25 FIDE Women’s Grand Prix series reaches its halfway mark, Round 5 saw all five games end in draws—yet the results hardly tell the full story. Despite the peaceful outcomes, the battles were anything but uneventful, with players pushing hard, missing key opportunities, and ultimately splitting the points in tense encounters. With the only rest day ahead, the tournament remains wide open, and the second half promises even more excitement. Round 5 results: Harika Dronavalli 1/2-1/2 Aleksandra GoryachkinaElisabeth Paehtz 1/2-1/2 Bibisara AssaubayevaBatkhuyag Munguntuul 1/2-1/2 Kateryna LagnoAlexandra Kosteniuk 1/2-1/2 Sarasadat KhademalshariehZhongyi Tan 1/2-1/2 Humpy Koneru Harika Dronavalli – Aleksandra Goryachkina Starting off with a Ruy Lopez Berlin, one of the most solid systems in chess, a draw was not a surprising result, although the game did offer excitement regardless of the opening’s reputation. A slow game unfolded, with multiple trades in the middlegame, leading to a roughly equal position. After inaccurate play by White, Black obtained an advantage, with the chance to press for a win. At this point, Black had an opportunity to exert real pressure with 26…Na6 with the idea of 27…Nc5, which is the best square knight in this structure (26… Rd6 was also a very strong option). However, Goryachkina should have weighted the consequences of the line 27. Qb7 Nc5 28.Qxc7, in which Black sacrifices a pawn for positional compensation. Aleksandra opted for 26…Qd6 and after 27.h5 Qf6, White gave Black another chance to grab initiative with 28.Re1? by simply capturing on h5, as Qh4 was no longer a threat. Instead, 28…Qg5 balanced the game again. After further exchanges, a draw was agreed. Goryachkina missed a few chances, but given the grueling pace of the tournament, fatigue is a factor. With the rest day ahead, both Harika and Aleksandra will look to recharge before the crucial second half. Elisabeth Paehtz – Bibisara Assaubayeva After suffering a dramatic loss in the previous round, Paehtz chose not to retreat into a cautious approach, but instead opted for an aggressive response to Assaubayeva’s Najdorf. White emerged from the opening with a dominant position: Here, Paehtz played 17.Ba4?, allowing Black to escape via queenside castling. A stronger alternative would have been a queen move, followed by placing the bishop on e6, where it would dominate the board. After 17…0-0-0 18.0-0-0 Qc7 19.Bb3? Na5, White’s advantage evaporated. Our commentators analyzed the fascinating move 19.Rd5!, a practical shot that could have led to an imbalanced fight. After 19…Ne7 20.Qb3, White would allow Black to capture the rook, gaining a dangerous initiative in return. Instead, the game equalized and ended in a threefold repetition. Despite the missed opportunity, Paehtz’s combative approach is a promising sign for the second half. Meanwhile, Assaubayeva, who stabilized after her third-round loss to Goryachkina, will look to regain momentum. Batkhuyag Munguntuul – Kateryna Lagno Munguntuul has been one of the tournament’s surprises, delivering a strong performance with an undefeated streak so far. She tested the Caro-Kann Defense, which is part of her regular repertoire, in her game against Lagno. Black managed to win a pawn, but at the cost of compromising her pawn structure. This positional imbalance allowed White to generate sufficient counterplay, ultimately leading to a draw. For Munguntuul, this is an impressive result. She was not only the rating underdog by 184 points, but she also endured a tough previous Grand Prix leg, losing all her games with White. Now, she stands within reach of a potential GM norm, should she continue this solid run. Meanwhile, Lagno retains her tournament lead, thanks to an all-draw round. Alexandra Kosteniuk – Sarasadat Khademalsharieh The first game of the day to finish was the encounter between Kosteniuk and Khadem that ended in a draw. What started as an interesting line in the Queen’s Gambit Declined Exchange Variation reached this fresh position after Black’s 11…Bb4: Commentators noted that 12.Kd2 was a slightly more accurate, whereas 12.Bd3 played by Alexandra allowed Black to get counterplay after exchanging on c3 and eventually bringing the knight to the c4 outpost. Despite the seemingly vulnerable kingside pawn structure, Black’s position remained stable, supported by the king and the open g-file. After multiple trades, the game ended in a threefold repetition. Zhongyi Tan – Humpy Koneru Tan, one of the pre-tournament favorites, has faced unexpected difficulties in Monaco. She entered today’s game with solid preparation in the Neo-Catalan Defense Declined, often employed by her compatriot Ding Liren. Initially, White achieved a comfortable position, but mishandled it shifting focus between the queenside and kingside, giving Koneru to arrange her pieces on optimal squares and reach a winning position. White had already gone with the incorrect plan of pushing her kingside pawns, but here the 27.f6 does not amount to any attack as the natural 27…g6 stops everything and suddenly the white king is exposed and in danger. However, Humpy incorrectly played 27…Ng4? picking the f6-pawn but letting White off the hook. Instead, maintaining control and launching an attack on the white king was much more dangerous for White. In a post-game interview, Humpy noted that she thought she must have been better and did in fact calculate the 27…g6 variation, but was not sure about it. The game instead continued with multiple trades where Black managed to hold onto the extra pawn, resulting in a drawn knight endgame where both sides had passed pawns that did not offer any real danger. The final handshake came after 4.5 hours of play, bringing an intense game to a peaceful conclusion. With the first half of the event behind us, the tournament heads into its only rest day, when players will enjoy an excursion in Monaco. This break comes at an ideal moment, offering a mental reset before the decisive second half of the competition. Standings after Round 5: 1 GM Kateryna Lagno 2515 3½ 2 GM Humpy Koneru 2523 3 3 IM Sarasadat Khademalsharieh 2458 3 4 IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul 2331 3 5 GM Alexandra Kosteniuk 2484 2½ 6 GM Aleksandra Goryachkina 2546
Third leg of FIDE WGP 2024–2025 kicks off in Monaco
The opening ceremony of the third leg of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024-25 took place on February 17 at the Salon Excelsior of the Hotel Hermitage Monte-Carlo. Welcoming players, officials, and guests in a refined and elegant setting, the event marked the start of this important stage in the FIDE Grand Prix series. The official program began at 18:00 with a welcome video introducing the tournament and its host city, Monaco. Moderator (and commentator for the event) Almira Skripchenko then welcomed everyone stating that she “didn’t know how to introduce Monaco, but that in fact, it needs no introduction” as it has served as a hub for women’s chess. A series of brief speeches followed. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich opened by reflecting on the continued growth of women’s chess and the significance of this tournament within the wider chess calendar. Stéphane Valeri, CEO of the Société des Bains de Mer, spoke about Monaco’s connection to chess and the honor of hosting the event. Tournament Director Jean-Michel Rapaire highlighted the preparations that went into organizing the event, while Irina Bazhenova from TAEX expressed her company’s support for chess as a platform for education and development. Saxophonist Maria Zvereva performed a musical piece, providing a brief interlude before the presentation of the players. Each of the ten participants was called to the front to receive a copy of the FIDE100 book “Chess Players” where they were warmly welcomed as the superstars of the event. The players remained on stage for an official group photograph with the tournament’s sponsors and organizers. Following the player presentation, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich presented commemorative FIDE100 medals to Stéphane Valeri and Virginie Cotta of SBM, in recognition of their support for the event. The President then officially declared the tournament open. The evening concluded with a second musical performance and a cocktail reception, where guests had the chance to speak with the players, take photos, and enjoy the elegant surroundings of the venue. The tournament now moves into the competitive stage, with the first round scheduled for February 18. The third leg of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024–25 runs until February 28, with rounds starting at 3:00 p.m. local time each day. You can follow the games live and watch the action with our wonderful commentators GM Alojzije Jankovic & IM Almira Skripchenko on YouTube. Written by Chalize Van Zyl Photos: Niki Riga
Prague welcomes 2025 World Senior Team Championship
The capital of the Czech Republic, Prague, has become a hub of chess activity this February, hosting the 2025 World Senior Team Championship. Running from February 16–27, the event has brought together the world’s top senior chess teams, competing in two categories—Open and Women—across two age groups: 50+ and 65+. The championship is organized by AVE CHESS, in collaboration with the Czech Republic Chess Federation and the International Chess Federation (FIDE). The 9-round tournaments, played under classical time control, are being held at the Olympik Hotel complex, where participants are also accommodated. Photo: https://www.olympik.cz/ The winning teams will be crowned world champions in their respective categories and awarded trophies, diplomas, and financial prizes. In addition to the main event, players will have the opportunity to participate in rapid and blitz tournaments, as well as a guided tour of Prague’s historic center. To uphold fair play, only accredited individuals have access to the playing areas. However, chess fans worldwide can follow the games online, with 50 boards broadcasted in each category. The organizers look forward to an exciting tournament and wish all participants the best of luck! For additional information, visit the official website, and don’t forget to follow the event on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
Gligoric Trophy 2024: Call for Nominations
The FIDE Award Commission reminds about Gligoric Trophy call for nominations. Svetozar Gligoric Trophy is an award given by FIDE to the individual who display exemplary behaviour promoting the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship in chess. Candidates to win the Svetozar Gligoric Trophy 2024 shall have demonstrated the following accomplishments during the period August 10, 2022 to August 10, 2024: – Outstanding gesture or action of sportsmanship during the sport event. – Outstanding contribution to the popularization of values and principles of Fair Play. – Outstanding initiatives on enforcement of integrity and high ethical values. The Svetozar Gligoric Trophy is a recognition of sportsmen who exercise the fundamental values of Fair Play both during and beyond the game. It is a way of thinking rather than a mere behaviour and is based on the concepts of: Fairness – To enjoy the victory is not enough. Triumph must include fairness and honesty. Respect – Written rules are mandatory. Unwritten rules of respect to all are obligatory. Friendship – Rivalry in sports does not exclude friendship Team Spirit – A genuine consideration for team-mates Equality – Competing on equal terms is essential Tolerance – The willingness and ability to accept what you may not agree with Care – True champions care about each other Nomination Procedures The winner of the Svetozar Gligoric Trophy is selected annually by the FIDE Award Commission, comprised of Mr Mahir Mammedov (chairman) and members of the Commission GM Mrs Judit Polgar and GM Mr Eugenio Torre. Proposals for Nominations (Nomination Letter) from Continental Federations, National Federations, and FIDE Commissions shall be submitted to the Gligoric Trophy Award Commission of FIDE (gligorictrophy@fide.com) no later than August 10, 2024. Nominations from individuals, including self-nominations, are also allowed, but they should be channelled through the Federation associated with the nominee. Please note that this award is for the nominee’s accomplishments during the preceding year, NOT a recognition of a lifelong career. The Commission’s decision is final and not open to discussion. The members of the Commission shall not give justification unless they wish so. The Award Ceremony will be held during the 45th FIDE Olympiad in Budapest in September 2024. About the award The Fair Play Award, named after Svetozar Gligoric, was established by FIDE in 2019. It honors the figure of Svetozar Gligoric, one of the top players in the world in the 1950s and 1960s and also one of the most prominent, owing to his particularly engaging personality. At the chessboard, Gligoric was an uncompromising fighter and, at the same time, a symbol of gentlemanhood and correctness. His impeccable reputation has been a deserved result of his success in chess games and fair-play manners. Gligoric’s trademark was high respect for his chess opponents. His main principle was: “It’s chess pieces, not a man I play against!” It is no coincidence that the book of Gligoric’s selected games is titled “I play against pieces!” The first recipient of the Svetozar Gligorich Award was the world champion Magnus Carlsen, who received the trophy just minutes before his debut game at the FIDE World Cup 2021 in Sochi. In 2020, when all chess activities and competitions were moved to the online arena, Magnus Carlsen reached the semi-finals in the $150,000 online “Chessable Masters” against Ding Liren. Ding, playing from China, struggled with connection problems throughout the whole event, and in the final moments of his first game against Carlsen, he suffered an unfortunate disconnection at a vital moment. Unable to reconnect on time, the Chinese Grandmaster lost the game. Minutes later, in the second game between them, the World Champion gave up his queen and resigned after just four moves to restore parity in the match. Despite the high stakes and being a ruthless competitor, Magnus Carlsen demonstrated that winning fairly was far more important to him than winning at any cost. Next year, 2021, the Svetozar Gligoric trophy went to GM Jerguš Pecháč for his exemplary behaviour and fair play spirit. The 21-year-old Slovak GM made the headlines in the second round of the European Qualification Tournament when his over-the-board rival Boris Gelfand, Israel, blundered the queen due to a mouse slip. That game was a qualifier for the FIDE World Cup in Sochi. Despite the high risk of failing to reach the next round, Pecháč graciously offered a draw to his opponent, not taking advantage of Gelfand’s unfortunate mistake. With his action, Jerguš risked not reaching the third round, but luckily for him, he advanced anyway by winning the Armageddon. The Slovak GM again demonstrated that winning at all costs is not a priority – a noble gesture that Svetozar Gligoric himself would have undoubtedly applauded. Jerguš Pecháč was awarded Gligorich Prize during the 44th World Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India, in 2022, and, symbolically enough, the awared was handed out right before his game against the first winner of the Trophy, Magnus Carlsen. The third awardee of the Gligoric Trophy is Jaden Shaw, 15, Jamaica’s Absolute Junior Champion (U20), and FIDE Candidate Master (CM). Jaden received the prize during the closing ceremony of the 44th World Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India, 2022. His opponent, GM Meelis Kanep from Estonia, got sick during the Jamaica – Estonia match and thus could not finish the game. Jaden, who debuted at the Chess Olympiad, could have rightfully insisted on such a landmark victory but agreed to a draw. This act of true sportsmanship, lauded by many, including the president of FIDE and the chief minister of Chennai, compelled the FIDE Award Commission to make an exception to the rules and to hand out the second, off-the-schedule award in the same year.
African Championship 2024: Bassem Amin and Jesse February win titles
Bassem Amin (Egypt) and Jesse Nikki February (South Africa) are the new African Chess Champions. The top-seeded Egyptian GM, who clinched the title yesterday, continued his domination in the final round, defeating IM Andrew Kayonde (Zambia) with the black pieces. The champion scored an impressive 8.5/9, conceding his opponents just a half-point. The second seed, GM Bilel Bellahcene (pictured below, left), beat IM Mariano Ortega Amarelle of Cape Verde and finished second with 7/9. IM Chitumbo Mwali (Zambia; pictured above, right) pulled off a crucial victory over IM Fy Antenaina Rakotomaharo (Madagascar) and took bronze, netting 6.5/9. The sixth seed Zambian had a great tournament and picked up 39 rating points. Final standings Open: 1 GM Bassem Amin EGY 2670 8½ 2 GM Bilel Bellahcene ALG 2522 7 3 IM Chitumbo Mwali ZAM 2340 6½ 4 IM David Silva ANG 2358 6 5 FM Banele Mhango RSA 2193 6 6 Nicolas Cogan CIV 2070 6 7 IM Andrew Kayonde ZAM 2321 6 8 IM Odion Aikhoje NGR 2215 6 9 IM Fy Antenaina Rakotomaharo MAD 2454 5½ 10 FM Abdulrahman Abdulraheem NGR 2229 5½ Complete final standings In the women’s section, WIM Jesse Nikki February (RSA) needed just a draw against Lidet Abate Haile of Ephiopia to win the title, but it was not an easy task. The South African had a lost position at some point but eventually escaped with a draw and took gold with an impressive score of 7.5/9. The top and second seeds, WGM Shahenda Wafa (pictured above, left) of Egypt and WIM Lina Nassr from Algeria (both defeated by the champion with the black pieces), tied for second place on 6.5/9, with the latter winning silver thanks to a better opponents’ average rating. Final standings Women: 1 WIM Jesse Nikki February RSA 1920 7½ 2 WIM Lina Nassr ALG 2080 6½ 3 WGM Shahenda Wafa EGY 2083 6½ 4 Deborah Quickpen NGR 1945 6 5 Peninah Nakabo UGA 1836 5½ 6 Jemima Paulo ANG 1946 5½ 7 WIM Vania Fausto Da T. Vilhete MOZ 1829 5½ 8 Lidet Abate Haile ETH 1786 5½ 9 WFM Constance Mbatha ZAM 1799 5½ 10 WFM Ednasia Junior ANG 1915 5 Complete final standings Photos: Niki Riga and Ogunsiku Babatunde UPDATE March 20, 2024 Bassem Amin emerged as the winner of the African Championship 2024, clinching the title in the open section with a round to spare. GM from Egypt beat IM David Silva of Angola in the penultimate round to score 7.5/8 and became out-of-reach for all his competitors. GM Bilel Bellahcene (Algeria) and IM Andrew Kayonde (Zambia) are going into the final round, sharing second place on 6/8. Standings after Round 8 Open In the women’s section, the leader Jesse Nikki February (RSA) bounced back after yesterday’s loss, defeating Toritsemuwa Ofowino of Nigeria. IM from South Africa has an excellent chance for the African crown heading to the final round on 7/8, a full point ahead of Lina Nassr of Algeria (who scored a crucial victory over Peninah Nakabo of Uganda in Round 8). Deborah Ebimobo-Ere Quickpen (Nigeria) and Sharenda Wafa (Egypt) are tied for third place on 5.5/8. Standings after Round 8 Women UPDATE March 19, 2024 After seven rounds at the 2024 African Championship, Bassem Amin and Jesse Nikki February remained on top, with a one-point lead over their closest competitors. In Round 7 Amin defeated Jemusse Zhemba of Zambia to consolidate his leading position in the standings with 6.5/7. Bilel Bellahcene (Algeria) and David Silva (Angola) are tied for second place, trailing the leader by a full point. Jesse Nikki February suffered her first defeat in the competition at the hands of Deborah Ebimobo-Ere Quickpen of Nigeria. Still, she comfortably leads with 6/7, one point ahead of four players sharing second place. Standings after Round 7 Open Standings after Round 7 Women UPDATE March 18, 2024 After six rounds of exciting battles at the African Individual Championships 2024, Bassem Amin (Egypt) and Jesse Nikki February (South Africa) have emerged as the sole leaders in the open and women’s sections, respectively. The top seed GM Bassem Amin scored a crucial victory over one of his main rivals, GM Bilel Bellahcene of Algeria in Round 6, and grabbed the lead with 5/6. IM Chitumbo Mwali from Zambia had a chance to catch up with the Egyptian, but after drawing his game with David Silva (Angola), he trails the leader by a half-point (4.5/6). A group of four players is a full point behind Amin. Standings after Round 6 Open Jesse Nikki February (pictured above) has dominated the women’s section so far. The South African WIM notched up six straight wins, including victories over her main rivals, the top and second seeds WGM Shahenda Nafa (Egypt) and WIM Lina Nassr (Algeria), who are in second (5/6) and third (4/6) positions, respectively. Standings after Round 6 Women The African Individual Championships 2024 kicked off on March 13 in Accra, Ghana, the city that recently hosted the chess competition of the 13th African Games. Both open and women’s championships, 9-round Swiss events with classical time control, will stretch from March 13-20, 2024. Top African players, including Grandmasters Bassem Amin (EGY) and Bilel Bellahcene (ALG), International Masters Mariano Ortega Amarelle (CPV), Fy Antenaina Rakotomaharo (MAD), David Silva (ANG), Chitumbo Mwali (ZAM), Women’s Grandmaster Shahenda Wafa (EGY), and Women’s International Masters Lina Nassr (ALG) and Jesse Nikki February (RSA), have converged for this prestigious event. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich participated in the opening ceremony and made the first ceremonial move in the women’s competition. In his short speech he thanked the organizers, greeted all the participants and touched on social aspect of chess competitions in Africa. “I hope everyone will show their best in this event. I also wish luck to all of you… Chess in African Games was more than just a sports event. We connected local chess communities with national governments and commissions so they can help you in your countries.” FIDE President also announced that in just a few