WTRBCC 2026: Dragon Chilling take control in Hong Kong
China’s Dragon Chilling delivered a stellar performance on the second day of the FIDE World Team Rapid Championship, taking sole lead after round five. After eight rounds, they are on 14 match points and remain the only undefeated team in the tournament. Defending champions Team MGD1 are in second place with 13 match points, having won three matches and drawn one on day two. Their result has been greatly boosted by their board six player, Abhijeet Shah Aryan (pictured below), who scored 7.5/8. The Kazakh team Barys, led by seasoned players Dmitry Andreikin and Peter Svidler, are third with 12 match points. Dragon Chilling made a strong start in round five with a 3.5:2.5 victory over day-one co-leaders KazChess. The team swung the match thanks to GM Yu Yangyi and their steady board six player, Wang Zihao. With three games ending in draws, Dragon Chilling had already secured the match, but board one was still playing. Ding Liren was fighting a lost queen endgame against Richard Rapport, his second during the 2023 World Championship match. In what turned out to be the longest game of the round, Ding ultimately had to resign. After defeating KazChess, Dragon Chilling drew with Endgame.ai, led by Hans Niemann, and title defenders Team MGD1. They finished the day with a commanding 4:2 victory over the Indian squad Chessgurukul, headed by Praggnanandhaa R. Despite his team’s lead, Ding Liren’s individual performance has been uneven. The former world champion has five draws, two defeats and just one victory. The key drivers of Dragon Chilling’s success have been Yu Yangyi – who started with 5/5, then lost two games and drew in round eight – and board six Wang Zihao, who scored six wins and drew one game in the seven rounds he has played. Rating favorites and previous rapid winners, WR Chess had a mixed day. They started with a 4:2 victory over Mr Birdie and Friends (named in homage to a player’s recently deceased pet) but then lost to Team MGD1, 3.5:2.5. In round seven, they defeated Sky Chess, but then suffered a bitter 4:2 defeat in the eighth round at the hands of Barys. They are now in 11th place, with 10 match points. WR’s star player, world number one Magnus Carlsen, scored just half a point from the three games on day two. He started with a draw against Vladislav Artemiev. Despite arriving five minutes late to the game, Artemiev used his well-known blitz skills to hold Carlsen to a draw. The former World Champion then stumbled in round six, losing to MGD1’s Arjun Erigaisi, and was stunned in round seven by Shant Sargsyan, who is rated around 200 points lower. WR rested Carlsen in the final round, but it did not change their fortunes, as they suffered a surprising 4:2 defeat to Barys, who leapt to third place. With four rounds left, everything will be decided on the third and final day of the FIDE World Team Rapid Championship. Amateurs fighting for the world crown The inaugural FIDE World Team Amateur Rapid Chess Cup kicked off in Hong Kong today, running alongside the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Championships. With an average rating of 1618, the competition gives non-professional players a rare chance to experience a world championship atmosphere – playing in the same venue, on the same boards and clocks, as some of the best players in the world. The event consists of a nine-round Swiss tournament divided into two pools, followed by the finals. After three rounds on the first day, Le Petit Prince and South Luzon Amateurs PH lead Pool A, both having won all three matches. In Pool B, first place is shared by Trophy Hunters and Hong Kong Young Dragons, who also finished the day with a perfect score. 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
KazChess and Dragon Chilling lead after day one of World Rapid Team Championship in Hong Kong
KazChess and Dragon Chilling emerged as the early leaders after the first day of the FIDE World Team Rapid Championship in Hong Kong, with both teams winning all four of their opening matches. They are followed by nine teams on three match wins, including defending champions Team MGD1 and strong favorites WR Chess. The fourth edition of the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Championships kicked off in Hong Kong today at Queen Elizabeth Stadium. As is tradition, the World Team Rapid Championship is the first competition to begin. KazChess – traditionally one of the heavyweights in the field – finished the day at the top of the scoreboard without losing a single game on the top boards. But things did not go entirely smoothly. In round one, the team struggled against local side Chongqing Kylin Chess Club, as Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Alexander Grischuk were held to draws by players rated around 300 points lower. Still, KazChess won the match 4:2 thanks to wins by Kazybek Nogerbek and WGM Aldiyar Ansat on boards three and four. In the following three rounds, KazChess faced exceptionally strong opposition. In round two, they defeated Sky Chess – featuring strong Armenian players Shant Sargsyan and Aram Hakobyan, as well as American GM Andrew Hong – by 4.5:1.5. In round three, they outplayed the star team of Uzbekistan, striking a major blow against World Championship Challenger Javokhir Sindarov and Nodirbek Abdusattorov. In the final round of the day, KazChess overcame the all-star Indian squad Chessgurukul, led by Praggnanandhaa R. Sharing first place, but with weaker tiebreaks, is China’s Dragon Chilling, led by former World Champion Ding Liren. Ding, who is gradually returning to more active chess play, was held to a draw in round one by Mongolia’s Dambasuren Batsuren, rated around 300 points lower. Ding won in round two, drew again in round three, but finished the day with a defeat in round four. Playing Black against Nikolas Theodorou, he miscalculated in a complicated position and lost. Day two will open with a headline matchup between the two leaders. Other notable developments on day one include Praggnanandhaa’s loss in the game with Mongolia-Adlar’s first board, Sumiya Bilguun, who is rated around 300 points lower. Rating favorites WR Chess – featuring world number one Magnus Carlsen and top players such as Fabiano Caruana and Wesley So – also started strongly but survived a setback in round two against Chessnut Nova after Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Alexandra Goryachkina both lost their games. In a clash of two chess titans, Magnus Carlsen beat Vasyl Ivanchuk in round three. In the same round, defending champions Team MGD1 lost to Team International Trading from Singapore. In the final moments of the match, MGD1’s board two, Nihal Sarin, slipped against Rinat Jumabayev, handing the Singapore team the victory. In round four, the mixed Armenian-Uzbek squad Sky Chess delivered a major surprise against Hexamind, one of the favorites. With five games finished, the score was level at 2.5:2.5. But on board three, despite having White, Anish Giri found himself in trouble against Andrew Hong and lost, giving Sky Chess the match victory. The World Team Rapid Championship continues on Thursday with four more rounds. Results and pairings of Day One can be found here: http://worldrapidblitzteams2026.fide.com. 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.com Amateur Cup: http://worldteamamateurrapid2026.hkchessevent.com
FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Championships 2026 officially open in Hong Kong
The opening press conference for the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Championships 2026 took place on June 16 at The Pavilion, The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong, marking the official start of one of FIDE’s most dynamic and spectator-friendly competitions. Held in Hong Kong for the first time, and making its inaugural appearance in East Asia, the fourth edition of the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Championships will take place from June 17-21 at Queen Elizabeth Stadium. The event brings together more than 40 teams and over 300 players from around the world, featuring elite grandmasters, top women players, rising stars and amateur participants competing side by side in a unique team format. The press conference featured FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, Hong Kong China Chess Federation President K.K. Chan, as well as three leading players: GM Levon Aronian, representing Hexamind; and GM Lei Tingjie, representing Dragon Chilling. Opening the press conference, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich welcomed the media, players and organisers, underlining the significance of the championships, “Hong Kong isn’t just hosting a chess tournament. It is taking place on the global chess map, with the best players, rising stars and chess fans from all over the world coming together,” he said. “We see this competition not only as a tournament, but as a festival of chess, where people and ideas come together and where we build a basis for a stronger and more connected chess community.” The FIDE President also emphasised the rapid growth of the competition. What began in Düsseldorf with 36 teams has now developed into a major international event, with the World Team Rapid and Blitz Championships and the newly introduced FIDE World Team Amateur Rapid Chess Cup bringing together more than 800 players across the full programme. “This event is built for spectators. It is fast, team-based, international and easy to follow, and I invite everyone to come, enjoy, learn and connect,” added Dvorkovich. K.K. Chan, President of the Hong Kong China Chess Federation, welcomed the international chess community to the city and described the event as an important moment for Hong Kong’s chess development. “Today is a statement: Hong Kong is open, ambitious, and ready to host the world,” said Chan. “This is a city that has always thrived on competition — in commerce, in culture, in ambition. Chess belongs here. And today, the very best players of this global game are here — in our city.” Chan also stressed the inspirational value of hosting a world-class chess event for young players in Hong Kong, “When we were asked why Hong Kong should host a World Championship, our answer was simple: you do not wait until you have champions before you host a world event. You host a world event so your young players can see champions with their own eyes. That is how champions are made,” he said. He further noted that the championship has been awarded “M” Mark status by the Major Sports Events Committee, a recognition of Hong Kong’s standing as a world-class host city. Following the official remarks, the press conference continued with an interactive discussion featuring GM Levon Aronian and GM Lei Tingjie. Asked about Hexamind’s expectations for this year’s event, Aronian said the addition of Alireza Firouzja had significantly strengthened the team’s chances of fighting for gold. He also pointed to the importance of having a second female player in the line-up, with Kateryna Lagno, a multiple-time world rapid and blitz champion, joining the team. Aronian noted that although Divya Deshmukh delivered an excellent performance in London last year, the demanding schedule fatigued her, making it necessary to bring in another female player. Lei Tingjie spoke about Dragon Chilling’s all-Chinese line-up and the spirit of competing together as one team. In a light-hearted exchange, she was also asked about the origins of the team’s name. “Dragon Chilling” is a nod to the viral “Ding Chilling” moment from the 2024 FIDE World Championship Match, with Lei explaining that the name was chosen by the team captain GM Ni Hua, and that the “dragon” carries strong symbolic meaning in Chinese culture. The conference concluded with questions from the media and a group photo session. The FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Championships 2026 will run from June 17-21 at Queen Elizabeth Stadium, promising five days of fast-paced action, team drama and world-class chess in the heart of Hong Kong. Written by Chalize Van Zyl Photos: Michal Walusza Official website: https://worldrapidblitzteams2026.fide.com/
FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz in Hong Kong preview: Chess elite comes to Asia’s new stage
By Milan Dinic From 16 to 22 June, the crème de la crème of the chess world will gather in Hong Kong for the fourth edition of the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships, alongside the inaugural World Team Amateur Rapid Chess Cup, with both events featuring more than 800 participants. Since its launch in 2023, the FIDE WRBT has become one of the most popular global fast chess team events, where top world players, men and women, prodigies and non-professionals, come together in a mixed-team format to compete for two world crowns. After the inaugural edition in Dusseldorf in 2023, where 36 teams played, each year the number has grown – 38 in Astana in 2024 and then London made a leap with nearly 60 teams in 2025. Hong Kong has raised the ceiling higher, with 48 teams with nearly 400 players, as well as the first World Team Amateur Cup which is expected to have more than 400 participants. “The size of this event is not only in numbers. The field includes world champions, elite grandmasters, leading women players, juniors, club players, corporate officials, and recreational players. That mix gives the FIDE WRBT a unique place in chess,” said FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich. This is the first time the WRBT is coming to East Asia, where it will be hosted jointly by FIDE and the Hong Kong China Chess Federation. “Hosting the tournament in Hong Kong is a statement to the capacities and the ambitions of our chess federation, showing that we want to be taken seriously as a chess city,” said Geoffrey Kao, the Honorary President of the Hong Kong China Chess Federation. The timing of the event is strong. Chess power has been shifting towards Asia in recent years, with India, China, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan being central to elite chess. Hong Kong sits naturally between these chess cultures, while still being a global business and travel hub. That fits the WRB Teams well, because this event is not only for national teams. It brings together clubs, sponsors, companies, academies, and private teams. “I am very proud of my team for developing this unique event. This is not only about enjoyment and great chess but also about bringing people of different chess skills as well as different backgrounds and outlooks on life together under one roof. As a result, the event is also a fair where people meet, exchange ideas, and connect on a personal and professional level, leading to new opportunities for everyone. That is exactly what we want to give to the chess community,” Dvorkovich said. Key facts about the 2026 FIDE Team WRB Championships The main competition days are 17 to 21 June at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium. The field has 48 teams and nearly 400 players confirmed. Each team has six to nine players, plus a captain who may play. Each team must include at least one female player and one recreational player. The recreational player is a player who has never reached 2000 Elo in standard, rapid, or blitz or is unrated up to the March 2026 rating lists. Every match is played on six boards, with at least one female player and one recreational player in the lineup. They must be two different players. Rapid championship The World Team Rapid takes place on the 17, 18 and 19 June. It will feature a 12-round Swiss system. Scoring will be based on match points: two for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a loss. The time control for the World Team Rapid is 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move from move one. Four rounds will be played each day, starting from 2 PM local time. Blitz championship The World Team Blitz takes place on 20 and 21 June. Unlike the rapid, the blitz competition features two stages:1) a pool stage featuring round robins2) a 16-team knockout for the qualification to the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final The time control is three minutes plus two seconds per move, from move one. The blitz pool stage starts on 20 June at 2:00 pm. The round of 16 starts the same evening at 7:00 pm. The quarter-finals begin on 21 June at 2:00 pm, with the final scheduled for 7:00 pm. Key facts about the Amateur Cup The inaugural FIDE World Team Amateur Rapid Chess Cup 2026 runs alongside the main championship. It is for teams of six players who have never reached 2000 Elo in standard, rapid, or blitz, or are unrated, up to the March 2026 rating lists. The system is based on two pools – A and B, with a nine-round Swiss tournament in each. The time control will be 15 minutes plus 10 seconds, starting from move one. The Amateur Cup starts with its opening ceremony on 18 June at 8:45 am. Rounds are played at 9:00 am, 10:00 am, and 11:00 am on 18, 19 and 20 June. The final stage begins on 21 June at 12:30 pm. Prize funds The main World Team Rapid and Blitz prize fund is €500,000. The Rapid championship has €310,000, while the Blitz championship has €190,000. The winner of the Rapid will receive €110,000, while the winning team in the Blitz will receive €75,000. The Amateur Cup prize fund is €25,000, with €10,000 for first place. Biggest teams and lineups The headline teams are WR Chess, Hexamind, Team MGD1, Dragon Chilling, Kazchess, Uzbekistan, Chessgurukul, Chess United, and Endgame.AI. WR Chess are the main favourites, with Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Wesley So, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, and Alexandra Kosteniuk. Hexamind brings Levon Aronian, Anish Giri, Alireza Firouzja, Vidit Gujrathi, Kateryna Lagno and Volodar Murzin. Team MGD1, the defending rapid champions, include Arjun Erigaisi, Nihal Sarin, Pranav V, Leon Luke Mendonca, and Harika Dronavalli. Dragon Chilling are led by Ding Liren, Wei Yi, Yu Yangyi, Ju Wenjun and Lei Tingjie. Kazchess include Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Alexander Grischuk, Richard Rapport, Wang Hao, Bibisara Assaubayeva and Kazybek Nogerbek. Uzbekistan have built a
Chess superstars headline a packed World Team Rapid and Blitz Championships in Hong Kong
By Milan Dinic With less than a month to go to the biggest World Rapid and Blitz team event, the lineups have been revealed. Altogether, 43 teams and more than 300 players are confirmed for the fourth edition of the WTRB. The leading teams from previous editions, WR Chess, Hexamind, and Team MGD1, all return with stellar lineups. But Hong Kong will also feature notable newcomers, including the all-Chinese Dragon Chilling squad led by Ding Liren. WR will be the most eye-catching team in Hong Kong and the top favourites for the first spot, having won the inaugural Rapid Championship in 2023 and the Blitz events in 2024 and 2025. Their biggest asset is Magnus Carlsen – currently the only 2800-rated player in the world. Featuring Fabiano Caruana, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Wesley So, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Hou Yifan, and Alexandra Kosteniuk, the lineup resembles a list of top-rated players in the world. WR’s biggest rivals by rating are Hexamind, with elite players such as Levon Aronian, Anish Giri, Alireza Firouzja, Vidit Gujrathi, Kateryna Lagno, and – the 2024 World Rapid Champion Volodar Murzin. In 2025, they took silver in the Rapid and bronze in the Blitz in London. Another big contender will be India’s Team MGD1, who has been one of the most consistent sides in the World Rapid and Blitz Teams. In 2023 they took the bronze in Rapid, took silver in the Blitz in 2024 and then won the 2025 World Rapid Team title in London, with 21 match points from 12 rounds. Bringing the core of India’s new generation, the team features some of the most notable young names in chess today – Arjun Erigaisi, Nihal Sarin, Pranav V, Leon Luke Mendonca, as well as Harika Dronavalli. Another notable Indian-rooted squad in Hong Kong is Chessgurukul. Their lineup includes super-strong young Indian GMs such as Praggnanandhaa R, Aravindh Chithambaram, Vaishali Rameshbabu, and Pranesh M. Built around players closely linked to the Chess Gurukul school and to RB Ramesh’s wider influence on Indian chess, this team can spring a surprise in any match and should be closely watched. Dragon Chilling has one of the most attractive national-style lineups, led by Ding Liren, Wei Yi, Yu Yangyi, Ju Wenjun, and Lei Tingjie. The biggest news is the return of former World Champion Ding Liren, who has largely retreated from the chess world after his loss to Gukesh in the 2024 match for the world crown. The World Rapid and Blitz Teams in Hong Kong will be the first time since 2024 that Ding plays in a major international event with super-elite players. Another team from Asia – with a strong track record in the WRBT – is Kazchess, standing out with the heavyweights such as Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Alexander Grischuk, Richard Rapport, Wang Hao (the winner of the inaugural Grand Swiss, in 2019), Bibisara Assaubayeva, and Kazybek Nogerbek. Uzbekistan has a very serious squad built around Nodirbek Abdusattorov, World Championship Challenger Javokhir Sindarov, as well as their top players Nodirbek Yakubboev, Shamsiddin Vokhidov, and one of the top players from the early 2000s and former FIDE World Champion, Rustam Kasimdzhanov. Chess United are especially notable because of Viswanathan Anand, Humpy Koneru, Jorden van Foreest, and – the recently confirmed second youngest GM in chess history – Faustino Oro. Endgame.AI should not be overlooked either, with Hans Niemann, Leinier Dominguez, Amin Tabatabaei, Alexey Sarana, Denis Lazavik, and Zhu Jiner. The fast chess quality is also very high. Most of the top players of FIDE’s May 2026 Blitz ranking appear in this approved list, with Carlsen, Firouzja, Arjun, Artemiev, Vachier-Lagrave, Aronian, Anand, and Caruana all present. WR Chess is the glamour team of the 2026 WRB Teams event, but several rival squads have enough star power to challenge them. The fact that teams have to include not only pros but also recreational players whose performance can vary makes it hard to predict anything but a big show in Hong Kong. The full list of teams and lineups is available on the event website: Registered teams About the Hong Kong WTRBC edition The 2026 edition will take place in Hong Kong during the event week of 16 to 22 June. The competition days are scheduled for 17 to 21 June at Queen Elizabeth Stadium. Rapid will be played as a Swiss event over 12 rounds from 17 to 19 June, with a time control of 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move. Blitz follows on 20 and 21 June, beginning with pools before a 16 team knockout. The blitz time control is 3 minutes plus 2 seconds. The total prize fund is €500,000. Rapid receives €310,000, while blitz receives €190,000. The rapid champions will earn €110,000, and the blitz champions €75,000. The other major addition is the inaugural FIDE World Team Amateur Rapid Chess Cup, which will run alongside the main championship. That gives the 2026 edition a broader festival shape and reinforces the event’s central idea of bringing elite and amateur chess closer together. About the Word Team Rapid & Blitz Championships The FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Championships began in 2023 in Düsseldorf. The first edition featured rapid chess only. Blitz was added in 2024, turning it into the current two-title event. Three editions have been completed so far, in Düsseldorf, Astana, and London. Hong Kong 2026 will be the fourth. Clubs, companies, federations, and independent groups to enter the competition. Every match is played over six boards. Each team must include at least one female player and at least one recreational player, defined as someone who has never reached a FIDE rating of 2000 in standard, rapid, or blitz. The rapid title was won by WR Chess in 2023, Al-Ain ACMG UAE in 2024, and Team MGD1 in 2025. Blitz was added to the programme in 2024. WR Chess won that title in both 2024 and 2025.
FIDE Elections 2026 Announced
Dear Candidates, FIDE is pleased to announce that the FIDE Congress will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, between 20 September 2026 and 27 September 2026. The Meeting of the General Assembly will take place on 26-27 September 2026, when the elections will be completed. You are welcome to save the dates in your calendar. The Elections will take place for the following positions and in accordance with the following timelines in which applications can be submitted: The positions of President and Deputy President (on a joint ticket) – no later than 26 July 2026, 6.00 PM, CET time inclusive The position of elected Vice President – no later than 26 August 2026, 6.00 PM, CET time inclusive The position of Zonal President – no later than 26 August 2026, 6.00 PM, CET time inclusive UPD: According to the FIDE Council decision, elections of zonal presidents related to the ACC will take place in July 2026 in Addis Ababa, as part of the ACC’s Continental Assembly. All interested candidates should apply till 30 May 2026, 18:00 CET inclusive. The applications must be addressed to both the FIDE Office and the ACC. FIDE invites all interested persons to submit Candidate Application Forms (attached hereto) to office@fide.com. Please note that electronic signatures or even scanned signatures on a pdf document can be considered valid if there are no doubts about the origin and the attribution of the document. FIDE also informs that the Candidate Application Forms must be endorsed by letters of support from Member Federations (recommended form attached hereto) under the following rules: Each candidacy for the Presidential ticket must be endorsed by nominations from at least five (5) Member Federations, among them at least one (1) from each of the four (4) FIDE Continents, but by no more than eight (8) Member Federations in total; Each candidacy for the position of elected Vice President must be endorsed by nominations from at least three (3) Member Federations; Please consider that each Member Federation is entitled to endorse only one (1) Presidential ticket, as well as one (1) candidacy for one of the positions listed above. Please note that the electoral campaigning and promotion of candidatures are allowed only to the extent permitted under the Electoral Rules and during the electoral period. The electoral period starts three (3) months before elections. “Promotion” means any act or action that may enhance the level of awareness of a particular candidature. It includes advertising, campaigns, or any organised or planned action for the election of a candidate. Electoral campaigning shall be understood as any activity undertaken by candidates or those acting or working for them with the aim of canvassing votes. Please be reminded that the “short statement” provided in Section 2.1 of the CANDIDATE APPLICATION FORM, together with the Candidate’s full name, will be published. If you have any questions, please email them to the FIDE Office at office@fide.com. Application form for President 2026 (DOCX) Application form for Deputy President 2026 (DOCX) Application form for Vice-President 2026 (DOCX) Application form for Zonal President 2026 (DOCX) Recommended Form of Nomination from Member Federation 2026 (DOCX) Recommended Form for Nomination Presidential Ticket 2026 (DOCX) FIDE Elections 2026 Timeline (DOCX)
FIDE World University Team Chess Championship 2026: 32 teams advance to knockout stage
The first stage of the FIDE World University Team Chess Championship 2026 has officially concluded, with university teams from around the world competing in two online Swiss qualifiers for places in the next phase of the competition. Organised by FIDE and the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, together with the Almaty city administration and support from Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Sports and Tourism, the championship has already attracted strong international participation in its inaugural edition. The over-the-board finals will take place in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from August 3-9, 2026. The championship format includes three stages: two Online Swiss Qualifiers, an Online Knockout stage, and the final over-the-board event in Almaty. Following the completion of the two Swiss qualifiers, the top 16 teams from each event have advanced to Stage 2, the Online Knockout. Qualifier 1: Americas and Africa (May 2) The first online Swiss qualifier took place on May 2 on Lichess.org, bringing together 22 university teams from the Americas and Africa regions in a seven-round Swiss-system tournament played at a rapid time control of 10 minutes plus 3 seconds per move. After the event’s completion, 16 teams had secured their spots in Stage 2. Saint Louis University (USA) came out on top with 13 match points and 23 game points, with Webster University (St. Louis, USA) finishing second on 12 match points. The University of Texas at Dallas rounded out the top three, ahead of UTRGV (The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) and Texas Tech University, both of which also advanced comfortably. The strength of the field was notable from the outset. Saint Louis University fielded a lineup that included GM Aryan Chopra (2637, India), GM Bharath Subramaniyam H. (2599, India), GM Nikolozi Kacharava (2528, Georgia), and WGM Thalia Cervantes Landeiro (2262, USA). Webster University’s roster, led by GM Awonder Liang (2718, USA), was also very strong and included GM Francesco Sonis (2556, Italy), IM Anna Sargsyan (2360, USA), and WIM Munika Akshaya Bommini (2128, India). The 16 teams that qualified from Qualifier 1 are: Qualifier 2: Europe and Asia (May 9) The second qualifier, held on May 9 also on Lichess.org, featured 36 university teams from the Europe and Asia region and proved equally competitive. Ural State Mining University finished first with 13 match points and 24.5 game points, ahead of Universitas Gunadarma (Indonesia) in second and SRMIST (India) in third. Ural State Mining University entered the event with the highest average rating in the field at 2524. The team included GMs Arseniy Nesterov (2599), Rudik Makarian (2551), and Sergei Lobanov (2515), as well as IM Leya Garifullina (2431). Universitas Gunadarma represented Indonesia with a strong lineup consisting of IM Gilbert Elroy Tarigan (2421), IM Aditya Bagus Arfan (2370), FM Fabian Glen Mariano (2361), and WIM Diajeng Theresa Singgih (2308). SRMIST, which finished third overall, was led by IM Harsh Suresh (2435) and GM Raahul V S (2402). The 16 teams that qualified from Qualifier 2 are: With both Swiss qualifiers complete, attention now turns to Stage 2, the Online Knockout, scheduled for May 16-17 on Lichess.org. The 32 qualified teams will compete in a knockout format, with the top eight teams earning spots in the over-the-board finals in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The finals, which will take place from August 3-9, 2026, will bring together the eight surviving teams advancing from the knockout stage, alongside eight wildcard teams invited by FIDE and the organisers, competing for the championship title. The broadcast of the knockout stage will be available at: https://worlduniversities2026.fide.com/live For full tournament information, regulations and live results, visit the official championship website: https://worlduniversities2026.fide.com
List of qualified teams for the 3rd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities 2026
FIDE publishes the list of qualified teams for the 3rd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities 2026: National federations whose teams have been qualified are requested to confirm the participation of their national teams of people with disabilities to the official email address of the Olympiad at olympiadpwd2026@fide.com by May 15, 2026. Please see the regulations for the 3rd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities here: https://handbook.fide.com/files/handbook/Olympiad2026CompetitionForDisabled.pdf We urge all national federations whose teams have been qualified to meet the confirmation deadline. Looking forward to meeting you in Samarkand. Official website: https://dis-olympiad2026.fide.com
FIDE World Championship Match 2026 – Call for bids
The FIDE World Chess Championship Match is the pinnacle of the FIDE World Championship Cycle. The 2026 edition will decide who will reign over the chess world for the next two years – the reigning world champion, Gukesh D (India), or the challenger, Javokhir Sindarov (Uzbekistan). The upcoming clash will be the youngest-ever chess world championship match. Both Gukesh and Sindarov will be 20 at the time it begins. The World Championship Match 2026 is provisionally scheduled between November 23 and December 17, 2026. FIDE is opening a bidding procedure to host the event. 1.2 The basic provisions are the following: a) Total duration of the event – up to 25 days b) The Regulations shall be approved by July 1, 2026. с) Estimated total budget of the event – 8,500,000 (eight million five hundred thousand) USD d) Minimum prize fund – 2,500,000 (two million five hundred thousand) USD e) FIDE fee – 1,100 000 (one million one hundred thousand) USD f) Payment for commercial, sponsorship, and broadcasting rights shall be specified in the bidders’ proposals. g) The Organiser shall respect the rights of the FIDE sponsors and partners, including for the video broadcast. 1.3 The Applicant shall fill in the Bidding Form. The Applicant must indicate the exact breakdown of the budget by item, including proposals for payments to FIDE for the commercial and sponsorship rights, payment for the broadcasting rights, and the distribution of sponsorship and broadcasting rights between FIDE and the Organisers. A signed copy shall be submitted as an e-mail message to the FIDE Secretariat to office@fide.com no later than May 31, 2026, by 23:59 Lausanne time. The bid should be accompanied by the relevant supporting documents. FIDE has the right to extend this deadline if considered necessary. All the documents shall be submitted in English. 1.4 FIDE reserves the right to enter into additional negotiations with any of the Applicants in order to improve or modify the bid. 1.5 The final decision of FIDE will be based on the totality of all the proposed conditions and interests of chess development.
FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2026: Top teams already confirmed for Hong Kong
The fourth edition of the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships will take place from 16 to 22 June in Hong Kong, marking the event’s first appearance in East Asia. Since its inaugural edition in Düsseldorf in 2023, this championship has grown into one of the most anticipated events on the calendar, bringing together world-class grandmasters and rising talents in a format unlike any other in competitive chess. It is one of the rare occasions in international chess where world-class players can be seen forming their own squads and playing as a team, something that is almost never seen outside of the Chess Olympiad. Top teams have already confirmed their participation, featuring some of the biggest names in the game, including world number one Magnus Carlsen, alongside the most recent FIDE Candidates and Women’s Candidates winners, Javokhir Sindarov and Vaishali Rameshbabu. The Rapid Championship will be played as a 12-round Swiss tournament across three days, with four rounds per day and a time control of 15 minutes plus a 10-second increment. The Blitz Championship follows on 20 and 21 June, beginning with pool stages before moving to a knockout format for the top 16 teams, with a time control of 3 minutes plus a 2-second increment. The total prize fund across both championships is €500,000, with the Rapid champion team receiving €110,000 and the Blitz champion team taking home €75,000. Registration is well underway, and a number of formidable teams have already confirmed their participation. WR Chess return as defending Blitz champions with a stellar lineup: Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Wesley So, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Andrey Esipenko, Alexandra Kosteniuk, and Hou Yifan. Carlsen and Caruana playing on the same team is a rare sight, and WR Chess will once again be the team to beat. Uzbekistan, captained by former FIDE World Champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov, bring Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Javokhir Sindarov, Nodirbek Yakubboev, Shamsiddin Vokhidov, Mukhiddin Madaminov, alongside Afruza Khamdamova and Umida Omonova. Sindarov arrives in exceptional form after winning the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament with a round to spare. Seeing him compete alongside Abdusattorov and his Uzbek teammates offers a preview ahead of the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand later this year, where Uzbekistan will be amongst the favourites on home soil. Dragon Chilling bring together former World Champion Ding Liren and reigning Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun in a powerhouse Chinese squad that also features Wei Yi, Yu Yangyi, Lu Shanglei, Bai Jinshi, and Lei Tingjie. The team name itself is a playful nod to the viral “Ding Chilling” moment during the 2024 World Championship match. Hexamind Chess Team return after an impressive second-place finish in the Rapid at last year’s edition in London. This time, their lineup includes Alireza Firouzja, Anish Giri, Levon Aronian, Volodar Murzin, and Kateryna Lagno. Chessgurukul feature Vaishali Rameshbabu, fresh from her historic victory at the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates, playing alongside her brother Praggnanandhaa, Aravindh Chithambaram, Pranesh Munirethinam, and Karthikeyan Murali. Vaishali became the first Indian woman to win the Candidates and will challenge Ju Wenjun for the Women’s World Championship, meaning both challenger and champion will be competing in Hong Kong on rival teams. Chess United bring five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand together with former Women’s World Rapid Champion Humpy Koneru, Jorden van Foreest, and Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara. Their roster also includes Roman Shogdzhiev, the youngest International Master in history at the age of 10, and Tunde Onakaya, the founder of Chess in Slums Africa and Guinness World Record holder for the longest marathon chess game. Several other strong teams have also registered, including Chessnut Nova (featuring Raunak Sadhwani, Daniel Dardha, and MarcAndria Maurizzi), Global Ramblers (with Alexei Shirov and Alexander Motylev), and the Farm – Valera Chess Training team (with the legendary Vasyl Ivanchuk). Teams representing Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Spain, Australia, and many more regions are also set to compete, reinforcing truly international scope of this event. Register your team The registration deadline is May 15, 2026, 12:00 pm Lausanne time. The playing venue capacity is limited to 42 teams, with places allocated based on the highest team ratings and earliest registration, alongside six wildcard entries from the organisers. The entry fee is €1,000 per team. Each team must consist of a minimum of six and a maximum of nine players, including at least one female player and at least one recreational player. Full regulations and the registration form are available on the official event website. Registration form: https://formdesigner.pro/form/view/243338 Regulations (PDF) Contact: hkchessevent@gmail.com Photos: Rafal Oleksiewicz and Michal Walusza