Fabiano Caruana crowned winner of 2025 Grand Chess Tour Finals and overall GCT champion
Fabiano Caruana emerged victorious at the 2025 Grand Chess Tour Finals, defeating Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in an exciting final by a score of 15–13. The champion took home a $150,000 first prize. The 2025 Grand Chess Tour Finals, featuring a $350,000 prize fund, took place from September 26 to October 3 at the WTC Events Center in São Paulo, Brazil. For the first time in history, the event was held in Latin America. The 2025 edition followed a single-elimination knockout format with mixed time controls (2 classical games, 2 rapid games, and 4 blitz games) and the following points distribution: Classical games: 6 points for a win, 3 for a draw, 0 for a loss Rapid games: 4 points for a win, 2 for a draw, 0 for a loss Blitz games: 2 points for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss Both semifinal matches — Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs. Praggnanandhaa R. and Fabiano Caruana vs. Levon Aronian — were decided in the faster time controls after all four classical games ended in draws. After a series of draws, Caruana won the third blitz game, which earned him a spot in the final. In the other semifinal, Vachier-Lagrave took the lead by winning the first rapid game, but Praggnanandhaa narrowed the gap by prevailing in the second blitz encounter. However, the Frenchman shattered his opponent’s hopes by taking the third blitz game and advancing to the final. The final match also turned into a thrilling battle in the rapid and blitz segments. After winning the first rapid game and drawing the second, MVL — a renowned blitz specialist — entered the blitz portion of the match with confidence, but Caruana had plans of his own. Somewhat unexpectedly, the American pulled off three straight wins, and sealed the title with a draw in the fourth blitz game. In the match for third place, Aronian convincingly defeated Praggnanandhaa by a score of 20–8. 2025 GCT FINALS RESULTS POSITION NAME COUNTRY PRIZE MONEY 1 GM Fabiano Caruana USA $150,000 2 GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave FRA $100,000 3 GM Levon Aronian USA $60,000 4 GM Praggnanandhaa R. IND $40,000 “The final game had its own share of drama, but I hope the fans got enjoyment from watching the action,” said Caruana. “It’s an honor to win the 2025 GCT. It’s so prestigious and difficult, especially in match play. I’m thrilled I was able to win this year’s Finals.” “Congratulations to GM Fabiano Caruana on winning this year’s GCT,” said Rex Sinquefield, co-founder of the Saint Louis Chess Club. “Saint Louis was proud to host two exciting legs of the Tour, and we can’t wait to welcome the chess world back next year in our newly expanded club.” “Congratulations to GM Fabiano Caruana on winning the GCT 2025 Finals, and to all players for their incredible performances. For us, helping bring the Tour to São Paulo was a unique opportunity to boost chess in the region. We hope it inspires people of all ages and backgrounds to play chess more, dream big, and achieve greatness,” said Augusta Dragic, President of the Superbet Foundation. Photos: Lennart Ootes and Eric Rosen Official website: grandchesstour.org/
FIDE World Cup 2025: Round one pairings revealed
The Round One pairings for the 2025 FIDE World Cup in Goa have been released, unveiling a slate of exciting early matchups. While most top seeds are automatically placed into Round 2, the opening round still promises compelling encounters as 156 players battle to advance in this elite knockout event. The tournament features 206 participants and serves as a crucial qualifier for the 2026 Candidates Tournament. The top three finishers in Goa will earn direct spots in that highly exclusive competition — putting immense pressure on every round. A detailed tournament preview will be published closer to the November 1st start date. However, the full list of wildcards, host nominees, and last-minute replacements already deserves special attention. The inclusion of some fantastic rising stars and replacements, ensures a dynamic and unpredictable start to the championship. President Dvorkovich’s wildcards While wildcard invitations represent a small fraction of the overall field, they often spotlight the future stars of the game. Nevertheless, the wildcards—special invitations granted outside the standard qualification paths—make up only a small fraction of the 206-player field. “FIDE always works hard to find ways to give talented players a chance to improve and make their mark. The decision to award invites to these five players is based on a mix of recent performance, high-level potential and their contribution to the sport,” FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said. The wildcard list leans heavily toward youth, featuring promising talents such as GM’s Mishra, Woodward and Oro, and also a very young World Rapid Champion, GM Murzin. By spotlighting young and emerging players, FIDE is clearly using the wildcard system as a developmental tool—investing in future stars and encouraging their continued growth on the world stage. “The World Cup is one of the most difficult and most exciting chess events, given its knockout format, and will be a great opportunity for these players to show their best facing the best,” Dvorkovich added. Let’s take a quick look at the six wildcard invitees—each a rising talent or notable figure who adds depth and intrigue to the 2025 FIDE World Cup line-up. Kirill Alekseenko (Austria) Photo: Mark Livshitz Born in 1997, Kirill Alekseenko is a seasoned grandmaster who began representing Austria in 2023. A GM since 2015, Alekseenko made headlines by breaking into the 2700+ rating club after finishing third in the 2019 FIDE Grand Swiss, a result that earned him a wildcard to the 2020 Candidates Tournament. With a wealth of top-level experience, Alekseenko remains a formidable presence on the circuit. He has recently posted strong performances in several Spanish Open events and is currently one of the highest-rated players not directly qualified for the 2025 World Cup. According to FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky, Alekseenko was awarded a wildcard because he was unable to participate in the Grand Swiss in Samarkand due to “circumstances beyond his control.” Given his proven calibre, awarding him a spot was seen as a fair and justified decision. Aleksey Grebnev (FIDE) Photo: Vivian Passig Playing under the FIDE flag, Aleksey Grebnev, born in 2006, claimed his place by defeating fellow prodigy, French Grandmaster Marc’Andria Maurizzi, in a two-game classical match held a few days ago in Serbia. The win earned him the last of the six wildcard invitations, all selected by FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich. Grebnev’s trajectory has been nothing short of meteoric. He captured the World Under-18 Championship in 2023, followed by the Asian Junior title in 2024, and most recently triumphed at the Dubai Open. With a current FIDE rating of 2611, the 19-year-old is poised to make a serious impact in Goa. In Grebnev’s case, the selection recognizes both his consistent results and his potential to challenge the world’s best on the biggest stages. Abhimanyu Mishra (USA) Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE Born in 2009 in New Jersey, Abhimanyu Mishra is an American grandmaster widely regarded as one of the most exceptional young talents in global chess. Currently rated 2652, Mishra made history in June 2021 by becoming the youngest grandmaster of all time at just 12 years, 4 months, and 25 days, surpassing the long-standing record held by Sergey Karjakin. Mishra continues to break new ground. At the FIDE Grand Swiss in Samarkand last month, he defeated reigning World Champion GM D. Gukesh in a gruelling 61-move classical game—becoming the youngest player ever to beat a sitting world champion in a classical format. That landmark victory, along with a series of strong performances throughout the tournament, propelled Mishra into the FIDE Top 100, underlining his credentials as a genuine contender among the world’s top juniors and a rising force on the elite circuit. Volodar Murzin (FIDE) Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE Born in 2006 in Nizhny Tagil, Russia, Volodar Murzin has emerged as one of the brightest young chess talents in recent years. He first gained international attention by winning the European Youth U12 Championship in 2018, followed by a national triumph at the 2020 Russian Junior Championship. Murzin earned the grandmaster title in 2022, but his breakout moment on the world stage came in 2024, when he captured the World Rapid Chess Championship in New York, finishing with an unbeaten score of 10/13. Along the way, he defeated elite players such as Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, and Jan-Krzysztof Duda—a feat that cemented his status as a rising star among the game’s elite. With a current classical rating of 2664, Murzin is now approaching the global top 50, and his rapid ascent makes him a player to watch closely at the 2025 FIDE World Cup. Faustino Oro (Argentina) Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE Born in 2013 in Buenos Aires, Faustino Oro is an Argentine chess prodigy already being hailed as “the Messi of chess.” He began playing in 2020, during the pandemic, and quickly drew global attention by reaching a FIDE rating of 2300 at just 9 years old—the youngest player ever to do so at the time. In June 2024, Oro broke another record by becoming the youngest International Master in history, earning the
Second International Congress on School Chess announced
The CCA – FIDE America and the Cuban Chess Federation (FCA) are pleased to invite you to the Second International Congress on School Chess held as a part of the 11th International Convention on Physical Activity and Sports (AFIDE 2025). Event details: Venue: Palace of Conventions, Havana, Cuba Format: Hybrid (on-site and virtual) Schedule: November 10, 2025 – Arrival and accreditation November 11, 2025 – Opening and presentations 10:00 a.m. – Official opening 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Paper presentations November 12, 2025 – Working sessions 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Morning session 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Afternoon session November 13, 2025 – Special activities 10:00 a.m. – Simultaneous exhibition at the Sports City 1:30 p.m. – Lunch 2:30 p.m. – Visit to the ISLA Study Center 3:30 m. – 4:00 p.m. – Transfer to the National Youth Sports School (ESPA) 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Guided tour at the National Youth Sports School (ESPA) November 14, 2025 – Closing Ceremony Special participation: WGM Dana Reizniece-Ozola – Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board and Deputy President of the European Chess Union. Jose Carrillo Pujols – President of the Chess Confederation of the Americas. Rita Atkins – Secretary of the FIDE Chess in Education Commission. IM Mauricio Arias – Chair of the FIDE America Chess in Education Commission Who can participate? Teachers, assistants, coaches, athletes, arbiters, journalists, students, organizers, and anyone interested in understanding and promoting chess in the educational field, from preschool to university level. The registration fee includes: Access to conferences, presentations, expert panels, poster sessions, the exhibition fair, and associated events (except those convened exclusively for members of the organizing institutions) Access to accepted papers, published with an ISBN in the event’s summary book (AFIDE 2025) Certificate of participation (1 academic credit). For those presenting a paper: certificate of authorship (2 academic credits), delivered via email Modes of participation On-site: 5 minutes for presentation + 5 minutes for audience questions Streaming: 10 minutes live connection and 5 minutes for audience questions Recording: Pre-recorded presentation with a maximum duration of 10 minutes Invitation letter: English, PDF; Spanish, PDF AFIDE official website: afide.inder.gob.cu/
Iniyan P wins Indian Chess Championship 2025
Panneerselvam Iniyan emerged as the winner of the 2025 Indian Chess Championship, edging out Goutham Krishna on tiebreak to claim his maiden national title. The 62nd National Chess Championship, an 11-round Swiss tournament with classical time control, took place at Vignan University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, from September 21 to October 1. Although the event did not attract all of India’s top players, it still boasted a massive field of 394 participants, including 14 GMs and 30 IMs. Top seed Iniyan P entered the competition as one of the pre-tournament favorites, but his path to the title was far from straightforward. Trailing the leaders for most of the way, he faced sole leader Krishnan Sasikiran in the penultimate round. In a game of paramount importance to both players, Iniyan seized his opportunity when Sasikiran faltered in a drawn endgame, failing to find the only move that would have secured a half-point. Heading into the final round half a point ahead of four rivals, Iniyan drew with Abhijeet Gupta and clinched the title with 9/11. Despite winning his last-round game and catching Iniyan, Goutham Krishna had to settle for silver due to an inferior Buchholz (the first tiebreak criterion). With this victory, Iniyan now holds the Indian National Champion title in both Classical and Rapid chess, having previously won the rapid championship in March 2025. As many as six players tied for third on 8½/11, with Sasikiran taking bronze on tiebreaks. Final standings (chess-results) Photos: Shahid Ahmed Official website: apchess.org/
11th Judit Polgar’s Global Chess Festival draws thousands
The 11th Judit Polgar’s Global Chess Festival was held with extraordinary interest this year at the Hungarian National Gallery. The celebration of chess attracted thousands of visitors, who could choose from thirty different programs in line with the festival’s triple motto: play, inspire, experience. Each year, this international event seeks to present the diversity of chess, its cultural values, and its community-building power in a unique format and setting. One of this year’s novelties was the RubikChess competition, where fifty young mixed pairs tested their skills. The unusual combination of the two games sparked great interest, and registrations quickly filled up. Seeing the success of the event, it is not unlikely that RubikChess will become a permanent program of the festival in the future. The FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess was proud to support the launch of the RubikChess competition, recognizing its unique emphasis on teamwork, creativity, and gender equality. With each team composed of one girl and one boy, the format reflects the Commission’s mission to create opportunities where talent knows no gender and collaboration strengthens performance. The presence of Commission Chairwoman Anastasia Sorokina, who also presented prizes to young talents at the festival, further underlined FIDE WOM’s commitment to initiatives that inspire the next generation and promote inclusion in chess. The festival also featured a special performance of Queen’s Trap by Chilean artist Juga, an audiovisual project developed in cooperation with the Commission, celebrating the power and creativity of women in chess. Thanks to the online broadcast, hundreds of thousands followed the Community Simul, in which Judit Polgar played simultaneously on six boards against teams joining from different parts of the world — including the interactive digital learning platform Chessable and ChessIsForEveryone, along with a group led by a former world chessboxing champion. Among younger audiences, the technological innovations showcasing the future of chess were especially popular. Highlights included the world’s first AI-powered chess robot capable of moving real pieces, and the magical GoChess board where the pieces move independently. “For me, chess has always been about creation, discovery, and courage. These values are also reflected in my festival. I want to inspire the audience to step outside the usual boundaries and explore how many opportunities the game offers — not only on the board, but in life as well,” said Judit Polgár, founder and organizer of the Global Chess Festival. Throughout the day, the festival audience enjoyed a wide range of special programs. On the Morgan Stanley stage, The Invisible Chess Game was presented, featuring Judit Polgár and her former teammate, Olympic silver medalist grandmaster Peter Ács, playing on a visual installation board designed by Samuel Havadtőy. Another historic highlight was the first-ever live human–robot chess match, in which young Hungarian chess talent Gellért Karácsonyi faced off against the SenseRobot. “This year’s Global Chess Festival once again showed how play can connect people across borders, generations, and cultures. It was truly inspiring to see our Morgan Stanley colleagues demonstrate at the chessboard the same creativity and strategic thinking that defines our everyday work in areas such as technology, risk management, and financial modeling. For us, supporting the festival was not only about celebrating chess, but also about fostering new connections and communities,” said Dániel Mayer, Head of Morgan Stanley’s Budapest office. Competitive chess enthusiasts also found their place at the festival: the Play on the Square chess tournament was included in the program, while the Let’s Chess! workshops, led by International Master Ármin Juhász, provided opportunities to develop strategic thinking and deepen analytical skills. Visitors could also enjoy thrilling matches against renowned masters in the Challenge the Master! event. In addition to the chess experience, museum educators of the Hungarian National Gallery enriched the day with thematic guided tours, allowing visitors to experience the worlds of art and chess together. Since 2015, the Judit Polgar’s Global Chess Festival has been held annually, bringing the values of chess to millions worldwide. Beyond promoting the sport, the event builds bridges between cultures, generations, and communities through the universal language of chess. This year’s festival once again proved that chess is not merely a game, but an experience that inspires, connects, and brings joy to all ages. Results:RUBIK CHESS: Luca Miklós – Jan Marco Albers (Egyházaskozár-Bikali Primary School) (5/4.5 points) Hanna Miklós – Ádám Dunai (Egyházaskozár-Bikali Primary School) (4.5) Tábita Dan – Bálint Mázsár (Egyházaskozár-Bikali Primary School) (4) Detailed results: chess-results.com/tnr1263763.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=5&SNode=S0 Community Simultaneous:Each of the six communities was defeated by Judit Polgár. Chess on the Square Tournament: Máté Pápai (5/5 points) András Ilkó-Tóth (4.5) Róbert Major (4.5) Pavel Capek (4.5) Erik Czikiollai (4) Mihály Puskás (4) Best U16 Girl: with 4/5 points, Sofi Lytvynenko (8 years old).The prize was presented by Anastasia Sorokina, Chairwoman of the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess (WOM). Best U16 Boy: Máté Pápai (5/5 points) Detailed results: s1.chess-results.com/tnr1263717.aspx?lan=1 Programmes: globalchessfestival.com/index.php/en/
FIDE October 2025 Rating List: Zhu Jiner climbs to #2, Anish Giri returns to top 10 Open
The October 2025 FIDE rating list was primarily shaped by the FIDE Grand Swiss, the Women’s Grand Swiss, and the inaugural Fujairah Global Chess Championships. These competitions triggered notable changes in the top 100 of both the Open and Women’s rankings. Zhu Jiner soared to the world #2 spot following her excellent performance at the Fujairah Global Chess Championships – Superstars, where she earned 21 rating points and reached a career-high. Aleksandra Goryachkina and Divya Deshmukh the only two female players in the FIDE Grand Swiss impressed in this competition. Goryachkina returned to the top five on the women’s list after gaining 13 rating points, while Divya climbed to 11th with a 20-point boost. Anish Giri re-entered the Open top 10 after an 18-month absence, thanks to his well-deserved victory at the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025, which earned him 13 rating points. Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE Vaishali R successfully defended her title at the Women’s Grand Swiss, picking up 21 rating points and reaching a career-high 15th place. Biggest gains in top 100 Open and Women Atwell, Rose FM USA 2353 (+69) Mohammadi, Melika WFM IRI 2342 (+54) Pranav V GM IND 2641 (+45) Mishra, Abhimanyu GM USA 2652 (+41) Song, Yuxin IM CHN 2444 (+35) Goltseva, Ekaterina WGM FIDE 2347 (+34) Nurman, Alua WGM KAZ 2347 (+31) Predke, Alexandr GM SRB 2634 (+25) Fataliyeva, Ulviyya IM AZE 2410 (+25) Krush, Irina GM USA 2388 (+22) This category was dominated by newcomers to the top 100. Photo: Crystal Fuller / Saint-Louis Chess Club Sixteen-year-old Rose Atwell (pictured above) made her debut in the Women’s top 100, becoming the biggest rating gainer of September. She won the Labor Day CCC in Charlotte (+54 points) and overperformed at the Chess for Cure SoCal Open in Monrovia, USA (+15), which catapulted her to 85th place. Another youngster, 15-year-old Melika Mohammadi of Iran, excelled at the Fujairah Global Chess Championships – Masters, netting 54 rating points to break into the Women’s top 100. Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE Pranav V and Abhimanyu Mishra (pictured above) delivered back-to-back strong performances at the Fujairah Global Chess Championships – Superstars (won by Pranav) and the FIDE Grand Swiss, earning 45 and 41 points respectively. Both debuted in the Open top 100, at 84th and 69th. Song Yuxin (pictued below) followed a similar path, gaining 35 points across the Fujairah Masters and the Women’s Grand Swiss. The 19-year-old IM from China entered the Women’s top 30 for the first time. Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE Alua Nurman also shone at the Fujairah Masters, earning 31 points against tough opposition. Ulviyya Fataliyeva and Irina Krush climbed significantly after strong performances at the Women’s Grand Swiss. Finally, several experienced players—Alexei Shirov, Alexander Donchenko, Alexandr Predke, Ruslan Ponomariov, Robert Hovhannisyan, and David Anton Guijarro—overperformed in Samarkand and re-entered the Open top 100.
World Cadet Chess Championship 2025: Kazakhstan triumphs with three golds and overall team victory
From September 19 to 30, 2025, Almaty became the epicenter of world chess, hosting the World Cadet Chess Championship (U8–U12) at the Baluan Sholak Sports Palace. The event brought together 842 young players from 88 countries, including 229 representatives from all 20 regions of Kazakhstan. The competition was held over 11 rounds under the Swiss system with classical time control: 90 minutes per game plus a 30-second increment per move. Kazakhstan’s young stars—8-year-olds Alisha Bisalieva (Girls U8) and Adinur Adilbek (Open U8), along with 12-year-old Danis Kuandykuly (Open U12)—claimed gold medals, while the national team topped the overall standings for the second year in a row. China and the USA shared second and third, each earning one gold, one silver, and one bronze medal. China edged out the USA in total points scored by medalists—26½ to 25½. The tournament became a true celebration of chess, with young players showcasing skill, character, and strategic talent. Kazakhstan not only hosted a world-class event but also proved the strength of its chess school. “We managed to host one of the largest chess tournaments at the highest level, bringing together a record number of participants and giving Almaty the atmosphere of a true festival. It is especially symbolic that right here, on home soil, our young chess players achieved historic success. Alisha, Adinur, and Danis became world champions, and Kazakhstan showed the world that we have the strongest chess school and already a new generation of leaders who can become big stars tomorrow,” said Timur Turlov, President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich attended the closing ceremony and took part in the prize-giving. In his speech, he expressed gratitude to the participants, organizers, and supporters: “Thank you to the players, media team, and organizers for everything you’ve done over these past days! Your professionalism, energy, emotions, and smiles made this event truly special. Thank you for your passion for the game, your determination to win, and your ability to enjoy the moment. I am confident that these days will remain a lifelong memory for all of us. A special word of gratitude goes to the Government of Kazakhstan and the President of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Sports and Tourism, the Chess Federation of Kazakhstan and its President, Timur Turlov, Freedom Holding Corp., and to everyone whose support made this tournament possible—with a record number of participating countries.” 2025 World Cadet Chess Championship winners and top finishers: Girls U8 (94 players) Alisha Bissaliyeva (1704, Kazakhstan) – 9½ points Zhu Jiahe (1630, China) – 9 Bold-Erdene Tselmeg (1661, Mongolia) – 8½ Open U8 (150 players) Adinur Adilbek (1935, Kazakhstan) – 9½ points Fedor Sidelnikov (1720, FIDE) – 8½ Wang Yuxuan (1728, China) – 8½ Girls U10 (115 players) WCM Sharvaanica, A S (1971, India) – 9 points WCM Chinzorig Nandinjiguur (1887, Mongolia) – 9 Kiyanna Parihaar (1728, India) – 8½ Open U10 (185 players) Yuan Shunzhe (1805, China) – 9 points CM Le Phan Hoang Quan (2031, Vietnam) – 9 AFM Mani Sarbartho (2072, India) – 8½ Girls U12 (123 players) Lacey Wang (1883, USA) – 8½ points WFM Laurie Qiu (1994, USA) – 8½ Milana Sokolova (1870, FIDE) – 8½ Open U12 (175 players) CM Danis Kuandykuly (2211, Kazakhstan) – 9 points CM Ali Poyraz Ozdemir (2196, Turkey) – 9 CM Ethan Guo (2330, USA) – 8½ Full standings (chess-results) “Kazakhstan managed to take first place in the team standings at the World Cadet Championship for the second year in a row. Last year in Italy we won two golds. This year in Almaty, we won three out of six. One gold each went to the undisputed global leaders—China, India, and the United States. This success is especially pleasing because it happened at home, in front of a record number of countries, 88 in total. It is a tremendous achievement, and we are very proud of our talents,” said Darmen Sadvakasov, First Vice President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation. Photos: KazChess
FIDE Director for Chess Development visits Antigua and Barbuda
The Antigua and Barbuda Chess Federation warmly welcomed Nigel Short to Antigua. Greeting him on arrival were Hannibal Fleming (President), Matthew Bailey (Vice President), and Julian Piper (Media Manager and PR). Shortly after, the delegation joined a social gathering at the Cedar Valley Golf Club with Sir Vivian Richards (National Hero and legendary cricketer) and Leon “Kuma” Rodney (President of the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association). Conversing with Sir Vivian Richards During the evening, Sir Vivian Richards reflected on his connection to chess, recalling a visit from Viswanathan Anand during a tour of India and sharing the inspiration he drew from the 1972 Fischer–Spassky match. The following day, Nigel Short hosted a simultaneous exhibition against some of Antigua’s strongest players, including members of the national team representing the country at Chess Olympiads. He also encouraged the country’s female players, as Antigua plans to send its first women’s team to the 46th Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan. Short won all eight of his games. The event was attended by His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams and his wife, Sonja Williams, as well as Sir Vivian Richards and Kuma Rodney. Next, Nigel Short and Hannibal Fleming appeared live on ABS Television to discuss the growth and future of chess in Antigua and Barbuda. Meeting with the Prime Minister, Hon. Gaston Browne Afterwards, they met with several government officials: the Honorable Darryl Matthew (Minister of Education, Sports, and Cultural Affairs), the Honorable Paul “Chet” Greene (Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the National Olympic Committee), the Honorable Prime Minister Gaston A. Browne (Minister of Finance, Investments, and Corporate Governance), and the Honorable Charles Max Hernandez (Minister of Tourism). Each minister expressed strong support for the federation’s initiatives and pledged assistance with future events and resources. The visit also included a stop at the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus, where the delegation met with Principal Professor Justin Robinson. He emphasized the importance of using chess to strengthen campus life through tournaments and instructional programs. To conclude his trip, Nigel Short visited the Island Academy and Cobs Cross Primary School, where he introduced students to the fundamentals of chess and encouraged them to continue learning the game. Text and photos: Antigua and Barbuda Chess Federation
Wang Hao and Hou Yifan Triumph at 15th National Games of the People’s Republic of China
Grandmasters Wang Hao and Hou Yifan emerged victorious in the Open and Women’s sections of the chess competition at the 15th National Games of the People’s Republic of China. The Jiangsu team won the team event, while Shandong and Hebei took silver and bronze, respectively. The chess competition at the 15th National Games, the highest-level comprehensive multi-sport event in the country held every four years, took place in Shenzhen from September 23–28. It attracted the strongest local players, including former World Champions Ding Liren, Wei Yi, Yu Yangyi, Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun, Hou Yifan, Lei Tingjie, and Zhu Jiner. The event, played with a 25-minute plus 10-second increment time control, featured Open, Women’s, and Team sections and used a two-stage format: a round-robin preliminary stage followed by semifinals and finals contested by the top four players. The preliminary stage of the Open section produced a minor sensation as seventh-seed Xu Yinglun qualified for the semifinals alongside Wang Hao, Ding Liren, and Xu Xiangyu, edging out higher-rated players Yu Yangyi and Lu Shanglei. Both semifinals—Wang Hao vs. Xu Yinglun and Ding Liren vs. Xu Xiangyu—were tightly contested battles decided by tiebreaks. Wang Hao and Xu Xiangyu prevailed and advanced to the final. In the equally tense final, Wang Hao captured the title by winning the tiebreaker. Ding Liren defeated Xu Yinglun to claim the bronze medal. In the Women’s event, the top-rated players—Hou Yifan, Zhu Jiner, Ju Wenjun, and Lei Tingjie—lived up to expectations and secured spots in the knockout stage. In the semifinals, Lei Tingjie defeated Ju Wenjun, while Hou Yifan prevailed over Zhu Jiner in a very close tiebreak. Hou Yifan dominated the final, whitewashing Lei Tingjie 2-0 to claim the title. In the bronze medal match, Ju Wenjun beat Zhu Jiner in a tiebreak, completing the podium. Photos: CCA
FSI’s new Federal Technical Center open its doors in Spilimbergo, Italy
On September 27, the small town of Spilimbergo in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, situated between Venice and Trieste, hosted the official inauguration of the new Federal Technical Center of the Italian Chess Federation (FSI). The event’s significance was underscored by the attendance of CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio and Italian Government Minister Luca Ciriani. They were joined by local authorities, including Spilimbergo Mayor Enrico Sarcinelli and his council—key supporters of the project—and representatives of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, which provided generous financial backing. The new Center will serve as a dedicated hub for a wide range of activities, including: Technical training camps for the Open, Women’s, and Senior national teams. Sessions for the Federal Chess School and advanced training for promising young talents. Training camps organized by Regional Committees. Conferences and refresher courses for instructors, referees, and sports managers. National and local sporting events. This centralizes functions that were previously outsourced to various hotels on a case-by-case basis. “The purchase of this property is a turning point for our Federation,” said FSI President Luigi Maggi. “It is a true watershed moment in our century-long history that will make us even stronger and more capable of facing future challenges. It is also a wonderful gift for the 105th anniversary of the Federation, which was founded in September 1920. My thanks go to the Municipality of Spilimbergo and the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region for their concrete support, as well as to CONI and Sport e Salute for their ongoing guidance and contributions to our progress.” Luca Ciriani, Minister for Parliamentary Relations, expressed his satisfaction: “Hosting the Federal Technical Center of the Italian Chess Federation in our region, in Spilimbergo, is a privilege that fills us with pride. We are proud to host such a historic federation and will do our best to support such a demanding discipline. I thank everyone for their commitment, and I am confident that Spilimbergo will rise to the challenge.”