Botswana concludes 2026 National Team Selection Finals in multi-phase championship
The Botswana Chess Federation has successfully concluded its 2026 National Team Selection Finals, culminating a championship defined by competitive integrity, and alignment with the governance standards of the African Chess Confederation and FIDE. Hosted at Yarona Country Lodge, the tournament brought together Botswana’s strongest players in both the Open and Women’s Sections for a demanding and meticulously organised selection process. A rigorous multi-phase qualification battle The championship featured a round-robin format, ensuring that each contender faced every other opponent in their respective section. Beyond its format, the tournament unfolded in several phases, each increasing in intensity. Sustaining performance across multiple phases required endurance, discipline, and elite-level focus. Open Section: Experience reaffirmed, youth rising In the Open Section, Mothudi Arnold Mogotsi emerged as tournament winner after a composed and strategically mature campaign. His performance marks a significant return to the pinnacle of Botswana chess. Joining him are Sebetlela Gaasite, CM Thuto Mpene, and CM Thuso Mosutha, each of whom demonstrated consistency and fighting spirit throughout the contest. The qualification of Gaasite and Mpene, in particular, reflects the continued success of Botswana’s youth development structures and signals a strong generational transition in national chess. The team is further strengthened by the automatic inclusion of the country’s highest-rated player, IM Providence Oatlhotse, whose international experience adds depth and leadership to the squad. Women’s Section: Stability and strategic growth In the Women’s Section, WIM Onkemetse Mendu Francis once again showcased her class and consistency, securing qualification through a strong performance. She will be joined by WCM Maya Otimile, WCM Amolemo Atlang Mosweu, and WCM Laone Phoebe Moshoboro, an ambitious trio whose qualification reflects the steady growth of women’s chess in Botswana. Their achievement marks a significant milestone not only in their individual careers, but also in the broader strengthening of the women’s competitive structure nationally. Completing the team is WFM Natalie Banda, the country’s highest-rated female player, whose presence ensures experience and rating strength across the boards. “The successful completion of the 2026 National Team Selection Championship signifies far more than the announcement of a national squad. It reflects the continued institutional growth of the Botswana Chess Federation, the strength of our transparent and merit-driven qualification framework, and the effectiveness of a clearly defined pathway from youth development to elite national representation. By integrating experienced masters with an ambitious new generation of talent, we are demonstrating both continuity and strategic foresight a model aligned with the development vision of the African Chess Confederation and FIDE. As we prepare for continental and global engagements, Botswana enters the 2026 cycle united, structurally stronger, and firmly focused on delivering competitive excellence on the international stage,” said Kutlwano “Jady” Tatolo President of Botswana Chess Federation Preparing for global and continental engagement The selected teams will represent Botswana at the prestigious Chess Olympiad 2026, to be staged in Uzbekistan. The Olympiad remains the foremost global team chess event, offering nations an opportunity to benchmark progress against the world’s elite while gaining invaluable competitive exposure. In addition, Botswana will host the African Individual Chess Championship 2026 in June. Hosting this flagship continental event underscores Botswana’s growing organisational capacity and its expanding role within African chess structures.
FIDE distributes €37,000 among chess veterans
After carefully reviewing the numerous applications received, the special panel appointed by the FIDE Council has selected seventeen chess players, coaches, and organizers to benefit from FIDE’s 2026 support program for chess veterans: GM Leonid Yudasin (ISR)GM Florin Gheorghiu (ROU) WGM Irina Levitina (USA)IA Boris Postovsky (USA)GM Yehuda Gruenfeld (ISR)IM Vadim Faibisovich (RUS)IM Alexander Lysenko (RUS)Mark Ruderfer (RUS)GM Nikolay Legky (FRA) IM Aleksander Veingold (EST)WIM Ligia Jicman (ROU)FM Yunus Hasan (BAN)FM Danilo Buela Valdespino (CUB)WFM Valeria Dotan (ISR) WIM Lyudmila Aslanian (UKR)WFM Jambaldoo Lkhagva (MGL)Zdenek Zavodny (CZE) A total of €37,000 will be distributed among them. Since the program’s inception twelve years ago, FIDE has allocated nearly €500,000 in support of chess veterans. As in previous years, we will honor these distinguished veterans with brief profiles highlighting their careers and achievements, recognizing their enduring contributions to the game of chess. Leonid Yudasin (ISR) Born in 1959 in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Leonid Yudasin was introduced to chess by his father, a strong amateur player. His progress was steady rather than rapid. Yudasin’s early career in the Soviet Union unfolded amid significant personal challenges, including discrimination and expulsion from university due to antisemitism. In 1981, he qualified for the USSR Championship; a year later, he was awarded the title of International Master, and in 1984, he won the championship of his native city. Yudasin became a joint winner of the 1990 USSR Championship alongside Alexander Beliavsky, Evgeny Bareev, and Alexey Vyzmanavin. Beliavsky claimed the title on tiebreak, while Yudasin took silver. That same year, he earned an individual bronze medal and a team gold medal at the Chess Olympiad in Novi Sad, playing for the Soviet Union. In 1994 and again in 1996, he represented Israel at the Olympiads in Moscow and Yerevan, respectively. Yudasin qualified for the Candidates cycle twice. In 1990, he tied for fifth place at the Manila Interzonal but lost to Vassily Ivanchuk in the Round of 16. Three years later, he qualified again after finishing sixth at the 1993 Biel Interzonal, only to be eliminated by Vladimir Kramnik in the quarterfinals. His standout international result came at León 1993, where he won ahead of Alexey Vyzmanavin, Veselin Topalov, Anatoly Karpov, and a young Peter Lékó. His tournament victories include Leningrad 1989, Calcutta 1990, Pamplona 1990/91 (and jointly in 1991/92 with Miguel Illescas), Dos Hermanas 1992, the Botvinnik Memorial 1995, the Haifa Super Tournament 1996, and St. Petersburg White Knights 1998. At Reggio Emilia, he tied for first with Dimitri Komarov in 1997/98 (ceding the title on tiebreak) and won outright in 1999/2000. In 2002, he tied for first at the U.S. Masters Chess Championship. Yudasin lived in Israel for many years and was twice Israeli champion, winning in Tel Aviv (1994) and Jerusalem (1996). He has won tournaments across the United States and placed second at the 1990 U.S. Open and the 2001 World Open in Pennsylvania. Since 2002, he has resided primarily in New York, frequently competing in the weekly Masters tournament at the Marshall Chess Club. In 2004, he won a strong tournament in Montreal, Canada. He is also a coach and director of the Brooklyn Chess Academy. Among his notable former students are Varuzhan Akobian, Maurice Ashley, Irina Krush, and Jennifer Shahade. Yudasin authored the monumental historical-philosophical work The Millenary Chess Myth (2004). Florin Gheorghiu (ROU) Photo: Alexandru Dolea Florin Gheorghiu stands as Romania’s most accomplished chess player and the nation’s first Grandmaster. Born in Bucharest in 1944, he rose to international prominence by winning the World Junior Chess Championship in 1963. A nine-time Romanian National Champion, Gheorghiu represented his country in 14 Chess Olympiads between 1962 and 1990, primarily on top board. His career peak arrived in 1980, when he reached world No. 10 with an Elo rating of 2605 – a record unmatched by any other Romanian player. Among his notable international achievements are three consecutive U.S. Open titles (1979–1981) and a historic victory over Bobby Fischer at the 1966 Havana Olympiad. After retiring from competitive play with a final FIDE rating of 2367, Gheorghiu remains celebrated as one of Romania’s greatest chess figures. Beyond competition, Florin Gheorghiu has made a lasting contribution to chess culture through his books and writings, culminating in his most recent volume, Art in Chess and in Life, a reflective volume that blends elite-level analysis with personal insights from more than four decades at the highest level of the game. Irina Levitina (USA) Photo: World Chess Hall of Fame / Austin Fuller Irina Levitina is a distinguished Woman Grandmaster (awarded 1976) whose career spans more than five decades at the highest levels of international chess. While also recognized as an elite bridge player, her enduring legacy lies in competitive chess –particularly her campaigns in the Women’s World Championship cycle – and her decades of coaching and mentorship. Born in 1954 in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Levitina began playing chess seriously around age ten. Her formal training commenced at the Pioneers Palace in her hometown under the guidance of Master Byvshev. Later she worked with Master Kondratiev, and GM Furman (coach of the 12th World Champion, Anatoly Karpov). She progressed rapidly, winning the USSR Girls’ Championship in 1969. Two years later, she claimed the USSR Women’s Championship title in 1971—a feat she repeated in 1978, 1979, and 1981. Her pursuit of the women’s world championship culminated in a title match against Maia Chiburdanidze in 1984, which Levitina lost. She also played a pivotal role in the Soviet Union’s Chess Olympiad successes, contributing to gold medal victories from 1972 to 1984. After emigrating to the United States in 1990, Levitina became U.S. Women’s Champion in 1991 (jointly), 1992, and 1993 (jointly). As a co-founder and coach at the International Chess Academy (ICA), Levitina has mentored numerous students to expert and master strength. Her coaching emphasizes tournament preparation, strategic understanding, and long-term player development. In 2024, Irina Levitina was inducted into the World Chess Hall of Fame. Boris Postovsky (USA) Photo: Maria Emelianova Born in 1937 in Moscow,
Magnus Carlsen wins 2026 FIDE Freestyle World Championship
Magnus Carlsen (Norway) is the 2026 FIDE Freestyle Chess World Champion. A draw in the fourth and final game against Fabiano Caruana (USA) was enough to seal a 2.5–1.5 match victory in Weissenhaus, Germany. The decisive moment came in game three. Carlsen won from a dead lost position, turning the match in his favor. Entering the final game, he needed only a draw and achieved it in an equal endgame after Caruana missed late chances to mount a comeback. Both finalists qualified for the 2027 FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship. The 2026 tournament marks the first official FIDE-recognized Freestyle Chess World Championship. World number one Carlsen had previously attempted to win the FIDE Fischer Random World Championship without success. In Weissenhaus, he secured the official FIDE Freestyle Chess title – his 21st world title across formats. In the match for third place, Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan) defeated Vincent Keymer (Germany). Abdusattorov secured the match by drawing a winning position in the final game, also ensuring qualification for the 2027 championship. Hans Niemann (USA) took fifth place with a 2–0 victory over Arjun Erigaisi (India), while Levon Aronian (USA) won his Armageddon against Javokhir Sindarov (Uzbekistan) to take seventh place. In the women’s exhibition match, Bibisara Assaubayeva (Kazakhstan) prevailed over Alexandra Kosteniuk (Switzerland) after winning the third game and drawing the fourth. Key facts: Location: Weissenhaus, Germany Dates: February 13–15, 2026 Prize fund: $300,000 Winner’s prize: $100,000 Top three qualify for 2027 A full report is available [HERE]. Written by Till Behrend Photos: Lennart Ootes and Steve Bonhage / Freestyle Chess Official website: https://www.freestyle-chess.com/
Carlsen and Caruana reach FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship Final
Magnus Carlsen will face Fabiano Caruana in the final of the 2026 FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship. Both grandmasters advanced through the semifinals on Saturday. World number one Magnus Carlsen now has the chance to claim a 21st world title. The Norwegian defeated Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan) 3–1, taking control of the match in the decisive phases and closing it out over four games. Caruana (USA) overcame German Vincent Keymer 2½–1½, converting an early lead and holding firm under pressure. Both younger semifinalists had chances during their matches, but the experienced opponents prevailed in critical moments. The final will determine the first FIDE-recognized Freestyle Chess World Champion under the federation’s official framework. By reaching the final, Carlsen and Caruana have secured qualification for the 2027 FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship. The third and final qualification spot will be decided in the third-place match between Abdusattorov and Keymer. In the lower bracket, Hans Niemann beat Levon Aronian 2½–1½, while Arjun Erigaisi defeated Javokhir Sindarov 3–1. Niemann and Erigaisi will play for fifth place, with Aronian and Sindarov contesting seventh. The women’s exhibition match between Bibisara Assaubayeva and Alexandra Kosteniuk is level at 1–1 after two games of their best-of-four encounter. The championship concludes on Sunday with the final and placement matches. A full report is available [HERE]. Photos: Lennart Ootes and Steve Bonhage / Freestyle Chess Official website: https://www.freestyle-chess.com/
FIDE Freestyle World Championship: Carlsen, Keymer, Caruana and Abdusattorov contenders for the title
Qualification race remained open until the end in round-robin tournament Magnus Carlsen, Vincent Keymer, Fabiano Caruana and Nodirbek Abdusattorov have qualified for the semifinals of the FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship and remain in contention for the 2026 world title. The four secured their places after the completion of the seven-round rapid round-robin on Friday in Weissenhaus, Germany. Carlsen won the round robin with 4.5 points out of 7 games. Keymer, Caruana and Abdusattorov each finished on 4 points. Hans Niemann scored 3.5, Arjun Erigaisi 3, while Javokhir Sindarov and Levon Aronian concluded the day on 2 points. Qualification remained undecided until the final round, with several players still in contention and even the possibility of a four-way tie on 4 points. Only after the last results were confirmed did the semifinal field become definitive. Freestyle Chess returned to Weissenhaus in Northern Germany once again in early February, with more at stake than ever before. This year, a cooperation with FIDE means that the official world title is at stake alongside a prize fund of $300,000 and three spots for the 2027 world championship cycle. Now renamed Freestyle Chess, which might appeal to a wider audience, the Chess960 world championship was last held in 2022 when Hikaru Nakamura won the title. The American grandmaster chose not to defend his title and focus on the upcoming Candidates Tournament instead, but his successor will surely be a worthy champion as well. A single-day round-robin of seven rounds was the traditional opener on Friday and delivered four semifinalists who are still in contention: Carlsen, Caruana, Keymer, and Abdusattorov. Especially after his victory of the 2025 Freestyle Grand Slam Chess Tour in South Africa, there is no doubt who is the favorite once again: Magnus Carlsen. “I like the fact that it’s cut-throat and it’s not going to be easy to come through for anybody,” was what Carlsen said about it at the press conference ahead of today’s opening day. It should be noted that a world title in this format of chess is one of the few trophies still missing in his cabinet. The Norwegian star, sporting a moustache in Weissenhaus, has often appeared rusty and had some bumpy starts in these round-robin tournaments during the 2025 Tour, but not this time. He seemed fully warmed up from the start, perhaps because he was making the rounds on social media the other day in a cute video in which he played chess with his wife Ella. Starting with two draws and three wins out of the first five rounds, Carlsen was a point ahead of the field and virtually certain of qualification with two rounds to spare. The tournament was a seven-round rapid event with games of 10 minutes and a five-second increment, and a new starting position for each round. It started with the always interesting clash between Carlsen and Hans Niemann. The American GM had entered the tournament as a wildcard and against Carlsen he was under pressure but got away with a draw. FIDE World Cup winner Javokhir Sindarov played quite well in the next round and was close to holding Carlsen to a draw as well, until the latter found an extraordinary checkmate idea deep in a rook endgame: In this objectively equal endgame, Sindarov played 49…b4??, missing White’s treat. Something like 49…a5 would have led to a draw: 50.bxa5 Kxa5 51.Kf4 c5 52.Ke5 d4 53.cxd4 cxd4 54.Kxd4 b5 55.Ke5 Kb4and Black is in time with the counterplay. 50.g8=Q! Javokhir instantly realized that taking the queen is met by 51.Rxb7 checkmate and so he resigned. 1–0 Another player who had a good start was Caruana, who won his first two games and then drew his next two. The all-American clash ended in his favor as Niemann followed the wrong strategy of material vs. dynamics, as was noted by commentator Judit Polgar. (It’s a joy once again to have the star of the recently launched Netflix documentary Queen of Chess being part of our commentary team once again, alongside Peter Leko, David Howell, Tania Sachdev and James “Dash” Patterson.) Levon Aronian, the winner of the Las Vegas leg of last year’s Tour, had an unfortunate first day and didn’t make it into the top four. He called it “a day of blundering,” and explained that he was out of practice because he hadn’t played chess for two months. After spoiling a winning position in the fist round, he had a similar experience against Carlsen in the third, losing a promising endgame. Arjun Erigaisi had the wildest tournament of them all: he didn’t draw a single game today. The Indian GM, who is the highest rated player of his country and the world number five in classical chess, was the only player to beat Carlsen, in round six. He didn’t just beat him, he crushed him. It was one of the few games where the engine showed an evaluation “better for White” from start to finish, and the eval bar just went up and up. Very impressive. Vincent Keymer, the splendid winner of Weissenhaus a year ago, started well again on home soil. The German GM qualified with a round to spare after beating Caruana in a very nice game in round six. There was a brief moment where the latter missed a draw, but otherwise, Keymer was fully in control. 29…Rdxe5?? Black had to focus on counterplay on the second rank: 29…Rc5! 30.b6 Rcc2 and White cannot avoid a perpetual. After the move played Black was doomed: 30.b6 Re1+ 31.Rxe1 Rxe1+32.Kf2 Rb1 33.a5 Kf7 34.Be3 Ke6 35.a6 1–0 A wounded Caruana now had to face Carlsen-killer Arjun in the final round, who was also still in contention. As it turned out, both players absolutely needed to win this game to make it into the top four, and it was the highly experienced American grandmaster who pulled it off. This time, Arjun was on the wrong side of a one-sided game; he never got a chance after some early mistakes in the opening. Caruana and Keymer finished on 4/7, half a point behind Carlsen, and there
FIDE and Freestyle Chess launch World Championship at Weissenhaus
Weissenhaus, February 13, 2026 – The FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship 2026 was officially launched at Weissenhaus today. Eight of the world’s leading grandmasters begin their campaign for the title under the joint staging of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and Freestyle Chess. The championship places the Freestyle format within the official FIDE World Championship framework and establishes a direct qualification pathway for the next cycle. With the 2026 world title, $300,000 in prize money and three qualification spots for 2027 at stake, the event carries both immediate sporting pressure and long-term consequence. The winner receives $100,000, while the top three finishers qualify directly for the FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship 2027. Structure and legitimacy In the opening press conference, Freestyle Chess co-founder Jan Henric Buettner described the launch as the culmination of the format’s development alongside FIDE. “We are proud of what we have achieved together,” Buettner said. He noted that the world championship brings together the best possible players and represents a condensed structure in which “each day is extremely important.” Buettner also addressed the inclusion of the women’s exhibition match, referencing long-standing advocacy from former world-class player and Freestyle Chess commentator Judit Polgar for stronger competitive integration. He confirmed that the winner of the exhibition match will qualify for the future FIDE Women’s Freestyle Chess World Championship, as part of the developing pathway for the women’s cycle. Carlsen and the stakes of the title Among the contenders are Magnus Carlsen and Vincent Keymer. Carlsen, who arrives at Weissenhaus after winning the 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, described the format as “cutthroat” and said he was “grateful for the opportunity.” Carlsen noted: “It’s not easy to come through for anybody. I hope it’s going to be me.” Should Carlsen prevail, he would add the Freestyle world title to his record and claim what would be recognized as his 21st world championship title across formats. Keymer echoed the competitive assessment. “Like Magnus, I will try to win,” he said, while agreeing that the format leaves little margin. “You never know. Magnus has to be the favourite – he wins most top events – but for sure it’s not going to be easy for him.” FIDE oversight Representing the federation, FIDE Technical Delegate Pavel Tregubov described Freestyle as “a challenging new format” and said the championship would serve as a test at the highest level. “This is the beginning of a tradition. Let’s see how it develops,” he said. Tregubov emphasized that FIDE considers the title on par with other official championships. “We value this title like all other championship titles. We take it very seriously,” he stated, calling it “a high-level event.” He added that the federation is determined to develop the format further, noting that earlier editions under a different name had already shown that “the players like it.” Elite field, demanding format The three-day tournament opens with a rapid round-robin at 10 minutes plus five seconds increment. The top four advance to the knockout stage. Semi-finals and the Final are played as best-of-four matches at 25 minutes plus 10 seconds increment, while matches for fifth and seventh place are best-of-two. If tied, an Armageddon game determines the winner. For each round, the starting position is drawn at random, with classical position 518 excluded. All simultaneous games begin from the same setup. The format removes established opening theory and demands calculation and adaptability from move one. Women’s exhibition match Alongside the main championship, Weissenhaus will host a women’s exhibition match on February 14 and 15 featuring former Women’s World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk and reigning Women’s World Blitz Champion Bibisara Assaubayeva. The best-of-four match will be played at 25 minutes plus 10 seconds increment, with Armageddon if required. The exhibition is positioned as a precursor to a future FIDE Women’s Freestyle Chess World Championship. The championship is broadcast globally via digital streaming platforms with live commentary and daily coverage. Photos: Freestyle Chess / Lennart Ootes and Stev Bonhage Hock und Partner – Beratungsgesellschaft für Marketing und Kommunikation mbH Till Behrend Rothenbaumchaussee 1 D-20148 Hamburg T: +49 (0) 40 413 228-0 M: +49 (0) 151 4231 7721 t.behrend@hock-partner.de media@freestyle-chess.com www.freestyle-chess.com
Cuban Championship: Lelys Martinez wins maiden national title
GM Lelys Martinez emerged as the winner of the 2026 Cuban National Championship, claiming his first national title. The Absolute National Chess Championship, a nine-round Swiss event with classical time control, was held at the Girasol Hotel in Havana from February 4–12. Seventh seed Martinez seized the lead after Round 4, but three rounds later, four players – including Jorge Roberto Elías – caught up with him to tie for first place. In Round 8, the future champion scored a crucial victory over IM Michel Díaz Pérez and surged ahead as all his rivals drew their games. Going into the final round a half-point ahead of three of his closest rivals, Martinez defeated IM Daniel Hidalgo with the Black pieces to secure the title with 7/9. Meanwhile, Ermes Espinosa prevailed over FM César Alejandro Pérez to take silver, finishing half a point behind the champion. The 2025 champion, Jorge Roberto Elías, rounded out the podium with bronze, scoring 6/9. Final standings (chess-results) Photos: Federación Cubana de Ajedrez Facebook
Join the Global Celebration of Women and Girls in Chess!
March is a time to celebrate women, and what better way to do so than through chess? Following a strong and inspiring first global Chess Women’s Day Celebration last year, the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess once again invites federations, clubs, and organizers around the world to take part in this shared initiative throughout March, the Chess Women’s Day Celebration: Visible, Connected, Worldwide. This year’s theme, “Visible, Connected, Worldwide” reflects what we aim to achieve together: increasing the visibility of chess events celebrating women and girls, strengthening connections between local communities and organisers across continents, and highlighting the many fantastic projects happening worldwide. Every event counts. By making these efforts visible and connected, we strengthen their impact and remind each other that we are part of something truly global. Are you planning a chess event in March to celebrate women and girls? Whether it’s a tournament, a mixed or women-focused event, a simultaneous exhibition, a lecture, a workshop, or any special gathering – we want to hear about it! By joining this global celebration, your event becomes part of a worldwide network of activities, all united by a common goal: to bring people together through chess and to make women and girls more visible within our chess communities. The strength of this initiative lies in its diversity – many events, many voices, one shared moment. Last year demonstrated the power of this collective effort. This year, we hope to build on that energy and create even more impact – together. How to get involved: Plan a chess event celebrating women and girls Let us know about it by reaching out to us and tagging our social media Join a global celebration promoting women in chess Contact us to be part of the Chess Women’s Day Celebration. Together, we can increase visibility, strengthen connections, and inspire more women and girls to take part in chess around the world. For more details and to share your event with us, please contact: anna.kantane@gmail.com Find us on our social media: Instagram and Facebook. FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess official website: https://wom.fide.com/
Estonian Team Championships: Diagonaal repeats victory, Kaksikodad claims overall crown
Photo: Karl Erik Olde The 2026 Estonian Chess Team Championships concluded in Tallinn this past weekend. Held from February 6–8 at the Paul Keres Chess House, the competition featured fourteen teams in the Open tournament and four in the Women’s section. MK Kaksikodad (pictured below) claimed first place in the combined standings, lifting the club’s historic traveling trophy – established in 1991 – for the first time. Kaksikodad shared first place in the Women’s tournament and finished third in the Open. SK Reval-Sport, which had won the cup the two previous years, did not participate. Photo: Photo: Karl Erik Olde SK Diagonaal (pictured on the top) won the Open event for the second consecutive year, scoring nine match points out of ten. Their lineup included Estonia’s top-rated player, GM Aleksandr Volodin, along with Dmitri Petrov, Valeri Golubenko, Vyacheslav Koop, and Andrei Skladtshikov. The runner-up, Tonu Truusi MKK, netted an equal amount of match points but finished half a game point behind the champions. Their team featured International Masters Sergei Zjukin and Andrei Shishkov, FIDE Master Ilja Haitin, Marti Medar, and Georg Abozenko. Third place went to the first team of MK Kaksikodad (FIDE Master Oliver Wartiovaara, Georg Aleksander Pedoson, Candidate Masters Tormi Kull and Daniil Shnurov, Aaron Rajandu, Markus Hansson, and Karl Kristofer Orgse). Final standings – Open Photo: Markus Hansson In the Women’s tournament, three teams shared first place, each scoring four match points out of six and finishing equal on all tie-break criteria. As a result, the titles were awarded to MK Vektor (Women’s FIDE Master Sofia Blokhin, Maria Helena Rudiger, and Alexis Miriam Reren), MK Kaksikodad (Woman Candidate Master Maria Ioanna Haapsal and Leelo Mia Thimm), and Tallinna MK (Women International Masters Margareth Olde – the reigning Estonian Women’s Champion – and Margit Brokko, along with Woman Candidate Master Grete Olde), which had won the Women’s tournament in the previous two years. Final standings – Women Estonian Chess Federation’s website: https://maleliit.ee/
Teacher training in Eritrea lays foundation for future chess talent
The Eritrean National Chess Federation (ENCF) has taken a significant step in strengthening grassroots chess development through a teacher training programme held from February 2-6, 2026. The course trained educators to coach junior and high school students. The five-day course focused on equipping educators with the practical coaching skills, age-appropriate training methods and the effective ways to introduce chess within school environments. Sessions were highly interactive, combining theory with hands-on activities designed to make learning engaging and accessible for young players. Participants described the training as both informative and enjoyable, noting its emphasis on creativity, critical thinking and student engagement. Beyond technical instruction, the programme also highlighted chess as a tool for education, discipline and character development. Officials from the ENCF said the initiative is part of a long-term strategy to build a sustainable pipeline of players by investing in coaches at the school level. With a growing pool of trained and motivated teachers, the federation is confident the impact will be felt in the near future. “Now that we have devoted and well-prepared coaches, we are confident that strong players will emerge within the next two to three years,” an ENCF official noted. The training programme represents a major milestone for chess development in Eritrea, laying a solid foundation for future national talent and reinforcing the federation’s commitment to structured, school-based chess growth.