5th International Youth Chess Festival of the Tigran Petrosyan Chess House School of Sport concludes in Yerevan
Held from June 17 to June 27, the fifth edition of the International Youth Chess Festival of the Tigran Petrosyan Chess House School of Sport brought together more than 650 young chess players from different countries, creating a vibrant atmosphere of competition, friendship, and chess excellence. For nine days, young talents demonstrated their knowledge, determination, fighting spirit, and passion for chess, competing for victory across six different age categories. The tournament featured exciting games, strong competition, and unforgettable moments for participants, coaches, and chess enthusiasts. CM Volodya Torosyan emerged as the overall winner of the festival. FM Menua Hakobyan and Arman Harutyunyan finished on equal points and shared second place. Complete final standings On June 27, the closing ceremony took place at the Tigran Petrosian Chess House School of Sport in Yerevan, Armenia. During the ceremony, the best-performing players received medals, diplomas, special prizes, gifts, and monetary awards. The festival once again highlighted the importance of supporting youth chess development and creating international platforms for young players to gain valuable experience. The organizers expressed their gratitude to all participants, coaches, parents, partners, and supporters who contributed to the success of this international chess event.
From classroom to world stage: St Joseph’s Anglo-Chinese Primary School in Hong Kong
As FIDE celebrates 2026 as the Year of Chess in Education, inspiring initiatives around the world continue to demonstrate the impact of chess beyond competition. During the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Team Championships in Hong Kong, the FIDE media team had the opportunity to visit St. Joseph’s Anglo-Chinese Primary School, where chess has become an integral part of school life, helping students develop not only their playing strength but also confidence, critical thinking and social skills. What began as a classroom experiment has grown into one of Hong Kong’s most active school chess programmes, with students already representing their school on the international stage. Learning from the World’s Best Twenty-five students gathered for a special lesson based on a recent endgame from the UzChess Cup between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Hans Niemann, played in Round 8. The position was carefully selected because it demonstrated one of chess’s most important strategic concepts: the power of connected passed pawns. Ian Nepomniachtchi – Hans Niemann After 30.Nxa6!, Ian Nepomniachtchi sacrificed a knight, allowing 30…Kc8, trapping it. His deep preparation had already steered the game into a winning endgame, where connected passed pawns proved stronger than the material deficit. Rather than simply analysing the position, the students were invited to play it themselves. Before the games began, each student chose whether to play White or Black and explained their decision. Some preferred Black because of the material advantage: “Black, because Black has an extra knight.” Others were curious to figure out how White could possibly win: “White, because White won the game.” One student’s answer particularly captured the educational spirit of the lesson: “White, because I want to challenge myself and find out what I would do in this position.” The practical exercise produced an interesting result. Although White started a piece down, the majority of students playing White successfully converted the position into a win, discovering firsthand just how dangerous connected passed pawns can become. Many of the games eventually reached queen versus knight endgames, giving the students valuable practical experience. Football meets chess With the FIFA World Cup capturing attention around the globe, the lesson concluded with a fun and creative activity: Football Chess. Played with a standard chess set, the game uses a single pawn placed on e4 as the football and pieces placed on 1st and 8th ranks as in a standard chess game. There are no captures, checks or checkmates. Instead, whenever a piece reaches the square occupied by the pawn, the “ball” may immediately be moved to any square that piece could legally reach. The objective is to score by moving the ball onto e8 or e1. The game quickly filled the classroom with excitement while encouraging creativity, planning and teamwork in an entirely different way. A programme that started by accident The school’s chess programme is led by English teacher Joseph Belk, whose original intention was simply to make language lessons more engaging: “About five years ago, during the pandemic, I introduced chess into my English classroom as a language activity,” Belk explained. “I thought, let’s use language to learn something with a rich history. Chess felt like the perfect opportunity.” Even after those lessons ended, the students kept playing. The turning point came when one of Belk’s colleagues purchased additional chess equipment and discovered a flyer for the Hong Kong Junior Chess Championship. The school decided to field a team, and the students immediately embraced the competitive experience. “Our boys felt very encouraged by the environment,” Belk said. “Since then, we’ve become serious participants in local tournaments.” Following the team’s encouraging results, the school continued expanding its chess programme, and today chess has become a regular part of school life alongside activities such as football, basketball and music. Building confidence beyond the chessboard While chess naturally develops calculation and critical thinking, Belk believes its greatest impact has been on the students themselves. “I’ve heard from colleagues about improvements academically,” he said. “But for me, the biggest change has been socially – in their confidence.” He recalled one particularly memorable student. “I remember one boy being incredibly quiet. Whenever I asked him a question, he would simply say, ‘I don’t know.’ But through chess he found something he was really good at. It gave him confidence, helped him make friends, and changed the way he saw himself.” For Belk, these personal transformations are every bit as meaningful as tournament victories. Representing Hong Kong internationally The programme’s rapid growth has already produced international opportunities. In April 2026, St. Joseph’s Anglo-Chinese Primary School represented Hong Kong at the FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship 2026 – Asian Continental Stage in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Entering the tournament as the 21st seed among 26 teams, the students exceeded expectations by finishing 15th, scoring three wins, two draws and three losses. “I was incredibly proud just to have the opportunity to take our four players there,” Belk said. “To finish well above our starting rank made it even more special.” The school’s international journey continues. One of its younger players is currently competing in the Amateur Cup during the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Team Championships in Hong Kong, gaining further experience against players from around the world. A lasting memory To commemorate the school’s participation in the FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship, one of the school’s student Art Ambassadors created a wooden engraving of a chessboard featuring the championship and celebrating the Asian Continental Stage in Almaty, while also looking ahead to the upcoming continental events in San José and Cape Town. The artwork serves as a reminder of how far the programme has come – and the exciting opportunities still to come for its students. Keeping chess fun Asked what advice he would give to teachers hoping to introduce chess into their own schools, Belk’s answer was refreshingly simple. “It’s actually very easy to make children love chess,” he said. “Let them play. Let them have fun. Keep them interested and keep the pieces moving. If you spend too
Bahrain Championship 2026: Hussein Ayad and Najla Ahmed claim titles
The Bahrain Classical Chess Championship 2026 concluded on Saturday, 20 June 2026, at Khalifa Sports City, following several days of intense competition. The event showcased the continued growth and development of chess in the Kingdom of Bahrain and brought together a large number of participants in a highly competitive atmosphere. For the first time, the classical championship was split into four categories: Open, Women, a category for the Bahrain Youth Center, and Amateurs, helping spread participation across different levels. In the Open category, a nine-round Swiss tournament, top seed Hussein Ayad tied for first place with Ali Al Ghasra on 7/9 and clinched the title thanks to the victory in their direct encounter. Three players finished a half-point behind the duo, with Munther Al Fardan taking bronze based on his superior Buchholz score. Complete final standings – Open In the Women’s Category, Najla Ahmed claimed the title, while Zainab Al Afu finished as runner-up and Wafaa Yaqoub secured third place. Judy Mansour Al Faraj placed fourth, followed by Sundus Obaid in fifth. In the Amateur Category, Fahad Fawaz Al Qusaibi came out on top, ahead of Yousif Jamal Bourshaid in second and Abdullah Hizam Abdullah in third. Judy Mansour Al Faraj placed fourth, followed by Sundus Obaid in fifth. In the Youth Centers Category, Salman Al Shaikh emerged as the winner, followed by Anas Mohammed Yahya in second place and Firas Abbas Abdulshaheed in third. Al Hanouf Rashid Shuwaiter secured fourth place, Luluwa Rashid Shuwaiter fifth, Abdulrahman Hashem Al Koheji sixth, Khalid Salman Al Sindi seventh, Saud Yahya Al Jar eighth, Saud Hashem Al Koheji ninth, and Laila Mahmood Hassan tenth. The closing ceremony was attended by Ahmed Mohammed Abdulghaffar, Executive Director of Operations at the Bahrain Olympic Committee, and Anmar Ebrahim Ahmadi, President of the Bahrain Chess Federation, along with other federation officials. Photo: Bahrain Chess Federation
Winners crowned at FIDE World Cup Under 8–12
The curtain fell on the FIDE World Cup Under 8–12 in Batumi, bringing an end to a thrilling competition. Over the past eleven days, players from across the globe demonstrated outstanding skills and determination, with each round bringing new challenges, unforgettable memories, and a wealth of emotions. China emerged as the dominant force in the medal standings, finishing with the biggest haul of the tournament. The Chinese contingent claimed three gold medals, one silver, and one bronze. Kazakhstan also enjoyed a strong campaign, securing one gold and two bronze medals, while France and India rounded out the gold medal winners, with each nation taking home one gold. India further bolstered their tally with two silver medals and one bronze. Congratulations to all 18 medalists and every participant for their remarkable achievements and the fighting spirit they brought to the board. Open U08 🥇 Jin Yuxin (CHN) – 9½🥈 Sergeev Vladimir Nik (FID) – 9🥉 Zhang Ruike (CHN) – 8½ Complete final standings Girls U08 🥇 Sun Yunjin (CHN) – 9½🥈 Ye Xinhe (CHN) – 8½🥉 Saiaastha Singh (IND) – 8½ Complete final standings Open U10 🥇 Ulan Rizat (KAZ) – 9🥈 Mani Sarbartho (IND) – 8½🥉 Sattwik Swain (IND) – 8½ Complete final standings Girls U10 🥇 Chen Zhihan (CHN) – 9🥈 Bissaliyeva Alisha (KAZ) – 9🥉 Asadova Madinabonu (UZB) – 8½ Complete final standings Open U12 🥇 Llari Marc (FRA) – 9🥈 Uzdemir Ali Poyraz (TUR) – 8½🥉 Tulegen Ramazan (KAZ) – 8½ Complete final standings Girls U12 🥇 Divi Bijesh (IND) – 9🥈 Yunker Alisa Genrietta (FID) – 8½🥉 Filippova Milana (KAZ) – 8½ Complete final standings The closing ceremony was held in a warm and festive atmosphere, bringing together participants, coaches, parents, and guests to celebrate the successful conclusion of the tournament. One of the highlights of the day was a captivating performance by Andria Putkaradze, the Junior Eurovision 2024 winner, whose music added an extra layer of celebration to the proceedings. Photos: Mindia Malakhmadze Official website: https://wcc2026.fide.com/
Georgia honours Nona Gaprindashvili with highest national sports award
In a ceremony attended by the Georgian Prime Minister, Minister of Sport and FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, Georgia paid tribute to one of the greatest women chess players of all time, Nona Gaprindashvili. The celebration – held at the Rustaveli National Theatre in Tbilisi, one of the most prominent cultural venues in Georgia – was organised in honour of Gaprindashvili’s 85th birthday (on May 3 this year). The audience included Georgia’s most senior state leadership, government ministers, members of parliament, Tbilisi city officials, business leaders and representatives of the chess community. The 90-minute-long celebration combined Nona’s chess career with Georgian cultural heritage in a unique artistic interpretation of her legacy. At the highlight of the ceremony, Gaprindashvili herself appeared on stage, greeted with ovations. She was presented with the Highest Award of Georgia for Sports Achievement in recognition of her outstanding contribution to chess, sport and the nation of Georgia. Akaki Iashvili, president of the Georgian Chess Federation, said: “Nona Gaprindashvili is part of Georgia’s history. She opened doors for generations of women in chess, and she showed that talent, courage and character can change the game forever. Thanks to her, chess is popular and recognised in the country.” As an example of the high esteem chess enjoys in Georgia, Iashvili noted that the renewed Chess Palace in the center of Tbilisi will open soon, offering space to players and young children from all over the country, including the newest educational materials. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich was also among the guests at the celebration. “Nona Gaprindashvili is a living chess legend, but she is also a national cultural icon, a symbol of Georgian heritage. She is an inspiration for her nation and for the entire chess world, a figure whose legacy promotes the best in chess. It was an honour to be here and celebrate with her and many true chess fans from Georgia and the world,” FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said. Gaprindashvili won the Women’s World Championship title in 1962 and later became the first woman to receive the grandmaster title. A five-time Women’s World Champion, an eleven-time Chess Olympiad winner and the first female winner of the Chess Oscar, she is considered a role model for several generations of Georgian players, with a legacy linked to the rise of Maia Chiburdanidze, Nana Alexandria, Nino Gurieli and other great players. Photos: https://gov.ge/
World Youth Chess Championship 2026 concludes in grand style
Montesilvano, Italy – After twelve memorable days of intense competition, the FIDE World Youth Chess Championships 2026 came to a spectacular conclusion, crowning six new World Youth Champions. A total of 758 players from 84 countries participated in the event, making it one of the strongest and most memorable editions of the championship. The tournament produced everything that makes age-group chess so fascinating – brilliant victories, heartbreaking defeats, remarkable comebacks, and countless unforgettable games. Once again, the championship demonstrated why predicting the winners in youth events is never easy. Success at this level depends not only on chess strength but also on the ability to handle pressure and deliver when it matters most. The closing ceremony was attended by Ottavio De Martinis, Mayor of Montesilvano; GM Roberto Mogranzini, Tournament Director (pictured above); Ozgur Solakoglu, FIDE Delegate, IA Mohammad Alhallak, 1st Vice President of the World Federation for Chess Composition (WFCC); and Hisham Al Taher, General Secretary of the Asian Chess Federation. The dignitaries presented medals to the winners of both the FIDE World Youth Chess Championships and the World Chess Solving Championship. Let us now take a look at the results in each category. Open Under-18 The Open Under-18 title was decided on tie-breaks after two Canadian players finished tied on 9 points. IM Anthony Atanasov claimed the World Championship thanks to his superior tie-break score, while his compatriot IM Emanuel Kot had to settle for the silver medal. It marked one of Canada’s finest performances ever in a World Youth Championship. Spain’s IM Javier Habans Aguerrea took the bronze medal with 8 points. Atanasov’s title-winning run included five consecutive victories in the closing rounds, with his final-round win over top seed IM Philipp Magold proving to be the decisive performance that secured him the World Championship. 🥇 IM Anthony Atanasov (Canada) – 9/11🥈 IM Emanuel Kot (Canada) – 9/11🥉 IM Javier Habans Aguerrea (Spain) – 8/11 Complete final standings Girls Under-18 The Girls Under-18 section saw two players stand out from the rest of the field throughout the tournament. WFM Valeria Kleymenova of FIDE secured the World Youth title with a round to spare, becoming the only player across all six categories to clinch the championship before the final round. She finished with an outstanding result of 10/11, scoring nine victories and two draws. India’s WFM Pratitee Bordoloi claimed the silver medal with an unbeaten 9/11, recording seven wins and four draws in a remarkable performance. In the final round, Pratitee defeated Mongolia’s WFM Erdenebayar Khuslen to secure second place and India’s only medal of the championship. The bronze medal went to China’s WIM Wang Qinxuanyi, who finished on 8 points. Wang secured third place on a tiebreak after holding the champion, Valeria Kleymenova, to a draw in the final round. 🥇 WFM Valeria Kleymenova (FIDE) – 10/11🥈 WFM Pratitee Bordoloi (India) – 9/11🥉 WIM Wang Qinxuanyi (China) – 8/11 Complete final standings Open Under-16 The Open Under-16 section witnessed one of the most dramatic finishes of the championship. Amid constantly changing leaders throughout the event, Azerbaijan’s IM Khagan Ahmad emerged as the World Champion after defeating FIDE’s Gleb Scheglov in the final and longest game of the tournament. This victory gave Ahmad 9.5 points out of 11. At one stage, Ahmad appeared to be in serious trouble, but he demonstrated outstanding resilience and technique. His two rooks and knight eventually outplayed his opponent’s queen and knight, allowing him to turn the tables and secure the title in impressive fashion. Romania’s IM Henry Edward Tudor claimed the silver medal with 8.5 points after defeating India’s IM Goutham Krishna H in the final round. Kazakhstan’s IM Sauat Nurgaliyev also finished on 8.5 points and secured the bronze medal on a tiebreak after overcoming Ukraine’s FM Oleksii Karvatskyi in the last round. 🥇 IM Khagan Ahmad (Azerbaijan) – 9.5/11🥈 IM Henry Edward Tudor (Romania) – 8.5/11🥉 IM Sauat Nurgaliyev (Kazakhstan) – 8.5/11 Complete final standings Girls Under-16 The Girls Under-16 section belonged to FIDE’s WFM Veranika Abramkina, who produced a remarkable finish, winning her last four games under immense pressure to capture the World Youth title with 9 points. Her most important win came in Round 10, where she defeated China’s Jiang Tianyu, who had entered the game with a one-point lead. That result completely changed the course of the tournament and put Abramkina in control of the title race. Jiang Tianyu, who had led the standings for most of the championship and held the best tie-breaks going into the final round, could only manage a draw in her last game. She finished second with 8.5 points. The bronze medal went to WIM Rachael Li of the United States, who also scored 8.5 points but had inferior tiebreaks. Interestingly, the three medal winners formed a perfect cycle during the tournament: Rachael Li defeated Jiang Tianyu, Jiang Tianyu beat Veranika Abramkina, and Veranika Abramkina defeated Rachael Li. 🥇 WFM Veranika Abramkina (FIDE) – 9/11🥈 Jiang Tianyu (China) – 8.5/11🥉 WIM Rachael Li (USA) – 8.5/11 Complete final standings Open Under-14 The Open Under-14 section proved to be one of the most fiercely contested events of the championship. Despite the young age of the participants, the level of competition was exceptionally high, and the final two rounds completely reshaped the medal race. The biggest surprise came when two-time age-group World Champion IM Mark Smirnov of Kazakhstan slipped out of medal contention altogether. The turning point came in Round 9, in which he faced Poland’s FM Antoni Radzimski. In an almost equal position, Smirnov blundered a bishop under severe time pressure, a mistake that changed the course of the tournament. Boosted by this victory, Radzimski never looked back. In the final round, he defeated Armenia’s Artem T. Mamikonyan to finish on 9/11 and claim the World Youth title. CM Damir Bulgak of FIDE secured the silver medal with 8.5 points, while FM Ethan Guo of the United States claimed the bronze medal on tiebreak with 8 points. 🥇 FM Antoni Radzimski (Poland) – 9/11🥈
African Individual Championship 2026: Bilel Bellahcene and Shahenda Wafa clinch titles
GM Bilel Bellahcene (Algeria) and WGM Shahenda Wafa (Egypt) are newly crowned African Chess Champions. Bellahcene successfully defended his title becoming the third multiple winner of the event, while Wafa claimed her fourth continental crown, adding to her previous victories of 2017, 2018 and 2022. The most important African championship in the Open and Women’s sections took place at the Cresta Hotel in Jwaneng, Botswana. Both competitions were 9-round Swiss tournaments, bringing together over 100 of the continent’s best players. The Open event developed into a close race between the defending champion and top seed GM Bassem Amin (Egypt; pictured below), who were jointly leading the field after Round 5 with 4.5/5 each. Bellahcene emerged victorious in their next-round clash and pulled ahead. Unfazed, Amin won three consecutive games and caught up with the leader by the finish. Both players totaled 7.5/9 and tied for first place, with Bellahcene (pictured above) clinching gold on tiebreaks (based on the average rating of opponents). Sixteen-seed FM Banele Mhango (Republic of South Africa) produced a minor sensation earning bronze after edging out Dante M Beukes (Namibia) and Mariano Ortega Amarelle (Cape Verde) on tiebreaks Final standings Open The women’s competition turned into a family affair as the Wafa sisters – Shahenda and Shrook – both netted 7.5/9 to tie for the top position. Shahenda (pictured below, right) led most of the event but made two draws at the finish, allowing her older sister and the defending champion to catch up. Still, it was Shahenda who captured the title on tiebreaks. WFM Sasha Mongeli of Kenya delivered a solid performance of 6.5/9, which brought her bronze and a 31-point rating gain. Final standings Women Photos: African Chess Confederation Official website: https://africachessconfederation.com/
Last call for FIDE Excellence Awards nominations
On June 1, 2026, FIDE launched the FIDE Excellence Awards, a new biennial awards program established to recognize outstanding achievements, individuals, events, federations, teams, creators, and initiatives across the global chess community. The awards recognize excellence over the previous two-year cycle, beginning after each Chess Olympiad and culminating at the next Olympiad. The inaugural FIDE Excellence Awards ceremony will take place in September 2026 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, during the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad. Nominations are now open, and members of the global chess community are invited to submit candidates through the official FIDE Excellence Awards website. Award categories Awards will be presented across six regular categories and five discretionary categories, celebrating excellence both on and off the board. Nomination and selection process Nominations must relate to achievements and contributions made during the current Olympiad cycle. Multiple nominations may be submitted across different categories, provided each submission includes supporting information explaining the candidate’s achievements and impact. The selection process comprizes three stages: Stage one, running from June 1 to June 30, 2026, invites the chess community to submit nominations online. Following this, the FIDE Excellence Awards Working Group will review submissions and compile longlists. During stage two, from July 1 to July 15, 2026, the FIDE Excellence Awards Jury will review the longlists and select the official shortlist in each category. The shortlists, consisting of ten nominees per category, will be published on July 15, 2026. In the final stage, the FIDE Excellence Awards Panel will vote to determine the winners, who will be announced during the official ceremony in Samarkand in September 2026. The FIDE Excellence Awards recognize world-class players, breakthrough creators, outstanding federations, and projects that use chess to create a positive impact in society. The awards celebrate excellence across the global chess community. Submit your nominations here: https://excellence.fide.com/#nominate Nomination deadline: June 30, 2026 Official website: https://excellence.fide.com/
FIDE and World Chess Agree to Test a First Over-the-Board Official Rating, Earned Online
For the first time in the history of chess, online play can lead to an official FIDE rating. Lausanne & London – June 23, 2026 – FIDE and World Chess today announced they have agreed to work toward the First Rating Experiment – a first-of-its-kind program that would let players earn their first official over-the-board FIDE blitz and rapid rating through online play. Today, around 500,000 players hold an official FIDE OTB rating. This program is designed to open that to millions more. For players who have never had access to rated over-the-board chess, it could lead to a professional chess career. “This is how FIDE grows the game responsibly,” said FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich. “Transparent, controlled, and built with the community. We’ve agreed on a framework that puts the integrity of the rating system first – and opens it to players who have never had a way in.” “A FIDE rating opens doors to a professional chess career for those who want it. Some players who want one have never had a way in. This program is designed to change that,” said Ilya Merenzon, CEO of World Chess. “We’ve agreed on the framework. Now we’re doing the work properly – with FIDE, and with the chess community.” The two parties have agreed in principle and are now working toward a final agreement. Today’s announcement invites the chess community to engage with and shape the program before anything is finalized. The program, if confirmed, would run for two years – with the possibility of extension – on worldchess.com, the official FIDE online platform, in rapid and blitz, under full FIDE supervision. How it works To qualify for rating conversion, a player would need to build a real body of online rated play – including a minimum number of games in online rated tournaments, not just casual games. Once eligible, their results go through fair-play checks. If those pass, a rating is issued using a carefully designed coefficient. That coefficient is the technical heart of the program. It is calculated to ensure that a rating earned online reflects the same standard of play as one earned over the board – that an online result and an OTB result at the same level mean the same thing. The coefficient is set by specialists, recalibrated every six months against large player cohorts, and approved by FIDE. The rating has a fixed ceiling, currently proposed at 1,800. Above it, ratings are earned over the board, as always. Players will be able to convert their rating to OTB once a calendar year, subject to community and professional input. Fair play Every qualifying game is screened by layered detection built for this program. Results in doubt are held and reviewed by a dedicated Anti-Cheating Officer, with a formal appeals process available to any player. The system has been independently reviewed by external experts and will undergo further certification. Every player verifies their identity before qualifying. Community review The technical design – the coefficient methodology, the qualifying standard, the rating ceiling, the appeals route – is open for review and discussion before anything is finalised. This is a genuine conversation, not a formality. Players, coaches, federations, and experts are invited to engage with the detail, raise concerns, and help shape the final rules. FIDE and World Chess aim to finalize and launch the program in July, subject to further community discussion and professional input. We invite the chess community to submit feedback on the community page, https://worldchess.com/convert-online-rating-to-otb. About World Chess: World Chess plc (LSE: CHSS) is a London-listed chess company and an official commercial partner of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). It develops and operates worldchess.com, a platform with over one million users; produces the World Chess Show, broadcast in more than 50 markets; and organizes major chess events. Across platform, broadcast, and live play, World Chess connects players to FIDE-recognized ratings, titles, and competition – bringing official chess to a global audience.
Viktor Gažík and Zuzana Hagarová crowned Slovak champions
GM Viktor Gažík and IM Zuzana Hagarová are the newly crowned Slovak chess champions. The 2026 edition of the Slovak national championship, held in the Open and Women sections, took place in Bratislava from 13 to 21 June. Both competitions were 10-player round-robins with classical time control. The open event developed into a tight race between defending champion Gažík and GM Peter Michalík. The pair shared the lead until Round 6, where their paths diverged. Gažík scored two consecutive victories and pulled away as Michalík managed only two draws. Despite losing in the penultimate round to IM Vladimír Bochnička, Gažík Gažík bounced back to defeat GM Filip Haring in the final round. Totaling 7/9 he successfully defended his title. The runner-up Michalík finished a full point behind the champion, while GM Juraj Druska completed the podium with 5.5/9. Final standings – Open The women’s event proved to be even more exciting and came down to the wire. As tournament fate would have it, the joint leaders – Zuzana Hagarová and WIM Svetlana Sučikova (both on 6.5/8) – clashed in the final round. Hagarová pulled off a crucial victory and claimed the title. Sučikova settled for the silver medal, while WFM Monika Rojíčková took bronze with 5.5/9. Final standings – Women Photos: Slovenský šachový zväz Official website: https://www.msr2026.chess.sk/index.html