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New Zealand Chess Championship Congress Winners

Overall, this was the largest NZ Chess Championship Congress ever held with a total of 637 entries across all categories which included the NZ Championships, Major Open Championships, NZ Rapid Championships, NZ Lightning ( Blitz) and NZ Junior Championships.
The Congress was officially opened by visiting British Chess Champion GM Gawain Jones on 02 January.
Tied for first in the NZ Championships were GM Gabor Nagy (Hungary) and FM Felix Xie (NZL) who both finished on 7.5/9
They both share the NZ Open Championship title, but Felix becomes NZ Champion and will have his name engraved on the famous Silver Rook, inscribed with every New Zealand Champion going back to the first, Henry Hookham, in 1879.
In 3rd place was FM Alphaeus Ang on 7/9, an excellent result following on from his 2nd place in the recent Australian Masters in Melbourne where he gained an IM norm.
4th equal was shared by overseas visitors IM Herman Van Riemsdijk from Brazil and Chinese FM Yining Chen on 6.5/9. Herman was presented with a special Honorary Friend of NZ Chess Award for participating in his 10th NZ Championship.
The Major Open Championships ( for players under 2100 ) was a success for youth and age with a shared first place between veteran ( 80+) Ceferino Isaac and teenager Alex Pan who both scored 7.5/9. In 3rd place was 11-year-old Sai Somaraju on 7/9 in a field of 103 players.
The Rapid & Lightning Championships were also won outright by GM Nagy. In the Rapid Championship he finished on 8.5/9 with the NZ Championship trophy being awarded to NZ players FM Alphaeus Ang, IM Russell Dive and Daqi Mao ( who all finished on 7.5/9 with IM Herman Van Riemsdijk).
In the Lightning Championships GM Nagy also dominated with 8.5/9 with NZ players IM Sravan Renjth and FM Felix Xie ( who both finished on 7.5/9 with FM Yining Chen ) being awarded the NZ Lightning trophy.
Chinese FM Yining Chen was awarded the trophy by NZCF president Nigel Metge for the best result by a female player in the NZ Championship.
Watch video in Youtube

FIDE Rapid and Blitz Championships 2025 to be Held in Doha, Qatar

Following the resounding success of the 2024 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships in New York City, FIDE is excited to announce that the 2025 edition of these landmark tournaments will return to Doha, Qatar. The event is scheduled from December 25 to December 31, 2025, with the Rapid Championships taking place from December 26 to 28, followed by the Blitz Championships on December 29 and 30.

This marks the second time Qatar will host the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships, having previously done so in 2016. In the Open section, Vassily Ivanchuk clinched the Rapid title, while Sergey Karjakin secured the Blitz title. In the Women’s section, Anna Muzychuk delivered an outstanding performance and achieved victories in both the Women’s Rapid and Blitz categories.

The FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships are among the most exciting and popular events in the chess calendar, attracting top players and fans worldwide. The faster time controls and dynamic gameplay lead to thrilling and unpredictable matches, captivating audiences and keeping them on the edge of their seats. The 2024 edition in New York City, for instance, drew millions of online viewers, underscoring the event’s global appeal.

Qatar’s commitment to chess is further exemplified by its experience in organizing major chess events, most notably the Qatar Masters Open in 2014, 2015, 2023, and 2024. The nation’s dedication to attracting top-tier talent makes it a fitting venue for the upcoming championships.

FIDE looks forward to collaborating with the Qatar Chess Association to deliver an exceptional event for players and fans worldwide.

From FIDE Rapid and Blitz Championships 2025 to be Held in Doha, Qatar

Asian Zonal Qualifiers to FIDE World Cup and Women’s World Cup

Zonals are scheduled in Asia’s eight Zones. The 2025 Asian Individual Championship will also qualify ten places to the FIDE World Cup and two places to the FIDE Women’s World Cup.

The 77th Russian Championship 2024 (open) and the 74th Russian Women’s Championship 2024 were announced as qualification tournaments for the FIDE World Cup and Women’s World Cup 2025.

Chess Federation of Russia (Zone 3.8) held Men’s and Women’s Zonal championship 16-29 August 2024 in Barnaul, Altai Krai, Russia. Men’s qualifiers are:

The 61st Indian (Zone 3.7) National Chess Championship was held 17-27 August 2024 in Gurugram, Haryana, India. The qualifiers to the World Cup are:

The 50th Indian (Zone 3.7) National Women’s Chess Championship was held in Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu from 3rd to 13th October 2024. The qualifiers to the Women’s World Cup are:

Other Asian Zonals are scheduled as follows:

FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 to be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan

FIDE has announced that the 2025 edition of the FIDE Grand Swiss and Women’s Grand Swiss will take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from September 3 to 15, 2025.

This will be the first time the prestigious event is hosted in Uzbekistan, a country with a rich chess heritage and rapidly growing influence in the global chess community. From their gold-medal performance at the 2022 Chess Olympiad to a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympiad, as well as hosting world-class events such as the 2022 Women’s Candidates Tournament in Khiva, the 2023 Rapid and Blitz World Championships, and the upcoming 2026 Chess Olympiad in Tashkent, Uzbekistan has firmly established itself as a chess powerhouse and a major hub for the game.

The FIDE Grand Swiss is one of the most significant events in the chess calendar, providing players with a direct pathway to the Candidates Tournament. The top two finishers in the Grand Swiss will earn spots in the 2026 Candidates Tournament, while the top two players in the Women’s Grand Swiss will qualify for the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament.

In addition to its importance as a qualifier, the event will feature an increased prize fund—boosted by at least 30%.

The Grand Swiss has quickly become a highly anticipated event since its inception. The first tournament, held in 2019 on the Isle of Man, saw Wang Hao emerge victorious with an impressive 8/11 score. The 2021 edition, moved to Riga due to COVID-19 restrictions, was won by Alireza Firouzja. The 2023 edition returned to the Isle of Man and was claimed by Vidit Gujrathi. This year will also mark the third edition of the Women’s Grand Swiss. The first tournament in Riga was won by Lei Tingjie, while Vaishali Rameshbabu triumphed in 2023.

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich expressed his excitement about the event: “Uzbekistan’s commitment to chess development is exemplary, and Samarkand provides the perfect setting for this prestigious event. The FIDE Grand Swiss and Women’s Grand Swiss have become flagship events in the FIDE Calendar, and we are proud to partner with Uzbekistan once again to deliver another world-class tournament.”

Further details, including regulations, will be released by the end of February. In the meantime, be sure to mark your calendars for September 2025, as this promises to be an unforgettable chess showdown.

From FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 to be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan

The inside story of how Singapore pulled off the World Chess Championship

Read The inside story of how Singapore pulled off the World Chess Championship – ESPN. In photo, Singapore Chess Federation’s CEO Kevin Goh makes the ceremonial first move in the Game 8 of the World Chess Championship. Maria Emelianova/FIDE

In May 2024, chess really wasn’t a mainstream sport in Singapore. As they were considering a bid to host the 2024 FIDE World Championships, this was a chance for the sport to find a way into Singapore’s public consciousness, while also showcasing the country’s hospitality and ability to pull off events of scale.

21st Caspian International Chess Tournament 10-18 February 2025 in Gilan, Iran

The “21st Caspian Cup” will be held from 10th of February (arrival) till 18th of February (departure) 2025 in Rasht, Gilan, Iran. The competition will be organized by Gilan Chess Association under the auspices of Chess Federation of I.R. Iran.

The categories are as below:
• Category A Master tournament- for Masters (GM, IM, WGM and WIM) and players with Rating 1900 and higher.
• Category B for players with Rating less than 2000.
• Category C for cadets and youth under 14.
• Category D Rapid Cup.
• Category E Blitz Cup.

Download regulations 21st Caspian Cup

GM Eugene Torre Conferred Doctor of Science Degree Honoris Causa


Eugene Torre, Asia’s first Grandmaster, (fourth from left) was conferred the Doctor of Science degree honoris causa from the Mapua University during its 17th Commencement Exercises held at the Philippine International Convention Center.
Torre was the guest of honor and commencement speaker of the event, which recognized his exceptional contributions to the field of chess and sports.
Torre, who left Mapua as a third-year Business Administration student to focus on chess, became the first Asian Grandmaster in 1974 and was recently inducted into the World Chess Hall of Fame in October 2022. The Doctor of Science honoris causa recognizes GM Torre’s extraordinary achievements and impact on society, as well as his character, leadership, and sportsmanship.
Mapua University President, Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea, said, “We are proud and honored to confer GM Eugene Torre with the Doctor of Science honoris causa. He embodies the Mapuan spirit of excellence and service and represents the best of Filipino values and heritage.”
The 17th Commencement Exercises also recognized the hard work and dedication of the families, friends, mentors, and teachers who supported the graduates throughout their journey. Mapua University has a rich history in chess, producing legends such as First International Master Rodolfo Tan Cardoso, Asian Zonal and Philippine Champion IM Renato Naranja, and was the First Chess Team Champion in 1976 when chess was included in the National Collegiate Atholetic Association (NCAA) and leading universities Ateneo and De La Salle were still NCAA members. -Marlon Bernardino-

Vladimir Lait tops Don Tomas Mapua Centennial Chess Cup

Vladimir Lait (fifth from left) swept the Don Tomas Mapua Centennial Chess Cup presents GM Eugene Torre Rapid Tournament held January 18, 2025 at the Mapua Gymnasium in Intramuros, Manila, Philippines.

Lait, a Grade 12 student of Mapua University scored perfect 7.0 points to receive the champion purse of P10,000 for first place.
The Pasig City resident Lait scored victories against Kyla Marie Vallesfin, Gian Ztdric Sucao, Allan Anthony Alvarez, Rodel Bobila, Alexsis Enrico Jacinto, Christian Arroyo and Glenn Midel Delos Santos, respectively.
Lait had earlier won the Rookie of the Year award in the NCAA Season 100 or the 2024–25 season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association chess team tournament.
Arroyo and Arjoe Loanzon finished the tournament with similar 6.0 points; Delos Santos, John Paolo Gaspar Medina, Austin Jay Tablan, Daniel Mondares and George Quinto have identical 5.5 points.
Bobila and Jacinto made it to the top 10 with 5.0 points each.
The rapid division attracted 100 players.

Von Arvie Barbosa Wins Blitz Category

In the blitz category, Von Arvie Barbosa of Taytay, Rizal emerged champion with 8.0 points in nine outings. Mark Tupas, Christian Roche Thompson and Marlon Montoya, both with 7.5 points, took second, third and fourth place.
David Mojar and  Stephen Von Estavillo secured the fifth and sixth spots with 7.0 points apiece while Enrique Naperi,  Mark Joseph Barbosa, John Christopher Alvarado and Karl Christian Coleto made it to the top 10 who totes 6.5-points each.
The blitz division attracted 100 woodpushers.

Ceremonial moves between Mapua President Dr. Dodjie Maestrecampo and Dr. GM Eugene Torre for Rapid;  Ceremonial moves between NAMA Presidents Engr. Adam Abinales and FIL-CHI President Engr. Rudy Niu for blitz.

The event was opened by GM Eugene Torre, Asia’s first Grand Master, Dr. Dodjie Maestrecampo, President of Mapúa University and Police Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III, the director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Mapúa alumnus. It was organized by the Mapúa Institute of Technology Filipino-Chinese Alumni Association, Inc., in collaboration with Mapúa Athletics and Mapúa University Sports Enthusiasts Organization (MUSEO).-Marlon Bernardino.-

 

2025 Sydney International Open 23rd – 27th April

The Rooty Hill Chess Club Presents the Return of the:

2025 Sydney International Open

Three Classical Divisions:
Sydney International Open – Championships (NORM EVENT)
Sydney International Open – Challengers
Sydney International Open – Contenders
One Blitz Event:
Sydney International Open – Blitz

Venue: Novotel West HQ, Conference Rooms 5 & 6

FIDE and ACF Rated Chess Tournament

$16,600 Total Prize Pool

In partnership with the 2025 Melbourne International Open and 2025 Doeberl Cup