FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships head to Hong Kong
Hong Kong will host the fourth edition of FIDE’s World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships, from 17 to 21 June 2026. Bringing together top pros like Magnus Carlsen and amateur players in a fun, high-stakes format, the event is expanding its global reach to East Asia for the first time. After Dusseldorf in 2023, Astana in 2024 and London in 2025, the World Rapid and Blitz Teams heads to Hong Kong, giving chess a new global stage. Organised by FIDE, the event features rapid and blitz championships, scored with match points. Each team must include at least one female player and one recreational player, defined as someone who has never reached 2000 Elo in standard, rapid or blitz. “We are proud and delighted to bring the fourth edition of the event to the world. As we have seen in previous WRB Teams, this is more than a tournament. The competition attracts players and fans from different cultural and professional backgrounds, helping build connections and creating opportunities,” FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said. A mix of fun and high stakes competition, the tournament attracts teams from the corporate and sports worlds across the globe. WR Chess which has dominated the event since its launch, has already announced the key players in its team, including Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Hou Yifan and others. In recent years Hong Kong has become a serious international host for large open and regional events. The Hong Kong International Open Chess Championship in 2025 drew more than 400 players, including more than 80 titled participants. Most recently, the city hosted the 2025 Eastern Asia Juniors and Girls Chess Championships at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium. “This is the first time Hong Kong will host a major global chess event and it is important to us to use the opportunity to promote the tournament, chess and the host city to a new audience,” Dvorkovich added. The winners of the World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships since 2023 In 2023, the inaugural FIDE World Rapid Team Championship featured rapid only with no blitz. It was a 12 round Swiss event, won by the WR Chess Team. In 2024, the event expanded to include blitz. The rapid remained a 12 round Swiss and was won by Al Ain ACMG from the UAE, while the blitz debuted in a two-stage format, with pool round robins, followed by a 16-team knockout. WR Chess won the blitz. In 2025, the structure stayed the same. Rapid was a 12 round Swiss, won by Team MGD1. Blitz followed the same format of pool stage and a 16 team knockout and was again won by WR Chess Team. More details about the regulations, prize fund and competition will be announced in due course.
Jan Timman (1951-2026)
FIDE and the entire chess community mourn the passing of Jan Timman, who died on February 18 at the age of 74. The nine-time Dutch champion, elite player from the late 1970s through the early 1990s, multiple-time Candidates participant, he will be remembered for his imaginative playing style, outstanding competitive achievements and rich literary legacy. Born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Timman learned chess around the age of eight and quickly showed exceptional talent. His first notable success came at the 1967 World Junior Championship in Jerusalem where, aged just 15, he won the bronze medal. Timman earned the International Master title in 1971 and he was awarded the Grandmaster title in 1974, becoming only the third Dutch player to achieve this honor after Max Euwe and Jan Hein Donner. The same year he won his first Dutch championship title. His rapid ascent continued with a string of excellent results in international tournaments. In Hastings 1973/74 he shared victory with Tal, Kuzmin, and Szabó; he then went on to win Sombor 1974 (jointly with Boris Gulko), Netanya 1975, Reykjavík 1976 (with Fridrik Olafsson), Amsterdam IBM 1978, Nikšić 1978 (with Gulko) and Vidmar Memorial 1979. At the peak of his career, Timman stood out as the best non-Soviet player earning the moniker “the best of the West”. By 1982 he was ranked second in the world, behind only Anatoly Karpov. In the 1980s Timman won a number of very strong tournaments, including Amsterdam IBM in 1981, Wijk aan Zee in 1981 and 1985, Linares in 1988, Euwe Memorial 1987 (with Karpov) and 1989, and the 1989 World Cup tournament in Rotterdam. Other triumphs included Las Palmas 1981, Mar del Plata 1982, Bugojno 1984, and Sarajevo 1984 (shared with Korchnoi). Timman’s quest for the chess crown began in 1972, but he first qualified for the Candidates in 1985 after winning the Interzonal in Taxco. His pursuit culminated in the title match of the 1993 FIDE World Championship against Anatoly Karpov (organized by FIDE following the Kasparov–Short split), which Timman lost. Timman represented the Netherlands in 13 Chess Olympiads from 1972 to 2004, playing on the top board on 11 occasions. In 1976 he won the gold medal for the best individual performance on board one. Beyond competition, Timman made significant contributions as a chess writer and editor, including long-term roles with New in Chess magazine and authoring several acclaimed books such as The Art of Chess Analysis (1980), The Art of Attacking Chess (2014) and Timman’s Titans (2016). He was also a distinguished endgame study composer – one of the strongest practical players to excel in chess compositions. In October 2025, Jan Timman was inducted into the World Chess Hall of Fame in recognition of his enduring contributions to chess. FIDE and global chess family extend their deepest condolences to Jan Timman’s family, friends and loved ones. Photo: Harry Gielen
2027 FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championships to be held in Weissenhaus
Hamburg, February 19, 2026 – FIDE and Freestyle Chess have agreed that the FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championships will again be staged in Weissenhaus, Germany in 2027. The agreement confirms the continuation of the championship at the Baltic Sea venue following the inaugural edition in 2026. The FIDE Women’s Freestyle Chess World Championship, will take place over three days on the first weekend of February 2027, followed by the FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship over three days on the second weekend of February 2027. The format and calendar have been coordinated between FIDE and Freestyle Chess to ensure continuity within the international chess schedule. The decision follows the successful staging of the first FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship in February 2026. In that event, Magnus Carlsen (Norway) won the title in Weissenhaus, defeating Fabiano Caruana (USA) 2.5–1.5 in the final. As finalists in 2026, Carlsen and Caruana have already qualified for the 2027 World Championship. Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan), who secured third place in 2026, also earned direct qualification for the 2027 edition. Bibisara Assaubayeva (Kazakhstan) qualified for the 2027 Women’s FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship by winning the 2026 exhibition match against Alexandra Kosteniuk (Switzerland). By returning to the Weissenhaus Private Nature Luxury Resort, FIDE and Freestyle Chess aim to consolidate the venue as the home of the Freestyle World Championship. The location provides stable conditions for a compact, high-level knockout format and allows for consistent organizational standards year to year. The continuation at the same venue is intended to strengthen the identity of the Freestyle title within the broader FIDE world championship framework. The partnership between FIDE and Freestyle Chess, formalized ahead of the 2026 edition, establishes the FIDE Freestyle World Championship as an officially recognized world title. The agreed multi-year planning framework provides predictability for players, organizers, and commercial partners, and supports the integration of Freestyle Chess into the global competitive calendar. The championship cycle will continue to include qualifying events. The next confirmed step in that pathway is the grenke Freestyle Chess Open, to be held April 2–6, 2026, in Karlsruhe, Germany. For the first time, the grenke event will carry official qualification status for the FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship. Jan Henric Buettner, co-founder and CEO of Freestyle Chess, said: “The decision to return to Weissenhaus in 2027 reflects our commitment to building a stable and credible world championship cycle for Freestyle Chess. Continuity of venue and structure allows us to focus on sporting quality and long-term development.” Arkady Dvorkovich, President of FIDE, said: “The 2026 championship marked an important milestone as the first official Freestyle Chess World Championship, recognized by FIDE. By confirming Weissenhaus as the stage for 2027, we are reinforcing the institutional framework of the title and supporting the continued growth of this format within the international chess ecosystem, in compliance with FIDE’s rules and regulations.” Freestyle Chess is also known as Chess960 or FIDE Fischer Random Chess, as per the FIDE Charter. The FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship is a continuation of FIDE’s previous events in the Fischer Random format (held in 2019 and 2022).
Selection completed for the Freedom Asian Chess Initiatives (FACI) 2026 Project
The Kazakhstan Chess Federation has announced the results of the selection process for national chess federations in the Freedom Asian Chess Initiatives (FACI) 2026 project. The application period for the new stage of the initiative, implemented with the support of Freedom Holding Corp., FIDE, and the Asian Chess Federation (ACF), concluded in early January. Following a comprehensive review of applications, the following countries have been approved as participants of FACI 2026: 🇰🇭 Cambodia 🇯🇵 Japan 🇯🇴 Jordan 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan 🇳🇵 Nepal 🇵🇰 Pakistan 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan The selection was based on compliance with the project criteria and the potential for sustainable chess development in the respective countries. The FACI project aims to foster at the sustainable development of chess across Asia through strengthening national federations, enhancing professional training standards, and promoting international cooperation. The program includes training camps, educational seminars, and support for participation in international competitions. In 2025, FACI supported seven national chess federations: Oman, Cambodia, Nepal, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka, Jordan, and Pakistan. The participating countries demonstrated strong sporting results, including prize-winning finishes at international tournaments. Several federations also received grant support to participate in the FIDE World Cadet Chess Championship held in Almaty, providing young players with valuable experience competing at the highest international level. KazChess warmly congratulate selected federations on becoming part of FACI 2026. May this initiative open new opportunities, and contribute to the continued growth and unity of the Asian chess community. More detailed information about the FACI project is available in our video feature and on our website.
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