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GM Pouya Idani and Anahita Zahedifar Top Zone 3.1 Men’s & Women’s Zonals in Iraq

GM Pouya Idani and WFM Anahita Zahedifar, both of Iran, won respectively the Zone 3.1 Men’s and Women’s Zonals held 8-15 April 2025 in Erbil, Iraq, In photo, Iraqi Chess Federation president Dhafer Abdul Ameer Madhloom awards the champion’s trophies to Idani above and to Zahedifar (below).

Twenty women from five countries participated in the women’s section, namely Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine and host Iraq. Anahita Zahedifar qualifies into the FIDE Women’s World Cup.

GM Bardiya Daneshvar of Iran (above) tied for first with 8.5 points to qualify together with Idani into the FIDE World Cup. The two GMs lived up to their billing as top two seeds in the field of 46 men from ten countries, namely Bahrain, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and host Iraq.

Asian Chess Federation General Secretary Hisham Al Taher makes the ceremonial opening moves in the Zone 3.1 Zonal Chess Championship in Erbil, Iraq assisted by Iraqi Chess Federation president Dhafer Abdul Ameer Madhloom and first Vice president of Iraq Olypmpic Committee Abdolsalam Khalaf.

Officials in the Zone 3.1 Men’s and Women’s Zonals led by Iraqi Chess Federation president Dhafer Abdul Ameer Madhloom (seated center) and, next, Chief Arbiter Mehrdad Pahlevanzadeh of Iran.

Michel Jackson Ambuang Wins Misamis Occidental Summer Chess Tournament

Michel Jackson Ambuang dominated the 1799 Below FIDE Standard Rated Summer Chess Tournament 2025 dubbed as The Search for the Next Chess Master held April 13, 2025 in Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, Philippines.
The Dipolog City based Ambuang scored 5.0 points to win the FIDE Standard Rated Summer Chess Tournament.
Julius Dan Augustine Ablin of Iligan City settled for second with similar 5.0 points while Geronimo Romarate of Dipolog City wound up third with 4.5 points in this event backed up by Costbusters Philippines Corp. and Engr. Billy Joe Ereno.
Rounding up the top ten who got 4.0 points each are fourth Wilson Barredo, fifth Abdullah Abdul Halil, sixth Rodney Opada, seventh AIM Adrian Belly Calido, eighth Randy Lou Pendant, ninth Kristan Estrella and tenth Roy Ronald Roa.
Adjudged category winners were Quinn Zian Yon (Top 12 under), AFM Ran Zeth Marco Magallanes (Top 14 and under) and Jenephir Pepito (Top Lady).
Meanwhile, AIM Arian Belly Calido won the blitz event with 6.0 points. Ambuang settled for second with similar points followed by third placers Wilson Barredo and fourth placers Johnny Wellem Carzano, both with 6.0 points each.
Fifth to tenth placers who got 5.0 points were fifth Deric Herald Jornales, sixth Mandy Ortiz, seventh Gilbert Baba, eight Abdullah, ninth Kristan Estrella and tenth  Magallanes.-Marlon Bernardino-

Ju Wenjun moves within reach of the title with fourth consecutive win

In Game 8 of the FIDE Women’s World Championship Match, Tan Zhongyi changed her strategy, deviating from her usual English Opening in an attempt to shake things up and force a result. But despite the challenger’s fighting intentions, World Champion Ju Wenjun once again demonstrated why she now stands just half a point away from securing a fourth consecutive title.

For the first time in the match, we saw a departure from the opening script. Tan had been consistently starting with 1.c4, but today she chose to break not only from that pattern but also from her standard repertoire. She played 1.e4—famously described by Bobby Fischer as “the best by test”—a logical choice for Tan Zhongyi, who needed more than a slight opening advantage. She needed to win.

The first ceremonial moves in Game 8 were made by Chen Shenglin, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board, Dana Reizniece.

Let’s once again assess the psychological landscape of the match heading into the game: Ju has just achieved a hat trick, winning three consecutive games and taking a commanding 5–3 lead. With only 6.5 points needed to retain her title, she entered the game with confidence and control. Ju is a champion in her prime—focused, composed, and resolute. She told us in an interview before the match (which you can watch here) that her greatest strength as a world champion is not just hard work, but “concentration.” Watching her during the games—barely leaving her chair and maintaining unwavering focus —it’s clear her actions reflect her words. And this quality has brought her within reach of another successful title defense.

Tan, on the other hand, is in a position few would envy: three points behind, under immense pressure, with the world watching. She must fight tooth and nail for every point. Prior to the match, Tan radiated confidence, and we saw glimpses of this in the early games – perhaps too much at times, as she played too quickly in complex positions that required more careful calculation. But that confidence now appears shaken. In recent games, she has hesitated too long in moments that demanded determination. Today, her play reflected a mix of confidence and desperation. She sacrificed a pawn without compensation, and Ju converted the advantage with precise and elegant play.

From Ju Wenjun moves within reach of the title with fourth consecutive win – International Chess Federation

JAPFA International FIDE Rated Tournament Set 10-15 May 2025 in Jakarta

JAPFA International Fide Rated Tournament is annual tournament organized by PERCASI (Indonesia Chess Federation) with full support from PT Japfa Comfeed Indonesia Tbk.

JAPFA International Fide Rated Tournament invites Grand Masters and Masters from Asia and neighboring Countries to take part on the event. The event provides opportunities to meet and compete with chess players from Indonesia and ASEAN country.

Tournament take place for 6-days with three game categories. For player with minimum elo rating 2000 have opportunities to take part in the open category. While player with elo rating under 2000 can participate in the challenger category. All players can take part in the blitz categories whatever their elo rating.

Visit official site JAPFA International Fide Rated Tournament – Chessmaster

 

GM Katerina Lagno Wins 7th Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Blitz in Abu Dhabi

Joy Acedo of Philippines Places Second, WGM Mahri Geldiyeva of Turkmenistan in Third

GM Katerina Lagno (left) won the 7th Fatima  Bint Murabak Ladies Sports Academy -Blitz chess tournament on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. GM Kateryna Lagno of Russia clinched the title with 8.5 points.
Woman National Master Rowelyn Joy Acedo (above right) finished in second place followed by WGM Mahri Geldiyeva.
Acedo had seven wins and two losses at the end of the blitz tournament with a time control of 3 minutes plus 2 seconds increment.
Acedo together with WGM Mahri Geldiyeva of Turkmenistan, Mariam Javakhishvili of Georgia, WIM Sristi Pandey of India and Eisa Mohamed Anoud of UAE had identical scores but Acedo had a better quotient.
Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings.

Ju Wenjun Wins Game 7 to lead 5-2 in Women’s World Chess Championship Match

After a two-day break, the FIDE Women’s World Championship Match resumed with Game 7 in its second host city, Chongqing—and what a dramatic game it was. It looked as though Tan Zhongyi was on track to repeat her 2018 feat by claiming victory in the first game of the second half, but under immense time pressure, she first allowed her advantage to slip into equality and then made a critical error that left her in a completely lost position. Ju Wenjun converted with precision, extending her lead in the match to 5–2.

The ceremonial first moves were made by Xu Yuhua, General Secretary of the Chinese Chess Association (and, of course, the 11th Women’s World Chess Champion), and Wu Hui, Member of the Standing Committee of the Chongqing Fuling District Committee.

The moment before the game began was tense. As the 60-second timer on the clock counted down, the hall fell completely silent. Both players were locked in deep focus, their eyes fixed on the board. One could almost feel the pressure in the air. While both players face the shared weight of a World Championship match, their circumstances differ greatly. Tan Zhongyi, the challenger, began the second half trailing by two points—a significant deficit that will require her to take risks in the remaining games to try and level the score. Ju Wenjun, the reigning World Champion, holds the lead, but also bears the pressure of maintaining it. We’ve now left her home turf, which seemed to favor her, so the question becomes: Can she keep up her momentum on Tan’s home ground?

Of the first six games, four ended decisively—a rare occurrence at the World Championship level. And with so much at stake for both players, that trend of decisive results may well continue. Once again, the opening was a Sicilian—in fact, every game with Ju as White and Tan as Black has featured the Sicilian, while every game with the reverse colors has seen an English Opening. Though this repetition might seem monotonous, the variations have been different. In today’s game, we saw a Rossolimo, setting the stage for an imbalanced, fighting battle.

Both players appeared well-prepared, with Ju achieving another Maroczy Bind setup, her pawns  on e4 and c4. Tan responded confidently, blitzing out moves from a line previously played by her second, Jeffrey Xiong, against Wesley So in 2020. While Xiong lost that game with the Black pieces, Tan deviated with 9…Be7 instead of 9…Bc4. Interestingly, neither player was aware of that earlier game. Overall, Tan has shown superior opening preparation throughout the match, and today was no exception—until Ju steered the game out of theory and into uncharted territory.

Another interesting point to note was that Tan had never spent this much time in the opening in previous games and in the post-game press conference, she admitted that this was her attempt at finding variations that would give her chances to play for a win out of the opening, but this would eventually get her into the fateful time trouble.

An interesting observation: Tan spent more time in the opening than in any of the previous games. In the post-game press conference, she admitted this was a deliberate attempt to find variations that would give her winning chances right from the opening. Ironically, that approach eventually led to the fateful time trouble.

Still, it was Black who seemed more comfortable, maintaining an edge through much of the opening and middlegame. She even secured an extra pawn, and with the bishop pair on the board, her position looked promising. However, failing to capitalize on key moments, Tan eventually allowed the position to equalize, until, under time pressure, she committed the most critical error of the game:

Black had multiple options in this position, such as 35…Kg7 and 35…Rb4, and needed to realize that the c6-pawn could not be protected due to …Bb7, activating her worst-placed piece.

Instead, Tan erred by first playing 35…Bb7?, stubbornly holding onto the pawn. This was met with 36.Bc5!, forcing the dark-squared bishops trade; otherwise, White’s knight would jump to d6. After 36…Bxc5 37.Nxc5, the tables turned and White now had a monster knight versus a miserable bishop. Tan could have tried to resist with the 37…a4 push, but this opportunity was missed. Instead her bishop became locked up on a8, with the key effectively thrown away. White soon collected the h-pawn, then the a-pawn, and played the remainder of the game essentially a piece up due to Black’s bad bishop.

This game was expected to unfold differently—even this report was originally written with a focus on positional nuances and critical decisions from both sides. But ultimately, Tan’s 35…Bb7 became the game’s defining moment. Despite playing well and gaining an advantage with the Black pieces, that one move overshadowed everything else. In chess, it’s often said that the loser is the one who makes the last mistake, and today, that was Tan Zhongyi.

Ju Wenjun now leads the match 5-2 and needs only 1.5 points from the remaining five games to retain her title.

Game 8 will take place tomorrow, April 14, at 15:00 local time, with Tan Zhongyi having the white pieces.

FACT SHEET, Game 7, FIDE Women’s World Championship 2025:

White: Ju Wenjun
Black: Tan Zhongyi
Result: 1-0
Opening: Sicilian Rossolimo
Game length:  47 moves
Match score: 5-2 (in favour of Ju Wenjun)

Follow FIDE’s social media channels for updates, tune into YouTube for live commentary and coverage, and visit the official match website for more information.

Written by Charlize van Zyl

Photos: Anna Shtourman

Official website: womenworldchampionship2025.fide.com/

About the Match

The 2025 FIDE Women’s World Chess Championship match between Ju Wenjun and Tan Zhongyi follows a 12-game format. The first player to score 6.5 points will be declared the winner.

The time control for each game is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 1.

If the match is tied at 6-6 after all 12 games, a tiebreak will determine the champion. The tiebreak procedure involves a series of rapid and, if necessary, blitz games to ensure a decisive outcome.

From Game 7 turns dramatic: Ju Wenjun capitalizes to lead 5-2 – International Chess Federation

Western Asia Youth Chess Championship 20-29 April 2025 in Tajikistan

Record Number of players in Western Asia Youth Chess Championship

Over 400 children are participating from 13 countries, namely India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and host Tajikistan.

Visit chess-results.com to check registration of your players.

The Tajikistan Chess Federation and Group of Companies “KOINOTI NAV”, under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation and FIDE, invite national chess federations in the region to participate in the Western Asia Youth Chess Championship and Western Asia Youth Rapid and Blitz Championships, which will be held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. This event will be held from 20th (arrival) to 29th April (departure) 2025.

Download 2025_Western_Asia_Youth_Chess_Championship_Regulation

The Official Venue is the National Library of Tajikistan.

The Official Hotels (4stars) are Hotels Baland, Firdavsi, Aram.

7th SSC Open International Rating Chess Championship

Organized by the SSC International Chess Academy, on behalf of the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka and World Chess Federation [FIDE] the 7th SSC Open International Rating Chess Championship will be held at the “GRAND ROCKLAND HOTEL”, Welewatta, Matara, Sri Lanka.

This event is proudly organized Seventh time with a Total Cash prize of Rs. 1.3 Million and other attractive awards and Prizes.

The event will be played according to the Swiss system with 10 rounds from 30th April (Arrival) to 06th May (Departure) of 2025 @ Matara, Sri Lanka.

Download   7th SSC Open 2025 Classical Event

Chongqing welcomes the second half of Women’s World Championship Match

The 2025 FIDE Women’s World Championship Match between reigning World Champion Ju Wenjun and Challenger Tan Zhongyi continues in Chongqing, where the second half of the match was officially opened today with a press conference at the luxurious Jinke Grand Hotel – the venue for the remainder of the event.

The players and their teams arrived yesterday evening after a long journey from Shanghai, which included a 2.5-hour flight followed by a scenic bus ride from Chongqing Airport to the hotel. Nestled in the mountains, Chongqing is one of the largest cities in the world. As Tan Zhongyi noted during the Game 6 press conference, although the match is taking place in her home city, it is still quite far from where she resides. Beyond the picturesque views, what truly stood out was the warmth and hospitality of the people. The local organizing committee went above and beyond to ensure a smooth and comfortable arrival for all traveling from Shanghai. Their meticulous planning and attention to detail reflect a high level of professionalism.

The press conference panel featured several distinguished officials: Deputy Director of the FIDE Management Board Ms. Dana Reizniece, Secretary General of the Chinese Chess Association Ms. Xu Yuhua, Deputy Director of the Chongqing Municipal Sports Bureau Mr. Du Xueyong, and Member of the Standing Committee of the Chongqing Fuling District Committee Mr. Wu Hui.

Representing FIDE, Ms. Reizniece extended heartfelt thanks to the organizing teams in both Shanghai and Chongqing for their commitment and dedication: “I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the organizers of the first part of the match in Shanghai—the Shanghai Administration of Sports, the Chinese Chess Association, the Shanghai Chess Academy, and the Shanghai Board and Card Games Administrative Center. The tournament was exceptionally well organized, and the conditions provided for both players and officials were outstanding. The professionalism and dedication of the organizers ensured a world-class experience for everyone involved. Thank you for your excellent work. I would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Chongqing Administration of Sports, the Chess Department of China Qi-yuan, and the Chongqing Board and Card Games Administrative Center for having us here. We had the pleasure of experiencing their outstanding work during the 2023 match, and we are confident that, once again, we will witness the same level of dedication, professionalism, and commitment over the coming days.”

At the heart of this match lies a celebration of women and chess. Ms. Reizniece continued: “For nearly a century, the world of chess has celebrated its queens. From the trailblazing Vera Menchik in 1927 to Ju Wenjun today, 17 extraordinary women have held the title of World Champion, each leaving a lasting legacy and opening doors for the next generation. China has played an incredible role in this. Today’s match between Tan Zhongyi and Ju Wenjun is not only a milestone for the sport — but also a moment of national pride. China is one of the world’s leading chess nations, producing world champions and contributing greatly to the development of our sport.

Women’s chess has seen remarkable growth, and FIDE is proud to have placed its development at the heart of our mission. And yet, our work is far from over. FIDE is proud to support this growth through new initiatives like the Women’s Grand Prix, tournaments for women and girls, support for chess moms competing in over-the-board events, and many others — all aimed at creating more opportunities for female players around the world.”

Mr. Du Xueyong then took the floor to present the match schedule and logistical preparations. The second half consists of six games, unless a player reaches 6.5 points before that, which would secure the title. If the match is tied after 12 classical games, tiebreaks will follow to determine the winner and crown the new champion.

The championship trophy – a stunning glass Phoenix Coronet, was unveiled today by Ms. Reizniece. Crafted using an ancient Chinese glass-making technique, it features a delicately designed peony flower at its center. Known as the “king of flowers,” the peony is a symbol of prosperity, grace, and beauty in Chinese culture. The process of creating the trophy also holds deep meaning: “Craftsmen fired the pink peony at temperatures over a thousand degrees. Every step was done with great care and skill. This process reflects the spirit of craftsmanship – just like a chess champion, the trophy was made through hard work, many challenges, and the pursuit of excellence.”

Soon, a new Women’s World Champion will be crowned. Who will lift the phoenix coronet – Ju Wenjun, defending her title, or Tan Zhongyi, reclaiming it once again?

The seventh game is scheduled to begin tomorrow, April 13, 2025, at 15:00 local time.

Follow FIDE’s social media channels for updates, tune into YouTube for live commentary and coverage, and visit the official match website for more information.

Written by Charlize van Zyl

Photos: Anna Shtourman

Official website: womenworldchampionship2025.fide.com/

From Chongqing welcomes the second half of Women’s World Championship Match – International Chess Federation

Ayush Sharma Wins Khelo Chess India Masters Rapid and Blitz 2025

by Shahid Ahmed – 11/04/2025

IM Ayush Sharma scored 17.5/21 to win Khelo Chess India Masters 2025. He won both Rapid and Blitz events scoring 12/14 and 5.5/7 each respectively. 11-year-old CM Madhvendra Pratap Sharma scored 15/21 to finish second. He secured second place in both Rapid and Blitz – 10/14 and 5/7. IM Anup Deshmukh was placed third with score of 13/21. WIM Angela Franco Valencia (COL) scored an impressive 4.5/7 to finish third. She scored 8.5/21 to finish fifth overall. The two-day seven-round each Rapid and Blitz tournament was organized by ChessBase India at Sage International School in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh on 5th and 6th April 2025. This is Ayush’s second and third tournament triumph of the year.

See full story at Ayush Sharma awesome at Khelo Chess India Masters Rapid and Blitz 2025 – ChessBase India