August is for Women in Chess: Join the Global Women’s Chess Marathon
As part of FIDE’s 2025 Year of Social Chess, each month is dedicated to celebrating how chess can make a positive impact in society. This August, we shine the spotlight on Women in Chess — a month-long global celebration aimed at empowering women and girls through the game we all love. The FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess (WOM) is proud to lead this initiative and coordinate a variety of inspiring events around the world, including the Women’s Chess Marathon, highlighting the role of women in the chess community and encouraging inclusive participation across all levels. A Global Effort: Events Already Planned With the support of WOM, a vibrant lineup of events is already scheduled in 2 countries of each continent — Africa, America, Europe, Asia: Portugal Italy Australia Nepal South Africa Zambia Puerto Rico Venezuela These activities will range from tournaments and training sessions to workshops, exhibitions, and community outreach — all focused on engaging more girls and women in the chess world. Also, with support of ARB, WOM organize first ever only Women International Arbiter Seminar: Special Edition of the IA Seminar for WOMEN only – List of Participants! The Registration is closed! – Arbiters’ Commission Introducing the Women’s Chess Marathon August won’t just be about individual events — it will be a global marathon of efforts, stories, and celebrations. We’re calling it the Women’s Chess Marathon, and we want you to be a part of it! No matter where you are in the world, you can join the movement by organizing an event or activity for women and girls in chess during August. It can be as big as a tournament or as simple as a chess meetup, a school activity, or an online workshop. Every effort counts. Organizers — We Need You! Are you a chess club, federation, coach, teacher, or community leader? We invite you to: Plan a chess event that welcomes and empowers girls and women Highlight female role models in your community Create safe, inclusive spaces where more women and girls can thrive through chess Share your stories on social media using the hashtags #WomensChessMarathon and #WomenInChess, and tag @fidewomen on Instagram so we can amplify your efforts We’ll be sharing your initiatives on our platforms throughout August, celebrating the incredible work being done around the globe. Let’s Make August Unforgettable Let’s work together to make August a month that truly reflects the presence and passion of women and girls in chess. The Women’s Chess Marathon isn’t necessarily about big campaigns. It’s about real people, real events, and real effort — from small local meetups to international tournaments. Every activity matters. If you’re helping more girls and women feel welcome in chess, you’re part of this. We can’t wait to see what you create. Let’s make it a month to remember — together. For questions, support, or to share your planned activities with us directly, email to our coordinator: anna.kantane@gmail.com
2nd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities set for October 2025 in Astana
FIDE is proud to announce that the 2nd Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities will take place from October 19 to 26, 2025, in Astana, Kazakhstan. Organized by FIDE and hosted by the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, this major international event underscores FIDE’s ongoing commitment to inclusion and accessibility in the global chess community. The Olympiad will bring together up to 34 teams from across the world, composed of players with visual, hearing, and physical impairments. Each team will consist of four players (with at least one from each gender), one captain/reserve, and one accompanying person. The competition will be held at the Paralympic Training Centre in Astana, a venue specially adapted to accommodate the needs of all participants. “We are proud that our capital will host such a significant event, where each participant can showcase their intellect, resilience, and passion for chess. This Olympiad is more than just a competition; it is a powerful symbol of inclusion, equal opportunity, and respect for every individual. For us, it is also an important marker that Kazakhstan and Kazakhstan Chess Federation are consistently working to create an environment where everyone has the chance to realize their full potential. We are confident that the tournament will leave a lasting impression on all participants and guests – and we, in turn, will do our best to ensure its successful and meaningful execution. We are also deeply grateful to the Mayor of Astana, Zhenis Kassymbek, for his invaluable support of this tournament,” — Timur Turlov, President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation “The Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities is a celebration of human potential and the spirit of competition. We are deeply grateful to the Kazakhstan Chess Federation for their dedication and hospitality. Their efforts will help us deliver an unforgettable experience for all participants. As 2025 marks the Year of Social Chess in FIDE, this event perfectly embodies our mission to promote chess as a game for everyone, regardless of physical ability,” — Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President The competition will follow a 6-round Swiss system, with games played under classical time control. In addition to team medals and trophies, individual board prizes and special awards—including recognitions for youngest and oldest players in various categories—will be presented. The first edition of the Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities was held in Belgrade, Serbia, in 2023, and marked a historic milestone for accessible chess events. It attracted global attention for its inclusive spirit and high-level organization, setting the stage for a growing tradition. 2nd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities Regulations (PDF) For registration and queries, federations are encouraged to contact: dis@fide.com.
FIDE Women’s World Cup Round 5 tiebreaks: Divya Deshmukh stuns Harika Dronavalli to reach semifinals
The semi-finals are set: Lei Tingjie vs Humpy Koneru and Tan Zhongyi vs Divya Deshmukh Divya Deshmukh, the young IMfrom Nagpur, Maharashtra, continued her remarkable rise in the world of chess with a stunning victory over GM Harika Dronavalli in Batumi. In a tense rapid tiebreak, Divya secured a clean 2-0 win, eliminating one of India’s most experienced players and advancing to the semi-finals. With this victory, Divya joins her compatriot GM Humpy Koneru and Chinese top seeds GM Lei Tingjie and GM Tan Zhongyi in the final four. The semi-finals, set to be held at the Grand Bellagio venue starting tomorrow, will determine the three players who will qualify for the prestigious Women’s Candidates Tournament. They will join GM Alexandra Goryachkina and GM Zhu Jiner, who have already secured their spots via the Women’s Grand Prix. Divya will face former Women’s World Champion Tan Zhongyi in her semi-final match, while Humpy Koneru takes on Lei Tingjie in the other India vs China clash — a testament to the formidable strength both nations bring to the women’s chess circuit. Speaking on stage moments after Harika’s resignation, FIDE’s WIM Charlize van Zyl caught up with Divya, who was still visibly emotional. Reflecting on her performance, she said honestly, “I think I’m happy with the way I played, but I don’t think the second game went very well.” As the tournament enters its decisive stage, Divya Deshmukh’s breakthrough performance signals a generational shift in Indian chess. With youth, composure, and a fearless approach, she is proving to be a serious contender on the world stage — and perhaps a future challenger for the Women’s World Championship title. Let’s take a closer look at the games: In the first 15|10 rapid game, Divya targeted one of the lines that Harika plays quite often—the Classical Italian, Greco Gambit. Both players blitzed out their opening moves, showcasing excellent preparation. “The preparation has had a lot to say in this game, and I would like to thank my coach for that,” explained Divya in her post-game interview. In fact, Harika had played the exact same position—though with reversed colours—against Goryachkina in a 2021 tournament, so she was clearly familiar with the nuances of the line. However, things started to go wrong for Harika around move 22. The position was approximately equal, and a good sequence for Black would have been: 22…cxd4 23.cxd4 Bb4! — regrouping the bishop to f8, reinforcing the light-square defence. Instead, Harika went astray with 22…Qc6?, allowing Divya to grab a crucial pawn with 23.dxc5! dxe5 24.fxe5, leading to a critical turning point. Though White was a pawn up, her shattered pawn structure meant Black still had drawing chances—especially with a solid move like 24…Qe6, aiming to control the light squares. But Harika blundered again with 24…Rxe5?, allowing Divya to activate her pieces decisively. She placed her bishop on d4, bringing tremendous pressure on Harika’s king. A few moves later, Divya struck gold with a brilliant tactical sequence. She played the stunning 30.Bxg7! Rxg7 31.Rxg7 Qxg7, and now calmly followed up with 32.Kf1!, winning the queen for just a rook and a bishop. “I initially thought the combination wasn’t working because of 31…Kxg7, but then I found the idea with 32.Qf4 and saw that it was OK,” she explained after the game. There was still some technical work to do, but Divya converted her advantage with confidence and precision. Going into the second 15/10 game, Harika was forced to win with White to remain in contention. Her opening choice, a King’s Indian Attack, with an early exchange of queens, suits her positional style, but excellent technique is needed to grind a win from such positions. Harika was doing well – going out of the opening, she might have missed a chance in the following position: Divya was doing her best to exchange every piece she could – a draw would secure her spot in the semi-finals. Here Harika went 22.Bh2, understandably trying to keep as many pieces on the board as possible, in this case the bishop pair. However, the engine suggests that the best option would have been 22.Bxh4! Nxh4 and now 23.f5!, in an attempt to isolate the knight out of the game. Having missed this opportunity, Divya rerouted the knight to the strong d5 square and construct a fortress. From then onwards Divya kept the position in balance, and it seemed a draw was going to be the most likely outcome. But low on time, Divya blundered, allowing Harika her final opportunity. Instead of 63.Kf3?, which is a draw, Harika should have played 63.Bf4! (first on move 61 in a slightly different position) and after 63…Bxf4 (forced) 64.Kxf4, the king penetrates to e5 while the bishop goes to d3 – there is no way that Black can hold this ending with so many weaknesses. After missing this opportunity, Harika’s confidence was broken, and a few moves later she blundered a pawn and the game. “Zhu Jiner was definitely my toughest opponent up to now and winning the tiebreak against her gave me confidence for this one. I didn’t want to play tiebreaks but this is my fate, and for the moment it’s going well” were Divya’s final words. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX7Sg6AMzX8 Written by IM Michael Rahal (Batumi, Georgia) Photos: Anna Shtourman About the tournament: Scheduled to take place from July 6th to July 28th, the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Cup will gather together in Batumi (Georgia) the world’s best female chess players. A total of 107 players from 46 different federations are set to participate in the event, including seventeen of the current top twenty! Chess legends, seasoned professionals and emerging talents will play for the $50,000 first prize, in addition to three qualifying spots for the Candidates. The full pairings tree and day-by-day results can be found on the Women’s World Cup website.
Smart Moves Summit 2025: Shaping the future of education through chess
FIDE and the International School Chess Federation invite you to the Smart Moves Summit 2025, a groundbreaking international gathering exploring how chess can transform education. From classrooms to communities, from policy to practice, this event on August 4–5 brings together visionary educators, policy leaders, EdTech innovators, and social entrepreneurs to share real-world strategies that are changing how we teach and learn. This summit is more than a conference—it’s an investment in ideas, networking, and practical tools that can redefine education for generations to come. Why attend? – Get inspired by thought leaders who are already reshaping national education policies through chess – Discover strategies that make classrooms more inclusive, equitable, and effective – Learn from global models for funding and scaling school chess programs – Network with changemakers from over 30 countries and across disciplines – Take home practical solutions that can be applied in schools, nonprofits, or government initiatives Spotlight on speakers: Meet the changemakers Dana Reizniece-Ozola (Latvia) Former Minister of Finance and current FIDE Deputy Chair, Dana blends government policy and chess activism like no one else. Her session will explore how governments can integrate chess into national curricula—a must for any policymaker, education consultant, or federation leader. Why it’s worth it: Gain insights from someone who has implemented chess in both national governance and global programs supporting refugees and underserved youth. Timur Turlov (Kazakhstan) Entrepreneur, investor, and President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, Turlov has funded and launched one of the world’s most ambitious chess-in-schools programs. He’ll speak on how private sector leadership and public policy can align to create systemic change. Why it’s worth it: Understand how business thinking can drive educational transformation and discover replicable models of success. Robert Katende (Uganda) Founder of the SOM Chess Academy and inspiration behind Disney’s Queen of Katwe, Katende has used chess to uplift children from the slums of Kampala. His talk will focus on social impact, youth empowerment, and chess as a tool for hope. Why it’s worth it: Hear a first-hand story of transformation and gain ideas for launching purpose-driven programs with lasting community impact. Jennifer Shahade (USA) WGM, author, and podcast host, Shahade is a leading voice in gender equity and representation in chess. Her session will discuss creating inclusive chess spaces and using media to reshape narratives in education and sport. Why it’s worth it: Learn how to amplify voices, improve representation, and use storytelling to inspire a new generation. José Francisco “Pep” Suárez (Spain) Psychologist and ECU education commission member, Suárez specializes in using chess to support cognitive development, mental health, and classroom engagement. His hands-on training programs for teachers are used across Europe. Why it’s worth it: Discover practical, evidence-based methods for integrating chess into any school system—even with no prior chess experience. Jenny Ingber (USA) President of Chess in the Schools (NYC), Jenny has built a nonprofit that reaches thousands of underserved students annually with academic enrichment and chess instruction. She’ll speak on sustainable nonprofit models and outcomes-based program design. Why it’s worth it: Perfect for NGO leaders and school district administrators looking to implement high-impact programs with measurable success. Jerry Nash (USA) Chair of the FIDE Chess in Education Commission and architect of the global chess teacher training framework. He’ll lead sessions on educator certification, training systems, and implementation across diverse educational environments. Why it’s worth it: Gain access to tested tools and frameworks that can help scale your chess-in-education efforts across schools or entire regions. More speakers include: Kenneth Regan – Anti-cheating expert and data scientist: learn how fairness and integrity are maintained in educational play Michal Kanarkiewicz – Corporate strategist: how chess boosts executive functioning and decision-making Anandita Oberoi – Counselor and researcher: using chess in therapeutic and gifted education Tyron Davis III – Co-founder of The Gift of Chess: scaling global outreach through digital and real-world tools Jeremy Kane, Rita Atkins, Arlecia Taylor, Zachary Saine, Tyler Schwartz, Elliot Neff, David Heiser, and others. Reserve your place This event is a must for anyone serious about using chess to impact education—whether you’re a teacher, policymaker, chess federation leader, or EdTech founder. Get your tickets here: tickets.fide.com Learn more at the official website: worldschoolteam2025.fide.com/summit/
FIDE World Cup 2025 to be hosted in India
The FIDE World Cup is coming to India this year! Scheduled for October 30 to November 27, 2025, the tournament will feature the world’s best players battling for the coveted title and qualification spots in the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament. Format The FIDE World Cup 2025 will feature 206 players competing in a knockout format—a dynamic and unpredictable system where the losing player in each round is eliminated. The event has used several formats over the years, but since 2021, it has followed a single-elimination format. Each round spans three days: two classical games on the first two days, followed by tie-breaks on the third day, if necessary. In the first round, the top 50 players receive byes, while players seeded from 51 to 206 compete, with pairings based on the principle of the top half versus the reversed lower half. What’s at stake? The top three finishers of the 2025 World Cup will earn direct qualification for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, which determines the challenger for the World Chess Championship. Qualification Paths Players can qualify for the World Cup through various avenues, including: Reigning World Champion as of June 1, 2025 Top four finishers from the FIDE World Cup 2023 Reigning Women’s World Champion as of June 1, 2025 2024 World Junior Champion U-20 Spots Africa Americas Asia Europe Granted 3 3 3 3 Top 8 juniors 0 0 6 2 Top 60 players 0 9 26 25 Total 3 12 35 30 Qualifiers from Continental events, accounting for 80 spots The highest-rated players in the June 2025 FIDE standard rating list, 13 players, who have not qualified by any of the above listed path Top 100 national federations from the 2024 Chess Olympiad open section, each receiving one spot 4 nominees of the FIDE President 2 nominees of the Organiser Detailed information on qualification can be found in the official FIDE handbook. India: A chess powerhouse This year’s World Cup being held in India is particularly exciting. India has become a dominant force in the chess world, thanks in part to five-time World Champion and FIDE Deputy President Viswanathan Anand, whose efforts and legacy have been instrumental in popularizing chess in the country. India’s young stars include Gukesh Dommaraju, who became the youngest FIDE World Chess Champion at 18, Praggnanandhaa R, the runner-up of the 2023 World Cup, and Arjun Erigaisi, currently ranked world number five. In 2024, both the Indian Open and Women’s teams claimed their first-ever gold medals at the Chess Olympiad—a historic achievement further highlighted by four individual gold medals won by Gukesh, Erigaisi, Deshmukh, and Agrawal. Additionally, Koneru Humpy secured gold at the 2024 FIDE Women’s Rapid Championship, and Vaishali Rameshbabu earned bronze at the 2024 FIDE Women’s Blitz Championship. Photo: Stev Bonhage India has also recently hosted major events, including the FIDE Chess Olympiad 2022, Tata Steel Chess India, the FIDE World Junior U20 Championships 2024, and the 5th leg of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix (April 2025). These accomplishments underscore India’s status as a global chess hub, making it a fitting venue for the FIDE World Cup 2025. FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky expressed his excitement: “We are thrilled to bring the FIDE World Cup 2025 to India, a country with a deep-rooted passion and support for chess. Indian chess fans’ enthusiasm has always been remarkable, and we anticipate great interest in the event among local chess lovers, both on-site and online. To enhance the experience, FIDE is committed to organizing numerous side events, featuring tournament participants and chess legends.” Further details, including the announcement of the host city, will be released in due course. FIDE looks forward to an exhilarating tournament that continues to celebrate and advance the game of chess worldwide. The list of qualified players: https://worldcup2025.fide.com/participants/
FIDE Council Meeting held online on July 18, 2025
The second FIDE Council Meeting of 2025 took place on July 18, alongside the ongoing FIDE Women’s World Cup. Held in an online format, the meeting addressed a range of important topics, including development projects, budget matters, the FIDE calendar, fair-play measures, and the approval of new player titles. New Grandmasters approved One of the key highlights of the meeting was the approval of 10 new Grandmasters. Among them is 21-year-old Bibisara Assaubayeva of Kazakhstan, who becomes the second Kazakhstani woman and the 43rd female player in history to earn the prestigious GM title. The full list of newly approved Grandmasters: * Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ, 13708694)* Leonardo Costa (GER, 16213955)* Julian Kramer (GER, 12921742)* Edgar Mamedov (KAZ, 13739980)* Christopher Noe (GER, 24692018)* Tao Pang (CHN, 8609950)* L R Srihari (IND, 46617116)* Milosz Szpar (POL, 1184989)* Artem Uskov (FID, 34254854)* Matthew J. Wadsworth (ENG, 415804) Key event dates confirmed The Council confirmed the dates for several major upcoming events on the FIDE calendar: * FIDE World Cup 2025 – October–November 2025, India* Women’s World Team Championship 2025 – November 2025, Linares, Spain* 2nd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities – October 2025, Kazakhstan Participation of neutral team at Women’s World Team Championship In line with FIDE’s policy of following IOC guidance and in accordance with practices adopted by several international sports federations — such as World Aquatics, the International Fencing Federation, and the International Gymnastics Federation — the Council approved the participation of a team of athletes of Russian nationality in the 2025 Women’s World Team Championship under the FIDE flag, subject to obtaining a non-objection letter from the IOC. This decision builds upon the precedent set by the January 2025 FIDE resolution, which allowed neutral teams of vulnerable groups (youth and players with disabilities) to participate in team competitions. All such entries are required to compete without national symbols, in full alignment with IOC policy. A complete list of decisions from the FIDE Council Meeting will be published in due course.
20th ICCD World Team Championships: Registration now open
The International Chess Committee of Deaf (ICCD) invites all ICCD member countries to participate in the 20th ICCD World Team Chess Championships. The event will be held in Roquetas de Mar, Spain from May 6-15, 2026 and include six competitions: 20th ICCD World Deaf Team Chess Championship 1st World Deaf Team Blitz Chess Championship 1st World Deaf Team Rapid Chess Championship 8th World Deaf Individual Blitz Chess Championship 14th ICCD Deaf Open Individual Chess Tournament 1st ICCD Open Individual Rapid Chess Tournament The ICCD encourages visually-impaired deaf chess players to participate in any of these events. Please complete and send FORM 1 to the ICCD Secretary General at iccd.gensecretary@gmail.com and the Organizing Committee: alfredogomez@iccdroquetasdemar.com Registration deadline (for submitting FORM 1): October 14, 2025 Participation in this ICCD World Deaf Chess Championship implies full acceptance of the present regulations. The ICCD Organizing Committee reserves the right to modify, replace or cancel any of the clauses or conditions set forth herein, as well as to make changes to the schedule, timetable, format or venue of the event should force majeure, justified organizational reasons or unforeseen circumstances arise. Any modifications will be officially communicated through the designated communication channels of the organization. 20th ICCD World Team Championships: Regulations, schedule, format (PDF)
FIDE Women’s World Cup Round 5 Game 2: Lei Tingjie, Tan Zhongyi and Humpy Koneru qualify for the semifinals
Harika Dronavalli and Divya Deshmukh will tiebreak tomorrow for the fourth spot International Chess Day was celebrated in grand fashion across the globe. At the Grand Bellagio, the festivities began with a magnificent celebratory cake prepared by the hotel’s chef. The cake was ceremonially cut by Akaki Iashvili, President of the Georgian Chess Federation, alongside the final eight players of the World Cup—a fitting start to a day dedicated to the game. The second games of the fifth round delivered thrilling action. All four matches were fiercely contested and went the full distance, culminating in two decisive victories and two hard-fought draws. As a result of today’s games, Lei Tingjie, Tan Zhongyi, and Humpy Koneru have secured their spots in the semi-finals. Harika Dronavalli and Divya Deshmukh will return tomorrow for the tiebreak match to determine the fourth semi-finalist. The day was a true celebration of chess—marked by tradition, talent, and tenacity on the board. Let’s take a closer look at the games IM Song Yuxin – GM Humpy Koneru (0.5-0.5) Having to win with White to level the match, Song Yuxin essayed the tricky Jobava London system. Humpy, however, wasn’t caught off guard—she had clearly prepared for the line and emerged from the opening with a comfortable position. On move 14, Humpy spent nearly half an hour assessing the validity of a risky and entirely unforced double pawn sacrifice, aimed at gaining significant positional compensation. Her opponent would be left with two sets of weak pawns, including a set of tripled, isolated pawns. Song did her best to improve her pawn structure without returning the extra material, but the position proved too difficult—the risk was simply too great. Eventually, the material balance was restored, and the players agreed to a draw. After the game, Humpy graciously stopped by the media center for an interview with Charlize van Zyl. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6DB3YINRr4 GM Lei Tingjie – GM Nana Dzagnidze (1-0) Needing only a draw to qualify, Lei Tingjie opted for the solid Alapin Variation against Nana Dzagnidze’s Sicilian Defence—a practical and strategic choice to steer the game into quieter waters. Dzagnidze’s response with 8…d5 was slightly imprecise; 8…dxe5 is generally considered the more accurate continuation. As a result, the game transitioned into a middlegame resembling a French pawn structure with a closed center, where Lei held a slight but stable edge. Facing a must-win situation, Dzagnidze took on significant risk with the aggressive 15…g5—a double-edged move that ultimately backfired. Lei responded with composure, gradually building pressure on both flanks. Her bishop pair proved especially powerful, dominating the long diagonals and exposing weaknesses in Black’s position. As the game progressed into the endgame, Lei maintained control. However, on move 49, she played Kh2, missing the more precise 49.Kf1, which would have restricted Black’s defensive resources more effectively. The engine suggests this would have forced Dzagnidze’s hand and sealed the result more cleanly, but the oversight didn’t change the final outcome. Position of the day In a tense endgame, Dzagnidze faltered under time pressure with 53…Nc6?, a misstep that allowed Lei 54.Kg3, centralizing the king and initiating a decisive pawn advance on the kingside. The correct defensive try was 53…Nc5!, immediately targeting the b3 pawn and maintaining practical drawing chances. For example: After 54.g5 Naxb3 55.g6 Nd4 56.Bd1 Nf5, Black holds. Or 54.Bxc5 Kxc5 55.g5 Kd4 56.g6 Nc6, and then 57…Ne7 secures the draw. While Dzagnidze was in a must-win situation, a draw would still have been a creditable save given the pressure. Ultimately, her position was precarious, and the error sealed her fate. Lei took full control, wrapping it up with surgical precision. Her play throughout was strategically sound and psychologically sharp—neutralizing Dzagnidze’s initiative, exploiting structural weaknesses, and converting her advantage smoothly. With this win, Lei advanced straight to the semi-finals without needing tiebreaks. After her fair-play check, Lei joined IM Michael Rahal to review the key turning points and to preview her next challenge: a semi-final clash with Humpy Koneru. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHy17KWA6NY GM Harika Dronavalli – IM Divya Deshmukh (0.5-0.5) This afternoon’s game proved to be the most evenly matched of the four quarterfinals, reaching an astonishing 99% accuracy score — a testament to the high quality and balance of play between the two Indian contenders. In what was undoubtedly one of the most important games of her career, Divya opted for the Neo-Grünfeld Defense with the Black pieces. Harika responded ambitiously, sacrificing a pawn for central control and dynamic piece play — a strategy inspired by none other than GM Ding Liren. However, Divya showed impressive composure and understanding, returning the pawn at the right moment to liquidate into a comfortable and equal endgame. Despite the equilibrium, it was Harika who needed to tread carefully in the final phase. She demonstrated precise endgame technique to neutralize any chances for Black, successfully defending a Philidor position in a rook endgame. With the classical portion ending in a draw, the two will return tomorrow for the tiebreaker — with a coveted spot in the semi-finals at stake. GM Tan Zhongyi – GM Vaishali Rameshbabu (1-0) Former Women’s World Champion Tan Zhongyi continues to demonstrate remarkable consistency at the highest level. She is the only player to have reached the semi-finals in all three Women’s World Cups to date: Sochi 2021 (third place) and Baku 2023 (fourth place). With her victory over R. Vaishali this afternoon, Tan has once again punched her ticket to the final four — this time in the 2025 edition — and will face either Divya Deshmukh or Harika Dronavalli for a spot in the final. It’s a refreshing change of matchup, as Tan had faced Anna Muzychuk in both her previous semi-final appearances. Vaishali played extraordinarily well for most of the game, skillfully holding off Tan Zhongyi’s initiative. However, the Indian GM eventually faltered — perhaps due to fatigue from her recent grueling tiebreaks, while Tan had not yet played a single one in the tournament. The critical moment came after 50.Ke4, where Vaishali missed a crucial drawing resource.
FIDE Women’s World Cup Quarterfinals Game 1: Lei and Humpy strike the first blow
Top seed GM Lei Tingjie made a strong bid for a place in the semi-finals of the World Cup by winning the first game of her quarterfinal match against GM Nana Dzagnidze. The game ended dramatically when Dzagnidze overstepped the time limit. Despite the victory, Lei was candid in her post-game reflections: “I think today I played quite horribly, but the position was quite complicated. I spent a lot of time thinking, while my opponent developed her pieces very quickly.” With this win, Lei Tingjie now needs only a draw in the second game to secure her place in the final four. One of the other favourites to win the Cup, India’s top Grandmaster Humpy Koneru, pulled ahead in her two-game match against IM Song Yuxin. “It was a very complex game,” Humpy said afterward. “I wasn’t too sure about playing this position because she seemed very well-prepared, but I decided to take the risk anyway.” The other two games of the round ended in draws. The four encounters tomorrow will ultimately decide who advances in the World Cup and secures one of the three coveted spots in the Candidates Tournament—the next step toward the World Championship. Let’s take a closer look at the games: GM Humpy Koneru – IM Song Yuxin (1-0) Fully recovered after her grueling tiebreak victory over former Women’s World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk, Indian GM Koneru Humpy struck first in her quarterfinal match against surprise contender IM Song Yuxin. In the opening, Song demonstrated excellent home preparation, blitzing out her moves with confidence. Humpy, on the other hand, took a more measured approach. On move thirteen, she introduced the new idea 13.e4, a move she found over the board. This appeared to be an improvement over a line previously seen in Vidit–Aronian, and it immediately took Song out of her preparation. By move seventeen, Humpy boldly sacrificed a pawn in exchange for active piece play. Song accepted the challenge, but within a few moves, she found herself under significant pressure. Humpy’s initiative grew rapidly, and by the time the dust settled, Song was already on the defensive — as clearly illustrated in the following diagram. White was an exchange up for a pawn, but both the rook on f5 and the knight on f3 were under attack. In this tense moment, Humpy opted for simplification with 23.Rxf6?!, returning the exchange while maintaining a slight advantage. However, the powerful tactical shot 23.Qf5! would have been decisive. After 23…Nxe6, White could continue with 24.Qxe6+ Kh8, and then the brilliant 25.Ng5! would have left Black in a hopeless position: If 25…Bxg5, then 26.Bxb7 threatens mate on e8, which cannot be stopped. If 25…Bxg2, then 26.Nf7+ Kg8 27.Nd8+, once again leading to a forced mate on e8. Though Humpy missed this crushing continuation, she continued to press her initiative and ultimately converted her advantage into a full point with confident play. After the game, she joined IM Michael Rahal, FIDE Press Officer for the World Cup, in the media center to share her thoughts on the first game. https://youtu.be/C7BM6EpILJs GM Nana Dzagnidze – GM Lei Tingjie (0-1) World Cup top seed Lei Tingjie continued her impressive run in the tournament with another victory, this time against Georgian Grandmaster Nana Dzagnidze. Despite not being at her best, Lei managed to navigate a tense and error-prone game to emerge victorious in dramatic fashion. Dzagnidze, the last remaining Georgian player in the tournament, had the White pieces and opted for the Reti Opening — a popular flank strategy. Lei responded classically, quickly staking her claim in the centre with pawns. The game soon left known theoretical paths, transitioning into a complex “hanging pawns” structure, setting the stage for a deeply strategic battle. Both players spent considerable time navigating the intricacies of the position, exchanging strong moves with occasional inaccuracies. For much of the game, Dzagnidze held the upper hand. However, as she approached time trouble, mistakes began to creep in, and the balance started to shift. In a surprising twist, Dzagnidze overstepped the time control, handing Lei the win. “At the end of the game, both of us had made a mistake on the scoresheets and we both thought we had reached move forty, although in reality we were at move thirty-nine,” Lei explained afterward. “It was a dramatic ending, and I feel sorry for her, but the final position is completely winning for me.” Despite the unexpected conclusion, Lei’s resilience and tactical awareness saw her through. With this win, Lei Tingjie moves one step closer to the title, proving once again why she is the tournament’s top seed. After the game, she joined Charlize van Zyl in the interview area to share her reflections on the match. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wGfKYnp7eY IM Divya Deshmukh – GM Harika Dronavalli (0.5-0.5) When two players perform at 99%, a draw is often the only realistic outcome. Harika chose the ultra-solid Berlin Defence against Divya’s Ruy Lopez, where Divya opted for a lesser-known side-line favoured by Spanish GM David Antón Guijarro. After the opening, Divya appeared to hold a slight edge—thanks to open central files and better piece coordination—but the engine’s evaluation indicated only a minimal advantage. Harika responded well by trading off-key pieces and smoothly liquidating into an equal rook and minor piece endgame. The players agreed to a draw on move 31, a result that arguably favours Harika, who will enjoy the White pieces in the second game of the match. GM Vaishali Rameshbabu – GM Tan Zhongyi (0.5-0.5) The longest game of the afternoon saw a critical moment early on when Vaishali missed the chance to consolidate an extra pawn. The move 22.Qe2, played instead of the more promising 22.Ra3, allowed Tan Zhongyi to seize the initiative. As the game transitioned into the endgame, the Chinese Grandmaster successfully won the exchange for a pawn and pressed hard to convert her advantage into a full point. However, Vaishali defended with precision and resilience, ultimately securing a well-earned draw after seventy-three moves. Follow the games live and
FIDE World U9-U17 Rapid and Blitz Championships 2025: Registration now open
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) and the Turkish Chess Federation are pleased to announce the FIDE World U9-U17 Rapid & Blitz Championships 2025. The event will take place in Antalya, Türkiye, from 15 December (arrival) to 21 December (departure) 2025. There will be five age categories: under 9, under 11, under 13, under 15 and under 17 with separate open and girl’s events. Players placed 1st–3rd at the FIDE World School Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2024 are granted the personal right to participate in the corresponding (or higher) age category, provided they meet the age requirement as of 1 January 2025. FIDE member Federations should register their participants and may enter an unlimited number of players. The registration deadline: October 15, 2025 E-mail: youthrapidblitz@fide.com Invitation letter (PDF)