The 190th Internet-based FIDE Arbiters’ Seminar is going to be organized from 16/06/2025 to 20/06/2025 by the Asian Chess Federation, under the auspices of FIDE.

The Lecturer will be IA/IO Abdulrahim, Mahdi (UAE), FIDE Lecturer.

The language of the Seminar will be Arabic.

The Seminar will give norms and titles of FIDE Arbiter, according to the Regulations for the titles of Arbiters.

♟🌟 Exciting Chess Tournament in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan! 🌟♟

Dear Coaches, Parents, and Chess Enthusiasts,

We warmly invite your talented players to the International Chess Tournament for Boys and Girls (Under 8, 10, 12) from June 15-19, 2025, in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. 🇹🇲✨

🏅 Tournament Highlights:

Rapid and Blitz events under official FIDE rules.

Free full-board accommodation and local transportation!

Easy, quick visa processing, entirely sponsored by organizers.

Enjoy a special cultural treat: an unforgettable Turkmen horse show at the circus! 🐴🎪

Exciting city tours included.

🌐 Open to All Countries: Special terms, i.e. free full-board accommodation, are now available for participants from any country! Spots are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Despite the short notice, we ensure a smooth and fast visa approval process for all participants and accompanying officials. 📅✅

Let your players experience an unforgettable chess event combined with Turkmen hospitality!

Contact us at: tkmchess@gmail.com or call 📞 ‪+99361292843‬
https://tkmchess.com.tm/news/60

We look forward to welcoming you to Ashgabat! 🤝♟✨

Download Regulations – ASHGABAT 2025 (ENG)

Download Registration_Form_Ashgabat_2025 (FINAL)

Asian Chess Federation president Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan (right) and Mongolian Chess Federation president His Excellency Gombojav Zandanshatar (left) award medals to the top three placers, champion GM Bardiya Daneshvar of Iran, runner-up GM Nihal Sarin of India and third placer Shamsiddin Vokhidov of Uzbekistan. The national anthem of Iran was played as its flag rose in the background.

Asian Chess Federation president Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan (right) and Mongolian Chess Federation president His Excellency Gombojav Zandanshatar (left) award medals to the top three women, champion IM Song Yuxin of China, runner-up Bat-Erdene Mungunzul of Mongolia and third placer WGM Xeniya Balabayeva of Kazakhstan. The national anthem of China was played as its flag rose in the background.

Speech of ACF President Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan:

Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the closing ceremony of the Asian Individual Chess Championship for men and women, held here in Al Ain – the capital of Asian chess – from May 6 to May 15, 2025.

This edition brought together 600 players from 38 countries — a new record in both number of participants and countries represented.

We witnessed remarkable games and inspiring sportsmanship, a true reflection of the growing strength of Asian chess.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all those who contributed to the success of this prestigious event — organizing committees, technical teams, administrative staff, and volunteers.

Congratulations to all the winners and those who qualified for the FIDE World Cup. We wish you all the best as ambassadors of Asia on the world stage.

I am also pleased to extend special congratulations to the countries that claimed gold medals in this edition of the championship:
The Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Blitz Chess Championship,
and the Islamic Republic of Iran and the People’s Republic of China in the Classical Asian Chess Championship.
These nations showcased outstanding performance and have proudly represented the spirit of chess in Asia and beyond.

Dear friends,
In this regard, I am pleased to announce that the Asian Chess Federation has decided to award the hosting rights of the next edition of the Asian Individual Chess Championship – Masters Section to Mongolia, in recognition of its ongoing efforts in promoting chess and our full confidence in its ability to deliver an exceptional event worthy of this prestigious continental championship.

On this special day, May 15, 2025, I am also delighted to announce the signing of an agreement between the Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club and the International Chess Federation (FIDE) to launch the FIDE Al Ain ACMG Academy.

I now ask the team to display the official logo of the Academy.

Through this global academy, we aim to elevate the game of chess worldwide, nurture talents from across all continents, and provide world-class training under the guidance of top international coaches, following best practices and global standards. Our services will be delivered in ten languages.

Thank you once again for being with us today. We look forward to seeing you again at our future events

Mongolian Chess Federation President His Excellency Gombojav Zandanshatar makes the ceremonial final round opening move assisted by Asian Chess Federation General Secretary Hisham Al Taher and Organizing Committee Executive Director IM Sami Khader.

In the last round, GM Sarin Nihal of India dealt erstwhile solo leader GM Bardiya Daneshvar of Iran his only loss in the tournament. The Indian GM smashed the Queen’s Pawn opening, Chigorin variation, of the Iranian in 34 moves.

Despite his loss, Daneshvar finished in a tie for first with GM Sarin Nihal at 7 points each after 9 rounds and prevailed in the tie-break to garner the gold medal.

Games were broadcast live on www.chess.com and https://lichess.org/ and https://live.chessbase.com/.

Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings and to download games.

GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov of Uzbekistan (right) drew with compatriot GM Yakubboev Nodirbek (left) to finish in a 6-way tie for third at 6.5 points each. Vokhidov had the best tie break to win the bronze medal.

GM Ivan Zemlyanskii (FID) essayed the Italian Game to draw with GM S.L. Narayanan of India in 32 moves for both to finish in a tie with 6.5 points.

Here are the top 15 placers who received cash prizes:

Daneshvar had previously qualified for the World Cup from the Zone 3.1 Zonals. Therefore, the next ten players in the Asian Individual Championship qualified into the FIDE World Cup. Here are the crucial last round matches:

Mongolian Chess Federation President His Excellency Gombojav Zandanshatar makes the ceremonial final round opening move assisted by Asian Chess Federation General Secretary Hisham Al Taher.

On top board, IM Vantika Agrawal of India (left) outplayed the Slav Defense of erstwhile solo leader Bat-Erdene Mungunzul of Mongolia (right) in 64 moves of a minor piece endgame.

IM Song Yuxin of China (left) crushed the French defense of IM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirojonova of Uzbekistan (right) in 32 moves. The win allowed Song to prevail in a 4-way tie at 7 points each together with Bat-Erdene Mungunzul, WGM Xeniya Balabayeva of Kazakhstan and Vantika Agrawal.

WGM Xeniya Balabayeva of Kazakhstan (left) used the Caro Kann Defense to turn back Munguntuul Batkhuyag of Mongolia (right) in 77 moves and tie at 7 points to win the bronze medal by better tie break over Agrawal.

Song and Mungunzul qualify into the FIDE Women’s World Cup slated this July in Batumi, Georgia.

Here are the top 12 women who received cash prizes.

Here are results of the crucial last round matches in the women’s division:

GM Bardiya Daneshvar of Iran (left) crushed the French defense of GM Abhimanyu Puranik of India in 83 moves to near the title after the penultimate 8th round of the Asian Individual Chess Championship at the Danat Resort Hotel in Al Ain, UAE.

Games are broadcast live on www.chess.com and https://lichess.org/ and https://live.chessbase.com/.

Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings and to download games.

The top ten men shall qualify into the FIDE World Cup slated October-November this year. Here are leaders after eight rounds

In the women’s division, Bat-Erdene Mungunzul of Mongolia (left) smashed the Queen’s Gambit Declined of WGM Seshadri Srija of India in 81 moves of a King and pawn endgame.

The top two women shall qualify into the FIDE Women’s World Cup this July in Batumi, Georgia. Here are women leaders after eight rounds

Daneshvar and Mungunzul are a full point ahead of the second running rivals in their respective divisions.

GM Bardiya Daneshvar of Iran (right) drew wth GM Ivan Zemlyanskii (FID) to maintain solo lead with 6 points out of 7 rounds in the homestretch of the Asian Individual Chess Championship at the Danat Resort Hotel in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

In photo, Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club (ACMG) Board Member Omar Mohamed Abdulla makes the ceremonial opening moves together with, from left, Abdulrahman AlZarooni of ACMG, Asian Chess Federation General Secretary Hisham Al Taher and Organizing Committee Executive Director IM Sami Khader.

Zemlyanskii and GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov of Uzbekistan follow with 5.5 points each.

Vokhidov (right) used the Sicilian Defense to beat FM Yang Zilong of China in 45 moves.

Games are broadcast live on www.chess.com and https://lichess.org/ and https://live.chessbase.com/.

Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings and to download games.

Thirteen players trail with 5 points each in the race for the top ten qualification slots into the FIDE World Cup and $80,000 in cash prizes for the top 15 places.

WGM Seshadri Srija of India (right) drew with compatriot IM Agrawal Vantika to tie for the lead in the women’s division. Srija and Bat-Erdene Mungunzul of Mongolia are tied at 6 points each.

Mungunzul (right) beat WGM P. V. Nandhidhaa of India in 54 moves of a Scotch Game.

Vantika, GM Valentina Gunina (FID) and IM Anastasia Bodnaruk (FID) follow with 5.5 points each. Nandhidhaa and six others trail with 5 points each in the race for the top two qualification slots into the FIDE Women’s World Cup.

Guess the Sacrifice

In the following position after 30…Qe7-d6 between GM S.P. Sethuraman of India as White and FM Imangali Akhilbay of Kazakhstan as Black, guess White’s next sacrificial move. Answer at end of this story.

In the following position after 32…Nf8 in the round 7 game between IM Jan Emmanuel of the Philippines as White and GM Abhijeet Gupta of India, Black is threatening mate. Guess White’s next two sacrificial moves.

Officials of the Asian Individual Chess Championships headed by Organizing Committee Executive Director IM Sami Khader of Jordan (seated, center).

Guess the Sacrifice

In the following round 7 game between GM S.P. Sethuraman of India as White and FM Imangali Akhilbay of Kazakhstan as Black, White played 31.Bf1xa6

In the following round 7 game between IM Jan Emmanuel of the Philippines as White and GM Abhijeet Gupta of India, Black is threatening mate. White played 33.Bxf7+! and 34.Bg8+!

Nineteen-year-old GM Bardiya Daneshvar of Iran and WGM Seshadri Srija of India beat their respective sixth round opponents to grab solo lead in the Men’s and Women’s divisions, respectively, in the second half of the Asian Individual Chess Championship at the Danat Resort Hotel in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

Daneshvar used the Alapin variation to crush the Sicilian defense of GM Murali Karthikeyan of India in 49 moves. The teenager leads alone with 5.5 points after six rounds.

GM Shamsiddin Vokidov (left) of Uzbekistan beat GM Aleksey Goganov (FID) in 37 moves of a Ruy Lopez game.

Games are broadcast live on www.chess.com and https://lichess.org/ and https://live.chessbase.com/.

Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings and to download games.

The top ten men shall qualify into the FIDE World Cup slated October-November this year. Here are leaders after six rounds:

WGM Seshadri Srija of India (left) smashed the Sicilian defense, Najdorf variation, of IM Anastasia Bodnaruk (FID) in a marathon 107 moves. Srija is alone in the lead with 5.5 points from six rounds.

IM Agrawal Vantika of India (right) used the Queen’s Gambit Declined to beat WIM Afruza Khamdamova of Uzbekistan (left) in 38 moves.

WGM P.V. Nandhidhaa of India (right) beat IM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova of Uzbekistan (left) in 67 moves of a Scotch Game.

The top two women shall qualify into the FIDE Women’s World Cup this July in Batumi, Georgia. Here are women leaders after six rounds:

Guess the Sacrifice!

In the following round 6 game between GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov of Uzbekistan as White and GM Aleksey Goganov (FID) as Black, guess White’s sacrifice after 28…Rb8-b2. Answer is at the bottom of this page.

In the following round 6 game between IM Shubin, Kirill as White and FM Zia, Tahsin Tajwar as Black, guess White’s sacrifice after 34…Rc8-c6

In the following game on women’s top board between leader WGM Seshadri Srija of India as White and IM Anastasia Bodnaruk (FID), guess White’s tactical sacrifice in this position after 26…Rad8

In the following round 6 game between GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov of Uzbekistan as White and GM Aleksey Goganov (FID) as Black, after 28…Rb8-b2 White played 29.Qd3xd4

In the following round 6 game between IM Shubin, Kirill as White and FM Zia, Tahsin Tajwar as Black, White sacrificed the Queen with 35.Rf6xe6!

In the following game on women’s top board between leader WGM Seshadri Srija of India as White and IM Anastasia Bodnaruk (FID), White unleashed the tactical sacrifice 27.Nd3-e5+