Kong Xiangrui and Savitha Shri B crowned Asian Individual Champions
The Asian Individual Chess Championship concluded in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, after nine rounds of play on June 6, 2026. This marked the first time Mongolia has hosted a top-tier Asian chess tournament, an event that received strong support from the Mongolian government and Prime Minister Uchral Nyam-Osor. Held in both the Open and Women’s sections, the competition featured an impressive field of 34 Grandmasters, 12 Women’s Grandmasters, 51 International Masters, 20 Women International Masters, 49 FIDE Masters, and 18 Candidate Masters representing 30 countries. The total prize fund for the 2026 Asian Chess Championship stood at USD 100,000, with the Open Champion receiving USD 15,000. Open section The open section was fiercely contested, with the lead changing hands throughout the tournament. Heading into the final ninth round, three players – IM Kong Xiangrui, GM Xiao Tong (both China), and GM Zhamsaran Tsydypov (FIDE) – were tied for first place with 6.5/8. A group of three players, including top seed Yu Yangyi, trailed them by half a point. All three leaders drew their games, finishing on 7/9. Among their pursuers, only GM Savva Vetokhin (FIDE) made the most of this opportunity, scoring a crucial win over GM Erdem Khubukshanov (FIDE) to catch up and force a four-way tie for the top spot. Based on the average rating of opponents (the first tiebreak criterion), Kong Xiangrui claimed gold, Xiao Tong took silver, and Tsydypov completed the podium. All four top finishers in the Open section qualified for the FIDE World Cup 2027. Final standings Open The women’s event saw the triumph of the younger generation, also ending in a tie for the top position. IM Savitha Shri B of India and WGM Afruza Khamdamova of Uzbekistan scored 7.5/9 each, with Savitha capturing gold thanks to the higher average rating of her opponents. She also earned a spot in the Women’s World Cup 2027. Six players finished a full point behind, with Song Yuxin of China taking bronze based on the same tiebreak criterion. Final standings Women Photos: Asian Individual Chess Championship Official website: https://asianchess.com/
Norway Chess 2026: Praggnanandhaa R and Bibisara Assaubayeva win titles
Norway Chess 2026 brought together the world’s elite chess players for a super-tournament held from May 25 to June 5 in Oslo, Norway. The event proudly featured two elite tournaments running in parallel: the renowned Norway Chess and Norway Chess Women. Both competitions followed a 6-player double round-robin format with equal prize funds, highlighting a strong commitment to gender equality in chess. A signature of Norway Chess is its distinctive scoring format. When a classical game ends in a draw, an Armageddon game determines the winner, ensuring decisive results in every round. Praggnanandhaa wins Norway Chess 2026 after final-round classical victory Norway Chess 2026 concluded in Oslo on Friday with a dramatic final round, as Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu scored a decisive classical victory to claim the title. Entering the round half a point behind Wesley So, Praggnanandhaa knew that a victory would put him in a strong position to overtake the leader, Wesley So. Facing Vincent Keymer with the white pieces, the Indian grandmaster made the most of his opportunity and scored a crucial win. The full 3 points lifted Praggnanandhaa to 18 points and secured first place. Wesley So, who had led the tournament heading into the final day, drew his classical game against Alireza Firouzja in a balanced encounter before prevailing in the Armageddon tiebreak to claim 1.5 points and finish second. Firouzja completed the podium following a strong tournament. In the remaining game, World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen defeated World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju in classical time control. The Norwegian star, who had lost four classical games during the event, kept pushing in a long battle to finish on a winning note. Norway Chess 2026 final standings 1. Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu IND 18 2. Wesley So USA 17 3. Alireza Firouzja FRA 15½ 4. Magnus Carlsen NOR 13 5. Vincent Keymer GER 11 6. Gukesh Dommaraju IND 8 Assaubayeva claims Norway Chess Women title Bibisara Assaubayeva delivered a stellar performance and securing the Norway Chess Women 2026 title with a round to spare. In the penultimate round, sole leader Assaubayeva drew her classical game against Anna Muzychuk. Muzychuk then drew the Armageddon game with the Black pieces, winning the decider under Armageddon rules to claim 1.5 points. Despite dropping the tiebreak, Assaubayeva’s lead at the top became mathematically insurmountable. The final round produced three decisive results in classical games, with no Armageddon deciders needed. Reigning Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun defeated Assaubayeva with the white pieces, ending the champion’s unbeaten classical run. Zhu Jiner capped off her tournament with an important classical victory over Humpy Koneru, a result that secured second place for Zhu, just half a point behind Assaubayeva. The last-year champion Anna Muzychuk also finished strongly, defeating Divya Deshmukh and placing third. Norway Chess Women 2026 final standings 1. Bibisara Assaubayeva KAZ 16½ 2. Zhu Jiner CHN 16 3. Anna Muzychuk UKR 15 4. Ju Wenjun CHN 13½ 5. Divya Deshmukh IND 10 6. Humpy Koneru IND 9 Text: Norway Chess Photos: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza Official website: https://norwaychess.no/
Anastasiia Hnatyshyn clinches European Women’s Chess Championship 2026
15-year-old Ukrainian rising star WFM Anastasiia Hnatyshyn, seeded only 76th, emerged as the outright winner of the European Women’s Chess Championship 2026. The 2026 edition of the championship, an 11-round Swiss tournament with classical time control, took place in Batumi, Georgia, from May 25 to June 5, bringing together 165 players from 32 European federations. Hnatyshyn seized the sole lead after Round 5, but in Round 7 she suffered a defeat at the hands of IM Meri Arabidze of Georgia, allowing Arabidze and IM Sabrina Vega Gutierrez of Spain to catch up with her. Gutierrez surged ahead in the next round, but Hnatyshyn drew level with her after Round 9, following her victory over the 2024 European Women’s Champion Ulviyya Fataliyeva. Hnatyshyn scored a crucial win over IM Eline Roebers in Round 10, entering the final round as the sole leader of the event, a half-point ahead of Vega Gutierrez and IM Olga Badelka of Austria. Playing with the Black pieces against Poland’s IM Klaudia Kulon, Hnatyshyn faced a well-prepared opponent who gained an early edge out of the opening. However, Hnatyshyn mounted a stubborn defense to secure the draw she needed to clinch the gold medal and the title. Meanwhile, the game between her closest rivals, Vega Gutierrez and Badelka , ended in a draw after a long fight in a balanced position, as both players pushed for a win to catch Hnatyshyn at the top. Following this result, Anastasiia Hnatyshyn emerged as the outright winner of the event with a score of 9/11 points. Vega Gutierrez, Badelka, and IM Nurgyul Salimova, who defeated Mai Narva in her final-round game, tied for second place, scoring 8.5/11 points each. Based on the Buchholz tiebreak Vega Gutierrez and Badelka took silver and bronze, respectively. It has been a phenomenal event for the Ukrainian sensation Anastasiia Hnatyshyn, who turns 16 in a week. She earned an IM norm, gained 214 rating points, became the top U20 girl in the live ratings, and qualified for the next FIDE Women’s World Cup. By winning the European Women’s Chess Championship 2026, Hnatyshyn also earned a direct WGM title. Final standings The closing ceremony took place on the final evening at the tournament venue, attended by the ECU President Zurab Azmaiparashvili, President of Georgian Chess Federation Akaki Iashvili, ECU Tournament Director Petr Pisk, tournament officials, players, and distinguished guests. The ceremony was inaugurated with the intonation of anthems of Georgia and the European Chess Union. The President of the Georgian Chess Federation, Akaki Iashvili, welcomed everyone to the closing ceremony. He thanked the European Chess Union for entrusting the organization of the tournament to the Georgian Chess Federation, emphasizing that the Georgian Chess Federation is always a proud host of top-level European and world chess events. He also thanked the organizing committee for their excellent work, expressing gratitude to all the staff and personnel who helped run the event at the highest level. He congratulated the winners, with special praises for 15-year-old Anastasiia Hnatyshyn. ECU President Zurab Azmaiparashvili addressed the distinguished guests and players, thanking the Georgian Chess Federation and its President, Akaki Iashvili, for the great organization of the championship. He also thanked Chief Arbiter Geert Bailleul and the entire arbiters’ team, Chairman of the Appeals Committee Stephane Escafre and its members, the anti-cheating team, the organizing committee, the media team, and the ECU TV crew for their excellent, well-coordinated work throughout the championship. ECU President warmly congratulated Anastasiia Hnatyshyn and the Ukrainian Chess Federation on the gold medal and title, while also congratulating the medalists and all participants for their excellent play and fighting spirit. WGM Salome Melia thanked everyone on behalf of the tournament organizing committee, offering special thanks to the President of the Georgian Chess Federation, the Ministry of Sport of Georgia, the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, and all institutions that helped the organization of the championship. Following the speeches and musical performances, Chief Arbiter Geert Bailleul announced the final standings, while ECU President Zurab Azmaiparashvili and Georgian Chess Federation President Akaki Iashvili awarded the medals and trophies. The closing ceremony concluded with the National Anthem of Ukraine and resounding applause for the medalists and the tournament champion, Anastasiia Hnatyshyn. Text and photos: European Chess Union
Preparing the next generation to think: Chess in Education conference in Mongolia
By Milan Dinic On 4 June, Mongolia hosted its first Chess in Education conference, which took place alongside the 21st Asian Continental Chess Championship in Ulaanbaatar. The conference focused on ways chess can be implemented in the education system of Mongolia, as well as assessing international experiences to inform future policy directions. The participants included chess and educational experts, as well as the Minister of Education of Mongolia, President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), President of the Mongolian Chess Federation, President of the International School Chess Federation (ISCF) and others. Gombojav Zandanshatar – the President of the Mongolian Chess Federation, a former Prime Minister and former Speaker of Parliament – noted the role chess has in helping children and young adults find focus at a time of growing distractions from modern technology and social media. “I asked the kids playing in one of our chess events – what does chess give them? They said patience and focus. Modern kids are not focused. Too many distractions – gaming, social media, television, entertainment… They are lost in this digital environment. That’s where chess can help. They recognise it gives them patience, discipline, focus, and empathy. I think chess is a modern board game that can help education progress in this time of technological advancements. It gives a lot of opportunities and hope,” Zandanshatar said. The participants of the conference agreed that current technological progress and innovations mean children will find it harder to stay focused but also struggle with information overload, which also poses challenges to the educational system. “The question is no longer how much children know, but whether they can think,” FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said. He suggested that chess can play a role in addressing this question: “Chess helps children develop their thinking and reasoning capabilities, evaluate consequences, and make reasonable decisions before taking action.” Noting that the future economy increasingly rewards critical thinking, adaptability, creativity, and effective judgment, Dvorkovich said that “chess is one of the few activities where children practice decision-making under uncertainty every single minute.” Artificial intelligence and its impact on everyday life and education were also discussed. The participants agreed that the new social circumstances require a structured approach. “Most people now understand that the quality of the AI answer is determined by the quality of the prompt. Artificial intelligence can give answers. Chess teaches children how to ask questions, analyse options, and think independently,” Dvorkovich said. ISCF President and the head of the Kazakh chess federation, Timur Turlov, echoed the remarks by other speakers, framing chess as an investment in human capital and not just a sport. In a detailed presentation given at the conference, Turlov argued that countries’ future competitiveness will depend increasingly on education, talent, independent thinking and decision-making – with chess presented as an accessible way to develop those skills in children. “We believe chess is one of the most accessible tools to help children develop concentration, analytical thinking, discipline, resilience, and decision-making skills from an early age,” Turlov said. The work of the ISCF was cited as a good example. Since being introduced at the FIDE General Assembly during the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest in 2024, the International School Chess Federation has developed into a platform connecting educators, federations, governments, researchers, schools, and international partners. ISCF became FIDE’s key partner in chess education in October 2025 and helped launch the global initiative declaring 2026 the Year of Chess in Education. This includes masterclasses, school events, conferences and continental competitions. In assessing international experiences, Kazakhstan was presented as a strong national model for chess in schools. The programme now covers more than 1,500 schools, 60,000 pupils and 3,500 trained teachers, exceeding the original target of 1,400 schools by 2027. Government support was described as essential for long-term success, Turlov said, noting that ministries, universities, and national institutions are needed to embed chess into curricula, teacher training, and public education systems. “Chess in education is no longer an isolated initiative of individual enthusiasts. Step by step, it is becoming part of a much larger international conversation about the future of education, human capital, and the development of the next generation,” said Turlov. The conference concluded with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Mongolian Chess Federation and the Ministry of Education of Mongolia. “What begins in Mongolia can inspire many other countries. Today’s discussion is not only about chess; it is about how we prepare the next generation to think, learn, and succeed,” said Arkady Dvorkovich in his closing remarks. Photos: Mongolian Chess Federation
Registration opens for American Continental Stage of FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship 2026
FIDE and the International School Chess Federation (ISCF), with the support of its general partner Freedom Holding Corp., invite all FIDE member federations from the Americas to participate in the American Continental Stage of the FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship 2026 (WSTC 2026). Organized by ISCF and FIDE jointly with the Federación Costarricense de Ajedrez and the Confederation of Chess for America, the event will be held in San José, Costa Rica, from August 11 (arrival) to August 16 (departure), 2026. The American Continental Stage will become one of the continental qualifiers of the new World Schools Team Championship cycle held within the framework of the Year of Chess in Education 2026 initiative. The best teams will qualify directly for the WSTC 2026 Grand Final, where the continental champions will compete for the title of FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Champion 2026. Team composition and eligibility Each team shall consist of: four main players; one reserve player; one non-playing captain. Each team must include at least one boy and at least one girl, except in specific cases provided for in the Regulations for single-gender educational institutions. Players eligible to participate must be born between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2018. National federations are responsible for confirming that all players are officially enrolled in the educational institution they represent during the 2025–2026 academic year. The tournament will be played over eight rounds using the Swiss system. Participation conditions and organizer support Within the framework of the Championship, selected teams will receive organizer support, including: full-board accommodation; airport and local transfers; economy-class flight tickets for designated eligible delegations Detailed participation conditions are outlined in the official Invitation Letter and General Regulations. Educational and cultural programme In addition to the tournament itself, participants and guests will take part in a special educational and cultural programme organized in line with the Year of Chess in Education 2026 initiative. The programme will include: masterclasses and lectures by leading chess players and educators; interactive workshops; side activities promoting educational exchange and intercultural dialogue The Championship aims not only to identify the strongest school team on the continent but also to promote chess as a powerful educational and social development tool. Registration The registration deadline is July 16. National federations are kindly encouraged to complete the registration process at the earliest opportunity, as the number of places in the tournament is limited. Organizer support conditions outlined in the Regulations are available only for the first 20 teams fully registered in compliance with the official requirements. Teams may register only through their respective FIDE member federations using the official online registration form. Registration form: http://worldschoolteam2026.fide.com/registration-stage-america/ Contact e-mail: worldschoolteam@fide.com Official website: https://worldschoolteam2026.fide.com/ Invitation Letter: http://worldschoolteam2026.fide.com/files/WSTC_2026_Invitation_Letter_American_Stage.pdf
Mongolia signals strong support for chess as Asian Championship takes place in Ulaanbaatar
The Prime Minister of Mongolia, Uchral Nyam-Osor, met with FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich and ISCF President Timur Turlov, as the country hosts the Asian Chess Championship for the first time. The 21st Asian Continental Chess Championship is taking place from 28 May to 7 June in Mongolia’s capital Ulaanbaatar. More than 240 players from around 30 countries are taking part in a 9-round Swiss-system classical tournament. The tournament is a major continental championship and qualification event, with the top five players in the Open and the winner of the Women’s Championship directly qualifying for the 2027 FIDE World Cup. This is the first time that Mongolia is hosting a top-tier Asian chess tournament, and the event has also received wide backing from the Mongolian government and Prime Minister Uchral Nyam-Osor, who today held meetings with the delegation of the International Chess Federation, led by President Arkady Dvorkovich. Alongside the tournament, Mongolia is also hosting the Chess in Education Conference, which covers the preparation and implementation of Chess in Schools programmes, looks at international and Mongolian experiences and best practices, and identifies future policy directions and strategic priorities for integrating chess into the general education system. The value of Mongolia in chess development Prime Minister of Mongolia Uchral Nyam-Osor emphasized that Mongolia’s hosting of the Asian Chess Championship for the first time represents an important contribution to the development of international mind sports. He also expressed Mongolia’s intention to expand cooperation in regularly organising international mind sports competitions and events, as well as supporting young chess players. Arkady Dvorkovich, President of the International Chess Federation, praised Mongolia’s strong commitment to developing chess and noted that the goal of introducing the sport into the general education school curriculum is of great importance for the development of children and young people. “We see that Mongolia is treating chess not merely as a sport but also as part of its educational strategy. FIDE stands ready to provide support. This meeting as well as the Chess in Education Conference, alongside the 21st Asian Continental Chess Championship can inspire many other countries. Today’s discussions are not only about chess, they are about how we prepare the next generation to think, learn, and succeed,” Dvorkovich said. The discussions with government leaders were followed by a visit to the playing venue, where Dvorkovich met players and organisers and spoke about Mongolia’s future role in Asian chess. Mongolia’s place in the global chess community During the day, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich visited the venue of the 21st Asian Continental Chess Championship, where he was also a guest on the event’s live broadcast, analysing games and discussing chess in Asia, with a particular focus on Mongolia. While Mongolian chess is at an advanced level and the competition is very strong at younger ages, Dvorkovich noted the importance of providing more support for players, enabling them to travel to international events and take part in training camps with experienced coaches. “What would greatly help increase the quality of chess in Mongolia is having one strong international Open,” said Dvorkovich. The FIDE President pointed to Kazakhstan as a good example of building a strong chess infrastructure intertwined with the social and educational system, transforming chess from not being just a sport but an important tool for development. The Asian Championship and educational conference taking place in Mongolia this week follow a January 2026 visit by FIDE officials, who traveled to the country to discuss support for social and educational chess initiatives, including youth training programmes with the Mongolian Chess Federation and local chess academies. Written by Milan DInic Photos: Asian Individual Chess Championship, Mongolian Chess Federation and Монгол Улсын Засгийн газар
2027 FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship: Next qualifying spot will be awarded at the end of June
Hamburg/Weissenhaus (June 4, 2026). The fifth qualification spot for the 2027 FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship (Open and Women’s) will be determined earlier than originally planned. As Freestyle Chess and FIDE jointly announced on Thursday, the players leading the Open and Women’s divisions of the Freestyle Friday overall standings after the final event on June 26 will each earn a direct qualification spot. In each of the two competitions of the 2027 FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship, eight players will compete for the title. So far, four players in the Open category (Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Vincent Keymer) and four women (Bibisara Assaubayeva, Harika Dronavalli, Alua Nurman, and Dinara Wagner) have qualified for the title matches at the Weissenhaus Private Nature Luxury Resort in northern Germany. All other players in the Freestyle Friday Championship will retain the leaderboard points they have accumulated so far and will be able to continue competing for the next World Championship qualification place when the series resumes after the summer break. The second half of the Freestyle Friday Championship will be played from early October through mid-December 2026 and will determine the sixth qualifier in both the Open and Women’s categories for the World Championship Finals in February 2027. With these changes to the qualification format, the organizers are responding to the packed chess tournament calendar. “At the same time, we are further enhancing the Freestyle Friday event and ensuring even more excitement on the road to the 2027 World Championship,” says Freestyle Chess CEO Jan Henric Buettner. The current leaderboard is available here. Media contact:FIDE FREESTYLE CHESS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPFREESTYLE CHESS GRAND SLAM TOURFREESTYLE CHESS PLAYERS CLUBFREESTYLE CHESS ACADEMYHock und Partner – Beratungsgesellschaftfür Marketing und Kommunikation mbHTill BehrendRothenbaumchaussee 1D-20148 HamburgT: +49 (0) 40 413 228-0M: +49 (0) 151 4231 7721 t.behrend@hock-partner.demedia@freestyle-chess.comwww.freestyle-chess.com
Aktobe Open 2026 – Vladimir Dvorkovich Memorial kicks off in Aktobe
From 3 to 11 June 2026, Aktobe is hosting the international chess tournament Aktobe Open 2026 – Vladimir Dvorkovich Memorial. The event has 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. The competition is organised 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 general partners of the event are Freedom Holding Corp. and Aktobe Copper Company. The tournament partners are Herbalife and the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation. The games are being played at the ACE Tennis Centre, located at 2 Mangilik Yel Street. The festival comprises two separate tournaments. The Masters tournament features 81 players rated 2400 and above. The Open tournament brought together 129 players with ratings of up to 2400. Both competitions are nine-round Swiss-system tournaments with classical time control of 90+30. The Masters tournament is part of the FIDE Circuit 2026–2027 series. Among the 210 participants, there are 25 Grandmasters and one Woman Grandmaster. The field is headlined by Wang Hao (China, 2684) and Andrey Esipenko (FIDE, 2684), as well as the 2023 European Champion and the winner of the Aktobe Open 2025, Alexey Sarana (Serbia, 2668), the 2018 World Rapid Champion Daniil Dubov (2649), the 2018 European Champion Ivan Šarić (Croatia, 2624), Aleksandr Predke (Serbia, 2616), and Anton Demchenko (Slovenia, 2611). Kazakhstan is represented by Grandmasters Denis Makhnev (2551), Kazybek Nogerbek (2513), Ramazan Zhalmakhanov (2478), and Edgar Mamedov (2464). The guaranteed prize fund for the Masters tournament is KZT 45 million (approximately USD 90,000). The winner will receive KZT 9 million (approximately USD 18,000). The prize fund for the Open tournament is KZT 5 million (approximately USD 10,000), with a first-place winner earning KZT 1.35 million (approximately USD 2,700). The Aktobe Open 2026 – Vladimir Dvorkovich Memorial opens the Kazakhstan Chess Cup 2026 series in classical chess in the open and women’s sections. The final of the Kazakhstan Chess Cup 2026, featuring the 12 strongest players, will take place from 1 to 13 December 2026. The tournament carries special significance as it bears the name of Vladimir Dvorkovich, an international arbiter who devoted his life to chess. Speaking at the opening ceremony, his son, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, said: “This tournament is particularly special to me. My father devoted his entire life to chess – as an arbiter, an organiser and a person deeply in love with the game. The fact that his name lives on through a competition that attracts ever stronger players year after year is the finest tribute one could imagine. Looking at the participants’ list, I can see how the tournament continues to grow. It is gratifying to see the event becoming stronger every year. It means that people want to come here. Today, Kazakhstan is one of the world leaders in the pace of chess development. Infrastructure is being created, top-level tournaments are being held, and young talents are being nurtured. These are not merely words but the result of many years of systematic work, and the Aktobe Open reflects this perfectly.” It is important to emphasise that the tournament is held with the active support of the regional authorities. At the opening ceremony, participants were welcomed by Askhat Shakharov, Akim of the Aktobe Region: “It is both a great honour and a major responsibility for the Aktobe Region to host an event of this calibre. This year, the tournament has brought together players from all over the world. The growing number and increasing strength of participants year after year demonstrate its rising international standing. The Head of State places special emphasis on the development of intellectual sports. Chess is an important tool for educating young people and fostering knowledge, discipline and determination. Therefore, we will continue to support its development.” The Head of the Region also highlighted the special significance of the tournament bearing the name of Vladimir Dvorkovich. According to him, preserving the memory of the distinguished international arbiter, who began his career in Aktobe, is a vivid example of continuity of tradition and respect for the history of the chess movement. Darmen Sadvakasov, First Vice-President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation spoke about the tournament’s organisation and its importance for the development of chess in Kazakhstan: “The Aktobe Open has long since outgrown the status of a regional tournament. World-class grandmasters come here because they know they will find excellent organisation, a strong field, and a serious commitment to chess. Equally important, however, is the way we have designed the format to serve different levels of players. In the Masters tournament, young Kazakhstan players rated 2400 and above play nine games against members of the world’s elite. This is a practical school of experience that no training camp can replace. In the Open tournament, players from the regions have the opportunity to compete in a strong international field on home soil. This is precisely why tournaments of this scale are so important. Over the years, Aktobe has become a genuine center of attraction for the global chess community. This is the result of extensive joint efforts by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, the Akimat of the Aktobe Region, and all our partners. It is encouraging to see this tradition continue to grow stronger.” For the sixth time, the Aktobe Open has demonstrated that the development of chess in Kazakhstan is built upon consistent support from the regions. When the government, the federation, local authorities, and partners work towards a common goal, world-class tournaments emerge not only in major centers but also in places where the necessary conditions are created through purposeful and sustained effort. It is this approach that transforms a single competition into a tradition and a tradition into a driver of growth for an entire region. Photos: Kazchess
FIDE Executive Director Victor Bologan visits Mauritania to boost chess development
During his recent visit to Mauritania, FIDE Executive Director, Grandmaster Victor Bologan held a series of high-level meetings with government and sports officials to discuss the development of chess in the country. The advisor to the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Employment, Sports, and Civic Service, Souleymane Lo, welcomed Victor Bologan alongside the President of the Mauritanian Chess Federation, Sidi Mohamed Tajedine. The meeting provided an opportunity to assess efforts to develop chess in Mauritania and to explore possibilities for strengthening cooperation with FIDE, with discussions focusing on promoting the game, supporting young talent, and expanding school chess programs. FIDE Executive Director also met with the President of the Mauritanian National Olympic and Sports Committee, Abderrahmane Othman, accompanied by its Secretary General, Salem Abeidna, in the presence of the President of the Mauritanian Chess Federation. Discussions centered on strategies to expand chess in schools and among female players. The group also covered other key topics, including the participation of Mauritanian national teams in the upcoming 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. As part of his visit, Victor Bologan gave a simultaneous exhibition against top local male and female players.
FIDE Chess in Education Commission announces summer 2026 courses
Dear Chess Friends, FIDE’s Chess in Education Commission continues to accelerate its provision of training for Lecturers and Teachers of Educational Chess, offering a series of high-level online and in-person opportunities in summer 2026. The Preparation of Lecturers (PoL) course leads to the FIDE title of Lead School Instructor (LSI). It is intended primarily for those who will train teachers, helping to expand the global community of educators capable of teaching chess in an educational way. The Preparation of Teachers (PoT) course leads to the FIDE title of School Instructor (SI). This 3-day (15-hour) training equips participants with pedagogical methods, digital tools, and practical strategies for teaching chess as an educational tool. Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive exclusive lifelong benefits, including: Lifelong access to the Opening Master Premium chess database, featuring over 10 million official over-the-board human games Access to the Chesspertise Platform, integrating database search, analysis, training, and coaching tools in one unified environment The FIDE Teachers Chess Curriculum, a valuable lifelong teaching resource to support and enhance work in chess education The schedule of upcoming FIDE EDU courses is below: To join, please register via the following links: 38th Preparation of Teachers (POT) online course for the FIDE School Instructor (SI) title – June 12-14Register: https://cloud.fide.com/s/gqEewbNkWNKtz2E 1st Preparation of Teachers (POT) online course for women in French – July 3-5Register: https://cloud.fide.com/s/BXp6FSJsd32fKQH 39th Preparation of Teachers (POT) online course for the FIDE School Instructor (SI) title – July 17-19 Register: https://cloud.fide.com/s/we4EC29ZS273Crf 1st Preparation of Teachers (POT) online course for women in Spanish – August 7-9Register: https://cloud.fide.com/s/JqpkeaaPYLPY7rP 40th Preparation of Teachers (POT) online course for the FIDE School Instructor (SI) title – August 14-16 Register: https://cloud.fide.com/s/nYbZzXNwo4E5Wax For more details, visit the dedicated Chess in Education website: edu.fide.com/