2025 FIDE Women’s World Team Championship: Hou Yifan debuts as team FIDE dominates
The second day of the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Team Championship in Linares delivered high drama and top-class chess across both pools. All eyes were on China’s top board, as four-time Women’s World Champion Hou Yifan made her long-awaited debut, marking it with a precise and elegant victory that immediately set the tone for Pool B. Meanwhile, Team FIDE continued to dominate Pool A, sweeping past Spain and Azerbaijan with commanding performances and edging closer to a perfect group-stage record. Beyond the headline performances, several teams found themselves embroiled in tense qualification battles. Every match carried high stakes, with narrow margins and critical tiebreak scenarios deciding which teams would advance to the quarterfinals. From the tight race for second and fourth in Pool A to the dramatic fight for the last knockout spots in Pool B, the competition was fierce, and the tension palpable. Linares has once again proven why it is one of the most exciting stages in international women’s chess. Mariola Rus Rufino, General Director of the Department of Sports Values and Systems for the Junta de Andalucía, opened the round with the ceremonial gong. Let’s look at how the afternoon unfolded in greater detail in each pool. Pool A Team FIDE continued to sweep through their opponents with emphatic victories over Spain (3.5–0.5) and Azerbaijan (3–1), securing a commanding lead at the top of Pool A. With such a margin over the chasing teams, their qualification in first place is virtually guaranteed. Barring an extremely unlikely collapse tomorrow – they face Peru, who have lost all four of their matches – Team FIDE should finish the group stage on a perfect 100% score and advance confidently to the quarterfinals. Behind them, Kazakhstan and the USA share second place with three wins and one loss each, both having been defeated only by Team FIDE. Their direct clash in the final round will determine who finishes second and who must settle for third place. The most dramatic final-round showdown, however, will decide the last qualifying spot for the quarterfinals. Spain and Azerbaijan are currently tied for fourth place – even level on game points – and will face each other in a decisive head-to-head encounter. In the event of a 2–2 draw, Sonneborn-Berger system will be the tiebreaker, meaning the results of other teams may ultimately determine who advances. Pool A- Round 5 pairings A neat tactical shot appeared on board four in the match between Spain and Team FIDE. Playing with the Black pieces, GM Olga Girya (2390) showed excellent awareness in the late middlegame against WGM Mónica Calzetta Ruiz (2194). With both players entering their final five minutes, Girya spotted a hidden tactical idea and chose the energetic advance 26…d4. Calzetta had several ways to keep the balance – for instance, 27.cxd4 cxb4 28.d5!, which should hold, or the calmer 27.Nc2 dxc3 28.Rxc3, where a draw remains the most likely outcome. Instead, Calzetta opted for 27.Ng4?, aiming to simplify quickly, but the move loses immediately to 27…Nxg4 28.hxg4 and now the powerful blow 28…dxc3!!. The rook on d7 is untouchable due to the decisive …c2 promotion idea, so White was forced to play 29.Rxc3, the simple 29…cxb4 left Girya with a completely winning position. The rest was smooth sailing for Black. Pool B Georgia have powered through Pool B with four convincing victories and have already secured first place with a round to spare. Across sixteen individual games, they remain undefeated on every board – an outstanding achievement for the team led by captain Salome Melia. China sit just behind them, having conceded a draw to India and suffering a loss to Georgia today. Even so, with five match points, they are already mathematically assured of a spot in the quarterfinals. The real drama is unfolding in the race for third and fourth place. Uzbekistan (check out an interview with the team below) and India are level on four points, while Ukraine trail with two. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCMRuFtA-W0 Ukraine must defeat China tomorrow – and by as wide a margin as possible – to keep their qualification hopes alive. They also need a decisive result in the match between Uzbekistan and India; a 2–2 draw in that encounter would eliminate Ukraine regardless of their own performance. The final round promises unparalleled excitement – tension at its peak. Leading Team China, former four-time Women’s World Champion GM Hou Yifan (2620) made her Linares debut this afternoon with a clean technical masterpiece against IM Padmini Rout (2337), India’s first board. With only two minutes remaining, Padmini missed the chance to put up stubborn resistance with 44…Kg8, and instead blocked the check with her rook – 44…Rg6? Sensing the end was near, Hou Yifan calmly played 45.Rg3!, introducing several dangerous threats. After 45…Kg7, the precise 46.f4! exf4 47.Nxf4 followed, and the rook on g6 was completely trapped. The game continued 47…Rf6 48.Nh5+ Kf7 49.Nxf6, and the extra exchange was more than enough advantage for Hou Yifan to convert and score a crucial point, securing a 2–2 draw for China. Pool B – Round 5 pairings Round 5 will start on November 20 at 1:30 PM local time. The action can be followed live on the FIDE YouTube Channel, featuring expert commentary by GMs Antoaneta Stefanova and Ivan Cheparinov. Official website: worldwomenteams2025.fide.com/ Written by IM Michael Rahal Photos: Raúl Martínez / Pavel Dvorkovich
FIDE World Cup: Heartbreak for India as Arjun eliminated; Wei Yi, Esipenko, and Sindarov join Yakubboev in the semifinals
Four draws yesterday left three semi-final spots undecided and brought six players to what may be the most stressful point of the World Cup so far. With everything riding on the rapid and blitz tiebreaks, the atmosphere in the hall was tense long before the clocks started. Spectators filled the room early, aware that today would determine who would keep their Candidates hopes alive. When the day concluded, Wei Yi, Javokhir Sindarov and Andrey Esipenko all won their matches, joining Nodirbek Yakubboev who had qualified the previous day. It was also a heartbreaking afternoon for Indian fans as Arjun Erigaisi, the last remaining home player, was knocked out by Wei Yi. Before play began, the ceremonial first move was made on Board 1 of Martínez vs. Sindarov by Mr. Jayant Chaudhary, Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Government of India. With pressure high across all boards, here is how the quarterfinal tiebreak battles unfolded. QuarterfinalsTiebreak Results Arjun Erigaisi ½-1½ Wei Yi José Eduardo Martínez Alcántara 1½ -2½ Javokhir Sindarov Andrey Esipenko 3-1 Sam Shankland Wei Yi (2752) vs Arjun Erigaisi (2773)After yesterday’s classical game, in which the Chinese Grandmaster missed key moves and gave his opponent a chance to strike, Wei Yi made sure not to allow Arjun Erigaisi the same opportunity again. Arriving first to the hall today, he looked composed and focused, not a single leg shake, and ready to fight from game one. In the Steinitz Variation of the French Defense, Wei Yi, with the White pieces, launched an early kingside assault, steering the game into the kind of sharp tactical battle that suits his style and attacking instincts. The position was easy for Black to mishandle, and Arjun did exactly that after spending six minutes (a significant amount of time in rapid) selecting the worst move: Black has just played 10…f6?, allowing White to ignore the threat on the knight and play the immediate 11.Qh5!, followed by capturing on c5 and planting the queen on g6 for a direct assault on the king. Instead, Wei Yi chose 11.exf6, and after 11…Rxf6, Black remained worse, but the attack was at least more manageable. Eventually, White picked up the exchange on move 14, although, according to chess engines castling long first offered him the decisive advantage. Still, Wei Yi played with impressive accuracy up to a certain point but let his advantage slip away in time pressure. With the bishop pair, Arjun managed to simplify into equality and save the game with a draw. It was already a nerve-wracking start, and then came game two. A Petroff Defense where both players appeared well prepared led to a queenless middlegame. Though the young Indian Grandmaster seemed to be faring better than in the first encounter, he overpressed and struggled to coordinate his pieces. Indian fans may have felt relieved when the position liquidated into a stable endgame, until a critical moment unfolded and one lost tempo tilted the balance decisively: Here, Erigaisi played 41.Rf2+?, allowing 41…Bf5 42.Rb2 a6 43.d6 Ke6 44.Rd2 Bd3. The check was unnecessary; better was 41.Rb2 immediately, followed by 41…a6 42.d6 Bf5 43.Rd2. If 42…Ke6, then 43.Bb7 holds, as Black’s rook checks are harmless due to the bishop on d3. Another key moment, and Arjun’s final chance to save the game, came just a few moves later. Here Wei Yi erred with 46…Rh7? (when 46…Kd7 was stronger, as it freezes White’s pieces entirely). Arjun, playing with less than a minute, needed to find 47.Rd5, keeping the rook active and defending the pawn. Instead, he played 47.Bc6?, allowing 47…Rh3+ 48.Bf3 Bd3, leaving the White rook shut out of the game. Black collected the d-pawn and eventually created a passed pawn on the queenside. After rooks were exchanged, the resulting bishop endgame was hopeless for White. Still, they played all the way to checkmate. In the post-game interview, when asked whether he considered himself the favourite in tiebreaks (especially given his strong rapid rating of 2758 compared to Arjun’s 2708), Wei Yi was humble. He pointed out that one cannot assume superiority over Arjun in any format because he is so strong. Now the highest-rated player remaining in the event, Wei stated that he would prepare and approach the upcoming games normally, as any semifinal opponent would have to be strong to reach this stage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U04jf-HzV7Q Javokhir Sindarov (2721) vs José Eduardo Martínez Alcántara (2644) The match between these two rising stars began with an unexpected twist when Martínez, with the White pieces, opened with 1.b3. Sindarov, visibly surprised and shaking his leg in his chair, took a moment before responding, entering a structure he seemed unhappy with, made worse by falling behind on the clock. A critical moment appeared when Black, already slightly worse, played the losing move 35…Rf7? Keeping the rook on the back rank with 35…Re8 would have been better. Placed awkwardly and with the e2-bishop unprotected while White threatened Nd8, Black’s the position quickly deteriorated. Following a forced sequence, Martínez emerged an exchange up. Jose Eduardo was in full control in resulting endgame, with a dominant queen and rook duo on the 7th rank. A checkmate was soon inevitable, and Sindarov resigned, putting himself in a must-win situation. In his post-match interview, Sindarov admitted he was very upset with himself after the first game and gave himself a pep talk to play well in the second, and he delivered. Game two featured a symmetrical English Opening where the early phase already favoured the Uzbek talent. Martínez played aggressively and sacrificed a pawn, creating some activity on the kingside, but Sindarov handled the pressure, converted his material advantage, and eventually wove a mating net to equalize the score. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tbha_64yGZc Their first 10+10 rapid game, while drawn, was far from dull. Martínez launched a queenside pawn storm, while Sindarov countered on the kingside. Sindarov missed a chance to gain a clear advantage by shifting focus to defense instead of pushing his own attack. The game equalized once
Rising stars and surprises: Highlights from Rounds 1–2 of the FIDE Women’s World Team Championship
Savitha Shri B and Zhai Mo Shine with tactical brilliance while fast classical debut sparks excitement. Linares was one of the strongest chess tournaments in the world from the late 1980s through the 2000s, attracting Garry Kasparov, Anatoly Karpov, and many other elite players. At the start of each round of the Super-Tournament a large ceremonial gong was struck by a guest of honour to officially begin play. This ritual became one of Linares’s most memorable trademarks. It originated as part of the organizers’ effort to give the event a distinctive identity and elevate it to true world-class status. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich and FIDE Deputy President – and former five-time World Champion – Viswanathan Anand opened both rounds of the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Team Championship, reviving one of the most recognisable symbols of that earlier era. Each of the two pools in the event, A and B, features six teams that face one another in a round-robin format over five rounds. The top four teams from each pool will advance to the knockout stage, beginning with the quarterfinals. Most of today’s matches – played with the debuting 45 + 30 “fast classical” time control – were dominated by the rating favourites, though several encounters were decided by narrow 2.5–1.5 margins. After the first two rounds, Team FIDE has taken a commanding lead in Pool A, scoring convincing victories over the USA and Kazakhstan, while four teams sit just behind on 50%. Peru currently trails the group after losing both of today’s matches, against Azerbaijan and Spain, though not without putting up a resilient fight. On the other side of the hall, Pool B is led by China – playing without GM Hou Yifan – and Georgia, with India and Ukraine close behind. Great excitement is expected on day two, as rounds three and four are likely to determine the fate of several teams. One of the relative surprises of the day came in round one, where India defeated Ukraine despite being outrated by nearly 100 points. Although the current Olympic champions did not travel with their top lineup, they still field a young, cohesive, and ambitious team capable of challenging any opponent. On board three, IM Savitha Shri B (2319), playing White, controlled her game against GM Natalia Zhukova (2322) from early on, steadily building pressure on the kingside. Savitha is one of the brightest rising stars in Indian women’s chess, already progressing rapidly through high-level norms. Although White had several winning continuations, the Indian player struck decisively with 34.Rxf6!, tearing apart Black’s defensive structure. Zhukova replied with 34…Bc6+ (as 34…Qxf6 loses immediately to 35.Qxd7), but after 35.Qxc6! Rxc6 36.Rxf7, the former two-time European Women’s Champion had no choice but to resign. A clean and elegant tactical finish. Team captain GM Swayams Mishra and two of the players from the match later joined me in the interview area for a brief post-game assessment of their performance and of the new “fast classical” time control making its debut at this event. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6R0GDyJOKk Meanwhile, the Chinese squad secured two convincing wins and, alongside Georgia, now leads their pool. On board four in their second-round match, WGM Zhai Mo (2384) delivered a spectacular miniature against WCM Madinabonu Khalilova (2228). Zhai Mo is a former Girls U12 World Champion and the 2018 Chinese Women’s Chess Champion. Black had just played 15…Bg7-f8, attacking the rook on d6 and attempting to provoke exchanges that might relieve the pressure. However, Zhai Mo responded aggressively with 16.Ng5!, sacrificing the exchange. After 16…Bxd6 17.exd6 Qd7 18.Ne4!, the weaknesses around the black king quickly became apparent. The decisive threat 19.Nf6+ was temporarily parried by 18…Kg7, but 19.Bb5! highlighted another vulnerability on e5. After 19…Bb7, White unleashed the final tactic: 20.Nf6!!, attacking the queen. Black resigned, as 20…Kxf6 21.Bxc6! Qxc6 22.Qe5 leads to an inevitable checkmate. A brilliant and clean finish from Zhai Mo. After the first two rounds of the tournament, the standings in both pools are as follows: Round three tomorrow at 1:30 pm promises some exciting encounters. In Pool A, the most intriguing match will be USA vs. Azerbaijan, as both teams vie for second place in the group. Close behind, Spain will aim to secure at least a draw against the formidable Team FIDE. https://youtu.be/nb8LA9s-K48?si=TA6AHrw7JvAJQ35Z In Pool B, the dramatic clash between France and Uzbekistan will provide both teams with a final chance to avoid elimination and potentially catch up with the leading teams. Round 3 begins on November 19 at 1:30 PM local time. The action can be followed live on the FIDE YouTube Channel, featuring expert commentary by GMs Antoaneta Stefanova and Ivan Cheparinov. Official website: worldwomenteams2025.fide.com/ Written by IM Michael Rahal (Linares, España) Photos: Raúl Martínez / Pavel Dvorkovich
FIDE World Cup: Three quarterfinals poised for decisive tiebreak battles
The tension was evident as players entered into the playing hall today, several arriving just minutes before the clocks were started, a sure sign of the pressure mounting at this decisive stage of the World Cup. The air in the playing hall was quiet and concentrated, yet packed with spectators eager to witness the eight remaining players in action. With only four spots in the semifinals, chess fans were treated to a blend of high-stakes precision and tightly controlled risk. The outcome was draws across all boards, meaning tiebreaks in three of them, and GM Nodirbek Yakkuboev advancing as the first semi-finalist after his victory over Alexander Donchenko yesterday. Before play began, the ceremonial first move was made by Mr. Anurag Singh Thakur, former Sports Minister of India, Member of Parliament, and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Coal and Mines on Board 2, for Erigaisi vs. Wei Yi. Quarterfinals Game 2 results: José Eduardo Martínez Alcántara ½-½ Javokhir Sindarov Arjun Erigaisi ½-½ Wei Yi Andrey Esipenko ½-½ Sam Shankland Alexander Donchenko ½-½ Nodirbek Yakubboev With the semifinal lineup still very much undecided, here’s a closer look at how each game unfolded today. Nodirbek Yakkuboev (2689) vs Alexander Donchenko (2641) Alexander Donchenko had a great deal at stake today. After fighting hard to survive the Round 5 tiebreaks, his classical loss yesterday left him in a must-win situation. He certainly tried, pushing until the very end, creating an imbalanced structure that forced Yakubboev to stay alert. The game followed the Exchange Variation of the Queen’s Gambit Declined, and Donchenko appeared well-prepared, gaining a 30-minute time advantage early on. However, despite his confident opening, his pace slowed and a series of imprecise choices led to a position where his winning chances faded. Black has just played the thematic 21…Bb1, aiming for a Ba2–c4 maneuver. While White has no obvious plan here, Donchenko chose one of the weakest options with 22.f3?, a move our commentators called “strange” as it gave Black easy counterplay. Yakkuboev responded with 22…f5 and followed through with his intended bishop maneuver, fully seizing the initiative. The critical moment came soon: White’s pieces were poorly coordinated, and the pawns on the third rank were vulnerable. Here, the powerful 26…Re8 could have posed major problems for White, especially with the threat of …Nb5 looming. If White tries passive defense with 27.Re1 Black builds up pressure with 27…Rb5 28.Rc2 Rb3. For instance, the natural-looking 29.Ng2 to guard the e-pawn is met by 29…Bd3 30.Rf2 (or 30.Rc3, also losing) 30…Bxb1 31.Rxb1 Nc4, leaving Black in full control. Instead, Yakkuboev started with 26…Rb5, allowing 27.Rg2. Though Donchenko escaped immediate danger, Black still held a comfortable edge. After further exchanges, the game entered a tense endgame where White appeared to retain some chances. However, Yakkuboev maintained accuracy and steered the game to a dead-even draw. With this result, he became the first player to qualify for the semifinals of the 2025 World Cup. Wei Yi (2752) vs Arjun Erigaisi (2773)As the only remaining Indian player in the field, Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi carries significant expectations. Yet he has remained composed throughout the event, arriving calm at the board each day and greeting enthusiastic fans waiting (and chanting his name) outside. After a quick draw yesterday, today’s strategy was different – with the White pieces, Arjun prepared a fresh idea in the Queen’s Gambit Declined. Wei Yi, however, played confidently and quickly as well. The game soon left known theory and entered territory in which both players could just play chess. Tension started when Wei Yi chose to complicate with 18…c5, accepting an isolated queen’s pawn but gaining activity. The position suddenly became sharp: Arjun played the quiet-looking 20.Qe2 instead of the more natural 20.Qb1. Commentators GMs Jan Gustafsson and Peter Leko praised it as “strong and unexpected,” as it unpins the queen while provocatively placing it opposite Black’s rook and hinting at Na4 ideas. It posed psychological pressure. Wei Yi spent over 30 minutes here, visibly unsettled and shifting in his chair, before deciding on 20…Qc6. After 21.Nd2, however, Black 21…Nd7? (21…Nh5 was the better choice – we will get into that mess later, so bear with me if you want to get into deep analysis) allowing a tactical sequence: 22.Nb3 Bxc3 23.bxc3 Rxc3 Here Arjun had a golden opportunity – 24.Bxd5! and after 24…Qc8 25.Rxc3 Qxc3 White simply captures a free pawn with 26.Bxb7. Black also can choose 24…Qxd5 – and here is why the earlier mistake of 21…Nd7 matters. 25.Rxc3 Ng5 26.e4 (only move to keep the advantage and stop …Nf3), 26…Rxe4 27.Rd1! And the d7-knight is ill-placed and hanging. Instead, Erigaisi played 24.Qd2? and after 24…Rxc1 25.Rxc1 Qa6 26.Bxd5 Nf6! Wei Yi equalized and the game was drawn on move 32. Now let’s go back to the better 21…Nh5 which makes the difference. Now 22.Nb3 Bxc3 23.bxc3 Rxc3 24.Bxd5 does not hold the same venom after 24…Qxd5 25.Rxc3 Ng5 26.e4 Rxe4 and Black’s pieces, particularly the knights, are very active. The same idea we saw in the previous line of 27.Rd1 is a big blunder because of the desperado 27…Qxb3! And suddenly Black would be winning. This tactic would not be the same with the knight on d7. All of this analysis just goes to show how small nuances of a position can affect the evaluation but only surface moves later, and it’s curious to know whether all of this was seen. After intense days like these, we don’t corner the players for interviews, but after tomorrow I will definitely find out from the match’s victor how much was calculated here. Javokhir Sindarov (2721) vs José Eduardo Martínez Alcántara (2644)The draw between Sindarov and Martínez was the most curious result of the day, not for the score, but for how swiftly it was achieved. The players entered a known drawing line in the Four Knights Spanish and followed the theory to a peaceful result in just 20 minutes. For Martínez, who had the White pieces and momentum from previous rounds, it
Flamenco, speeches, and chess: Linares hosts 2025 FIDE Women’s Team Championship
El Pósito, a fully restored 18th-century building, now serves as an exhibition space where visitors can explore the essence of Linares, in the province of Jaén (Spain). The center brings together the city’s history and cultural heritage, giving special prominence to mining and the art of flamenco. It was therefore fitting to enjoy a vibrant performance of Spanish flamenco, which delighted an audience of over two hundred players, officials, and guests, interwoven with inspiring speeches from dignitaries and chess leaders. Olivia Aranda, presenter of the opening ceremony, welcomed everyone promptly at 7 p.m., noting that Linares, with its rich history and heritage, provides the perfect setting for the 2025 FIDE World Women’s Team Chess Championship. After the audience stood for the Spanish and FIDE anthems and enjoyed a promotional video about Linares, they were treated to a spectacular fifteen-minute flamenco performance featuring José Manuel Cuenca on piano, Nazareth Romero singing, and Rosa González dancing. Immediately afterward, Auxi del Olmo Ruiz, the Mayor of Linares, took the floor. In an inspiring three-minute speech, she greeted the authorities, players, and guests, reminding everyone of the city’s deep chess history – a tradition that began in 1978 with the first Linares Tournament. She also highlighted that last year the Ibero-American Championship, along with several other Spanish national championships, was held in the city. In addition, she announced that Linares and the Spanish Chess Federation had signed a three-year sponsorship agreement to host numerous events. Next, Javier Ochoa de Echagüen, President of the Spanish Chess Federation, and Gorka Lerchundi Rebollo, Director General of Events and Sports Facilities for the Regional Government of Andalusia, gave uplifting speeches, emphasizing the city’s strong commitment to chess. Arkady Dvorkovich, President of the International Chess Federation, then took the stage. He impressed everyone with his excellent command of Spanish during a two-minute speech, expressing his gratitude to the Government of Andalusia and the city of Linares for hosting the tournament in a city with such a remarkable chess tradition. In a moment of great tenderness, Dvorkovich shared that it was his first visit to Linares, but that his father had visited the city many times, serving the Linares Tournament in various capacities, leaving him with fond memories. He concluded by officially opening the championship. Following the speeches, the ceremony continued with the drawing of lots to determine the pairings for each round. Viswanathan Anand, Deputy President of the International Chess Federation, and Jesús Mena Sarasola, Chief Arbiter of the championship, invited the team captains onto the stage. Anand greeted the audience and fondly recalled his first visit to Linares thirty-five years ago, sharing how meaningful it was to return. By selecting a bottle of olive oil numbered from one to six, each captain determined the starting number for their team in their respective pool, and the ceremony concluded with a group photo of each pool. With the drawing of lots complete, the Mayor of Linares and the FIDE President returned to the stage to exchange gifts, followed by a final group photo with all authorities. To close the ceremony, Olivia Aranda thanked everyone for attending, expressed her hope that the championship would run smoothly, and wished the chess players the best of luck. Round 1 begins on November 18 at 1:30 PM local time. The action can be followed live on the FIDE YouTube Channel, featuring expert commentary by GMs Antoaneta Stefanova and Ivan Cheparinov. Official website: worldwomenteams2025.fide.com/ Written by IM Michael (Linares, España) Photos: Raúl Martínez
FIDE World Cup: Tight starts in quarterfinals as only Yakubboev strikes
The quarterfinals have arrived at the FIDE World Cup 2025 in Goa, and the stakes could not be higher. Eight players remain, none of whom have qualified for the FIDE Candidates before. The field is a mix of seasoned super grandmasters and inspired underdogs, all of whom have battled tiebreaks on their journey here. Today, with no easy matchups and everyone hungry for a breakthrough, the questions were simple: Who would strike first? Who would hold their nerve? Some players opted for safety from the start: Wei Yi vs Arjun Erigaisi saw lightning-fast preparation and 99% accuracy from both sides, ending in a draw within an hour. Whereas Nodirbek Yakubboev vs Alexander Donchenko saw a chaotic game, and the only decisive one of the day. The atmosphere was calm but charged. The ceremonial first moves, 1.Nf3 d5, were played on Board 2 (Wei Yi vs. Arjun Erigaisi) by Shri Alok Kumar, IPS, Director-General of Police of Goa, and Gourav Rakshit, Global Chess League Commissioner. Quarterfinals Game 1 results: Javokhir Sindarov ½–½ José Eduardo Martínez Alcántara Wei Yi ½–½ Arjun Erigaisi Sam Shankland ½–½ Andrey Esipenko Nodirbek Yakubboev 1–0 Alexander Donchenko Nodirbek Yakkuboev (2689) vs Alexander Donchenko (2641) According to GM Peter Leko, this was “the game of the day,” and indeed, it could have gone in multiple directions. Nodirbek Yakubboev entered the round fresh, having not dropped a single game, but without facing a player rated above 2650. Alexander Donchenko, on the other hand, the lowest seed remaining, has been fighting giants all event, eliminating Candidates-qualifiers Anish Giri (2769) and Matthias Blübaum (2680), and surviving a nerve-wracking tiebreak against Lê Quang Liêm (2729). When asked about his choice to play the Alekhine Anti-Grünfeld setup (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3), Yakubboev said he wanted a “complicated but solid central structure.” Early on, Donchenko overoressed instead of completing development. In this early position, the safe retreat 11…Ng7 would have been best, but Donchenko went for the aggressive 11…Qh4? Black prevented White from castling but at unacceptably high price. White’s king found a safe heaven on c2, while Black’s pieces were awkwardly misplaced. Things went from bad to worse for Doncheko as he had no active plan, while Yakubboev gradually improved his position and secured the decisive advantage by move 20. The final blow occurred right after the time control. White finished off nicely with 42.Qb8+ Re8 43.Rg8+ Kxg8 44.Qxe8+ and Black resigned. In the post-game interview, Yakubboev exuded confidence, not just about qualifying for the Candidates but going all the way to win the World Cup. Tomorrow he has the black pieces and will need only a draw against the German Grandmaster to seal his spot in the semi-finals. On paper, this task seems simple enough, but the stress brought on by the World Cup can drastically alter that at any point. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCIutOPMjWQ Javokhir Sindarov (2721) vs José Eduardo Martínez Alcántara (2644) Jose Martinez has had an incredible World Cup run, eliminating multiple top players in his wake – Nodirbek Abdussatorov (2750), Alexey Sarana (2675), and most recently, Pentala Harikrishna (2690). His momentum has been fueled by confidence, incredible preparation, and belief that his current strength is much more than his rating suggests. I think few players in the field could match this ambition as much as his opponent today – Javokhir Sindarov, the 19-year-old Uzbek star who earned his title at the mere age of 12, and is just a handful of points away from becoming Uzbekistan’s number one – overtaking Nodirbek Abdussatorov. A difference between the two, which could influence their approach to the classical segment, is their view of the faster time controls. Martinez thrives in the adrenaline of fast-paced chess, having even recently won Chess.com’s first edition of 3+0 Thursdays. Sindarov, on the other hand, had stated in his first interview with me that blitz is not his “type of chess”. Their first encounter featured a Queen’s Gambit Accepted line that has historically favoured White. Both players appeared to be well versed until Sindarov, playing with the white pieces, offered an early queen trade, which got Jose thinking – a rare occurrence for the Peruvian-Mexican grandmaster in the opening stage. Perhaps a sign of leaving his preparation and knowledge of the position. Despite the queenless middlegame, there was still a lot of play for both sides. Martinez, who at some point seemed more passive with the black pieces, and all pieces tied to the 6th-8th ranks, finally managed to break through with some space and simplifications. The resulting endgame saw both sides with four pawns each, white two knights and black a knight and a bishop. Then, a critical moment arose, when Martinez, with less than two minutes on his clock played incorrectly, giving White a chance: Here, Black has just played 33…f5, leaving the h6-pawn hanging. Sindarov however opted for 34.Ne5 – a nice-looking move if there hadn’t been a free pawn to capture (albeit at the expense of a somewhat awkward knight trapped on the rim after 34.Nxh6 Bc8 35.g4 Kf8 36.b6 Kg7 37.g5). A few moves later, the game was drawn. Wei Yi (2752) vs Arjun Erigaisi (2773) The heavyweight clash of the round featured two of the tournament favorites, both world-class talents with an eye on qualification. The downside: only one will progress. Both players arrived early at the board and looked relaxed. Their game followed a solid line of Closed Ruy López. Erigaisi, playing Black, blitzed out every single move and finished the entire game with more time on his clock than when he started – clear evidence of deep preparation. Both players showed perfect control: 99% accuracy, zero mistakes or inaccuracies, and a draw by repetition on move 31. A quiet start, but as the commentators noted, this match has all the ingredients for a fierce fight in Game 2. Sam Shankland (2654) vs Andrey Esipenko (2693) Between them, these players have appeared in ten World Cups. Both had their best runs in 2021: Shankland reached the quarterfinals before losing to
Commonwealth Championship 2025: Daniel Howard Fernandez lifts crown; India shines across categories
English Grandmaster Daniel Howard Fernandez was crowned Commonwealth Champion as the 2025 Commonwealth Chess Championship concluded on Sunday. Organized by the Malaysian Chess Federation under the auspices of the Commonwealth Chess Association and FIDE, the event brought together 373 players from 17 nations, making it one of the most vibrant editions in recent years. Howard’s steady and confident performance earned him the title with an impressive 7.5/9 points, after he drew his final-round game against India’s FM Adireddy Arjun. The race for second place was fiercely contested, with four Indian players finishing on 7 points. Tiebreaks awarded FM Adireddy Arjun (pictured below) the silver medal and GM Lalit Babu M R the bronze, followed by IM Neelash Saha and GM Deepan Chakkravarthy in fourth and fifth place, respectively. In the Women’s category, which was integrated with the Open event, India demonstrated overwhelming dominance by sweeping the podium. Srija Seshadri captured the gold medal with an impressive performance, while Mary Ann Gomes secured silver and Nisha Mohota claimed bronze. Category highlights The tournament featured a wide range of categories, each showcasing spirited battles and outstanding performances from emerging talents across the Commonwealth. Junior categories: Under-20 (Junior): Singapore’s Goh Zi Han (Gold), Bangladesh’s Tashriq Saihan Shan (Silver), Malaysia’s A’qil A’lauddin Bin Abd Aziz (Bronze). Junior Girls: Sri Lanka’s Sandula K M Dahamdi (Gold), India’s Mrittika Mallick (Silver), Singapore’s Liew Tze Chi (Bronze). Senior: Malaysia’s Ismail Ahmad (Gold), Kenya’s John Mukabi (Silver), India’s IM Sekhar Chandra Sahu (Bronze). Open youth categories: Under-08: Malaysia’s Muhammad Aariz Daniel Bin Mohd Shah (Gold), India’s Prayank Gaonkar (Silver), Sri Lanka’s Basnayake Kevon Dulkith (Bronze). Under-10: Sri Lanka’s CM Karunasena A P Chenitha Sihas Dinsara (Gold), India’s Parv H Hakani (Silver), India’s Nidhish Shyamal (Bronze). Under-12: India’s CM Madhvendra Pratap Sharma dominated with a perfect 9/9 points (Gold), Singapore’s AFM Aaradhya Suyog Bagul (Silver), Sri Lanka’s CM Wijerathna Vinuka Dihain (Bronze). Under-14: India’s AIM Adhiraj Mitra (Gold), Sri Lanka’s Wickramasinghe V W A Vinuda Vidmal (Silver), India’s FM Reyan Md. (Bronze). Under-16: India’s IM Borgaonkar Akshay (Gold), Sri Lanka’s Induwara T H D Thisarindu (Silver), India’s CM Velavaa Ragavesh (Bronze). Under-18: India’s IM Sriram Adarsh Uppala delivered a dominant performance with 9 points (Gold), India’s Borkhetariya Devarsh M (Silver), Singapore’s Lee Tsuen Jin Aiesec (Bronze). Girls’ youth categories: Under-08: An Indian sweep with Anaya Sharma (Gold), Anvi Deepak Hinge (Silver), and Teesha Byadwal (Bronze). Under-10: India’s Vanshika Rawat (Gold, 8/9 points), Malaysia’s Maha A/P Nathan (Silver), India’s Kiyanna Parihaar (Bronze). Under-12: India’s WCM Divi Bijesh (Gold), Singapore’s Liew Tze Yu (Silver), Australia’s Daniel Suria (Bronze). Under-14: India’s Aditri Shome (Gold, 8.5/9 points), Sri Lanka’s De Silva B P Chanthuli Thanishka (Silver), India’s WFM Saranya Devi Narahari (Bronze). Under-16: Another Indian sweep with FM Prishita Gupta (Gold), Ananya Raman (Silver), and Aswinika Mani R (Bronze). Under-18: India’s Sagar Siya (Gold), India’s WCM Anupam M Sreekumar (Silver), Bangladesh’s WCM Omnia Binta Yusuf Lubaba (Bronze). The championship concluded with a vibrant closing ceremony, where Bharat Singh Chauhan, President of the Commonwealth Chess Association, and Akhramsyah Muammar, President of the Malaysian Chess Federation, presented the awards. The 2025 edition not only celebrated exceptional individual talent but also highlighted the growing depth and competitive spirit across Commonwealth nations, reaffirming the event’s status as a landmark festival of chess. Complete results are available on chess-results.com.
FIDE launches Global Survey on Chess in Education
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has announced the launch of its Global Survey on Chess in Education, inviting federations, schools, and partner organizations worldwide to participate before February 28, 2026. This initiative aims to gather essential insights to guide FIDE’s Educational Strategy and Action Plan for 2027–2030, ensuring that chess continues to grow as a powerful tool for learning and inclusion. In his official message, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich emphasized the importance of this effort, recalling the success of the 2021 survey which revealed that more than 25 million children and 237,000 teachers and trainers were already engaged in educational chess. Since then, FIDE has expanded training courses, launched certification systems, organized international conferences, and facilitated research projects worldwide. The new survey will: Identify global trends in educational chess and strengthen FIDE’s policies. Support visibility and recognition at the highest international levels, with results to be shared with UNESCO, UNICEF, ministries of education, universities, and NGOs. Encourage participation by confirming that survey responses will be taken into account when awarding Chess in Education grants in 2026. Prepare the ground for a landmark initiative: 2026 has been declared the Year of Chess in Education, celebrating and expanding chess as a medium for learning and growth. FIDE warmly invites all federations, schools, and partner organizations to contribute to this important effort. By participating, stakeholders will help demonstrate the global power of chess as an educational catalyst, attract new sponsorship opportunities, and empower millions of children, teachers, and communities worldwide. The survey is available in English, Spanish, and Russian. Please read the Presidents s letter and access the Global Survey [HERE].
FIDE World Cup: Quarterfinals set after high-stakes Round 5 tiebreaks
The FIDE World Cup in Goa reached a boiling point today as four intense tiebreak matches unfolded, each with a place in the quarterfinals on the line. With no more second chances and yesterday’s classical draws setting the stage, today’s rapid and blitz battles brought drama, tension, and decisive outcomes across the board. Before the games began, the ceremonial first move was made for Lê Quang Liêm on Board 2, by Mr. Kedar J Naik, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Goa and Chairman of the Goa Tourism Development Corporation. Sam Shankland and Andrey Esipenko secured clean wins early in the first rapid portion against Daniil Dubov and Alexey Grebnev respectively, while José Martínez defeated Pentala Harikrishna in the 10+10 rapid. Alexander Donchenko took Lê Quang Liêm into blitz territory before stamping his ticket to the next round. The quarterfinal lineup is now complete, and as the dust settled, four more players advanced with confidence and momentum on their side. Round of 16 tiebreaks results: Daniil Dubov 1-3 Sam Shankland Andrey Esipenko 2.5-1.5 Aleksey Grebnev José Martinez 3.5-2.5 Harikrishna Pentala Alexander Donchenko 4.5-3.5 Lê Quang Liêm Here’s how the day played out: Daniil Dubov – Sam Shankland In earlier interviews, Daniil Dubov made no secret of his strategy: to steer matches into tiebreaks. As a former World Rapid Champion, he felt this format played to his strengths. He also claimed that playing solidly with White and pushing with Black was the best way to capitalize on opponent’s overextending. But today, Sam Shankland flipped that plan on its head. Playing White in the first rapid game, he unleashed a novelty in the opening that led to an imbalanced position and early initiative on his side. With pressure mounting and the clock on his side, Shankland methodically limited Dubov’s options. Dubov, rarely short of creative ideas, struggled to find counterplay and instead fell into mistake after mistake, resulting in a convincing win for the American. The second game, a symmetrical English, saw early queen exchanges and a dry position that offered little for either side. A draw seemed impending, but Dubov overpushed in the endgame, losing the game and with it, his World Cup run came to an end. After the match, Shankland reflected on reaching the quarterfinals once before in 2021, a run that ended painfully at the hands of Sergey Karjakin in tiebreaks. “That’s haunted me ever since,” he admitted, adding that he now hopes to “banish the demon” for good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTRXDSWaWkA Andrey Esipenko – Alexey Grebnev It raised eyebrows when Andrey Esipenko took relatively quick draws in his classical games against Alexey Grebnev. But if anyone doubted his strategy, the first rapid game removed all uncertainty. After a Petroff turned into a wild opposite-side castling battle, Esipenko seized the initiative by move 14 and was in complete control by move 20. It was a dominant win. The second game was a stark contrast and stretched all the way to move 145. Esipenko, now with Black, came out of the opening in a stable position. When it looked like both players were shuffling pieces with no progress, Esipenko made a bold choice to open up the queenside. This ambition backfired with a missed tactic, and suddenly Grebnev was up a pawn. But nerves kicked in and Grebnev misplayed the critical move order and let Esipenko seize control once more The game soon turned into a technical endgame with each side down to a rook and Grebnev holding two pawns to Esipenko’s one. Esipenko, calm and prepared, navigated the position to a theoretical draw. Ironically, by move 145, both players had more time on their clocks than they did on move 50. With this match victory, Esipenko reached the deepest stage of a FIDE World Cup in his career. Harikrishna Pentala – José Martinez This was widely expected to be the longest match of the day, especially after the first two rapid games ended in uneventful draws. Much of the chatter centered around José Martínez’s reputation as a blitz expert, regularly beating the world’s best online. That meant Harikrishna’s best chances were in the rapid phase. In their first rapid game, the players entered a Richter-Rauzer Sicilian and while both appeared prepared, a few subtle inaccuracies left Harikrishna with isolated doubled pawns and passive pieces. Martínez, whose pieces worked seamlessly together, activated his rooks and pushed the kingside majority. The result was a smooth breakthrough and the first decisive game of their match – a must-win situation for Harikrishna in game two. In the second game, Harikrishna opted for an offbeat Caro-Kann with …Na6 on the third move, likely intending to avoid his opponent’s preparation. The opponents quickly entered unexplored territory and a critical position arose at move 21: Harikrishna quickly played 20…Nd3?, a move which our commentator Peter Leko exclaimed is a good move if it does not lose. Martinez had to see the important move 21.g4! and after 21…Qe4 suddenly 22.Bxf7+ gives White a huge advantage as capturing is not possible due to Ng5. Instead, Martinez played 21.Rad1 and the position became equal once more. In his post-game interview, he acknowledged seeing this line but decided to not enter the complications. Even so, the move g4 was played a few turns later, this time with full effect. Harikrishna erred instantly and Martinez seized a decisive advantage. With everything in hand, Jose chose a threefold repetition to seal the draw and punch his ticket to quarterfinals. In his interview, Martinez issued a spirited challenge to the field: “Those who want to go far in this World Cup have to get through me.” With his confidence and composure, it’s easy to see why he’s becoming one of the breakout names of the tournament. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8VM1iNxW9s Alexander Donchenko – Lê Quang Liêm The last match of the day to finish briefly seemed like it would actually be the first match to finish after Alexander Donchenko struck first with the black pieces. After yesterday’s tense and heartbreaking draw where one misstep in the
WCCC 2025: Greco crowned the smartest company in the world
The final day of the 2025 FIDE World Corporate Chess Championship saw Greco crowned Corporate Chess Champions and officially recognised as the smartest company in the world. After an intense round-robin phase, the competition moved to the semi-finals, where the four strongest teams – Morgan Stanley, Greco, Deloitte, and Google – faced off in knockout matches to decide the title. By the end of the afternoon, Greco had emerged victorious after a closely contested final against Morgan Stanley, bringing this year’s championship to a dramatic finish inside the FIDE World Cup hall in Goa. Excitement filled the room from the first move. Whether it was the thrill of representing their companies on a global platform, being within reach of a world title, or competing in the same hall as the World Cup, the players (all non-professionals) were fully focused. Almost every board featured titled competitors, and the chess was intense from the outset. Semifinals The semifinals featured Morgan Stanley vs Google and Greco vs Deloitte, with each match played over two rounds. In the event of a tie, a sudden-death game would have been used to decide the winner. In the match between Morgan Stanley and Google, the rating difference was clear, with Morgan Stanley outranking their counterparts by 200 to 500 points on every board. They confirmed their status as favourites by sweeping both rounds 4-0. With a perfect 8-0 match score and not a single half-point conceded, Morgan Stanley cruised into the finals. The encounter between Greco and Deloitte was more tightly contested. On paper, Greco had the edge thanks to the presence of GM Volodymyr Onyshchuk (2608) on the top board. They took the first match 3.5–0.5. As IM Sagar Shah observed on the live ChessBase India broadcast, the second match was significantly closer, with Deloitte holding a draw on board two and pushing on others. In the end, Greco repeated the same match score of 3.5-0.5 to book their spot in the finals. FINALS Morgan Stanley vs Greco The championship match between Morgan Stanley and Greco brought the two strongest teams of the event head-to-head. The matchups were finely balanced: Greco outrated Morgan Stanley on boards one and four, while Morgan Stanley held the rating edge on boards two and three. The opening round reflected this balance. GM Joshua Sheng struck first for Morgan Stanley, securing victory on board two. On the remaining boards, the clock played a significant role as the 10+3 time control led to scrambles in equal or better positions. The first round ended in a tense 2-2 draw, setting up a dramatic second match. GM Alojzije Janković, commenting on-site, compared some of the positions to those in the World Cup itself, noting the remarkably high level of chess across all boards. Despite the rating differences, the tides shifted throughout, leaving spectators and commentators on edge. In the end, Greco prevailed with a commanding 3.5-0.5 win in the second match, securing their place as 2025 World Corporate Champions. Deloitte vs Google In the bronze medal match, Deloitte took the early lead with a 3-1 win in the first round and repeated the same result in the second, securing third place in the championship. Their play was solid and consistent under pressure, earning them a podium finish behind the two tournament frontrunners. Game of the tournament One encounter stood out as a highlight of the entire championship. IM Sagar Shah called it the game of the tournament. In the position after 31…Qe4-Qc6, GM Joshua Sheng (White) was a piece down against IM Valeriy Grinev, but engines evaluated it as equal due to White’s activity. The commentators pointed out the stunning tactical opportunity: 32.Qxg7! The queen cannot be captured as 32…Rxg7 fails to 33.Rxd8#. The only defense for Black in this case would have been 32…Qe8, still holding equality. Instead, Sheng played 32.Rd6, and after 32…Qh1+, the game was drawn soon by three-fold repetition. Chess and business share a natural connection. Both require strategic planning, flexibility under pressure, and precise decision-making in complex situations. More companies are embracing chess not just as a recreational pastime, but as a tool to develop these skills among employees. Internal chess clubs, learning sessions, and corporate tournaments form part of a workplace culture built around challenge and collaboration. On today’s broadcast, WGM Keti Tsatsalashvili recalled visiting Meta’s offices after last year’s finals in New York, where she found chess boards in most rooms and learned the company even maintains its own internal rating system, an example of how deeply chess is woven into corporate environments. This movement toward chess in the workplace is evident at the FWCCC. Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa, who made the ceremonial first move yesterday, commented, “It’s great to see big companies like Google, Microsoft, Deloitte, Tech Mahindra all here… it shows how chess is expanding into the corporate world,” adding, “If companies find chess interesting and join, even in a small way, it’s great for the game.” As Gabor Szamoskozi from Morgan Stanley shared, “We’ve been running an interoffice chess tournament for more than a decade now. Participation has grown, more than 1,000 players take part every year.” He added, “Chess teaches us to think ahead under time pressure, just like in business. It’s no surprise the game resonates so well with people in our field.” The trend goes beyond office walls. Leading companies now support chess at the highest levels, from Google sponsoring the 2024 FIDE World Championship Match, to Morgan Stanley supporting Judit Polgar’s Global Chess Festival, and Tech Mahindra’s continued backing of the Global Chess League – to name a few. The FIDE World Corporate Chess Championship reflects this growing synergy, bringing together teams who apply the same analytical thinking and teamwork on the chessboard that they use in their daily work. It’s a clear sign that modern business culture values intellectual challenge, community, and strategic excellence in equal measure. Companies interested in joining this movement and competing at next year’s FWCCC are encouraged to contact FIDE for early registration and participation details.