Cuban Championship: Lelys Martinez wins maiden national title
GM Lelys Martinez emerged as the winner of the 2026 Cuban National Championship, claiming his first national title. The Absolute National Chess Championship, a nine-round Swiss event with classical time control, was held at the Girasol Hotel in Havana from February 4–12. Seventh seed Martinez seized the lead after Round 4, but three rounds later, four players – including Jorge Roberto Elías – caught up with him to tie for first place. In Round 8, the future champion scored a crucial victory over IM Michel Díaz Pérez and surged ahead as all his rivals drew their games. Going into the final round a half-point ahead of three of his closest rivals, Martinez defeated IM Daniel Hidalgo with the Black pieces to secure the title with 7/9. Meanwhile, Ermes Espinosa prevailed over FM César Alejandro Pérez to take silver, finishing half a point behind the champion. The 2025 champion, Jorge Roberto Elías, rounded out the podium with bronze, scoring 6/9. Final standings (chess-results) Photos: Federación Cubana de Ajedrez Facebook
Join the Global Celebration of Women and Girls in Chess!
March is a time to celebrate women, and what better way to do so than through chess? Following a strong and inspiring first global Chess Women’s Day Celebration last year, the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess once again invites federations, clubs, and organizers around the world to take part in this shared initiative throughout March, the Chess Women’s Day Celebration: Visible, Connected, Worldwide. This year’s theme, “Visible, Connected, Worldwide” reflects what we aim to achieve together: increasing the visibility of chess events celebrating women and girls, strengthening connections between local communities and organisers across continents, and highlighting the many fantastic projects happening worldwide. Every event counts. By making these efforts visible and connected, we strengthen their impact and remind each other that we are part of something truly global. Are you planning a chess event in March to celebrate women and girls? Whether it’s a tournament, a mixed or women-focused event, a simultaneous exhibition, a lecture, a workshop, or any special gathering – we want to hear about it! By joining this global celebration, your event becomes part of a worldwide network of activities, all united by a common goal: to bring people together through chess and to make women and girls more visible within our chess communities. The strength of this initiative lies in its diversity – many events, many voices, one shared moment. Last year demonstrated the power of this collective effort. This year, we hope to build on that energy and create even more impact – together. How to get involved: Plan a chess event celebrating women and girls Let us know about it by reaching out to us and tagging our social media Join a global celebration promoting women in chess Contact us to be part of the Chess Women’s Day Celebration. Together, we can increase visibility, strengthen connections, and inspire more women and girls to take part in chess around the world. For more details and to share your event with us, please contact: anna.kantane@gmail.com Find us on our social media: Instagram and Facebook. FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess official website: https://wom.fide.com/
Estonian Team Championships: Diagonaal repeats victory, Kaksikodad claims overall crown
Photo: Karl Erik Olde The 2026 Estonian Chess Team Championships concluded in Tallinn this past weekend. Held from February 6–8 at the Paul Keres Chess House, the competition featured fourteen teams in the Open tournament and four in the Women’s section. MK Kaksikodad (pictured below) claimed first place in the combined standings, lifting the club’s historic traveling trophy – established in 1991 – for the first time. Kaksikodad shared first place in the Women’s tournament and finished third in the Open. SK Reval-Sport, which had won the cup the two previous years, did not participate. Photo: Photo: Karl Erik Olde SK Diagonaal (pictured on the top) won the Open event for the second consecutive year, scoring nine match points out of ten. Their lineup included Estonia’s top-rated player, GM Aleksandr Volodin, along with Dmitri Petrov, Valeri Golubenko, Vyacheslav Koop, and Andrei Skladtshikov. The runner-up, Tonu Truusi MKK, netted an equal amount of match points but finished half a game point behind the champions. Their team featured International Masters Sergei Zjukin and Andrei Shishkov, FIDE Master Ilja Haitin, Marti Medar, and Georg Abozenko. Third place went to the first team of MK Kaksikodad (FIDE Master Oliver Wartiovaara, Georg Aleksander Pedoson, Candidate Masters Tormi Kull and Daniil Shnurov, Aaron Rajandu, Markus Hansson, and Karl Kristofer Orgse). Final standings – Open Photo: Markus Hansson In the Women’s tournament, three teams shared first place, each scoring four match points out of six and finishing equal on all tie-break criteria. As a result, the titles were awarded to MK Vektor (Women’s FIDE Master Sofia Blokhin, Maria Helena Rudiger, and Alexis Miriam Reren), MK Kaksikodad (Woman Candidate Master Maria Ioanna Haapsal and Leelo Mia Thimm), and Tallinna MK (Women International Masters Margareth Olde – the reigning Estonian Women’s Champion – and Margit Brokko, along with Woman Candidate Master Grete Olde), which had won the Women’s tournament in the previous two years. Final standings – Women Estonian Chess Federation’s website: https://maleliit.ee/
Teacher training in Eritrea lays foundation for future chess talent
The Eritrean National Chess Federation (ENCF) has taken a significant step in strengthening grassroots chess development through a teacher training programme held from February 2-6, 2026. The course trained educators to coach junior and high school students. The five-day course focused on equipping educators with the practical coaching skills, age-appropriate training methods and the effective ways to introduce chess within school environments. Sessions were highly interactive, combining theory with hands-on activities designed to make learning engaging and accessible for young players. Participants described the training as both informative and enjoyable, noting its emphasis on creativity, critical thinking and student engagement. Beyond technical instruction, the programme also highlighted chess as a tool for education, discipline and character development. Officials from the ENCF said the initiative is part of a long-term strategy to build a sustainable pipeline of players by investing in coaches at the school level. With a growing pool of trained and motivated teachers, the federation is confident the impact will be felt in the near future. “Now that we have devoted and well-prepared coaches, we are confident that strong players will emerge within the next two to three years,” an ENCF official noted. The training programme represents a major milestone for chess development in Eritrea, laying a solid foundation for future national talent and reinforcing the federation’s commitment to structured, school-based chess growth.
Bruno Parma (1941-2026)
The chess world mourns the passing of Yugoslav-Slovene Grandmaster Bruno Parma, who departed this life at the age of 84. Born in Ljubljana in 1941, then part of Italian-occupied Slovenia, Parma learned chess during his school years. His early career was marked by significant success in youth competitions. As a high school student, he secured second place at the 1959 World Junior Championship at the age of 17. Two years later, Parma won the World Junior Championship outright in The Hague, Netherlands, earning the International Master title. Parma was awarded the Grandmaster title in 1963 following his success at the Beverwijk tournament, becoming the third Slovenian to achieve this distinction. Among his most notable international results were a second-place finish in San Juan, Puerto Rico (1969), behind Boris Spassky, and shared first place with Georgi Tringov in Vršac (1973). A regular participant in the highly competitive Yugoslav Championships for over two decades, Parma never captured the national title but achieved a shared third-place finish in Čatežske Toplice (1968), behind co-winners Svetozar Gligorić and Borislav Ivkov. Parma represented Yugoslavia at eight Chess Olympiads (1962, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1978, and 1980), contributing to four team silver and two team bronze medals. He also played for Yugoslavia in nine USSR vs. Yugoslavia matches held throughout the 1960s and 1970s. After retiring from competitive play in the late 1980s, Parma transitioned to coaching. He served as a selector for both the Yugoslav national team and the inaugural Slovenian national team, helping to foster the development of future generations of players in post-independence Slovenia. FIDE expresses its deepest condolences to Bruno Parma’s family, friends, and loved ones.
Georgian Championship 2026: Baadur Jobava and Nino Batsiashvili claim titles
Baadur Jobava and Nino Batsiashvili have been crowned Georgian chess champions, each claiming their fifth national title. The 85th Georgian Chess Championship and the 83rd Georgian Women’s Chess Championship were held concurrently in Tbilisi from January 27 to February 5, 2026. Both competitions were 10-player round-robins with classical time control. Top seed Jobava lived up to his status as the pre‑tournament favorite, seizing the lead in Round 4 and preserving it to the finish. Entering the final round on 5.5/8 – a half‑point ahead of Tornike Sanikidze and a full point ahead of Luka Kiladze – he secured the title with a quick draw against his nearest rival as all other games also ended in draws. Sanikidze took silver, while Kiladze completed the podium with bronze. Notably, the champion and the runner-up completed the event unbeaten. Final standings – Open Nino Batsiashvili continued her impressive run of strong results, dominating the women’s event. The top seed strung together five consecutive victories in Round 4-8 and secured the title with a round to spare, finishing on 7.5/9. In the final round, Meri Arabidze defeated Lela Javakhishvili in a hard‑fought encounter and caught up to tie for second place. However, Javakhishvili claimed silver on the Sonneborn–Berger tiebreak, leaving Arabidze with bronze. Final standings – Women Photos: Georgian Chess Federation Facebook
Abdusattorov tops FIDE Circuit 2026-27 leaderboard after Tata Steel triumph
Nodirbek Abdusattorov has taken the lead in the FIDE Circuit 2026–27 following his impressive victory at the Tata Steel Masters 2026, netting him 25.78 points. As the first major of the year and one of the most point‑heavy tournaments on the calendar, the Tata Steel Masters propelled its top finishers into prominent positions: Javokhir Sindarov, Hans Niemann, Jorden van Foreest, and Vincent Keymer now occupy the places directly behind the leader. Andy Woodward, winner of the Tata Steel Challengers, holds sixth place with 7.46 points, while runner‑up Vasyl Ivanchuk ranks eighth. The traditional Rilton Cup, which concluded in early January, initially produced an early circuit leader, the event’s winner Xu Xiangyu. However, following the Tata Steel tournaments, he has slipped to seventh place in the standings. Rounding out the top 10 are the top two finishers from the Brazil Series in Florianópolis: Andre Diamant with 5.42 points and Aryan Tari with 4.81 points. Dedicated page for the FIDE Circuit 2026-27 is maintained on our website, featuring the latest information on eligible tournaments, current standings, and regulations. Visit: FIDE Circuit 2026-27
New competition format for the 2026 World Schools Team Championship
The World Schools Team Championship (WSTC) will adopt a new tournament structure for its 2026 edition, featuring four continental qualifying stages followed by a four-team Grand Final in December. First held in 2023 in Kazakhstan and then in 2025 in the US, the World Schools Team Championship is the primary global scholastic chess competition, jointly organised by FIDE and the International School Chess Federation (ISCF) in cooperation with Continental bodies. The 2026 edition will take place during the Year of Chess in Education, a joint FIDE and ISCF initiative to promote the role and value of chess as part of education, supporting both cognitive and social development among schoolchildren. In October 2025, FIDE and ISCF signed a Memorandum of Cooperation, which announced a series of international school team tournaments for 2026. The WSTC will serve as a flagship circuit of the “Chess in Education 2026” programme. It was then announced that the tournaments would unfold in two stages: Continental Championships for Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe and the Grand Final, featuring the winners of the respective Continental Championships. FIDE and ISCF now announce the structure of the new format and the regulations for the event. The 2026 cycle will consist of four continental stages: Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe, all held throughout 2026. Each continental championship will produce one champion school team that will directly qualify for the Grand Final, which will take place in December 2026 as a four-team tournament. The WSTC 2026 will kick off with the Asian Continental stage in Almaty, Kazakhstan in early April. Exact dates and locations for all stages will be announced at a later date. Only teams representing a single general educational institution (such as a school) may take part in the event. Each team must include at least one boy and at least one girl, with possible exceptions for single-gender schools. Eligible players must have been born between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2018 (inclusive). The regulations explicitly provide for substantial organiser support for participating teams. “Everyone has something they can learn from someone or teach someone. By bringing together children from different countries and cultures to play chess, we are sowing the seeds of knowledge, creativity and multiculturalism, which are essential for a thriving life and society. The ISCF is excited to be partnering with FIDE on this project, and we are looking forward to a successful series of events in the Year of Chess in Education,” ISCF President Timur Turlov said. “FIDE has consistently championed education and learning, and we have always believed that chess is a powerful tool for education, whether among children or adults. After the successful Year of Social Chess in 2025, we have dedicated 2026 to education and to children in school. The four continental championships, as well as the Grand Final, will not only further promote chess in schools, but will be an impulse for many schoolchildren to take up the game, spreading the wonder of our sport further. We are exceptionally grateful to ISCF for their work on this project, which has the full backing of FIDE,” said Dana Reizniece, Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board. The regulations for the FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship 2026 can be found [HERE]. Official email: worldschoolteam@fide.com Official website (coming soon): https://worldschoolteam2026.fide.com/ About ISCF: The International School Chess Federation (ISCF) is dedicated to the promotion and integration of chess within the educational system globally. Launched in September 2024 as a FIDE affiliated organisation, the ISCF operates as a main institutional platform for advancing chess in schools, developing educational programmes, supporting national federations and fostering cognitive and social growth among students through the game of chess. Official website: https://ischoolchess.com/
From local vision to European stage: The New Zagreb Classic’s remarkable rise
Launched two years ago the New Zagreb Classic has grown into one of the biggest open tournaments in Europe. Here’s what makes it special. When, in 2024, a group of four people, colloquially known as Chess Dads, set out to build an international tournament from scratch, their main motivation was giving their children, talented players from SK Novi Zagreb, a taste of chess on the “big stage”: a well-organized, ‘proper’ competition where they could face not only peers but also adults at comparable skill levels – something that previously required traveling outside Zagreb and Croatia. They envisioned a tournament where everyone – regardless of their age, gender, nationality or rating – would feel welcome and valued. They called it the New Zagreb Classic, reflecting not only their club’s name but also their aspiration to set new standards while respecting the local rich tradition. Two years later, the New Zagreb Classic 2026, held from January 30 to February 1 in one of the city’s best hotels, the Sheraton, brought together 506 players from 36 federations compete on the chess board. That makes it not only the biggest Open tournament with classic time control (90+30) in Croatia, but now also one of top 10 in Europe by participation. The compact format proved a big hit: players were divided into five rating‑based sections of approximately 100 participants each, with all five rounds condensed into a single weekend (Friday afternoon through Sunday evening). This structure made the event accessible to players who could not take extended time away from work or school. The New Zagreb Classic 2026 had it all – from beginners and pure enthusiasts to FIDE Masters, International Masters and even Grandmasters. Rather than aiming for elite players, the organizers made an extra effort to attract Croatia’s strongest cadets, talents from neighboring countries, and promising juniors from across Europe. These young players provided some of the tournament’s most memorable moments. Samuel Bro Jacobsen, a player from Denmark (born in 2014), scored the biggest upset in the top-tier group, defeating the Croatian-French veteran GM Darko Anic, while CM Andras Ilko-Toth (also born in 2014) of Hungary held Avinash Ramesh, a strong, up-and-coming Indian IM, to a draw and completed the event unbeaten. Ilko-Toth tied on points with 14-year-old Erik Golubovic, Croatia’s youngest FIDE Master, who came fifth in the final ranking as the highest-placed among these stars of the future. IM Vladyslav Larkin of Ukraine won the Open A tournament, ahead of FM Vinko Malada (Croatia) and FM Nicolas Perossa (Italy). WFM Elizaveta Dorokhina, competing under FIDE flag, was the top-scoring female player, followed by WFM Barbara Skuhala and WFM Petra Kejzar, both from Slovenia. Every group and every player had their own unique story – be it a breakthrough achievement, a crushing disappointment or just pure joy of play. The tournament’s growing significance in the local chess community was evident in the roughly 30 unrated adults who chose the New Zagreb Classic for their competitive debuts – many playing in their first official tournament or returning to competitive chess after years away. And probably the most heartening sight came after the final round: players of vastly different ages, backgrounds, and strengths mingled freely and, while awaiting the awards ceremony, spontaneously launched into friendly blitz games. It is exactly this kind of diversity and the instant bond chess can provide that embody the ‘Gens una sumus’ motto and make the New Zagreb Classic truly special. Complete results (chess-results) Official tournament website: newzgclassic.com/
History of the Candidates: From Budapest (1950) to Cyprus (2026)
The Candidates Tournament, the final test that a player must pass to challenge the World Champion in chess, has a rich history dating back to 1950. This event emerged as a response to the need for a systematic approach to determine a world championship challenger. Prior to 1950, contenders had to navigate a maze of negotiations directly with the champion, secure funding, and organise a match – a process that lacked structure and consistency. The turning point came in 1950 when Budapest hosted the inaugural Candidates Tournament, a 10-player double round-robin to select the Challenger for the then World Champion, Mikhail Botvinnik. This tradition, set in Budapest, continued almost every third year until 1993, alternating between tournaments and matches. However, the early 1990s saw a disruption due to the split in the world championship structure. The Candidates Tournament returned to prominence in 2007 as part of the unified cycle, initially in the form of matches. The modern-day era has witnessed notable tournaments in London (2013), Khanty-Mansiysk (2014), Moscow (2016), Berlin (2018), Yekaterinburg (2020-2021), Madrid (2022) and Toronto (2024), each contributing to the great history of the championship qualification process. Cyprus now writes the next chapter in this distinguished lineage. The Inaugural Tournament in Budapest (1950) The inaugural Candidates Tournament was held in Budapest from April 11 to May 18, 1950. It was a double round-robin with ten contenders—Bronstein, Boleslavsky, Smyslov, Keres, Najdorf, Kotov, Stahlberg, Lilienthal, Szabo, and Flohr. The event in Budapest became the only Candidates Tournament to end in a tie for first place with no tiebreaker in place. Bronstein and Boleslavsky had to play a playoff match held in Moscow in the summer of 1950. It ended in another tie, but Bronstein won the first decisive game and became the official Challenger. He drew a match with Botvinnik, who retained his title, as an equal score favoured the champion at the time. The Memorable Second Candidates (1953) The second Candidates stands out as one of the most famous chess tournaments ever, thanks to the timeless popularity of excellent tournament books by participants David Bronstein and Miguel Najdorf. The tournament was a massive affair – a double round-robin with 15 contestants, meaning each participant played 28 games. The superb lineup contributed to the rich chess heritage of this event: Smyslov, Bronstein, Keres, Reshevsky, Petrosian, Geller, Najdorf, Kotov, Taimanov, Averbakh, Boleslavsky, Szabo, Gligoric, Euwe, Stahlberg (named in order of final standings). The clear winner, Vasily Smyslov, went on to draw his first match with Botvinnik, who, therefore, retained the title. Amsterdam 1956 and the Success of Vasily Smyslov Photo: GaHetNa (Nationaal Archief NL) The 1956 Candidates Tournament in Amsterdam showcased the remarkable success of Vasily Smyslov, who secured victory for the second consecutive time. Finishing 1.5 points above the field of 10 players, he lost only one game – to 19-year-old debutant Boris Spassky. Having reached his prime form, the next year, Smyslov beat Botvinnik 12½-9½ in the match for the title and became the 7th World Chess Champion. Yugoslavia 1959 – A Chess Odyssey After winning the rematch against Smyslov 12½–10½ in 1958, Botvinnik was again the World Champion and awaited a new Challenger. In 1959, Yugoslavia hosted the Candidates Tournament, narrowing down to eight participants. In a quadruple round-robin, meaning each player meeting every opponent four times, 28 games were played in total. Three cities in Yugoslavia hosted the event, with the first half played in Bled and then moving to Zagreb and finally Belgrade. Despite the disastrous result against Keres (1-3), the young 22-year-old debutant Mikhail Tal swept through the rest of the field – Petrosian, Smyslov, Gligoric, the other remarkable newcomer 16-year-old Fischer, Olafsson and Benko. Half a year later, “the magician from Riga” took the title from Botvinnik, defeating the Soviet chess Patriarch 12½–8½. Curacao 1962 – The Caribbean Challenge And again, the World Champion was Mikhail Botvinnik. Like Smyslov, Tal held the title only for a year before handing it back to the Patriarch, who won the rematch 13-8. The next Challenger for the resilient and ever-resourceful but ageing 50-year-old Botvinnik was to be determined in the Caribbean. The eight-player quadruple round-robin format stood another test – Petrosian, Geller, Keres, Fischer, Korchnoi, Benko, Tal and Filip were to stay on the tropical island for two months. Tal’s deteriorating health did not let him finish the event, and he withdrew after 21 rounds. At the height of the Cold War, all eyes were on the performance of 19-year-old Bobby Fischer, but he was not yet ready to stand up against the Soviet chess machine, especially when its players had the benefit of making short draws between each other. Tigran Petrosian won the tournament without losing a single game and went on to become the 9th World Champion. 1965-1968 – The Era of Matches The Candidates Matches of 1965 and 1968 were the golden era of Boris Spassky, who won both events. In their first match, Tigran Petrosian held his title by one point, 12½–11½, but in the second encounter, three years later, he was defeated by the younger opponent (Spassky was eight years his junior) 12½–10½. 1971 – Fischer’s Dominance The next cycle went into the history of chess as Robert (Bobby) Fischer’s crescendo of dominant victories, culminating in the famous 1972 Reykjavik Spassky-Fischer face-off, dubbed the Match of the Century. Fischer’s remarkable victories in the Candidates matches, beating Taimanov 6–0, Larsen 6–0, and Petrosian 6½–2½, paved the way for him to face Spassky. In the World Championship Match, he dethroned Spassky with 12½–8½ and became the 11th World Chess Champion. 1974 – 1984 – Anatoly Karpov’s Era In the decade following the Match of the Century, Anatoly Karpov gathered momentum and turned into the chess scene’s leading actor, winning the Candidate Matches 1974 and becoming the 12th World Champion following Fischer’s withdrawal. His historic battles with Victor Korchnoi, winner of the 1977-78 and 1980 Candidate Matches, and later with Garry Kasparov, winner of the 1983-84 Candidate Matches, are some of the 20th-century chess saga’s