FIDE Grand Swiss 2025: Lists of qualified players announced
The 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss and Women’s Grand Swiss will take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from September 3–16, 2025. This marks the first time the prestigious event will be held in Uzbekistan, a country with a rich chess heritage and a rapidly growing influence in the global chess community. As one of the most significant events in the chess calendar, the FIDE Grand Swiss offers players a direct pathway to the Candidates Tournament. The top two finishers in the Grand Swiss will secure spots in the 2026 Candidates Tournament, while the top two players in the Women’s Grand Swiss will qualify for the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament. In addition to its importance as a qualifier, the event will feature an increased prize fund. The Open prize fund has been boosted from $460,000 to $625,000—a 36% increase—while the Women’s prize fund sees an even larger jump, from $140,000 to $230,000, up 64%. Both tournaments will follow an 11-round Swiss format, with 170 players participating from across the globe: 114 in the Grand Swiss and 56 in the Women’s Grand Swiss. So far, 100 players have qualified for the 2025 Grand Swiss by rating, while the Women’s Grand Swiss has 44 qualifiers. Only players who played at least 30 rated games are eligible. The final lists of participants will be confirmed after Continent spots, players nominated by the FIDE President and players nominated by the Organiser are announced. Qualified players – Open https://grandswiss2025.fide.com/open-event-participants/ Qualified players – Women https://grandswiss2025.fide.com/women-event-participants/ Official website: grandswiss2025.fide.com/
World IPCA Individual Championship 2025: Registration now open
The Chess Federation for Physically Disabled (CFPD), in collaboration with the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Dept. of EPWD), Goa Chess Association for Persons with Disabilities (GCAPD), and under the auspices of the All India Chess Federation (AICF), Asian Chess Federation (ACF), International Physically Disabled Chess Association (IPCA) and FIDE, invites all national chess federations to participate in the Goa Purple – 24th World IPCA Individual Chess Championship. Championship details: Dates: July 21-31, 2025 Venue: International Centre Goa, Dona Paula, India Eligibility: Players with physical disabilities of 50% or higher, representing their national chess federations/associations Total prize fund: USD 15,000 Tournament Format: The championship will feature three competition categories: Standard: 90 minutes + 30-second increment Rapid:15 minutes + 10-second increment Blitz: 5 minutes + 3-second increment All events will follow a 9-round Swiss system. World IPCA Individual Chess Championship 2025 Schedule: Registration: National federations must complete the official registration form Deadline: June 30, 2025 (for players and accompanying persons) Submit to: divyangchess@gmail.com and divyangchessgoa@gmail.com Three best federations overall, by ranking of medals collected in all categories among men, women, juniors and girls, will receive trophies. For ranking, the number of gold medals will be considered first, and if there is a tie, then the number of silver medals, and if there is still a tie, then the number of bronze medals. Invitation letter, regulations, prizes (PDF)
FIDE Circuit 2025: Praggnanandhaa extends lead; Giri enters top 3
Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu solidified his lead in the FIDE Circuit 2025 with a strong showing at the Superbet Chess Classic Romania, where he triumphed over Alireza Firouzja and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in a tiebreaker, earning 23.9 points. The French GM collected 20.64 points, climbing to sixth place. Ding Liren remains in second position, despite not having played a single tournament counting toward the FIDE Circuit leaderboard this year. Significant changes occurred just below the top duo in May. Anish Giri, winner of the Sharjah Masters, gained 20.94 points and surged into third place, now trailing Ding by just two points. Newly crowned Asian Champion Bardiya Daneshvar earned 14.49 circuit points, moving up to fourth place, while the runner-up Nihal Sarin collected 12.96 points, breaking into the top 10. Aleksandar Indjic picked up a total of 25.83 circuit points thanks to his first-place finish at the Baku Open and second place at the Sharjah Masters. Nodirbek Abdusattorov’s third-place result in Sharjah (13.8 points) propelled him into fifth place in the race. Reigning European Champion Matthias Bluebaum rounds out the top ten after taking silver in the 2025 German Championship (10.93 points). We maintain a dedicated page on our website for the FIDE Circuit 2025, featuring the latest information on eligible tournaments, current standings, and regulations. Visit: FIDE Circuit 2025
Kazybek Nogerbek and Elnaz Kaliyahmet crowned new champions of Kazakhstan
Kazybek Nogerbek and Elnaz Kaliyahmet emerged as the winners of the 2025 Kazakhstan Championship, each claiming their maiden national titles. Notably, both champions completed their tournaments unbeaten. The 2025 Kazakhstan Championships (Open and Women’s sections) took place in the capital, Astana, from May 21 to June 1. Both competitions, featuring a total prize fund of 20 million tenge (approximately USD 39,150), were 14-player round-robin tournaments played under classical time control. The Open event turned into an exciting race between the two top seeds, Kazybek Nogerbek and Denis Makhnev. Both started strong and seized the lead early on, but in Round 8, Makhnev suffered a setback, losing to IM Abilmansur Abdilkhair and falling behind. Heading into the final (13th) round, Nogerbek held a half-point lead over his main rival. He opted for a quick draw, while Makhnev scored a crucial win over FM Yerlan Tleukhanov, tying for first place. A tiebreaker was played to determine the champion, where Kazybek Nogerbek ultimately prevailed in the decisive Armageddon game to capture the title. IM Aldiyar Ansat completed the podium, taking bronze. Final Standings – Open In the Women’s event, 14-year-old Elnaz Kaliyahmet delivered an impressive performance, scoring 10/14 to finish clear first. She became the youngest champion in the history of Kazakhstan, breaking a record that had stood since 1998. Zaroma Nurgalieva gave the young champion a strong challenge but, but lost two games at the start and finished half a point behind Kaliyahmet. Top seed Meruert Kamalidenova secured the bronze medal. Final Standings – Women Photos: Kazakhstan Chess Federation
FIDE June 2025 rating list is out
The June 2025 FIDE rating list was primarily shaped by results from the final leg of the Women’s Grand Prix in Austria, the Asian Championship, the GCT Superbet Chess Classic Romania, the 8th Sharjah Masters, and the Mitropa Cup. There were no significant changes in the Open top 10, but just outside it, Anish Giri climbed six places following his victory at the Sharjah Open, returning to the world’s top 12 after more than a year. Photo: Przemek Nikiel The women’s top 10 saw more notable shifts. Zhu Jiner, who shared first place in the WGP Austria, reached a new career high and is now ranked #4 among women. Bibisara Assaubayeva, soon to be awarded the GM title after her strong performance in the 8th Sharjah Masters, hit a career-high rating of 2509, making her debut in the women’s top 10. Biggest gains in the top 100 Open and Women Ouellet, Maili-Jade WGM 2350 (+45) Balabayeva, Xeniya WGM 2352 (+41) Bodnaruk, Anastasia IM 2357 (+25) Indjic, Aleksandar GM 2661 (+24) Klek, Hanna Marie WGM 2344 (+22) Manko, Mariia WIM 2354 (+20) Daneshvar, Bardiya GM 2640 (+19) Yip, Carissa IM 2431 (+19) Assaubayeva, Bibisara IM 2509 (+15) Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime GM 2736 (+13) Maili-Jade Ouellet of Canada (pictured below) was the top overperformer in May, gaining 45 rating points after finishing second in the Sophia Spring Open tournament. Photo: Anna Shtourman Close behind her in the list of biggest rating gains is Xeniya Balabayeva from Kazakhstan, who tied for first place in the 2025 Asian Women’s Championship but missed the podium due to inferior tiebreaks. Still, she gained an impressive 41 points, reached a career high, and entered the top 100 Women for the first time. The winner of the open section in the Asian Championship, Bardiya Daneshvar gained 19 points, debuting in the top 100 Open. GM Aleksandar Indjić (pictured below) had an excellent May as well, earning 24 points thanks to his victory at the Baku Open and a third-place finish at the 8th Sharjah Masters. Photo: Azerbaijan Chess Federation Hanna Marie Klek tied for first place in the German Women’s Championship, adding 22 rating points, while Carissa Yip’s third-place finish in the 2025 Spring Chess Classic (Group B) brought her 19 points. Mariia Manko (pictured below) shone in the 2025 Mitropa Cup, collecting 20 rating points. The Ukrainian native was one of the top scorers in the women’s competition, making a significant contribution to Switzerland’s gold-medal victory. Photo: Tomáš Danada Finally, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, who lost on tiebreak to Praggnanandhaa R after tying for first at the GCT Superbet Chess Classic Romania, likely found some consolation in gaining 13 rating points and returning to the top 20 Open.
American Continental Championship 2025: Sam Shankland captures title
GM Sam Shankland (USA) emerged as the winner of the American Continental Chess Championship 2025, claiming the title on superior tiebreak after finishing in a seven-way tie for first place. The 2025 edition of the American Continental Chess Championship took place in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, from May 23–31. The 11-round Swiss tournament, played with classical time control, brought together 218 participants from 17 countries, including 21 grandmasters. The event awarded four qualification spots for the 2025 FIDE World Cup, scheduled for October. It was a fiercely contested tournament, with multiple players sharing the top position throughout. Heading into the final round, top seed Shankland, along with José Eduardo Martínez Alcántara, Alexandr Fier, and Luis Paulo Supi, led the field with 8/10, closely followed by eight players just half a point behind. After the top boards ended in draws, Cristóbal Henríquez Villagra, Santiago Ávila Pavas, and José Gabriel Cardoso Cardoso scored crucial wins, catching up to the leaders. As a result, seven players ultimately tied for first place, with Shankland (gold), Martínez Alcántara (silver), and Fier (bronze) reaching the podium based on the Buchholz tiebreak. Final standings: 1 GM Shankland, Sam USA 2666 8½ 2 GM Martinez Alcantara, Jose MEX 2611 8½ 3 GM Fier, Alexandr BRA 2556 8½ 4 GM Cardoso Cardoso, Jose COL 2516 8½ 5 GM Henriquez Villagra, Cristobal CHI 2597 8½ 6 GM Supi, Luis Paulo BRA 2566 8½ 7 GM Avila Pavas, Santiago COL 2469 8½ 8 GM Bachmann, Axel PAR 2570 8 9 IM Rojas Salas, Steven PER 2343 8 10 GM Oparin, Grigoriy USA 2660 8 Complete final standings Photos: FIDE América
Inaugural Continental Chess Championships for Prisoners conclude with global participation
The First Continental Chess Championships for Prisoners took place from May 13 to 23, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the FIDE Chess for Freedom initiative. Held for the first time on a continental level, the event brought together 77 teams from across the globe, offering incarcerated individuals a unique opportunity to compete in an organized, high-level chess environment. Organized under the auspices of FIDE, the championships showcased the growing impact of chess programs in correctional facilities around the world. The tournament was run by a team of experienced officials: International Arbiter Nebojsa Baralic from Serbia served as Chief Arbiter, Ana Srebrnic from Slovenia as Deputy Arbiter, and Sabrina de San Vicente from Uruguay as Chief Fair Play Officer. The event was organized by International Organizer Mikhail Korenman from Chicago, whose dedication helped bring this ambitious project to life. Africa The African Continental Championship was the first to be held, featuring 11 teams from Zimbabwe, Malawi, Kenya, and Ghana where Zimbabwe secured first place in both the Open and Women’s sections. Zimbabwe has consistently performed at the highest level in Chess for Freedom events, having participated in every edition over the past four years and earning a silver medal at the inaugural Intercontinental Championship in 2021. With strong support from the National Chess Federation, Zimbabwe remains a dominant force on the African continent. In Ghana, a thriving program led by David Acheampong made a significant impact, fielding three youth teams that placed first and third. Kenya’s representation included both female and youth teams, reflecting the country’s growing commitment to the Chess for Freedom initiative. Special recognition goes to the Malawi Chess for Freedom program, which is supported by the nonprofit organization Gift of Chess. Through its partnership with the Malawi National Prison Services, the program has expanded into correctional institutions nationwide. Malawi earned second place across all three categories; Open, Women, and Youth, demonstrating remarkable progress, thanks in large part to the efforts of Susan Namangale, who leads the initiative both in Malawi and across the continent. Americas The American Continental Championship featured 19 teams from across the Americas. El Salvador’s Men’s and Women’s teams continued their stellar form from 2024 where they were podium finishers in the Intercontinental event, by winning first place in both sections. Colombia took home the bronze medal in the Open section. Trinidad and Tobago fielded teams in all three categories and triumphed in the Youth section. The US women’s team, with a growing Chess for Freedom program in Kansas, took second place. Mexico, which recently concluded its own National Championship for Prisoners with 17 participating teams, and also hosted a workshop to introduce the Chess for Freedom program to other Latin American countries, secured third place in the women’s section. Europe Europe was represented by 24 teams, the largest contingent of any continent. Serbia’s strong national team emerged victorious in the Open section, followed by Armenia. In the Women’s section, Ukraine secured first place, with Latvia and Slovenia earning podium finishes. The Youth section saw England come out on top, trailed by Ukraine and Latvia. Australia Two closely matched teams from the Australian continent competed head-to-head throughout the tournament, with the more experienced Australian team ultimately claiming the continental title. Asia In Asia, Mongolia dominated the Open section, with India and Iran rounding out the top three. The Indian women’s teams led the Women’s section, while Kyrgyzstan secured third place. In another victory repeat from the 2024 Intercontinental Championships, India took both top spots in the Youth section. The Iranian youth team took third place. The First Continental Chess Championships for Prisoners marked a significant step forward in FIDE’s mission to promote chess as a tool for social development and rehabilitation. By providing incarcerated individuals with a platform for high-level competition, the championships demonstrated the unifying and transformative power of the game. With momentum building, all attention now turns to the Fifth Intercontinental Chess Championship for Prisoners, scheduled for October 14–16, 2025.
On the amendments to Women’s World Cup 2025 Regulations
In order to ensure the participation of the strongest deserving players while maintaining reasonable geographical balance, the FIDE Council has approved the following amendments to the Regulations of the Women’s World Cup 2025: • To increase the number of participants from 103 to 107• To grant each continent the right to nominate one additional player• To increase a prize fund to USD 691,250 The FIDE Women’s World Cup, now celebrating its third edition, will take place in Batumi, Georgia, from July 5 to 29, 2025. The current list of qualified players can be found here: womenscup2025.fide.com/participants/ Official website: womenscup2025.fide.com/ Regulations for FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 (PDF)
Parachess in Hungary – a truly unique competition
Jointly organized by the Hungarian Chess Federation, FODISZ (the organization for sports of persons with disabilities), and the Hungarian Paralympic Committee, the fifth edition of the Hungarian Parachess Championship took place from May 22–25. This is a unique national individual championship, bringing together players who are visually impaired, hearing impaired, physically disabled, and organ transplant recipients. The visually impaired mostly play two-board chess — a special format also used internationally — where each player moves both sides on their own board, announcing moves aloud so both competitors can comfortably think about their next steps without disturbing each other. This setup requires extra attention, as communication between hearing- and visually-impaired players can sometimes be challenging. Fortunately, the dedicated arbiters are always on hand to assist, and the exceptional sportsmanship shown by participants ensures the smooth running of the tournament. It is truly commendable that these three organizations continue to join forces year after year to champion the cause of parachess. Beyond highlighting how universal, inclusive, and open chess is, this event also fosters a sense of community in what is traditionally an individual sport. It provides opportunities for players whose ability to compete among able-bodied participants is sometimes limited by technical barriers, and helps them prepare for international tournaments. This year’s championship not only drew a record number of participants — 24 players may not seem like many, but in a small country, especially within the disabled community, it is significant — it also delivered plenty of excitement. Going into the final rounds, four players had a chance at the overall gold medal, which was ultimately claimed by the rating favorite, FM Zoltán Zambó. In the visually impaired category, Zoltán Zambó took first place, ahead of Szilveszter Csuri, who had an excellent debut, and István Voján, a longtime team member returning to form. Among the hearing impaired, Balázs Máté (pictured above, right) claimed victory, followed by Tibor Hallossy and Virág Farkas on the podium. In the physically disabled category, László Lengyel, who played on board one in the final round, emerged victorious, with Péter Turoczi finishing second. Notably, Virág Farkas was recognized as both the best young player and the top female competitor, delivering a consistent performance and finishing an excellent 8th overall. The youngest participant, 14-year-old visually impaired talent Roni Dominik Filep (pictured below, right), took second place in the youth category, showing impressive combinational skills in the final round by defeating Hanna Vilics (pictured below, right), the only youth member of Hungary’s national visually impaired team. Hungarian Parachess Championship – final standings We would be delighted if other countries joined this initiative so that chess players with various disabilities can participate together in the Hungarian championship, which is planned to be an open tournament. Federations interested in sending players are encouraged to contact us at chess@chess.hu, so we can gauge international interest and explore expanding the competition to a broader level. We firmly believe that chess for people with disabilities deserves great attention and support. Written by IA Robert Kapas
Rising stars shaking up the WRB Team Championships in London
From 10 to 16 June, London will host the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships. In its third year, the event has grown in scale, adding a Blitz tournament, an increased prize fund and a greater number of teams. One standout feature of this edition is the number of young talents signed up to compete. The tournament is open to teams comprising players of all levels, fighting in both Rapid and Blitz events. With 55 teams taking part and with many having top-world GMs in their squad, this will be one of the largest and strongest chess gatherings ever held in the British capital. There are no specific requirements to include young players, but many teams have done so regardless. Among them, 9-year-old Sarbartho Mani, who is playing for one of the favourites, Freedom, and the 10-year-old Roman Shogdzhiev on the team of Rookies (who are also formidable fighters, having a good run in the previous edition). These players aren’t just filling boards. They’re shaping results. Their presence signals a broader generational shift in elite chess. Here are some of the young talents poised to make their mark at the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Teams in London: Shreyas Royal (16) Photo: English Chess Federation Representing the “Rookies” team, this English Grandmaster, born on January 9, 2009, became the youngest British player to achieve the GM title at 15 years and 7 months on August 20, 2024. His notable appearances include the 2023 FIDE Grand Swiss tournament, where he finished on 4,5/11 and took sixth place at the British Chess Championship in 2024. Deborah Quickpen (13) Photo: islandkey.com From Nigeria, playing for “Mother Continent,” Quickpen began her chess journey at age three and by 11 became the youngest ever Nigeria Chess Champion in 2023. She is the youngest person ever to have won the national title. Bodhana Sivanandan (10) Photo: Michal Walusza This English Woman FIDE Master, on the “e-therapeutics” team, started playing during the 2020 lockdown and by March 2022, had won silver medals in European Under-8 rapid and blitz championships. In July 2024, Bodhana became the youngest person ever selected for an English national team in any sport, representing England at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest. Roman Shogdzhiev (10) Photo: Lennart Ootes Another “Rookies” team member, born February 4, 2015. Just ahead of the event, on 25th May, he made history by becoming the youngest ever International Master – at the age of 10 years, 3 months, and 21 days. Roman made headlines in December 2023 by defeating five Grandmasters at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships, at just eight years old. Faustino Oro (11) Photo: Maria Emelianova Playing for “Turkish Airlines Sports Club,” this Argentine International Master, born October 14, 2013, became the youngest player to achieve a classical rating of 2300, in 2023. In March 2024, he famously defeated Magnus Carlsen in a Bullet Brawl tournament. He held the record for the youngest International Master until May 2025. Sofia Blokhin (19) Photo: Eesti Maleliit An Estonian Woman FIDE Master from the “Olala Stars,” born March 27, 2006, Blokhin is the reigning World Rapid Champion in the Girls Under-18 category (2024) and a multiple European champion. She also represented her country in two chess Olympiads and was a reserve player at the 2023 European Team Championship. Zsóka Gaál (18) Photo: Michal Walusza A Hungarian Woman Grandmaster from “Team Hungary.” Born May 2, 2007, Gaál earned her WGM title in November 2024. She was the 2016 European Youth Champion (U10 girls) and the 2021 online World Youth Champion (U14 girls). Marc’Andria Maurizzi (18) Photo: Biel International Chess Festival This French Grandmaster, born May 16, 2007, for “Knight Dance,” became the youngest French GM at 14 years and 5 days in May 2021. In 2023, he shared first place in the World Junior Chess Championship. At the 2024 Tata Steel Challengers, he tied for second with Daniel Dardha, and in February 2025, he won the strong Djerba Masters with a round to spare and a tournament performance rating of 2898. Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş (13) Photo: Mikael Svensson A Turkish Grandmaster, born June 3, 2011, playing for “Generation XYZA,” Erdoğmuş achieved his GM title in April 2024 at 12 years and 10 months. In September 2024, he became the youngest player to cross the 2600 Elo mark. He has had notable successes at several strong tournaments, including the Sunway Sitges tournament in 2023 where he was 9th, and the 2024 Grenke Open. Pranav Venkatesh (18) Photo: Mitar Djukanovic Representing “Team MGD1” and India, born October 13, 2006, Venkatesh became India’s 75th GM in 2022. Most recently, in March 2025, he clinched the World Junior Chess Championship title. He also has two gold medals in the U-18 section of the FIDE World Youth Rapid and Blitz Championship. Sarbartho Mani (9) Photo: Sara Bangla Daba Sangstha An Indian Arena FIDE Master, born in 2016, Mani is listed as a player for the “Freedom” team alongside Viswanathan Anand. At seven years old, he won the 36th National Under-7 Open Championship in 2023 with a perfect score of 9/9. Noam Sason (11) Photo: Ynetnews Representing OlalaStars, 11-year-old Israeli player Noam Sason is an accomplished young talent. He is the current U12 vice-champion in both Rapid and Blitz, having earned two silver medals at the World Youth Chess Championship in Rhodes. The reigning Israeli cadet champion, he recently won the Italy Open U20, demonstrating his ability to compete with and succeed against older, more experienced opponents. The tickets for the event are available here: tickets.fide.com Follow the action with live commentaries by England’s Daniel King and Jovanka Houska on FIDE YouTube channel. Official website: worldrapidblitzteams2025.fide.com