David Antón Guijarro and Marta Garcia Martin win 2025 Spanish Championship
GM David Antón Guijarro and IM Marta García Martín have been crowned Spain’s 2025 Absolute and Women’s Chess Champions, each securing their second national title. The Spanish Chess Championship 2025, a 9-round Swiss tournament, was held the Alanda Marbella Hotel from December 11-19. While men and women competed in the same pool, final rankings were determined separately by gender. Top seed David Antón Guijarro dominated the 100-player field, which included seven Grandmasters. He made a fantastic start by winning six straight games, leaving no doubt about his overall victory. Antón secured the title with a round to spare, finishing with an impressive score of 8/9. A remarkable seven players tied for second place with 6.5/9, but GM Jaime Santos Latasa claimed the silver medal and IM Daniel Alsina Leal took bronze, both benefiting from a superior Buchholz tiebreak. Notably, all three podium finishers completed the tournament undefeated. In the women’s standings, Marta García Martín edged out WFM Inés Prado Acebo on tiebreaks after both players finished with 5.5/9, sharing first place. Last year’s champion, Sabrina Vega, secured the bronze medal with 5/9. Final standings Official website: feda.org/feda2k16/ Photos: Facebook FEDA
GCL Day 6: Triveni stay in front as Mumba chase and pack closes behind
Day six opened the return round with four tense matches and dramatic swings at both ends of the table. The Triveni Continental Kings remain alone at the top after playing twice – losing to the Pipers but making a comeback against PBG – to stay in front with 15 Match Points. The upGrad Mumbai Masters are a close second with 12 Match Points after defeating the Ganges Grandmasters 11–6. The Alpine SG Pipers and Ganges Grandmasters share third place with 9 points, while the Fyers American Gambits and PBG Alaskan Knights are level on 6 Match Points. With the league now in the return round, four matches are played each day, and every result has a direct impact on the title race and the fight at the bottom. Standings after Day 6 Match 16: Fyers American Gambits vs PBG Alaskan Knights (8–9) The Fyers American Gambits started the day on six Match Points after a narrow loss to Ganges. The PBG Alaskan Knights, fresh from their first victory of the season against Alpine, were trying to climb away from last place. In their first encounter, the Gambits had won 8–5, and PBG came into the rematch looking for payback. PBG had the White pieces and started the match with clear intent. The first game to finish was on the Superstar board. Leinier Dominguez tested Richard Rapport in the Open Sicilian and obtained a small edge but fell behind on the clock. With no clear way to increase his advantage and the whole match ahead, Dominguez decided not to force the issue, and the players agreed to a draw. On one of the women’s boards, things soon went PBG’s way. European champion Teodora Injac reached a promising position against Sara Khadem but lost control. Khadem traded her h3-pawn for the opponent’s d3-pawn, took control of the c-file, and put the black king under pressure. In her search for counterplay, Injac fell into serious time trouble and ultimately blundered her queen. This was the first win of the match—and Khadem’s first victory of the tournament. Almost simultaneously, on the other women’s board, Kateryna Lagno let a sizable advantage slip away against Bibisara Assaubayeva and agreed to a draw. After three games, the score stood at 5–3 for PBG. Then came a huge moment on the first men’s board. In an equal bishop endgame, Vladislav Artemiev made a terrible mistake and allowed Arjun Erigaisi to push his pawn through to promotion. Artemiev had to give up his bishop for the new queen and could only hope for a miracle in time trouble, but it never came. Erigaisi calculated everything to the end and secured the win. With that result, the Knights increased their lead to 8–3 in Game Points. In the remaining games, the Gambits had little counterplay, and PBG seemed close to a smooth match victory. Then fortune swung sharply on the Icon board. World Champion Gukesh D reached a completely winning position against Hikaru Nakamura and was also ahead on the clock. However, he relaxed too early and blundered. Nakamura seized his chance and turned a hopeless position into a victory—a huge escape for the Gambits and a painful blow for Gukesh. The score narrowed to 8–7. Everything now depended on the prodigy board, where Daniel Dardha sacrificed a pawn against Rapid World Champion Volodar Murzin but did not get sufficient compensation. After sharp play in the centre and a series of tactical exchanges, Dardha managed to equalise and even put some pressure on Murzin. By then, he knew his team had already secured at least a draw in the match and that his opponent still needed to be careful. With that in mind, Dardha chose the practical solution: he offered a draw, and Murzin accepted. The final score was 9–8 in Game Points for the PBG Alaskan Knights. They took their second win in a row and moved level with the Gambits on six Match Points, keeping their season alive and tightening the middle of the table even further. Match 17: Alpine SG Pipers vs Triveni Continental Kings (12–8) The second match of Day 6 brought a repeat of the opening-round pairing between the Alpine SG Pipers and the defending champions, the Triveni Continental Kings. Triveni had won the first encounter 9–7 and started this match as sole leaders on 12 Match Points. Alpine were on six, boosted by recent wins and knowing they needed another big result to stay in the race. After the coin toss, the Pipers took White and came out fighting. From the first moves, it was clear this would be a tense, emotional match. The first breakthrough came on the women’s board. Nino Batsiashvili, Alpine’s most reliable player this season, scored her fifth win in six games. In the London System against former women’s world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk, Nino chose a sharp piece sacrifice. The idea looked risky and was not fully correct, but Kosteniuk failed to find the best defence. White’s attack grew menacing with every move, and the black king was driven into a net of checks and threats. With her position collapsing, Kosteniuk had to resign. Almost simultaneously, Anish Giri delivered another blow for Alpine on the Superstar board. Facing Wei Yi with White in a Queen’s Pawn Opening, he played aggressively from the start, brought all his pieces into the attack, and offered a rook sacrifice. Wei initially declined correctly but accepted a few moves later with catastrophic consequences. Giri broke through and forced resignation. After these two wins, the Pipers led the match 6–0 in Game Points. The champions then began their comeback. On the prodigy board, Marc’Andria Maurizzi secured an extra pawn in the middlegame against Leon Luke Mendonca and gradually took control. Leon tried to create counterplay but could not hold the endgame. Triveni cut the deficit to 6–4. The turning point seemed to come on the second women’s board. In a very sharp middlegame, Zhu Jiner outplayed Hou Yifan. The former Women’s World Champion missed an
Gleb Dudin and Szidonia Lazarne Vajda crowned 2025 Hungarian Champions
GM Gleb Dudin and IM Szidónia Lázárné Vajda triumphed at the 2025 Hungarian Chess Championships. Dudin captured his first national title, while Lázárné Vajda claimed her third Hungarian women’s crown, repeating her successes of 2004 and 2015. The Hungarian Individual Championship, featuring simultaneous open and women’s competitions, was held in Budapest from December 10–18. Both events were 10-player round-robins under classical time controls. Legendary Lajos Portisch making the first ceremonial move The open section turned into an exciting race between GMs Gleb Dudin and Tamás Bánusz. Dudin seized the lead early, but Bánusz caught up after Round 6. Their direct clash in the next round ended in a draw, and the two preserved their shared lead. Dudin pulled ahead in the penultimate round by defeating Ágoston Juhász, while his main rival could only draw. Trailing Dudin by half a point going into the final round, both Bánusz and top seed Benjamin Gledura (who finished strongly) were held to draws. Dudin, meanwhile, achieved a much better position against Sergey Grigoriants but decided to play it safe, settling for a draw to secure the title with a score of 6.5/9. Gledura and Bánusz finished half a point behind on 6/9 and tied for second place, with Gledura claiming silver thanks to a superior Sonneborn–Berger score. Notably, all three top finishers completed the tournament undefeated. Final standings – Open The Women’s Championship was even more tightly contested. IM Szidonia Lázár–Vajda and WFM Kata Karácsonyi tied for first with 6.5/9, with Lázár–Vajda winning the title by a mere 0.5 Sonneborn–Berger points. IM Nomin-Erdene Davaademberel scored 6/9 to take the bronze medal. Final standings – Women Photos: Magyar Sakkszövetség FaceBook
FIDE Global Conference on chess in society and education announced
Marking the launch of the FIDE Year of Chess in Education 2026, FIDE, in partnership with KIIT and the All India Chess Federation, is proud to announce the Social and Educational Chess Conference. The conference will take place from January 14 to 16, 2026 in Bhubaneswar, India. It aims to bring together experts from the fields of education, academic research, social development, public policy, and chess to critically examine and advance the use of chess as a structured instrument for learning and social impact on a global scale. “Chess has a unique ability to bring together education, social programmes, and public institutions. When it is organised well and supported by strong partners, it can reach people globally and create real opportunities for learning and participation. This conference is about sharing what works, learning from each other, and building stronger cooperation so that chess can play a meaningful role in education and social projects around the world,” said Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President. The event will take place at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), one of India’s leading educational institutions, and will focus on two core pillars of FIDE’s global strategy: Social Chess and Chess in Education. “Education must go beyond textbooks and classrooms to nurture character, values, and the ability to think independently. Chess is a powerful tool in this journey, as it cultivates discipline, critical thinking, patience, and ethical decision-making. We are honoured that KIIT and KISS will host this global conference and partner with FIDE and the All India Chess Federation in advancing chess as an instrument for social transformation and inclusive education worldwide,” said Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT, KISS & KIMS. Over the course of the conference, participants will examine how chess can support inclusion, education, rehabilitation, and personal development across different communities and age groups. The programme combines strategic discussions, academic research, practical case studies, and on-the-ground experiences. The first day of the conference, titled “Every Move Matters: Social Chess in Action”, will focus on social impact initiatives. Sessions will highlight the outcomes of FIDE’s Social Chess Year 2025 and present priorities for 2026. Speakers and project leaders from around the world will share experiences from initiatives working with refugees, prison populations, children in underserved communities, elderly participants, and individuals facing addiction and social exclusion. The programme will also address institutional models, partnerships, CSR engagement, volunteer management, and sustainable project development. As part of the Every Move Matters theme, the first day of the conference will conclude with the presentation of the FIDE Social Chess Storytelling Challenge. Short films submitted through the global initiative will be screened, showcasing real stories of how chess supports education, inclusion, and social change across communities worldwide. The evening programme will culminate in the announcement of the winning films, followed by a networking reception hosted by KIIT and the All India Chess Federation. The second day, “Every Lesson Counts: The Present and Future of Chess in Education”, will focus on chess in formal and non-formal education systems. Discussions will include current research on the cognitive and academic impact of chess, national and regional implementation models, teacher training, curriculum integration, and policy development. Digital tools and platforms supporting chess in education will also be showcased, alongside case studies from established programmes around the world. Beyond the main conference sessions, the programme includes exhibitions of social chess projects, educational workshops, networking activities, and presentations from digital and educational partners. Interactive formats such as audience Q&A, project showcases, and short film screenings will encourage dialogue and exchange between participants. The final days of the programme will be dedicated to site visits at KIIT and KISS facilities, local social chess initiatives, school activities, and Chess in Education teacher training courses, reinforcing the conference’s emphasis on practical application and long-term capacity building. The Social and Educational Chess Conference reflects FIDE’s ongoing commitment to developing chess as a tool for education, inclusion, and social development, while strengthening collaboration between institutions, educators, researchers, and federations worldwide. Registration detalis, speakers, and programme are published at https://soc.fide.com/global-chess-conference
Winners emerge from FIDE U9–U17 Rapid Championship; Blitz up next
The rapid section of the FIDE U9–U17 Rapid & Blitz Chess Championship concluded on December 19 after nine exciting rounds played over three days in Antalya. Players now turn to the blitz portion of the event, which begins on December 20 and will be held over two days at an even faster pace. The Blitz championships will again be contested in Open and Girls sections across five age categories: U9, U11, U13, U15, and U17. A total of 310 players, including 98 titled players and 2 Grandmasters, have registered for the Blitz event. Those two Grandmasters are the Turkish youngsters Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş and Ediz Gürel, both World Top 100 players. Erdoğmuş, who claimed a silver medal in the U15 rapid section, and Gürel, competing in the U17 blitz, are among the top contenders. Below are the newly crowned Rapid Champions in both Open and Girls categories: Rapid Champions – Open Category Title Name Federation Rating Points U17 IM Asrorjon Omonov UZB 2233 7 U15 IM Khumoyun Begmuratov UZB 2435 7½ U13 FM Ali Gür TUR 2073 7 U11 FM Marc Llari FRA 2135 7½ U9 CM Luca Protopopescu FRA 2096 7½ U13 Rapid Open Champion FM Ali Gür Rapid Champions – Girls Category Title Name Federation Rating Points G17 WIM Binh Vy Nguyen VIE 1950 7½ G15 WFM Rukiya Olimova UZB 1913 7 G13 WCM Kristina Zavivaeva FID 1956 6½ G11 WFM Alisa Genrietta Yunker FID 2128 8½ G9 Elif Defne Özer TUR 1529 7 U15 Rapid Girls Champion WFM Rukiya Olimova Pairing and results: s2.chess-results.com/tnr1318937.aspx?lan=1&SNode=S0 Official website: youthrapidblitz2025.tsf.org.tr/ Photo gallery: photos.app.goo.gl/8haNV29TMiGgSNvm8 The International School Chess Federation (ISCF) has launched a series of educational master classes to support young participants of the FIDE World U9–U17 Rapid & Blitz Championships 2025. Designed to enrich the championship experience, these sessions offer players, coaches, and parents practical insights into long-term development and high-level training methodology. Two master classes were held at the Aska Lara Hotel in Antalya, Türkiye. On December 17, GM Rustam Kasimdzhanov, FIDE World Champion 2004 and one of the world’s most respected chess trainers, led an online session based on his extensive coaching experience. Kasimdzhanov has served as second to Viswanathan Anand in three World Championship matches, worked with Fabiano Caruana during the Candidates and the 2018 World Championship cycle, coached national teams including Germany (European Team Champions, 2011), and in 2025 was appointed Head Coach of the Uzbekistan Men’s National Team. His work with elite players provides invaluable perspective on sustained, long-term improvement. The following day, December 18, FM/FT Alper Efe Ataman, Board Member of the Turkish Chess Federation, founder of Analiz Satranç publishing house, and author of Instructive Chess Miniatures, delivered a clear and structured in-person presentation on developing young talent, focusing on priority-setting, consistency, and sustainable progress. For more information, visit ISCF social media @ischoolchess or the official website. Written by Özgür Akman Photos: Ozan Koşar
I am woman, I am president: Women at the helm of national federations
Out of 201 FIDE members, only 13 have women presidents. In a slow but steady shift, more women are taking executive roles in chess and business. FIDE spoke to four women who run national chess federations. Here is what they say about the role women can play in chess away from the board. In 1971 the Australian singer Helen Reddy came out with the song “I am woman” which by 1972 reached the number one spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. The famous chorus “I am strong, I am invincible, I am woman,” went on to become an anthem of the rising feminist movement. At the same time, another story of women’s voices was taking shape: in 1971 FIDE organised the first Women’s Interzonal in Ohrid (which was Yugoslavia, at the time), a step towards bringing it in line with the competing system for men. The following year, Nona Gaprindashvili defended her world title against Alla Kushnir by the narrowest margin, eight and a half to seven and a half. In Skopje, the Soviet team with Gaprindashvili and Kushnir on the top two boards dominated the Women’s Olympiad. Also that year, Olga Rubtsova quietly became the first ever women’s world correspondence champion, and the only person in history to hold both over the board and correspondence world titles. For the first time since Vera Menchik, it became more common to talk about women in chess. On the board, women were already making a breakthrough in chess. But away from the board, they were almost absent from the rooms where chess was governed. Nona Gaprindashvili – who is the first woman in history to earn the title of Grandmaster – was also faced with dismissal by many of her male colleagues or men in positions of power. Turning back to the U.S. where the global feminist movement from the 1970s was most prominent, it took another three decades before the U.S. Chess Federation elected its first woman president – Beatriz Marinello (pictured below), in 2003. Today the picture of women in chess looks quite different, but it is far from transformed. At the moment, according to FIDE data, out of 201 member federations, only 13 have a woman president. That is still a small percentage, yet – it would have been unthinkable when Helen Reddy first recorded her song and Gaprindashvili faced Kushnir across the board in Riga. Things are changing. The changing times Recent years have seen more emphasis and support not just for getting women into chess, but for using chess to help them improve their own careers. FIDE has not only increased the number, scope and support for women’s events, but has made women’s chess one of its top priorities, with the Commission for Women’s Chess and the appointment of Dana Reizniece as the Deputy Chair of the organisation’s Management Board. For years, FIDE’s finances have been looked after by Zhu Chen – a former Women’s World Champion, who is the treasurer of the International Chess Federation and is tasked with overseeing revenue flow and ensuring financial transparency. The Commission for Women’s Chess has supported programmes that help countries build women’s national teams from scratch. A 2024 initiative helped nine federations to send a women’s team to the Chess Olympiad for the first time. A conference on chess and life balance discussed the impact motherhood has on a woman’s chess career. Development projects such as the Queen’s Gambit Challenge have brought together more than five hundred eighty women from over eighty countries for training and support. The struggles women face in chess – be it as players or decision-makers in organisations – are the same as those faced in business. A recent Global Gender Report by the World Economic Forum notes that women are a large share of the workforce but a much smaller share of senior leadership. Deloitte’s Women in the Boardroom report, published in March 2024, notes that “women hold less than one-quarter (23.3%) of the world’s board seats”. Like companies, chess federations exist in that same world. They are sports bodies, but they are also employers, event organisers and public facing institutions. When women take the chair in those organisations, they are not only symbols. They are also decision makers in a sector that shapes how millions of children and young people first meet the game. FIDE spoke to several women who are presidents of national chess federations and asked them to share their views and tips on women looking to make a career in chess which is not strictly tied to the performance on the chessboard. From Women’s World Champion to federation President Few stories link together a path from “I am woman” to “I am president” better than that of Xie Jun. She began in Chinese chess at six. At ten, she switched to what people in China call “international chess” and by sixteen she was already in the national team. In 1991, she became Women’s World Champion, the first world champion from outside Europe. She recalls that moment in simple terms, saying that nothing compares to seeing your national flag raised for the first time at a world title match. In parallel with her chess career, Xie Jun pursued a doctorate in psychology – an extremely rare combination in the chess world. Her transition from the board to the boardroom was gradual: After playing she started coaching, then taught at university and worked as a sports administrator, and in 2024 she became the President of the Chinese Chess Association. “Every promotion felt like a logical ‘next move’ on a larger board, if you want to change the rules, you have to help write them,” notes Xie Jun. Xie Jun making the first ceremonial move in the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Championship Match On the evergreen question of work-life balance, Xie gives a simple answer: “I treat life like a long game with two clocks: family and career. If you work hard enough and put your heart into it, you
GCL Day 5: PBG finally break through, claiming first win of the season
PBG Alaskan Knights finally came to life on Day5 of the Global Chess League in Mumbai. They defeated the team of Alpine SG Pipers 12 – 8, scoring their first win of the season. On the top boards, Triveni Continental Kings beat upGrad Mumba Masters 9 – 5 and Ganges Grandmasters edged Fyers American Gambits 8 – 7 keeping the title race tight. Day five of the Global Chess League in Mumbai brought a dramatic breakthrough for the PBG Alaskan Knights, who defeated the Alpine SG Pipers 12–8 to claim their first victory of the season. Meanwhile, at the top of the table, the Triveni Continental Kings beat the upGrad Mumbai Masters 9–5, and the Ganges Grandmasters edged the Fyers American Gambits 8–7, keeping the title race wide open. The day marked a turning point for the Knights, who entered with four consecutive defeats. Playing with nothing to lose, PBG went all-out against Alpine, with Arjun Erigaisi, Kateryna Lagno, Leinier Dominguez, and a resurgent Gukesh all scoring victories. Standings after Day 5 The reigning champions, Triveni, now stand alone at the top with 12 Match Points after defeating Mumbai in their direct duel. Ganges joined Mumbai on 9 Match Points, thanks to another strong performance from Javokhir Sindarov, who scored a quick win over Richard Rapport. The Fyers American Gambits and Alpine SG Pipers remain on 6 Match Points each, with PBG closing the gap to 3 points as the final rounds approach. Match 13: upGrad Mumbai Masters vs Triveni Continental Kings (5–9) Day five opened with a clash of leaders. The upGrad Mumbai Masters and Triveni Continental Kings both came into the round on 9 Match Points. Their rivalry dates to the first season in Dubai, where Mumbai won both round-robin matches, but Triveni took the title in a sudden-death final. In Season 2, the champions struck back twice. Meeting again at the top of the table in Season 3, both sides knew this match could shape the rest of the league. From the start, the play was tight and tense. Mumbai had the White pieces, but Triveni were often ahead on the clock and, at times, slightly better on the board. The first result came on the Superstar board, where Shakhriyar Mamedyarov faced Vidit Gujrathi. In a sharp English, Vidit twice seized the initiative, but Mamedyarov held firm. With both players short of time and no clear path forward, they repeated moves and agreed to a draw. Soon after, Wesley So and Wei Yi also split the point in a game where both pushed but failed to create decisive chances. The early draws set the tone for the match. The outcome hinged on the Icon board. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Alireza Firouzja rattled out their moves in a Scheveningen Sicilian, a fast-paced duel between two of the world’s best blitz players. With Black, Firouzja solved all the opening problems and gained an edge thanks to a superior pawn structure. MVL defended well for a long time, but small inaccuracies crept in. The critical moment came with 34.Nf1, a natural-looking move that was in fact a serious mistake. Firouzja did not find the best continuation but did enough to seize the advantage. The final phase was riddled with mutual errors in a time scramble, but MVL was the last to slip. Triveni earned four Game Points and a commanding lead on the top board. On the women’s boards, Mumbai searched for a way back. Humpy Koneru and Zhu Jiner played a controlled game that never strayed from equality, ending in a quiet draw. The other women’s game was more tense. Alexandra Kosteniuk and Harika Dronavalli reached an opposite-coloured bishops endgame, known for its drawing tendencies. With no way to break through, the players agreed to another draw. The final word belonged to the prodigy board. Following sharp exchanges, Marc’Andria Maurizzi emerged with an extra rook but could not escape a perpetual check, leading to yet another draw. This confirmed that the match would be decided by Firouzja’s win alone. When the dust settled, Triveni Continental Kings had won 9–5 in Game Points, with one victory and five draws. The defending champions moved into sole first place, while Mumbai slipped back into the chasing pack—still very much in contention but no longer alone at the top. Match 14: Alpine SG Pipers vs PBG Alaskan Knights (8–12) This duel was a must-win for both sides. Alpine SG Pipers came in on the back of two straight victories and 6 Match Points. PBG Alaskan Knights were still on zero after four rounds and had not won a single individual game. After the coin toss, PBG chose to play with White. Their captain promised “fireworks on the boards,” and his team delivered from the first moves. The Knights adopted sharp, aggressive play across all boards. The first breakthrough came on the Superstar board, where Arjun Erigaisi faced Anish Giri in a Queen’s Gambit Declined. Arjun seized the initiative early, and by move 18 his attack was nearly decisive. On move 21, he sacrificed a piece, tearing open the black king’s shelter. PBG took a 3–0 lead in Game Points. Almost simultaneously, Kateryna Lagno struck on the women’s board. Facing Hou Yifan in a Sicilian, she punished an early mistake, trapping Black’s queen in the centre. Two moves later, Hou was forced to give up her queen for a rook. Lagno converted smoothly, giving the Knights another three Game Points and a 6–0 lead. Alpine hit back through their most reliable player of the season. On the second women’s board, Nino Batsiashvili outplayed Sara Khadem in an Indian setup. Khadem was worse from the early middlegame and never recovered. Batsiashvili kept control, adding another win to her impressive Mumbai record and closing the gap to 6–4. The momentum seemed to shift completely on the prodigy board. Leon Luke Mendonca, the hero of Alpine’s last two matches, delivered another strong performance. Facing Daniel Dardha in an English Opening, he outplayed his opponent in the middlegame and
Kirill Chukavin and Margareth Olde triumph at 2025 Estonian Championship
FM Kirill Chukavin and WIM Margareth Olde emerged victorious the 2025 Estonian Championship finals held from December 11–18 at the Paul Keres Chess House in Tallinn. For the second consecutive year, both the Open and Women’s championships were contested in a knockout format, featuring 16 players in the Open section and 8 in the Women’s section. In the Open section, 23-year-old FM Kirill Chukavin captured his first senior national title by defeating three-time champion GM Meelis Kanep (last year’s bronze medallist) in the final match. IM Ilja Sirosh completed the podium, winning the match for bronze. Final Standings – Open Section FM Kirill Chukavin GM Meelis Kanep IM Ilja Sirosh In the Women’s section, WIM Margareth Olde successfully defended her title. The final match against WFM Sofia Blokhin was an extremely tense battle, with classical games rapid and blitz tie-breaks all ending in 1-1 draws. Olde ultimately prevailed in the decisive Armageddon game. Final Standings – Women’s Section WIM Margareth Olde WFM Sofia Blokhin WFM Regina Narva Complete results (both Open and Women’s) Photos: Estonian Chess Federation (www.maleliit.ee)
Africa’s rising stars shine at 16th African Youth Chess Championship in Harare
The 16th African Youth Chess Championship (AYCC) 2025, organised by the Zimbabwe Chess Federation under the patronage of the African Chess Confederation (ACC), concluded on Saturday, 13 December 2025, in Harare, Zimbabwe. Contested over nine rounds in the Swiss system, the championship attracted over 500 budding chess talents from 18 African countries, making it one of the largest editions in the history of the event. The championship showcased Africa’s rising chess stars across multiple age categories, delivering high-quality competition marked by fighting spirit, discipline, and exemplary sportsmanship. After intense and closely contested nine rounds played in a spirit of fair play, the champions emerged in all categories as follows: Under 8 Girls Under 8 Girls🥇 Gold: Saishanvi Nalamalpu (Botswana) – 9🥈 Silver: Tariro Nota (Zimbabwe) – 7🥉 Bronze: Awuor Jayne (Kenya) – 6 Under 8 Open 🥇 Gold: Adam Djerroud (Algeria) – 8🥈 Silver: Nathan Rehse (South Africa) – 7🥉 Bronze: Gene Mukhwana (Kenya) – 7 Under 10 Girls 🥇 Gold: Amanda Breetalizah (Kenya) – 8🥈 Silver: Nikhil Vankhedekar (Zambia) – 7½🥉 Bronze: Adaeze Agusionu (Nigeria) – 7½ Under 10 Open 🥇 Gold: Nathaniel Manyeki (Kenya) – 8½🥈 Silver: Ngwao Keoletile (Botswana) – 7🥉 Bronze: Elvis Tumusiime (Uganda) – 7 Under 12 Girls 🥇 Gold: Michelle Nwankwo (Nigeria) – 8½🥈 Silver: Winnie Kaburo (Kenya) – 8🥉 Bronze: Anil Suhana (Uganda) – 7½ Under 12 Open 🥇 Gold: Rannveer Tak (South Africa) – 7½🥈 Silver: Apollo Ahumuza (Uganda) – 7🥉 Bronze: Ryan Danson (Kenya) – 7 Under 14 Girls 🥇 Gold: Cassidy Elizabeth (Kenya) – 8🥈 Silver: Juliet Asaba (Uganda) – 7🥉 Bronze: Lucy Fantalis (Kenya) – 6½ Under 14 Open 🥇 Gold: Abdelmalek Bensidi (Algeria) – 7½🥈 Silver: Davidson Waweru (Kenya) – 7🥉 Bronze: Michael Schwartz (South Africa) – 7 Under 16 Girls 🥇 Gold: Zaki Mohamed (Egypt) – 8🥈 Silver: Oudhia Ait (Algeria) – 7🥉 Bronze: Correia Monteiro (South Africa) – 6½ Under 16 Open🥇 Gold: Cyprian Mbaabu (Kenya) – 7½🥈 Silver: Zhengfei Li (South Africa) – 7🥉 Bronze: Omprakash Shoubhith (Uganda) – 6½ Under 18 Girls🥇 Gold: Sana Omprakash (Uganda) – 8🥈 Silver: Deborah Quickpen (Nigeria) – 7🥉 Bronze: Natalie Banda (Botswana) – 7 Under 18 Open🥇 Gold: Rafael Sharon (Zambia) – 8🥈 Silver: Ahmed Kandil (Egypt) – 8🥉 Bronze: Raphael Felix (South Africa) – 7 Complete final standings (all categories) In addition to the competitive awards, twenty-five players were honoured with Fair Play Medals, sponsored by Amor Sport Consultancy. These medals were awarded to players who consistently demonstrated exemplary sportsmanship, respect for opponents and arbiters, adherence to the Laws of Chess, and positive conduct both on and off the board throughout the championship. Speaking at the closing ceremony, ACC President Tshepiso Lopang expressed her sincere gratitude to the players for their outstanding performances and commitment to fair play, to parents and coaches for their cooperation and support, to the arbiters for ensuring the smooth and professional running of the tournament, and to all partners and sponsors whose contributions made the championship a resounding success. The 16th African Youth Chess Championship once again reaffirmed Africa’s growing strength in youth chess and the continent’s bright future on the global chess stage. Written by African Chess Confederation Photo Credit: Ally Chess Academy
GCL Day 4: Triveni and Mumba pull ahead as PBG sink to fourth straight loss
Day 4 of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League reshaped the race at the top. The upGrad Mumbai Masters crushed the PBG Alaskan Knights 18–2, the Triveni Continental Kings hit back with an 11–6 win over the Ganges Grandmasters, and the Alpine SG Pipers rolled the Fyers American Gambits 10–4 to stay in the fight. It was a day when the favourites showed their strength. Triveni immediately recovered from their loss to the Gambits, with Alireza Firouzja and Wei Yi leading the way against Ganges. upGrad roared back after their defeat by Alpine with a ruthless performance against PBG, while the Pipers confirmed their revival as Nino Batsiashvili and Leon Luke Mendonca again delivered on the lower boards. The only team unable to stop the slide was the Knights, who suffered their fourth straight loss. Standings after Day 4 After four rounds, the upGrad Mumbai Masters and Triveni Continental Kings share the lead on nine Match Points, with upGrad slightly ahead on Game Points (51 to 43). The Ganges Grandmasters, Fyers American Gambits, and Alpine SG Pipers form a tight chasing pack on six Match Points each and remain very much in contention. The PBG Alaskan Knights are rooted to the bottom on zero, needing a perfect finish to have any hope of climbing back into the tournament. Match 10: Fyers American Gambits vs Alpine SG Pipers (4–10) Day 4 opened with a clash between two teams fresh off big wins. On Day 3, the Fyers American Gambits had shocked the defending champions Triveni Continental Kings 10–8 after Volodar Murzin turned a lost position into a match-winner on the prodigy board. The Alpine SG Pipers had finally broken their bad run by beating the upGrad Mumbai Masters 9–7, thanks to Leon Luke Mendonca delivering checkmate in another must-win prodigy game. The Gambits started the round on six Match Points, the Pipers on three. All eyes were on the Icon board, where Hikaru Nakamura faced Fabiano Caruana. The two US stars tested each other in a classical line of the Petrov. For most of the game, it was a pure theoretical battle between two well-prepared players, with many moves that looked strange to the audience still being theory. After the counterintuitive king move Kd7, Nakamura calmly walked around the stage and checked the other boards. Caruana then went for an exchange sacrifice, pushing his h-pawn down the board. The position looked tense, but the engines and the players knew it was balanced. After 59 moves, they agreed to a draw in an equal endgame. On the first men’s board, Anish Giri and Vladislav Artemiev also repeated preparation, reaching a balanced position where neither side could make real progress, and soon split the point. The second men’s board followed a similar script. Praggnanandhaa and Richard Rapport tested a rare line of the East Indian Defence. Rapport played creatively as usual, while Pragg never lost control despite spending more time on the clock. The game stayed level and ended in another draw. The real drama of the match came on the women’s and prodigy boards. Hou Yifan, the former Women’s World Champion, faced Bibisara Assaubayeva. Hou created a thorn-in-the-flesh e6-pawn in an Alapin Sicilian, emerging clearly better, but did not find the best continuation and sacrificed a pawn instead. After accepting the sacrifice, Bibisara defended patiently, equalised, and steered the game to a draw. On the second women’s board, Teodora Injac, playing the King’s Indian against Nino Batsiashvili, was clearly better for most of the game, building pressure and forcing Nino on the defensive. Then, in the space of three moves, everything changed. The position turned around, and Injac began to run low on time. Batsiashvili also slipped, blundering and allowing Black to win a bishop for two pawns. The ensuing endgame was about even, but Injac could not find a clear path. Move by move, she helped White advance her queenside pawns. Batsiashvili, in turn, allowed her opponent to blockade the pawns along the dark squares, handing Black the decisive advantage again. However, when the time came to collect these passers, Injac made a couple of mistakes, letting White’s king penetrate the kingside. After trading rooks, Injac was left with only a bishop while Batsiashvili had three pawns marching forward. In the time scramble that followed, Teodora made a grave error, moving her king back to e7 (instead of forward to e5 with a draw), which immediately changed the evaluation from “equal” to “lost” for Black. Nino showed good technical control and converted her advantage. The Pipers scored three vital Game Points and moved ahead 7–4. On the prodigy board, Leon Luke Mendonca once again became the main hero for Alpine. Facing Volodar Murzin, he won a pawn early and took over the initiative. Although Mendonca’s conversion was not ideal, Murzin was the last to err in a slightly inferior endgame. Leon finished the job and secured another three Game Points for his team. With four draws and two wins, the Alpine SG Pipers took the match 10–4 in Game Points. They climbed to six Match Points and joined the leading group in the standings. For the Fyers American Gambits, it was a painful defeat. After their inspiring comeback against Triveni, they managed to create only one serious winning chance across six boards and will want to move on quickly from this match. Match 11: PBG Alaskan Knights vs upGrad Mumbai Masters (2–18) This was a make-or-break moment for the PBG Alaskan Knights. After three straight losses, they were the only team without a single Match Point. On the other side stood the upGrad Mumbai Masters, still part of the leading pack despite their painful collapse against Alpine on Day 3. The Knights had the small practical edge of playing with the White pieces, but the pressure of needing a result in front of the home crowd felt heavy from the start. On the Icon board, World Champion Gukesh D met Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. The French grandmaster had started the season well,