World Schools Team Championship 2025: Registration is open
FIDE and the International School Chess Federation (ISCF) invite all FIDE member federations to participate in the World Schools Team Championship 2025 (WSTC). The competition will take place in Washington, D.C./Alexandria, USA, from August 2 (arrival) to August 7 (departure), 2025. Each team must consist of four main players, one reserve, and one non-playing captain. Where possible, a team shall include both boys and girls, and at least two players born in 2012 or later. National federations are responsible for verifying that participating children are enrolled in the school they represent. Participation is limited: the first 45 teams registered by national federations will be accepted, with priority given to teams selected through national school competitions. An additional 15 wildcard spots will be allocated by FIDE, ISCF, and the host federation, bringing the total to 60 teams. These 60 teams will receive free accommodation, consisting of two twin rooms and two single rooms per delegation. The organizers will purchase flight tickets directly after a team’s participation is officially confirmed via email. The registration deadline is July 1, 2025. Teams can register using the online form at: worldschoolteam2025.fide.com/registration2025/ FIDE member federations will be able to update registration details via an edit link. In special cases—for example, if a national championship has not yet taken place—federations may request an extension to submit player names after July 1, subject to Organizing Committee approval. Educational conference Smart Moves Summit The Smart Moves Summit is an international education conference that explores how chess sharpens minds, fosters creativity, and transforms learning—both in and beyond the classroom. Held in Washington, D.C., August 4–5, 2025, alongside the World Schools Team Championship, the summit brings together teachers, parents, school leaders, researchers, edtech innovators, chess-related businesses, marketing professionals, officials, and other enthusiasts from over 20 countries. Expect inspiring keynotes from top chess influencers, visionary educators, and thought leaders in cognitive science. Participate in practical teacher trainings, interactive panels, and global school partnerships—all centered around how chess builds confidence, critical thinking, and deeper learning in today’s classrooms. The Smart Moves Summit is where the future of education meets the timeless strategy of chess. It’s a space for bold ideas, practical tools, and global collaboration, with the child at the center. In a world facing educational inequality and rapid change, chess offers a powerful, inclusive path to academic success and lifelong skills—for every student, everywhere. The conference is organized by the International School Chess Federation and the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, under the patronage of FIDE. Contact e-mail: worldschoolteam@fide.com Official website: worldschoolteam2025.fide.com INVITATION LETTER (PDF)
Asian Championship 2025: Daneshvar Bardiya and Song Yuxin crowned champions
Asian Chess Federation president Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan (right) and Mongolian Chess Federation President Gombojav Zandanshatar (left) award medals to the top three placers, champion GM Bardiya Daneshvar of Iran, runner-up GM Nihal Sarin of India and third placer Shamsiddin Vokhidov of Uzbekistan GM Daneshvar Bardiya (Iran) and IM Song Yuxin (China) emerged as the winners of the 2025 Asian Chess Championship. Both the Open and Women’s competitions—nine-round Swiss tournaments—took place from May 6–15 at the Danat Resort Hotel in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, bringing together over 250 players from 38 countries. In the Open tournament, it was a tight race until Round 6, when 12th seed Daneshvar Bardiya seized the lead and never looked back. After a crucial victory over Abhimanyu Puranik of India in the penultimate round, he entered the final round with a score of 7/8, a full point ahead of his closest competitors. Mongolian Chess Federation President Gombojav Zandanshatar made the ceremonial first move in the game between Nihal Sarin and Daneshvar Bardiya, assisted by Asian Chess Federation General Secretary Hisham Al Taher and Organizing Committee Executive Director IM Sami Khader. Despite losing in the final round to top seed Nihal Sarin, who caught up to him with 7/9, Daneshvar claimed gold thanks to the superior average rating of his opponents. Sarin took silver, while Shamsiddin Vokhidov secured the bronze, edging out five players (all with 6.5/9) on tiebreaks. Daneshvar had previously qualified for the World Cup from the Zone 3.1 Zonals. Therefore, the next ten players in the Asian Individual Championship qualified into the FIDE World Cup, namely Sarin, Vokhidov and 4th to 11th placers GM Ivan Zemlyanskii (FID), Indians GMs Pa Iniyan, Rithvik Raja, S.L. Narayanan, M. Pranesh and IM G.B. Harshavardhan, GM Sergei Lobanov (FID) and GM Murali Karhikeyan (IND). Final Standings – Open: The Women’s section was an even more tightly contested tournament, with as many as seven players vying for gold going into the final round. Vantika Agrawal (India) defeated leader Bat-Erdene Mungunzul (Mongolia) to catch up at the top. Meanwhile, IM Song Yuxin (China) crushed the French Defense of IM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova (Uzbekistan) in just 32 moves. WGM Xeniya Balabayeva (Kazakhstan) also pulled off an important win over Munguntuul Batkhuyag. As a result, four players tied for first place. Song Yuxin captured the title based on the highest average rating of her opponents. Using the same tiebreaker, Mungunzul and Balabayeva claimed silver and bronze, respectively. Song and Mungunzul qualified for the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 which will be held this July in Batumi, Georgia. Final Standings – Women: The closing ceremony featured ACF President Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan, who extended heartfelt thanks to all who contributed to the success of this prestigious event—including organizing committees, technical teams, administrative staff, and volunteers. He also congratulated all the winners and those who qualified for the FIDE World Cup, wishing them the best as ambassadors of Asia on the world stage. Sheikh Sultan took the opportunity to announce the signing of an agreement between the Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club and the International Chess Federation (FIDE) to launch the FIDE Al Ain ACMG Academy. This global academy aims to elevate chess worldwide, nurture talent across all continents, and provide world-class training under top international coaches, following best practices and global standards. Services will be delivered in ten languages. Photos: Asian Chess Federation Official website: asianchess.com/
Tickets for the 2025 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Team Championships go on sale
Get ready for an exhilarating week of chess at the 2025 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Team Championships, happening in London from June 10–16! Hosted at the Novotel London West in Hammersmith, this event brings together nearly 60 teams from around the globe, featuring top grandmasters, rising stars, and passionate amateurs. Experience the thrill of fast-paced games, where brilliant tactics, unexpected blunders, and intense time scrambles keep everyone on the edge of their seats. Emotions run high as players race against the clock, making split-second decisions that could change the game’s outcome. What makes this championship unique is its team format. Each team comprises 6 to 9 players, including at least one female player and one recreational player (rated below 2000 Elo), promoting inclusivity and diversity in the competition. Teams can represent clubs, federations, cities, universities, or even be formed by friends coming together for the love of the game. With that, the roster is headlined by super teams led by your favourite super grandmasters – from Hikaru Nakamura to Vishy Anand. The tournament kicks off with the Rapid competition from June 11–13, featuring a 12-round Swiss format with a time control of 15 minutes plus a 10-second increment per move. Following that, the Blitz tournament takes place on June 14–15, introducing a two-stage structure: a round-robin pool stage and an exciting knockout phase for the top 16 teams, with games played at 3 minutes plus a 2-second increment per move. Flexible ticket options starting at £30: There are a variety of ticket options available to suit different preferences and budgets. Whether you’re interested in catching a single rapid round, immersing yourself in a full day of matches, experiencing the entire event, or enjoying premium amenities with hospitality passes, there’s something for everyone. Additionally, exclusive passes to the closing party offer a chance to celebrate with players and fellow fans. To explore all the ticket options and secure your spot at this exciting event, visit tickets.fide.com For more details about the event, visit the official website: worldrapidblitzteams2025.fide.com
WGP Austria R09: Anna Muzychuk wins in Austria but misses Candidates spot
Anna Muzychuk claimed a bittersweet victory in the final leg of the Women’s Grand Prix. Despite sharing first place, it wasn’t enough to secure a slot in the Candidates Tournament. With the overall Grand Prix points tallied, Zhu Jiner emerged as the winner of the 2024/2025 series, with Aleksandra Goryachkina taking the second qualifying spot for the Candidates. Spanning six tournaments from Europe to India and back, with 23 players, the 2024/2025 Women’s Grand Prix concluded with Zhu Jiner atop the standings and Aleksandra Goryachkina securing the second spot for the 2026 Candidates. Anna Muzychuk is third. Drama in Grosslobming All five games saw sharp positions and tough struggles – a deserving end to a cycle of six spectacular tournaments in women’s chess. It was a make-or-break day for Anna Muzychuk. A win as White against Vaishali Rameshbabu in the final round in Austria would seal a hat-trick of triumphs: sole victory in the tournament, the overall win in the 2024/2025 FIDE Women’s Grand Prix Series, and a spot in the 2026 Candidates Tournament (edging out Aleksandra Goryachkina who was in the lead). But all of it hinged on this one game. The game saw the French Defence – one of the oldest and most solid openings in chess. Anna managed to win a pawn and create a passer on the a-file, which offered her some chances. On the other hand, Vaishali had compensation in the activity of her pieces. The position was even until the first move after the time control, when Vaishali gave a chance to White. Muzychuk just played h5. Her king and queen pinned to h2, she had to look for an opportunity to press on. The best choice for Black was to take on h5, but she played …41.Kf6? 42.hxg6 hxg6 Now White should have moved her king, either to h3 or – a computer move – h1, opening the attack on g6. Instead, Anna went for Qe1 and a few more moves down the road the game ended in a draw. By this point, Zhu had already drawn her game with Alexandra Kosteniuk (being completely lost at one point, in the endgame), and Tan spoiled a winning position against Muzychuk to end up in a tie. This meant that Anna Muzychuk would share first place with Zhu, but emerge first because she played more games with the black pieces. When a victory in the tournament isn’t enough After her final game, Anna – the winner of the Women’s Grand Prix in Austria – stood silently in front of the playing hall, gazing in the distance. The scene told the story. She was sad and disappointed, on the brink of crying. Had she won, she would have been in sole first. Had Kosteniuk played the right move in the endgame against Zhu, she would have won, and then a draw would have sufficed for Anna to take sole first place. Despite winning two out of three Grand Prix she played in (in Cyprus and in Austria), Anna didn’t qualify for the Candidates. When asked how she feels, Anna Muzychuk responded: “It has never been so sad to win an event”. Despite emerging in first place, Anna Muzychuk failed toclaim sole victory, which meant she did not get all of the 130 points needed to clinch the spot in the Candidates. Despite being very emotional, as a true professional, Anna Muzychuk patiently waited after the game and gave an interview which will be remembered for one line: “I won the last two Grand Prix tournaments, but still it wasn’t enough to qualify [for the Candidates] and that’s the sad thing about it.” China’s Zhu Jiner wins the Women’s Grand Prix The day ultimately belonged to China’s Zhu Jiner. She came to Austria with 235 points. Zhu had the best chance to overtake Goryachkina for first place in the WGP and in the end, tying for first place in Austria, she succeeded. “I’m very happy with my performance and how I played. I have also learnt a lot and I enjoyed it,” said Zhu. Zhu played the final round game with Alexandra Kosteniuk. This match was important for Zhu – she had to win to stand a fair chance of taking first place in the event. But doing that against a former Women’s World Champion and seasoned player like Kosteniuk is not an easy task. Zhu opted for the Nimzo-Indian Defence and got a very comfortable position. By move 16, the queens and a pair of minor pieces were off the board and Black reached equality. White had a worse pawn structure, but the active knight on f5 outweighed this shortcoming. After a couple of Zhu’s mistakes, Alexandra got an overwhelming position, but let her advantage slip away with one careless move. After 46.Nxg4 hxg4 47.h6 (the evaluation is +6 in White’s favor as Black’s king can’t reach the a8-square after giving up the knight for White’s h-pawn) Zhu most likely would have lost, opening a clear path to Anna Muzychuk to first place in the tournament and a spot in the Candidates! However, Alexandra played 46.Bb2? and after 46…Nxe3 47.Kxe4 Nd5+ the game was eventually drawn. Tan Zhongyi in third place after dropping a victory Tan Zhongyi completely misplayed a winning position against former women’s world champion Mariya Muzychuk, throwing away a chance to tie for the first place. In the Slav, Black (Muzychuk) had two doubled pawns on the b-file, but the position was roughly even. However, time-trouble kicked in for Mariya who ended up a piece down. White is completely winning. But the conversion did not go well at all. On the contrary. 34.Rb1 34.Bxe5 with the idea of 34…Rxa3 35.d6 was even stronger. 34…Ng5 35.Bc4 Rh3 36.d6+! Ke8 37.Bb5 Kf7 38.dxe7 White is still winning. To top it all, Mariya was in significant time trouble, while Tan had more than an hour on the clock. However, as the game progressed, Tan completely lost her way and Black got counterplay, with her rook and pawns
Polish Championship 2025: Paweł Teclaf and Klaudia Kulon claim titles
GM Paweł Teclaf and IM Klaudia Kulon are the new chess champions of Poland. Hailing from Kartuzy, the 21-year-old Teclaf claimed his maiden national title, while Kulon captured her second crown, repeating her 2021 success. Held at Kraków’s historic Wawel Castle from May 6-14, the 2025 PGE Polish Chess Championship featured both Open and Women’s sections. . Unlike several previous knockout editions, the 2025 competition followed a 10-player round-robin format. The total prize fund was 157,000 PLN, with top prizes of 30,000 PLN (approximately $8,000) awarded to the champions of both sections. The Open tournament proved to be a tightly contested event, culminating in a thrilling duel between Paweł Teclaf (pictured below, left) and Jakub Kosakowski (pictured below, right). Entering the final ninth round as joint leaders with 5.5/9, both players drew their games, to finish tied at 6/9. A rapid tiebreak match was played to determine the champion. After drawing the first game with the black pieces, Teclaf clinched the title by winning the second. Notably, he emerged the only undefeated player in the competition. The 2024 champion Radosław Wojtaszek completed the podium edging out Szymon Gumularz on better tiebreaks. Final Standings – Open In the Women’s event, Klaudia Kulon started strong with three straight wins and took an early lead, which she never relinquished. Although she stumbled in Round 4 with a loss to Oliwia Kiolbasa, Kulon bounced back with another three victories, securing the title with a round to spare. IM Aleksandra Maltsevskaya, the only undefeated player in the women’s section, delivered a consistent performance but managed only three wins, finishing in second place with 6/9. IM Alina Kashlinskaya and GM Monika Socko both scored 5.5/9, tying for third place. Kashlinskaya claimed the bronze medal on tiebreaks. Final Standings – Women Photos: Julia Michniak and Jakub Pietraszewski Official website: mp2025.pzszach.pl/
WGP Austria R08: Leaders Muzychuk and Zhu held to draws
Anna Muzychuk’s momentum stalled with a fourth consecutive draw, but she remains level at the top after Olga Badelka halted Zhu Jiner’s five-game winning run. The race for first place remains wide open ahead of the final round. Tensions were running high at the orangery on the grounds of Gschlössl Murtal in Styria, as the penultimate round of the 2024/2025 FIDE Women’s Grand Prix series was about to start. Three of the five games ended in draws, while the two decisive encounters were marked by sharp swings and desperate time scrambles. Anna Muzychuk and Zhu Jiner remain tied for first as they head into the final round. Muzychuk will have the white pieces against Vaishali Rameshbabu and must win to have a shot at clinching both the tournament and the overall Women’s Grand Prix title — provided Zhu does not win her game. Zhu, on the other hand, can afford a draw but must avoid defeat with the black pieces against former world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk. The round started with a minute of silence. Earlier in the day, news broke that the long-serving president of the Austrian Chess Federation and member of the Honorary Praesidium of FIDE, Kurt Jungwirth, passed away at the age of 95. The first game to finish – after three hours and 20 minutes of play – was between Lela Javakhishvili and Anna Muzychuk. In the English Opening, White (Lela) was trying to make a breakthrough on the queenside. The Georgian was doing better on the clock, but the game was complicated and without any real chances for either side. A threefold repetition sealed a draw on move 28. Anna didn’t look very pleased as she left the venue. In the first part of the tournament, she had one draw (with her sister Mariya) and three victories. In the second part – four draws. Today’s result puts into question her chances of becoming the outright winner of the final leg of the Women’s Grand Prix, which is what she needs if she wants to win the series and secure a spot in the 2026 Women’s Candidates. The second leader of the tournament also drew. Playing the French Defence, Olga Badelka managed to stop Zhu Jiner’s run of five consecutive victories. The two relatively quickly progressed to an endgame with a pair of rooks and a pair of minor pieces. Although Zhu had an hour on the clock compared to Badelka’s 30 minutes after 25 moves, it was not enough to tip the balance in her favour in an equal position. Seeing that Anna drew, Zhu pressed on and even played a bit riskily, hoping that Badelka – who has not had a great tournament, would stumble. But Olga was confident in holding her ground. When nothing more could have been done, after three and a half hours and 43 moves, Zhu had to admit that it was time to call it a day. In the last round, she will have a tough challenge against the former world champion, Alexandra Kosteniuk. The sharpest and most intense game of the round – and possibly the entire tournament so far – happened between Nana Dzagnidze, who was White, and Nurgyul Salimova. According to the chessgames.com database, this was only the second game between the two. Previously, they met in 2021 during the World Blitz Championship in Almaty (Kazakhstan), from which Salimova emerged as the victor. Dzagnidze started with the English Opening and managed to get a slight advantage. As early as move 11, the game entered a sharp phase. White is better. Still, the most logical choice for Black was to secure her king by castling and for the game to run its course. Instead, Salimova embarked on an adventure which would see a very sharp exchange on board. 11…Nxe4? Taking the pawn but at what cost? After the cold-blooded 12.Qc2 Nxc3 13.Nc7+ Kd8 14.bxc3 Nd4 15.Qd2 Qa4 16.cxd4 Kxc7 and Black keeps a pawn but is severely underdeveloped and exposed. Instead, Dzagnidze made a weak move: 12.a3? and after Qa5 13.Qg4 Nxc3! 14.Qxg7 Nxb5+ 15.b4 Nxb4!! 16.Qxh8+ Ke7 17.bxc4 Qxb4+ 18.Kd1 Qd6+ 19.Kc2 (Ke1 was better) 19…Nd4+ 20.Kc3 Nc6! Black’s risky approach paid off – she got enough compensation and counterplay while White had to be careful because of her exposed king. By this point in the game, both had well under 20 minutes on the clock. By the time they reached the position below, both were in desperate time trouble. Black is in control. The best way to proceed was 32…Na1+ 33.Rxa1 Qb3+ 34.Kd3 c2+ 35.Kd2 cxd1=R+ 36.Rxd1 Qb4+. However, Salimova played 32…Qe4+? and after 33.Bd3 Qa4 it was equal again, as White could deliver a perpetual check with 34.Qg5+ Ke8 35.Qg8…. Instead, Nana played 34.Qxc3?? but Nurgyul immediately returned the favour with 34…Nc5+?? (after 34…Rb6, White has no defence against Black’s multiple threats) 35.Kd2 Qf4+ 36.Ke1 Nxd3 37.Qxd3 Rxb1 38.Rxb1 Ba6!? made with seconds on the clock. 38…Qxh2 recommended by the computer leads to an equal position. After 39.Qa3+ d6 40.Rb4 Qe5+ Both reached the first time control with White now being notably better. Ten moves later, Dzagnidze was completely winning. This was the longest game of the day, finishing after just under five hours of play. Despite being known for her time troubles, Dzagnidze is having a solid performance in the tournament. With just one loss, five draws and two wins – she is now on 4.5 and is in tied fourth place with Vaishali Rameshbabu who also drew today. Two games of round eight ended in a draw. In the Murphy Defence of the Ruy Lopez, Vaishali gained a slight initiative over Tan Zhongyi. However, after 25 moves, Vaishali was down to 28 minutes while Tan had more than an hour. Still, the young Indian GM played steadily, and by move 35 the two transitioned to an even rook endgame. Similarly to her round six win over Salimova, Tan tried to grind her opponent, in another effort to successfully drain blood from stone.
Vlastimil Hort (1944–2025)
Czech-German grandmaster Vlastimil Hort, one of the world’s strongest players during the 1960s and 1970s and a former world number six, has passed away at the age of 81. Vlastimil Hort was born on 12 January 1944 in Kladno, in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia (now the Czech Republic). He learned chess at the age of five and immediately showed great potential. Hort progressed rapidly, making his debut for the Czechoslovak national team at the age of sixteen. A Grandmaster since 1965, Hort reached his peak in the 1970s. Playing for the “World” team in the famous “USSR vs. Rest of the World” match in 1970, he faced Lev Polugaevsky on board four and defeated him with a score of 2.5–1.5—one of the highlights of his career. In 1976, he finished third in the Manila Interzonal, earning a spot in the Candidates Tournament. His Candidates quarterfinal match against Boris Spassky became one of the most memorable demonstrations of sportsmanship in chess history. During the later stages of the match, Spassky fell ill and had used up all his allotted time-outs. Hort could have claimed victory by default, but instead, he offered Spassky one of his own time-outs, allowing the former World Champion to recover and continue. Spassky eventually won the match by a narrow margin. Photo: Icelandic Chess Federation A five-time Czechoslovak champion (1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, and 1977), Hort moved to West Germany in 1985 and went on to win the national championship of his new homeland in 1987, 1989, and 1991. Vlastimil Hort represented Czechoslovakia and later Germany in a total of 14 Chess Olympiads: for Czechoslovakia in 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1980, 1982, and 1984, and for Germany in 1988, 1990, and 1992. Following his successful playing career, Hort became a beloved commentator and columnist. He appeared frequently alongside Grandmaster Helmut Pfleger in the popular television program Schach der Großmeister, which developed a broad and loyal following. FIDE extends its sincere condolences to Vlastimil Hort’s family, friends, and loved ones.
FIDE statement on suspending chess in Afghanistan
FIDE and the global chess community deeply regret the decision of the Afghan government to suspend chess over gambling concerns. FIDE is actively consulting the IOC, the Asian Chess Federation and other relevant sports and international bodies to find a constructive solution. We believe that chess is one of the most beautiful sports in the world, promoting hard work, patience, fairness, and openness. Beyond the board, chess is a powerful tool for community building and bringing people together. If there is a game, a sport that depends almost completely on skill and preparation, rather than chance, it is chess. Chess has a long and established presence in Afghanistan. In recent years, the game has thrived in the country, with more young people taking up chess. Suspending chess can harm its development and deny opportunities for future Afghan players to showcase their talent and represent their country on the global stage. FIDE will continue to follow developments closely, engaging in a constructive dialogue with the authorities, working with international sports organisations and other relevant stakeholders, to explore ways to have chess reinstated in Afghanistan as soon as possible.
WGP Austria R07: Zhu catches up with Anna Muzychuk in the race for the crown
In a day of fast and sharp games, Zhu Jiner scored her fifth consecutive victory to tie for first place with Anna Muzychuk, who made a third draw in a row. Tan defeated Javakhishvili and is now half a point behind the leaders. Mariya Muzychuk pulled off her first victory in the tournament in a blunder-laden game against Olga Badelka. Round seven of the final 2024/2025 Women’s Grand Prix leg delivered four decisive outcomes in under four hours, leaving just one draw. A blunder by Nana Dzagnidze helped Zhu Jiner secure a fifth consecutive victory, joining Anna Muzychuk at the top, on five points. Another Chinese player, former World Champion Tan Zhongyi, is just half a point behind, in striking distance. Vaishali is in fourth place, on four points. After a great start in the first part of the tournament (with two wins and two draws), she stumbled, making just one point out of the last three games. Zhu and Anna Muzychuk are the only two players in this tournament who have a chance to win the overall Grand Prix series, and there are just two more rounds to go! A look at the games of round seven Zhu Jiner benefited from an oversight by Nana Dzagnidze, who blundered in an inferior position. Nana made a serious inaccuracy on her previous move and here she had to give up her a-pawn – 35…Nb6 36.Qxa5 Nbd7 blocking White’s passer. Instead she played 35…Rf4? missing a refutation 36.d7! A perfect illustration of deflection! 36…Nxd7 37.Qxd5 and White is a knight up. In another Nimzo-Indian, Vaishali ended in time trouble as Black against the great Alexandra Kosteniuk. The former Women’s World Champion surprised her opponent with 1.d4 – which she usually doesn’t play against Vaishali. “There are many first moves,” Kosteniuk said – “but the most important thing is not what you play but how you play.” In this position, Black was in time trouble and under pressure. 23…c5?? Playing 23…b6 or …b5 with an exchange on the d-file was a much better option. 24.bxc5 Nc6 25.Rxe4!! Bxe4 Black cannot take with the knight because of mate on g7. 26.Nxe4 Ne5 27.Nd6! And now Black has to give up a rook on d6. She cannot play 27…Re7 because of 28.Bf5 and the queen is trapped. And if 27…Rf8 then Black loses the knight on e5. A few moves later, Vaishali resigned. This was a second consecutive victory for Kosteniuk, and she now has 3.5 points. Though pleased with this victory, Kosteniuk expressed dissatisfaction with her overall performance. As she pointed out, “the quality of my games in this tournament is about 73-75 percent. And if my performance is below 90%, I think it’s very bad.” The most dramatic or, rather, most chaotic game of the round was played between Olga Badelka and Mariya Muzychuk, where both traded grave errors in time trouble. In the Slav Defence, former Women’s World Champion Mariya Muzychuk took a pawn in the centre that gave White an upper hand in development and a strong attack. However, Badelka did not find the best continuation and after a series of mutual inaccuracies by move 31, the position was sharp for both. 31…Qb7, threatening mate on b2. Instead of 32.Qb3 Badelka played the seemingly natural but losing move 32.b3. However, it fails to 32…R5f3! and now White is completely lost. In time trouble, both traded mistakes, with the position swinging from a total victory for Black to a draw: 33.Qg6 Qf7 34.Qxe6 Rxa2 Black is better, but White has chances. 35.Qc8?? Blunder. Black is winning. 35…Qf8?? Now it’s equal. 36.Qe6+ Kh8 37.Qe5?? Black is now winning: 37…Rff2. Soon the two reached the first time control and it was completely lost for White. The first victory for Muzychuk in the tournament, who is now on 3/7. Badelka’s third consecutive loss leaves her on two points. In the main line of the Giuoco Piano, China’s Tan Zhongyi and Lela Javakhishvili from Georgia followed well-known theory. But on move 17, Black made her first serious inaccuracy. White seized the initiative and emerged notably better. Soon, Black overlooked a pawn, and it was all over for her. Tan confidently converted her material advantage into a full point. The only peaceful game of the day was between Anna Muzychuk and Nurgyul Salimova. In the Four Knights Game, the position was even throughout without much excitement. The two agreed to split a point after move 40. Anna Muzychuk has five points and is the only undefeated player in the tournament so far. Standings after Round 7: A rest day is not a no-chess day On Monday, 12th May, during the rest day at the Women’s Grand Prix in G’Schlössl Murtal, a VIP event featured a blitz tournament and a challenge match against 15th World Champion Viswanathan Anand. Alexandra Kosteniuk, Mariya Muzychuk, Tan Zhongyi, and Austria’s Olga Badelka faced six young Austrian talents, with all games won by the experienced Grand Prix players. The youngsters then faced Anand one-on-one in a blitz challenge to see who could hold out longest. Katharina Pötscher lasted 55 moves for the day’s longest game, but it was Eva Maria Schmied who surprised everyone with a draw—winning two pawns and trapping Anand in perpetual check. A gala dinner at the G’Schlössl Orangery closed the day, with players, FIDE officials, and guests gathering for the evening. Felix Blohberger’s historical chess puzzles set up on each table provided entertainment, as FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky correctly identified all of the positions and their backstories. Anand on India’s chess boom: Strong foundations and rising stars During a live broadcast with Felix Blohberger, Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand reflected on the remarkable rise of Indian chess, crediting the country’s structured support system and cultural acceptance of the game. Anand highlighted the role of key regions – such as his home state Tamil Nadu, but also Pune, Kolkata and Mumbai in building chess expertise. “We have excellent coaches… and I think the cultural acceptance is quite high, so
Malawi hosts the Chess for Freedom Continental Championship and Workshop for Africa
The FIDE “Chess for Freedom” program is the largest global initiative of the FIDE Social Commission. In the Year of Social Chess, each month highlights a specific social group, and May focuses on the “Chess for Freedom” initiative with two major continental conferences and tournaments—first in Malawi (Africa), followed immediately by another one in Mexico (Americas). The primary goal of these conferences is to expand the reach of the Chess for Freedom program from its current presence in 50 countries to over 60. This was the motivation behind organizing the African Conference in Lilongwe, Malawi, under the leadership of Susan Namangale, Dadaz Academy Chess Founder and Member of FIDE PDC Commission. The first day featured a workshop involving representatives from the FIDE Social Commission, officials from Malawi’s Prison Service, prison directors from across the country, and delegates from Ghana, Kenya, and the Malawi Chess Federation. Also in attendance were members of Dadaz, a local chess academy led by Susan Namangale, who also serves as a representative of Malawi’s Sports Council. The day included presentations, interactive discussions, fostering a collaborative and visionary atmosphere. The hybrid format allowed for international participation via Zoom. André Vögtlin, Chair of the FIDE Social Commission, praised the initiative as a well-established global project and expressed satisfaction with its successful introduction to Central and Southern Africa. He expressed hope that many new countries would now join the movement and participate in the 2025 Chess for Freedom World Championship in October. Vögtlin personally thanked Susan Namangale for her outstanding efforts and presented her with a certificate of recognition from the FIDE Social Commission. Susan Namangale emphasized that chess has a transformative effect on incarcerated individuals and sees her collaboration with Malawi’s prison system as a foundational element for expanding the Chess for Freedom program in the region. She expressed great satisfaction in witnessing the growth of social chess in Malawi. Project founder Mikhail Korenman expressed his delight with both the workshop and the subsequent championship, praising the exceptional organization. He highlighted the logistical achievement of safely transporting inmates from different prisons to the central venue—an approach that is rare globally. Both Korenman and Vögtlin noted that Malawi could serve as a role model for other African countries in the development of the Chess for Freedom initiative. The conference also showcased the success of partnerships, notably with Gift of Chess, in supplying chess sets. Maxwell Kamova, Assistant Commissioner of the Malawi Prison Service, stated that the chess program has had a profoundly positive impact on inmates, contributing to behavioral improvements. He mentioned that Malawi has specific guidelines for pardons and sentence reductions, and chess could potentially be used as a criterion for early release, given its role in promoting good behavior. The second day saw the African Continental Chess for Freedom Championship held at Maula Prison. Four teams from Malawi participated: two men’s teams, one women’s team, and a youth team. Additional teams from Zimbabwe, Ghana, and Kenya joined the tournament. Team Zimbabwe emerged victorious in the open section, followed closely by Malawi I and Malawi II. Malawi’s youth team was at a slight disadvantage due to a last-minute illness, yet home youngsters had a good showing, placing second, third, and ninth. André Vögtlin noted that the online Chess for Freedom format has proven effective for inter-prison competition, and that this championship served as an excellent trial run ahead of the global championship in October. Special thanks go to the technical team led by Nebojsa Baralic, who coordinated the online components of the tournament via Zoom and ensured smooth operations on chess.com. In closing, Mikhail Korenman stated: “Malawi is not only a strong partner for this project but for chess development in general.”