World Cadet Chess Championship 2025 commences in Almaty, Kazakhstan
The World Cadet Chess Championship 2025 has officially started in Almaty, Kazakhstan. From September 19–30, more than 850 young chess players from 88 countries will compete for the titles across the U8, U10, and U12 categories. Kazakhstan, as the proud host, is represented by over 200 players. Such impressive representation is further evidence of the strong governmental support for chess. A few days prior to the championship, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the national Chess House. The building, located on the picturesque shore of Lake Kopa, was previously a presidential residence. It was repurposed for the benefit of children and opened its doors as the Chess House last December. During the conversation with young athletes and members of the national team, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stressed that the state pays special attention to the development of chess, as well as to the promotion of children and youth. The glittering opening ceremony of the World Cadet Championship featured several distinguished guests: • Yerzhan Kosherbayev, Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan• Darkhan Satybaldy, Akim of Almaty• Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President• Timur Turlov, President of KazChess Greeting the participants and guests of the championship, the president of KazChess/KFSH (Kazakhstan Chess Federation), Timur Turlov, emphasized: “No chess tournament, and perhaps no sporting event in our country’s history, has ever gathered such an extensive lineup of participants. This is a truly historic moment for Kazakh chess and our country. But we are welcoming guests not only as hosts but also in our status as one of the world’s strongest chess nations and the tournament’s main favorite.” Following musical and dance performances by popular Kazakh artists, the State Anthem of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the FIDE anthem were rendered. After Yerzhan Kosherbayev, Darkhan Satybaldy, Arkady Dvorkovich, and Timur Turlov made the first ceremonial moves on the top boards in the U12 Open and U12 Girls sections, the event was declared officially open. The rounds are played daily, except for September 25, which is a rest day. On this day, the young players will have the opportunity to take an excursion to the Shymbulak mountain resort, participate in the World Problem-Solving Championship, and compete in a blitz tournament with a prize fund of $2,000 USD. Photos: KazChess
Praggnanandhaa leads FIDE Circuit 2025; Eighth spot in Women’s Candidates wide open
The recently concluded 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss and Women’s Grand Swiss in Samarkand have significantly reshaped the standings for both the FIDE Circuit 2025 and the Women’s Events 2024-2025. Despite earning no circuit points in Samarkand, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu preserved his dominant position in the FIDE Circuit 2025 standings. Crucially, his two main competitors—Anish Giri (winner of the 2025 Grand Swiss and currently second in the race) and runner-up Matthias Bluebaum—qualified for the 2026 Candidates Tournament through this event and are therefore no longer in the circuit race. As a result, the young Indian’s closest rival is now Vincent Keymer. The German GM gained 16.79 points in Samarkand and climbed to fourth position, but he still trails the leader by 51 points. Notably, Keymer has played just three tournaments counting toward the FIDE Circuit 2025, but there are few point-heavy events remaining in the next three months. The same applies to Nodirbek Abdusattorov (currently fifth, with four tournaments), as well as Magnus Carlsen and Chithambaram Aravindh, who have played only two events each. In summary, Praggnanandhaa’s lead looks virtually insurmountable. Even a brilliant performance in the remaining events by one of his competitors is unlikely to prevent him from qualifying for the 2026 Candidates via the FIDE Circuit 2025. The situation in the Women’s Events 2024-2025, however, is far more intriguing. Following the triumphs of Vaishali R and Kateryna Lagno in the Women’s Grand Swiss, all seven leading players in the Women’s Events race have qualified for the Women’s Candidates via various paths. The eighth and final spot in the competition—which will determine the challenger for the women’s world title—is still up for grabs. Currently leading the battle for that last berth is Bibisara Assaubayeva (99.4), who earned 60 points for her third-place finish in Samarkand and now sits eighth, just behind the already-qualified players. Chasing her are Song Yuxin (who tied for third place in Samarkand), Anna Muzychuk (both on 80 points), the winner of the 2022–23 Women’s Candidates Lei Tingjie (62 points), and the experienced Harika Dronavalli (58.5). Young Afruza Khamdamova, former Women’s World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk (both on 38.5), Mariya Muzychuk (26.40), Nana Dzagnidze (25), Ulviyya Fataliyeva (20), and Irina Krush (20) also have a shot. With the large number of points available at the upcoming Women’s Rapid and Blitz Championships, all remain mathematically in the race. Each of these contenders faces the formidable challenge of outperforming the rest in the season’s final events to secure the last coveted spot in the Women’s Candidates 2026. We maintain dedicated pages on our website for the FIDE Circuit 2025 and FIE Women’s Events 2024-2025, featuring the latest information on eligible tournaments, current standings, and regulations. Visit: FIDE Circuit 2025 and FIDE Women’s Events 2024-2025
Record number of teams to participate in 5th Intercontinental Championship for Prisoners
The 5th FIDE Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners will be held October 14–16, 2025, bringing together incarcerated players from around the world in a unique celebration of the rehabilitative power of chess. Organized as part of the Chess for Freedom program, a joint initiative by FIDE and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office (Chicago, USA), this annual event highlights the role of chess in education, inclusion, and reintegration. This year’s championship sets a new record with 135 teams representing 57 countries, including 89 men’s teams, 26 women’s teams, and 20 youth teams. Six countries — Eswatini, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, Lesotho, Poland, and Aruba — are making their debut, further expanding the global scope of the initiative. Examples from new participants show the impact of chess behind bars. In Guyana, the Prison Service launched a training and development program at Lusignan Prison with the support of FM Anthony Drayton and the Guyana Chess Federation. Donated chess sets are helping extend the program across the country’s correctional facilities, giving participants valuable skills in problem-solving and critical thinking. In Aruba, the national federation’s Chess for Freedom program recently inspired incarcerated individuals through competition, focus, and creativity, demonstrating that chess can serve as a tool for empowerment and unity. The championship will be played on Chess.com with a time control of 10 minutes + 5 seconds increment. The round-robin stage and the finals will be broadcast live on the FIDE YouTube channel, featuring guest appearances from chess officials, prison authorities, coaches, and correctional officers sharing their experiences of teaching chess in prisons. Now in its fifth edition, the Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners has become one of the flagships of FIDE Social Year activities. Alongside annual conferences and expanding national programs, growing research continues to confirm the positive outcomes of teaching chess in correctional settings — from improving concentration and discipline to strengthening social inclusion and rehabilitation prospects. With record participation, inspiring stories, and a truly global reach, the 2025 Championship promises to once again showcase the unifying power of chess — proving that the 64 squares can change lives, no matter the circumstances.
FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships 2025: 100 days to go
Doha gets ready to welcome the participants of the world’s fastest chess tournament for a spectacular end to the year. FIDE today announced the regulations for the 2025 World Rapid and Blitz, which will be held from 25 to 30 December and feature a one million euro prize fund. The World Rapid and Blitz traditionally take place in late December, offering a spectacular finale to the calendar year. Often referred to as the most exciting chess event closing the year, the tournament crowns the kings and queens of the game in its fastest formats. Top men and women from across the globe will gather for what promises to be a great chess spectacle hosted by Qatar – a nation which plays an increasingly prominent role on the global chess scene. “The World Rapid & Blitz has traditionally been one of FIDE’s most closely followed events globally, playing a key role in promoting chess to a broader audience,” FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said. “We’re planning every detail to make it a world-class event. We are very fortunate to have support from the Qatar Chess Association, which is working hard with FIDE to put on a great chess show at the end of this year, and we’re looking forward to it,” Dvorkovich added. Doha hosted the WRB Championships in 2016. With the World Rapid and Blitz returning to Qatar after nine years, expectations are high for a nation which has in recent years made significant strides in supporting and promoting chess, including the famous Qatar Masters and the most recent Qatar Rail Chess Open. “We are delighted to welcome the World Rapid and Blitz back to Doha. With the strong support we enjoy in Qatar and the excellent cooperation with FIDE, we have been able to move quickly on key preparations – ensuring the venue, hotels, and all organisational details are set to provide players and spectators alike, both onsite and online, with the highest level of comfort and an unforgettable experience. We believe this edition of the World Rapid and Blitz will serve as a cornerstone in further strengthening chess in Qatar and across the region, while also contributing to the game’s growing global popularity. This is only the beginning of greater achievements to come, and I am confident this will be an event to remember,” said Mohammed Al-Mudhahka, President of the Qatar Chess Association. The regulations for the 2025 World Rapid & Blitz, outlining all the necessary details regarding the most anticipated fast-paced chess tournament on the planet, can be found here: Open (PDF) Women’s (PDF) Key highlights from the regulations: The format The format remains largely unchanged from 2024. The Rapid Championships will include 13 rounds in the Open and 11 in the Women’s tournament, played under the Swiss system and with the time control of 15 minutes and a 10-second increment per move. In the case of a tie for first place even after all tie-break criteria have been applied, the players will play a Blitz match to determine the champion, which can end in a sudden death game in case of further draws. If there are more than two players tied for first place after all tiebreak criteria have been applied, a knockout Blitz tournament will take place. The World Blitz Championship will feature two stages. In the first stage a large Swiss system tournament will take place (19 rounds in the Open and 15 in the Women’s event). Then, in stage two, the top four players will advance to the knockouts which will consist of four game matches. The knockout format in the Blitz was first introduced in the 2024 event, when it featured eight players. The change from last year is that the number of players who qualify for the knockouts is four instead of eight. If the score is even after four blitz games, one sudden death game shall be played to determine the winner of the match. Who can take part? The World Rapid & Blitz traditionally bring together all the best players in the world, in both the Open and the Women’s category. Traditionally, FIDE sets a threshold for players to be eligible to participate. This year, the threshold for the Open event is 2550 ELO points on any 2025 FIDE rating list. In the Women’s competition, the threshold sits at 2250 ELO points. Also, national champions (in any format – Standard, Rapid or Blitz) are eligible to take part. The regulations also include provisions for a “reasonable number” of players outside the qualifying criteria, who can be nominated by the FIDE President and the Organiser. The prize fund The total prize fund for the event is one million euros, split across the Open and the Women’s tournaments. The prize fund for the Open event is 700,000 euros, split equally between Rapid and Blitz (350,000 euros each). The winner of the Open Rapid and the Open Blitz will get 70,000 euros each. The Women’s event features a total prize fund of 300,000 euros (150,000 euros each for the Rapid and the Blitz). The winner of the Women’s Rapid and the Women’s Blitz will get 40,000 euros each. Player support The costs of travel and accommodation will be covered for all players in the Open section rated 2750 points and above, and players rated at least 2500 in the Women’s section. Also, gold, silver and bronze medallists from the 2024 World Rapid & Blitz will have their full accommodation covered, and they will be provided with a daily spending allowance. Event schedule The opening ceremony and technical meeting will take place on 25th December. The World Rapid Championships will take place on the 26th, 27th and 28th December. The World Blitz Championships will take place on the 29th and 30th December. The games are scheduled to start each day at the same time – 2 PM. The Semi-finals in the Blitz are scheduled for 30th December at 5.30 PM, while the Finals will start at 7.15 PM. The closing ceremony will start
The magic of chess comes to the National Gallery – 11th Judit Polgár’s Global Chess Festival
Budapest, September 16, 2025 – Chess is not just a sport, but a way of thinking, a creative adventure, and a shared experience. This is the message once again carried forward by the Judit Polgár’s Global Chess Festival, which will welcome visitors for the eleventh time on September 30, in the impressive halls of the Hungarian National Gallery. At this large-scale, all-day event, thousands of visitors will have the chance to meet the world-famous Polgár sisters in person while discovering the many faces of chess. This year’s festival highlight is RubikChess, a unique mixed-pair team game that combines the strategic elements of chess with the logical challenges of the Rubik’s Cube. Judit Polgár, founder and chief organizer of the Global Chess Festival, emphasized about this year’s program:“The Global Chess Festival is a special experience for me every year. I personally take part in both designing and organizing the programs. This year, I’m especially looking forward to the community simul, where I’ll be playing simultaneously on six boards, each against a different community. There will be Spanish and Hungarian teams, a former chessboxing world champion, and the world’s largest chess platforms will also join the game. It’s all very exciting! Visitors can also try the world’s first AI-powered chess robot, while the Momentán Theatre group will engage the audience in interactive improvisation games. Every program element represents value for us – our goal is to convey these in an enjoyable way for all generations. I believe that play and thinking together are inspiring, and this inspiration is what we want to share in every moment of the festival.” Norbert Fogarasi, representing Morgan Stanley, the festival’s main sponsor, added:“Chess is a perfect example of how play can evolve into a source of deep thinking, strategy, and innovation. At Morgan Stanley’s Budapest office, we have spent years building initiatives that nurture creativity, perseverance, and collaboration in playful ways – from team-building challenges and internal chess tournaments to our global online competition that now brings together more than a thousand players from over 40 cities worldwide. We have seen firsthand how play encourages colleagues to think more openly, explore new solutions with greater confidence, and excel at the highest levels of the financial world – whether in technology or quantitative financial modeling. This is why it is both important and a true honor for us to support Judit Polgár’s Global Chess Festival for the seventh consecutive year, an event that so powerfully demonstrates the role of play as a source of inspiration across society.” The festival will also host a RubikChess tournament with 50 teams, the lineup filling up quickly after the event was announced. In this special-format competition, one member of the mixed pair battles on the chessboard while the partner solves a Rubik’s Cube puzzle – their solution directly influencing the progress of the chess game. The RubikChess Tournament is supported by the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess. Anastasia Sorokina, Chair of the FIDE Women’s Commission, will attend the festival in person. As every year, the festival promises plenty of new experiences, exciting encounters, and unforgettable moments – whether for beginners, aspiring masters, children, or adults. The 11th Judit Polgár’s Global Chess Festival invites everyone to step into the magical universe of chess! Programmes: globalchessfestival.com/index.php/en/
Final round drama at Grand Swiss in Samarkand: Giri triumphs, Vaishali makes history
With 8/11, Anish Giri won the Open tournament outright, defeating Hans Niemann in the final round. Just half a point back, Matthias Bluebaum, Alireza Firouzja and Vincent Keymer shared second place. Thanks to a better tiebreak, it was Bluebaum who secured the second qualifying spot for the 2026 Candidates. In the Women’s event, on 8/11, Vaishali Rameshbabu and Kateryna Lagno tied for first and both qualified for the Candidates, but Vaishali took top spot on tiebreak. It was her second consecutive Grand Swiss victory – something never achieved before in either section. Apart from qualifying for the Candidates for the third time in his career, being the sole winner meant Giri also pocketed $90,000. In his first reaction to the victory, speaking in FIDE’s live broadcast, Giri said that the previous night he “visualised” a victory against Niemann: “There is this technique and… I saw myself win. Then I went a bit too far and started to think who will be in my team for the Candidates and I said I needed to stop at that point, as it was too far”. The second place went to European Champion Matthias Bluebaum, who drew a tense game with Alireza Firouzja today. Firouzja finished third. The most unfortunate of the frontrunners was Vincent Keymer, who ended up fourth. He missed a chance to beat Bluebaum in round ten and went into the final day as sole leader only to fail to convert a better position against Erigaisi. In the Women’s event, leaders Vaishali Rameshbabu and Kateryna Lagno both drew, sharing first place. The bronze went to Bibisara Assaubayeva, who missed a chance to tie for first after spoiling a winning position against Anna Muzychuk. She finished on 7.5/11, alongside Tan Zhongyi and Yuxin Song. How the last day in Samarkand unfolded Tension was palpable in the playing hall of the EXPO Centre in Samarkand, as players gathered for the final round of the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss. On previous days, players often paused for photos with waiting fans. On the final day, the favourites rushed straight inside, razor-focused on their games. The games started at 2 PM, an hour earlier than in the previous 10 rounds, to accommodate the closing ceremony and prize giving scheduled for 9 PM local time in Samarkand. At stake were two places leading to the 2026 Candidates as well as a hefty prize fund of $855,000. In the Open section, with 7/10, five players were in the race for the top two places – Bluebaum, Firouzja, Giri, Niemann and Keymer. In theory, tiebreaks kept three more players in contention on 6.5/10 – Mishra, Erigaisi and Woodward. In the Women’s Grand Swiss – Vaishali and Lagno as the two leaders, as well as Assaubayeva, Tan and Song were in the race to be the winner. Out of the five, Tan – a former Women’s World Champion – has already qualified for the 2026 Candidates, thanks to finishing third in the Grand Prix. Continuing the tournament’s departure from the tradition of making ceremonial moves only on the top board, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich made the first move on board 57 in the Open, in the game between Divya Deshmukh and Ivan Cheparinov. The Open The first to qualify for the Candidates from the Open section was the seasoned player Anish Giri. In one of the most anticipated duels of the final round, he defeated the American Hans Niemann in just over four hours and fifteen minutes. Both players were under pressure to win if they wanted to secure a spot in the Candidates. For Niemann, the game unfolded in the worst possible way. Playing the English Opening as White, Giri obtained the lasting two-bishop advantage and gradually gained command by advancing pawns on the kingside and then breaking through on the opposite wing. The critical moment of the game came on move 32. Choosing between 32…bxc5? and 32…Nxc5 (which offered some chances for a long resistance) Niemann opted for the former, which was a serious mistake. Analysing this position in the FIDE tournament broadcast after the game, Giri said: “I had a difficult choice – I could just move the bishop or take [with the rook] on b3. My logic was that, if moving the bishop wins, it’s OK. But if taking on b3 wins and I don’t do it and don’t qualify for the Candidates, I will never forgive myself. And that’s why I took [the knight on b3, with the rook]”. 33.Rxb3! Bxb3 34.Bxc5 Kd7 35.Bxd6 Kxd6 36.g5! This bishop endgame with an extra pawn is winning for White and Giri sealed the deal nine moves later. Despite the win there was a very small chance that Giri would not qualify given the poor tiebreak. However, soon after his win the result on board one came in – Bluebaum and Firouzja split a point in the Dutch Defence. Although the position is even, there is a lot of tension on the board. 26…Nxg2 27.Qxb6! Bluebaum counters any idea from Black to get more tactical. After 27…Qxb6 28.Qxb6 Nf4 29.Ne4 an even endgame emerged on the board. With both opponents playing precisely, a draw on move 56 came as a logical outcome. Not long after this game, the duel between Arjun Erigaisi and Vincent Keymer also finished in a draw. Arjun correctly sacrificed an exchange in a rare line of the Queen’s Indian and obtained a sufficient compensation. After several imprecisions on his part, White’s initiative petered out and Vincent got a real chance to convert his advantage. To achieve this task, Vincent had to find a fantastic move in the following position: This was the high point of Keymer’s advantage. He had a straightforward win here, but it was very difficult to spot. The winning move is paradoxical 31…Be6!! placing his bishop under a double attack. The idea behind this fantastic move is to trade the queens transposing into a winning endgame, thanks to a5-a4 idea. Surprisingly White has no sufficient defence. But it is hard
FIDE Grand Swiss 2025, Round 10: A five-way race in the Open ahead of the final round
With draws on the top five boards in the Open, five players enter the final day in shared first place on 7/10. Vincent Keymer missed a chance against Bluebaum to take the sole lead, while Vaishali Rameshbabu staged a remarkable comeback in the Women’s tournament to reach the top. With just one more round to go, the race for the top two places leading to the 2026 Candidates is wide open in both tournaments. Of the five in contention in the Open – Firouzja and Giri have previously played in the Candidates, while Keymer, Bluebaum and Nimann have not. The penultimate round in an open Swiss System tournament is always tricky – while playing for a win is always the goal, a loss can cost you dearly and eject you from the top positions. That is why some players opt for a cautious approach, avoiding too much risk. However, the five draws on the top boards were not all uneventful and none was quick. The board one duel between two classical heavyweights, Alireza Firouzja and Anish Giri, ended in a draw. Playing the French line of the Sicilian, the two made just 17 moves in two hours, agreeing to split a point after a threefold repetition. Both likely calculated it was better not to force but, instead, see how things pan out on other boards, leaving tomorrow’s final round for a decisive push. Things were dramatically different on board two, where European Champion Matthias Bluebaum found himself in serious trouble against Vincent Keymer, who had the white pieces. Playing a rare line on the black side of the Reti, Bluebaum soon came under serious pressure. The opponents reached the first critical position as early as on move 21. One of White’s pieces should jump to g5, but which one? Keymer made a wrong choice here playing 21.Bg5?! Instead – after 21.Ng5! Bxg5 22.Bxg5 f5 23.Qxe8 Rfxe8 24.Be3 the resulting endgame is virtually winning for White. As played, Black avoided the worst with 21…f6 22.Qxe8 Rxe8. The endgame saw both sides go through ups and downs, but eventually Keymer achieved the decisive advantage, only to let it slip away with just one move. Instead of the solid 54.Ne4, Keymer went for the hasty 54.Rh7??, missing an important tactical subtlety. 54…Nxg3!! If 55.Kxg3 then 55…Rd3+. Keymer tried 55.Rh6+ Kf7 56.Nb1 Rb2 57.Kxg3 Rxb1 and now it’s a draw. A lucky escape for Bluebaum, who enters the final day as one of the leaders. On board three, Chinese Grandmaster Yu Yangyi had a better position as White against Arjun Erigaisi at some point, but the game ended in a draw. Abhimanyu Mishra drew as White against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, with neither side getting much going in the game. Playing on board four, Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusatorrov was in trouble against Nihal Sarin on the black side of the Sicilian Rossolimo. The situation is extremely dangerous for Black, as his bishops have limited space while White’s pieces are very well coordinated. White had an almost straightforward win here with 18.exf6 Bxf6 19.Be3 Qb5 20.Nc5 e5 21.Ne4 Be7 22.b4 Be6 23.Rxd8+ Bxd8 24.Nd6 Qd5 25.Nxf7 Kxf7. Instead, Sarin played 18.Be3 first but after 18…Qc7 19.Bc5 Bd8 20.Bxe7 Qxe7 21.Rxd8 Qxd8 22.exf6 Rxf6 Black’s position is no fun, but he is out of the woods. Eventually, Abdusatorrov reached a draw on move 53. All six players finished the day on 6.5/10. The tournament’s top-rated player, R Praggnanandhaa, had his chances of reaching some of the top places, but his hopes were completely shattered today. He lost to Hans Niemann following time trouble in a very sharp game. Playing the Sicilian, Praggnanandhaa started to lose control in the middlegame and by move 33, he was in serious trouble. According to Niemann, who analysed the game in the FIDE broadcast, this was the critical moment of the game. Black played the reactive 25…Rc7. Instead, according to the US Grandmaster, he should have proceeded with 25…Rc1+ and after 26.Qxc1 Qxb4 27.a3 with an unclear position. Chess engines, however, question this recommendation as after the simple 27.Rxe8+! Bxe8 28.Qc8 Black is completely lost. A couple of moves later, the two had reached the following position: White is winning, but he has to avoid many pitfalls. However, after 34…Qf1?? played by Pragg, Black is doomed. 34…Qc5 offered more hope. The rest was smooth sailing for Hans. 35.Qe3 Bb5 36.Re4! After doubling along the e-file White penetrates to Black’s camp. 36…Kh8 37.Qd4 Kg7 38.Rf4 and Praggnanandhaa resigned. The victory propelled Niemann to a shared 2-4th place, a step away from reaching the Candidates for the first time in his career. Praggnanandhaa is on 5.5/10. Asked about his expectations for the final game, Niemann said he hoped to play “someone who needs a win as well”, alluding to the view that if White plays for a draw from the opening, at this level, it is difficult for the other side to get much more. In the final round Niemann will be up against Anish Giri and a draw might leave both of them without one of the two spots leading in the Candidates. Ukrainian Vasyl Ivanchuk was declared the player of the day in the Open following a tactical finish against Jonas Bjerre. 45…Qf4+! 46.Kg2 Qe4+ 47.Kh2 Rxe3 48.fxe3 Qxe3 49.Qb1 e4 50.Ng2 Qf2 After a few more moves in which White just delayed the inevitable, Bjerre resigned. World Champion Gukesh D finally ended his six-game-long winless run. Playing as White, he defeated Armenia’s Gabriel Sargissian in the Italian Game. With one round remaining, Gukesh is only on 5/10. The Women’s event Vaishali Rameshbabu struck back today to reach the lead again. She was the only winner among the top boards in round ten. Playing with the white pieces against former Women’s World Champion Mariya Muzychuk, Vaishali recovered from a lost position, following time trouble. Black is a pawn up, has more active pieces and initiative across the board. But Muzychuk squandered her advantage and allowed Vaishali to equalise. 30…Bxc2? Giving up one of
Every Lesson Counts – Chess in Education Masterclasses
Join us in London, Mindsports Centre for a transformative weekend on October 11-12, dedicated to exploring chess as a powerful educational tool. Whether you’re already teaching chess or simply curious about its potential, this event offers fresh strategies and practical resources to enrich your teaching practice and engage students in new ways. No prior chess experience is required – just a passion for helping children learn and grow. The event is funded by FIDE and the International Olympic Committee, underscoring its global significance and commitment to educational excellence. Organised in collaboration with the FIDE Chess in Education Commission and the ECU Education Commission, the weekend will bring together teachers, tutors, and education specialists to discover how chess can foster lifelong skills. Through a series of interactive Masterclasses, participants will gain hands-on tools and insights that can be immediately applied in the classroom. You’ll also receive a booklet on all Masterclass materials and enjoy opportunities to connect with fellow educators over lunch and refreshments, which are included with your ticket.With only 60 places available on a first-come, first-served basis, this is a rare opportunity to learn from the best and bring the benefits of chess into your educational practice. Book your tickets HERE. Meet the presenters: Jerry Nash Jerry (BA, MDiv, MA) serves as Chairman of FIDE’s Chess in Education Commission and as National Chess Education Consultant for Chess in Education – US, a US-based non-profit focused on enabling educators to use chess as an educational tool in the classroom. He is also an educator who believes in the power of chess to enable student – and teacher – success. Jerry will lead the interactive workshop Chess for Critical Thinking Development, introducing practical examples of using chess to build Higher Order Thinking (HOT) skills. Rita Atkins Rita serves as Secretary of FIDE’s Chess in Education Commission. She holds a degree in Mathematics and Physics as well as a Diploma of Education from Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, and an MSc in Computing Science from Imperial College, London. She has taught mathematics and physics in the UK and in Ireland for over a decade. As a former competitive chess player, Rita strongly believes that chess is a great educational tool, and she is a frequent speaker at chess educational conferences. She is the co-creator of LogiqBoard, the online shareable chessboard suitable for classroom use. Rita will explore Problems on the Chessboard for Gifted and Talented Studentsin her masterclass. Anzel Laubscher Anzel Laubscher is a FIDE Senior Lead Instructor, main lecturer for FIDE EDU courses, and a member of FIDE’s Chess in Education Commission. She is a Woman International Master, South African National Team member since 1998, and a Master Coach. With sixteen years’ curriculum development and lecturing at Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Anzel has overseen coach training for the South African Sport Confederation and Olympic Committee. She is an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa, legal advisor, mediator, and active in sports dispute resolution. In her masterclasses Anzel will guide attendees through From Classroom Chess to Chess Club the Educational Way. Alla Khachatryan Alla is Senior Course Administrator for all FIDE EDU training courses. She is also a FIDE Lead School Instructor with a strong commitment to chess education and expertise in training educators on how to teach the game and use it for skill development. She has contributed to international and national conferences, led educational projects, and promoted chess in education through research-based initiatives in her native Armenia. Passionate about helping teachers discover new ways to engage students in the classroom, she will present How to Teach Chess Basics Effectively in the Classroomin London. John Foley John is Director of ChessPlus (UK) and an active member of the ECU Education Commission, where he co-authors teacher training courses such as The SMART Method to Teach Chess and Mathematics through Chess. He is President of Kingston Chess Club and formerly served as Training Director at Chess in Schools and Communities. His career includes consultancy, research analysis, and legal work, with degrees from Oxford and Lancaster Universities. Foley’s publications include Checkmate! The Wonderful World of Chess (2023), and several co-authored resources for chess education. Brigitta Peszleg Brigitta is a dedicated chess educator who began her journey in education in 2006 after earning a degree in Education Sciences. Since 2015, she has taught chess in primary schools across London through Chess in Schools and Communities. Her roles include Chess Educator, Training and Event Manager at ChessPlus, Teacher Trainer with ChessPlus and the European Chess Union (ECU), and Secretary of the ECU Education Commission. Brigitta leads training initiatives, develops educational resources, and co-authored the Chess and Strategy Games in the Classroom Programme, training teachers throughout the UK. Brigitta and John will present Chess and Strategy Games in the Classroom (Games from the ECU107 Training course). Hari Neocleous Hariis a primary maths and chess teacher from London with over 20 years of experience in education. In her classes, she demonstrates how chess serves as a powerful pedagogical tool, offering rich opportunities to cultivate problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and learner confidence. Drawing on her extensive classroom experience, Hari brings a unique perspective to LogiqBoard as well. She integrates chess into creative math and logic-based activities, showcasing innovative approaches to both chess instruction and mathematical thinking. Hari will demonstrate Teaching Mathematics through Chess (Maths tasks from the ECU102 Training course). Daniel Gormally Daniel Gormally is a Chess Grandmaster residing in Alnwick, Northumberland. He received the Grandmaster title in 2005 and represented England at the European team championships that year.In 2024, he won both the British rapid play championship and the English blitz championship.At age 49, Daniel continues to participate actively in international tournaments. He has authored several chess books, such as “Mating the Castled King” and an autobiographical work titled “A Year in the Chess World.”Daniel also served as an official commentator at the British championships in Liverpool, alongside Nicholas Pert. In London Danielwill share techniques for Optimising Strategies for Chess Minigames
FIDE Grand Swiss 2025, Round 9: Four share lead in the Open as Lagno clings to top spot in the Women’s tournament
Matthias Bluebaum, Alireza Firouzja, Vincent Keymer and Anish Giri lead after nine rounds in the Open, all on 6.5/9. Lagno still leads in the Women’s event with 7/9 after narrowly escaping defeat against Bibisara Assaubayeva. It was a gruelling day in the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss, with several top games in the Open section lasting more than six hours. Alireza Firouzja, playing as Black, overpowered Nihal Sarin in the Sicilian Alapin after a long struggle. Sarin, joint leader at the start of the day, had a very good position early in the game, but misplayed it. White has just correctly sacrificed a knight and now has a menacing position. After the natural 17.Nd6+ Kd7 18.f4 Qf6 19.f5! gxf5 20.Bxd5 Black is in serious trouble. But Sarin opted for a much weaker continuation 17.f4 Qf6 18.Qe2 (18.Nd6+ is not nearly as efficient here as the f7-pawn is protected) Nfe7 19.g4? Again, missing Nd6+ which promised a better position. 19…Qh4 White is a piece down, but has strong compensation. In subsequent play, Firouzja returned the extra piece, transposing into a complicated endgame. The position was tense but even up until White’s 37th move. White has two runners – on the b- and c-file, but his king is exposed and Black’s centralised rook and knight are well coordinated. White should have proceeded with 37.Be2 with the idea of getting it to c4 and outflanking Black. But Sarin played 37.Bf3?? which failed to 37…Re5! All of a sudden, White is losing his c5-pawn as his dark-squared bishop has no safe square on the g1-a7 diagonal. After 38.Bd2 Rxc5 39.Kh1 Rc2 40.Be3 Rh8 41.Bg1 Rh4 not only is Black a pawn up, but his pieces are much more active. But now it was Firouzja’s turn to err. As the game went on, he struggled to convert his advantage and – at one point – allowed Sarin to come close to being equal. Eventually, Firouzja found a way to advance pawns (after White’s crucial mistake on move 60) – but this took 82 moves and seven hours of play. Parham Maghsoodloo, who was the leader from round three to round six, lost again today, his second defeat in a row. Playing as White in the Reti, he fell to Germany’s number one, Vincent Keymer. The game saw several sharp tactical twists and turns. The first critical moment occurred on move 22. White has just given up a d4-pawn. The best move was 22.Rad1, but Maghsoodloo played with the wrong rook – 22.Rfd1 and now Black has a Zwischenzug – 22…Bg5! 23.Bg3 Bf6 With this subtle bishop maneuver Black obtained the decisive advantage. After 24.Bf4 Kb8 25.Rd3 Ka8 26.Rad1 Rg5!! There was no escape for White. Keymer was not flawless in the conversion but emerged victorious after 70 moves and nearly seven hours. On board two, Uzbekistan’s favourite Nodirbek Abdusatorrov split a point with the other tournament co-leader (and European Champion) Matthias Bluebaum. A draw was agreed after 39 moves, as neither side gained an edge following the King’s Pawn Opening. On board four, Anish Giri defeated Jorden van Foreest in the Queen’s Gambit Declined. Playing as Black, van Foreest held until the endgame, where he cracked under pressure and lost. On board five, Niemann and Mishra split a point after a long battle in a bishop endgame where White (Niemann) had an extra pawn and tried every way possible to force Mishra to err, but without success. Arjun Erigaisi prevailed over the American Sam Sevian, again joining the group of players half a point behind the leaders. The same goes for Maxime Vachier-Lagrave who beat Türkiye’s Erdogmus with a nice finish. After losing to Keymer in round eight, Vidit today defeated Sargsyan and is on 5/9. Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Yakubboev scored a beautiful victory as White against Anton Demchenko, in a very sharp line of the Queen’s Gambit Accepted. The opponents followed the game Melkumyan – Stevic (2019) up to move 12 when Anton tried a natural but erroneous move with catastrophic consequences for Black. Instead of 12..Ne6 with a slightly inferior position Demchenko played 12…Qe7? 13.Nf5! Bxf5 14.exf5 Kd8 15.Rac1 and Black is completely paralyzed as his king can find no comfort in the center open for White’s heavy pieces. After 23 moves, Demchenko resigned in the following position: World Champion Gukesh D made another draw today, against Armenian Robert Hovhannisyan. On several occasions, Gukesh had more chances but allowed them all to slip. After nine rounds, the World Champion has only two victories. In a notable result of the day, in the duel of the two former world champion candidates (albeit in different categories), Alexandra Goryachkina defeated Boris Gelfand in 41 moves. The Women’s event Kateryna Lagno narrowly held onto her lead in round nine of the Women’s Grand Swiss, escaping defeat against Bibisara Assaubayeva. Meanwhile, Irina Krush and Tan Zhongyi scored important wins, tightening the race at the top. Lagno, leading the tournament, saved a lost position against Bibisara Assaubayeva on board one. With the white pieces, she gained a slight initiative out of the King’s Indian, but from move 19 Lagno made several subpar moves and lost a pawn. After reaching the first time control, Assaubayeva was on the brink of victory. Unfortunately for her, she threw it all away in just one move in the following position. Black should have just proceeded with advancing her pawn and collecting the f2-pawn. For example: 43…c3! 44.Rc6 Kd7 45.Rc4 Rxf2 46.Rxc2 Ne2! 47.Ra3 f4 and Black’s pawns are much faster. Instead, Bibisara played 42…Kf8? which allowed White to save her skin with the timely bishop sacrifice – 43.Bxc4! and after 43…Rxc4 44.Rf6+ Ke7 45.Rxf5 now White just pushed pawns, traded the rooks and forced a draw due to insufficient material. A very lucky escape for Lagno, allowing her to still cling on to the leading position in the tournament. After her first loss in round eight, Vaishali Rameshbabu held Song Yuxin to a draw in a balanced encounter. Both now sit on 6.5/9. On board
FIDE Grand Swiss 2025, Round 8: A day of draws in the Open, as Lagno takes the lead in the Women’s tournament
Round eight saw just one victory among the top boards – with Keymer defeating the 2023 Grand Swiss winner Vidit. A different story unfolded in the women’s tournament where Vaishali Rameshbabu was knocked out of the lead after losing to Bibisara Assaubayeva. On board two, Kateryna Lagno crashed Mariya Muzychuk, taking a half-point lead in the tournament. Among the top ten boards in the Open section, eight finished in a draw. While many were mostly calm, some saw a sharp fight. On board one, the two tournament leaders from round seven – Matthias Bluebaum and Nihal Sarin – had a peaceful draw in the Queen’s Gambit Accepted, in just 21 moves and under an hour and 20 minutes of play. Of the seven players trailing the leaders on five points – all but one drew. Firouzja split a point with Niemann in the Ruy Lopez on board two, while Abdusattorov drew as Black against Mishra. Despite finishing in a draw, the game between Parham Maghsoodloo and Anish Giri saw a lot of intense action on the board. This was the position reached by move 21, in the English Opening: Black had just placed his bishop on d5, effectively taking the white rook on d6 captive. After 22.Bh3 Rc7 24.cxd5 Ke7 25.dxe6 Kxe6 Black emerged an exchange up, but it’s not so easy to convert, as White’s bishop had a lot of open space and his rook is also very active. After some precise maneuvers, the two eventually reached the following position: 49.Rg8! The only move! If 49…Rxg8 then 50.Bd5+ followed by the queen promotion after hxg8. 49…Rf8 50.Bg6+ Ke7 51.Kd5 Rf6 And now everything simplifies into a clean draw: 52.h8=Q Rxh8 53.Rxh8 Rxg6 54.Rh7+ Kd8 55.Rxb7. The only winner among the top boards was Vincent Keymer, who defeated Vidit in the Berlin Defence of Ruy Lopez. Vidit – who is defending his 2023 Grand Swiss crown – blundered his position in one move, in a drawn pawn endgame. Black should have played 43…Kd5! With the idea of creating a sufficient counterplay on the queenside in case of 44.Kf3 Kd4 45.Kg4 Kc3. Instead, Vidit faltered with 43…c6? after which Black’s position is beyond repair. After 44.c4! Kf5 45.Kf3 Kf6 46.Ke4 Ke6 47.d4! White went on to clear the queenside for his a-runner and won. This victory pushed Keymer into the group of eight players trailing Sarin and Bluebaum by half a point. Another joiner is Jorden van Foreest, who defeated Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. Turkish youngster Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus continued with his impressive performance, this time beating the seasoned Levon Aronian in the French. White is already better here thanks to his strong knight on g6. Despite being in time trouble, Erdogmus played a great move here – 33.Re4! attacking the d4-pawn. Black cannot take the rook with the knight because of checkmate 34.Rc8+ Rf8 35.Rxf8+ Kh7 36.Rh8#. Aronian played 33…e5 and after 34.Rxe5 White is winning. The d4-pawn fell pretty soon afterwards and White was confident in securing his victory. Erdogmus is now on 5/8, while Aronian is on four points. World Champion Gukesh D managed to end his losing streak by securing a draw as White. Playing on the penultimate board against Divya Deshmukh (who this summer won the Women’s World Cup), Gukesh was not his best self, as he missed chances and struggled. The Women’s event A big shift occurred in the Women’s Grand Swiss, as Bibisara Assaubayeva handed Vaishali Rameshbabu her first loss in the tournament. The position was even until move 25, when Vaishali lost her way. 25…Rad8? Overlooking the e5-pawn. Instead, 25…Nd5! would have maintained equality. 26.Nxe5 If 26…Rxd3 27.Rxc6 bxc6 28.Nxd3 and White would have been two pawns up. Vaishali struggled to find the right plan and spent the following moves shuffling pieces on the board, eventually trapping the knight and queen in a pin. Black is completely paralyzed and cannot effectively prevent the deadly 35.e4. Vaishali tried with 34…Rd6 but after 35.e4 Qd7 36.Qd2 Nf4+ 37.Qxf4 Rxd4 38.Rc7 Rexe4 39.Rxd7 and Black is a piece down. Assaubayeva is now on 6/8, together with Vaishali and Yuxing Song who also won today. While Vaishali faltered, the runner-up from round seven, Kateryna Lagno, used her chance to score and emerge as the tournament leader. Lagno defeated the former Women’s World Champion Mariya Muzychuk in the Anti-Meran. Playing as White, Lagno steadily coordinated her pieces and maintained initiative thanks to a strong centralised knight. On move 21 Mariya Muzychuk weakened the e-pawn with f7-f6 but went for this position, hoping for 23…Bc4, covering it. However, she missed a brilliant refutation by Lagno: 24.d5!! Black can capture the pawn in four different ways, but neither of them work, and White is already winning. 24…Bxd5 25.Rxd5!! exd5 26.Ne7+ Kh8 27.Qe6! Now the queen joins the mating attack. 27…Qd7 28.Qf7 Rb7 29.Ng6+ Kh7 30.Rd7 Black has to give up the queen to avoid checkmate. 31.Qxd7 Nxd7 and Muzychuk resigned. A great achievement by Lagno, who said after the game that she is not thinking about the results and standings, but just wants to “play chess the best I can”. Today was a great day for Yuxin Song as she got a lucky break as Black against the former Women’s World Champion, Antoaneta Stefanova. In a drawn rook endgame, Stefanova made a blunder and gave her position away. This victory got Yuxin Song to 6/8 and a shared second place with Bibisara Assaubayeva and Vaishali Rameshbabu. The full results of Round 8 and pairings for Round 9 can be found here: Women: grandswiss2025.fide.com/grand-swiss-women/ Open: grandswiss2025.fide.com/open/ Round 9 will take place on Saturday, 13th September at 3 PM local time. Written by Milan Dinic Photos: Michal Walusza About the event The FIDE Grand Swiss is one of the most significant tournaments in the World Chess Championship cycle, featuring many of the world’s strongest chess players. Launched in 2019 (with the women’s event starting in 2021), the 11-round Swiss system tournament is held every two years. Considered as one of the most