Queens’ Online Chess Festival returns in March 2026
The Queens’ Online Chess Festival will return in March 2026, marking its 6th edition as a global celebration of women’s chess. Organised by the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess under the Chess4All FIDE WOM Project, the festival will run from March 1-29, 2026 and is dedicated to International Women’s Day (March 8). Participation is free of charge, and the festival is open to women and girls of all ages and playing levels, including unrated players from around the world. The 2026 edition of the Queens’ Online Chess Festival will once again feature two parallel competitions, offering opportunities for both rated and unrated players: Queens’ Women’s Open Tournament Unrated Princesses’ Tournament Queens’ Women’s Open TournamentOpen to all female players with a FIDE ID, the Women’s Open is structured as a series of continental online blitz qualifiers, followed by a Semi-Final and a Final. The qualification tournaments will take place as follows: African Online Blitz Qualification – March 1 (9:00 UTC) European Online Blitz Qualification – March 7 (9:00 UTC) Asian Online Blitz Qualification – March 8 (9:00 UTC) American Online Blitz Qualification – March 15 (13:00 UTC) Each continental qualifier will be played as a 9-round Swiss tournament with a 3+2 blitz time control. The winner of each qualifier will receive the title of Queen of her respective continent. The top 25 players from each continent will advance to the Queens’ Online Semi-Final, scheduled for March 22 at 13:00 UTC, where 100 players will compete in a 9-round Swiss tournament. The top eight finishers from the Semi-Final will qualify for the Queens’ Online Final, a 7-round round-robin blitz tournament played on March 29 at 13:00 UTC, with a 5+5 time control, to determine the overall winner of the festival. Registration deadlines for the continental qualification tournaments are as follows: Africa: February 22, 2026 Europe & Asia: March 1, 2026 Americas: March 7, 2026 The registration form for the Queens’ Women’s Open is available [HERE]. Unrated Princesses’ TournamentDesigned for girls without a FIDE rating, the Unrated Princesses’ Tournament is open to players in the U9, U11, U13, U15, and U17 age categories (U17 players must be born on or after 1 January 2009). The Princesses’ competition will include: Online Qualification Group A – March 16 (9:00 UTC) Online Qualification Group B – March 16 (13:00 UTC) Online Final Stage U9, U11, U13, U15, U17 – March 29 (13:00 UTC) All stages of the Princesses’ tournament will be played with a 5+5 blitz time control, with 7 rounds for each qualification stage Unrated players under 17 years old may choose to participate in the Queens’ Women’s Open, the Unrated Princesses’ Tournament, or both events. Registration for the Princesses’ tournament closes on March 8, 2026. The registration form is available [HERE]. Fair play and online regulations Fair play remains a central pillar of the Queens’ Online Chess Festival. All Semi-Final and Final stages will be conducted under FIDE Online Chess Regulations, including mandatory Zoom supervision, screen sharing, and camera monitoring. All games will undergo post-event fair play verification using statistical analysis tools and the FIDE Screening Tool. Awards All participants will receive an electronic certificate of participation. Additional awards include: Queens’ Women’s Open Continental titles for the winners of each qualification tournament 100 USD FIDE shop voucher for the winners of each qualification tournament Training sessions with Women Grandmasters for top performers A prize fund of USD 600 for the top three finishers in the Queens’ Women’s Open Final An invitation for the overall winner of the Queens’ Women’s Open to attend the 46th World Chess Olympiad 2026 in Uzbekistan, including three nights of hotel accommodation with full board Unrated Princesses’ Tournament Diplomas for the top three finishers in each age category for both qualification stages of the Princesses’ Chess Festival Training sessions with Women Grandmasters for top performers A physical trophy for the winner of the final 100 USD FIDE shop voucher for the final winner, and 50 USD vouchers for second and third place finishers. We are looking forward to your registrations! Regulations (PDF) Contact Information: General Director: Ozgur Solakoglu (TUR)Tournament Director: Ulkar Umudova (AZE)Festival Coordinator: Yilmaz Kar tal (TUR)Chief Arbiter: IA Kaussar Bauyrzhan (KAZ) E-mail address: queensfestival@fide.com FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess official website: wom.fide.com/
Winners crowned at Muscat Nights International Chess Championship 2026
The Muscat Nights International Chess Championship 2026 concluded in Muscat, Oman. Running from January 14–24, 2026, the competition has grown into one of the most significant FIDE-rated international chess events in the Middle East. Organized by the Oman Chess Committee and hosted at the Al Amal Club Hall, the championship attracted a broad global field and delivered a strong competitive standard across two categories – Over 2000 (Open A) and Under 2000 (Open B). Both competitions were 9-round Swiss tournaments with classical time control. The event also featured a highly competitive blitz tournament. The 2026 edition continued the strong legacy of previous years, seeing expansion in both participation and international diversity. The championship featured 270 players representing 36 countries, including more than 10 GMs and over 10 IMs. The strong presence of titled players provided valuable competitive exposure for regional and emerging players. The competition in Oman was widely recognized for its organizational quality, competitive excitement, and its contribution to the local and international chess ecosystem. Final standings – Open A Final standings – Open B Final standings – Blitz Indian players delivered particularly strong results, sweeping top honors across two categories and once again proving the strength of their national chess development programs. As part of the accompanying programs of the Muscat Nights Chess Championship, the Oman Chess Committee organized a cultural sightseeing tour for the participating players, which included visits to several prominent tourist and cultural landmarks in Muscat Governorate, such as Mutrah Souq, Al Alam Palace Square, the National Museum, and the Royal Opera House Muscat. This initiative was aimed to introduce participants to the Sultanate of Oman’s rich cultural and historical heritage, while enhancing their overall experience beyond the competitive atmosphere of the tournament. In addition, the Committee organized friendly football matches for the players at the outdoor artificial pitch of the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher, following the conclusion of the daily competitive rounds. These recreational activities were designed to strengthen bonds of friendship, encourage interaction, and promote camaraderie among players from different countries.
Nodirbek Abdusattorov wins Tata Steel Chess Masters 2026
Nodirbek Abdusattorov emerged victorious at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2026. After thirteen rounds of top-level chess in Wijk aan Zee, the Uzbek grandmaster claimed the Tata Steel Masters title on his fourth attempt. The 88th edition of the tournament, often referred to as the “Wimbledon of chess”, was held from January 16 to February 1 and once again brought together the world’s best players, emerging talents and hundreds of amateur chess players under one roof. A thrilling final weekend The battle for first place remained open until the very last round. Going into the final 13th round, no fewer than five players were still in contention for the Masters title: Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Javokhir Sindarov, Hans Niemann, Vincent Keymer and Jorden van Foreest. Abdusattorov had come agonizingly close to winning the tournament in the previous three editions, each time staying among the leaders until the final weekend. In 2026, he finally converted that consistency into overall victory, adding his name to the tournament’s long list of champions. Reaction from the tournament director Tournament director Jeroen van den Berg praised the winner’s performance: “What a great achievement by Nodirbek Abdusattorov. He played at a very high and stable level throughout the tournament. In recent years he was always very close, and now he has rightfully won the title. I congratulate him warmly and of course invite him to return next year to defend his crown in Wijk aan Zee.” Andy Woodward wins the Challengers In the Tata Steel Challengers, Andy Woodward emerged victorious after a closely contested tournament. With his win, Woodward earns an invitation to compete in the Tata Steel Masters 2027, continuing the tournament’s long-standing tradition of promotion from the Challengers group. Vasyl Ivanchuk and Aydin Suleymanli both remained in the race for the Challengers title until the final round! Global reach and new highlights The Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2026 once again attracted a worldwide audience. Games from De Moriaan were followed live by hundreds of thousands of viewers each day, with peak viewing numbers reaching close to one million. New this year was the Tata Steel Chess Rapid Tournament at Hotel Hoge Duin, adding an extra dimension to the event’s already extensive program. Alongside the Masters and Challengers, the tournament also featured numerous amateur tournaments, the Tata Steel Chess Festival for families and children, and live commentary at Café de Zon. Looking ahead After the final games concluded, the prize ceremony took place in De Moriaan, bringing the 88th edition of the tournament to a close. The 89th edition of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament will be held from 15 to 31 January 2027 in Wijk aan Zee. Once again, world-class grandmasters, rising talents and amateur players will come together for two weeks of chess at the highest level. Text and photos: tatasteelchess.com/ Official website: tatasteelchess.com/
FIDE February 2026 rating list published
The first month of the year brought few significant changes at the top of the rating lists. The sole notable shift was Tan Zhongyi’s return to the women’s top five following her strong performance in the Chinese Chess League Division A (+11 points). January has traditionally been the month of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, but the results of this year’s first major event, concluding tonight, will be incorporated into the March 2026 rating list. Biggest gains in the top 100 Open and Women Li, Rachael WIM USA 2358 (+36) Kairbekova, Amina WGM KAZ 2379 (+31) Efroimski, Marsel IM ISR 2397 (+22) Melamed, Tatjana WGM GER 2355 (+20) Yan, Tianqi WIM CHN 2366 (+19) Erdogmus, Yagiz Kaan GM TUR 2669 (+11) Tan, Zhongyi GM CHN 2535 (+11) Skripchenko, Almira IM FRA 2367 (+10) Alekseenko, Kirill GM AUT 2648 (+9) Xiao, Yiui WGM CHN 2361 (+9) This month’s list of top gainers is dominated by women. WIM Rachael Li leads the category after an excellent showing at the 35th Annual North American Open, where she gained 30 points to make her debut in the women’s top 100. Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club / Crystall Fuller Amina Kairbekova’s solid performance at the Marienbad Open brought her 31 points, propelling the Kazakh youngster to a career-high 61st position on the women’s list. Shining in the Israel National Team Championship and the Israeli Open, Marsel Efroimski gained 20 points to debut in the women’s top 50. Photo: Mark Livshitz Tatjana Melamed (+20) and Yan Tianqi (+19) collected valuable rating points in the team competitions, in Germany and China respectively. Continuing his upward trajectory since last March, Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus added another 11 points to his tally after defeating Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the Clash of Generations II, marking his first appearance in the Open top 50. Almira Skripchenko picked up 10 rating points in two competitions in Sweden, while Kirill Alekseenko earned 9 points in the Schachbundesliga 2025-2026. The recently concluded European Women’s Rapid and Blitz Championships generated notable rating movements on both rapid and women’s lists. In the rapid event, Alexandra Kosteniuk (+15), Nino Batsiashvili (+11), Ekaterina Atalik (+11) and Mai Narva (+17) were the main beneficiaries. The blitz competition produced even larger gains with standout performances by Yuliia Osmak (+49), Bella Khotenashvili (+32), Nino Batsiashvili (+39), Oliwia Kiolbasa (+78), Alicja Sliwicka (+62) and Olga Badelka (+51).
Media accreditation opens for FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026
FIDE is pleased to announce the opening of media accreditation to the FIDE candidates Tournament and the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament. Dates: March 18 – April 16, 2026 Location: Paphos, Cyprus The 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament and the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament form the final qualifying stage of the FIDE World Championship cycle. Each tournament features eight of the world’s strongest players competing in a double round-robin format over fourteen rounds of classical chess. At the conclusion of the events, the winners secure the right to challenge for the FIDE World Chess Championship and FIDE Women’s World Chess Championship titles. Both tournaments are played under classical time controls and are regarded as the most exacting tests in professional chess. Media registration form: candidates2026.fide.com/accreditation-for-media Official website: candidates2026.fide.com We invite all media representatives wishing to cover the tournaments to submit their accreditation applications via the media registration form above. Accreditation is open for all members of the written press, photographic press, online media, and writers and photographers working for publications and/or websites of the FIDE National Member Federations. Accredited event media will collect their badges onsite at the events. A valid travel document containing a photo must be presented to receive media accreditation. The event organisers will ensure a comfortable working environment for all Accredited Media, providing a range of facilities and services at the level established at major FIDE events. We look forward to your coverage of the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament and the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament!
Qualification paths for the FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship 2027
Following the recent announcement of the cooperation agreement between FIDE and Freestyle Chess, the International Chess Federation has now published the qualification paths for the FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship 2027. The 2027 Championship will feature a compact field of eight players who will secure a seat in a cycle of events that will span from April 2026 to January 2027, featuring both online and over-the-board tournaments. The pathways to qualification: 3 players from the FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship 2026 (Top 3 finishers) 1 player from the Grenke Freestyle Chess Open 2026 2 players from a designated OTB or online tournament 1 player from the Freestyle Friday Championship 2026 (season-long online series on Chess.com) 1 player from online tournament, played between January 1 and January 15, 2027 If a qualified player withdraws, the spot will be passed down according to defined sporting criteria which will be announced in due course. The setup ensures that the field represents the most competitive players across classical and online formats. The full text of regulations is published [HERE] As noted above, the first event that will grant a qualifying spot for the 2027 World Championship will be the Grenke Freestyle Chess Open 2026, taking place from April 2-6, 2026. 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).
FIDE announces regulations for Women’s Circuit 2026-2027
The regulations were officially approved by the FIDE Council and cover the period from 1 January 2026 The FIDE Women’s Circuit 2026-27 is a series of top women’s tournaments. Players are awarded Ranking Points (RP) based on performance in these key events. The 2026-2027 edition broadly mirrors the Open Circuit’s structure in widening the scope of eligible tournaments. Some of the key aspects of the new regulations: – The regulations cover the period from 1 January 2026 to 21 December 2027. The Women’s World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2026 and 2027 are eligible regardless of those cut-off dates. – To be included in the Women’s Circuit, a tournament must have the Tournament Average Rating (TAR) not below 2300 for the majority of tournaments (and not below 2400 for FIDE‐rated women’s tournaments pre‐approved by the FIDE Global Strategy Commission). – The ”Tournament Average Rating” (TAR) is now calculated based on the top 12 players in a tournament. If there are fewer than 12 players in the tournament, then the average rating of all the players in the tournament will go towards calculating TAR. – The final score is the sum of the top 12 event scores, or all their event scores if the number of tournaments is under 12. – In order to be eligible to qualify for the FIDE Women’s Candidates 2028, a player’s final score shall consist of at least eight tournaments, including at least five with standard (classical) time control. The regulations for the 2026-2027 Women’s Circuit can be found [HERE] Current standings on the Women’s Circuit Leaderboard Sixteen players now appear on the Women’s Circuit Leaderboard after the recently concluded European Women’s Rapid & Blitz Championships. The rapid champion Nino Batsiashvili from Georgia holds the early lead in the Women’s Circuit, with 13.86 points. She is followed by the blitz champion Eline Roebers on 11.81 points and former Women’s World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk, who finished second in the rapid event, with 10.48 points. The other players are on single-digit scores. We maintain dedicated pages on our website for the FIDE Women’s Circuit 2026 – 2027 featuring the latest information on eligible tournaments, current standings, and regulations. Visit: FIDE Women’s Circuit 2026 – 2027
Empowering teachers, inspiring students: FIDE Chess in Education at Madras Christian College
Chennai, January 22–24, 2026 – A quiet revolution in classroom learning unfolded at Madras Christian College (Autonomous) as the FIDE Chess in Education Commission (CIE), in partnership with the Emmanuel Chess Centre, inaugurated the Chess in Education – Preparation of Teachers’ (PoT) Course. Held at the Blue Whale Hall, MMIP, MCC, the three-day intensive programme focused on equipping teachers – especially from the Tribal Welfare Department – with the skills to bring chess into classrooms, reaching nearly 27,000 tribal children across Tamil Nadu. The course extended far beyond chess fundamentals. Over three immersive days, WIM Rita Atkins and Dr. Joseph Ebenezer guided participants in using chess as a structured pedagogical tool to strengthen academic skills, cultivate critical thinking, and foster life skills. Through interactive sessions, live demonstrations, and hands-on exercises, teachers explored how chess enhances problem-solving, decision-making, and mental agility – making learning both engaging and meaningful. Dr. P. Wilson, Principal of MCC, welcomed the gathering with warmth, expressing his delight at seeing chess embedded into educational institutions and underscoring the transformative potential of innovative learning approaches. WIM Rita Atkins, EDU Secretary of FIDE CIE, also presented the Tamil and English editions of the FIDE Chess in Education Course Book, localizing a globally accredited curriculum for Tamil Nadu schools. The programme received strong support from Tmt. G. Lakshmi Priya, IAS, Secretary to Government, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, who spoke passionately about how chess can empower children from marginalized communities, enhance equity, and improve learning outcomes. Thiru S. Annadurai, C.L.S., Director of the Tribal Welfare Department, highlighted the Department’s pride in partnering with FIDE CIE and Emmanuel Chess Centre to take chess education to the grassroots, ensuring that children in remote tribal regions have access to world-class, future-ready learning opportunities. The initiative received strong governmental backing. Ms. G. Lakshmi Priya, IAS, Secretary to the Government, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, spoke passionately about how chess can empower children from marginalized communities, enhance equity, and improve learning outcomes. Thiru S. Annadurai, C.L.S., Director of the Tribal Welfare Department, expressed pride in partnering with FIDE CIE and the Emmanuel Chess Centre to bring world-class, future-oriented learning opportunities to remote tribal regions. At the valedictory session on January 24, Dr. Veena Eswaradas highlighted chess’s cognitive benefits, including enhanced analytical reasoning and mental flexibility. Certificates were awarded to 54 participants who successfully completed the PoT Course. Dr. Joseph Ebenezer, Senior Lead Instructor for FIDE CIE, FIDE Trainer, and Candidate Master, emphasized the programme’s global standards and pedagogical rigor. Of the graduates, 34 earned the FIDE School Instructor (SI) title, qualifying them to implement chess-based learning in schools. SI title holders included: Government Tribal Residential Schools / EMRS: C. Gajalakshmi; M. Thangadurai; Sivasankari; Kabildev K; Suresh D; S. Pugazhenthi; R. Chandra Somu; M. Suresh; E. Sathish Kumar; R. Nithiyanandham; Gobi S; Rajakumar D; Duraiswami P; Chandru D; Deenadhayalan V; P. Sivakumar; Madhan Kumar L; Govindhammal R; M. Gowri Rani; Gnanasakthi S; Samikkannu P; Jeevitha G; Settu T; A. Anbuchelvan. Madras Christian College (Autonomous) alumni: Genita Gladys A; Joshua Anand Samuel; Jim Isaac; Gracelin Victoriya K; Dr. Ishvar Mohan; Dr. N. Prabhu. Women’s Christian College alumni: Pon Margret A; Dr. M. Getzi. Meston College of Education alumni: Aparna A; Jecinth Evlyn J. Other participants: Dr. Emma Kalpana; Bharaneeshwaran V. Chess sets and the Winning Moves DVD were provided to schools to support classroom implementation. This initiative marks a major step in mainstreaming Chess in Education across Tamil Nadu, empowering teachers and students with innovative, future-ready learning tools while fostering cognitive development, critical thinking, and 21st-century competencies at the grassroots level.
FIDE World Youth Championships 2026: Registration now open
FIDE, the Italian Chess Federation and UniChess invite all national chess federations to participate in the World Youth Chess Championships 2026 in Montesilvano, Italy. The event will be held from June 14 (official day of arrival) to June 27, 2026 (official day of departure). Every national federation is entitled to register one official player in each of the six categories: U14, U16, U18 (Open and Girls). This provides a total of six invited official players, plus one accredited accompanying official (Head of Delegation) with a valid FIDE ID. The following players also have the personal right to participate: The top three players from the previous World Youth Championships in the U14, U16, U18 categories. The gold medalists of the previous edition may choose to play in their corresponding age category or in a higher age category. The Champions (gold medalists) of the last Continental Youth Championships. Registration deadline and the deadline for visa data documentation submission are April 7, 2026. An extensive summer programme is planned for all participants, including excursions, beach access, a blitz tournament, a football match, and other activities. Invitation letter, regulations, schedule (PDF) Email: worldyouth@fide.com Official website: chessworldyouth.com/ The full regulations and registration form are available on the official website.
FIDE Amateur World Championships 2026: Bids received and under review
The FIDE Events Commission has received multiple bids for the 2026 World Amateur Championships. By the deadline of January 26, 2026, four bids were submitted for the 2026 World Amateur Championships and one bid for the 2026 World Amateur Rapid & Blitz Championships. Bids for the World Amateur Championships (new format): UAE, Fujairah: proposed dates October 15–22, 2026 Spain, Sitges: proposed dates October 29 – November 5, 2026 China, Shenzhen: proposed dates October 15–25, 2026 Nigeria, Abuja: proposed dates September 1–8, 2026 Bid for the World Amateur Rapid & Blitz Championships (new tournament): Nigeria, Abuja: proposed dates May 31–June 8, 2026 The evaluation process is now underway. FIDE will announce the selected hosts in due course.