Winners crowned at 2025 FIDE World School Championship
The 2025 FIDE World School Chess Championship in Vrnjačka Banja has concluded, bringing together 470 young players from 43 national federations in a thrilling competition. Kazakhstan emerged as the most successful nation, winning four gold, three silver, and one bronze medal across twelve tournaments in six age categories. The home crowd had much to celebrate as Leonid Ivanović claimed silver in the Under-11 category, and Andrej Ljepić secured second place in the Under-17 category. 2025 FIDE World School Championship winners: Open U7 1. Kairat, Abdul-Malik (KAZ) – 9 points 2. Om, Esh Gottumukala (IND) – 7½3. Fatkhlislamov, Oskar (FIDE) – 6½ Girls U7 1. Pragnika, Vaka Lakshmi (IND) – 92. Azamkhujaeva, Mohinur (UZB) – 73. Xu, Vera Jintian (NZL) – 7 Open U9 1. Nematillakhonov, Nurmuhammad (UZB) – 7½2. Sultankhan, Nurislam (KAZ) – 73. Bondarev, Fedor (FIDE) – 7 Girls U9 1. Bissaliyeva, Alisha (KAZ) – 82. Uranzaya, Shagdarsuren (MGL) – 83. Asadova, Madinabonu (UZB) – 7½ Open U11 1. Zhauynbay, Alimzhan (KAZ) – 72. Ivanovic, Leonid (SRB) – 73. Uzdemir, Ali Poyraz (TUR) – 6½ Girls U11 1. Nandinjiguur, Chinzorig (MGL) – 82. Divi, Bijesh (IND) – 83. Munkh-Ayalguu, Dorjderem (MGL) – 6½ Open U13 1. Yurasov, Matfey (FIDE) – 7½2. Obidov, Biloliddin (UZB) – 73. Baturin-Vinogradov, Miroslav (FIDE) – 7 Girls U13 1. Begmuratova, Sarvinoz (UZB) – 7½2. Amanzhol, Khanzada (KAZ) – 6½3. Gaer, Sofiya Ig (FIDE) – 6½ Open U15 1. Scheglov, Gleb (FIDE) – 82. Tabatadze, Erekle (GEO) – 73. Kabinazar, Nurmukhammed (KAZ) – 7 Girls U15 1. Imomkuzieva, Nilufarkhon (UZB) – 72. Japparbekova, Malika (KAZ) – 6½3. Ferrer Naranjo, Liennys (CUB) – 6 Open U17 1. Bogdanov, Artyom (KAZ) – 72. Ljepic, Andrej (SRB) – 73. Elmirzaev, Khondamir (UZB) – 6½ Girls U17 1. Buyankhishig, Batpelden (MGL) – 7½2. Kirtadze, Anastasia (GEO) – 73. Newansa, M Esandi (SRI) – 6 The solemn and well-attended closing ceremony featured addresses from key chess officials. Özgür Solakoğlu, a representative of FIDE, praised the Chess Federation of Serbia for organizing an exceptional event. In his speech, he expressed hope that Serbia would once again host future FIDE competitions. Then Boban Đurović, the mayor of Vrnjačka Banja, took the floor, followed by Andrija Jorgić, president of the Chess Federation of Serbia, who officially declared the tournament closed. “Do not forget that chess is a knight’s game, and that the one sitting across from you is not your enemy but your opponent at the chessboard,” Jorgić reminded the participants. The FIDE World School Chess Championship was not the only major tournament held in Serbia. The country is also set to host the FIDE World Amateur Chess Championship in November 2025, further cementing its reputation as a premier chess destination. Photos: Andrej Jovanovic/Chess Federation of Serbia Official website: worldschool2025.fide.com
Matthias Bluebaum wins 2025 European Championship
GM Matthias Bluebaum emerged victorious at the 2025 European Individual Chess Championship in Eforie Nord, Romania. The 27-year-old German clinched his second European title. Having previously won the event in 2022, he became the first-ever two-time European Chess Champion. Heading into the final round, Bluebaum (pictured below) shared the lead with Daniil Yuffa (Spain) at 8/10, while a large group of seven GMs trailed just half a point. Playing with the white pieces against Nijat Abasov, Bluebaum opted for a safe approach, making a quick draw. Meanwhile, GM Frederik Svane (Germany; pictured below) prevailed over Yuffa in a long and complex battle, catching up with Bluebaum at the top of the standings. Joining Bluebaum and Svane in the first-place tie was Maxim Rodshtein (pictured below), who defeated Shant Sargsyan in the final round. All three players finished on 8.5/11, but Bluebaum secured the title thanks to a slightly superior Buchholz score over his compatriot Svane, who took silver. Rodshtein had to settle for bronze. A total of nine players, including three U18 rising stars, finished in a tie for fourth place with 8/11. Final standings: 1 GM Bluebaum, Matthias GER 2643 8½ 2 GM Svane, Frederik GER 2654 8½ 3 GM Rodshtein, Maxim ISR 2623 8½ 4 GM Yuffa, Daniil ESP 2654 8 5 GM Gledura, Benjamin HUN 2658 8 6 GM Tari, Aryan NOR 2621 8 7 GM Sargissian, Gabriel ARM 2628 8 8 GM Abasov, Nijat AZE 2612 8 9 GM Erdogmus, Yagiz Kaan U18 TUR 2605 8 10 GM Gurel, Ediz U18 TUR 2620 8 11 GM Kantor, Gergely HUN 2563 8 12 IM Samadov, Read U18 AZE 2502 8 Complete final standings The European Individual Chess Championship 2025 served as a qualification event for the FIDE World Cup. According to FIDE regulations and the ECU Board’s decision, the top 20 finishers secured a spot in the 2025 World Cup. GM Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus (TUR, 2605) became the best-ranked Junior U18 player in the event with 8/11, and a better Buchholz over GM Ediz Gurel (TUR, 2620) and IM Read Samadov (AZE, 2502) who achieved the same score. GM Vasyl Ivanchuk (UKR, 2604) was the best-ranked Senior 50+ player in the tournament, scoring 7/10. Second place in this category went to GM Valeriy Neverov (UKR, 2418) who netted 6.5 points. GM Dan Zoler (ISR, 2485) came third in this category with the same score but an inferior Buchholz. Four women players tied for the first women’s prize with 6/10, each. The tiebreak criteria favored IM Oliwia Kiolbasa (POL, 2360) who came first. IM Aleksandra Maltsevskaya (POL, 2376) was second, and IM Nurgyul Salimova (BUL, 2404) finished third. The closing ceremony took place in the playing venue and featured the ECU President Zurab Azmaiparashvili, President of the National Agency of Sports in Romania Constantin Bogdan-Matei, representatives of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, five-time World Chess Champion and FIDE Deputy President Viswanathan Anand, President of the Romanian Chess Federation Vlad Ardeleanu, ECU Vice President Alojzije Jankovic, ECU Secretary General Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou, ECU Tournament Director Petr Pisk, board members of the Romanian Chess Federation, and other distinguished guests. Photos: European Chess Union, Federația Română de Șah and David Llada Official website: eicc2025.com/
FIDE launches first digital museum dedicated to chess history
A first-of-its-kind digital museum dedicated to chess provides global access to FIDE’s archive, offering researchers and chess fans a curated look into the game’s evolution As part of its 2024 centenary celebrations, FIDE has unveiled an online museum tracing chess history from ancient times to modern tournaments. The Open Chess Museum endorsed by FIDE aims to become the world’s largest repository of chess artifacts, showcasing valuable items from every corner of the world and every era of chess history. For the first time, a full historical record of chess is freely available online—featuring rare, never-before-seen materials ranging from hand-annotated scoresheets to championship medals and personal artifacts of top players. The project also aims to highlight lesser-known facts and stories from the game’s past. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said the project offers “a closer, in-depth perspective on chess” and reflects “FIDE’s broader push towards digital engagement with the public.” “Chess is one of the oldest and richest sports in history. Over centuries, countless books have been written about the game, the players, the events. Much of this is now available online—but what’s missing is a central, official reference point telling the full story of chess. The FIDE Online Chess Museum is exactly that: a place where you can find key information about the most significant events and the people who shaped the game,” said Dvorkovich. “We hope the chess community—and those curious about the game—see the value in the resources now freely available to explore and enrich the sport,” he added. Visitors navigate the museum through five thematic sections. The “Collection” segment includes photographs, handwritten letters, Olympiad posters, commemorative pins, and personal belongings from famous players—alongside historical documents and autographs. The history section begins with a visual timeline showing all the key stages in the history of chess, up to 1913 and the first steps to create an international chess organization. A dedicated segment traces FIDE’s history from early international efforts in 1913 to its evolution into the sport’s global authority. This part features high-quality photos and scans of documents based on which the chess world is organized and governed. The “World Champions” part includes detailed biographies, annotated games, and key publications chronicling the careers and legacies of the game’s greatest players. The project marks a milestone in chess historiography and signals FIDE’s renewed commitment to public engagement. Following up on FIDE’s slogan – the game is just beginning – the Open Online Chess Museum aims to be a constantly evolving project. FIDE is inviting other collectors, galleries, national federations, clubs and players to join in and have their collections and artifacts also featured on the museum’s website. The museum is free to access via the website museum.fide.com.
Queens’ Online Chess Festival 2025 culminates with Big Final
The Queens’ Online Chess Festival 2025 once again brought together female chess players from all around the world in a thrilling showcase of talent, competition, and empowerment. This annual festival, a series of continental online blitz tournaments, provided a platform for women and girls to compete at a high level while creating an inclusive and welcoming environment. With a whooping 121 countries represented in this edition only, the Festival continues to grow, attracting female players of all levels. The 2025 event comprised two primary competitions: the Queens’ Women Open Tournament and the Unrated Princesses’ Tournament. Queens’ Women Open tournament The Queens’ Women Open Tournament, open to all female players with a FIDE ID, saw intense continental qualifying rounds held from March 1-9. The top players advanced to the semi-final on March 16, culminating in the grand final on March 29. In total, 100 participants from the Continental Qualifiers advanced to the semi-finals. Continental qualifiers winners Africa: 1st: Ndunakazi Nobuhle (RSA) 2nd: Rjeb Nadine (TUN) 3rd: Dube Robafadzo (ZIM) America: 1st: Kelly Boor (USA) 2nd: Melissa Rodriguez Dominguez (CUBA) 3rd: Omya Vidyarthi (USA) Asia: 1st: Shubenkova Veronika (FIDE) 2nd: Dakshita Kumawat (IND) 3rd: Ivana Maria Treopolsa Lasama (INA) Europe: 1st: Machlik Monika (NOR) 2nd: Hayrapetyan Nvard (ARM) 3rd: IM Buksa Nataliya (UKR) Queen semi-finals winners The semi-finals, played on March 16, saw 100 qualifiers competing for eight spots in the Grand Final scheduled for March 28. The top three finishers were: 1st place: Veronika Shubenkova (FID) 2nd place: Tianyu Jiang (CHN)3rd place: Maria Teresa Jimenez Salas (PER) Prize fund The Queens’ Festival Chess Tournament offers a total prize fund of €1,000. The winner will receive €500, a runner-up – €300, and the third-place finisher €200. Additionally, the winner of each continental qualifier (Americas, Asia, Africa, and Europe) will receive a trophy and the title of Queens’ Festival Continental Queen. The winner of the Princess Festival will also receive a trophy. All participants will receive an electronic certificate of participation. Furthermore, the top 10 players in each qualification tournament (60 players in total) will be entitled to two 45-minute training sessions with Women Grandmasters. Princesses’ Tournament: A Platform for Rising Stars Designed for female players without FIDE ratings, the Unrated Princesses’ Tournament provided young talents with a chance to shine. The tournament featured two qualification stages, East and West, attracting 102 players in the Eastern zone and 47 players in the Western zone. Hundreds of spectators followed the games live, watching these young stars in action. The winners of the Princesses’ Tournament qualifiers were: Princess Western overall winners: 1st: Anqi Yang (ENG) 2nd: Prajna Bhugwandeen (RSA) 3rd: Natalie Hull (USA) Princess Eastern overall Winners: 1st: Isra Aara Ibrahim Shafeeu (FID) 2nd: Aishwarya Nedunoori (FID) 3rd: Zinneerah Annour Zaidani (MAS) A special highlight: Refugee girls from Kakuma compete on the global stage One of the most inspiring moments of the 2025 Festival was the participation of 15 girls from the Girls Club in Kakuma Refugee Camp. These young players, part of an essential initiative empowering refugee girls through chess, had the unique opportunity to compete against peers from across the world. Their involvement highlighted the transformative power of chess in providing hope, education, and a sense of belonging. We are deeply grateful to our partners UNHCR and FIDE for making this project possible and for ensuring girls can have this special opportunity. A festival of talent and inclusion The Queens’ Online Chess Festival 2025 reaffirmed its position as a premier global event for women in chess. By bringing together established masters and aspiring young players, the festival continues to break barriers and inspire the next generation of female chess champions. As the finals approach, the anticipation builds. Who will emerge as the ultimate Queen of the chessboard? The world will be watching on March 29th! This year, the Festival saw an unprecedented number of registrations, with nearly 1,000 players signing up. However, many were unable to participate, highlighting the need for reevaluating the competition structure to ensure better accessibility in future editions. Organizers are committed to finding the best solutions to accommodate this growing enthusiasm and engagement.
FIDE EDC Chamber decision on the incident involving GM Kirill Shevchenko
The First Instance Chamber of the FIDE Ethics & Disciplinary Commission (EDC Chamber), following an exchange of correspondence and online meetings, has reached a unanimous decision regarding the incident involving GM Kirill Shevchenko (the Respondent): The Respondent is found guilty of breaching Article 11.7(e) of the Disciplinary Code. The Respondent is sanctioned with a worldwide ban of three (3) years, with one (1) year of the sanction suspended. On 26 December 2024, the FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission (EDC) received a report from the FIDE Fair Play Commission (FPL) titled “Report of the FPL-Investigatory Panel in the Kirill Shevchenko Case (Cheating Allegation).” The Respondent, GM Kirill Shevchenko (FIDE ID 14129574), was accused by the FIDE Fair Play Commission of cheating at the Spanish Team Championship on or around 13 October 2024. The FPL recommended a sanction of a worldwide suspension of three years, with one year suspended, as well as the revocation of the GM title. The Respondent was given the opportunity to respond to the allegations. On 3 February 2025, GM Shevchenko’s counsel, Mr. Sabin Gherdan, submitted a response on his behalf. GM Shevchenko admitted to hiding a phone in the toilet and using it to access Lichess but denied that he had “effectively” cheated or that his actions influenced the game. He presented several mitigating factors: a) He fully cooperated with the investigation.b) He admitted wrongdoing in a timely manner.c) He had a clean disciplinary record.d) He was 22 years old at the time of the offense.e) His mental state was compromised, as he had been receiving death threats.f) He demonstrated remorse on multiple occasions.g) The cheating attempt was not fully executed. Furthermore, according to the findings of Prof. Regan, there were no significant statistical deviations in the player’s performance during this tournament compared to his usual rating performance. The EDC Chamber found that GM Shevchenko did, in fact, hide a phone in the toilet at the Spanish Team Championship. It further concluded that he attempted to cheat but was unable to determine, with comfortable satisfaction, that actual cheating occurred. The EDC panel acknowledged the mitigating factors presented by the Respondent, specifically noting his cooperation with the investigation, his admission of wrongdoing, and his remorse. As the Respondent had already been provisionally suspended and had not participated in any events since the Spanish Team Championship, the ban will commence on 19 October 2024 and terminate on 18 October 2026, with the suspended portion ending on 18 October 2027. The Respondent’s GM title will not be revoked. The EDС’s decision did not satisfy FPL. “Any penalty for fair play violations should serve as a strong deterrent, reinforcing FIDE’s zero-tolerance stance on cheating. This decision appears too lenient and does not fully reflect our commitment to integrity in chess. We will carefully review the matter and determine whether to file an appeal within the prescribed period,” stated Andrew Howie, Chair of the FIDE Fair Play Commission. EDC Chamber decision on Case #6/24 (PDF)
Online meetup “Infinite Spectrum: Awareness and Recognition” announced
In the Year of Social Chess, FIDE continues its series of events aimed at promoting and developing chess-related social projects. We are thrilled to invite you to the “Infinite Spectrum: Awareness and Recognition” meetup, a transformative online event focusing on autism awareness. This event is your chance to be part of a movement that champions the development and inclusion of children on the spectrum. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn, share, and make a lasting impact. Date: Sunday, April 6, 2025Time: 12:00 (CEST)Location: Online Platform: Zoom Registration details: Participation is free for everyone interested in the topic, including teachers, coaches, tutors, parents, and more. Event Description: Join us for an inspiring online meetup, “Infinite Spectrum: Awareness and Recognition”, as we shine a spotlight on autism awareness. This event is your chance to be part of a movement that champions the development and inclusion of children on the spectrum. Hear from experts: Engage with teachers, coaches, and tutors who are making a difference in the lives of children with autism. Parents’ stories: Listen to heartfelt stories from parents who have navigated the challenging yet heroic journey of raising children with autism. Their resilience and dedication will leave you inspired and empowered. Connect and share: Build connections with a community of passionate individuals who are committed to fostering a supportive environment for children with autism. Infinite Chess Partners Award: At the end of the meetup, we will honor outstanding individuals and organizations with the Infinite Chess Partners Award by nomination. This recognition celebrates their exceptional contributions to autism awareness and support. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn, share, and make a lasting impact. Register now and be part of a community that believes in the infinite potential of every child! Registration form: https://forms.gle/S3tBkuaziZqNJt6KA
Kashlinskaya and Shuvalova to replace Khademalsharieh and Lagno in FIDE WGP India
IM Sarasadat Khademalsharieh and GM Kateryna Lagno have withdrawn from the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix India due to personal reasons. In accordance with WGP regulations, they will be replaced by IMs Alina Kashlinskaya and Polina Shuvalova, respectively, who are now set to compete in the fifth leg of the series. Alina Kashlinskaya (pictured below), born on October 28, 1993, is a prominent figure in the world of women’s chess. She has won multiple national and European Women’s Individual Championship medals. Earlier in her career, she won silver at the 2003 Under-10 European Girls Youth Chess Championship and the 2011 Under-18 World Girls Youth Chess Championship before winning the Russian Junior Girls Championship in 2013. Photo: Anna Shtourman In 2022, Alina made the significant decision to switch federations and represent Poland. This move marked a new chapter in her chess career, and she quickly integrated into the Polish chess community. In the same year, she participated in the 44th Chess Olympiad as a member of the Polish women’s team, contributing to their sixth-place finish. In May 2024, she became the National Polish Women’s Champion and played on the first board for the national team at the 45th Chess Olympiad. In August 2024, Alina emerged as the winner of the first leg of WGP 2024–2025 series in Tbilisi, earning 130 points. She currently ranks seventh in the overall standings. Photo: Lennart Ootes Born in Orsk in 2001, Polina Shuvalova (pictured above) was a dominant force at junior events, where she achieved the unprecedented feature of winning three consecutive gold medals in the higher age group categories. After getting Silver and Bronze in the U-16 category in 2016 and 2017, she finally became World Champion in the World Girl’s U18 Championship 2018. The best was yet to come, though: the next year, Polina won the 2019 World Under 18 Girls’ Championship in Mumbai with a score of 8.5/11, and shortly after, she also won the World Girls’ Junior Championship in New Delhi with a score of 9.5/11. This last result granted her the Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title, at the age of 18. Shuvalova struggled in her WGP series debut, finishing last in Astana (2022). However, just a few months later, she delivered a solid performance in New Delhi (2023), tying for fourth place. She now returns to Indian soil two years later, hoping for an even stronger showing. The fifth leg of the FIDE WGP 2024–25 will take place in Pune, India, from April 13 to 24, with Alina Kashlinskaya and Polina Shuvalova replacing Sarasadat Khademalsharieh and Kateryna Lagno in the draw. The full pairings can be found below: FIDE Women’s Grand Prix India 2025 Pairings FIDE WGP official website: womengrandprix.fide.com/
Sensational Anna Muzychuk takes down WGP Cyprus after gripping finale
After nine long and tremendously exciting rounds, the Cyprus Women’s Grand Prix has come to a close. Moreover, this afternoon’s final round was highly entertaining, despite all five games ending in draws. In fact, the final tournament winner, Anna Muzychuk, was only decided at the very end, based on a unique combination of factors. Zhu Jiner failed to convert what seemed like a big advantage against Nana Dzagnidze while, at exactly the same time, Olga Badelka was unable to finish-off a decisive +12 advantage against Stavroula Tsolakidou. Both Anna Muzychuk and China’s young prodigy Zhu Jiner scored solid +2600 performances and tied for first on 6/9, leaving behind Harika Dronavalli, Aleksandra Goryachkina and Mariya Muzychuk at a massive one-point distance in the final standings. Anna will take home the trophy and winner’s recognition, but the prize-money and WGP circuit points will be shared with Zhu Jiner. After the closing ceremony, Anna shared her thoughts with the FIDE Press Officer. “I am very happy that I won the event: the last time I shared first place in a tournament was thirteen years ago, so this win is indeed very special for me. For that, I would like to thank the organization for creating good conditions for the player and of course everyone that helped me to achieve it.” Regarding her chances to win one of the two Candidates spots, Anna was quite down-to-earth: “Obviously a win in this tournament increases my chances to qualify, but everything is still very unclear. I will try to prepare well for Austria and just hope that things will go well for me.” Let’s take a closer look at this afternoon’s playing session. Mariya Muzychuk – Aleksandra Goryachkina ½-½ The first game to finish exhibited excellent home preparation by both players. Facing her opponent’s Berlin Defence in the Ruy Lopez, Mariya chose a line that’s well-known for being very drawish at the highest level, although every now and then White is able to score a win. However, Goryachkina who has always been exceptionally well-prepared in the opening, side-stepped any potential dangers. Maybe 28.Kh2 instead of 28.Qc3 might have been a way to keep things going for White but after the exchange of queens the position ultimately liquidated into a clearly drawn rook endgame. To top things up, the accuracy score displayed was uncanny: 99%! With this result, both players both players finished with a solid, undefeated +1 score (eight draws and one win). For Goryachkina, she picks up some useful Grand Prix points in her third and last leg of the cycle, giving her excellent chances to qualify for the future Women’s Candidates Tournament. Elisabeth Paehtz – Divya Deshmukh ½-½ The German Grand Master, who has manifested publicly that Cyprus will probably be her last official classical tournament, opened the game with the London system. In response, Divya opted for a lesser-known line, but which has been tried out by some of the best players in the world, including Magnus Carlsen. After fifteen moves the position was totally blocked and there didn’t seem much going on. However, at one point, Divya offered the exchange of queens, which wasn’t accepted by Elizabeth, and the game immediately ended in a draw by move repetition. Understandably, Paehtz just wanted to end the tournament as soon as possible, but the ending suggests that after the exchange of queens she would have had a sizeable advantage. Divya finishes the event very slightly under expectation but takes away a huge learning experience in her journey to the top. Harika Dronavalli – Anna Muzychuk ½-½ Both players have a long playing history together: eighteen games, with 14 draws and three wins for Harika – a slight statistical edge. They have been playing since they were kids – their first official game was in Spain, at the U-10 Oropesa del Mar World Championship in 2000, exactly twenty-five years ago! Ultra-solid, Harika was looking for a risk-free edge in her game today, knowing very well that the pressure was on her opponent: Anna needed at least a draw to remain in contention for first place. Intending to unbalance the game, Anna went for the slightly unusual but playable 5…Nh6 variation in the English Agincourt, an idea tried out by Gukesh’s second Gajewski in 2022. Caught by surprise, Harika played it safe and traded queens, but White had no advantage in the queenless middlegame. After more piece trades, a draw was agreed in a completely equal rook ending on move forty: Harika had an extra pawn but no way to progress. Once again, accuracy levels of 99% indicate the extremely high level of precision in this game. Olga Badelka – Stavroula Tsolakidou ½-½ “I was so lucky,” a happy Stavroula told me immediately after the game. “I was completely lost if she had played 36.Qg5, I think I would have been mated in a few moves.” Badelka missed a golden opportunity to score her second win in the event. The game began with the ceremonial move performed by Mr. Evros Stylianou, General Manager of the magnificent Hilton Nicosia, the perfect venue for an elite round-robin chess tournament. The former Belarus player, now representing Austria, played a great attacking game, and totally outplayed Tsolakidou in a fashionable line of the King’s Indian Defence. But just when she was probably expecting Stavroula to resign, Olga missed her chance to score. Moment of the day Badelka would have taken the point home had played here 36.Qg5! with decisive checks on e5 or f6. Instead, she went 36.Qe4 and after 36…Qe7! realized that things were not so simple as 37.fxe5 runs into 37…Qxa3 and it’s a mess. Even after the miss, the engine still gives her a decisive advantage, but it’s always tricky to bring it home after realizing you let go of a winning opportunity. Stavroula started to defend perfectly and after trading queens transitioned into a rook ending, down a pawn. And as the saying goes, “All rook endings are drawn!” Zhu Jiner – Nana Dzagnidze ½-½
WGP Cyprus: Anna Muzychuk and Zhu Jiner to battle for the title in the final round
It couldn’t get more exciting! With this afternoon’s victory over Elisabeth Paehtz, Anna Muzychuk bounced back from her seventh-round loss to tie with Zhu Jiner at 5.5/8, setting up a thrilling final round at the Cyprus Women’s Grand Prix. Muzychuk will play Black against Harika Dronavalli, while Zhu Jiner will enjoy the white pieces against Nana Dzagnidze. Another happy contender was Divya Deshmukh, who scored her first win of the tournament by defeating Olga Badelka. Interestingly, this was the game chosen for the ceremonial first move, performed by five-time World Champion and FIDE Deputy President Vishy Anand. Anand played 1.Nf3, and as fate would have it, this very piece delivered the final blow with the maneuver 63.Ne5-d7! Let’s take a closer look at the five games. Aleksandra Goryachkina – Harika Dronavalli 0.5-0.5 Goryachkina’s quick draw against Paehtz yesterday gave her plenty of time to prepare for today’s game against Harika. Also, their head-to-head record favoured Goryachkina heavily – three wins and six draws, with no victories for Harika. However, Aleksandra’s Grand Prix situation is very special. Having won an event and tied for first in another, a decent result here more or less guarantees her a Candidates. With this in mind, it makes sense for her to avoid major risks. Her preparation for the game was top-notch. First, she sacrificed a pawn for piece compensation in a well-known position of the French Tarrasch. Then she followed it up with the “engine” novelty 15.Ng5, a very dangerous attacking idea. But Harika was on her game today and quickly found the way to neutralize her opponent’s initiative. After the exchange of queens, Harika still retained her extra pawn, but a draw was quickly agreed upon due to the opposite-coloured bishops. Anna Muzychuk – Elisabeth Paehtz 1-0 Anna and Elisabeth are good friends and colleagues. But when it comes to chess, it’s no-holds-barred. “It’s not so easy because Elisabeth is my best friend in the chess community, and we have spent a lot of time together,” said Anna after the game. In twenty official classical games, Anna has pulled ahead with four wins and only one loss, while the rest of the games were draws. “Anna is playing with White and after yesterday’s loss she will try very hard to score the full point today,” dared GM Gershon on the live stream. “Exactly, as you can imagine she didn’t look happy this morning, as she was struggling to get herself together for today’s game,” confirmed WGM co-commentator Karlovich. However, Karlovich also mentioned that she had lunched with Paehtz, “I spoke to Elisabeth during lunch and I think she is ready for a fight today and try to surprise her opponent in the opening.” And indeed, she did! Elisabeth opted for the Queen’s Gambit Accepted, a defence that she has used very sparingly in her career (although one of the games was against Anna’s younger sister!). “In fact, I played 1.d4 as the first move, which I do very rarely. I thought I was going to surprise her!” said Anna, reflecting on her opening choice. Anna did her best to find a way to make progress to no avail. To make things even worse, she quickly fell behind on the clock: at one point she was down to six minutes for seventeen moves. However, fortune favours the brave and, with Anna under severe time pressure, Elisabeth blundered 24…Qc5? instead of 24…Rxd4 with equal play, and then more importantly, 28…Qd8? instead of the superior 28…Qd7, which seems to be holding. After that, Anna had no trouble picking up a couple of pawns and bringing the point home, ensuring an exciting finale to the tournament. In her postgame interview, she instructively explained how Elisabeth’s position started to go downhill after 23…e5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2nVPmBBKTs Stavroula Tsolakidou – Zhu Jiner 0.5-0.5 Leading the event with 5/7, Zhu Jiner decided to go all-in with an aggressive approach in this important game against Stavroula. Instead of the solid Ruy Lopez or Italian game, she went for her favourite Sicilian, the Najdorf variation. Tsolakidou’s response was unsurprising – the aggressive 6.Bg5 followed by 7.Qf3 and 8.0-0-0, echoing her 2017 victory over Zhu Jiner at the World Junior Girls Championship. Her opening strategy was successful: her opponent was caught off-guard with 9.g4 and spent quite a lot of time figuring out the best response. Zhu Jiner took up the gauntlet, captured the “poisoned pawn”, and the game was on! The position remained balanced, according to the engines, but it was very double-edged, and anything could happen. But the exchange of queens on move twenty-two cooled things down. In the queenless middlegame, Zhu Jiner had the two bishops but a slightly worse pawn structure: the game was heading for a draw and indeed a draw was agreed on move forty-nine, both players clocking a 98% accuracy score with no mistakes whatsoever. Nana Dzagnidze – Mariya Muzychuk 0.5-0.5 The head-to-head between Nana and Mariya is quite extensive. In eighteen classical games, twelve games have ended in a draw, with two wins for Nana and four wins for Mariya. In addition, as GM Gershon most astutely pointed out, both Nana and Mariya have only played one leg of the cycle and this is their second event: if one of them were able to score two consecutive game wins, they might have a chance to fight for one of the two candidate spots. Indeed, a very important game for both of them. The opening was the Three Knights variation in the Grunfeld, with a well-deserved reputation of being very solid. Neither of the two players wanted to risk today, and each time a piece could be traded they would go for it. Around move twenty-five, Mariya enjoyed a slight initiative on the board and also quite a bit of extra time con the clock (twenty minutes for Nana’s six minutes, with fifteen moves to the time control). However, Nana kept her cool, played solidly and without much trouble was able to liquidate into an equal ending.
World School Championship 2025: Extended “working hours” before the rest day
The schedule of the FIDE World School Championship 2025 in Vrnjačka Banja featured only one day with two rounds of play. Young chess players tackled this demanding challenge on the third day with determination, despite the difficulty of preparing for two different opponents and playing two important games back-to-back. It was also a great opportunity for photographers to capture memorable moments from the tournament hall. After four exciting rounds, the competition remains wide open, with only two sole leaders—Madinabonu Asadova (Girls U9) and Malika Japparbekova (Girls U15)—emerging across twelve tournaments. Sunday is a rest day, with an excursion planned for the participants. The competition will resume with Round 5 on Monday, March 24. Photos: Chess Federation of Serbia Official website: worldschool2025.fide.com