Pouya Idani and Anahita Zahedifar top Zone 3.1 Zonals in Iraq
Iraqi Chess Federation president Dhafer Abdul Ameer Madhloom awards the champion’s trophy to Idani GM Pouya Idani (pictured above) and WFM Anahita Zahedifar, both representing Iran, emerged as the winners of the Zone 3.1 Men’s and Women’s Zonals held from April 8–15, 2025, in Erbil, Iraq. Asian Chess Federation General Secretary Hisham Al Taher makes the ceremonial opening moves in the Zone 3.1 Zonal Chess Championship in Erbil, Iraq assisted by Iraqi Chess Federation president Dhafer Abdul Ameer Madhloom and first Vice president of Iraq Olypmpic Committee Abdolsalam Khalaf The open event, a 9-round Swiss tournament featuring 46 players from 10 federations, turned into a close race between Pouya Idani and Bardiya Daneshvar. The two Iranian Grandmasters, who entered as the top two seeds, lived up to expectations by tying for first place with 8.5 points each. Idani clinched the title thanks to superior tiebreaks based on the average rating of his opponents. Both players qualified for the FIDE World Cup 2025. Final standings Open The women’s section saw twenty participants from six countries: Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, and host nation Iraq. Anahita Zahedifar (pictured above) secured victory with a strong 7.5/9 score, finishing half a point ahead of fellow Iranians Tannaz Azali and Anousha Mahdian, who shared second place. With this result, Zahedifar qualifies for the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025. Final standings Women Officials in the Zone 3.1 Men’s and Women’s Zonals led by Iraqi Chess Federation president Dhafer Abdul Ameer Madhloom (seated center) and, next, Chief Arbiter Mehrdad Pahlevanzadeh of Iran Photos: asianchess.com/
Fighting chess in WGP India – Zhu Jiner leads after three rounds
Nine decisive outcomes in fifteen games is a testament to the fighting spirit on display in the Women’s Grand Prix, here in the Amanora The Fern Hotel complex in Pune. Spectators that attended the playing venue this afternoon to watch the games and catch a photo with their favourite player were in for a treat: no fewer than three games ended decisively. The ceremonial first moves were performed by Dr. Praniti Tilak, Trustee of the Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth University, who opened the game for Nurgyul Salimova, and Mr. Ashwin Trimal, Vice President of the Pune District Chess Association. The owner of the Amanora Group, Mr. Aniruddha Deshpande, also took part. With today’s results, one of tomorrow’s Round 4 matchups should be especially exciting. While all the games have their charm, Shuvalova vs. Humpy will be the one to follow closely. Polina will be eager exert pressure with the white pieces and aim for her second victory, while Humpy will keep pushing to accumulate points in the event. Let’s take a closer look at this afternoon’s games. Alina Kashlinskaya 0 – 1 Munguntuul Batkhuyag The first game to finish ended in spectacular style. Mongolia’s number one female player Munguntuul Batkhuyag took down Poland’s Alina Kashlinskaya in a complicated, opposite-side castled attacking game. As Munguntuul explained in her post-game interview, she tried out a new opening, which neither of the two had played before, including a pawn sacrifice to open up some files against her opponent’s king. Alina didn’t react in the best way and soon her king was in trouble, besieged by her opponent’s heavy pieces. In this position, Munguntuul went in for the kill. She swapped off both White’s knights with 30…Bxf3 31.gxf3 Bxd4 32.exd4 and then finished off with 32….Rxb3+ 33.Kc2 and the fantastic 33…Qc7+! 34.Kxb3 Rb8! after which Kashlinskaya resigned facing checkmate along the a-file. After the game, Munguntuul went through her thought process with Michael Rahal, FIDE Press Officer, noting that “Maybe the late call to play here hasn’t allowed Alina to prepare properly.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP0kgqXAmIw Vaishali Rameshbabu 0.5 – 0.5 Polina Shuvalova Against Shuvalova’s Two Knights Defence, Vaishali went for a line that is theoretically considered harmless and even slightly worse for White. However, engine opening analysis has advanced a lot and we keep getting new information. Perhaps still affected by her defeat yesterday, the Indian player did not want to take any risks and, even though Vaishali achieved a slight advantage in terms of pawn structure, she never had any real chances of winning. At the end, Shuvalova simplified into a rook ending, with three pawns against two on the same side of the board, which was declared a draw on move sixty-three. Both players hit an unbelievable 99% accuracy performance: a high-level game! Humpy Koneru 1 – 0 Divya Deshmukh Having started the tournament with two solid draws with Black, the current Rapid World Champion was keen to display her strength with the white pieces. Her opponent, Divya, leading the event, had more time to spend on her preparation, after defeating Vaishali yesterday in the opening. In a fashionable English opening, Humpy tried out an interesting idea based on a quick h4-h5. Surprised, Divya spent twelve minutes on her reply and soon fell into time trouble. As she mentioned after the game, Humpy gained the upper hand due to her opponent’s weakened king, to the point that the exchange of queens was the best option for Divya to hold. But then Humpy brought out her best endgame technique, and displayed the full power of the bishop pair in the late middlegame and endgame, weaving a mating net and finishing the game in style. Check out her post-game interview on Youtube in which she outlines the road to victory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTE41xLu-UQ Nurgyul Salimova 0 – 1 Harika Dronavalli While I was interviewing Humpy, I lost track of the other interesting game of the day, in which Harika was pushing in the Catalan with Black. And, in fact, the game was decided at the same time. As fortune would have it, Harika was interviewed on the live stream and gave her thoughts on the full game. You can check it out on the following link, starting on 5h 38 minutes. Salimova misplayed the opening – 16.Qxc4 was equal while 16.Rc1 drops a pawn and then 19.e4 instead of 19.Bxc5 was much better – and suddenly Harika had some clear chances to get out of the hole and score her first win. The Indian certainly could have finished the job sooner – the engine suggests 47…Qe1 with a decisive advantage instead of 47…Qd4 – but she kept her cool and eventually prevailed in the ending. Zhu Jiner 0.5 – 0.5 Salome Melia The final game to finish was also the most solid of all of them. With the draw, Zhu Jiner maintains her lead while Salome picked up a well-deserved half point with Black. Salome essayed the Sicilian and Zhu Jiner opted for the Rossolimo Attack, very trendy these days. Around move fifteen it seemed that Zhu Jiner had lost track and Salome started to improve the placement of her pieces: things were looking very bright for her. However, Zhu Jiner kept the game going, traded some pieces and liquidated into a rook ending. The final piece was agreed on move seventy-six. Round 4 pairings The fourth round of the fifth leg in the 2024/25 Women’s Grand Prix series starts on Thursday, April 17 at 15:00 CET local time in Pune, India. Salome Melia – Divya DeshmukhPolina Shuvalova – Humpy KoneruHarika Dronavalli – Vaishali RameshbabuMunguntuul Batkhuyag – Nurgyul SalimovaZhu Jiner – Alina Kashlinskaya More information about the event, including the regulations and details of the pairings, as well as live games can be found on the official website. You can follow the games with expert commentary on FIDE’s YouTube channel. Written by IM Michael Rahal Photos: Abhilash Shinde
Abdulrahman Akintoye and Toritsemuwa Ofowino win 2025 Zone 4.2 West Africa Championship
Host nations have traditionally performed well in FIDE Zonal competitions, and the 2025 Zone 4.2 West Africa Chess Championship in Lagos, Nigeria, was no exception. The host nation claimed four of the six medals on offer in this prestigious event. This year’s championship, held at the Citiheight Luxury Hotel in Ikeja, brought together 42 players from eight Zone 4.2 countries. Reigning champion Abdulrahman Akintoye rose to the occasion, winning title for the second consecutive year with an impressive 7½ points out of 9. Toritsemuwa Ofowino also displayed remarkable prowess in the women’s section, earning her second consecutive and fourth overall Zone 4.2 Championship title. Their victories ensure that Nigeria retains both Zone 4.2 Championship titles for the second year running. Additionally, both players have qualified to represent the zone at the African Chess Confederation Super Zonal Chess Championship. Abdulrahman Akintoye retains Zone 4.2 West Africa title As the defending champion, Abdulrahman was seeded second, just behind top-seeded Amarelle Ortega. He delivered an impressive performance—winning six games and drawing three—to finish with 7½ points. His key draws came against Ortega, third-seeded Denyefa Eyetonghan, and seventh-seeded Tersee Nyuima. Tennyson Olisa, the 10th seed, secured the silver medal with a strong 7-point score. The 22-year-old won six games, with his only losses coming against Abdulrahman and Odion Aikhoje. A major highlight was his victory over top seed Amarelle Ortega in Round 7. Ortega, the 2023 Zone 4.2 champion, claimed bronze with 6½ points. She scored five wins, three draws (against Toluwanimi Okemakinde, Abdulrahman Akintoye, and Denyefa Eyetonghan), and suffered one loss to Olisa. Tersee Nyuima impresses once again Tersee Nyuima, who recently made history as Nigeria’s youngest National Chess Champion, followed up with a commendable 4th-place finish. The 17-year-old won five games, drew twice with champion Abdulrahman Akintoye and Oluwadurotimi Lapite, and suffered a single defeat at the hands of Mustapha Othman. Nigeria dominates open section Nigeria underlined its strength by securing nine of the top ten positions in the open section. Odion Aikhoje, Denyefa Eyetonghan, Oluwafemi Balogun, and Oladapo Adu all finished with 5½ points, while Toluwanimi Okemakinde, Obama Onuoha, and Oluwadurotimi Lapite followed closely with five points each. Toritsemuwa Ofowino claims her second consecutive title Nigeria’s chess sensation Toritsemuwa Ofowino continued her dominance, clinching her second consecutive—and fourth overall—Zone 4.2 West Africa Championship title. The top seed lived up to expectations, scoring eight out of a possible nine points with seven wins and two draws, against WCM Emmanuela Esther Ayemou Mazan and Michelle Nwankwo in rounds four and five, respectively. Azumi Suleiman, the second seed, also impressed with a 7½-point performance, including seven wins, one draw, and one loss—to Toritsemuwa. She secured the silver medal. Ivorian prodigy Emmanuela Esther Ayemou, just 17 years old, maintained an unbeaten record throughout the competition, finishing with seven points from five wins and four draws. The sixth seed held her own against the tournament’s top competitors, drawing with Toritsemuwa, Suleiman, Michelle Nwankwo, and Bridget Michael. The African Chess Confederation Executive extends its sincere appreciation to the Nigerian government, the Minister of Sports Development, the National Sports Commission of Nigeria, and the Nigeria Chess Federation for successfully hosting this year’s edition of the Africa Zone 4.2 West Africa Chess Championship. Written by Tatenda Gondo
Crowning a Champion: Ju Wenjun clinches her fifth title
In the final game of the FIDE Women’s World Championship Match, tension could be felt in the playing hall. Tan Zhongyi entered the game with nothing to lose, while Ju Wenjun carried the pressure of needing only half a point to secure her fifth world title. The stakes couldn’t have been higher. Draws have been a rarity throughout the match, with six out of the eight previous games producing decisive results. That made the outlook for today’s game particularly intriguing. Would Ju play solidly to secure the draw she needed, or would we witness another fighting battle? Though the score may suggest a dominant performance from Ju Wenjun, the reality is far more nuanced. Tan Zhongyi fought hard throughout the match, often holding promising positions, and never allowing Ju an easy ride. Despite being down, she entered the final game hoping to create imbalance and generate winning chances. But Ju, calm and focused, played with clarity and precision, guiding the game to the draw she needed. The final game opened with the Sicilian Rossolimo—revisiting the line from Game 6 where Tan, with the black pieces, obtained a slight edge. This time, Ju deviated with 5.Re1 instead of 5.d4, and the players soon found themselves navigating a fresh and dynamic position. White accepted an isolated queen’s pawn, which Ju temporarily sacrificed before regaining it after a series of trades. 18.Rad1 e5 19. Bxd4 exd4 20. Qb4 a5 21. Qxd4 Qxd4 22. Rxd4 Although Ju was behind on the clock by 30 minutes, the evaluation bar was firmly rooted in 0.0, with a simple and open position. Following further exchanges, the game transitioned into a rook endgame, and by move 38, repetition confirmed the result: a draw. Despite the absence of fireworks in the final game, the match as a whole was anything but dull. The final score might mislead the casual observer into thinking Ju Wenjun steamrolled her way to victory, but the reality was more complex. Every game was filled with tension, and no outcome was certain until the final moments. Take, for instance, Game 2, which appeared dead equal until a sharp collapse under time pressure: 40…Ke8?? (instead of 40…b4!)Ju Wenjun, playing Black, faltered at the critical moment, allowing Tan Zhongyi to seize her opportunity and score her first win. This pattern repeated in every single game – both players lay in wait like pythons beneath the sand, ready to strike the moment their opponent slipped. Or Game 6, where Tan, pushing too ambitiously, lost the thread: Instead of maintaining balance with quiet play, Tan pushed 31.h4? a move that allowed Ju to break through with 31…g4. The momentum shifted entirely, and Ju converted her advantage with surgical precision. These examples are not isolated. Nearly every game in the match followed this pattern of high tension, mutual pressure, and a readiness to capitalize on the opponent’s mistakes. In the final post-game press conference, Ju and Tan expressed that their favorite games were games 8 and 7 respectively because of the quality of play. The Women’s World Championship Match has shown us an admirable display of not only skill – but immense fighting spirit from both sides. And fighting spirit is, after all, a key ingredient for any great chess player. With this draw, Ju Wenjun secures her place in history. She is now a five-time Women’s World Champion—a new record among Chinese players. Her legacy, built on years of consistent excellence and determination, will inspire generations to come. FACT SHEET, Game 9, FIDE Women’s World Championship 2025: White: Ju WenjunBlack: Tan ZhongyiResult: ½ Opening: Sicilian Rossolimo Game length: 38 movesMatch score: 6.5-2 (in favour of Ju Wenjun) Follow FIDE’s social media channels for updates, tune into YouTube for live commentary and coverage, and visit the official match website for more information. Written by Charlize van Zyl Photos: Anna Shtourman Official website: womenworldchampionship2025.fide.com/
Chess for Freedom Continental Championship and Workshop for Africa: Last call to register
The 2025 Chess for Freedom Continental Chess Championship for Africa and Workshop organized by FIDE in collaboration with The Gift of Chess, Dadaz Chess Academy, and the Malawi Prison Service (Lilongwe, Malawi) are scheduled to take place from May 12 – May 14, 2025, in Lilongwe, Malawi. This will be the first in-person Chess for Freedom Conference for Africa. The registration deadline is May 1, 2025. We are very grateful for our partners, Malawi Prison Department and all the participating correctional facilities around Africa. Invitations are extended to all previous online intercontinental event participants from Africa and those who aspire to start the chess in prison program. The event is open only for representatives of Africa. Chess for Freedom – Workshop Goals To debrief on the outcomes from past online intercontinental chess events, hosted by FIDE and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, including highlighting notable event accomplishments from Africa, and identifying improvement areas. To introduce the Chess for Freedom program to new African countries and support them with information to be part of the program and share its impact in other countries. To discuss engagement strategies for potential partners associated with the Chess for Freedom program. To have an Africa Continental Championship. The Workshop event schedule is as follows: May 11: Guests arrival. Welcome dinner May 12: Workshop featuring various breakout topics. May 13: Maula Prison tour – men and Juveniles (includes meeting with Prison administration and staff). Continental Championship for Africa on-line tournament May 14: Trip to Malawi Lake. Guests departure. “The prison officials see that in the places where the chess program is implemented, the behavior of the individuals in-custody changes, depression and stress levels decrease, they are better with socialization skills when they leave the facility. It’s not only about the skills and another way of spending free time, but also the sense of belonging to a community, to the chess family. We’ve been working a lot to advocate for a program itself, but the examples of the other countries work even better,” says Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board Dana Reizniece-Ozola about the rapid growth of the program all over the world. Chess for Freedom Workshop – Lodging Details The official hotel for the Chess for Freedom Workshop is the Lifestyle Boutique Hotel by Umodzi Park, Lilongwe in Malawi. All attendees are required to register for the workshop by signing up HERE. The Workshop program will include: Welcome from the Ministry of Homeland Security of Malawi Presentation by the FIDE – Dana Ozola Reizniece or Andre Vogtlin Chess for Freedom program overview – Mikhail Korenmann Chess for Freedom program in Malawi with the Gift of Chess support in Africa – Susan Namangale Chess Impact for young offenders in Ghana – David Amcheapong Nation-wide Chess for Freedom program in Kenya – PS Salome Beacco/Phyllis Ngingi Round-table discussion include prison authorities and participants of the Chess for Freedom project. Chess for Freedom Workshop – Contact Information Susan Namangale Dadaz Chess Founder / Gift of Chess Ambassador FIDE Schools Instructor and Member of FIDE PDC Commission.E-mail dadazchess22@gmail.com WhatsApp: +265999951477 Rafiq Namangale Chief Operations OfficerFIDE Developmental Instructor /Dadaz Chess CoachE-mail rafiqjames03@gmail.com WhatsApp: +265993701492
World Cadet & Youth Rapid and Blitz Championships 2025 reach halfway mark
We’ve reached the halfway point of the FIDE World Cadet & Youth Rapid and Blitz Championships 2025, here in Rhodes. Players are now gearing up for the blitz portion of the event, which kicks off on April 16, 2025. In the meantime, let’s celebrate the champions of the rapid competition. After 11 intense rounds across the U18, U16, U14, U12, U10, and U8 categories, the following players emerged as winners: Open section: Category Title Name Federation Rating Points U18 FM Suleimen, Ergali KAZ 2259 8½ U16 IM Uskov, Artem FID 2405 9½ U14 CM Nguyen, Nam Kiet VIE 2172 9 U12 Bulgak, Damir FID 2101 10 U10 Anetov, Amirzhan KAZ 1903 8½ U8 Adilbek, Adinur KAZ 1792 9½ Girls section: Category Title Name Federation Rating Points U18 WFM Norman, Kseniya FIDE 2197 9 U16 WFM Kaliakhmet, Elnaz KAZ 2184 10 U14 WFM Altynbek, Aiaru KAZ 1994 8½ U12 WCM Yunker, Alisa Genrietta FIDE 1983 10 U10 WCM Divi, Bijesh IND 1752 10 U8 Bissaliyeva, Alisha KAZ 1591 11 Key information about the blitz segment: 411 players (including 50 titled players) representing 40 national federations 156 female participants, making up 38% of the total players 14% of participants represent the host federation, Greece Follow the broadcast of games on Chess.com: Chess.com Complete results: Chess-Results.com Photos: Ippotis Chess Club Rhodes Official website: wcyrb2025.com/
Never make a move too soon – Divya and Zhu Jiner lead in Pune
Hardcore music fans will likely remember B.B.King’s classic 1978 Midnight Believer blues – and chess players would do good to take note after this afternoon’s shocking events in the second round of the Pune Women’s Grand Prix. Vaishali, a fantastic player in her own right, gave up her bishop one move too soon, and Divya notched up her second win in a row. Combined with Zhu Jiner’s excellent rook endgame technique, the afternoon’s games lead us into the third round with two clear leaders. The ceremonial first moves were performed by Sameer Pathak, the CEO of Tech Mahindra Global Chess League and Niranjan Godbole, Tournament Director and Secretary of the Maharashtra Chess Association. Also present at the opening ceremony was Santosh Gilukurai, Sports Authority of India. Let’s take a closer look at the five games. Divya Deshmukh 1-0 Vaishali Rameshbabu The round had barely begun, and we already had the first decisive result of the day. Playing really fast with the black pieces, Vaishali made a huge blunder that left her completely lost on move seventeen. “I was quite lucky to have briefly glanced at this line just five minutes before the game” Divya explained in her post-game interview, in which she went over the opening for the online audience. “It’s not really a win, because she just messed up the move order and I won a piece – these things sometimes happen, we are human”. Theory suggests that in this position, the correct move is 17…Re8, protecting the bishop and getting out of the white queen’s x-ray attack. After 18.Nxc7 Bg4! there is a line that ends in a forced draw, as Divya noted after the game. But Vaishali played the bishop one move too soon – 17…Bg4? and after 18.Nxf6! (hitting the rook on a8) 18…Bxf3 19.Nxd7+ Ke8 and 20.Nc5 White emerged much better, and eventually picked up the pinned bishop on e7. Check out Divya’s postgame interview with FIDE Press Officer IM Michael Rahal for the game analysis. https://youtu.be/llPBkTmG2s4?si=g5mPJ9rWGP16Kesm Salome Melia 0.5–0.5 Humpy Koneru An interesting battle of piece activity. Playing with White, Salome Melia opened with the Scotch. For a while, they followed a couple of IM Carissa Yip’s 2020 games, until Melia decided to deviate with the engine’s suggestion 13.Re1. White’s piece activity was more than enough for the pawn that she decided to sacrifice. Humpy picked up the gauntlet, captured the b2 pawn and sent a clear message to her opponent “Where is your compensation?” But the Georgian IM had everything under control. After a few precise exchanges, she forced a queen and rook endgame, recuperating her lost pawn and forcing a draw. For Humpy, two draws in the first two games, albeit with the Black pieces, is not a great start, but tomorrow she will have a chance to strike with White against tournament leader and her national team colleague Divya. Polina Shuvalova 0.5–0.5 Nurgyul Salimova Playing with Black after a defeat, the choice of the Scandinavian defence Salimova looked like a very risky decision. However, judging by the amount of time that Polina thought in the opening, I think that it definitely served its surprise purpose. Although Shuvalova was able to obtain the bishop pair, Salimova’s strong knight on d5 proved clear compensation, and Polina was unable to make any progress. The position was very solid for Black, and it seemed difficult to find a way to increase the minimum advantage. Around move thirty Shuvalova was already looking for a way out and she found a perpetual check with her queen. With this result, Shuvalova progresses to 1.5/2 while Salimova scores for the first time in Pune. Harika Dronavalli 0.5–0.5 Alina Kashlinskaya After yesterday’s double defeat, both players were eager to score and climb out of the hole. Playing with Black, Kashlinskaya opted for the always aggressive King’s Indian Defense, against which Harika went for a sharp variation, clamping down the center pawn structure and playing on the flanks. However, with everything still at play, and most of the pieces still on the board both players decided to play it safe and repeat the same position three times, resulting in a draw on move twenty-five. In the final position the engine does suggest the possibility of exchanging minor pieces and picking up a pawn, but at the same time it feels that there should be some compensation. Munguntuul Batkhuyag 0–1 Zhu Jiner The final game of the day was very special. Zhu Jiner, on a mission here to win and qualify for the Candidates, grinded down Munguntuul in a very tricky double-rook ending. With this victory, Zhu Jiner co-leads the tournament with a 100% score and is already looking at a chance to make history. The Mongolian chess star opened with the fashionable 6.Bd3 variation in the Najdorf Sicilian. Although she was well prepared, she didn’t seem to make any real progress and the Chinese GM was able to equalise comfortably in the middlegame. The tide started to turn around move thirty. Although the engine assessed the position as roughly equal, it soon became clear that Zhu Jiner was pressing for a win. As Zhu noted after the game, “This was not a very hard game. It was very long and I a not sure about the endgame because rook endgames are always a draw, but I just tried to keep up the pressure and, in the end, I just won”. By means of excellent endgame technique, she forced a double-rook ending, which she converted with textbook mastery. Check out the postgame interview with FIDE Press Officer IM Michael Rahal for Zhu’s fantastic explanation of the rook ending. https://youtu.be/zbx2bkFrNNU?si=k_FoK6AjUfUS4XSJ Round three pairings and dates The third round of the fifth leg in the 2024/25 Women’s Grand Prix series starts on Wednesday, April 16, at 15:00 CET local time in Pune, India. Zhu Jiner – Salome MeliaAlina Kashlinskaya – Munguntuul BatkhuyagNurgyul Salimova – HarikaDronavalli Vaishali Rameshbabu – Polina Shuvalova Humpy Koneru – Divya Deshmukh More information about the event, including the regulations and details
FIDE WGP India: Four wins and a wedding
The first round of the Pune Women’s Grand Prix was one of the most exciting afternoons of chess I have ever witnessed, with four of the five games ending in a decisive result. As if this alone weren’t enough to make the entire chess community stop in its tracks and follow the games, a wedding in the gardens of the hotel added a spicy touch to the event. Indian weddings are vibrant celebrations, often spanning several days and featuring a variety of rituals and ceremonies rooted in tradition and cultural significance. These typically include pre-wedding events, the main ceremony, and post-wedding festivities—dances, music, and a lot of food—which, unfortunately, collided with the end of the round. At one point, due to the loud music, Chief Arbiter Ivan Syrovy, ably assisted by Deputy Arbiter Deepti Shidore, decided to suspend the games for about ten minutes. All the players took it well, although some certainly struggled to stay focused. The ceremonial first moves were performed in the game between Munguntuul Batkhuyag and Salome Melia. Aditya Deshpande, Director of City Corporation—the company that manages the Amanora The Fern complex—opened the game for White, while Dr. Parineeta Fuke, Chairperson of the Organising Committee, responded for Black. Let’s take a closer look at the five games. Zhu Jiner 1-0 Harika Dronavalli In the past, most of the games between these two players had ended in draws. Harika tried to surprise her opponent in a very rare side-line of the French defence, and lead her into an unknown position. But Zhu Jiner was up to the challenge. “I wasn’t sure in the opening but she played very solid. She made some mistakes in the middlegame and gave me some chances to win,” said the Chinese GM after the game. Indeed, it was a very tricky situation but most likely 26…gxh5 instead of the correct 26…Qd7 was the decisive mistake, allowing Zhu Jiner to crash through. “Harika is a very solid player. We have played many times and it’s always a draw, so I am happy to have won the first game,” Zhu Jiner concluded in her post-game interview. Alina Kashlinskaya 0-1 Polina Shuvalova After a hiatus from the WGP cycle, Polina Shuvalova returned with a great first round result, defeating Alina Kashlinskaya and notching up her first win towards what might be her second GM norm. “I had to cancel some other tournaments to come here (Shuvalova replaces Kateryna Lagno in Pune) but it’s a great opportunity to play a strong tournament with good prizes,” were her first words after the game. Although the middlegame proved very tense, Shuvalova kept her calm and finished off her opponent with a simple but effective sacrifice to promote her passed c-pawn. “I was definitely having some trouble out of the opening, but my opponent missed her chance to consolidate an advantage. Approaching time trouble, she made a decisive mistake that gave me excellent chances to win the game,” explained Shuvalova in her post-game interview. Vaishali Rameshbabu ½-½ Humpy Koneru Due to fair play reasons, players from the same federation are paired in the first rounds to avoid misunderstandings at the end of the tournament. The all-Indian bout between Vaishali and Koneru was a hard-fought battle in a slow Italian game, in which the recently-crowned World Rapid Champion had to grind down a draw in 53 moves from a queenless middlegame into a very slightly worse endgame. The 99% accuracy displayed by both players clearly indicate their fantastic state of form, with no errors or inaccuracies in this game. We can certainly expect the same amount of fighting spirit for the rest of the event. Nurgyul Salimova 0-1 Divya Deshmukh. Living in Nagpur, a small city in the northeast of the State of Maharashtra, the Indian star was full of joy for playing so near to her home. “I have actually never been to Pune. I feel great playing here and it’s definitely a huge motivation for me. It has been a while since I played in India and I was so happy for only having to take one flight instead of two or three,” Divya explained enthusiastically after the game. Salimova went for a modern computer variation of the London system, with a quick h4 and Rh3, that looked a quite aggressive setup at first glance. However, at a certain point it didn’t seem that her pieces were fully coordinated. “It was a tough game, but I think I could have finished it a lot smoother. I decided to go all-out and this time it worked,” said Divya. Certainly, it was a game of interesting tactics and imbalances, combined with quite a few mistakes and blunders, eventually falling on the side of the Indian prodigy. With regard to the small annoyance of the wedding, Divya understood that these things happen. “It’s my mistake that I lost focus – the wedding music was surprisingly very loud – but it was tough for everyone.” Munguntuul Batkhuyag 1-0 Salome Melia The final game to finish ended in a dramatic way. Playing with Black, Georgian IM Salome Melia went for the fashionable Kalashnikov Sicilian and equalized comfortably out of the opening. She started to pile up the pressure and even achieved a decisive advantage, according to the computer, around move thirty. However, under severe time trouble, she miscalculated a sequence of exchanges, and ended up a pawn down in a very drawable ending. And then the following happened! Moment of the Day I was actually watching the game very closely at this moment and noticed that 78…Nc6! would pick up the a5 pawn and, even a piece down, the ending would be an easy draw as long as White isn’t able to trap the knight somehow. But down to her last thirty seconds, Salome calculated the line quickly, wasn’t totally sure and instead played the natural 78…Kxg7? restoring material balance. However, after the very precise 79.Bb7! the knight was out of moves and a further attack with 80.Kc3 forced the knight to
Faig Gasanov enters the Guinness Book of Records as the longest-serving chess arbiter
On April 14, 2025, Faig Gasanov—who had turned 85 just a day earlier—entered the Guinness Book of Records as the longest-serving chess arbiter in the history of the sport, with a remarkable career spanning 60 years and 149 days. A representative from Guinness World Records, Sheida Subashi, confirmed that all information had been thoroughly reviewed and met the necessary criteria for the record. Born on April 13, 1940, in Tbilisi, Faig Gasanov has dedicated a large part of his life to chess, making significant contributions to the development of the game both in Azerbaijan and around the world. For many years, Gasanov has shared his vast experience in promoting chess in Azerbaijan, shaping new generations of players, and organizing international tournaments. Since 2007, he has served as the Vice President of the Azerbaijan Chess Federation. Gasanov enjoys an impeccable reputation in the chess world. As chief arbiter, he officiated over 150 chess competitions, including prestigious super tournaments in Wijk aan Zee, Linares, the Vugar Hashimov Memorial, the Chess Olympiad, the FIDE World Cup, and the FIDE Grand Prix. His long-running television program Chess Club, which he both authored and hosted on Azerbaijan’s first television channel, AzTV, is celebrating its 56th year on air—setting a national broadcasting record. In 2010, on the occasion of his 70th birthday, Faig Gasanov was awarded a special Gold Diploma of Achievement in recognition of his outstanding service to the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and the global chess community. In 2016, he received the Honorary Award for his contributions to FIDE as an International Arbiter. In addition to his international recognition, Gasanov has been honored by the Azerbaijani government with the “Glory” and “Honor” Orders, as well as the President of Azerbaijan’s Honorary Diploma, for his contributions to the development of chess in the country. In September 2024, Gasanov was awarded the honorary FIDE 100 Medal for his lifelong dedication to the game and his exceptional service to the chess world. Photos: Michal Walusza and vesti.az/
European Senior Team Championship 2025: England claims triple gold
The European Senior Team Chess Championship 2025 concluded yesterday in Świdnica, Poland. The event was held in two age categories—50+ and 65+—and Team England repeated its success from last year by defending three titles! In the 65+ category, nine teams competed, with England 1 scoring a perfect 16 match points to clinch the gold medal. The team dominated the competition, winning all its matches with a minimum score of 3–1. Poland’s Lower Silesia Team earned the silver with 12 match points. Germany’s Saxony Team claimed bronze with 11 match points. The 50+ section featured eight teams, who first played seven rounds, followed by a final-four mini-tournament comprising two additional rounds. England 1 emerged as the champion with 17 match points, securing victories in eight matches and drawing the final round against Germany. Germany took silver with 13 match points. England 2 claimed bronze scoring 12 match points. Meanwhile, England’s Women’s 50+ Team clinched the title of the European Women’s Senior 50+ Team Champions 2025 finishing as the best-ranked women’s team in the competition. Board prizes were awarded to the top individual performers based on their rating performances in both sections. Board 1 (50+ section): 1.GM Michael Adams (England 1); 2.GM Klaus Bischoff (Germany); 3.Marek Zych (Poland Swidnica) Board 2 (50+ section): 1.GM John Emms (England 1); 2.GM Frank Holzke (Germany); 3.FM Neil Dickenson (England 2) Board 3 (50+ section): 1.GM Glenn Flear (England 1); 2.GM Uwe Boensch (Germany); 3.FM Chris Duncan (England 2) Board 4 (50+ section): 1.GM Raj Tischbierek (Germany); 2.GM Nigel Davies (England 1); 3.Philip Crocker (England 2) Board 5 (50+ section): 1.FM Stephen Dishman (England 1); 2.CM Anthony Hughes (Wales Silures); 3.Robert Noyce (England 2) Board 1 (65+ section): 1.GM John Nunn (England 1); 2.FM Wieslaw Janocha (Poland Lower Silesia Team); 3.Wilfried Dr. Beilfuss (Germany SV Osnabruck) Board 2 (65+ section): 1.GM Anthony Kosten (England 1); 2.FM Johan Goormachtigh (Belgium KBSB); 3.FM Janusz Zyla (Poland Lower Silesia Team) Board 3 (65+ section): 1.GM Jonathan Mestel (England 1); 2.FM Guenther Jahnel (German Saxony Team); 3.Marc Stuer (Belgium KBSB) Board 4 (65+ section): 1.IM Peter Large (England 1); 2.Gennadii Topchii (German Saxony Team); 3.Marcel Van Herck (Belgium KBSB) Board 5 (65+ section): 1.FM Robert Vogel (German SK Zaehringen Reloaded); 2.IM Chris Baker (England 1); Norbert Becker (German SV Osnabruck) Final rankings can be found here. Written by European Chess Union Photos: Kamil Galuszka Official website: estcc2025.pl/