FIDE World Cadet and Youth Rapid & Blitz Championships 2026: Kazakhstan dominates rapid
After three days of exciting battles and 11 rounds, the first part of the six-day program of the FIDE World Youth and Cadet Rapid & Blitz Championship – the rapid chess competitions – has concluded. A total of 432 players from 40 national federations took part, with 72 participants from 11 national federations earning medals. Players from Kazakhstan proved the most successful, securing five gold, four silver, and two bronze medals, followed by representatives of Russia with two gold, four silver, and four bronze medals. Notably, two top-seeded players – Aldiyar Ansat from Kazakhstan (U18 Open) and Afruza Khamdamova from Uzbekistan (U18 Girls) – confirmed their favorite status, claiming gold medals in their sections. Tomorrow, while some competitors have a scheduled rest day, most participants will take part in the team event, with 50 teams registered so far. Photos: Chess Federation of Serbia Official website: https://wcyrb.beochess.rs/
Freedom Holding Corp. acquires ChessBase, a market leader in chess software, data and content
Almaty, April 16, 2026 – Freedom Holding Corp., the international investment and technology company, has announced the acquisition of ChessBase, one of the world’s oldest and largest platforms specializing in chess software, analytics and database solutions. The company plans to strengthen the platform’s market position through the broader deployment of artificial intelligence and its integration with the group’s ecosystem. The expected investment in the project is approximately €5 million. “ChessBase is an exceptionally strong brand with a rich history and, arguably, one of the most important projects for the global chess community. Together with the team that created the platform and continues to run it, we believe we can make substantial progress in modernizing the service, enriching its functionality through artificial intelligence, and integrating it into our digital ecosystem through SuperApp,” said Timur Turlov, Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Holding Corp. Turlov added: “I believe this partnership will strengthen ChessBase’s position not only among professional chess players but will also open up new opportunities by giving our clients direct access, with more than 11 million clients across the group in more than 20 countries.” Turlov stated that the investment will be directed toward modernizing the platform and further developing and expanding its technological architecture. At the same time, ChessBase’s headquarters will remain in Hamburg, and the core team will remain in place. No job cuts are planned. On the contrary, the company expects to invest significantly in the business and recruit additional staff as the platform develops further. “This is great news for the chess world. ChessBase, an important part of the chess heritage, is entering a secure new stage of development. Having an investor who genuinely loves chess is perhaps the best outcome imaginable. I am confident that new and exciting opportunities lie ahead for the global chess community,” said Rainer Woisin, Managing Director of ChessBase. Timur Turlov, Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Holding Corp., is also actively involved in the development of the chess industry and educational initiatives. Since January 2023, he has served as head of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, and since September 2024, he has led the International School Chess Federation (ISCF), a subsidiary organization of FIDE, the International Chess Federation. Freedom Holding Corp. actively invests in the development and promotion of chess, allocating more than $15 million annually to these efforts. In recent years, Kazakhstan has significantly strengthened its position as an international venue for school, junior, and university chess championships. Freedom Holding regularly partners with FIDE on projects and participates in organizing and sponsoring international tournaments, including the World Rapid and Blitz Championships, as well as corporate and school championships. About Freedom Holding Corp. Freedom Holding Corp. provides financial services in 21 countries, including Kazakhstan, the United States, Cyprus, Poland, Spain, Uzbekistan, and Armenia. The Company’s principal executive office is located in New York City. In Kazakhstan, Freedom is actively developing its financial and digital ecosystem, which includes Freedom Bank, Freedom Broker, the insurance companies Freedom Life and Freedom insurance, as well as a lifestyle segment that features Arbuz.kz, Freedom Ticketon, and Freedom Travel. Freedom Holding Corp. shares are traded on the U.S. technology exchange NASDAQ, the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE), and the Astana International Exchange (AIX) under the ticker symbol FRHC. Freedom Holding Corp. is regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the common stock is included in Russell 3000 Index. About SuperApp SuperApp is Freedom Holding Corp.’s flagship application, with more than 5 million users. In addition to traditional banking services, the app enables users to purchase insurance, buy tickets to events, order groceries and other goods for delivery, book airline tickets and travel packages, and access a broad range of government services. About ChessBase GmbH ChessBase GmbH is a German company founded in Hamburg in 1986. It develops and sells game databases, analytical software, training products and online services for chess players, and also operates its major chess news platform. Its proprietary chess database has become the industry-standard database powering professional chess worldwide. The company is widely recognized as a global leader in its niche and remains one of the leading brands in professional chess training.
From Abuja to the Isle of Man: FIDE is widening chess’s world map
FIDE confirmed a new schedule of international events and a policy shift towards continental rotation during its Council meeting on April 2, 2026. The decisions point to a broader aim, to spread major tournaments more widely and expand chess’s global reach. The latest decisions confirmed events spanning Europe, Asia, and Africa. Following IOC recommendations, the International Chess Federation has established a principle to rotate the Chess Olympiad between continents where practical. Taken together, these choices reflect FIDE’s approach to spreading major events across different regions, providing opportunities for greater audience growth and fan engagement, while at the same time building stronger links with governments and organisations across the world. At the end of May, the Nigerian capital of Abuja is due to host the World Amateur Rapid and Blitz Championship (August 1–9). Abuja submitted the bid in January 2026, and it was conditionally approved. The World Amateur Rapid and Blitz Championship could provide a significant boost for chess in Africa, where, after years of FIDE work and support for training and social/educational programmes, the appetite for chess is rapidly growing. Continuing its strong support for events linking chess and education, the Chess Federation of Kazakhstan will host the 2026 World University Team Chess Championship. Following Swiss qualifiers and an online knockout, the historic city of Almaty will host the top 16 teams in the finals, scheduled for August 3-10. Only university students born between 2001 and 2008 can take part. The prize fund starts with €25,000 for first place. FIDE has also confirmed that the 2027 editions of the prestigious Grand Swiss and Women’s Grand Swiss will return to the Isle of Man. The event will take place from May 10-25, 2027 and has so far secured a prize fund of $900,000. It will see a field of 170 players in both Open and Women’s competitions, in what has become the strongest Swiss tournament in the world. This will be the third time (after 2019 and 2023) that the Isle of Man will host the Grand Swiss tournaments, sponsored by the Scheinberg family, whose support is set to extend to the 2028 Candidates tournament as well. The 2027 edition of the World Amateur Championships has been awarded to Hong Kong. It will take place between September 30 and October 8, 2027. Moving away from its more traditional locations in Europe, the event is expected to attract a large cohort of amateur players, particularly from East Asia. One of the most important Council decisions concerns the future hosting of the Chess Olympiads. The FIDE Council adopted the principle that Olympiad hosting should follow continental rotation where this is practical and where organisational standards and financial guarantees are met. The decision follows IOC recommendations that its members make every possible effort to ensure the balanced development of sport across all continents. With the 2028 Olympiad set for Abu Dhabi and the bidding open for the 2030 Olympiad, the FIDE Council has decided that the priority right for the 2032 Olympiad will go to Africa and to the Americas for the 2034 Olympiad. Direct negotiations will continue with the African Chess Confederation and officials until October 1, 2027. If no suitable bid is in place by October 1, 2027, FIDE can open a general bidding process, but still with priority to Africa, the continent that has never hosted the Olympiad. “FIDE is truly a global organisation, in terms of membership, diverse projects, events across the world, and an international team working for the organisation. Chess can only fulfil its international role if we keep bringing the game to every part of the world. We promised more events, more funding, and more global outreach, and we are delivering on that promise. Tournaments, seminars, conferences, and educational projects all have a strategic role in making chess accessible and enjoyable in every part of the world,” FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said.
An emotional farewell to a historic 2026 Candidates
The closing ceremony of the 2026 FIDE Candidates and Women’s Candidates was a vibrant and memorable finale, an evening filled with emotion, celebration, and a distinctly Cypriot charm. Set against the stunning beachfront of the St. George’s Hotel & Resort, the one-and-a-half-hour show blended traditional dance, live music, bursts of fireworks, and moments of light-hearted humour. Hosts Maurice Ashley and Charlize Van Zyl opened the evening promptly at 8 p.m., welcoming an audience of more than 100 players, coaches, family members, friends, sponsors, and organizers. There was a palpable sense of pride and relief in the air after three intense weeks of competition, with smiles and laughter shared among the guests. Following the national anthem of Cyprus and the FIDE anthem, the audience was treated to a moving video recap of the tournament’s most memorable moments. The film drew warm applause and, maybe for some, a touch of nostalgia. The ceremony continued with a pre-recorded message from the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, who praised the players’ dedication and highlighted the importance of hosting such a prestigious global event on the island. Viswanathan Anand, five-time World Champion and Deputy President of FIDE, then took the stage to warm applause. In a thoughtful and reflective speech, he spoke about the unmistakable generational shift taking place in the chess world: how a fearless new wave of players is rising, challenging, and standing shoulder to shoulder with the game’s long-established titans. The mood then shifted to celebration, as traditional Cypriot music and dance performed by a local troupe brought colour, rhythm, and energy to the evening. This lively interlude set the stage for a series of speeches from key figures, including Criton Tornaritis, President of the Cyprus Chess Federation; Valeriia Avksenteva, Deputy Executive Director of Freedom24; Marinos Lamprou, Mayor of Akamas, and Panayiotis Markou, Director of Sales and Marketing at the St. George’s Hotel & Resort. It was Markou’s speech, however, that sparked the most emotional response of the evening. As he announced that each room the players had stayed in would be named after them, the audience erupted into a warm and sustained applause.The ceremony continued with the introduction of the sixteen contenders of the 2026 FIDE Candidates and Women’s Candidates Tournaments, presented by Angelika Valkova. With charm and wit, she engaged some of the players in light-hearted questions, drawing genuine laughter and relaxed, candid responses. Finally, the prize-giving, the emotional climax of the evening, brought the ceremony to its most meaningful and memorable moment. In the FIDE Women’s Candidates, Zhu Jiner claimed the bronze medal, while Bibisara Assaubayeva took silver. They were joined on the top step of the podium by the winner, Vaishali Rameshbabu. As the three stood together, the audience rose in a heartfelt standing ovation, acknowledging not just their results but the intensity and brilliance of their performances, with the national anthem of India adding a powerful note to the celebration. The awards were presented by Valeriia Avksenteva, Deputy Executive Director of Freedom24, and Isai Scheinberg, a long-standing supporter of chess and the first recipient of the FIDE Medal of Merit in the 21st century. Attention then turned to the Open Candidates. Fabiano Caruana received the bronze medal, while Anish Giri secured silver. They were joined by the tournament’s winner, Javokhir Sindarov, whose achievement was met with enthusiastic applause, while listening to the anthem of Uzbekistan. Sindarov, visibly moved, delivered a short and sincere speech, expressing gratitude and reflecting on his journey. The awards were presented by Viswanathan Anand, Deputy President of FIDE, and Marina Stylianides, Director of Cap St. Georges and Korantina Homes. The evening concluded on a unique and touching note with a pre-recorded telephone conversation between the President of Uzbekistan and Sindarov. The full broadcast of the closing ceremony can be watched on the FIDE YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX6t9yot0X8 Written by IM Michael Rahal, FIDE press Officer Photos: Michal Walusza, Niki Riga
FIDE Special Tasks Director Akaki Iashvili visits Armenia to strengthen chess education cooperation
Akaki Iashvili, FIDE Special Tasks Director, recently undertook an official working visit to Yerevan, Armenia. His first stop was the Armenian State Pedagogical University – the institution responsible for training Armenia’s chess teachers. He was warmly welcomed by Acting Rector Lilit Mkrtchyan, who provided an overview of the university’s mission and academic activities. Rector Mkrtchyan highlighted the university’s Chess degree programme, which prepares teachers to integrate chess into the classroom. She emphasized why Armenia regards chess as a serious academic discipline – not merely a game – and outlined the institution’s international collaborations. She explained why Armenia treats chess as a serious academic subject rather than merely a game and also spoke about the university’s international activities. Also present at the meeting were Vice-Rector Mariam Ispiryan and International Grandmaster Smbat Lputian – Founder-President of the Chess Academy of Armenia, Director of the “Chess” Scientific Research Institute, pioneer of the “Chess in Schools” programme, and First Vice-President of the Armenian Chess Federation. Akaki Iashvili also visited the “Chess” Scientific Research Institute, based at the university. This institute is truly unique: nowhere else in the world does an institution dedicated entirely to researching chess as a school subject for children exist. Its work focuses on pedagogical methodologies, the cognitive and personal developmental benefits of chess education, and the continuous refinement of teaching practices. Akaki Iashvili also visited Yerevan’s School No. 38, where he observed the programme in action. During his visit, he attended lessons, interacted with students and teachers, and witnessed firsthand how chess is seamlessly woven into the daily curriculum. The parties also reviewed a number of strategic matters, including FIDE’s new event regulations, and several additional areas of cooperation. As part of the itinerary, an inspection visit was conducted at the Tsaghkadzor resort, situated 2,100 meters above sea level near Lake Sevan. The venue is under consideration as a potential host venue for future FIDE events.
Vaishali conquers Women’s Candidates to set up world title showdown against Ju Wenjun
Vaishali Rameshbabu will challenge Ju Wenjun for the Women’s World Championship after winning the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates outright with a score of 8.5/14. In an exciting final round, Vaishali defeated Kateryna Lagno in a magnificent display of technique, while Bibisara Assaubayeva could only manage a draw in her game against Divya Deshmukh. Javokhir Sindarov, already crowned winner of the FIDE Candidates before the final round, made a quick draw with Wei Yi, allowing both Anish Giri and Fabiano Caruana to move up in the standings with two fantastic final-round victories over Matthias Bluebaum and Andrey Esipenko, respectively. Let’s take a closer look at the action that unfolded in this exciting afternoon of chess. The ceremonial opener was performed by Marina Stylianides, Director of Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort by Korantina Homes. She played 1.e4 in the game between Vaishali and Lagno, which would ultimately decide the winner of the FIDE Women’s Candidates. Before the final round began, there were essentially two clear favourites to win the event, with four others still holding outside chances. Bibisara Assaubayeva needed a must-win game with the Black pieces against Divya Deshmukh. In reality, she never came close to achieving that goal; in fact, had Divya managed her time better, she might even have found a winning continuation just before the time control. The eventual draw left the door wide open for R. Vaishali: a victory against Kateryna Lagno would secure her the title. Vaishali rose to the occasion, delivering one of her best games of the tournament. Thanks to excellent home preparation, she won a pawn early in the opening and steadily converted that advantage. Her accuracy was remarkable, especially in the sharp and complex Sicilian Defence Dragon Variation, scoring an impressive 96% with only a single minor inaccuracy. Speaking at the postgame press conference, Vaishali expressed her delight: “It’s amazing, a dream come true for me. When I lost to Zhu Jiner, everything suddenly opened up, and I’m happy I was able to stay focused in the last two rounds and give my best.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziTMy3hs_gc Vaishali was deeply appreciative of the support she had received throughout her journey: “I would like to thank my parents and family; without them, I wouldn’t be here. Also, my amazing team, who have helped me every day, and all of my sponsors who have supported me for many years. Last year, I lost a lot of rating; apart from the Grand Swiss, my results were poor. So, I really have to thank my team for making this possible.” She also spoke about the sacrifices her family made over the years for both her and her younger brother, R. Praggnanandhaa: “For a family, it’s a long journey to have two professionals at home. My family had to make many sacrifices in the beginning, but for about 10 years now we’ve had support from sponsors. It’s been a collective family effort over many years, and each of us plays a part.” In the remaining games, Anna Muzychuk and Zhu Jiner pushed hard for their slim chances of reaching a tiebreak, but ultimately fell short. Both players delivered near-flawless performances, and a draw was agreed on move 56. In the last game of the afternoon, Aleksandra Goryachkina secured her second consecutive victory, defeating Tan Zhongyi and finishing tied for third place in the final standings. In the FIDE Candidates Tournament, the tension eased somewhat after Javokhir Sindarov secured overall victory the previous day. Even so, three of the four games were still fiercely contested. Sindarov himself made a very quick draw against Wei Yi, trading off all the pieces and leaving the playing hall in under ten minutes. Meanwhile, the other games unfolded at a much sharper pace. Praggnanandhaa R and Hikaru Nakamura also finished quickly, blitzing out 33 moves of home preparation before agreeing to a draw. Nakamura later mentioned that he had analyzed the lineup to move 26 earlier that morning. The remaining two games provided the real excitement. Anish Giri delivered a magnificent victory over Matthias Bluebaum, finishing the tournament with an impressive 8.5/14 – a score that, under different circumstances, might well have been enough to win the event. At the press conference, Anish Giri expressed great satisfaction with his performance: “I have played a lot of great games here, and I’m very happy with many of my wins, especially against Fabiano Caruana. Today was also a really good game against Matthias Bluebaum.” He also shed light on his preparation: “I had analysed the position, but I didn’t expect it to appear today. It’s a very bold and risky line, so I was impressed to see Matthias go for it and play in such an attacking style.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo-II92wmTY In the final game of the FIDE Candidates Tournament, Fabiano Caruana produced a brilliant victory against Andrey Esipenko, quite possibly one of the finest games of his career. In a Dragon-style Sicilian Defence, Caruana unleashed a powerful positional exchange sacrifice, instantly recognized by top engines as the best move. With the stunning 13…Rxc3!, Fabiano gave up the rook to shatter White’s queenside structure. After 14.bxc3, he methodically increased the pressure against his opponent’s weakened, queenside-castled king. If instead 14.Qxe3, then 14…Nxe4 would have given Black strong compensation for the exchange. The final position, where Esipenko resigned, perfectly illustrates the difficulty of defending such positions. White’s queen is under attack, while the looming 41…Nc4 checkmate leaves no viable defense. Final standings The fan zone was packed to capacity this afternoon, highlighted by a lively Q&A session with tournament winner Javokhir Sindarov. Former Women’s World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk also delighted spectators by providing live commentary during the round. Several players took time to interact with fans as well, posing for photos and signing autographs, adding to the vibrant atmosphere of the event. Official website: https://candidates2026.fide.com/ Event photo gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fide/ Written by IM Michael A. Rahal (Cyprus) Photos: Michal Walusza, Niki Riga
FIDE World Cadet and Youth Rapid & Blitz Championship 2026 kicks off in Vrnjačka Banja, Serbia
The FIDE World Cadet and Youth Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship officially commenced today in Vrnjačka Banja, celebrated as the capital of chess and tourism in Serbia. The event attracted around 450 participants from 40 national federations competing across six age groups – U8, U10, U12, U14, U16, and U18 – in Open and Girls’ categories. Both the rapid (April 15–17) and blitz (April 19–20) competitions follow an 11-round Swiss format. The top-seeded players in the Open events include Aleksandr Usov (2468), Khumoyun Begmuratov (2467), Nikolay Averin (2461), Aldiyar Ansat (2440), David Kaufman (2417), and Alex Villa Tornero (2414). Afruza Khamdamova (2367), Diana Preobrazhenskaya (2304), Zarina Nurgaliyeva (2256), Diana Khafizova (2234), Elnaz Kaliakhmet (2222), and Sara Mijic (2191) top the Girls’ starting list. The opening ceremony took place in the packed hall of Hotel Zepter, beginning with the anthems of the Republic of Serbia and FIDE. Speeches were delivered by the President of the Chess Federation of Serbia, Andrija Jorgić; the representative of the World Chess Federation, Ozgur Solakoglu; the State Secretary of the Ministry of Sports, Ratko Nikolić; and the Mayor of Vrnjačka Banja, Boban Đurović. In his address, the President of the Chess Federation of Serbia, Andrija Jorgić, expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Sports as the most important partner on the path to an ever-better chess Serbia, as well as to the municipality of Vrnjačka Banja for their selfless help and support. “I would also like to thank FIDE and its President, Mr. Dvorkovich, for the trust they have placed in us in organizing this championship. I believe that we will once again justify that trust and that our country will host many similar competitions in the future. I would like to welcome everyone to Vrnjačka Banja and wish the participants good moves and great results,” Jorgić said. Speaking on behalf of FIDE, FIDE Ozgur Solakoglu welcomed the young competitors: “As the FIDE Representative, it is a true pleasure to welcome you all to Vrnjačka Banja for the start of the FIDE World Cadet and Youth Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship 2026. This beautiful town has become a home for world chess – and today we proudly celebrate our third FIDE World Chess Event here. To all the young talents in this hall: this championship is your stage. Your energy, your creativity, and your fearless approach to the game are what make events like this so special. Rapid and blitz are formats that reward courage, quick thinking, and a big heart – and I know you bring all of that with you. Enjoy every moment. Play with passion, play fair, and always learn from your mistakes. Do not forget also to enjoy the side events.” The State Secretary of the Ministry of Sports, Ratko Nikolić, praised the organizers and reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to supporting chess as a tool for youth development:. “Chess is not just a game. It is a school of patience, discipline, logic, and respect for the opponent. In a time of rapid change, these values are what young people need more than ever. That is why it is important that through competitions like this, not only champions are built, but also character. Dear competitors, you are the best ambassadors of your countries. Every game you play is an opportunity to show not only your knowledge but also fair play, dignity, and mutual respect. Regardless of the result, your participation here is already a great success,” Nikolić said. The Mayor of the municipality, Boban Đurović, reminded those present that Vrnjačka Banja has had the honor of hosting numerous prestigious chess competitions in the past few years and is once again confirming its title as the “Queen of Chess.” “This epithet is the result of a decade-long dedication to the development of chess and the organization of significant chess events, and each of them has further strengthened Vrnjačka Banja’s position as an important center of chess activities. Today’s championship continues that story. It is a great honor to host such an event, for which I am immensely grateful to the World Chess Federation, the Ministry of Sports, and the Chess Federation of Serbia, which is successfully led by a great friend of Vrnjačka Banja, Mr. Andrija Jorgić,” Đurović said. In the end, Mr. Đurović and Mr. Jorgić symbolically made the first move, after which Chief Arbiter Nenad Dorić officially declared the competition open. Photos: Chess Federation of Serbia / Nemanja Šipka Official website: https://wcyrb.beochess.rs/
FIDE Grand Swiss 2027 on Isle of Man announced
FIDE is proud to announce the Grand Swiss 2027, to be held on the Isle of Man. The flagship event, featuring a record $900,000 prize fund, will bring together 170 players across the Open and Women’s sections combined and will take place from May 10 to 25 on the Isle of Man. Two spots for FIDE Candidates 2028 will be at stake in each section. “We are happy to return again to the Isle of Man, which hosted the very first FIDE Grand Swiss back in 2019, as well as the 2023 edition. The event in 2027 is going to be special in many ways – and FIDE is grateful to the Scheinberg family for the long-standing commitment, contributing to the whole string of tournaments throughout these years. I am happy to share that the Scheinberg family plans to keep supporting FIDE activities in the years to come – to the benefit of players and fans,” said Emil Sutovsky, FIDE CEO. “We will be happy to host this prestigious event again,” said Isai Scheinberg. “Ever since 2019, when we joined forces with the then newly-elected FIDE leadership, we felt that our support goes for a good cause. We intend to keep supporting top-level events both on the Isle of Man in 2027 and also the FIDE Candidates 2028, as our partnership with the present FIDE leadership goes from strength to strength.” Full details and regulations will be published by FIDE by the end of April.
Sindarov storms to Candidates victory
Javokhir Sindarov has won the FIDE Candidates Tournament this afternoon with a round to spare and will challenge Gukesh D for the World Championship at the end of the year. His game against Anish Giri ended in a draw, and with one round remaining, Sindarov holds a commanding two-point lead over the rest of the field. In the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, Bibisara Assaubayeva defeated Anna Muzychuk to move into a tie for first place with R Vaishali. Tomorrow’s final round will determine whether there will be an outright winner or a tiebreak will be required. Up to six of the eight players still have a theoretical chance to win the event. Let’s take a closer look at the action. The ceremonial first move was performed by Isai Scheinberg, a long-standing supporter of chess and the first awardee of the FIDE Medal of Merit in the 21st century. In the key game of the round, Javokhir Sindarov held Anish Giri to a draw, securing first place and claiming victory in the FIDE Candidates Tournament. Both players blitzed out the first fourteen moves. Sindarov accepted an isolated d-pawn in the Queen’s Gambit Declined, while Giri was content with a slight edge, enjoying a dynamic position without any real risk. However, Sindarov made excellent use of the rest day and came into the game extremely well prepared. “We checked and prepared against Anish. At some point, it became boring because I reviewed this line ten times, as he had already played it against Andrey Esipenko. We had a good fight, but after we exchanged queens, I felt I wouldn’t have any problems holding the draw. That proved true: I played quickly, and it was an easy draw,” Sindarov explained in the postgame press conference. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTtBY4CXL0s He also added with a touch of humour: “I had zero problems in the rook ending and saw the final line very quickly. I knew I wouldn’t lose that position with one hour and thirty minutes left on the clock – I was just chilling.” Sindarov expressed deep gratitude to those who supported him throughout the tournament: “A big thank you to everyone who supported me during this long event. Every round was very tough, and the last week was the hardest of my life. I even slept very badly in the final days. I’m very happy it’s over. Many thanks to my family, my coach, my seconds, and everyone who supports me.” He also praised his coach, Roman Vidonyak: “He analyses all the information from the tournament and points out what I’m doing wrong in certain positions. He gives me advice. I’ve been working with him for more than a year. He has also worked with Nodirbek Yakubboev, and you can see the results of our work. He’s a great person: we play board games together, he’s funny, very supportive, and a hard worker. With him, I’ve improved my chess a lot.” In the other three games of the round, Wei Yi defeated Andrey Esipenko in a highly complex attacking line of the Petrov Defence. Interestingly, Wei Yi had already employed this line back in 2017 against Yu Yangyi at the Hainan Danzhou GM Tournament, where he also scored a brilliant victory. At a critical moment, Esipenko sacrificed a piece for a couple of pawns and an attacking initiative. In different circumstances, the gamble might have paid off, but Wei Yi’s defensive precision proved impeccable on this occasion. Both players joined Zachary Saine in the media centre for a joint press conference in which they went over the game. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh6zpiZttfc Despite his young age, Praggnanandhaa R already has extensive experience against Fabiano Caruana, with their head-to-head record standing at 13 games: two wins each and nine draws. The Nimzo-Indian Variation they chose dates back to the 1970s and is known for its deep strategic complexity. By around move twelve, Praggnanandhaa had already spent over half an hour in a position with more than 300 recorded master games, an unusual situation indeed. This left Caruana with an intriguing choice: follow the main theoretical path or deviate. He opted for a secondary line and soon generated a powerful attack, ultimately forcing his opponent to sacrifice his queen to avoid immediate checkmate. Caruana appeared to be on the verge of victory, but Praggnanandhaa demonstrated remarkable resilience, finding a defensive resource based on a fortress setup that allowed him to secure a draw. In the final game of the round, Hikaru Nakamura and Matthias Bluebaum produced an exceptionally accurate encounter, both achieving a near-perfect 99% accuracy score in a solid draw. Facing a classical Queen’s Gambit Declined setup, Nakamura quickly relinquished the bishop pair to reach a standard Carlsbad structure and prepare a minority attack. Unfazed, Bluebaum responded confidently, simplifying the position and equalizing with ease. By move twenty-five, the game was completely balanced. Although play continued until move forty-one, the evaluation remained unchanged throughout, further reinforcing Bluebaum’s reputation as one of the most solid players on the circuit. The results of the penultimate round in the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament have left the competition wide open. Six players still have a theoretical chance of winning the event, although only five can qualify for a playoff at the same time. The leading contenders are Vaishali Rameshbabu, who held Tan Zhongyi to a draw, and Bibisara Assaubayeva, who defeated Anna Muzychuk with an impressive display of home preparation. Both now stand on 7.5 points. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkRp_LvKluI In the final round, Vaishali will have the white pieces against Kateryna Lagno, while Assaubayeva will play Black against Divya Deshmukh. If one of them wins and the other does not, the victor will be crowned champion outright. However, the situation remains tense. If both leaders draw, Zhu Jiner – currently on 7 points – could still tie them, as she faces Anna Muzychuk in the final round. Moreover, should both leaders lose, players on 6.5 points still retain outside chances. Among them, Kateryna Lagno, fresh off a victory over Divya Deshmukh, and Aleksandra Goryachkina,
Bidding for the 2030 FIDE Chess Olympiad: Deadline extended
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has officially extended the deadline for bids for the FIDE Chess Olympiad 2030 until June 15, 2026 This global event, the largest team competition on the chess calendar, lasting 15 days (including arrivals and departures), brings together thousands of players and fans from across the world. At the most recent Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, 188 federations registered teams in the Open section and 169 federations in the Women’s section, reflecting the truly universal character of the event. Events to be organised Alongside the main competition, two additional key events will be held under the umbrella of the Olympiad: FIDE Chess Olympiad 2030 – Competition for People with Disabilities (organisers must be ready to host at least 100 teams) FIDE Congress 2030 The selected organiser will be responsible for hosting all three events and providing a proposal that ensures the maximum possible number of teams can be accommodated. With FIDE now uniting more than 200 federations — and expanding each year — the scale and importance of the FIDE Chess Olympiad continue to grow with every edition. Regulations The official regulations for both Olympiad competitions will be approved no later than 30 September 2025 and will follow the structure of the 2028 FIDE Chess Olympiad Regulations in all important aspects: FIDE Chess Olympiad 2028 – Main Competition Regulations (PDF) FIDE Chess Olympiad 2028 – Competition for People with Disabilities Regulations (PDF) The requirements for hosting the FIDE Congress may be found here: FIDE Congress Regulations. Who Can Bid? Any FIDE member federation or organiser approved by a national federation is eligible to apply. Bidders proposing to host additional FIDE events alongside the Olympiad will be given priority. Bidding process Formal Bid: Complete bidding applications must be submitted to office@fide.com by June 15, 2026, 18:00 CET. Applications must follow the form provided in the approved regulations and include all required documents. The full responsibilities of the organiser, including financial obligations, will be defined in the regulations and any additional conditions. The final decision on the host city will be made by the FIDE General Assembly held during the next FIDE Chess Olympiad in September 2026 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, which will award the organisation rights to the applicant receiving the highest number of votes.