Saco Oliveros de Lince takes gold as San José closes with emotion and a tribute to mothers
The American Continental Stage of the FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship 2026 concluded at the DoubleTree by Hilton Cariari in San José, with the team that had led the standings since Wednesday still in front. Saco Oliveros de Lince of Peru won the title without losing a match all week, finishing on 15 match points out of a possible 16. Harvest Park Middle School from the United States took second, and Crescent Heights Academy from Canada took third; all three teams now advance to the Grand Final in December. Round 7 Saco Oliveros began the final day just as they had ended the previous one. Having beaten both of their nearest rivals on Thursday, they opened with a 4–0 sweep of Chile’s Saint Gabriel’s School, and from that point, the title was theirs to lose. The tension was further down the hall, where the teams behind them were playing for the two remaining qualifying places. Colegio Madre del Divino Pastor 1½–2½ Harvest Park Middle School On board one, Zhuoyuan Wu (pictured below) was rated 199 points lower than his opponent, Jasmany Shallom Castillo Romero, and he emerged with a draw that should have been a win. His opponent erred in a same-coloured bishop endgame, leaving Wu in a winning position. However, endgames are unforgiving with under a minute on the clock, and a single error in a critical position turned it into a dead draw. Harvest Park won boards two and three, but board four produced the most heartbreaking moment of the day. Playing White, Ruyi Hu played an excellent game with 96% accuracy. Her opponent blundered, and she punished it, winning a queen for a couple of pieces. By move 33, she was comfortable, up material, and completely winning. Her clock, however, was not. Her flag fell in a winning position – fate that has befallen every chess player who has ever played with a clock, Magnus Carlsen included. Regardless, Harvest Park won the match 2½–1½. Crescent Heights Academy 2½–1½ Colegio Celta Internacional Board one brought together two closely rated titled players, FM Lucas Mason Pin Qian Yao and CM Fernando Cortes Medina, producing no fireworks at all: just a balanced game and a peaceful draw. The fireworks came on board two, where Colegio Celta Internacional’s Sophia Itzayana Mote Amasifuen (pictured above), playing White, launched a kingside attack and finished the game with a sacrifice. Position of the round White played 24.Nxh7!, drawing the black king onto the h-file, as after 24…Kxh7 25.hxg6+ there is no defence. The game concluded quickly: 25…Kg8 26.Qh5 fxg6 27.Qh7#. On boards three and four, Aiden Yin and CM Andrew Yin both outplayed their opponents comfortably, securing the match for Canada. Round 8 Saco Oliveros de Lince 4–0 Martin Klein Schiller The champions finished just as they had started the day, with another clean sweep. Marcos Beltrán Meneses Morales won comfortably on board one. On board two, Dante Iván Vilca Contreras was better for most of the game, simplified into an endgame a piece up, and converted without difficulty. Board three was the most complicated. WCM Fabiana Jiménez Salas had a shaky opening and found herself in trouble in yet another opposite-side castling game – the type of position that has recurred on the top boards all week – with her opponent’s pieces better placed. What followed was volatile enough that the advantage changed hands with almost every move, ultimately coming down to the oldest rule in chess: the winner is the one who does not make the last mistake. Jiménez Salas broke through and set up an unstoppable checkmate. On board four, Rihanna Irina Rojas Salas was the first player in the hall to finish, completing the tournament with a perfect score. Crescent Heights Academy 2–2 Colegio Madre del Divino Pastor Second place was still up for grabs when this match began, and it was decided here. The two Yins won their games quickly, but board one went the other way. Both players – Lucas Mason Pin Qian Yao (White) and Jasmany Shallom Castillo Romero (Black, pictured above) – misplayed the opening. White then committed a positional error that handed Black a sizeable advantage. An incorrect breakthrough on the queenside produced a passed pawn that Black had no trouble containing; White began dropping pawns, and the position fell apart. The 2–2 draw left Crescent Heights in third place rather than second. Harvest Park Middle School 3–1 Harrison College School On board one, Zhuoyuan Wu drew with the higher-rated AIM Jeremiah Farley, despite having had chances. On board two, FM Patrick Liu, who outrated Charis Stuart by 640 points, built an advantage that only grew and had no trouble converting it. Ethan Sun played a clean positional game on board three; his opponent eventually dropped a pawn, and with the extra material, the more active position, and far more time on the clock, Sun converted. On board four, Ruyi Hu’s (pictured above) luck finally turned. Her opponent missed a chance to win a free piece, and a draw was agreed upon immediately afterwards. Saco Oliveros finished with seven wins and a draw, not losing a single match all week. The only match points they dropped across the eight rounds came in round two, against Columbus American School. Three perfect scores Nine players were still unbeaten after four rounds. Three finished the championship having won every single game they played: Rihanna Irina Rojas Salas, Saco Oliveros de Lince, Peru, board four Aiden Yin, Crescent Heights Academy, Canada, board three William Nicolás Rodríguez, Columbus American School, Colombia, board one Two of the three are on teams heading to the Grand Final. Rodríguez is not, as Columbus American School finished twelfth. He played board one in all eight rounds, facing the strongest opposition each team could put in front of him, and won all eight. A fourth player finished on 100%: Sayel Sebastián Vega Portilla of Don Bosco Macas won all six games on the reserve board. The three qualifying teams each took a board
Handmade boards from Rio, a simul with a twist, and a tightening race in San José
Day three of the American Continental Stage of the FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship 2026 brought rounds five and six to the DoubleTree by Hilton Cariari in San José, and one team dominated the day. Saco Oliveros de Lince began the day tied at the top with Harvest Park Middle School and Crescent Heights Academy, and by the evening, they had defeated both of them to stand alone, two match points clear. Behind them, the race for the qualifying places is now the main story, with four teams within a single match point of each other going into the final day. Round 5 Harvest Park Middle School 1–3 Saco Oliveros de Lince The top two teams in the field met on table one, level on 7 match points and 13 game points, and the Peruvian team won 3–1. On board one, Marcos Beltrán Meneses Morales (pictured below) from Saco Oliveros de Lince beat Harvest Park Middle School’s Zhuoyuan Wu in a Caro-Kann. White emerged from the opening with a slight but tangible advantage, then lost it due to an inaccurate move order, and later overextended on the kingside, leaving weaknesses on both wings. Black took control of the position, White faltered in defence, and by the time White gave up the queen simply to stay alive, the game was already lost. Black was too far ahead in material, and White resigned. On board two FM Patrick Liu, the highest-rated player in the championship, faced Dante Iván Vilca Contreras. Neither player made a mistake. Both finished with 99% accuracy, and the draw was the natural result, producing the best chess of the round. Board three saw the same accuracy rating for both players but rather less drama: a series of trades led to a dry endgame that neither side could make progress in, ending in a draw by threefold repetition. It was also a clash of two unbeaten streaks: Ethan Sun and WCM Fabiana Jiménez Salas had both won all four of their previous games, and each dropped their first half-point to the other. On board four, Rihanna Irina Rojas Salas controlled the game from the start, created a passed pawn on the queenside, promoted it, and delivered checkmate. Crescent Heights Academy 2½–1½ Saint Gabriel’s School The Canadian team came through the other top match, with the two lower boards deciding the outcome. On board one, FM Lucas Mason Pin Qian Yao of Crescent Heights Academy had a pleasant position out of the opening but misplayed it; at the critical moment, he chose an aggressive plan that looked strong but allowed Black to equalize. Tobias Passmore Bowman held the endgame from there, defending in time trouble with his opponent fifteen minutes ahead on the clock. On board two, Vicente Muñoz Venegas (pictured below) outplayed Adela Sun, and the game was decided after only 18 moves. That left boards three and four to the two higher-rated Canadians, and both delivered. On board four, CM Andrew Yin faced an opposite-castling opening that burned out quickly once the queens came off; White then drifted into a passive defence, could not shake it in the endgame, and Black converted. Both Aiden and Andrew Yin remain on a perfect score after five rounds. Position of the round On board three, another Caro-Kann produced the highlight of the round. Felipe Brunstein Hauyon played 28…Bc4 here, trying to hold on to the bishop, which proved to be the losing move. The correct continuation, 28…fxe5! 29.Nxb5 axb5 30.Rxb5 Qd7, followed by 31…e4, keeps everything under control. After this erroneous move by Black, Aiden Yin, playing White, found 29.c6!. Following 29…bxc6? 30.b7!, the rook had to retreat to b8. Then, 31.Nxc6 forked the queen on e7 and the rook on b8. A piece up, with a passed pawn on b7 that was later joined by the a-pawn, White converted smoothly to score the decisive point of the match. Columbus American School beat Creative Kids Learning Academy 3–1 to move into third place, with William Nicolás Rodríguez winning again on board one to maintain his perfect score. Colegio Madre del Divino Pastor beat Harrison College School 2½–1½, with Jasmany Shallom Castillo Romero defeating AIM Jeremiah Farley on the top board, and Charis Stuart losing for the first time, ending the last perfect score for a Barbadian player. Colegio Celta Internacional beat The Oxford School by the same margin, with CM Fernando Cortes Medina winning his fifth game out of five. The best result for the hosts came further down the hall, where Colegio Bilingüe San Francisco de Asís swept Escuela Internacional Sampedrana 4–0, marking the first clean sweep by a Costa Rican school all week. Colegio Humboldt drew 2–2 with Red Bay Primary School, and the British School lost 1½–2½ to Martin Klein Schiller. St. Kitts International Academy, which had not won a match since joining the event, beat Projeto Vidançar 2–0. Round 6 Saco Oliveros de Lince are the top seeds, and the reason is worth noting now that they have taken the lead. They do not have the strongest player in the championship, nor are they close to it. What they have is the most balanced squad in the field: their four players in round five were rated 1980, 1955, 1832, and 1742, a spread of just 238 points. Harvest Park has the highest-rated player in the entire event (2292) and a rating spread of nearly 900 points. Over the course of eight rounds of four-board matches, the most balanced team tends to be the one still standing. Saco Oliveros de Lince 3–1 Crescent Heights Academy The two leading teams met on table one, level on 9 match points, and the Peruvian team won again. On board one, Meneses Morales delivered for the second time that day, and this game was hectic. An interesting King’s Indian saw Black’s two knights chase the white queen around the board before Black made a positional error that cost material, but the game was far from over. Yao held on, and
WSTC Americas Day 2: Race tightens in San Jose
On day two of the American Continental Stage of the FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship 2026, Rounds 3 and 4 were played at the DoubleTree by Hilton Cariari in San José. The day ended with three teams sharing the lead and no one able to break clear. Round 3 The two matches at the top set the tone for the day. Harvest Park Middle School defeated Saint Gabriel’s School of Chile 3–1, losing only on the bottom board, where Martín Muñoz Venegas defeated Ruyi Hu in a meeting of players rated identically at 1501. Canada’s Crescent Heights Academy won the other match 3–1 over Harrison College School of Barbados, with FM Lucas Mason Pin Qian Yao beating AIM Jeremiah Farley on board one. Both winners now had three points from three games, with Harvest Park leading on game points, 11 to 9. Behind them, Saco Oliveros de Lince bounced from their Round 2 draw with a 4–0 sweep of Panama’s The Oxford School, and Colegio Madre del Divino Pastor of El Salvador beat Columbus American School 2½–1½, although William Nicolás Rodríguez won again on the top board, this time against Jasmany Shallom Castillo Romero. Queen’s College, who had beaten Mexico in the opening round, lost 1–3 to Cuba’s Martin Klein Schiller. It was a much better day for the hosts. Colegio Humboldt recorded a second consecutive 4–0 victory, this time over Uruguay’s Colegio y Liceo Nuestra Señora del Verdún, and the British School beat Honduras’s Escuela Internacional Sampedrana 3–1. Only Colegio Bilingüe San Francisco de Asís lost, 1½–2½ to Mexico’s Colegio Celta Internacional. The field also grew. Projeto Vidançar of Brazil joined the championship as the 29th team and lost 0–4 to Academia Inter Metro of Puerto Rico, while St. Kitts International Academy took the bye. Position of the round The biggest individual upset of the round came on the top board of match nine, where Aimar María Murillo Mathiew, rated 1450, beat Juan Esquibel (1792) as Colegio Humboldt swept Nuestra Señora del Verdún 4–0. The game had been anything but smooth, with the advantage changing hands repeatedly. In this position, Black tried something clever with 22…Nxf2, and the idea behind it is worth examining. After 23.Qxg6, Black has 23…Nh3+ in reserve. If White takes with 24.gxh3, then 24…Bxd4+ arrives with a check, after which Black recaptures the queen on g6 and comes out level. But 24.gxh3 is not a forced move. White simply stepped aside with 24.Kf1, and Black’s entire construction collapsed as both his knight on h3 and bishop on c5 were hanging, and he still had to spend a move to recapture the queen. A piece down, Black resigned a few moves later. A cool sidestep in a position where neither player had much time left. Round 4 The two unbeaten teams met at the top and could not be separated. Harvest Park Middle School and Crescent Heights Academy drew 2–2, with the Americans taking the top two boards and the Canadians the bottom two, where Aiden Yin and CM Andrew Yin both won. Board one was the meeting the draw had been building towards: FM Patrick Liu (2292), the highest-rated player in the championship, faced FM Lucas Mason Pin Qian Yao (1969), the second highest. It was the sharpest game of the round, with the two players castling on opposite sides and sending their pawns at each other’s kings. In the end Liu’s attack proved decisive. That draw allowed Saco Oliveros de Lince to join them. Peru’s top seeds beat Colegio Madre del Divino Pastor 3–1, although Marcos Beltrán Meneses Morales lost on board one to Jasmany Shallom Castillo Romero. Standings after Round 4 Nine players on a perfect score Nine players have won all four of their games, with the three teams at the top of the table supplying two apiece. For Harvest Park Middle School, they are FM Patrick Liu, the highest-rated player in the championship, and Ethan Sun. For Crescent Heights Academy, Aiden Yin and CM Andrew Yin. Saco Oliveros de Lince are carried by two girls, WCM Fabiana Jiménez Salas (pictured below) and Rihanna Irina Rojas Salas, who between them have taken eight points from eight, while the Peruvian top boards have dropped three games. The other three are CM Fernando Cortes Medina of Colegio Celta Internacional, Charis Stuart of Harrison College School, and William Nicolás Rodríguez of Columbus American School, whose four wins have come against the strongest opposition of any of them: Meneses Morales, Castillo Romero, and Chaz Reifer-Belle in the last three rounds alone. A day for the side events The competitive programme ran alongside a full afternoon of side events. The day’s headline activity was “Smart Moves: Girls Who Lead,” a girls’ chess event organised by the International School Chess Federation and the Confederation of Chess for the Americas within the framework of the championship. It paired a seven-round Swiss blitz (3 minutes plus a 2-second increment) for girls aged 16 and under with a masterclass by WIM María Elena Rodríguez, a member of the Costa Rican Women’s National Team, who spoke about her own path in chess and about confidence, perseverance, and success on and off the board. Twenty players took part, and one of them did not drop a half-point. WCM Larissa Mayorga Araya (pictured below) won with a perfect 7 out of 7, ahead of Alana Patricia Castro Campos on 6 and Keilym Francinnie Durán Araya on 5. Every girl who played went home with a gift to mark the occasion. Running into the late afternoon, the “Chess in Subject” Master Class brought together Robert McLellan, Interim Executive Director of the National Scholastic Chess Foundation, and WFM Amelia Hernández for a session with up to fifty chess educators, trainers, and coaches, exploring how chess connects with STEM and social and emotional learning in the classroom. The afternoon closed on a lighter note with a mask-making workshop in the activity area, where players made traditional Costa Rican masks – the colourful mascaradas rooted in the country’s festival culture – swapping the tension of the boards
San José opens the board: WSTC American Continental Stage kicks off
The American Continental Stage of the FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship 2026 began today at the DoubleTree by Hilton Cariari in San José, the first time the championship has come to Central America. 29 school teams have travelled here from 25 countries, from Canada to Argentina and across the Caribbean, each of them playing for a place in the Grand Final later this year. The stage falls within the Year of Chess in Education and is supported by Freedom Holding Corp. and the Costa Rican Institute of Sport and Recreation (ICODER). Format Each team fields four main players and one reserve, with both boys and girls represented. The tournament follows an eight-round Swiss system, with a time control of 45 minutes plus a 10-second increment per move from move one. Competitive play begins in the coming days; the opening day was given over to ceremony, dialogue and getting to know one another. At the top of the starting rankings is Peru’s Saco Oliveros de Lince (average rating 1889), followed by the USA’s Harvest Park Middle School and Canada’s Crescent Heights Academy. The host country, Costa Rica, is represented by three schools, led by Colegio Bilingüe San Francisco de Asís. Here is a closer look at the day’s action. A special opening ceremony The championship opened at 10:00 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Cariari. Following the guests’ registration, the Costa Rican national anthem and the FIDE anthem, three officials took to the stage, but not to deliver speeches. Instead, José Antonio Carrillo Pujol (President, FIDE Americas, CCA), Timur Turlov (President of the ISCF and CEO of Freedom Holding) and Luis Eduardo Quirós Rojas (President of the Costa Rican Chess Federation) opened a message from the young players of the African Continental Stage, part of a growing tradition in which the children of one stage pass the chess relay on to the next. This time the African players sent not ordinary letters but a “package”, unwrapped on screen item by item. Inside were several small symbolic gifts, each carrying a wish, a piece of advice, and a dose of humour: a chess compass, a flashlight, a magnet, an AA battery, a salt shaker of “lightness,” and an extra, empty suitcase. As each official opened a gift, the children’s words set a warm and personal tone for the week ahead. Opening the “compass,” Timur Turlov read: “We are sending you a chess compass. It does not point north or south. It points in the direction of your next good move… We wish everyone to find their own direction at this championship and make at least one move that takes you where you truly want to go.” Opening the “flashlight,” José Antonio Carrillo Pujol read: “Sometimes the position seems dark and unclear, and all the moves are like in a fog. Then take the flashlight and look at the board from a different angle… Sometimes the best move is visible only in semi-darkness, when your eyes have adjusted and are not distracted by flickering.” Unwrapping the “magnet,” Luis Eduardo Quirós Rojas read: “The magnet doesn’t work from fear. If you are nervous and fidgety, it repels everything good. But if you breathe evenly and trust your calculation, it pulls the right moments toward you… The main thing – don’t bring the magnet near your rating. It doesn’t attract that. Only your mood and attention.” The final card left the young players with a thought to carry through the week: “You are not just participants. You are part of a great chess story that began long before you and will continue after you. Happy playing, champions!” The ceremony closed with the symbolic first move, made by Timur Turlov (President of the ISCF and CEO of Freedom Holding) and José Antonio Carrillo Pujol (President, FIDE Americas – CCA), officially declaring the American Continental Stage open. Round 1 The opening round saw a predictable start. Seven of the thirteen matches finished 4-0, which is common enough on the first day of a school team event, where the seeding gap between the top and the bottom of the field is at its widest. Top seed Saco Oliveros de Lince swept Costa Rica’s Colegio Bilingüe San Francisco de Asís, and Harvest Park Middle School did the same to Paraguay’s Colegio Cristo Rey. The result of the round came on board five, where Queen’s College of Barbados, seeded 18th, beat Mexico’s Colegio Celta Internacional 3-1. Mexico took the top board through CM Fernando Cortes Medina, but Queen’s College won the other three, with Jaeda Herbert and Nathan Simmons-Patterson both beating higher-rated opponents. It was a difficult start for the hosts. None of the three Costa Rican schools won. San Francisco de Asís was swept by Peru, Colegio Humboldt lost 1-3 to Saint Gabriel’s School of Chile with only Nicolás Ramírez Quirós scoring, and the British School took the day’s only drawn match, holding Colegio Madre del Divino Pastor of El Salvador 2-2. Position of Round 1 Board one of the top match produced the finish of the round. Marcos Beltrán Meneses Morales of Saco Oliveros de Lince, playing White, helped his team to their 4-0 sweep with a game he had taken control of in the opening. White is winning here and has several good continuations, but the young Peruvian found the most attractive one: 20.d5! opening the b2 bishop’s diagonal towards the black king on g7 and setting up a discovered check the moment the knight on f6 moves. In such overwhelming positions it is easy to rush; instead, White brought another piece into the attack. The game continued 20…cxd5 21.Nxd5+ Kh6, and White wrapped it up with 22.Qc1+ Kg6 23.Qg5#, the queen protected by the knight on f3 and every escape square covered. Round 2 Round 2 produced the upset the opening round had not. Top seed Saco Oliveros de Lince was held to 2-2 by Colombus American School of Colombia, who won both of the top boards: William Nicolás Rodríguez beat Marcos Beltrán Meneses Morales,
History made in Almaty as inaugural FIDE World University Team Chess Championship gets underway
History was made in Almaty, Kazakhstan, as the inaugural FIDE World University Team Chess Championship officially began, bringing together university teams from across the globe for the first-ever edition of the competition. Hosted by Al-Farabi Kazakh National University as part of FIDE’s Year of Chess in Education 2026, the championship celebrates not only sporting excellence but also the growing role of chess in higher education. The event provides a unique platform where students from leading universities combine academic achievement with international competition, fostering friendships and cultural exchange through the game of chess. From the moment the delegations arrived in Almaty, participants were welcomed with Kazakhstan’s renowned hospitality. Traditional music, national cuisine and cultural performances introduced visiting teams to the country’s rich heritage, creating a warm atmosphere before the tournament officially began. Grand opening The championship officially opened at the Farabi Hub of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University with a vibrant ceremony celebrating Kazakhstan’s culture and commitment to chess and education. The event featured traditional performances before welcome addresses from representatives of the Government of Kazakhstan, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and the Kazakhstan Chess Federation. President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation Timur Turlov welcomed participants to Almaty, describing the championship as a milestone for both Kazakhstan and university chess worldwide. “We are very happy to finally host this long-awaited tournament. It is a great responsibility for us to organize the first event of this size in our country, and we are honored to welcome outstanding universities from all over the world,” he said. Turlov emphasized that the inaugural championship is about much more than competition. He noted that it provides students with an opportunity to build international friendships, discover Kazakhstan’s culture and hospitality, and strengthen ties that extend beyond the chessboard. He also highlighted the country’s commitment to chess in education, pointing to the rapid growth of school and university chess programmes across Kazakhstan. Chess beyond the board While medals are at stake in Almaty, the championship is equally a celebration of the educational values of chess and the opportunities it creates for students around the world. Representing the University of Oxford, Andrea Henderson de La Fuente, a PhD student in astrophysics, described competing in Kazakhstan as a memorable opportunity. Although her demanding research leaves limited time for competitive chess, she believes the game continues to shape her academic life. “Growing up playing chess, the biggest thing I’ve noticed is my concentration. I can concentrate for a long period of time without getting distracted.” Andrea also spoke about Oxford’s long chess tradition, where students regularly meet to play and compete together. Despite entering the tournament as one of the lower-seeded teams in their group, expectations remain realistic. “We’re here to have a good time and do the best we can. If we manage to get to the knockout stage, great – but we’re really here for the experience.” Students from the University of Melbourne shared a similar passion for combining academics with competitive chess. Chloe and Ryan, both Bachelor of Science students, first discovered chess through school clubs when they were six or seven years old. For Chloe, the attraction of chess has never faded: “Every game is different. No matter how many games you play, every game is different, and it’s very exciting to keep learning new things.” Ryan explained what fascinates him most about the game: “I really enjoy the pattern recognition aspect. You can apply certain ideas in completely different positions, and it just works out. I think it’s really cool.” Balancing university studies with tournament preparation requires commitment, but Ryan described chess as her reward after a productive day: “As soon as I finish my work, it’s chess. I go online, prepare openings, prepare lines. It’s a reward for me after studying, and that keeps me motivated.” The students also highlighted the welcoming atmosphere of the University of Melbourne Chess Club, which has experienced significant growth over the past year: “Everyone can play. If people don’t know how to play, we teach them.” Reflecting on the educational value of chess, the students concluded: “Chess touches on patience, resilience, logical thinking and calculation. But at the end of the day, I think chess is an art. It’s beautiful, and it’s something that we can all enjoy and connect with.” Their stories perfectly capture the spirit of the championship, where students from different countries are united not only by competition but also by education, friendship, and a shared passion for chess. Round 1 Competition officially began with the opening round of the group stage, with each pairing consisting of two matches played with alternating colours. Pool A: Ural State Mining University took the early lead in Pool A after defeating Peking University 4-0 in both matches. Harvard University claimed second place after beating the University of Melbourne 2½-1½ before drawing the return match 2-2. Pool B: Saint Louis University dominated Webster University, winning 3½-½ and 4-0 to top the standings. Universidad de Chile secured second place after drawing 2-2 with the University of Pretoria before winning the second encounter 3½-½. Pool C: The University of Texas at Dallas swept Cambridge 4-0 and 3½-½ to finish the day on top. National Technical University of Athens followed closely after two 2½-1½ victories over Almaty Management University. Pool D: Host team KazNU Al-Farabi delighted the home crowd by defeating Oxford University 3-1 and 3½-½. KNUS opened with a 3-1 victory over Universitas Gunadarma before drawing the return match 2-2 to secure second place. The group stage continues on Wednesday as teams battle for the top two places in each pool and qualification for the knockout stage. Leaders after the Round 1 of the group stage: KazNU Al-Farabi, The University of Texas at Dallas, Ural State Mining University, and Saint Louis University. Inspiring the next generation Alongside the university championship, Almaty is also hosting the Kazakhstan vs the World children’s team match, further highlighting the event’s commitment to promoting chess across all generations. The young players took to the boards in the rapid competition on Tuesday, with Kazakhstan’s boys securing a 14½-9½ victory over the
Statement by FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich
Today, the EU decision to include my name in the 21st sanctions list was published. I want to state unequivocally that I consider this decision unlawful and unfair, and this decision will be immediately challenged by all possible means. I am confident that justice will prevail. However, given that until a formal court decision is rendered and/or such decision is cancelled or amended, these sanctions could hinder the stable functioning of FIDE, I have decided to voluntarily suspend the exercise of my powers and duties as FIDE President with immediate effect and for as long as I remain subject to sanctions under the EU and Swiss laws and regulations. In accordance with the FIDE Charter, the duties of the President will be assumed by the FIDE Deputy President, the 15th World Champion, Viswanathan Anand. I would like to emphasize that I believe in the FIDE Council and I am confident that the FIDE Council and administration will overcome all challenges and do the utmost to safeguard the continuous work of FIDE, its events and social programs. Taking into account the statement above, the FIDE Council has decided the following: The FIDE Council accepts and ratifies the decision of Mr. Arkady Dvorkovich to suspend the exercise of his rights, duties and prerogatives as President of the FIDE. Accordingly, Mr. Dvorkovich will not exercise the responsibilities, duties, rights and prerogatives provided by the FIDE Charter, particularly article 18 of the FIDE Charter, and other regulations as long as the measures provided by the “Ordonnance instituant des mesures en lien avec la situation en Ukraine” and the EU Regulations No 269/2014, are in force. Specifically, Mr. Dvorkovich shall not act in the capacity of “détenteur de contrôle” (“owner, holder or controller”) of FIDE or its assets. In accordance with article 19.2 of the FIDE Charter, Mr. Anand Viswanathan, Deputy President of FIDE, shall act as Interim President as long as Mr. Dvorkovich is subject to the restrictive measures provided by the Swiss and EU laws and regulations in force.
Race tightens as Day 3 tests leaders in Stellenbosch
Day three of the African Continental Stage of the FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship 2026 brought rounds five and six to the Coetzenburg Center, pushing the tournament into its decisive phase. With only two rounds remaining after today’s play, every match carried greater weight. The leading teams were looking to protect their positions, while those close behind still had an opportunity to join the race for the title and qualification places. The championship’s wide-ranging programme reflects the support behind it. Freedom Holding Corp., the main sponsor of the African Continental Stage and General Partner of the International School Chess Federation, has helped create a week that combines serious competition with education, personal development, and opportunities for young players to connect beyond the board. Rounds 5 and 6 Round 5 narrowed the race at the top, with Kenya and Uganda both securing important victories. Kenya’s Moi Nyeri Complex Primary School produced the strongest result among the leading teams, defeating Madagascar’s Lycée Privé Hibiscus by 3½-½. Uganda’s Sr. Miriam Duggan Primary School also kept pace with a 3-1 victory over Zimbabwe’s Budiriro 4 Primary School. With Kenya and Uganda both moving to nine match points, the afternoon round was set to play a major role in potentially separating the leaders. In Round 6, Angola’s Instituto Industrial held Uganda to a 2-2 draw, and the shock of the day came on board one, where unrated Melquesideque Paulo defeated Ronald Wabwire, the highest-rated player in the field. Manuel Carlos added a second Angolan win against 1727-rated Trevor Tumukunde before Daniel Odokonyero and WCM Juliet Asaba rescued the match point for the top seeds. Kenya fared no better: Welgemoed’s AFM Wolf van der Merwe beat Davidson Waweru on board one, and though Trevor Waweru and Irwin Ndegwa kept up their form in the middle, both winning their games, Adiaan Vlok leveled the match at 2-2 on board four. Heading into the final day, Uganda and Kenya share the lead on 10 match points, with five teams closely behind them: Madagascar, Angola, Welgemoed, Holy Cross, and Namibia, all on eight. With two rounds to play, nothing is settled. Player spotlight: Ronald Wabwire At just 12 years old, Uganda’s Ronald Wabwire is already regarded as one of his country’s brightest young chess talents. Rated 2174 and competing on board one for Sr. Miriam Duggan Primary School, he entered the championship as its highest-rated player. Wabwire’s achievements include winning the Under-12 title at the 2026 African Youth Chess Championship with eight points. At the age of nine, he also recorded a perfect 7/7 score to win the 2023 Jumuiya Africa Mashariki Chess Championship. Despite the expectations surrounding him, Wabwire’s strongest impression of the week was not about ratings or results. Asked about his experience in Stellenbosch, he summed it up in one sentence: “This is the best event I have ever been to.” Team spotlight: Zimbabwe At the other end of the starting ranks sits one of the tournament’s best stories. Sengwa Primary School from rural Gokwe, in Zimbabwe’s Midlands Province, arrived in Stellenbosch as the 29th seed and as the only all-girls team in the field: Grade Seven pupils Vimbai Bhamu, Makanaka Chirefu, and Rebecca Siposo, and Grade Five learner Dorcas Gwariro. For several of them, the flight to Cape Town was their first time on an airplane, or in an airport at all. “I used to see other children leaving and returning with medals, and I told myself that I should also give it a try,” Siposo told Zimbabwe’s Herald before departure. Their journey carries weight back home. Days before the team left, Zimbabwe’s First Lady, Dr. Auxillia Mnangagwa, whose support along with the ISCF helped secure the team’s place here, was appointed patron of the Zimbabwe Chess Federation juniors. “We promised the First Lady that we will show other nations that a girl can do it. It starts in Zimbabwe and spreads to others,” federation president Todd Mapingire said. The girls have taken that promise seriously: unfazed by the seeding, they have already collected match wins this week, including a 3-1 victory over Malawi’s Bwaila Secondary School in Round 5. Chirefu, who only started playing in 2024, put the bigger picture best: “Chess has helped me improve my mathematics because it has strengthened my problem-solving skills. When I come back, I want to teach other children.” Side events: Raising champions While the tournament continued at the boards, the educational programme returned to the Lectorium of Stellenbosch University. Dr. Denise Bouah presented a session titled “Raising Champions,” continuing the championship’s focus on the development of young players beyond their results. The programme has created space throughout the week for conversations about guidance, growth, and the role that parents, coaches, and communities play in helping children thrive. Breaking barriers through chess The final workshop of the day, “Breaking Barriers: Challenging Stereotypes Through Chess,” was held in collaboration with Teach The Nation and brought players, parents, coaches, captains, and supporters together in the playing hall. Through interactive activities and discussion, participants explored how experiences from the chessboard can support personal development beyond the game. The session looked at challenging stereotypes, building confidence and resilience, and strengthening communication between young players and the parents and coaches supporting them. Participants also reflected on the importance of teamwork and encouragement, as well as the character developed through both victories and defeats. The workshop encouraged those in attendance to view chess not only as a competition but as a way to build stronger relationships, meaningful connections, and skills that extend into everyday life. Away from the formal programme, the activity spaces were once again filled with players looking to relax after two demanding rounds. National and activity games took place in Activity Room 2, while Activity Room 1 hosted a handcraft masterclass. After six rounds of competition, these shared spaces have become an important part of the championship experience. They give players the chance to meet opponents from other countries, spend time with teammates, and enjoy the event without the pressure
International Chess Day 2026: Celebrate, create and make a difference
On July 20, the global chess community will come together to celebrate International Chess Day 2026, a day dedicated to the game that connects people across countries, cultures and generations. This year, FIDE invites players, federations, clubs, schools, organisers and chess fans everywhere to take part. There are many ways to get involved: you could stage a game in an unusual location, run an inclusive community event, or join the live-streamed global conversation about chess and social change. No event is too large or too small. Every game played, every person welcomed, and every story shared helps demonstrate chess’s unique ability to unite, inspire and create positive change. Take chess beyond the board with Creative Chess FIDE once again invites the global chess community to celebrate International Chess Day by taking part in Creative Chess, a challenge to promote the game in the most imaginative way possible. The idea is simple: set up a chess game in the most unusual, meaningful or symbolic place you can think of. It could be on a mountaintop, underwater, beside a famous local landmark or anywhere else that captures the imagination. Last year’s challenge produced a wonderful outpouring of creativity from around the world. Submissions included a rooftop game beneath the Sagrada Família in Barcelona, chessboards on the slopes of volcanoes in Costa Rica, a submerged set in the world’s deepest pool in Dubai and games played across the streets, trains and temples of Mumbai. Players, families, schools and even a few pets joined the celebration, all united by one game. To participate, organize your creative chess game or moment in the days leading up to and around International Chess Day. Share your photos or videos on social media using #InternationalChessDay and tag FIDE. The most original and inspiring submissions may be featured across FIDE’s official social media channels. The board may have 64 squares, but the world of chess is boundless. Where will you take the game? Celebrate participation and inclusion with FIDE WOM The FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess (WOM) invites federations, clubs, schools, academies and organizers worldwide to mark International Chess Day by creating opportunities that encourage equal participation throughout the chess community. Activities can take many forms: a tournament, simultaneous exhibition, workshop, lecture, introductory lesson, school programme or informal community gathering. Organizers are encouraged to design welcoming events that bring people together, introduce new participants to chess and highlight the contributions of women and girls to the game. Every initiative counts. A small club activity can be just as meaningful as a large international event when it creates a supportive space in which more people feel encouraged to play, learn, organize and lead. How to participate Organize an event around International Chess Day and share photos, videos and highlights on social media. Tag the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess and use #InternationalChessDayWOM so that activities from across the world can be brought together as part of the global celebration. After the event, organizers are invited to submit a short report accompanied by two or three photographs to project coordinator Anna Kantane at anna.kantane@gmail.com. Together, these events will showcase the remarkable work taking place within chess communities worldwide while inspiring greater participation and creating new opportunities through the game. Join the global discussion: Chess as a Force for Social Change As part of the International Chess Day celebrations, the FIDE Social Commission will host a special interactive panel discussion exploring how chess can serve as a practical tool for rehabilitation, protection, inclusion and development. Titled “Chess as Social Value: From the Chessboard to Society,” the 60-minute live discussion will bring together policymakers, researchers, programme leaders and practitioners who are using chess to create tangible change in communities around the world. Rather than focusing on chess solely as a sport, the conversation will examine what the game makes possible: in prisons, refugee communities, schools, social programmes, government institutions and research environments. Through concrete examples drawn from the speakers’ direct experience, the panel will demonstrate how chess can build confidence, encourage positive behavior, support education and create opportunities for people in vulnerable or underserved communities. The discussion will feature nine speakers representing a wide range of international projects and professional backgrounds: Dana Reizniece, Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board and former Minister of Finance and Minister of Economics of Latvia Mikhail Korenman, leader of the Chess for Freedom project, United States Lasma Kokorevica, representative of the Latvian prison administration Anastasia Sorokina, Chair of the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess and leader of the FIDE Chess for Protection project, Australia Susan Namangale, Global Director of The Gift of Chess, Malawi Russell Makofsky, founder of The Gift of Chess Antonio Porter, Director of Programs at the Cook County Department of Corrections Prabitha Urwyler, Swiss Chess Federation board member responsible for Social Chess Hans Alther, prison chess educator and practitioner Structured around a series of guiding questions, the session will invite the speakers to share practical lessons, measurable outcomes and personal experiences from their work. Audience members will also have an opportunity to submit questions and take part in the discussion. Date: Monday, July 20, 2026 Time: 15:00 CEST Duration: One hour Format: Online panel discussion and live global broadcast Whether you organize an event, stage a game somewhere unexpected, join the online discussion or simply play with someone new, be part of International Chess Day 2026. On July 20, let us show the world not only where chess can be played, but also where chess can lead.
World Youth Chess Championship 2026 concludes in grand style
Montesilvano, Italy – After twelve memorable days of intense competition, the FIDE World Youth Chess Championships 2026 came to a spectacular conclusion, crowning six new World Youth Champions. A total of 758 players from 84 countries participated in the event, making it one of the strongest and most memorable editions of the championship. The tournament produced everything that makes age-group chess so fascinating – brilliant victories, heartbreaking defeats, remarkable comebacks, and countless unforgettable games. Once again, the championship demonstrated why predicting the winners in youth events is never easy. Success at this level depends not only on chess strength but also on the ability to handle pressure and deliver when it matters most. The closing ceremony was attended by Ottavio De Martinis, Mayor of Montesilvano; GM Roberto Mogranzini, Tournament Director (pictured above); Ozgur Solakoglu, FIDE Delegate, IA Mohammad Alhallak, 1st Vice President of the World Federation for Chess Composition (WFCC); and Hisham Al Taher, General Secretary of the Asian Chess Federation. The dignitaries presented medals to the winners of both the FIDE World Youth Chess Championships and the World Chess Solving Championship. Let us now take a look at the results in each category. Open Under-18 The Open Under-18 title was decided on tie-breaks after two Canadian players finished tied on 9 points. IM Anthony Atanasov claimed the World Championship thanks to his superior tie-break score, while his compatriot IM Emanuel Kot had to settle for the silver medal. It marked one of Canada’s finest performances ever in a World Youth Championship. Spain’s IM Javier Habans Aguerrea took the bronze medal with 8 points. Atanasov’s title-winning run included five consecutive victories in the closing rounds, with his final-round win over top seed IM Philipp Magold proving to be the decisive performance that secured him the World Championship. 🥇 IM Anthony Atanasov (Canada) – 9/11🥈 IM Emanuel Kot (Canada) – 9/11🥉 IM Javier Habans Aguerrea (Spain) – 8/11 Complete final standings Girls Under-18 The Girls Under-18 section saw two players stand out from the rest of the field throughout the tournament. WFM Valeria Kleymenova of FIDE secured the World Youth title with a round to spare, becoming the only player across all six categories to clinch the championship before the final round. She finished with an outstanding result of 10/11, scoring nine victories and two draws. India’s WFM Pratitee Bordoloi claimed the silver medal with an unbeaten 9/11, recording seven wins and four draws in a remarkable performance. In the final round, Pratitee defeated Mongolia’s WFM Erdenebayar Khuslen to secure second place and India’s only medal of the championship. The bronze medal went to China’s WIM Wang Qinxuanyi, who finished on 8 points. Wang secured third place on a tiebreak after holding the champion, Valeria Kleymenova, to a draw in the final round. 🥇 WFM Valeria Kleymenova (FIDE) – 10/11🥈 WFM Pratitee Bordoloi (India) – 9/11🥉 WIM Wang Qinxuanyi (China) – 8/11 Complete final standings Open Under-16 The Open Under-16 section witnessed one of the most dramatic finishes of the championship. Amid constantly changing leaders throughout the event, Azerbaijan’s IM Khagan Ahmad emerged as the World Champion after defeating FIDE’s Gleb Scheglov in the final and longest game of the tournament. This victory gave Ahmad 9.5 points out of 11. At one stage, Ahmad appeared to be in serious trouble, but he demonstrated outstanding resilience and technique. His two rooks and knight eventually outplayed his opponent’s queen and knight, allowing him to turn the tables and secure the title in impressive fashion. Romania’s IM Henry Edward Tudor claimed the silver medal with 8.5 points after defeating India’s IM Goutham Krishna H in the final round. Kazakhstan’s IM Sauat Nurgaliyev also finished on 8.5 points and secured the bronze medal on a tiebreak after overcoming Ukraine’s FM Oleksii Karvatskyi in the last round. 🥇 IM Khagan Ahmad (Azerbaijan) – 9.5/11🥈 IM Henry Edward Tudor (Romania) – 8.5/11🥉 IM Sauat Nurgaliyev (Kazakhstan) – 8.5/11 Complete final standings Girls Under-16 The Girls Under-16 section belonged to FIDE’s WFM Veranika Abramkina, who produced a remarkable finish, winning her last four games under immense pressure to capture the World Youth title with 9 points. Her most important win came in Round 10, where she defeated China’s Jiang Tianyu, who had entered the game with a one-point lead. That result completely changed the course of the tournament and put Abramkina in control of the title race. Jiang Tianyu, who had led the standings for most of the championship and held the best tie-breaks going into the final round, could only manage a draw in her last game. She finished second with 8.5 points. The bronze medal went to WIM Rachael Li of the United States, who also scored 8.5 points but had inferior tiebreaks. Interestingly, the three medal winners formed a perfect cycle during the tournament: Rachael Li defeated Jiang Tianyu, Jiang Tianyu beat Veranika Abramkina, and Veranika Abramkina defeated Rachael Li. 🥇 WFM Veranika Abramkina (FIDE) – 9/11🥈 Jiang Tianyu (China) – 8.5/11🥉 WIM Rachael Li (USA) – 8.5/11 Complete final standings Open Under-14 The Open Under-14 section proved to be one of the most fiercely contested events of the championship. Despite the young age of the participants, the level of competition was exceptionally high, and the final two rounds completely reshaped the medal race. The biggest surprise came when two-time age-group World Champion IM Mark Smirnov of Kazakhstan slipped out of medal contention altogether. The turning point came in Round 9, in which he faced Poland’s FM Antoni Radzimski. In an almost equal position, Smirnov blundered a bishop under severe time pressure, a mistake that changed the course of the tournament. Boosted by this victory, Radzimski never looked back. In the final round, he defeated Armenia’s Artem T. Mamikonyan to finish on 9/11 and claim the World Youth title. CM Damir Bulgak of FIDE secured the silver medal with 8.5 points, while FM Ethan Guo of the United States claimed the bronze medal on tiebreak with 8 points. 🥇 FM Antoni Radzimski (Poland) – 9/11🥈
Favourites prevail on first day of FIDE World Team Blitz Championship
The FIDE World Team Blitz Chess Championship kicked off today in Hong Kong, with an intense opening day featuring both the pool stage and the first elimination round. Of 48 teams at the start of play, only eight remain in contention for the title, with most of the favourites successfully navigating the first test of the blitz event. Unlike the Rapid Championship, which was played as a single 12-round Swiss tournament, the Blitz event has a two-stage format: pools followed by knockouts. The 48 teams were divided into four pools of 12 teams each, with every pool played as a round-robin. The top four teams from each pool advanced to the Round of 16, which was also played today. From that point, the tournament became direct elimination, with each duel consisting of two blitz matches with colours reversed. If the score is still level, tie-breaks decide who advances. The pool phase In Pool A, defending blitz champions WR Chess recovered from a disappointing Rapid Championship and showed why they remain one of the most dangerous teams in this format. They won every match except one: a surprising 3:3 draw against China’s Schnappi Krokodil Team. In that encounter, WR’s top boards suffered heavily, with Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana both losing, while Alexandra Kosteniuk also fell on the women’s board. Wesley So and Jan-Krzysztof Duda steadied the match in the middle boards, before team owner Wadim Rosenstein won on the final board to secure the draw. Chess United, headed by former World Champion Viswanathan Anand and featuring the young Argentinian star Faustino Oro, finished second. Their only major setback was a heavy 5:1 defeat against WR Chess. Barys took third place after scoring eight wins, two losses and one draw, while China’s Schnappi Krokodil Team completed an excellent pool-stage run, losing only two matches and taking the final qualifying spot. In Pool B, Endgame.AI, led by Hans Niemann, secured the top spot after winning 10 matches and drawing one. Rapid champions Dragon Chilling also advanced comfortably, finishing second with nine wins and two draws. Indian Chessgurukul and Indonesia claimed the remaining two qualifying places. Endgame.AI and Dragon Chilling were the only two teams in Pool B to go through the pool stage undefeated. In Pool C, Hexamind and Uzbekistan set the pace, chasing each other for first place throughout the day. Hexamind eventually came out on top, winning 10 matches and drawing one. Uzbekistan finished second, also unbeaten, with eight wins and three draws. Team MGD1, one of the strongest squads in the field, took third place, while Sky Chess secured the fourth and final qualification spot. Pool D produced the only perfect score of the day. Mr Birdie and Friends, one of the standout teams of the Rapid Championship, won all 11 matches to take clear first. Their lower boards were especially impressive: Carissa Yip and Ning Yunlong both scored 10/11, giving the team a major advantage throughout the round-robin. KazChess finished second on 18 match points, Odlar Yurdu from Azerbaijan took third, and Interstellar Club claimed fourth place to reach the knockouts. The first knockout round The Round of 16 immediately raised the stakes: every pairing was played as a two-match duel, with only the winners advancing to the final day. The favourites largely held their ground. WR Chess, Hexamind, Endgame.AI, Mr Birdie and Friends, Dragon Chilling, Team MGD1 and Uzbekistan all made it through, while Chessgurukul produced the upset of the round by eliminating Chess United. There was still plenty of tension. Dragon Chilling were held to a draw by Barys in the first match before pulling away with a 4:2 win in the second. Uzbekistan also had to work hard, drawing the first match against Odlar Yurdu before edging the second 3.5:2.5. Endgame.AI’s Hans Niemann had a strong run on his birthday, although the day ended on a bitter individual note as he lost his final blitz game in the knockout round to Xu Xiangyu, rated nearly 200 points lower. The biggest surprise was the elimination of Chess United. The team led by Viswanathan Anand fell to the Indian squad Chessgurukul, losing 4:2 in the first match and then suffering a heavy 5:1 defeat in the second. It was a major statement from Chessgurukul and a sharp reminder that, in blitz, reputation offers little protection once the clocks start ticking. Everything will be decided tomorrow, when the quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place match and final will determine the 2026 FIDE World Team Blitz Champions. Six Amateur Rapid Cup finalistsThe pool stage of the inaugural FIDE World Team Amateur Rapid Chess Cup concluded on Saturday in Hong Kong. After nine rounds, three first-placed teams from each group go on to fight in the finals. The top three teams in Pool A:Golden Stars (15 match points)Tam Sky (14 match points)Le Petit Prince (14 match points) The top three teams in Pool B:Bosoo Noyon (16 match points)Hong Kong Young Dragons (14 match points)Aton Chess (13 match points) The top three teams from each pool advance to the final stage, where the pool winners play for the title, the runners-up meet for third place, and the third-placed teams contest fifth place. Written by Milan Dinic Photos: Michal Walusza About the WTRBСС and the FIDE World Team Amateur Rapid Chess Cup The FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships were launched in 2023. It is a global team competition where teams are made up of elite grandmasters, prodigies and recreational players. It consists of two tournaments – rapid and blitz. This is the first time the event is being held in Hong Kong and East Asia. The Hong Kong event also features the FIDE World Team Amateur Rapid Chess Cup, where teams are strictly made up of amateur chess players. The WTRBCC take place from 17-21 June, with three days for the rapid and two days for the blitz. The prize fund for the WTRBСС is €500,000, and €25,000 for the Amateur cup. Official websites:WTRBCC: http://worldrapidblitzteams2026.fide.comAmateur Cup: http://worldteamamateurrapid2026.hkchessevent.com