23rd ASEAN+ Age-Group Championships Announced – Penang, Malaysia
The Penang Chess Association (PCA), under the auspices of the ASEAN Chess Confederation (ACC) and the Malaysian Chess Federation (MCF), is honored to invite participants from ASEAN member countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste), as well as from its Dialogue Partners (Australia, China, Hong Kong, Macau, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, and the United States), to participate in the 23rd ASEAN+ Age-Group Chess Championships, to be held in Penang, Malaysia, from July 1–11, 2025. Eligibility Players from the countries and territories listed above are eligible to participate and will be responsible for all their own expenses. There will be 16 Junior categories: Under-6, Under-8, Under-10, Under-12, Under-14, Under-16, Under-18, and Under-20, with separate events for Open and Girls. Players must not have reached their respective age limit before January 1, 2025. There will be 4 Senior categories: Seniors 50+ and Seniors 65+ for both Open and Women. Players eligible for Seniors 50+ must be born in or before 1975, and those for Seniors 65+ must be born in or before 1960. The ACC reserves the right to merge categories if there are insufficient entries. Schedule Date Time Activity July 1, Tuesday After 12:00 Arrivals and Check-Ins 20:00 Technical Meeting July 2, Wednesday 10:00 to 11:00 Opening Ceremony 15:30 to 20:30 Standard Chess Round 1 July 3, Thursday 09:00 to 14:00 Standard Chess Round 2 15:30 to 20:30 Standard Chess Round 3 July 4, Friday 09:00 to 14:00 Standard Chess Round 4 15:30 to 20:30 Standard Chess Round 5 July 5, Saturday Free Day Free and Easy July 6, Sunday 09:00 to 14:00 Standard Chess Round 6 July 7, Monday 09:00 to 14:00 Standard Chess Round 8 July 8, Tuesday 09:00 to 14:00 Standard Chess Round 9 16:00 to 20:00 Social Evening – Standard Chess Awards July 9, Wednesday 09:00 to 14:00 Rapid Chess Rounds 1 to 4 15:00 to 18:30 Rapid Chess Rounds 5 to 7 19:30 to 22:30 ACC Annual General Meeting July 10, Thursday 09:00 to 14:00 Blitz Chess Rounds 1 to 9 19:00 to 23:00 Closing Ceremony – Rapid & Blitz Awards July 11, Friday Before 12:00 Check-Outs and Departures Time Control Standard Chess: Each player will have 90 minutes, with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 1. Rapid Chess: Each player will have 25 minutes to complete the game. Blitz Chess: Each player will have 5 minutes to complete the game. Awards Medals will be awarded to the top three finishers in each event and category. In case of a tie, no more than three players will receive the same-colored medal and a maximum of five medals will be awarded per event. Team medals will be awarded based on the total scores of the top three players from each country or territory. In case of a tie, the individual tie-break scores of the players will determine the winners. Playing venue The competitions will take place in the Main Ballroom of BERJAYA PENANG HOTEL, 1-Stop Midlands Park, Jalan Burmah, 10350 Penang, Malaysia Official hotels All players and accompanying persons are required to stay at one of the two official 4-star hotels and must adhere to the schedule and guidelines outlined in the tournament regulations. Entry Visa into Malaysia Visa requirement by country – Malaysian Immigration DepartmentThose from countries not listed above should check and apply online. For more detailed information, please, refer to the Regulations for 23rd ASEAN+ Age-Group Championships (PDF)
Last chance to join 2025 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Team Championships in London!
Time is ticking! With the registration deadline of May 10 fast approaching, this is your last chance to join the global chess community at the 2025 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships, taking place in London from June 10-16. This is your opportunity to compete alongside some of the world’s top chess players in a fun and exciting team environment. With a total prize fund of €500,000 – €310,000 for the Rapid event and €190,000 for Blitz, there’s plenty to play for. What the players are saying Vidit Gujrathi (Hexamind Chess Team): “I’m really looking forward to playing – this event feels very relaxed for me. These days, I actually enjoy rapid and blitz more than classical chess, so it’s the perfect fit. Plus, it’s being held in London, and this is a great time of year to be there!” Stavroula Tsolakidou (MGD1): “It will be my first time participating in this very exciting event, and I am looking forward to experiencing the team spirit and the general atmosphere of the competition, as well as to be part of a team with such strong and inspiring players!” Simon Williams (e-therapeutics): “London is an amazing place to hold any event, and I am especially looking forward to playing in a team of friends against some of the best players in the world. The fact that it is a team event adds a great angle; and knowing some of the players in my team, I am sure there will be lots of laughs and drinks shared after the matches. Play hard at the board and relax afterwards!” Kevin Goh (Theme International Trading): “We have a relatively young team with a mix of young Singaporean players and seasoned pros. We are excited to see how we would match up against the top teams and hopefully can pull up an upset or two.” Dinara Saduakassova (Hetman GKS Katowice): “I haven’t been playing chess actively for a while, so I’m really excited to return—and doing it here in London, where I’m currently studying, makes it even more special. Can’t wait to be part of the event!” Team requirements Each team must have 6 to 9 players. Include at least one female player. Include at least one recreational player (someone who has never had a FIDE rating over 2000). Register now Don’t miss out on this unique chess experience. Assemble your team and register before May 10. Register Here For more details, as well as the full list of registered teams, visit the official tournament website.
Mexico to host the first Chess for Freedom Workshop and Continental Championship for Americas
The 2025 Chess for Freedom Workshop and Continental Chess Championship for Americas, organized by FIDE and Mexico Chess Federation, are scheduled to take place from May 14-18, 2025, in Mexico. The event will bring together leaders and experts from the continent to share their experiences and strategies for leveraging chess as a powerful tool for rehabilitation in correctional facilities. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to learn from diverse international perspectives. Guests and speakers of the event: Dana Reizniece, Deputy Chair of the Management Board Mikhail Korenman, Chess for Freedom project leader, Council of FIDE Social Commission Lic. Nahúm Román Mendoza Roldán, General Coordinator of Criminal Enforcement and Social Reintegration as a representative of the federal government Mr. Mukesh Ranjan Das, Indian Oil Executive Director (HR) José Carrillo Pujol, President of the Confederation of Chess for Americas Jose Manuel Barradas, the Mexico Chess Federation Others CCA’ participants from the Continent – to be registered until May 5. Attendees will discuss concepts of teaching chess to incarcerated people. Experts will share information about their national initiatives and approaches to teaching chess in prisons. Topics for workshop: Discussion on the impact of chess on inmate behavior Use of chess as a positive force for change within the prison system How to teach and implement chess programs Continental online chess championships Internet security for implement chess in correctional institutions Overview that can be implemented for individuals in custody Brief overview of existing research regarding Chess for Freedom project Corporative sponsorship for Chess for Freedom project presented by Indian Oil Executive Director (HR) Mr. Mukesh Ranjan Das In addition, participants of the workshop will visit the State Prison in Aguascalientes to watch the Continental championship matches for the American continent. Schedule of the event: May 14/15 – arrival of the participants. May 15 – Workshop training session – FIDE presentation about the Chess for Freedom project – Mexico presentation about the Chess for Freedom project in Mexico – Presentations by the invited guests sharing their experience. National Federations from Americas Continent are invited May 16 – visit to the State Prison in Aguascalientes In prison: Open dialog with the prison officials how to set up online participation from the prison. How chess program helps inmates. What are the benefits of teaching chess for the prison. In hotel: Open discussion with all participants on the implementation of the Chess for Freedom program and how to assist new countries to start the project. May 17 – Free day May 18 – departure of all participants To register, please contact Jose Baradas: barraditas@gmail.com The official hotel for the Chess for Freedom Workshop in Mexico is Hotel del Prado https://maps.app.goo.gl/kPmbjnWGdUQwXnqz6?g_st=aw
FIDE distributes €21,500 among chess veterans
After carefully reviewing the numerous applications received, the special panel appointed by the FIDE Council has selected eleven chess players, coaches, and organizers to benefit from the first installment of FIDE’s 2025 support program for chess veterans: GM Jesus Nogueiras (CUB)GM Igor Zaitsev (RUS)GM Petr Velikov (BUL)WGM Valentina Kozlovskaya (RUS)WIM Maria Petrovic (SRB)Viktor Chepizhny (RUS)FT Larisa Pinchuk (UZB)IA Barriquello (BRZ)Mykola Matvienko (UKR) – organizerSpouses IM Maryasin and WIM Tzifanskaya (ISR – one award jointly) A total of €21,500 will be distributed among them. Since the inception of the program eleven years ago, FIDE has allocated nearly €500,000 in support of chess veterans. The next installment is scheduled for the third quarter of 2025. As in previous years, we will honor these distinguished veterans with a few words about their careers and achievements, recognizing their enduring contributions to the game of chess. Jesús Nogueiras (CUB) Born in 1959 in Santa Clara, Cuba, Jesús Nogueiras made a name for himself at the World Student Championship in 1977, where he helped his national team win the bronze medal. Two years later, he earned the Grandmaster title following a strong performance in Kecskemét (1979). In 1985, Nogueiras became the first Cuban to participate in the Candidates Tournament after finishing second at the Interzonal in Taxco, placing ahead of Tal, Romanishin, Balashov, Browne, and Speelman. A five-time Cuban national champion, Jesús represented Cuba in 14 Chess Olympiads between 1980 and 2008, playing on the first board in seven of them. Among his most notable tournament victories are the Capablanca Memorial (1984) and the Torre Memorial (1997). Currently, FIDE Senior Trainer Jesús Nogueiras works with young Cuban players, continuing his dedication to the development of chess in his home country. Igor Zaitsev (RUS) First and foremost, Igor Zaitsev is known as a legendary coach, analyst, and trailblazer in chess opening theory. Born in 1938 in Ramenskoye, a small town near Moscow, he began taking chess seriously only after graduating from university. In the early 1960s, Zaitsev began working with leading chess magazines and competing in various tournaments, including six USSR Championships. He was awarded the title of International Master in 1969 and became a Grandmaster in 1976. Soon after achieving this title, Zaitsev transitioned to coaching and analytical work, excelling in both fields. His most notable contribution to opening theory is arguably the Zaitsev Variation—one of the most complex and deeply studied systems in the Ruy Lopez. He also introduced numerous innovative ideas in other Ruy Lopez lines, as well as in the Sicilian Defence and the King’s Indian Defence. Zaitsev served as a trainer and second in 17 World Championship matches—including seven title matches—working with top players such as Tigran Petrosian, Lev Polugaevsky, and most notably, Anatoly Karpov. He joined Karpov’s team in the late 1970s, following the death of Karpov’s coach, Semyon Furman, in 1978. Zaitsev played a pivotal role in Karpov’s preparation during several of his World Championship matches, including the legendary encounters with Garry Kasparov from 1984 to 1990. Igor Zaitsev holds the titles of Honored Coach of the USSR and Russia. In 2006, he was awarded the title of FIDE Senior Trainer. Petar Velikov (BUL) Born in Dobrich, Bulgaria, in 1951, Petar Velikov made his debut on the chess scene in 1966, when he shared 3rd–4th place at the National Junior Championship. Three years later, he claimed the national junior title. In his first international competition, the European Junior Championship in Groningen (1970), he finished fifth. Two years later, he earned the bronze medal in the same tournament. Velikov became an International Master in 1975 and achieved the title of Grandmaster in 1982. The Bulgarian chess champion of 1987, Velikov represented Bulgaria in four Chess Olympiads (1982, 1984, 1986, and 1990), playing 34 games with a record of 10 wins, 20 draws, and 4 losses. Throughout his long and successful career, Velikov compiled an impressive tournament record, winning outright or sharing first place in numerous events, including: Tsinovits (1970), Ulm (1971), Wrocław (1976), Kalithea (1978), Pernik (1979), Reggio Emilia (1980), Vrnjačka Banja (1982), Primorsko (1986), Akropolis (1989), Clichy (1999, 2004), Rijeka (2001), Besançon (2003), Chasseneuil (2003), Guingamp (2004), and Condom (2005). He also served as a trainer for the Bulgarian national team at the 38th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Dresden (2008) and the European Team Championship in Novi Sad (2009). From 2008 to 2016, he worked with Bulgaria’s junior team. Velikov earned the title of FIDE Trainer in 2015. Valentina Kozlovskaya (RUS) One of the first and oldest Women Grandmasters in the world, Valentina Kozlovskaya showed early promise and participated in numerous tournaments during her school years. A regular contender in the Women’s Soviet Chess Championships—competing in 15 editions throughout her career—she won the title in 1965. The following year, she placed fourth and qualified for the Women’s Candidates Tournament. Kozlovskaya was a member of the victorious Soviet team at the Women’s Chess Olympiad in Havana in 1966. In 1967, she finished second in the Women’s Candidates Tournament, just behind Alla Kushnir—whom she defeated in their direct encounter. That same year, she also placed second behind Women’s World Champion Nona Gaprindashvili at an international women’s tournament in Kyiv. In 1973, Kozlovskaya won the Women’s Interzonal Tournament but was narrowly defeated by Irina Levitina in a dramatic semifinal match of the Candidates Tournament the following year. She qualified for the Candidates again in 1976, tying for second place with Maia Chiburdanidze at the Interzonal in Tbilisi, but lost to Elena Fatalibekova in the semifinal. Kozlovskaya emerged victorious in many prestigious tournaments, including Bryansk (1965), Budapest (1966, 1980), Szarvas (1970), Irkutsk (1971), Voronezh (1973), Lipetsk (1974), Cherepovets (1975), Belgrade (1975), and Halle (1976). She also achieved great success in veteran competitions. Kozlovskaya won the Women’s World Senior Championship in 1996 and, in 2014, claimed the title in the European Senior Championship (Women’s 65+), finishing ahead of the legendary Nona Gaprindashvili. Marija Petrovic (SRB) Born in 1953, Marija Petrović was one of the leading chess players of the former Yugoslavia during the final
FIDE Social Chess Storytelling Challenge 2025: Every Move Counts
Because behind every move, there’s a story that can change the world. Chess is more than a game – it’s a lifeline, a bridge, a silent language of resilience and hope. From the corners of prison cells to lively classrooms, refugee camps, and community halls, chess is quietly rewriting destinies. Now, FIDE invites you to tell these stories. We are proud to announce the FIDE Social Chess Storytelling Challenge, a global competition celebrating the transformative power of chess. Under the powerful theme “Every Move Counts,” we are calling on filmmakers, federations, and everyday changemakers to share short films that capture the social impact of chess around the world. This is your chance to inspire, amplify unheard voices, and show how a board of 64 squares can become a platform for growth, unity, and change. What We’re Looking For We seek compelling stories told through short films that spotlight: Personal Development: How chess fosters confidence, sharpens critical thinking, and enhances problem-solving skills, empowering individuals to overcome life’s challenges. Social Transformation: The role of chess in bringing diverse groups together, fostering inclusion, and supporting education and rehabilitation programs. Opportunities & Livelihoods: How chess creates opportunities for vulnerable individuals and communities, offering pathways for personal and professional growth. Submissions may fall into one of two categories: Professional (high-quality production) Grassroots (creative, amateur, including phone-shot videos) Important Dates Submissions open: April 24, 2025 Deadline: October 25, 2025 Submit here: fide.com/social2025-storytelling-challenge Awards & Recognition Winners will receive: A special FIDE Trophy An invitation to the FIDE Olympiad 2026 Opening Ceremony (2 nights stay for 2 members included) A global spotlight: The top films will be showcased during the 2025 Social Chess Conference, FIDE’s official social media, and social chess events. Award categories: Best Short Film (Professional) Best Grassroots Film (Amateur) FIDE Social Commission Choice Award Who Can Participate? Everyone. There are no age or nationality restrictions. You may submit more than one film. Let your camera be the messenger, and your story the move that matters. Because every move counts. For full rules and submission details, visit: fide.com/social2025-storytelling-challenge For inquiries, contact: sc.secretary@fide.com
Humpy Koneru takes down WGP Pune after a nail-biting final round
It couldn’t have been scripted better. Three inconsequential games ended quite fast, leaving the two main actors battling it out on the top boards, right until the final moments of the round. After a very stressful afternoon for everyone, Indian number one Humpy Koneru claimed victory in the Pune Women’s Grand Prix, edging out Chinese prodigy Zhu Jiner in the tiebreak. Both of them won their final games, totalling seven points apiece. Third place goes to Divya Deshmukh, who drew with Alina Kashlinskaya in their last-round game. Humpy recognized that luck had played a big part in her victory: “I haven’t been doing very well lately in classical chess, but here I have recovered my rating points and with the exception of yesterday’s game against Kashlinskaya, I think I have played quite well”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SC33FHD7VQ Both Zhu Jiner and Humpy will share the WGP points – they receive 117.5 each. For Humpy this will probably not be enough to contend for the second candidates spot, but Zhu Jiner will have another chance at qualifying for the Candidates in the final leg of the series, to be played in Großlobming, Austria, from the 5th to the 16th of May. With these results, Alexandra Goryachkina leads the WGP with 308.34 points (three events played), followed by Humpy Koneru with 279.17 points (three events played) and Zhu Jiner with 235 points (two events played). Anna Muzychuk is just behind with 189.17 points and has also only played two events. Let’s take a closer look at this afternoon’s games. Humpy Koneru 1 – 0 Nurgyul Salimova The ceremonial first moves were performed today on this board. Dr. ParinayFuke, Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council as well as President of the Maharashtra Chess Association opened the game for Humpy, while Mr. Aravind Shah, an Indian Businessman and chess enthusiast played Salimova’s first move. Humpy opted for the Exchange variation in the Slav defence, a solid option that generally provides a risk-free approach with some pressure: ideal for the final round tournament situation. After a couple of small inaccuracies, especially the manoeuvre 15…Qa5 followed by 17…Qd8 two moves later, Salimova fell into a slightly uncomfortable position, unable to castle and facing intense pressure from Humpy’s minor pieces. The defining blunder, after which there was no way back for Salimova, occurred on move 18. Black should have played 18…Bf8 and try to exchange a few pieces, but after 18…Bd6? Humpy played the precise 19.e4!, opening up the e-file and creating direct threats against her opponent’s king. Salimova managed to defend, but at a big cost: a totally lost endgame, two pawns in the hole. Although she fought gallantly, resignation became forced after eight-four moves. Polina Shuvalova 0–1 Zhu Jiner Needing to win to overtake Divya, Shuvalova went for the classical Italian Giuoco Piano. The game progressed adequately for both players, positioning their pieces for the optimal squares. The first key moment was Shuvalova’s 19.h4, a risky move planning an attack but loosening the g4 square, which was immediately occupied by Zhu’s knight. A few moves later, already under certain pressure, Shuvalova blundered again with 30.Re3? (30…Qc3 was necessary) and faced a devastating change in her position after after 30….Bxf3 31.gxf3 d5!! blasting open the position for Black’s pieces. In the tactical scramble that followed, the Chinese GM emerged with an extra pawn and much more piece activity. And then this happened! With her rook on c8 under attack, Zhu Jiner found the unbelievable 42…Nd5!!, threatening mate on e3. Of course, the knight can’t be captured because after 43.Rxd5 Rc1 ends the game. But Shuvalova found the incredible counter 43.Re7! and all the pieces are under fire. After 43…Nxe7 44.Bxc8 Nxc8 45.Rd8+ Kh7 46.Rxc8 Rb2 Zhu Jiner had a pawn up in the ending and two passers, which she eventually converted after seventy-six moves. Vaishali Rameshbabu 0.5–0.5 Salome Melia Vaishali tried out the Colle-Zukertort opening, an interesting option to play for a win. However, Salome came to the game with excellent preparation and totally nullified Vaishali’s kingside attack. With the very astute exchange 18…dxc4 19.bxc4 and 19…b5! Salome began to prepare a light-square domination that led her to a fantastic position. But just when she was starting to get traction, and with more time on the clock, Melia acquiesced to a three-fold repetition. A lost opportunity? Vaishali ends the tournament with a -1 score and drops nearly ten rating points – for sure she won’t be at all happy with her performance in Pune. For Salome, the event has gone better than expected: a five rating points addition, for the theoretically lowest seed of the tournament. Harika Dronavalli 0.5–0.5 Munguntuul Batkhuyag With little to play for, motivation to fight is always slightly lower. Even so, Harika and Munguntuul played out forty moves to reach a completely equal double rook ending, eventually agreeing to a draw. Both clocked in a 97.9 accuracy score, with no mistakes and no blunders – another perfect game. Harika finished on 50%, performing slightly below expectation while Munguntuul has scored fewer points (3) but her performance related to her rating better. Divya Deshmukh 0.5–0.5 Alina Kashlinskaya Another perfect game with no mistakes at all. Kashlinskaya essayed the French defence and Divya played the Tarrasch variation. Although Divya applied a bit of pressure, Alina forced simplifications that led to an equal endgame. A draw was agreed on move forty-two. A very good tournament for the Indian prodigy, with a rating increase of nine points. For Kashlinskaya, it was a tournament to forget as soon as possible – she has lost 20 rating points and has been struggling to find her form here. The closing ceremony of the Pune WGP began at 8.30 PM with a minute of silence for the tragedy in Kashmir. The master of ceremonies thanked everyone for coming along, and highlighted the record in numbers following the event: more than 5 million views. He also put special attention on the high number of decisive games. The first guest, Siddharth Mayur, Wook the
“The quality of a champion” – Humpy and Zhu Jiner lead with one round to go
After being around for many years, I have come to realize that elite chess players possess two principal qualities: the capacity to fight till the end in lost positions and the capability to recover fast from a painful loss. This afternoon, without any doubt the most interesting round of all the WGP’s that I have attended, Humpy was on the verge of losing several times against Kashlinskaya, who hadn’t won a game so far. But she kept fighting, defending as best as possible, and she finally reaped the reward – a draw, keeping her options to win in Pune open. On the other board, Zhu Jiner played an impressive game against Divya, after losing yesterday to Humpy. Her recovery was uncanny – from losing the lead and even the chance to win, to a situation in which she is tied for first with one game to go. No less than three ceremonial first moves were performed today, on different boards and with the white pieces. Mr. Ajay Patel, Senior Vice President of the Indian Olympic Association opened the game for Salome Melia, Mr. Dev Patel, Secretary of the All Indian Chess Federation opened for Munguntuul and finally Dr. Ravindra Dange, Commisioner of the Pune IRS opened for Zhu Jiner. The final round will be played tomorrow afternoon. The key pairings are Humpy vs Salimova and Shuvalova vs Zhu Jiner. Anything can happen, and we will be here to report it! Let’s take a closer look at this afternoon’s games. Zhu Jiner 1 –0 Divya Deshmukh Zhu Jiner prepared the Four Knights Glek system with 4.g3. For many moves, they followed a recent 2024 game between Abdusattorov and Giri. After the opening, Black’s bishop was stranded out of the game on a6 and White also controlled the fantastic e4 square, but Divya was preparing a strong attack on the kingside. After a couple of inaccuracies, Zhu sacrificed a piece for three pawns with 26.Nxe5!, entering a totally winning ending. Divya was forced to give back the piece in order to avoid white pawn’s promotion, but to no avail: with a 96% accuracy score, took the game home. “I feel happy today, especially since I lost yesterday” were Zhu’s first words in her post-game interview. Check it out here! https://youtu.be/WHTGxB2oFZ8?si=C4xcdXbX5NRkAAwj Alina Kashlinskaya 0.5 – 0.5 HumpyKoneru The Polish number one player missed out on an opportunity to win her first game this afternoon, and at the same time take down the leader of the event. The opening was a classic 5.d3 Anderssen variation of the Ruy Lopez. Alina obtained a small edge in space going out of the opening, but Humpy very near equality. At a certain point, Humpy started to play hesitantly (first 16…c6? and then 19…Ra7?) and ended up in a passive position with very little space. Alina gradually took control, installing a huge knight on d6. She achieved a decisive advantage and also Humpy was very low on time. Kashlinskaya forced the exchange of queen’s, went into a totally winning endgame, and then this occurred. White’s position is won very easily with 49.Rd-d5, defending everything, and Alina was about to play this move but changed her mind and chose 49.Rb7? a blunder that cost her the win. Humpy exchanged rooks and played 50…Nc5, picking up the pawn on b7, and a draw was agreed a few moves later. Even though she was visibly frustrated, Kashlinskaya came to the media center to give us her thoughts on what had happened. A true professional. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TeG0Zt98B4 Nurgyul Salimova 0.5–0.5 Vaishali Rameshbabu The game began as a Triangle Slav opening. With 7.b3!? (essentially a novelty in the position), Salimova sacrificed a pawn for a lead in development and control over the center. She had excellent positional compensation in the middlegame: the bishop pair and optimal squares for her pieces. However, with 29.Qe1?? she missed a tactic and after 29…Nd3! Black was already better. A few moves later Vaishali sacrificed her rook for a decisive advantage, but in acute time trouble she couldn’t find the way to win and ended up forcing a perpetual check. Salome Melia 0.5 –0.5 Harika Dronavalli The first game to cross 100 moves in the Grand Prix – a testament to the fighting spirit of the players. The game saw the Duras variation of Ruy Lopez (5.d3 + 6.c4).They followed a 2018 Tiviakov vs Ernst game for many moves, although Harika spent more time in the opening, maybe slightly surprised. With her move 14.0-0, Salome sacrificed a pawn for the attack and better development, and rightly so: her opponent’s castled king was very weak. At the key moment, however, Salome went for 27.e6?, which looks good but is not the best move (27.Qh4 keeps up the attack), and suddenly it was Black playing for the win. However, in heavy time trouble, with both players under two minutes, the game evened out and a draw was agreed after 116 moves. Check out Salome Melia’s postgame interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plOWrj94SQk Munguntuul Batkhuyag 0.5 – 0.5 Polina Shuvalova Munguntuul went for the 6.Be3 + 7.Nf3 Najdorf English attack, following the game Naiditsch vs Moussard of 2022. The fight for the d5 square was the key idea in the opening, but Shuvalova played excellently and ended up with a very comfortable position going into the middlegame, with double time on the clock. Shuvalova steadily increased her positional advantage and won a pawn in a tactical skirmish just before move number forty, profiting from Munguntuul’s time trouble. But despite Polina’s best effort, she was unable to break down her opponent’s defences, and a draw was agreed on move ninety-one. Round nine dates and pairings The ninth and final round of the fifth leg of the 2024/25 Women’s Grand Prix series will take place on Wednesday, April 23, 14:00 CET local time in Pune, India, one full hour before the usual time. These are the pairings: Vaishali Rameshbabu – Salome Melia Humpy Koneru – NurgyulSalimova Divya Deshmukh – AlinaKashlinskaya Polina Shuvalova – Zhu JinerHarika Dronavalli –
Ju Wenjun sets the pace in FIDE Women’s Events 2024–25
Fresh off her fifth world title, Ju Wenjun tops the leaderboard in the 2024–25 women’s series, setting an intense pace for her rivals The highest-placed player of FIDE Women’s Events qualifies for the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026, if she has not qualified by any other track. Three of the eight qualifying events of the series have already been completed, and the race for the top spots is heating up. Ju Wenjun, as the reigning champion, continues to assert her authority on the circuit. Ju has amassed an impressive 86.5 ranking points (RP), holding first place on the scoreboard. She collected 48 points after winning the 2024 Women’s World Blitz Championship and 38.5 points from the shared 2-7th place in the Women’s World Rapid. Right behind Ju, Humpy Koneru sits a close second on 84 points, all earned from her victory at the 2024 Women’s World Rapid in New York. More than 20 points behind, in third place, is Tan Zhongyi. Like Ju, Tan shared 2-7th place in last year’s World Rapid in New York, which netted her 38.5 RP. Tan, a former Women’s World Champion herself, added another 25 RP after the just finished Women’s World Championship match, which she lost to Ju (6.5 vs 2.5). Photo: Michal Walusza Kateryna Lagno (pictured above), a multiple-time rapid and blitz world champion and the 2018 World Championship finalist, is currently fifth with 54.4 points—16 from a third-place finish in the Blitz and 38.5 from a shared second in the 2024 World Rapid. Further behind – on 38.5 RP – is a trio featuring former World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk, India’s Harika Dronavali and Uzbekistan’s rising star, 16-year-old Afruza Khamdamova (pictured below). All three gained points in the Women’s World Rapid in New York last December. Photo: Michal Walusza Seventeen players remain in contention, and the standings are set to shift again with the Grand Prix series nearing its finale in Austria this May. “Every event in this series carries serious weight. This isn’t just a race to the 2026 Candidates—it’s where careers are forged, history is made, and records fall. Look at the field: it’s a clash of generations and styles, and that’s driving innovation and pushing women’s chess to new heights. FIDE’s format rewards consistency over headline wins—and sustaining that kind of form across this cycle is difficult. But that’s exactly why only the best survive it,” said Dana Reizniece, a Woman GM and Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board. The cycle continues with the conclusion of the Women’s Grand Prix Series in May, followed by the Women’s World Cup, the Women’s Grand Swiss, and the 2025 editions of the Rapid and Blitz World Championships. With former world champions like Alexandra Kosteniuk and Lei Tingjie still in the mix, and experienced contenders such as Harika Dronavalli and Koneru Humpy battling rising stars like Bibisara Assaubayeva and Carissa Yip, the race for the final qualifying places remains wide open. The full leaderboard can be found – here. How the points are calculated Under the official regulations approved by the FIDE Council, the final score of each player is determined by the sum of their best five tournament results in the cycle. In the event of a tie in the final rankings, the lowest-scoring event is removed in a stepwise tiebreak process. The top player in the overall standings who has not otherwise qualified earns a coveted place in the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament. For more information about the regulations – see here. Which events make up the 2024–25 series The FIDE Women’s Events 2025–2026 is an official ranking series that brings together the most prestigious FIDE-organized women’s tournaments across a two-year cycle. It serves both to reward consistent top-level performance and to determine qualifiers for the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026. There are eight major tournaments which are part of these series, offering Ranking Points to the players. These are: – Women’s World Rapid Championship 2024– Women’s World Blitz Championship 2024– Women’s World Championship Match 2025 (only runner-up earns RP)– Women’s Grand Prix Series 2024–25 (final standings used)– Women’s World Cup 2025– Women’s Grand Swiss 2025– Women’s World Rapid Championship 2025– Women’s World Blitz Championship 2025
Humpy Koneru defeats Zhu Jiner, leads WGP India with two rounds to go
What a round! Excitement until the end, two decisive outcomes which have completely turned around the tournament standings, and just to top it all off—a rook and bishop vs. queen positional fortress. In a fantastic positional game, Humpy Koneru, India’s best female player in history, defeated Zhu Jiner and now leads the WGP with only two rounds to go. With games still remaining against Kashlinskaya and Salimova, it’s too early to celebrate—but she couldn’t have asked for a better situation. Meanwhile, with her crushing win over Muntunguul, Divya closed in and will have a shot for the top spot if she can to defeat Zhu Jiner in tomorrow’s game. The other three games ended in draws but not without multiple ups-and-downs. Vaishali and Alina got involved in a tactical melee in time trouble, Salimova did her best to grind down a win against a weak d-pawn without success, while Polina and Harika played a perfect 98% accuracy game. Let’s take a closer look at this afternoon’s games. Humpy Koneru 1 – 0 Zhu Jiner The ceremonial first move was performed by Mr.Harnish Raja, a prominent businessman from Pune and father of GM Harshit Raja. He played 1.c4 after Humpy indicated the move in her key game against Zhu Jiner. However, Humpy subsequently took back the pawn and opened with 1.d4! This amazing clash of styles was definitely the game of the day, and possibly even of the tournament. Trailing Zhu Jiner by half a point and playing with the white pieces, Humpy’s game plan was quite clear: solid chess, aim for a small opening advantage, and try to grind her down. Humpy was surprised in the opening: “Today she completely surprised me with the Queen’s Indian and I think I misplayed the opening with 12.Bf4 – I should have probably played 12.Rc2 and get the bishop to c1 directly.” But she pushed forward, slowly increasing her positional advantage – a totally different game than the one she played yesterday with Black. By dominating the c-file, she eventually claimed control of the c6 square and landed her knight there. Under heavy pressure, Zhu Jiner crumbled and blundered a piece in a long tactical sequence. With regard to her tournament and Grand Prix situation, Humpy didn’t want to get ahead of herself: “I just play my game and whatever happens, happens,” she said after the game. Once again, Humpy joined us in the press centre to explain her thoughts during the game. A must-watch video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOPs3Tbz8nE Divya Deshmukh 1 – 0 Munguntuul Batkhuyag Divya scored a crushing win over Munguntuul in the quiet 4.e3 variation against the Slav. She followed up with the trendy 6.Nh4 line, aiming to get an open position with opposite-side castled kings plus the bishop pair. According to my database, Munguntuul’s 13…Rc8 (played after seven minutes of thinking time) is too slow – 13…a6 is the preferred move by GMs, with many elite games played in this line. Divya immediately launched a pawn storm on the kingside, combined with a second pawn front in the centre, pouncing on Munguntuul’s king. Things were looking very bleak for the number one female player from Mongolia at that point. Moment of the day Despite her knight being under attack, Divya went for the amazing 20.h6! sacrificing a full piece. Engines already suggest that the position is completely winning for White. Additionally, Munguntuul was running low on time, in a very difficult position to defend. There was no escape for Black – Divya played the best moves in the position, notched up the win, and joined Press Officer Michael Rahal in the media center for an interesting post-game interview, in which she discussed the main ideas of the game and speculated on tomorrow’s decisive match-up. “My score with Zhu Jiner is not that good, the last two games I have lost, but there is always time to turn it around,” Divya finished her interview on a positive note. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIBoKzaY3Ng Vaishali Rameshbabu 0.5 – 0.5 Alina Kashlinskaya While Divya played the aggressive 6.Nh4 line in the Slav defence, her Olympic team colleague Vaishali preferred something a bit slower, albeit very solid setup, based on a quick exchange of light-squared bishops. Going into the middlegame, Vaishali started pushing on the queenside and Kashlinskaya counterattacked in the centre. For more than fifteen moves they followed a 2009 game between GM’s Ilincic and Balogh, which ended in a draw. Around move twenty, although the position was symmetrical and with total equality, Vaishali started to get into serious time-trouble. Kashlinskaya sacrificed a pawn for great compensation and approaching the time control won in her opponent’s queen in exchange for a rook, a bishop and a pawn. Although the game went on for quite a few moves, the final result was very clear as White built an unbreakable fortress. Polina Shuvalova 0.5 – 0.5 Harika Dronavalli For this important game, Harika chose the ultra-solid Petroff defence. As usual, Shuvalova came to the game with excellent opening preparation, based on a couple of 2023 GM games. With a timely positional pawn sacrifice, Harika took control over the light squares, trade of major pieces and secured a comfortable draw in an opposite-side coloured bishop ending. Nurgyul Salimova 0.5 – 0.5 Salome Melia This was a high-quality game by both players, with both clocking an impressive 97.6% accuracy. Salimova had the upper hand most of the game, basically because of a constant pressure on her opponent’s isolated d-pawn. However, despite Nurgyul’s efforts, Salome’s accurate defense forced the Bulgarian to admit the equality on the position. The game was drawn on move fifty-seven. Round eight dates and pairings The eighth round of the fifth leg of the 2024/25 Women’s Grand Prix series will take place on Tuesday, April 22, at 15:00 CET local time in Pune, India. These are the pairings: Nurgyul Salimova – Salome Melia Vaishali Rameshbabu – Alina Kashlinskaya Humpy Koneru – Zhu JinerDivya Deshmukh – Munguntuul BatkhuyagPolina Shuvalova – Harika Dronavalli More information about the event, including the
2025 Danish Championship: Jesper Thybo claims maiden title
Jesper Thybo emerged victorious at the 2025 Danish Championship, securing the gold medal with a round to spare. For many years, the coveted national title had eluded the talented 26-year-old grandmaster—he was runner-up in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024—but in 2025, Jesper finally got the monkey off his back. The 2025 Danish Championship (Masters), a 10-player round-robin tournament with classical time control, took place from April 9–17 in Svendborg, a small town that has hosted the event for nine consecutive years. This year, the Danish Chess Union placed extra emphasis on fair play. President Poul Jacobse stressed that no player should leave with a sense of injustice. There was heightened monitoring of player movement in and out of the playing hall. Jesper Thybo seized the lead in Round 4 and remained unstoppable thereafter. He finished with five consecutive victories, scoring an impressive 8 out of 9. IM Filip Boe Olsen (pictured below, right) finished 1.5 points behind Thybo, falling just half a point short of earning a GM norm. The 2022 champion, IM Martin Haubro, completed the podium with 6/9. Final standings: 1. GM Jesper Søndergaard Thybo – 8/92. IM Filip Boe Olsen – 6½3. IM Martin Haubro – 6 4. GM Sune Berg Hansen – 55. GM Bjørn Møller Ochsner – 4½6. IM Nicolai Kistrup – 47. IM Martin Percivaldi – 3½8–9. FM Viktor Haarmark Nielsen – 38–9. IM Kim Pilgaard – 310. FM Jeppe Hald Falkesgaard – 1½ Photos: Thomas Vestergård Official website: nyheder.skak.dk/