Queens’ Online Chess Festival 2025: Celebrating the winners
The Queens’ Online Chess Festival 2025 once again brought together female chess players from across the globe in an exciting month-long celebration of competition, talent, and empowerment. Held throughout March—Women’s Month—the Festival highlighted the importance of creating opportunities for women and girls to play, excel and succeed in chess. The event featured two main competitions: the Queens’ Women Open Tournament and the Unrated Princesses’ Tournament. These tournaments gave players of all levels a chance to compete, connect, and enjoy the game. Spanning from March 1st to March 29th, the Festival included continental qualifiers, semifinals, and the grand finals. The finals saw some of the most talented female players rise to the occasion. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the winners of all sections: The winners of the Queen’s Festival 2025: Queens’ Women Open Tournament 1st place – Aliona Garmash (FIDE)2nd place – Zoey Tang (USA)3rd place – Nataliya Buksa (Ukraine) And rest of the finalists: Omya Vidyarthi Veronika Shubenkova Maria Tsakona Maria Teresa Jimenez Salas Congratulations to all, especially new Queen of the whole Festival – Aliona Garmash! Continental tournaments winners Winners of the Continental qualifiers and Queens of the following continents are: Africa: Ndunakazi Nobuhle (RSA) America: Kelly Boor (USA) Asia: Veronika Shubenkova (FIDE) Europe: Monika Machlik (NOR) Princesses’ tournament winners U091st place – Swetha Narayanan (England)2nd place – Pagadala Ananya (India)3rd place – Despoina Theocharia Tafaki (Greece) U111st place – Hima Srinika Alla (India)2nd place – Isra Aara Ibrahim Shafeeu (Maldives)3rd place – R M Sayuni Suhansa Rajakaruna (Sri Lanka) U131st place – Shiho Yula Katayama (Japan)2nd place – Roaa Mohanad Magdi (Egypt)3rd place – Romina Montes Cervantes (Mexico) U151st place – Yarroju Ramya (India)2nd place – Anqi Yang (England)3rd place – Aishwarya Nedunoori (India) U171st place – Lee-Anne Matima (South Africa)2nd place – Karimella Sahasra (India)3rd place – Bokao Setlhare (South Africa) Prize fund and awards The Queens’ Festival Chess Tournament had a lot of different prizes to award the winners. Most importantly – the winner of the Festival, Aliona Garmash, will be invited to visit the next Chess Olympiad. The champion received €500, the runner-up – €300, and the third-place finisher – €200. Additionally, the winners of each continental qualifier (Americas, Asia, Africa, and Europe) will be awarded a physical trophy and the title of Queens’ Festival Continental Queen. The winner of the Princesses’ Tournament shall also receive a physical trophy. All participants were awarded electronic certificates of participation. In addition, the top 10 players in each qualification tournament (a total of 60 players) earned two 45-minute training sessions with Women Grandmasters, providing them with valuable learning opportunities. Championing queens of the game The Queens’ Online Chess Festival 2025 proved once again that chess is a powerful platform for women’s empowerment. With 121 countries represented and nearly 1,000 players signing up, the event showed the increasing enthusiasm for women’s chess and highlighted the need for even greater accessibility and inclusivity in future editions. This festival is not just about competition; it is about building a global chess community that supports and uplifts women in the sport. By bringing together grandmasters, rising stars, and young talents, and amateur players, the event strengthens the bonds between players, mentors, and chess lovers worldwide. A heartfelt thank you to all participants for their enthusiasm, dedication, and incredible sportsmanship—truly embodying Gens Una Sumus spirit. Special gratitude goes to FIDE, the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess, and the entire organizing team for making this celebration of women in chess possible. Together, we continue to champion the presence of women in chess and create meaningful opportunities for future generations. We look forward to an even bigger and better edition in 2026!
FIDE April 2025 rating list published
The April rating list was primarily influenced by the Prague International Festival, the European Individual Championship in Eforie Nord, Romania, FIDE WGP Cyprus, and several European leagues. Magnus Carlsen continues his reign at the top, slightly extending his lead over world No. 2, Hikaru Nakamura. Both gained a few rating points in March—Carlsen in the Norwegian Premier League and Nakamura in the American Cup. Meanwhile, Arjun Erigaisi reclaimed the No. 4 spot after earning five points in the Schachbundesliga 2024-2025. Anna Muzychuk (+10) and Zhu Jiner (+11) each moved up one position in the women’s top 10 after strong performances in the Women’s Grand Prix Cyprus. Biggest gains in top 100 (Open and Women) Shukhman, Anna WIM FIDE 2413 (+48) Sliwicka, Alicja WGM POL 2376 (+34) Bluebaum, Matthias GM GER 2662 (+19) Aravindh, Chithambaram VR. GM IND 2749 (+18) Assaubayeva, Bibisara IM KAZ 2494 (+18) Gurel, Ediz GM TUR 2636 (+16) Roebers, Eline IM NED 2383 (+16) Tari, Aryan GM NOR 2636 (+15) Bulmaga, Irina IM ROU 2377 (+15) Svane, Frederik GM GER 2668 (+14) Anna Shukhman achieved the biggest rating increase for the second time this year, following her outstanding performances at the FIDE World Junior Championship (where she won the title and gained 30 points) and the 3rd International Women’s Tournament in Samarkand (where she finished second and gained 18 points). The 15-year-old reached career highs in both the Women’s (#34) and Women’s Junior (#3) rating lists. Photo: Mitar Djukanovic The winner of the aforementioned event in Samarkand, Alicja Sliwicka, also finished second in another women’s tournament—the Vera Menchik Memorial. Despite losing points in the FE 2 Piccola Fenice – Torneo di Carnevale, she returned to her career-high ranking of No. 66 in the women’s list. The newly crowned European Champion, Matthias Bluebaum (+19; pictured below), along with Aryan Tari (+15) and Frederik Svane (+14), made significant rating gains in Eforie Nord. Photo: David Llada Bibisara Assaubayeva tied a match against the much higher-rated Daniil Yuffa, earning 18 points. Aravindh Chithambaram, who has been steadily climbing the chess rankings over the past two years, reached a major milestone in April 2025. The Thirunagar, Madurai native triumphed in the Prague International Festival – Masters and soared to No. 11 in the rating list. Photo: Prague Chess Festival/Petr Vrabec Eline Roebers had a very busy March playing in four competitions and gaining rating points in 38th Festival International des Jeux de Cannes – Open A and Frauenbundesliga 2024-2025.
24th “Preparation of Teachers” course by FIDE Education Commission announced
Dear chess friends, Save the dates: April 18-20, 2025, for our 24th edition of the “Preparation of Teachers” course – a golden opportunity to become a certified FIDE School Instructor! Conducted in English, this 3-day online course is designed to boost your teaching skills using chess as an educational tool. Learn innovative methods for the 4C’s (critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity). Bonus: Successful candidates get lifelong access to OPENING MASTER PREMIUM chess databases. Read the detailed course description here. Presented by Lead School Instructors Anzel Laubscher and Boris Bruhn, this course is perfect for teachers, chess educators, beginner and advanced players with basic chess knowledge, and anyone with experience working with children. The course is limited to 20 participants, so register before April 14 by completing and submitting the registration form. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at edu.courses@fide.com
National Electricity Transmission Network wins inaugural Mongolian Corporate Chess Championship
The Mongolian Chess Federation (MCF), in collaboration with the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI), successfully organized the inaugural National Corporate Chess Championship, which concluded on March 29, 2025, in Ulaanbaatar. The event aimed to promote chess within the corporate community, foster strategic thinking, and strengthen professional relationships among Mongolian businesses. Inspired by the FIDE World Corporate Chess Championship, the competition was spearheaded by Zandanshatar Gombojav, President of the Mongolian Chess Federation and Head of the Presidential Office of Mongolia. The championship featured 24 teams from Mongolia’s Top 100 enterprises, including Khan Bank, Shunkhlai LLC, APU, Digital Concept LLC (GS25 chain), Sod Mongol Group, Golomt Bank, Tavan Bogd Foods, Monos Pharm, and others. Each team consisted of five players, with a professional chess player on board one, while the remaining team members were employees of the participating corporations. The tournament followed the FIDE World Corporate Chess Championship format. The National Electricity Transmission Network team (pictured above) claimed first place, followed by the Golomt bank in second, Erdenet Industry LLC in third, Sod Mongol Group in fourth and Murun Villa LLC in fifth place. All winning teams received prizes from the $25,000 prize fund, and the champions were awarded a handmade, gold-plated trophy. Both the Mongolian Chess Federation and the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry expressed their satisfaction with the event’s success. They emphasized the importance of integrating chess into corporate culture to enhance critical thinking and decision-making skills among professionals. Encouraged by the positive response from participating companies, the organizers plan to make the National Corporate Chess Championship an annual event. They aim to increase participation, elevate the level of competition, and even compete in the next edition of the FIDE World Corporate Chess Championship. Written by WGM Enkhtuul Altan-Ulzii, FIDE Delegate of the Mongolian Chess Federation Photos: mongolchamber.mn
Winners crowned at 2025 FIDE World School Championship
The 2025 FIDE World School Chess Championship in Vrnjačka Banja has concluded, bringing together 470 young players from 43 national federations in a thrilling competition. Kazakhstan emerged as the most successful nation, winning four gold, three silver, and one bronze medal across twelve tournaments in six age categories. The home crowd had much to celebrate as Leonid Ivanović claimed silver in the Under-11 category, and Andrej Ljepić secured second place in the Under-17 category. 2025 FIDE World School Championship winners: Open U7 1. Kairat, Abdul-Malik (KAZ) – 9 points 2. Om, Esh Gottumukala (IND) – 7½3. Fatkhlislamov, Oskar (FIDE) – 6½ Girls U7 1. Pragnika, Vaka Lakshmi (IND) – 92. Azamkhujaeva, Mohinur (UZB) – 73. Xu, Vera Jintian (NZL) – 7 Open U9 1. Nematillakhonov, Nurmuhammad (UZB) – 7½2. Sultankhan, Nurislam (KAZ) – 73. Bondarev, Fedor (FIDE) – 7 Girls U9 1. Bissaliyeva, Alisha (KAZ) – 82. Uranzaya, Shagdarsuren (MGL) – 83. Asadova, Madinabonu (UZB) – 7½ Open U11 1. Zhauynbay, Alimzhan (KAZ) – 72. Ivanovic, Leonid (SRB) – 73. Uzdemir, Ali Poyraz (TUR) – 6½ Girls U11 1. Nandinjiguur, Chinzorig (MGL) – 82. Divi, Bijesh (IND) – 83. Munkh-Ayalguu, Dorjderem (MGL) – 6½ Open U13 1. Yurasov, Matfey (FIDE) – 7½2. Obidov, Biloliddin (UZB) – 73. Baturin-Vinogradov, Miroslav (FIDE) – 7 Girls U13 1. Begmuratova, Sarvinoz (UZB) – 7½2. Amanzhol, Khanzada (KAZ) – 6½3. Gaer, Sofiya Ig (FIDE) – 6½ Open U15 1. Scheglov, Gleb (FIDE) – 82. Tabatadze, Erekle (GEO) – 73. Kabinazar, Nurmukhammed (KAZ) – 7 Girls U15 1. Imomkuzieva, Nilufarkhon (UZB) – 72. Japparbekova, Malika (KAZ) – 6½3. Ferrer Naranjo, Liennys (CUB) – 6 Open U17 1. Bogdanov, Artyom (KAZ) – 72. Ljepic, Andrej (SRB) – 73. Elmirzaev, Khondamir (UZB) – 6½ Girls U17 1. Buyankhishig, Batpelden (MGL) – 7½2. Kirtadze, Anastasia (GEO) – 73. Newansa, M Esandi (SRI) – 6 The solemn and well-attended closing ceremony featured addresses from key chess officials. Özgür Solakoğlu, a representative of FIDE, praised the Chess Federation of Serbia for organizing an exceptional event. In his speech, he expressed hope that Serbia would once again host future FIDE competitions. Then Boban Đurović, the mayor of Vrnjačka Banja, took the floor, followed by Andrija Jorgić, president of the Chess Federation of Serbia, who officially declared the tournament closed. “Do not forget that chess is a knight’s game, and that the one sitting across from you is not your enemy but your opponent at the chessboard,” Jorgić reminded the participants. The FIDE World School Chess Championship was not the only major tournament held in Serbia. The country is also set to host the FIDE World Amateur Chess Championship in November 2025, further cementing its reputation as a premier chess destination. Photos: Andrej Jovanovic/Chess Federation of Serbia Official website: worldschool2025.fide.com
Matthias Bluebaum wins 2025 European Championship
GM Matthias Bluebaum emerged victorious at the 2025 European Individual Chess Championship in Eforie Nord, Romania. The 27-year-old German clinched his second European title. Having previously won the event in 2022, he became the first-ever two-time European Chess Champion. Heading into the final round, Bluebaum (pictured below) shared the lead with Daniil Yuffa (Spain) at 8/10, while a large group of seven GMs trailed just half a point. Playing with the white pieces against Nijat Abasov, Bluebaum opted for a safe approach, making a quick draw. Meanwhile, GM Frederik Svane (Germany; pictured below) prevailed over Yuffa in a long and complex battle, catching up with Bluebaum at the top of the standings. Joining Bluebaum and Svane in the first-place tie was Maxim Rodshtein (pictured below), who defeated Shant Sargsyan in the final round. All three players finished on 8.5/11, but Bluebaum secured the title thanks to a slightly superior Buchholz score over his compatriot Svane, who took silver. Rodshtein had to settle for bronze. A total of nine players, including three U18 rising stars, finished in a tie for fourth place with 8/11. Final standings: 1 GM Bluebaum, Matthias GER 2643 8½ 2 GM Svane, Frederik GER 2654 8½ 3 GM Rodshtein, Maxim ISR 2623 8½ 4 GM Yuffa, Daniil ESP 2654 8 5 GM Gledura, Benjamin HUN 2658 8 6 GM Tari, Aryan NOR 2621 8 7 GM Sargissian, Gabriel ARM 2628 8 8 GM Abasov, Nijat AZE 2612 8 9 GM Erdogmus, Yagiz Kaan U18 TUR 2605 8 10 GM Gurel, Ediz U18 TUR 2620 8 11 GM Kantor, Gergely HUN 2563 8 12 IM Samadov, Read U18 AZE 2502 8 Complete final standings The European Individual Chess Championship 2025 served as a qualification event for the FIDE World Cup. According to FIDE regulations and the ECU Board’s decision, the top 20 finishers secured a spot in the 2025 World Cup. GM Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus (TUR, 2605) became the best-ranked Junior U18 player in the event with 8/11, and a better Buchholz over GM Ediz Gurel (TUR, 2620) and IM Read Samadov (AZE, 2502) who achieved the same score. GM Vasyl Ivanchuk (UKR, 2604) was the best-ranked Senior 50+ player in the tournament, scoring 7/10. Second place in this category went to GM Valeriy Neverov (UKR, 2418) who netted 6.5 points. GM Dan Zoler (ISR, 2485) came third in this category with the same score but an inferior Buchholz. Four women players tied for the first women’s prize with 6/10, each. The tiebreak criteria favored IM Oliwia Kiolbasa (POL, 2360) who came first. IM Aleksandra Maltsevskaya (POL, 2376) was second, and IM Nurgyul Salimova (BUL, 2404) finished third. The closing ceremony took place in the playing venue and featured the ECU President Zurab Azmaiparashvili, President of the National Agency of Sports in Romania Constantin Bogdan-Matei, representatives of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, five-time World Chess Champion and FIDE Deputy President Viswanathan Anand, President of the Romanian Chess Federation Vlad Ardeleanu, ECU Vice President Alojzije Jankovic, ECU Secretary General Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou, ECU Tournament Director Petr Pisk, board members of the Romanian Chess Federation, and other distinguished guests. Photos: European Chess Union, Federația Română de Șah and David Llada Official website: eicc2025.com/
FIDE launches first digital museum dedicated to chess history
A first-of-its-kind digital museum dedicated to chess provides global access to FIDE’s archive, offering researchers and chess fans a curated look into the game’s evolution As part of its 2024 centenary celebrations, FIDE has unveiled an online museum tracing chess history from ancient times to modern tournaments. The Open Chess Museum endorsed by FIDE aims to become the world’s largest repository of chess artifacts, showcasing valuable items from every corner of the world and every era of chess history. For the first time, a full historical record of chess is freely available online—featuring rare, never-before-seen materials ranging from hand-annotated scoresheets to championship medals and personal artifacts of top players. The project also aims to highlight lesser-known facts and stories from the game’s past. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said the project offers “a closer, in-depth perspective on chess” and reflects “FIDE’s broader push towards digital engagement with the public.” “Chess is one of the oldest and richest sports in history. Over centuries, countless books have been written about the game, the players, the events. Much of this is now available online—but what’s missing is a central, official reference point telling the full story of chess. The FIDE Online Chess Museum is exactly that: a place where you can find key information about the most significant events and the people who shaped the game,” said Dvorkovich. “We hope the chess community—and those curious about the game—see the value in the resources now freely available to explore and enrich the sport,” he added. Visitors navigate the museum through five thematic sections. The “Collection” segment includes photographs, handwritten letters, Olympiad posters, commemorative pins, and personal belongings from famous players—alongside historical documents and autographs. The history section begins with a visual timeline showing all the key stages in the history of chess, up to 1913 and the first steps to create an international chess organization. A dedicated segment traces FIDE’s history from early international efforts in 1913 to its evolution into the sport’s global authority. This part features high-quality photos and scans of documents based on which the chess world is organized and governed. The “World Champions” part includes detailed biographies, annotated games, and key publications chronicling the careers and legacies of the game’s greatest players. The project marks a milestone in chess historiography and signals FIDE’s renewed commitment to public engagement. Following up on FIDE’s slogan – the game is just beginning – the Open Online Chess Museum aims to be a constantly evolving project. FIDE is inviting other collectors, galleries, national federations, clubs and players to join in and have their collections and artifacts also featured on the museum’s website. The museum is free to access via the website museum.fide.com.
Queens’ Online Chess Festival 2025 culminates with Big Final
The Queens’ Online Chess Festival 2025 once again brought together female chess players from all around the world in a thrilling showcase of talent, competition, and empowerment. This annual festival, a series of continental online blitz tournaments, provided a platform for women and girls to compete at a high level while creating an inclusive and welcoming environment. With a whooping 121 countries represented in this edition only, the Festival continues to grow, attracting female players of all levels. The 2025 event comprised two primary competitions: the Queens’ Women Open Tournament and the Unrated Princesses’ Tournament. Queens’ Women Open tournament The Queens’ Women Open Tournament, open to all female players with a FIDE ID, saw intense continental qualifying rounds held from March 1-9. The top players advanced to the semi-final on March 16, culminating in the grand final on March 29. In total, 100 participants from the Continental Qualifiers advanced to the semi-finals. Continental qualifiers winners Africa: 1st: Ndunakazi Nobuhle (RSA) 2nd: Rjeb Nadine (TUN) 3rd: Dube Robafadzo (ZIM) America: 1st: Kelly Boor (USA) 2nd: Melissa Rodriguez Dominguez (CUBA) 3rd: Omya Vidyarthi (USA) Asia: 1st: Shubenkova Veronika (FIDE) 2nd: Dakshita Kumawat (IND) 3rd: Ivana Maria Treopolsa Lasama (INA) Europe: 1st: Machlik Monika (NOR) 2nd: Hayrapetyan Nvard (ARM) 3rd: IM Buksa Nataliya (UKR) Queen semi-finals winners The semi-finals, played on March 16, saw 100 qualifiers competing for eight spots in the Grand Final scheduled for March 28. The top three finishers were: 1st place: Veronika Shubenkova (FID) 2nd place: Tianyu Jiang (CHN)3rd place: Maria Teresa Jimenez Salas (PER) Prize fund The Queens’ Festival Chess Tournament offers a total prize fund of €1,000. The winner will receive €500, a runner-up – €300, and the third-place finisher €200. Additionally, the winner of each continental qualifier (Americas, Asia, Africa, and Europe) will receive a trophy and the title of Queens’ Festival Continental Queen. The winner of the Princess Festival will also receive a trophy. All participants will receive an electronic certificate of participation. Furthermore, the top 10 players in each qualification tournament (60 players in total) will be entitled to two 45-minute training sessions with Women Grandmasters. Princesses’ Tournament: A Platform for Rising Stars Designed for female players without FIDE ratings, the Unrated Princesses’ Tournament provided young talents with a chance to shine. The tournament featured two qualification stages, East and West, attracting 102 players in the Eastern zone and 47 players in the Western zone. Hundreds of spectators followed the games live, watching these young stars in action. The winners of the Princesses’ Tournament qualifiers were: Princess Western overall winners: 1st: Anqi Yang (ENG) 2nd: Prajna Bhugwandeen (RSA) 3rd: Natalie Hull (USA) Princess Eastern overall Winners: 1st: Isra Aara Ibrahim Shafeeu (FID) 2nd: Aishwarya Nedunoori (FID) 3rd: Zinneerah Annour Zaidani (MAS) A special highlight: Refugee girls from Kakuma compete on the global stage One of the most inspiring moments of the 2025 Festival was the participation of 15 girls from the Girls Club in Kakuma Refugee Camp. These young players, part of an essential initiative empowering refugee girls through chess, had the unique opportunity to compete against peers from across the world. Their involvement highlighted the transformative power of chess in providing hope, education, and a sense of belonging. We are deeply grateful to our partners UNHCR and FIDE for making this project possible and for ensuring girls can have this special opportunity. A festival of talent and inclusion The Queens’ Online Chess Festival 2025 reaffirmed its position as a premier global event for women in chess. By bringing together established masters and aspiring young players, the festival continues to break barriers and inspire the next generation of female chess champions. As the finals approach, the anticipation builds. Who will emerge as the ultimate Queen of the chessboard? The world will be watching on March 29th! This year, the Festival saw an unprecedented number of registrations, with nearly 1,000 players signing up. However, many were unable to participate, highlighting the need for reevaluating the competition structure to ensure better accessibility in future editions. Organizers are committed to finding the best solutions to accommodate this growing enthusiasm and engagement.
FIDE EDC Chamber decision on the incident involving GM Kirill Shevchenko
The First Instance Chamber of the FIDE Ethics & Disciplinary Commission (EDC Chamber), following an exchange of correspondence and online meetings, has reached a unanimous decision regarding the incident involving GM Kirill Shevchenko (the Respondent): The Respondent is found guilty of breaching Article 11.7(e) of the Disciplinary Code. The Respondent is sanctioned with a worldwide ban of three (3) years, with one (1) year of the sanction suspended. On 26 December 2024, the FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission (EDC) received a report from the FIDE Fair Play Commission (FPL) titled “Report of the FPL-Investigatory Panel in the Kirill Shevchenko Case (Cheating Allegation).” The Respondent, GM Kirill Shevchenko (FIDE ID 14129574), was accused by the FIDE Fair Play Commission of cheating at the Spanish Team Championship on or around 13 October 2024. The FPL recommended a sanction of a worldwide suspension of three years, with one year suspended, as well as the revocation of the GM title. The Respondent was given the opportunity to respond to the allegations. On 3 February 2025, GM Shevchenko’s counsel, Mr. Sabin Gherdan, submitted a response on his behalf. GM Shevchenko admitted to hiding a phone in the toilet and using it to access Lichess but denied that he had “effectively” cheated or that his actions influenced the game. He presented several mitigating factors: a) He fully cooperated with the investigation.b) He admitted wrongdoing in a timely manner.c) He had a clean disciplinary record.d) He was 22 years old at the time of the offense.e) His mental state was compromised, as he had been receiving death threats.f) He demonstrated remorse on multiple occasions.g) The cheating attempt was not fully executed. Furthermore, according to the findings of Prof. Regan, there were no significant statistical deviations in the player’s performance during this tournament compared to his usual rating performance. The EDC Chamber found that GM Shevchenko did, in fact, hide a phone in the toilet at the Spanish Team Championship. It further concluded that he attempted to cheat but was unable to determine, with comfortable satisfaction, that actual cheating occurred. The EDC panel acknowledged the mitigating factors presented by the Respondent, specifically noting his cooperation with the investigation, his admission of wrongdoing, and his remorse. As the Respondent had already been provisionally suspended and had not participated in any events since the Spanish Team Championship, the ban will commence on 19 October 2024 and terminate on 18 October 2026, with the suspended portion ending on 18 October 2027. The Respondent’s GM title will not be revoked. The EDС’s decision did not satisfy FPL. “Any penalty for fair play violations should serve as a strong deterrent, reinforcing FIDE’s zero-tolerance stance on cheating. This decision appears too lenient and does not fully reflect our commitment to integrity in chess. We will carefully review the matter and determine whether to file an appeal within the prescribed period,” stated Andrew Howie, Chair of the FIDE Fair Play Commission. EDC Chamber decision on Case #6/24 (PDF)
Online meetup “Infinite Spectrum: Awareness and Recognition” announced
In the Year of Social Chess, FIDE continues its series of events aimed at promoting and developing chess-related social projects. We are thrilled to invite you to the “Infinite Spectrum: Awareness and Recognition” meetup, a transformative online event focusing on autism awareness. This event is your chance to be part of a movement that champions the development and inclusion of children on the spectrum. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn, share, and make a lasting impact. Date: Sunday, April 6, 2025Time: 12:00 (CEST)Location: Online Platform: Zoom Registration details: Participation is free for everyone interested in the topic, including teachers, coaches, tutors, parents, and more. Event Description: Join us for an inspiring online meetup, “Infinite Spectrum: Awareness and Recognition”, as we shine a spotlight on autism awareness. This event is your chance to be part of a movement that champions the development and inclusion of children on the spectrum. Hear from experts: Engage with teachers, coaches, and tutors who are making a difference in the lives of children with autism. Parents’ stories: Listen to heartfelt stories from parents who have navigated the challenging yet heroic journey of raising children with autism. Their resilience and dedication will leave you inspired and empowered. Connect and share: Build connections with a community of passionate individuals who are committed to fostering a supportive environment for children with autism. Infinite Chess Partners Award: At the end of the meetup, we will honor outstanding individuals and organizations with the Infinite Chess Partners Award by nomination. This recognition celebrates their exceptional contributions to autism awareness and support. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn, share, and make a lasting impact. Register now and be part of a community that believes in the infinite potential of every child! Registration form: https://forms.gle/S3tBkuaziZqNJt6KA