FIDE Excellence Awards: Submission deadline approaching
On June 1, 2026, FIDE launched the FIDE Excellence Awards, a new biennial awards programme established to recognise outstanding achievements, individuals, events, federations, teams, creators, and initiatives across the global chess community. The awards recognise 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 includes 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 recognise 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: Nomination deadline: June 30, 2026 Official website: https://excellence.fide.com/
FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz in Hong Kong preview: Chess elite comes to Asia’s new stage
By Milan Dinic From 16 to 22 June, the crème de la crème of the chess world will gather in Hong Kong for the fourth edition of the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships, alongside the inaugural World Team Amateur Rapid Chess Cup, with both events featuring more than 800 participants. Since its launch in 2023, the FIDE WRBT has become one of the most popular global fast chess team events, where top world players, men and women, prodigies and non-professionals, come together in a mixed-team format to compete for two world crowns. After the inaugural edition in Dusseldorf in 2023, where 36 teams played, each year the number has grown – 38 in Astana in 2024 and then London made a leap with nearly 60 teams in 2025. Hong Kong has raised the ceiling higher, with 48 teams with nearly 400 players, as well as the first World Team Amateur Cup which is expected to have more than 400 participants. “The size of this event is not only in numbers. The field includes world champions, elite grandmasters, leading women players, juniors, club players, corporate officials, and recreational players. That mix gives the FIDE WRBT a unique place in chess,” said FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich. This is the first time the WRBT is coming to East Asia, where it will be hosted jointly by FIDE and the Hong Kong China Chess Federation. “Hosting the tournament in Hong Kong is a statement to the capacities and the ambitions of our chess federation, showing that we want to be taken seriously as a chess city,” said Geoffrey Kao, the Honorary President of the Hong Kong China Chess Federation. The timing of the event is strong. Chess power has been shifting towards Asia in recent years, with India, China, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan being central to elite chess. Hong Kong sits naturally between these chess cultures, while still being a global business and travel hub. That fits the WRB Teams well, because this event is not only for national teams. It brings together clubs, sponsors, companies, academies, and private teams. “I am very proud of my team for developing this unique event. This is not only about enjoyment and great chess but also about bringing people of different chess skills as well as different backgrounds and outlooks on life together under one roof. As a result, the event is also a fair where people meet, exchange ideas, and connect on a personal and professional level, leading to new opportunities for everyone. That is exactly what we want to give to the chess community,” Dvorkovich said. Key facts about the 2026 FIDE Team WRB Championships The main competition days are 17 to 21 June at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium. The field has 48 teams and nearly 400 players confirmed. Each team has six to nine players, plus a captain who may play. Each team must include at least one female player and one recreational player. The recreational player is a player who has never reached 2000 Elo in standard, rapid, or blitz or is unrated up to the March 2026 rating lists. Every match is played on six boards, with at least one female player and one recreational player in the lineup. They must be two different players. Rapid championship The World Team Rapid takes place on the 17, 18 and 19 June. It will feature a 12-round Swiss system. Scoring will be based on match points: two for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a loss. The time control for the World Team Rapid is 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move from move one. Four rounds will be played each day, starting from 2 PM local time. Blitz championship The World Team Blitz takes place on 20 and 21 June. Unlike the rapid, the blitz competition features two stages:1) a pool stage featuring round robins2) a 16-team knockout for the qualification to the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final The time control is three minutes plus two seconds per move, from move one. The blitz pool stage starts on 20 June at 2:00 pm. The round of 16 starts the same evening at 7:00 pm. The quarter-finals begin on 21 June at 2:00 pm, with the final scheduled for 7:00 pm. Key facts about the Amateur Cup The inaugural FIDE World Team Amateur Rapid Chess Cup 2026 runs alongside the main championship. It is for teams of six players who have never reached 2000 Elo in standard, rapid, or blitz, or are unrated, up to the March 2026 rating lists. The system is based on two pools – A and B, with a nine-round Swiss tournament in each. The time control will be 15 minutes plus 10 seconds, starting from move one. The Amateur Cup starts with its opening ceremony on 18 June at 8:45 am. Rounds are played at 9:00 am, 10:00 am, and 11:00 am on 18, 19 and 20 June. The final stage begins on 21 June at 12:30 pm. Prize funds The main World Team Rapid and Blitz prize fund is €500,000. The Rapid championship has €310,000, while the Blitz championship has €190,000. The winner of the Rapid will receive €110,000, while the winning team in the Blitz will receive €75,000. The Amateur Cup prize fund is €25,000, with €10,000 for first place. Biggest teams and lineups The headline teams are WR Chess, Hexamind, Team MGD1, Dragon Chilling, Kazchess, Uzbekistan, Chessgurukul, Chess United, and Endgame.AI. WR Chess are the main favourites, with Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Wesley So, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, and Alexandra Kosteniuk. Hexamind brings Levon Aronian, Anish Giri, Alireza Firouzja, Vidit Gujrathi, Kateryna Lagno and Volodar Murzin. Team MGD1, the defending rapid champions, include Arjun Erigaisi, Nihal Sarin, Pranav V, Leon Luke Mendonca, and Harika Dronavalli. Dragon Chilling are led by Ding Liren, Wei Yi, Yu Yangyi, Ju Wenjun and Lei Tingjie. Kazchess include Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Alexander Grischuk, Richard Rapport, Wang Hao, Bibisara Assaubayeva and Kazybek Nogerbek. Uzbekistan have built a
Andrew Hong wins Aktobe Open 2026 – Vladimir Dvorkovich Memorial
American Grandmaster Andrew Hong emerged as the outright winner of the Aktobe Open 2026 – Vladimir Dvorkovich Memorial (Masters) finishing with an excellent score of 7/9. The event brought together 210 participants from 21 countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Norway, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Sweden, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Organized by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Kazakhstan, the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, and the Akimat of the Aktobe Region, the tournament was held at the ACE Tennis Centre. The event was supported by general partners Freedom Holding Corp. and the Aktobe Copper Company, alongside tournament partners Herbalife and the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation. The festival featured two separate nine-round Swiss-system tournaments, both played with a classical time control of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move. The Masters section, which is part of the FIDE Circuit 2026–27, attracted 81 players rated 2400 and above, while the Open section drew 129 participants rated under 2400. The total prize fund stood at ₸50,000,000 (approximately $102,000), with the Masters winner taking home ₸9,000,000 (around $18,400) and the Open champion – ₸1,350,000 (around $2,750). The Masters tournament, an official event of the 2026-2027 FIDE Circuit, was a tightly contested affair, with several players sharing the top position for most of the competition. Heading into the final round, three players – GMs Wang Hao (China), Alexey Sarana (Serbia), and Hong – were tied for first place with 6/8 each. In the decisive matchups Sarana faced Hong with the white pieces, while Wang Hao took on local GM Denis Makhnev with Black. Hong pulled off a crucial victory over Sarana to clinch the title as Wang Hao fell to Makhnev. Meanwhile, three players – IM Daniyal Sapenov (Kazakhstan), GMs Daniil Dubov (FIDE), and Mahdi Gholami Orimi (Iran) – all won their final-round games to tie for second place on 6.5/9. Based on the Buchholz tiebreak, Sapenov placed second, while Dubov rounded out the podium. Polina Shuvalova (FIDE) was the top-performing female player, followed by Liya Kurmangaliyeva (Kazakhstan) and Harika Dronavalli (India). Final standings Masters The Open event podium was swept by Kazakhstani players, who shared the top position with 7.5/9. Tiebreaks favored 17-year-old Aktobe native FM Alan Petukhov, who claimed his second consecutive title. His fellow townsman Kair Beristenov from Astana, took second place, while Arlen Abdrashev finished third. Final standings Open Photos: KazChess
Sam Shankland defends title at 2026 American Continental Chess Championship
GM Sam Shankland (USA) lived up to his status as the tournament favorite, convincingly defending his title at the 19th American Continental Chess Championship. The event was held from 1 to 11 June 2026 at the Hotel Dorados Conventions & Resorts in Oaxtepec, Mexico. The competition, an 11-round Swiss tournament, brought together 126 players from across the Americas. It also served as a qualifier for the FIDE World Cup 2027, offering four qualification spots. The event was tightly contested up to the midpoint, when top seed Shankland strung together three victories and pulled away from the pack. The American GM dominated throughout, scoring an impressive 9.5/11 and conceding just three draws. Local favorite, GM Juan Carlos Obregon Rivero, along with GM Sandro Mareco (ARG), GM Alexandr Fier (BRA), GM Yago De Moura Santiago (BRA), and FM Jose Alberto Sanchez Negreiros (PER), finished 1.5 points behind the champion, sharing second place on 8/11. Along with Shankland, Obregón Rivero, Mareco, and Fier secured the remaining three spots for the FIDE World Cup 2027 based on Buchholz tiebreaks. Second seed Jorge Cori placed only 12th in the main event but achieved a double victory in the rapid and blitz tournaments. Final standings Photos: FIDE America
FIDE World Amateur Rapid & Blitz Championships in Nigeria: Registration continues
All FIDE Member Federations and eligible players are invited to participate in the inaugural FIDE World Amateur Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships 2026, open to players with a FIDE rating under 2300. The event will be held in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, from August 1 (arrival) to August 8 (departure), 2026. The Championships are open to players registered by their national federations. FIDE Member Federations have the right to enter an unlimited number of players. There will be separate Open and Women’s Championships across the following FIDE rating categories: under 2300, under 2000, and under 1700. A separate Women’s Championship will be organized in each category provided that there are at least twenty players from at least two continents. The Championships will be conducted using the Swiss System, with the number of rounds determined based on the final registration numbers. The time controls: Rapid: 15 minutes plus a 10-second increment from move one Blitz: 3 minutes plus a 2-second increment from move one All participants who need to apply for a Nigerian visa must request an invitation letter no later than June 30, 2026. The registration deadline for participants and accompanying persons is also June 30, 2026. Invitation letter, regulations, schedule (PDF) E-mail: worldamateur_rb@fide.com
FIDE Council Resolution on the Review of the Implementation of the CAS Award
The FIDE Council has reviewed the status of implementation of the decision rendered by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) concerning the Chess Federation of Russia. Having considered the information presented, the Council notes that the requirements set forth in the CAS award have not been fulfilled within the prescribed timeframe. Accordingly, and pursuant to Article 26.10 of the FIDE Charter, the Council resolves to impose the sanction of temporary suspension of membership of the respective Member Federation with immediate effect. At the same time, the Council reaffirms its commitment to protecting the rights and interests of individual chess players. In line with FIDE regulations and taking into account the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), measures shall remain in place to ensure that eligible players are able to participate in international chess competitions under the conditions established by FIDE. The Council emphasizes that this decision concerns the Member Federation and does not constitute a restriction on the participation opportunities available to individual players in accordance with the applicable FIDE regulations and decisions. The FIDE Council remains committed to the principles of good governance, compliance with the decisions of competent judicial bodies, and the protection of the interests of the global chess community. In accordance with Article 26.10 of the FIDE Charter, the FIDE Council also decided to submit the issue of confirmation of the sanction pursuant to the CAS Award and this Council’ decision to a vote of the next FIDE General Assembly. The full text of the resolution is attached hereto. FIDE Council Resolution on the Review of the Implementation of the CAS Award (PDF)
Hong Kong to put a new generation of players on the world stage
A host of prodigies and rising chess stars are set to take part in the 2026 edition of the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship in Hong Kong this June. While some have already made their mark in international events, for many emerging talents, the Hong Kong event will be a chance to make their mark on a global chess stage. FIDE and ISCF declared 2026 the Year of Chess in Education, with a focus on integrating chess into school curricula and supporting student development. Hong Kong will be a live version of that idea, where young players who grew up through schools, clubs, academies, and online training now compete on the same stage as chess grandees such as Carlsen, Anand, Ding Liren, Hou Yifan, and Ju Wenjun. In his address to the Hong Kong China Chess Federation, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich spoke about more youth and school chess, more rated local tournaments, and Hong Kong’s wider ambition as an Asian chess hub. For a city aiming to strengthen its chess culture, the fast-paced World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship is a chance to link Hong Kong with the next generation of Asian and world chess players. Hong Kong is also the right city to showcase the shift of chess energy towards Asia. In recent years, India, Uzbekistan, China, and Kazakhstan have all won major medals and trophies, often led by young players. The fourth edition of the WRB Teams will test that strength again. Many of the players taking part in this year’s event – although in their early 20s – are already known to the wider chess world (Praggnanandhaa R, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Javokhir Sindarov, Arjun Erigaisi, Nihal Sarin, and Raunak Sadhwani, to name a few). But this is not a story of “genius children”; rather, it is about the painstaking hard work, training system, coaches, and competition from an early age that each player aiming for the top has to pass. Hong Kong is one of those arenas where young stars will test themselves against the best, as one of the fastest team events on the planet becomes a classroom without walls. Here are some of the young players to watch in Hong Kong: Faustino Oro (born in 2013) All eyes in Hong Kong will be on the second-youngest player to ever achieve the title of Grandmaster – Faustino Oro. Born in Argentina in 2013, he has become one of the fastest-rising players the chess world has ever seen, breaking records, defeating top world players, and setting up what could become a major career. In Hong Kong, Oro will be playing for Chess United, alongside former World Champion Viswanathan Anand and one of the top women players in the world, Humpy Koneru, who shaped the game before the Argentinian was even born. Roman Shogdzhiev (born in 2015) Roman Shogdzhiev is the youngest player in the tournament. Born in 2015, he became the youngest International Master in history in 2025. While he might not be that well known in the wider circles, Shogdzhiev is not a novice among GMs, having defeated five of them at the 2023 WRB when he was just eight. That same year he was the World Under-8 Champion. In Hong Kong, he gives Chess United another youth angle beside Oro. Volodar Murzin (born in 2006) Many will argue that Volodar Murzin is no longer a “rising star” but an established elite player, already having a world championship title under his belt. He won the World Rapid championship in New York in 2024, with an unbeaten record of seven wins and six draws. Still not even 20, he has more to achieve, and Hong Kong will be one of the places to do that. Murzin will be playing for Hexamind, one of the strongest teams in the competition. Pranav V (born in 2006) Pranav Venkatesh began playing chess at six and has since grown to one of India’s main junior players. In recent years he won several strong opens, capping it with a victory at the 2025 World Junior Championship with 9/11, where he took the title without a single defeat. Pranav comes to Hong Kong as part of a large Indian contingent of very strong players who have been dominating top events in recent years. He will be playing for the defending rapid team champions, Team MGD1. Leon Luke Mendonca (born in 2006) Having earned his GM title in 2021, Mendonca’s biggest success to date was the 2024 victory at the Tata Steel Challengers, which gave him a place in the 2025 Masters. He is part of Team MGD1 with other Indian stars – Pranav, Arjun and Nihal. That gives the team one of the clearest youth angles in Hong Kong, with several Indian players who came through the post-Anand chess boom. Denis Lazavik (born in 2006) Lazavik earned his IM title in 2021 and his GM title in 2022. He participated in two youth Olympiads and also took part in the 2022 WRB where he finished 16th in the Blitz. In August 2025, he started to show his real flair, winning the Masters tournament at the 31st Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival with a score of 7/9. Earlier this year he came third in the Speed Chess Championship, after losing to Carlsen in the semifinals and beating Nakamura in the consolation match. In April he won the Karpov International Chess Tournament with 6/9. He plays for Endgame.AI, alongside seasoned heavyweights Hans Niemann, Leinier Dominguez, Amin Tabatabaei, and Alexey Sarana. For a rapid and blitz team tournament, Lazavik is especially relevant because his reputation is tied closely to speed chess and online elite events. Daniel Dardha (born in 2005) Daniel Dardha is Belgium’s leading young player. The Belgian champion at the age of just 13, and the youngest ever Belgian GM (at 15), Dardha has appeared in several prominent events, playing well on youth/prodigy boards. In Hong Kong he will be playing for Chessnut Nova with Raunak, Maurizzi, and Lu Miaoyi.
FIDE Council to review implementation of CAS Decision
In accordance with the CAS decision in case CAS 2024/A/10911, the Chess Federation of Russia was required to comply with the decision by 9 June 2026. The FIDE Council has therefore formally requested the Chess Federation of Russia to provide evidence of its compliance with the decision. In line with Article 20.9 of the FIDE Charter, a meeting of the FIDE Council has been scheduled for 17 June 2026 to assess the implementation of the CAS decision and to take any decisions in accordance with the FIDE Charter.
FIDE Circuit 2026–2027: Abdusattorov maintains lead; Assaubayeva seizes top spot in women’s race
Nodirbek Abdusattorov retains a narrow lead over Javokhir Sindarov in the FIDE Circuit 2026–2027 race after the May tournaments. Abdusattorov earned 7.25 points at TePe Sigeman, while Sindarov collected 8.53 points at the Super Chess Classic Romania, further closing the gap. Fabiano Caruana remains in third position following his runner-up finishes in Super Rapid and Blitz Poland and the Super Chess Classic Romania. These results brought him 28.93 points in total. The winner of the latter tournament, Vincent Keymer, broke into the top 10, climbing to fourth place. The top finishers of the recently concluded point-heavy Norway Chess 2026, Praggnanandhaa R and Wesley So, have also joined the upper echelon of the race. Haik Martirosyan and Ian Nepomniachtchi round out the top 10, following their solid performances at the Sardinia World Chess Festival. The Norway Chess Women, one of two events counted towards the FIDE Circuit Women in May–June, considerably reshaped the leaderboard. Bibisara Assaubayeva‘s triumph in this competition earned her 29.7 circuit points, propelling her to the top position. She is followed by Zhu Jiner, who gained 21.6 points in this competition and moved to second position in the race. Both overtook the former leader, Vaishali R, who dropped to third. The European Women’s Individual Championship 2026 produced a major sensation as 76th seed Anastasiia Hnatyshyn emerged as the outright winner of the event. This remarkable achievement catapulted the 15-year-old Ukrainian (who is turning 16 this week) straight to fourth place in the Circuit standings. Another notable change in the leading group is the surge of Savitha Shri B, the winner of the recently concluded Asian Women’s Individual Chess Championship. The Indian WGM picked up valuable circuit points to enter the top 10. We maintain dedicated pages on our website for the FIDE Circuit 2026–2027, featuring the latest information on eligible tournaments, current standings, and regulations. Visit: FIDE Circuit 2026-27 and FIDE Women’s Circuit 2026-27
Schackcykeln: “The Chess Bike” project launches in Trelleborg, Sweden
Schackcykeln (The Chess Bike), a free mobile chess initiative, is launching on June 15, 2026, in Trelleborg, Sweden. A cargo bike equipped with chess sets, tables, and chairs will visit parks, squares, beaches, and residential areas throughout summer 2026. The initiative is open to everyone – no registration required and no cost. The project is funded by the Swedish Postcode Foundation (SEK 60,000) and is run entirely by volunteers at Söderslätt Schacksällskap. The goal: 50 sessions, 10 locations, and 200 unique participants. A standout feature of Schackcykeln is its integration of modern technology. The bike is GPS-tracked via Copenhagen Trackers. The founders built a custom app where visitors can track the bike live on a map and receive notifications about its next location – making chess accessible and discoverable in real time. The idea behind Schackcykeln is to lower the barriers to chess participation. Many people are curious about chess but never take the first step because they don’t know where to play, lack a partner, or feel intimidated by formal club settings. By bringing the game directly to public spaces – parks, squares, and beaches – the project meets people where they already are. Photos: Agnes Orre