In Memoriam: Vereslav Eingorn (1956-2026)
It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Vereslav Eingorn, a distinguished Ukrainian chess grandmaster, coach, and author. He was 69. Born on 23 November 1956 in Odesa (then the Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union), Eingorn grew up in a chess-playing family. He learned the game from his grandmother and began attending a chess club at the age of 12. His talent quickly became apparent, and he went on to establish himself among the leading players in Soviet chess during the 1980s. Eingorn graduated from Odesa State University with a degree in mathematics, but he devoted his professional life to chess. He earned the title of Soviet Master of Sport in 1976, International Master in 1984, and Grandmaster in 1986. Eingorn was a consistent, high-level performer in the exceptionally strong Soviet chess scene of the 1980s. He competed in multiple USSR Championships, earning bronze medals in 1984, 1987, and 1989, along with a tie for second through seventh place in 1986. During the most productive period of his career, Eingorn won or shared first place in strong events, including tournaments in Minsk (1983), Bor (1986), and Moscow (1986), and tied for first at the Cappelle-la-Grande Open in 1986. His peak came in 1987 when he qualified for the Interzonal tournament in Zagreb, where he finished in ninth place. Eingorn’s contributions to chess extended far beyond his own competitive results. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, he became an important member of the Ukrainian national team. He represented Ukraine at three Chess Olympiads, including the 2000 Olympiad in Istanbul, where Ukraine won the bronze medal. In 2001, he was part of the Ukrainian team that won the World Team Chess Championship in Yerevan. In the mid-2000s Eingorn largely retired from active play and turned to coaching. As head coach of the Ukrainian women’s national team he guided them to gold medals at the 2006 Chess Olympiad in Turin. He was awarded the title of FIDE Senior Trainer in 2007. A respected author, Eingorn penned several insightful books, including Decision-Making at the Chessboard (2003), Creative Chess Opening Preparation (2006), and Chess Explained: The French (with Valentin Bogdanov, 2008), and A Rock-Solid Chess Opening Repertoire for Black (2012). FIDE extends its deepest condolences to Vereslav Eingorn’s family, friends, colleagues, and students.
Beyond the board: The inaugural World Youth Leadership Forum unites global minds
In the summer of 2025, Kristen Hou, a rising sophomore at Benet Academy, traveled with her school to a chess festival in Iași, Romania. While playing in the scholastic tournament, she met players from around the world who shared her love for the game. Through these friendships, she began to understand that talent is not the only determinant of opportunity. Throughout the world, many talented players cannot afford to travel, train, or compete internationally. Seeing their dedication despite limited resources opened Kristen’s eyes to a reality beyond her own experience. Chess connects us, but socioeconomic inequality stands in the way of many dreams. “What started as a personal passion has become a commitment to share chess with the world, ensuring that talent and love for the game, not financial circumstances, determine how far a player can go,” said Kristen Hou. Throughout the tournament, Kristen’s mother, Linda Hou, saw how chess had shaped her daughter’s character, building discipline, confidence, and resilience. With her mother’s full support, Kristen founded the International Social Chess Foundation (ISCF), a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, in December 2025 (www.isocialchess.org). This led to the creation of the World Youth Leadership Forum – the first-ever international initiative designed to bring young people together from around the world through chess, education, and cultural exchange. On August 12, 2026, representatives from the United States, Switzerland, Romania, Ukraine, and El Salvador gathered to discuss developing leadership skills, share ideas to foster chess in society and education, and build meaningful global connections in an inclusive and supportive environment. The keynote speaker was Paul Vallas, former superintendent of four United States cities and CEO of both the Chicago Public Schools and the School District of Philadelphia. Mr. Vallas has dedicated his career to public service and educational leadership. During his tenure with Chicago Public Schools, he brought chess education to dozens of schools across the city. He shared insights on the role of chess in today’s technological world and its potential to foster international cooperation, especially among young people. André Vogtlin, President of the Swiss Chess Federation and Chair of the FIDE Social Commission, shared eight leadership tips for young leaders: Accept the challenges that come to you. Delegate! Delegate! Delegate! Ask a lot of questions before deciding, but then decide! Things will often be bigger than you. Try to detach from problems, challenges, and criticism. Don’t be bossy with your team! Listen to them and let them work. Intervene only when real problems arise. Have your meeting rituals. Say “Thank you!” Communicate in a timely, concise, and bulleted manner. Believe in the purpose of your projects and job assignments! Leadership will be much easier. Go for it and see where you land! Dariana Didiliuc and Ștefan Cotei from Romania shared details of the Chess in Schools project, where 37 out of 42 counties, representing more than 150,000 students, participate in one of the largest worldwide educational chess projects. “We want every child, regardless of where they live or their background, to have the opportunity to experience everything chess can offer.” Alejandra Zavala from El Salvador discussed the Chess for Freedom (chess in prisons) project, which she has been involved with since its inception in 2021. The initiative is now an important part of the “Plan Cero Ocio” by the Government of El Salvador. The project’s current focus in the country is to: Expand chess programs to more inmates—men, women, and youth—across the country. Include inmates’ chess teams in in-person and online chess events. Provide educational resources to inmates who have discovered a passion for teaching chess. Florent Vogtlin, President of the Chess Club in Muttenz, Switzerland, stated that in just two years, the club went from the edge of closing to a lively, growing community. New faces show up every session, and the average age has dropped sharply. This was the result of replacing classical games with faster, more social formats, including blitz and rapid events. A “Chess to Go” initiative even brought the club to a local café. Jonathan Chen from California carries out the Infinite Chess project for children with autism. He and his sister co-founded a non-profit organization that has raised over $125,000 to support various chess projects in the United States and worldwide. A highlight of the day was the presentation by two deeply moving speakers from Ukraine: Danylo (12) and Esmeralda (11), who shared their experiences using chess as a rehabilitation tool during wartime in their home city of Odesa. “Every game teaches me to think, make decisions, be patient, and never give up,” said Danylo. “Sometimes we wake up at night because of air raid sirens, and sometimes we have to spend several hours in bomb shelters. In moments like these, chess comes to our aid.” Both Danylo and Esmeralda added: “We hope that after this week’s events in Chicago, you will remember not only our games, but also Ukraine – a country where, even in difficult times, children do not lose hope, continue to grow and learn, and look to the future with confidence.” International Chess Organizer Dr. Mikhail Korenman, who alongside International Chess Organizer Jeff DiOrio, works on the International Youth Forum and Intercontinental Scholastic Chess Tournament, concluded the first International Youth Forum with a thank-you note to all participants. He emphasized that while this was the first-ever Youth Forum, it will not be the last.
Vidit Gujrathi and Divya Deshmukh honored with Arjuna Award
The National Sports Awards 2025 were announced on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, with 17 sportspersons named for the Arjuna Awards, the second-highest sporting honour in India. These awards are given annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to recognize outstanding achievers. A total of 17 outstanding athletes across disciplines, including track and field, badminton, shooting, kabaddi, and para-sports, have been selected for the Arjuna Award 2025. This marks the lowest number of athletes to receive the award since 2017. Notably, the list of awardees includes two Indian chess stars: Grandmasters Vidit Gujrathi and the winner of the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025, Divya Deshmukh. Nitin Narang, President of the All India Chess Federation, warmly congratulated Vidit and Divya in a post on X (formerly Twitter): “Congratulations to @DivyaDeshmukh05 and @viditchess on being honoured with the prestigious Arjuna Award! Their exceptional performances, determination, and contribution to Indian chess have made the nation proud… A special salute to their parents for their sacrifices and unwavering belief, and to millions of Indian chess fans whose love and encouragement inspire our players every day.” Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB)
FIDE World Championships U7-U17: Registration now open
The International Chess Federation (FIDE), together with the Spanish Chess Federation, invites all national federations to participate in the FIDE World Youth Chess Championships for the Under-7, Under-9, Under-11, Under-13, Under-15, and Under-17 age categories. The competitions will be held in Roquetas de Mar, Spain, from October 13 (arrival) to October 21 (departure), 2026. Roquetas de Mar, located on the beautiful Costa de Almería in Andalusia, is a picturesque Mediterranean resort town known for its warm climate, golden beaches, and excellent hospitality infrastructure. It offers an ideal setting for a world-class chess event. The championships are open to players registered by their national federations. FIDE Member Federations have the right to send 12 official players (one per category) and one accompanying official (captain/trainer), provided they hold a valid FIDE ID. Federations may also register any number of additional players, subject to availability and payment of the applicable fees. The tournament will be played over 11 rounds using the Swiss system, with a time control of 45 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move. This shorter time control is being introduced for these age categories for the first time, making the event more dynamic and accessible for young players. Deadline for registration, hotel bookings, and visa requests: September 14, 2026. All registrations must be submitted exclusively through the respective national federation via the official registration form. For any questions, please contact the organizing committee at: worldjunioru17@fide.com. Invitation letter (PDF)
Pavlov takes world title as Germany triumphs on home soil in Magdeburg
The 49th World Chess Solving Championship came to an end in Magdeburg, Germany, on Friday evening, bringing together the world’s leading solvers, composers, officials, and organizers for the final celebration of a memorable week of chess composition and solving. Before the prizes were presented, the participants were greeted by four distinguished guests representing German chess, the city of Magdeburg, and the state of Saxony-Anhalt. Each delivered a short address to the assembled players and guests. One of the unique medals awarded to the winners Christa Dieckmann, Undersecretary at the Ministry for the Interior and Sports of Saxony-Anhalt, and the Saxony-Anhalt State Chess Association, opened the proceedings, followed by Ronni Krug, Deputy Mayor of Magdeburg. Paul Meyer-Dunker, President of the German Chess Federation, then warmly greeted the participants, with Claudia Meffert, President of the Saxony-Anhalt State Chess Association, concluding the series of welcoming remarks. Their presence and words of welcome reflected the strong support surrounding the championship and its hosting in Magdeburg. The newly elected WFCC Presidium was also present, making its first formal appearance in its renewed composition: President Marjan Kovacevic; 1st Vice-President Dr. Abdulla Ali AalBarket; 2nd Vice-President Marco Guida; 3rd Vice-President Julia Vysotska; and Secretary Mohammad Alhallak. They were joined by representatives of Schwalbe and Deutsche Vereinigung für Problemschach e.V., the organization behind the Congress, as well as members of the local organizing committee – Thomas Brand, Rainer Kuhn, Torsten Linss, Frank Reinhold, Axel Steinbrink, and Dagmar Steinbrink – whose dedicated work was instrumental in bringing the Congress and World Championship to Magdeburg. Danila Pavlov Takes the World Title Danila Pavlov, competing under the FIDE flag, was crowned the new World Chess Solving Champion, winning his fourth world championship title overall after an exceptional performance in which he scored a perfect 90 out of 90 points. He solved all 18 problems correctly across the six rounds and finished with a total solving time of 279 minutes, emerging as the fastest solver in three different rounds. Piotr Murdzia of Poland, the reigning world champion from 2025, took silver with 86 points, while Arno Zude of Germany won individual bronze with 84 points. The result cemented Pavlov’s position among the leading figures of modern chess solving and brought him the most prestigious individual title in the discipline. The three medalists were followed by Ural Khasanov (competing under the FIDE flag) with 83 points, and Mihnea Costachi from Romania with 82 points, who also scored a GM norm. Germany returns to the top on home soil The team competition brought one of the most memorable moments of the championship, as Germany won the world team title on home soil. The victorious German team consisted of Arno Zude, Ulrich Voigt, and Boris Tummes, who combined for 169 points. Ulrich’s outstanding performance also earned him a GM norm. Poland, represented by Piotr Murdzia, Kacper Piorun, and Piotr Górski, took silver with the same number of points (169) but with almost an hour more time on the clock, while Lithuania, with Martynas Limontas, Kevinas Kuznecovas, and Dmitrijus Chocenka, won bronze with 162.25 points. Dieckmann, Poland (Murdzia), Germany (Tummes & Zude), Lithuania (Limontas & Kuznecovas), and A. Steinbrink For Germany, the victory had special historical significance. It was the country’s first WCSC team title since 2002, when Germany won the championship in Portorož. Twenty-four years later, the title returned to Germany – this time in front of a home audience in Magdeburg. The victory also ended a period of Polish dominance in the team competition. Poland had won 11 consecutive WCSC team titles from 2009 to 2019, reclaimed the crown in 2022 and 2023, and returned to the top again in 2025 after Great Britain briefly broke the sequence in 2024. Germany’s triumph in Magdeburg now brings another change to the recent history of the championship. Women, juniors, and seniors In the women’s competition, Ekaterina Shestakova won gold with 80 points, finishing 11th overall. Darya Efimova earned silver with 78.5 points, while Viktoriya Kharitonova won bronze with 72 points, all three competing under the FIDE flag. The women’s top five was completed by Anastasiya Chekina, also competing under the FIDE flag, with 64 points, and Audrey Kueh from Great Britain with 63.25 points. Meffert, Efimova, Shestakova, Kharitonova, and A. Steinbrink The junior title went to Ural Khasanov, whose 83 points earned him an impressive fourth place in the overall championship. Ekaterina Shestakova was second with the aforementioned 80 points, while Taras Rudenko from Ukraine took junior bronze, also scoring 80 points. Kevinas Kuznecovas from Lithuania finished fourth with 79.75 points, and Darya Efimova fifth with 78.5 points. Krug, Khasanov, Shestakova, and A. Steinbrink The senior competition was won by Arno Zude with 84 points, adding the senior title to his individual bronze medal and his team’s world champion title. Kari Karhunen from Finland finished second with 78 points, and Dolf Wissmann from the Netherlands finished third with 76.25 points. Jonathan Mestel from Great Britain and Jorma Paavilainen from Finland rounded out the senior top five. Zude, Dr. AalBarket, Wissmann, and A. Steinbrink Pavlov takes World Solving Cup Pavlov also secured the 2025/26 World Solving Cup (WSC), the season-long international circuit comprising 19 solving tournaments. With the final event held in Magdeburg, he finished the series on 122 points, ahead of Eddy Van Beers of Belgium on 108 points and Martynas Limontas of Lithuania on 72 points. Interestingly, Pavlov did not win the final Open Solving Tournament in Magdeburg – that title went to Van Beers – but his third-place finish was enough to secure the overall Cup victory. Complete standings of the cycle can be found here. WSC Director Roland Ott officially announced the final results of the World Solving Cup during the ceremony. Kovacevic, Van Beers, Pavlov, Limontas, and Ott A remarkable harvest of new titles and norms The Magdeburg championship also produced an impressive number of new international solving achievements. The complete list of norms achieved and titles awarded can be found here. Those titleholders who were present at the banquet and
French Championship 2026: Étienne Bacrot and Sophie Milliet clinch titles
Étienne Bacrot and Sophie Milliet were crowned French chess champions, winning their ninth and seventh national titles, respectively. The 2026 edition of the French Championship took place from August 7 to 16 in Vichy and featured 16-player knockout competitions in the Open and Women’s sections, as well as several side Swiss tournaments. In the main events, if a match was tied after two classical games, a 2-game rapid tiebreak (15+10) was played, followed by a 2-game blitz tiebreak (5+3) and an Armageddon game if necessary. Bacrot smoothly advanced to the quarterfinals, where he defeated IM Peio Dubois in a tiebreak. His semifinal match against GM Laurent Fressinet followed the same script: after two draws in the classical games, Bacrot prevailed in the rapid tiebreak. On his way to the final, Lagarde played just one tiebreak, defeating Sébastien Mazé in the Round of 16. His quarterfinal and semifinal matches against Yannick Gozzoli and Marc’Andria Maurizzi (the defending champion), respectively, were more straightforward, as Lagarde won both classical matches by the identical score of 1.5-0.5. As many expected, the final was a tightly contested match, with both classical games ending in draws. The momentum shifted in the tiebreak, which was dominated by Bacrot, who won both rapid games to claim the title. The match for bronze between Maurizzi and Fressinet was even closer, coming down to the blitz tiebreak. Maurizzi won both games, securing the victory and completing the podium. The Women’s competition was equally tense. On her way to the final, Milliet battled past Nino Maisuradze, Manon Schippke, and the defending champion, Yosha Iglesias, while Pauline Guichard consecutively eliminated Natacha Benmesbah, Anastasia Savina, and Marie Sebag. Similarly to the Open final, the Women’s national title was also decided in a tiebreak. After three straight draws (two classical and one rapid), Milliet came out victorious in the fourth game to secure the title. In the match for third place, Sebag overcame Iglesias after winning the first classical game and drawing the second. Photos: Ambrose Ducable Official website: https://vichy2026.ffechecs.org/
Saco Oliveros de Lince takes gold as San José closes with emotion and a tribute to mothers
The American Continental Stage of the FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship 2026 concluded at the DoubleTree by Hilton Cariari in San José, with the team that had led the standings since Wednesday still in front. Saco Oliveros de Lince of Peru won the title without losing a match all week, finishing on 15 match points out of a possible 16. Harvest Park Middle School from the United States took second, and Crescent Heights Academy from Canada took third; all three teams now advance to the Grand Final in December. Round 7 Saco Oliveros began the final day just as they had ended the previous one. Having beaten both of their nearest rivals on Thursday, they opened with a 4–0 sweep of Chile’s Saint Gabriel’s School, and from that point, the title was theirs to lose. The tension was further down the hall, where the teams behind them were playing for the two remaining qualifying places. Colegio Madre del Divino Pastor 1½–2½ Harvest Park Middle School On board one, Zhuoyuan Wu (pictured below) was rated 199 points lower than his opponent, Jasmany Shallom Castillo Romero, and he emerged with a draw that should have been a win. His opponent erred in a same-coloured bishop endgame, leaving Wu in a winning position. However, endgames are unforgiving with under a minute on the clock, and a single error in a critical position turned it into a dead draw. Harvest Park won boards two and three, but board four produced the most heartbreaking moment of the day. Playing White, Ruyi Hu played an excellent game with 96% accuracy. Her opponent blundered, and she punished it, winning a queen for a couple of pieces. By move 33, she was comfortable, up material, and completely winning. Her clock, however, was not. Her flag fell in a winning position – fate that has befallen every chess player who has ever played with a clock, Magnus Carlsen included. Regardless, Harvest Park won the match 2½–1½. Crescent Heights Academy 2½–1½ Colegio Celta Internacional Board one brought together two closely rated titled players, FM Lucas Mason Pin Qian Yao and CM Fernando Cortes Medina, producing no fireworks at all: just a balanced game and a peaceful draw. The fireworks came on board two, where Colegio Celta Internacional’s Sophia Itzayana Mote Amasifuen (pictured above), playing White, launched a kingside attack and finished the game with a sacrifice. Position of the round White played 24.Nxh7!, drawing the black king onto the h-file, as after 24…Kxh7 25.hxg6+ there is no defence. The game concluded quickly: 25…Kg8 26.Qh5 fxg6 27.Qh7#. On boards three and four, Aiden Yin and CM Andrew Yin both outplayed their opponents comfortably, securing the match for Canada. Round 8 Saco Oliveros de Lince 4–0 Martin Klein Schiller The champions finished just as they had started the day, with another clean sweep. Marcos Beltrán Meneses Morales won comfortably on board one. On board two, Dante Iván Vilca Contreras was better for most of the game, simplified into an endgame a piece up, and converted without difficulty. Board three was the most complicated. WCM Fabiana Jiménez Salas had a shaky opening and found herself in trouble in yet another opposite-side castling game – the type of position that has recurred on the top boards all week – with her opponent’s pieces better placed. What followed was volatile enough that the advantage changed hands with almost every move, ultimately coming down to the oldest rule in chess: the winner is the one who does not make the last mistake. Jiménez Salas broke through and set up an unstoppable checkmate. On board four, Rihanna Irina Rojas Salas was the first player in the hall to finish, completing the tournament with a perfect score. Crescent Heights Academy 2–2 Colegio Madre del Divino Pastor Second place was still up for grabs when this match began, and it was decided here. The two Yins won their games quickly, but board one went the other way. Both players – Lucas Mason Pin Qian Yao (White) and Jasmany Shallom Castillo Romero (Black, pictured above) – misplayed the opening. White then committed a positional error that handed Black a sizeable advantage. An incorrect breakthrough on the queenside produced a passed pawn that Black had no trouble containing; White began dropping pawns, and the position fell apart. The 2–2 draw left Crescent Heights in third place rather than second. Harvest Park Middle School 3–1 Harrison College School On board one, Zhuoyuan Wu drew with the higher-rated AIM Jeremiah Farley, despite having had chances. On board two, FM Patrick Liu, who outrated Charis Stuart by 640 points, built an advantage that only grew and had no trouble converting it. Ethan Sun played a clean positional game on board three; his opponent eventually dropped a pawn, and with the extra material, the more active position, and far more time on the clock, Sun converted. On board four, Ruyi Hu’s (pictured above) luck finally turned. Her opponent missed a chance to win a free piece, and a draw was agreed upon immediately afterwards. Saco Oliveros finished with seven wins and a draw, not losing a single match all week. The only match points they dropped across the eight rounds came in round two, against Columbus American School. Three perfect scores Nine players were still unbeaten after four rounds. Three finished the championship having won every single game they played: Rihanna Irina Rojas Salas, Saco Oliveros de Lince, Peru, board four Aiden Yin, Crescent Heights Academy, Canada, board three William Nicolás Rodríguez, Columbus American School, Colombia, board one Two of the three are on teams heading to the Grand Final. Rodríguez is not, as Columbus American School finished twelfth. He played board one in all eight rounds, facing the strongest opposition each team could put in front of him, and won all eight. A fourth player finished on 100%: Sayel Sebastián Vega Portilla of Don Bosco Macas won all six games on the reserve board. The three qualifying teams each took a board
Handmade boards from Rio, a simul with a twist, and a tightening race in San José
Day three of the American Continental Stage of the FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship 2026 brought rounds five and six to the DoubleTree by Hilton Cariari in San José, and one team dominated the day. Saco Oliveros de Lince began the day tied at the top with Harvest Park Middle School and Crescent Heights Academy, and by the evening, they had defeated both of them to stand alone, two match points clear. Behind them, the race for the qualifying places is now the main story, with four teams within a single match point of each other going into the final day. Round 5 Harvest Park Middle School 1–3 Saco Oliveros de Lince The top two teams in the field met on table one, level on 7 match points and 13 game points, and the Peruvian team won 3–1. On board one, Marcos Beltrán Meneses Morales (pictured below) from Saco Oliveros de Lince beat Harvest Park Middle School’s Zhuoyuan Wu in a Caro-Kann. White emerged from the opening with a slight but tangible advantage, then lost it due to an inaccurate move order, and later overextended on the kingside, leaving weaknesses on both wings. Black took control of the position, White faltered in defence, and by the time White gave up the queen simply to stay alive, the game was already lost. Black was too far ahead in material, and White resigned. On board two FM Patrick Liu, the highest-rated player in the championship, faced Dante Iván Vilca Contreras. Neither player made a mistake. Both finished with 99% accuracy, and the draw was the natural result, producing the best chess of the round. Board three saw the same accuracy rating for both players but rather less drama: a series of trades led to a dry endgame that neither side could make progress in, ending in a draw by threefold repetition. It was also a clash of two unbeaten streaks: Ethan Sun and WCM Fabiana Jiménez Salas had both won all four of their previous games, and each dropped their first half-point to the other. On board four, Rihanna Irina Rojas Salas controlled the game from the start, created a passed pawn on the queenside, promoted it, and delivered checkmate. Crescent Heights Academy 2½–1½ Saint Gabriel’s School The Canadian team came through the other top match, with the two lower boards deciding the outcome. On board one, FM Lucas Mason Pin Qian Yao of Crescent Heights Academy had a pleasant position out of the opening but misplayed it; at the critical moment, he chose an aggressive plan that looked strong but allowed Black to equalize. Tobias Passmore Bowman held the endgame from there, defending in time trouble with his opponent fifteen minutes ahead on the clock. On board two, Vicente Muñoz Venegas (pictured below) outplayed Adela Sun, and the game was decided after only 18 moves. That left boards three and four to the two higher-rated Canadians, and both delivered. On board four, CM Andrew Yin faced an opposite-castling opening that burned out quickly once the queens came off; White then drifted into a passive defence, could not shake it in the endgame, and Black converted. Both Aiden and Andrew Yin remain on a perfect score after five rounds. Position of the round On board three, another Caro-Kann produced the highlight of the round. Felipe Brunstein Hauyon played 28…Bc4 here, trying to hold on to the bishop, which proved to be the losing move. The correct continuation, 28…fxe5! 29.Nxb5 axb5 30.Rxb5 Qd7, followed by 31…e4, keeps everything under control. After this erroneous move by Black, Aiden Yin, playing White, found 29.c6!. Following 29…bxc6? 30.b7!, the rook had to retreat to b8. Then, 31.Nxc6 forked the queen on e7 and the rook on b8. A piece up, with a passed pawn on b7 that was later joined by the a-pawn, White converted smoothly to score the decisive point of the match. Columbus American School beat Creative Kids Learning Academy 3–1 to move into third place, with William Nicolás Rodríguez winning again on board one to maintain his perfect score. Colegio Madre del Divino Pastor beat Harrison College School 2½–1½, with Jasmany Shallom Castillo Romero defeating AIM Jeremiah Farley on the top board, and Charis Stuart losing for the first time, ending the last perfect score for a Barbadian player. Colegio Celta Internacional beat The Oxford School by the same margin, with CM Fernando Cortes Medina winning his fifth game out of five. The best result for the hosts came further down the hall, where Colegio Bilingüe San Francisco de Asís swept Escuela Internacional Sampedrana 4–0, marking the first clean sweep by a Costa Rican school all week. Colegio Humboldt drew 2–2 with Red Bay Primary School, and the British School lost 1½–2½ to Martin Klein Schiller. St. Kitts International Academy, which had not won a match since joining the event, beat Projeto Vidançar 2–0. Round 6 Saco Oliveros de Lince are the top seeds, and the reason is worth noting now that they have taken the lead. They do not have the strongest player in the championship, nor are they close to it. What they have is the most balanced squad in the field: their four players in round five were rated 1980, 1955, 1832, and 1742, a spread of just 238 points. Harvest Park has the highest-rated player in the entire event (2292) and a rating spread of nearly 900 points. Over the course of eight rounds of four-board matches, the most balanced team tends to be the one still standing. Saco Oliveros de Lince 3–1 Crescent Heights Academy The two leading teams met on table one, level on 9 match points, and the Peruvian team won again. On board one, Meneses Morales delivered for the second time that day, and this game was hectic. An interesting King’s Indian saw Black’s two knights chase the white queen around the board before Black made a positional error that cost material, but the game was far from over. Yao held on, and
Marjan Kovacevic re-elected as WFCC President; Germany wins gold at the 49th World Chess Solving Championship
Marjan Kovacevic has been re-elected as President of the World Federation for Chess Composition, continuing in the role he has held since his election at the 64th World Congress in Fujairah in 2022. The new WFCC Presidium, entrusted with the next mandate, is composed of President Marjan Kovacevic (Serbia), 1st Vice-President Abdulla Ali AalBarket (UAE), 2nd Vice-President Marco Guida (Italy), 3rd Vice-President Julia Vysotska (Latvia), and Secretary Mohammad Alhallak (UAE). Kovacevic and Abdulla Ali AalBarket continue in their respective positions, while Guida succeeds Vidmantas Satkus and Vysotska succeeds Dinu-Ioan Nicula; Alhallak also continues as Secretary. 49th World Chess Solving Championship concludes in Magdeburg; Germany clinches gold The sporting centerpiece of the Magdeburg congress was the 49th World Chess Solving Championship, held over August 11–12 in the Otto von Guericke Hall. WCSC 2026 at Otto von Guericke Hall The championship was directed by Axel Steinbrink, with the problems selected by Paz Einat. The competition stretched over two days, with the first three rounds taking place on August 11 and the remaining three rounds on August 12. The first day saw the world’s leading solvers compete in the opening three sections, while the second day brought the championship to its conclusion with the remaining problem types. The official WCCC 2026 website has already published the final individual and team results. Germany took first place on home soil, represented by Arno Zude, Ulrich Voigt, and Boris Tummes (pictured below from left to right). Poland finished second with Piotr Murdzia, Kacper Piorun, and Piotr Górski claiming silver (pictured below from left to right). Lithuania completed the podium in third place with Martynas Limontas, Kevinas Kuznecovas, and Dmitrijus Chocenka (pictured below from left to right). The championship attracted a particularly strong field, including many of the world’s leading specialists. Among the leading names were reigning World Solving Champion Piotr Murdzia, former world champions Kacper Piorun and Danila Pavlov, as well as Ural Khasanov, Eddy Van Beers, and Martynas Limontas. Pavlov entered Magdeburg as the world’s highest-rated solver. The July 2026 WFCC rating list placed him first with a rating of 2830.17, ahead of Piorun (2762.00), Murdzia (2731.07), and Khasanov (2718.33), while Eddy Van Beers was fifth at 2639.66. Regarding the individual results, Danila Pavlov secured the gold medal, followed by team medalists Piotr Murdzia and Arno Zude (pictured above from left to right). Other Solving Competitions The WCSC was only one part of an extensive solving program. The Open Solving tournament took place on Monday, August 10, featuring two rounds and 12 problems. The competition was also directed by Axel Steinbrink, with Paz Einat responsible for problem selection. The Open Solving event was incorporated into the World Solving Cup 2025–2026, making the Magdeburg competition part of the broader international circuit used to determine the season’s leading solvers. The WFCC Solving Portal lists it as the 19th tournament of the 2025–2026 World Solving Cup cycle. Eddy Van Beers in Magdeburg, 2026 Eddy Van Beers from Belgium claimed first place in the Open Solving tournament, finishing 10 minutes faster than Khasanov and Pavlov, who shared second place. The specialist competitions were also held. The Retro Solving tournament took place on August 10, consisting of six problems in a 90-minute session, and was directed by Thomas Brand. Boris Tummes and Ulrich Voigt (pictured above), both from Germany, tied for first place in this event, outscoring Dirk Borst (NED), Joost Michielsen (NED), and Eddy Van Beers (BEL), who shared third place. The Fairy Solving tournament followed on August 11, featuring six problems with Torsten Linss as the problem selector and director. Preliminary results from the Fairy competition have also been made available by the organizers, indicating Jacques Rotenberg (ISR) as the winner. In addition, the congress program included lectures and a children’s problem workshop conducted together with Magdeburger Schachzwerge. WCCC 2026 Nears Conclusion While the final standings await official confirmation, Thursday, August 13, offered participants an opportunity to enjoy a free day and explore the medieval towns of Wernigerode and Quedlinburg in the Harz Mountains. The 68th WCCC will then conclude on Friday, August 14, with the official award ceremony, which will bring both the competitive events and the congress program to a formal close. Official website of the event: WCCC 2026 – Magdeburg Solving results and problems: WCCC 2026 Solving Text and photos: Dragana Nikolovska
WSTC Americas Day 2: Race tightens in San Jose
On day two of the American Continental Stage of the FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship 2026, Rounds 3 and 4 were played at the DoubleTree by Hilton Cariari in San José. The day ended with three teams sharing the lead and no one able to break clear. Round 3 The two matches at the top set the tone for the day. Harvest Park Middle School defeated Saint Gabriel’s School of Chile 3–1, losing only on the bottom board, where Martín Muñoz Venegas defeated Ruyi Hu in a meeting of players rated identically at 1501. Canada’s Crescent Heights Academy won the other match 3–1 over Harrison College School of Barbados, with FM Lucas Mason Pin Qian Yao beating AIM Jeremiah Farley on board one. Both winners now had three points from three games, with Harvest Park leading on game points, 11 to 9. Behind them, Saco Oliveros de Lince bounced from their Round 2 draw with a 4–0 sweep of Panama’s The Oxford School, and Colegio Madre del Divino Pastor of El Salvador beat Columbus American School 2½–1½, although William Nicolás Rodríguez won again on the top board, this time against Jasmany Shallom Castillo Romero. Queen’s College, who had beaten Mexico in the opening round, lost 1–3 to Cuba’s Martin Klein Schiller. It was a much better day for the hosts. Colegio Humboldt recorded a second consecutive 4–0 victory, this time over Uruguay’s Colegio y Liceo Nuestra Señora del Verdún, and the British School beat Honduras’s Escuela Internacional Sampedrana 3–1. Only Colegio Bilingüe San Francisco de Asís lost, 1½–2½ to Mexico’s Colegio Celta Internacional. The field also grew. Projeto Vidançar of Brazil joined the championship as the 29th team and lost 0–4 to Academia Inter Metro of Puerto Rico, while St. Kitts International Academy took the bye. Position of the round The biggest individual upset of the round came on the top board of match nine, where Aimar María Murillo Mathiew, rated 1450, beat Juan Esquibel (1792) as Colegio Humboldt swept Nuestra Señora del Verdún 4–0. The game had been anything but smooth, with the advantage changing hands repeatedly. In this position, Black tried something clever with 22…Nxf2, and the idea behind it is worth examining. After 23.Qxg6, Black has 23…Nh3+ in reserve. If White takes with 24.gxh3, then 24…Bxd4+ arrives with a check, after which Black recaptures the queen on g6 and comes out level. But 24.gxh3 is not a forced move. White simply stepped aside with 24.Kf1, and Black’s entire construction collapsed as both his knight on h3 and bishop on c5 were hanging, and he still had to spend a move to recapture the queen. A piece down, Black resigned a few moves later. A cool sidestep in a position where neither player had much time left. Round 4 The two unbeaten teams met at the top and could not be separated. Harvest Park Middle School and Crescent Heights Academy drew 2–2, with the Americans taking the top two boards and the Canadians the bottom two, where Aiden Yin and CM Andrew Yin both won. Board one was the meeting the draw had been building towards: FM Patrick Liu (2292), the highest-rated player in the championship, faced FM Lucas Mason Pin Qian Yao (1969), the second highest. It was the sharpest game of the round, with the two players castling on opposite sides and sending their pawns at each other’s kings. In the end Liu’s attack proved decisive. That draw allowed Saco Oliveros de Lince to join them. Peru’s top seeds beat Colegio Madre del Divino Pastor 3–1, although Marcos Beltrán Meneses Morales lost on board one to Jasmany Shallom Castillo Romero. Standings after Round 4 Nine players on a perfect score Nine players have won all four of their games, with the three teams at the top of the table supplying two apiece. For Harvest Park Middle School, they are FM Patrick Liu, the highest-rated player in the championship, and Ethan Sun. For Crescent Heights Academy, Aiden Yin and CM Andrew Yin. Saco Oliveros de Lince are carried by two girls, WCM Fabiana Jiménez Salas (pictured below) and Rihanna Irina Rojas Salas, who between them have taken eight points from eight, while the Peruvian top boards have dropped three games. The other three are CM Fernando Cortes Medina of Colegio Celta Internacional, Charis Stuart of Harrison College School, and William Nicolás Rodríguez of Columbus American School, whose four wins have come against the strongest opposition of any of them: Meneses Morales, Castillo Romero, and Chaz Reifer-Belle in the last three rounds alone. A day for the side events The competitive programme ran alongside a full afternoon of side events. The day’s headline activity was “Smart Moves: Girls Who Lead,” a girls’ chess event organised by the International School Chess Federation and the Confederation of Chess for the Americas within the framework of the championship. It paired a seven-round Swiss blitz (3 minutes plus a 2-second increment) for girls aged 16 and under with a masterclass by WIM María Elena Rodríguez, a member of the Costa Rican Women’s National Team, who spoke about her own path in chess and about confidence, perseverance, and success on and off the board. Twenty players took part, and one of them did not drop a half-point. WCM Larissa Mayorga Araya (pictured below) won with a perfect 7 out of 7, ahead of Alana Patricia Castro Campos on 6 and Keilym Francinnie Durán Araya on 5. Every girl who played went home with a gift to mark the occasion. Running into the late afternoon, the “Chess in Subject” Master Class brought together Robert McLellan, Interim Executive Director of the National Scholastic Chess Foundation, and WFM Amelia Hernández for a session with up to fifty chess educators, trainers, and coaches, exploring how chess connects with STEM and social and emotional learning in the classroom. The afternoon closed on a lighter note with a mask-making workshop in the activity area, where players made traditional Costa Rican masks – the colourful mascaradas rooted in the country’s festival culture – swapping the tension of the boards