FIDE strengthens its presidential representation and advisory team
FIDE is expanding its system of presidential representatives and advisers as part of the organisational changes announced on 26 October 2026. Together with the previously announced representatives, the new members will contribute to strengthening the political and institutional role of the President’s team within FIDE. They will support the Federation’s international interests and maintain direct dialogue with the global chess community. Three professionals will take on new roles. Håkan Jalling – Representative of the President for Olympic Games Inclusion Håkan Jalling, President of the Nordic Chess Federation and former President of the Swedish Chess Federation, has been closely involved in efforts to strengthen chess’s position within the Olympic movement. Under his leadership, the Swedish Chess Federation gained recognition from the Swedish Olympic Committee in April 2026. He also chairs the European Chess Union’s Chess Olympic Affairs Commission. Jalling will contribute to FIDE’s efforts to promote the inclusion of chess in the Olympic Games programme, drawing on Sweden’s experience. His work will include supporting relations between national chess federations and their national Olympic committees, in cooperation with other members of the FIDE team involved in this area. Darcy Lima – Representative of the President for Institutional Dialogue Brazilian Grandmaster Darcy Lima is a former President of the Brazilian Chess Federation with many years of experience in international chess. Lima will contribute to FIDE’s efforts to strengthen institutional dialogue within the global chess community. His work will include facilitating cooperation between federations and encouraging the exchange of experience and best practices, in coordination with other members of the FIDE team working in related areas. Alexander Martynov – Senior Advisor to the President Alexander Martynov will provide advice to the FIDE President on strategic and organisational matters. His responsibilities will include supporting the President’s priority initiatives and contributing to the development of the federation’s long-term agenda. The system of presidential representatives is being developed as an important channel for political dialogue and institutional cooperation within FIDE. Working alongside previously announced representatives, Jalling and Lima will help strengthen the Federation’s engagement with chess organisations and the international sports movement. Martynov’s appointment will further reinforce the advisory support available to the President.
Istanbul to host FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2026
Istanbul, Türkiye, will welcome the world’s elite chess players this December as the host city of the 2026 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships, one of the most anticipated events on the international chess calendar. Freedom Holding Corp., FIDE’s strategic partner since 2023, has become the general sponsor of the event. As part of the 2026 cooperation agreement, Freedom supports not only major FIDE events like Candidates and World Championship match, but also chess training centres, school programmes, and talent scouting initiatives worldwide. The championships, traditionally held during the final week of the year from 25 (arrivals) to 30 December, will bring together hundreds of players from across the globe to compete for four world titles in the Open and Women’s Rapid and Blitz events. The return of a major FIDE world championship to Türkiye highlights the country’s longstanding commitment to the development of chess. Over the past two decades, Türkiye has established itself as one of the most active chess nations in the world, combining a strong tradition of event organisation with ambitious grassroots programmes. Through extensive cooperation between the Turkish Chess Federation and educational institutions, chess has become a familiar presence in schools across the country. Today, Türkiye boasts one of the strongest emerging generations in chess, with young stars such as Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş or Ediz Gürel leading the way. In 2012, the city hosted the 40th Chess Olympiad, the biggest chess event in the calendar. Just recently, at the end of 2025, it successfully staged FIDE World Youth Blitz and Rapid Chess Championships. Beyond its chess credentials, Istanbul offers an ideal setting for a world championship. The city serves as one of the world’s leading transport hubs, connecting Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas through extensive flight networks. Its unique blend of history and modern infrastructure makes it a great meeting point for the global chess community. FIDE President Timur Turlov: “We are delighted to bring the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships to Istanbul. Türkiye has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to organise world-class chess events while making an outstanding contribution to the growth of our game at every level. I would like to thank the Turkish Chess Federation and its partners for their commitment and cooperation. We look forward to celebrating the end of the chess year together in one of the world’s most dynamic and welcoming cities.” The FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships are among the most prestigious annual events in chess, regularly attracting top grandmasters and rising stars in a battle for some of the most coveted titles. The defending champions are world’s number one rated player Magnus Carlsen, who won both rapid and blitz titles in 2025, Aleksandra Goryachkina (rapid, women) and Bibisara Assaubayeva (blitz, women). Additional information, including the official venue, tournament regulations, and registration details, will be published shortly.
Where chess meets its fans: Join side activities of the Salesforce FIDE World Championship Match
The Salesforce FIDE World Championship Match 2026, taking place in Geneva from 22 November to 12 December, is the most important chess event of the year. Reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju and challenger Javokhir Sindarov will battle for the crown and the title of World Champion. But this three-week event is about more than the very pinnacle of professional chess. It is also a celebration of the game itself, bringing together players, fans, and future champions. Every recent World Championship has featured a rich programme of side events, and Geneva will be no exception. If you’re coming to Geneva to follow the match, be sure to reserve your place at one of the many activities on offer. The Salesforce FIDE World Championship match is a magnet for grandmasters, and several elite players, including former world champions, will be meeting and interacting with spectators throughout the event. After all, where else can you play against the great Viswanathan Anand or meet one of the biggest inspirations in women’s chess, Alexandra Kosteniuk? The programme begins on 24 November, when Anand shares memories and insights from his own World Championship journeys. You may already know some of the stories from his bestselling memoir Master Mind, but this is a chance to hear first-hand from one of the legends of the game. Swiss stars Alexandra Kosteniuk, the 12th Women’s World Champion, and Grandmaster Yannick Pelletier will lead a variety of activities throughout the event. Highlights include Pelletier’s fan blitz session during Game 3 and Kosteniuk’s audience challenge during Game 1. During Game 4, Grandmaster Anna Muzychuk, one of the few women ever to surpass the 2600 rating mark, will team up with fan favourite Anish Giri for a tandem simultaneous exhibition. Both will also take part in additional events and activities on other days during the championship. Be sure to bookmark the side events calendar so you don’t miss any new additions. Many activities require advance registration, so secure your place early before the spots are gone! You can find all the information and registration details at: https://tickets.fide.com/en/events
Ticket sales for the Salesforce FIDE World Championship are now open
The most anticipated chess event of the year, the match for the world crown, opens on 22 November in Geneva, Switzerland, with the first game scheduled for 24 November. Two 20-year-old prodigies, World Champion Gukesh D of India and Challenger Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan will battle for the World Championship title and the right to be called the leader of their generation. Seeing the players up close, feeling the tension and emotions of the match, and socialising with fellow chess fans and grandmaster guests is an unmatched experience for any chess enthusiast. Ticket sales open today! There are two types of tickets available: the VIP Day Pass, which includes an hour in the playing hall, and the Fan Zone Pass. The Fan Zone will be packed with different activities, simuls, tournaments, master classes and Q&A with grandmasters (on selected days), opportunities to play chess, photo opportunities, and a live broadcast from the playing hall on the big screen. Due to the strictly limited number of VIP Passes, holders will enjoy an exclusive view of the games from the balcony overlooking the playing hall, allowing them to experience its palpable silence. It also grants access to all the perks of the VIP Lounge, including live commentary by GMs Peter Svidler and Peter Leko. The number of tickets is limited, and they will be released in stages with dynamic pricing. So don’t wait until the last moment; get your tickets now! PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS HERE:http://tickets.fide.com/
WSTC Europe Day 3: Competitions, tactical masterclasses and high-altitude adventures in Tsaghkadzor
The third day of the European Continental Stage of the FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship 2026 elevated the competitive intensity to new heights in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia. With the tournament crossing into its critical second half, Rounds 5 and 6 delivered a captivating blend of strategic competition on the top boards and heartfelt camaraderie off them. As the top players continued their unstoppable runs, the race for the Grand Final slots became an absolute thriller. The morning air in Tsaghkadzor was crisp, but inside the playing hall where Rounds 5 and 6 of the 2026 FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship (European Stage), the atmosphere was white-hot as the tournament leaders finally crossed swords. The penultimate day delivered an extraordinary spectacle of junior chess, showcasing immense fighting spirit, sharp tactical vision, and the brutal reality of time-pressure blunders. With crucial qualification points on the line, the round saw uncompromising chess, with an incredibly low draw rate and an abundance of hard-fought games across all boards. Highlights of Rounds 5 and 6 Gymnasium No. 50 of Minsk (12 Points) holds the top spot after Round 6. Damir Bulgak (Board 1) and Katrina Yakovleva (Board 4) maintain an incredible, perfect 6/6 match record. Riga State Gymnasium No. 1 (10 Points) is firmly in second place. Daniel Beniosev continues his spectacular run on Board 2, sitting on an unbeaten 5.5/6. LEPL Georgia, Kutaisi Andria Razmadze Physico (9 Points) occupies the third position. Their standout performer is Davit Tatvidze, pulling in a vital win today to push his score to 4.5/6. Leading individual board performers The following players have dominated their respective boards across the first six rounds: Tin Biti (OS Spansko Oranice): An exceptional 5.5/6 showing on Board 1. Ioana-Cristiana Pomirleanu (C.N.”Costache Negruzzi”): Dominating Board 4 with a superb 5.5/6 score. Platon Kiritshenko (Tallinna Tonismae Reaalkool): Putting up an elite 5/6 record on Board 3. Let’s have a look at a couple of fragments illustrating the competitive spirit in the event. A real drama unfolded at one of the top boards, in a thrilling game between Gabriel Gabadadze (2071) and Damir Bulgak (2305). Bulgak seized a huge endgame advantage, only to blunder it away with a natural but erroneous 48… Rd2+??, giving White a precious tempo to advance his king. The correct path was 48…Ra5! (or 48…a3!). As played, the position became equal. However, after 49.Kg3 Rd3+ 50.Kh4 a3 51.g5 Rd2 Gabadadze returned the favor by 52.g6?? (instead of the correct 52.Kg3!) and White was losing again. The opponents traded more errors in subsequent play, but eventually Black’s pawns proved to be faster. Ignacy Krol – Troi Krasniqi At first glance, Black has to retreat with his queen, but Krasniqi uncorked 14… Qxg5! – an unexpected queen sacrifice that completely changed the dynamics of the game. After 15.hgx5 Rxh1+ 16.Kd2 Bd7, Black emerged slightly better. Unsettled, Krol reacted poorly and ended up in a lost position. Luckily for him, Krasniqi failed to capitalize, and after a series of mutual errors, the opponents split the point. Fast & local: FIDE-rated girls’ blitz The tournament hall in Tsaghkadzor shifted to a lightning-fast pace on Thursday evening as the International School Chess Federation (ISCF) hosted an official FIDE-rated Blitz Tournament for the young female players under 14 years of age. They were inspired by Elina Danielian, Armenian chess grandmaster and six-time Armenian women’s champion, who assisted in the organization of this tournament. With a time control of 3 minutes plus a 2-second increment, the event “Smart Moves: Girls Who Lead” featured an all-local lineup, bringing together talented young girl-players from Armenia for an evening of intense, high-speed tactical battles. Every match carried high stakes, forcing players to rely on quick intuition and sharp calculation. The evening concluded with rapid handshakes and shared analysis, highlighting the deep pool of local chess talent driving the sport forward. Rising champions Following yesterday’s tradition of high-level educational seminars, the tournament hall hosted another installment of the popular masterclass series. Under the banner “Rising Champions,” coaches, players, and their parents gathered for a deeply practical, interactive conversation with grandmaster Samvel Ter-Sahakyan, Coach of the Japanese National Chess Team for the 2026 Chess Olympiad. The session moved quickly past basic theory, diving straight into the concrete realities of elite youth development. Ter-Sahakyan shared invaluable personal insights on navigating the transition from talented school player to international competitor, emphasizing the psychological resilience needed to bounce back during grueling team tournaments. Mind games beyond the board: WSTC Kahoot Quiz The chess world is incredibly vast, built upon centuries of brilliant minds, legendary rivalries, and a deeply precious history. Capitalizing on this rich heritage, the young prodigies in Tsaghkadzor took a break from their standard calculations to test their historical wits in a fast-paced, interactive Kahoot quiz. The event gave players a fantastic opportunity to showcase their deep knowledge of the game’s greatest milestones and for the winner – to get a postcard signed by five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand. Captains and parents take the stage: The evening blitz Stepping out from the sidelines and into the competitive arena, team captains and players’ parents had their own opportunity to shine today in a special evening blitz tournament. The friendly yet fiercely contested event gave the adults a taste of the high-pressure environment their children face daily on the top boards. Trading their coaching notes for chess clocks, the participants demonstrated impressive tactical vision and deep passion for the game, proving that the love for chess runs deep across every generation present in Tsaghkadzor. What’s Next? With six rounds down and only two remaining, the European Continental Stage is hurtling toward an epic finale. The team standings are incredibly compressed, and mathematically, nearly a dozen schools are still within striking distance of the podium. Yet, as the kids gathered for dinner, sharing jokes, analyzing games on pocket sets, and teaching each other phrases in different languages, it was beautifully clear that the memories forged in Tsaghkadzor are already the ultimate prize. Official website: https://worldschoolteam2026.fide.com/
WSTC Europe Day 2: Bright smiles, brilliant moves, and cultural rhythms in Tsaghkadzor
The second day of the European Continental Stage of the FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship 2026 brought an incredible mix of high energy, team spirit, and pure chess magic to Tsaghkadzor, Armenia. With school teams cheering each other on, Rounds 3 and 4 turned into a wonderful celebration of young talent. While the games on the top tables grew increasingly intense, the friendly handshakes at the end of each round remained as warm as ever. Round 3: Team spirit shines bright As the morning games kicked off, the tournament hall was buzzing with excitement. Our young players have quickly adjusted to the rapid tempo, and Round 3 showed just how well these school teams can work together to solve tricky puzzles on the board. Several matchups delivered high-stakes tactical chaos, critical strategic errors, or overwhelming piece pressure. The game of Svanadze vs. Predin saw a brilliant display of standard attacking patterns against a loosely castled king. Black compromised their center early with the careless blunder (15… d4??), which White capitalized on perfectly. Black’s position was beyond repair, but after 18… Re8??, White executed a thematic piece sacrifice wrapping it up. Svanadze – Predin After 19.Qh5! g6 20.Bxg6! hxg6 21. Qxg6+ Kh8 22.Bg5 Black was forced to give up his queen (1-0). Round 4: Tension builds up The most memorable moment of the day happened in the following game: Simonovic – Khachatryan White built a rock-solid, visually pleasing positional advantage out of the opening (+1.60) but let it slip away, ending up in an equal position. White’s woes did not stop there as he played a disastrous 31. e4?? Black snatched the initiative after 31…fxe4 32. Bxe4 Qe5?! (better was 32…Qd7) and here White blundered again with 33.f3??, handing Black a superior endgame. Black’s conversion was far from perfect, but in the end he scored a full point. Day 2 completely shook up the standings compared to Day 1. It is so exciting to see how much can change in just a couple of games! Gymnasium N 50 of Minsk showed incredible determination. On Day 2, they kept their undefeated streak rolling! Katrina Yakovleva went on a total winning spree, scoring a perfect 2/2 on the day to help her team fly solo at the top of the leader board with 8 total match points! LEPL Georgia (Kutaisi Andria Razmadze Physico) on the rise! The most joyful leap of the day belongs to this team. They had a brilliant Day 2, leapfrogging the Latvian squad to claim the lone 2nd place spot with 7 points. Gabriel Gabadadze was a superstar on board 1, winning both of his Day 2 games to stay completely perfect at 4/4. The “6-point” parking lot! Talk about a crowded finish! Riga State Gymnasium No. 1, Green Village School, C.N. “Costache Negruzzi”, Yerevan’s School N 77, and Tallinna Tonismae Reaalkool all fought like lions on Day 2. They are now locked in a giant tie for 3rd place with 6 points each! Endgame Super-Spurts!: A huge high-five goes to “Mkhitar Sebastatsi” Educational Complex and Osnovna sola Bojana Ilicha Maribor! Both teams had a tough Day 1, but they bounced right back on Day 2, scoring great wins to vault themselves up into the top 10 with 5 match points! Complete standings after Day 2 A day for joy, learning, and new friends Away from the chess clocks, the championship continued to show that every single day is an adventure and a chance to discover something wonderful together. The afternoon shifted the spotlight to fantastic masterclasses and a fun journey into Armenia’s ancient culture, giving the kids the perfect chance to relax, play, and make friends from different countries. The big highlight of the afternoon was a very special masterclass called “Raising Champions: From Talent To Title,” hosted by GM Zaven Andriasian. This unique session was specially designed for the coaches and parents of our future grandmasters. It put a deeply important focus on the psychological training of young players, exploring how to build mental resilience, maintain emotional balance during tense games, and create a supportive environment that helps children navigate both victories and defeats with confidence. Right after the final round of the day the playing hall was filled with laughter during the thrilling “Simul with a Twist” with GM Manuel Petrosyan. The possibility for all the kids to make a decision about next move on the board added a super fun, chaotic energy to the games, challenging the kids to think on their feet and laugh along as they tried to outsmart one of Armenia’s top grandmasters. The afternoon concluded on a beautiful, high-energy artistic note with a lively Armenian Dance Workshop. Swapping chess pieces for lively musical beats, players, coaches, and parents enthusiastically joined hands to learn traditional steps. The activity area quickly transformed into a sea of smiles, happy rhythms, and friendly chaos, completely washing away the competitive tension of the day’s games. What’s Next? As we cross the halfway mark of this wonderful festival, the team standings are incredibly close! The upcoming rounds will bring even more exciting matchups, but no matter what the scoreboard says, the true victory is the fantastic memories and friendships these young chess ambassadors are building here in Tsaghkadzor. Official website: https://worldschoolteam2026.fide.com/
WSTC 2026 European Stage begins in Tsaghkadzor
The European Continental Stage of the FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship 2026 commenced on 29 September in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia. 27 school teams from 25 nations are competing in the final qualifying stage for places in the Grand Final in December. The stage is organised by the International School Chess Federation (ISCF) together with FIDE, the Chess Federation of Armenia, and Freedom Corp. as sponsor. Tournament format Each team fields four players and one reserve, boys and girls. The tournament is an eight-round Swiss, played under time control of 45 minutes plus a 10-second increment per move from move one. Riga State Gymnasium No.1 (average rating 1989) tops the starting rankings, followed by Gymnasium No.50 of Minsk, Belarus and Tallinna Tonismae Reaalkool, Estonia. Armenia is represented by 3 schools, led by Yerevan’s basic school N 77. Opening ceremony: Peru sends the message The ceremony opened with a film about the championship and its journey so far, through the stages already held in Asia, Africa and the Americas. The first to welcome the players was Grandmaster Smbat Lputian, founder of the Chess Academy of Armenia and Vice President of the Chess Federation of Armenia. Then, as has become a tradition at every stage of the championship, the floor passed to the children from the previous stage. This time the message came from the winners themselves. On screen, the players of Saco Oliveros de Lince, champions of the American Continental Stage in San José, greeted the teams gathered in Tsaghkadzor. They had also sent postal cards, each carrying one message about chess, and the officials came on stage to read them out, letting the Peruvian players’ words stand in for their own. Breaking stereotypes“Don’t be afraid to make an unusual move, even if no one has played it before. Sometimes the most unexpected move changes the whole game!” said Nadzeya Krauchuk, Tournament Director of the FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship Love chess, no matter what“Sometimes we lose, sometimes we make mistakes, and sometimes we feel like flipping the board! But every game teaches us something new. A true love of the game does not end with a defeat!” said Ion-Serban Dobronauteanu, Director of Youth Chess of the European Chess Union. Chess opens the door to friendship“We may speak different languages and live on different continents. But once we sit down at the same chessboard, we understand each other,” said Varduhi Sargsyan, Executive Director of the Chess Academy of Armenia. You don’t have to be a champion to enjoy the game“Not all of us have a champion’s trophy at home. But everyone can enjoy a beautiful game, a clever move, or a small personal victory,” said Timur Turlov, President of FIDE and President of ISCF. This continues a tradition that runs through the championship: in San José, the ceremony opened with gifts sent by players from the African stage. This time the message came from the Americas and was addressed to Europe. For Timur Turlov, President of FIDE and President of ISCF, it was the first tournament opening since his election as FIDE President at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand. He thanked the Armenian hosts and called Armenia “one of the world’s great chess centers and the home of many outstanding players.” He pointed to Armenia’s own example. In 2011 it became the first country to make chess a compulsory subject in primary schools, and fifteen years later many countries are learning from that experience. Demand for school chess is growing worldwide, he said, and delegates from many countries raised it with him in Samarkand. It will be one of FIDE’s main priorities during his presidency. Timur Turlov then announced FIDE’s plans to allocate $1,000,000 a year to chess in education worldwide under the new FIDE Development Fund. The money will help national federations train teachers and give schools teaching materials and equipment. “Our goal is to give many more children the opportunity to discover chess at school,” he said. He ended with a word to the players: “Play boldly, respect your opponents, and support your teammates. I wish you great games, new friendships, and unforgettable days in Armenia.” Then he declared the European stage of the World School Team Championship open and made the first ceremonial move to start the competition. Round 1 Four matches ended with 4-0 clean sweeps: Gymnasium No. 50 of Minsk – British School of Kosova;Green Village School – Naum Naumovski Borche;ZS Wolkerova Bardejov – Privates Gymnasium Sacre Coeur Wien;Tasen skole – Vesturbaejarskoli. The top-seeded Latvian team opened the European Continental Stage with a convincing 3-1 victory over Armenia’s “Mkhitar Sebastatsi” Educational Complex. Round 2 In Round 2, Riga State Gymnasium No. 1 secured a 3½-½ victory, while Gymnasium No. 50 of Minsk won 4-0 again, and Tallinna Tõnismäe Reaalkool claimed a 3-1 win. After two rounds as many as five teams are on 4/4 match points, with Gymnasium No. 50 of Minsk leading with the perfect 8/8 game points. Beyond the board After two rounds of chess, players took part in an Armenian Carpet Weaving Workshop, an introduction to one of the country’s oldest crafts. Armenian carpets have been woven by hand for centuries, knot by knot, with patterns and symbols passed down from one generation to the next. For players who had spent the day thinking in squares and diagonals, the workshoo offered a different kind of grid, one built slowly by hand, one knot at a time. The day ended with the movie “Time from,” a quieter close to a long first day before Round 3. Official website: https://worldschoolteam2026.fide.com/
Olympiad Day 10: Uzbekistan in command as medal race goes to the wire
India, Ukraine, Germany and Hungary remain in contention after a dramatic penultimate round The medal race has been dramatically reshaped going into the final round. Uzbekistan strengthened its position with a commanding 3.5–0.5 victory over Armenia, while India matched that score against Uzbekistan 2 but remains a full match point behind the hosts. In the Women’s section, Mongolia’s medal hopes suffered a major blow after a 3–1 defeat to Poland, while Vietnam continued their impressive late surge with a fourth consecutive match win, edging Indonesia 2.5–1.5 to keep an outside medal chance alive. Full results 46th Chess Olympiad Let’s take a closer look at the action from the playing hall. Ceremonial moves mark a historic day in Samarkand At the start of the round, Principal Arbiter Ivan Syrovy announced that Timur Turlov had just won the FIDE presidential elections, celebrated at the nearby Congress Center, becoming the eighth FIDE President. In the second round of voting, Turlov received 110 votes against 85 for his opponent, Wadim Rosenstein. Following the announcement, Syrovy gave way to the ceremonial moves. Shaikh Khaled Al Qasimi, President of the Arab Chess Federation and Chairman of the Sharjah Sports Council, opened the game with 1.e4 for Armenia’s first board, Haik Martirosyan. Hussein Abdullah Al-Khoury, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Chess Club and Tournament Director of the 47th FIDE Chess Olympiad in the UAE, replied with the solid 1…c6 for Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who subsequently changed his move and opted for the surprising Scandinavian Defence instead. The action then moved a few boards towards the women’s section, where Khakimov Akbar, Director of the “Afruza” Chess Club, played 1.e4 for Afruza Khamdamova in the Uzbekistan–Peru match. Open section Uzbekistan takes control in key Armenia match Javokhir Sindarov won the first game of the key match between Uzbekistan and Armenia, defeating Robert Hovhannisyan with a very nice piece of home preparation that featured an exchange sacrifice. Immediately afterwards, his second during the Candidates, Mukhiddin Madaminov, brought home Uzbekistan’s second win against Gabriel Sargissian on board four, again displaying some astonishing tactical play. After the game, Sindarov gave an interview sharing his thoughts on the match and was joined towards the end by Madaminov. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIaHaHLknfk A final victory by Nodirbek Abdusattorov in a long ending on board one completed an outstanding 3.5–0.5 victory for Uzbekistan, putting the hosts in prime position to fight for gold tomorrow. Abdusattorov is playing the best chess of his life so far: undefeated and on an impressive 8/10. India keeps the pressure on Uzbekistan The second important match of the round brought India up against Uzbekistan 2, the revelation team of the event. A big favourite on paper, India showed that they remain serious contenders right up until the final game of the tournament. Nihal Sarin opened the scoring for India on board three, defeating Mukhammadzokhid Suyarov with the black pieces. Sarin accepted two sacrificed pawns from his opponent before doubling down on the defense and eventually reeling in the full point. After a solid draw on board two, World Champion Gukesh D prevailed in a tactical ending against Ortik Nigmatov on board four, securing the match victory for India. Praggnanandhaa then added another win on board one to complete the 3.5–0.5 scoreline. The result leaves Uzbekistan one full match point ahead of India going into the final round, with a substantial 30-point advantage on the tiebreak. Ukraine shock China to keep medal hope alive China came into the round in a unique position in the medal race. All they needed was to avoid defeat against 12th seeds Ukraine, a team that had fought its way back into contention by winning its last three matches. But it was not to be. Igor Kovalenko scored an important point on board one by defeating former World Champion Ding Liren, who unexpectedly dropped an exchange after a long period of manoeuvring. Position of the day Igor Kovalenko – Ding Liren The two players had been shuffling their pieces for around 20 moves, each waiting for a positional improvement or a mistake from the opponent. White emerged slightly better: Black has more weaknesses, while his bishop pair is hardly active. Instead of natural 44…Rd8 or 44…Qd7, keeping the ball rolling, Ding Liren blundered with 44…Re6? which failed to 45.Ne3! The queen is attacked, and Black cannot avoid losing the exchange. Following 45…Qf7 46.Ng5 White forked the queen and rook. It was the kind of mistake one simply does not expect from a player of Ding Liren’s strength, but it also demonstrated once again that even the very best players can go wrong at any moment. With boards two and three ending in draws, Ukraine sealed the match with a second victory on board four, where current European Champion and teenage star Roman Dehtiarov defeated Xiangrui Kong. Ukraine now has a real opportunity to fight for a medal if they can produce another victory in the final round. Germany and Hungary stay in medal race Germany will also have a chance to fight for a medal in the final round after a convincing 3–1 victory over France. Hungary matched that score against Spain, keeping both teams firmly in contention heading into the decisive final round. Round 11 pairings: Open Women’s Section China keeps the lead with a tie against India In the match of the day, China and India traded wins on the two lower boards, with Vantika Agrawal suffering her first loss against Lu Miaoyi, undefeated on an impressive 8.5/10. Meanwhile, Savitha Shri raised her remarkable score to 8.5/9 by defeating Zhai Mo. Kazakhstan just one point behind The result allowed China to retain the lead, but their advantage over Kazakhstan was reduced to just one match point. Kazakhstan defeated France 2.5–1.5 in an unbelievable finish. Position of the day Pauline Guichard – Elnaz Kaliakhmet Pauline Guichard had enjoyed a decisive advantage from the opening and was finally very close to converting it. Elnaz Kaliakhmet had just blocked a check and would have been happy to see the
Olympiad Day 8: Germany shake up the race at the top
The Svanes lead a stunning 2.5–1.5 victory over Uzbekistan as USA, China and the chasing pack close in with three rounds to go. Germany produced the result of the day in the Open section, defeating leaders Uzbekistan 2.5–1.5 to throw the race wide open with just three rounds remaining. The Svane brothers delivered the decisive blows on boards three and four, while Javokhir Sindarov continued his unbeaten run with another victory In the Women’s section, China moved into the sole lead after Kazakhstan and India drew 2–2, with Armenia, Mongolia and Uzbekistan all keeping themselves firmly in contention. Let’s take a closer look at the action from the playing hall. Ceremonial moves and Presidential debate Three ceremonial moves got the eighth round underway in Samarkand. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, FIDE President from 1995 to 2018 and an honorary citizen of Samarkand, opened play on board one of the Germany – Uzbekistan match, making the ceremonial first move for Vincent Keymer. Hisham Al Taher, General Secretary of the Asian Chess Federation, replied on behalf of Nodirbek Abdusattorov. The action then moved to the Women’s section, where Benard Wanjala, President of the African Chess Confederation, made the opening move on table 22 for the South African team. At the same time, the EXPO area hosted a different kind of chess event: the FIDE Presidential Debate Q&A. Timur Turlov and Jan Henric Buettner introduced themselves before taking questions from journalists for a full hour, covering a wide range of topics related to the future of FIDE and chess. The third candidate, Wadim Rosenstein, was invited but did not take part in the session. Open section Germany stun Uzbekistan at the top Just when it seemed Uzbekistan were beginning to pull away from the field, Germany produced a stunning 2.5–1.5 victory this afternoon, bringing the leading teams closer together and reopening the race at the top of the standings. The Svane brothers were the heroes for Germany, winning on boards three and four against Nodirbek Yakubboev and Shamsiddin Vokhidov respectively. Their two victories more than compensated for Matthias Bluebaum’s defeat on board two against Javokhir Sindarov, who continued his remarkable unbeaten run with 5.5/7. The final game to finish was on board one, where Nodirbek Abdusattorov had to draw on all his defensive resources to hold Vincent Keymer with the black pieces. Frederik Svane later analysed his victory over Yakubboev in the interview area. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW5alSr8K_s Uzbekistan’s board-five player Mukhiddin Madaminov followed the action closely from the spectators’ area, keeping a watchful eye on his teammates. Germany captain Jan Gustafsson, meanwhile, remained completely unflustered throughout the match, seemingly more absorbed in the pages of his book than the drama unfolding on the boards. India drops more points, China makes a comeback India were unable to secure the important victory they needed against Azerbaijan, as all four games ended in solid draws. Vidit returned to the lineup on board four, replacing Nihal Sarin after five rounds on the bench. Gukesh, playing on board three, was the only Indian player to create a serious winning chance, but a couple of inaccuracies, combined with excellent defensive technique from his opponent Muradli, allowed the game to finish in a draw. China, meanwhile, desperately needed a win after yesterday’s defeat to get back into the leading pack but faced a difficult opponent in Poland. Ding Liren quickly neutralised Poland’s top player, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, agreeing to a draw on board one. The games on boards three and four also ended in solid draws after around four hours, leaving China with little room for maneuver. The only decisive result was recorded on board two, where Wei Yi (undefeated on 5.5/7) worked his magic again. Sacrifice of the day: Fire on the board Szymon Gumularz – Wei Yi Black is already an exchange up and, more importantly, has two extremely dangerous passed pawns deep in the promotion zone. There are several straightforward ways to win, but Wei Yi chooses the most spectacular 32…Qxf3!!, sacrificing his queen to clear the way for the h2-pawn to promote. After 33.Bxf3 Bxf3 34.Kf2 Rf8!, Black’s threats became impossible to parry. Szymon Gumularz resigned after 35.e4 Bd1+ as 36…h1=Q is unavoidable. Netherlands and Armenia share the points The Netherlands and Armenia drew their match 2–2, missing an opportunity to pick up an extra match point and keep pace with the leaders. Jorden van Foreest was on the winning side of a complicated battle against Robert Hovhannisyan, handing the Armenian his first defeat of the tournament. Shant Sargsyan restored the balance for Armenia by defeating Loek van Wely. After the match, Van Foreest joined Charlize van Zyl in the interviews area, where he shared his thoughts on the match and the Netherlands’ performance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewwGzNPEjhA USA close the gap with crushing victory Taking full advantage of the results at the top, the United States of America closed the gap with a convincing 3.5–0.5 victory over a strong Serbian team. With just three rounds remaining, the USA are once again firmly in the mix. On board one, Fabiano Caruana scored his third win of the tournament with a neat tactical blow against Alexey Sarana, while remaining undefeated. Tactic of the day Fabiano Caruana – Alexey Sarana The position, arising from a Najdorf Sicilian with opposite-side castling, is a classic attacking scenario. White has sacrificed the g-pawn, but in return has an open g-file to work with, while Black’s queen is awkwardly placed on h7. Caruana exploited both factors with the powerful 24.Rxg7!. Black has no satisfactory response. In the game, Sarana took the rook with 24…Kxg7. Alternatively, 24…Qxg7 25.Rg1 Qxg1 26.Bxg1 leaves White’s queen heading towards h6 with decisive consequences. After 24…Kxg7 25.Bf5, Black’s queen is trapped, and Caruana went on to convert his material advantage without difficulty. One particularly nice variation is 25…Qh8 26.Qg2+ Kf6 27.Qg5#, finishing the game immediately. Women’s Section China takes the lead as Kazakhstan and India draw The match of the day between Kazakhstan and India ended in a 2–2 draw, with Savitha extending her remarkable run
Olympiad Day 7: Two Nodirbeks, one golden mission
Uzbekistan keeps marching towards gold as its two Nodirbeks continue to deliver With the finish line beginning to come into view, every half-point is becoming increasingly valuable in Samarkand. Uzbekistan continue to lead the Open section, with the two Nodirbeks playing a central role in the hosts’ impressive run, while a crowded chasing pack is still fighting to stay within striking distance. With only a handful of rounds remaining, the pressure is rising and there is little room for a slip. In the Women’s section, China and Kazakhstan remain locked in a tie at the top after their direct encounter, while India, Georgia, Armenia and several other strong teams continue to battle for position. Surprises are becoming increasingly costly at this stage of the Olympiad, as every match can have a major impact on the medal race. Let’s take a closer look at the action from the playing hall. Ceremonial moves across the playing hall Ceremonial opening moves are generally performed on the top boards, but occasionally politicians and dignitaries from other countries travel to the Olympiad and, naturally, would like to open the game for their own teams. That, however, involves a little extra coordination. The media has to move swiftly from board to board, which is no easy task in a 163-meter-long playing hall! The first dignitary to make a ceremonial move was Mrs. Veronique Herminie, First Lady of the Republic of Seychelles, who opened her country’s women’s team game on board two with 1.e4. Media attention then shifted to the match between Barbados and Aruba, where Mr. Chad Blackman, Minister of Educational Transformation and Member of Parliament for St. James North, Barbados, made the ceremonial move on board one. The third ceremonial move took place on board one of the Costa Rica–Latvia match. Mr. Donald Rojas Fernández, National Director of the Costa Rican Institute of Sport and Recreation, opened the game for Costa Rica’s number-one player, IM Leonardo Valdés Romero. Finally, everyone hurried back to the top board, where Mr. Husen Tuxtaev, Deputy Governor of the Samarkand Region for Youth Policy, Social Development, and Spiritual and Educational Affairs, opened Nodirbek Abdusattorov’s game with 1.e3, amidst a flurry of photographers and television cameras. “A very solid move,” remarked Christian Chirila from the commentary booth. Peter Svidler immediately added his own humorous assessment: “Everything is protected – 1.e4 puts a pawn on an unprotected square. That is just not on!” Open section Uzbekistan take another step towards gold It is always interesting to see how players react after a much-needed free day. Some take the opportunity to play sports, others explore Samarkand, and some even join an online “Titled Tuesday”. Most, however, simply use the break to catch up on some well-deserved rest and recharge their batteries for the latter stages of the tournament. Yet a brisk walk around the venue quickly made it apparent that many players are still feeling the strain, particularly those who have had little opportunity to take a round off. Uzbekistan, however, appear to be the exception. All five members of their squad are young and energetic, and they have shown an impressive ability to bring their A-game to the board day after day. This afternoon, they took another giant step towards gold by defeating China 3–1 in convincing fashion. Uzbekistan won with White on boards one and three, while the other two games were drawn, giving the hosts another emphatic team victory against one of the strongest contenders in the field. Abdusattorov strikes, Yakubboev keeps rolling On board one, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, now on an impressive 5.5/7, handed Ding Liren his first defeat of the tournament. His victory was built on excellent opening preparation, which gave him a huge advantage on the clock and allowed him to play with considerable time in hand throughout the game. Although it was not easy to catch him immediately after such an intense battle, FIDE’s own Charlize van Zyl was the first reporter to get hold of Abdusattorov for a quick interview once he had managed to catch his breath. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHkR1oSOMkw Meanwhile, the second Nodirbek in the Uzbekistan team, Yakubboev, ground down Yu Yangyi in a tricky endgame to score his fifth win in his last six games. At this rate, it would hardly be surprising to see him fighting for an individual medal as well. Armenia hold USA as India keep their hopes alive Combined with Armenia’s result, the victory leaves Uzbekistan two full match points clear of their nearest challengers, while they also enjoy a substantial advantage on the tiebreak. With four rounds still to play, the hosts have put themselves in an extremely strong position in the race for gold In fact, even though they could not quite keep pace with Uzbekistan, Armenia’s 2–2 draw against the United States was a massive result for the underdogs. Awonder Liang finally picked up his second win on board four, while Wesley So seriously misplayed a tricky rook ending involving passed pawns and was forced to resign against Robert Hovhannisyan. Although their average rating is significantly lower than that of the top seeds, Armenia are an extremely tight-knit team who know each other very well and have collected numerous medals in major team events. They may not always attract the same attention as the top seeds, but they can never be taken lightly. After their defeat to Uzbekistan, India had little choice but to beat England if they were to keep their medal hopes alive. They duly delivered a 2.5–1.5 victory, winning on boards one and four. Gukesh D, in particular, continued his outstanding tournament, moving to an impressive 6/7 and firmly putting himself in the conversation for an individual medal. England, meanwhile, opted to rest third-board Gawain Jones – although he was still very much involved in the match, taking his place as captain! Position of the day – Praggnanandhaa finds a stunning counterattack Nikita Vitiugov – Praggnanandhaa R With both kings castled on opposite sides of the board, anything can happen, and sometimes a game