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A chess legend, FIDE Director for Chess Development, Nigel Short, was the center of attention of Turkmenistan’s chess and sports community last week. The 59-year-old grandmaster from England, famous for challenging World Champion Garry Kasparov in a title match back in 1993, participated in a number of events in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, during his visit to the country from October 9-12.

The most memorable of them for the guest was the Federation Cup blitz tournament on October 10, which Nigel Short won, scoring 7.5 out of 9. GM Maksat Atabayev (FIDE blitz rating – 2377) Ashgabat and CM Amanmuhammet Khommadov (2316) tied for first position with the winner but took 2nd and 3rd places, respectively, on a tie-break. Atabayev drew his game against the 1993 world crown contender, while Hommadov notched up a memorable victory over the famous grandmaster but lost points in games with other opponents.

The competition’s closing ceremony was attended by the British Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Stephen Conlon, who personally presented his fellow countryman with the well-deserved gold medal. Forty-five top finishers of the tournament in various categories, including standard, rapid and blitz, as well as in age categories, were also awarded cups, medals, certificates, cash prizes from the Turkmenistan Chess Federation, as well as presents and gift certificates from sponsors, including Regus, Intertek, Erem, ImdatBot and Ýigit. In total, more than 300 chess players took part in the Federation Cup tournament series.

The distinguished foreign guests were also given gifts, namely the national Turkmen costume – don (gown) and telpek (fur hat). The British Ambassador and the English grandmaster also visited a small chess museum located in the Ashgabat Chess and Checkers School and observed the educational process in the elementary grades of the school. A giant chessboard in the school’s foyer aroused a particular interest among the distinguished guests. They used it to play a thematic game, which started with the English Opening.

Nigel Short, FIDE Director for Chess Development, arrived in the Turkmen capital at the invitation of the British Embassy and the State Committee for Physical Culture and Sports to participate in an exhibition and conference dedicated to the development of sports in Turkmenistan.

During his stay, he also gave a simultaneous exhibition to ten young players, which lasted more than two hours and ended with Nigel Short winning all the games. The youngsters gained valuable experience playing with the famous grandmaster and got a lot of positive emotions.

At the request of the country’s coaches and leading chess players, GM Short held a separate meeting with them to discuss issues related to the development of chess players’ skills, coaching activities and creating an environment for the fast-paced and sustainable development of chess in the country.

According to Mr Short, “the beauty of Ashgabat, the presence of a suitable chess infrastructure, as well as the talent and drive of young Turkmen chess players to develop and win make Turkmenistan ready to host international chess tournaments of the highest level.”

“The successful performance of both national teams of Turkmenistan at the 45th World Chess Olympiad should give a new impetus and confidence to bring the level of play in Turkmenistan on par with such countries as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan,” added the legendary grandmaster, who took part in seventeen Chess Olympiads over his illustrious career.

Nigel Short is an English GM, widely regarded as one of the greatest British chess players ever. Born on June 1, 1965, in Leigh, Lancashire, he gained international fame in 1993 when he played a World Chess Championship match against Garry Kasparov, becoming the first Englishman to contend for the world title. Although he lost to Kasparov, participating in that match remains a milestone in chess history. Nigel Short has also been active as a chess commentator, coach, and administrator.

Text and photos: Turkmenistan Chess Federation

From Nigel Short takes part in Turkmenistan’s chess festivities

At the end of October, a FIDE delegation led by President Arkady Dvorkovich visited Uzbekistan as part of preparations for the 46th Chess Olympiad, which the country will host in 2026.

Upon arriving in Samarkand on October 27, the FIDE delegation met with local authorities, inspected the construction of the EXPO Center, and reviewed hotel capacity to ensure compliance with FIDE requirements. The 46th Olympiad will follow Samarkand’s successful hosting of the 2023 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships.

The next day, October 28, the FIDE delegation continued to Tashkent, where they held a productive meeting with the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Abdulla Aripov, who is also President of the Uzbek Chess Federation, as well as the Minister of Sport Adham Ikromov, and Alisher Sa’dullayev, Director of the Youth Affairs Agency and first deputy chairperson of the Uzbek Chess Federation.

The discussions covered various aspects of the preparation for the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand and highlighted ongoing efforts to develop and promote chess throughout Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan has quickly risen in the chess world, with five players currently ranked among the world’s top 100, underscoring the country’s growing prominence in the sport. The nation won the 2022 Chess Olympiad and recently secured bronze at the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest.

From FIDE President visits Uzbekistan

Kazakhstan has emerged as a powerhouse in women’s chess, proudly represented by stars like Bibisara Assaubayeva, a two-time Women’s World Blitz Chess Champion, and the Kazakh women’s team, who recently claimed silver at the 2024 FIDE Olympiad. It is thus fitting that Kazakhstan hosts the second leg of the prestigious FIDE Women’s Grand Prix, a cornerstone competition in the women’s chess calendar.

Starting October 30, 2024, ten of the world’s top female players will compete in Shymkent in a round-robin format, vying not only for victory but also for crucial Grand Prix points that impact their qualification for the upcoming FIDE Candidates Tournament. This elite lineup includes renowned players such as Bibisara Assaubayeva, Aleksandra Goryachkina, Stavroula Tsolakidou, Humpy Koneru, Kateryna Lagno, Tan Zhongyi, Nurgyul Salimova, Batkhuyag Munguntuul, Elisabeth Paehtz, and Divya Deshmukh. With a mix of seasoned veterans and rising stars, fans can anticipate a thrilling display of skill and intense games.

The tournament commenced with an elegant opening ceremony at the Rixos Khadisha Hotel, where the playing hall is located. The evening opened with a captivating traditional dance, followed by a tribute to each participant. Players were invited to the stage as their achievements were announced, each donning attire by renowned designer Aida Kaumenova, inspired by Kazakh traditions.

The event was graced by distinguished guests, including FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, Vice President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation Marat Yessenov, and Shymkent’s First Deputy Akim Kuanysh Asylov, all of whom addressed the audience with inspiring words.

President Dvorkovich expressed his hopes for fierce competition and commended Kazakhstan’s remarkable progress in the chess world, stating, “Kazakhstan’s success story is the culmination of joint efforts by the government, regional authorities, the Chess Federation, and supporters across the chess community. I hope this model inspires others globally.”

Kuanysh Asylov, in his remarks, thanked FIDE for selecting Shymkent as the host city. “For our city with more than 2000 years of chess tradition, this is a great honor. We have many chess clubs in our city, and chess as a subject is taught in schools. All this is a merit of our cooperation with the International Chess Federation and the results of support from the country’s leadership.”

In addition to speeches and performances, the ceremony featured a fashion show by Aida Kaumenova, showcasing designs that echo the strategic and artistic elements of chess.

The evening was a spectacular celebration of Kazakh chess passion and a fitting tribute to the players. Round 1 begins Wednesday at 15:00 local time, with a time control of 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment per move starting from move one.

Round 1 Pairings:

Kateryna Lagno vs. Aleksandra Goryachkina
Divya Deshmukh vs. Humpy Koneru
Tan Zhongyi vs. Elisabeth Paehtz
Batkhuyag Munguntuul vs. Stavroula Tsolakidou
Nurgyul Salimova vs. Bibisara Assaubayeva

For more information about the event, including news, images, regulations, pairings, and games, please visit womengrandprix.fide.com/

Written by Charlize van Zyl

Photos: Konstantin Chalabov

From Second leg of FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024-2025 kicks off in Shymkent

Gukesh Dommaraju, often referred to simply as Gukesh D, is the youngest person in the history of chess to become the contender for the title of World Champion, achieving this feat at just 17 years of age.

Born on May 29, 2006, in Chennai – the birthplace of several of India’s top players, including the five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand – Gukesh learned chess in school at the age of seven. This ignited a passion for the game that would see him rapidly advance his FIDE rating and title, achieving remarkable tournament successes in only a decade.

Gukesh earned his FIDE Master title in 2015, after winning the Under-9 section of the Asian School Chess Championships. In March 2018 – just 11-year-old – he became an International Master. Gukesh clinched Grandmaster title at the 17th Delhi International Grandmaster Open on January 15, 2019, at the age of 12 years, seven months and 17 days, becoming the second-youngest person in history at the time (and the third-youngest ever) after Sergey Karjakin. His coach at the time, Indian GM Vishnu Prasanna, noted that Gukesh’s “strategic supremacy and unique understanding”, as well as his work ethic, set him apart from others. Over a 16-month period, Gukesh played an impressive 276 games in 30 tournaments across 13 countries to achieve his GM norms, underscoring his determination.

His early successes include winning the Under-12 World Youth Chess Championships as well as taking five gold medals at the Asian Youth Chess Championships, excelling in various formats (classical, rapid, blitz and team events). Gukesh captured global attention in 2022 when he won the individual gold at the FIDE Chess Olympiad, scoring an outstanding nine points out of 11 games and helping India to secure bronze in the event. That same year he crossed the 2700 ELO mark, becoming the third-youngest chess player to achieve this level (after Wei Yi and Alireza Firouzja), thus entering the realm of super-Grandmasters.

In 2023, he went even further, clearing the 2750 ELO bar in August and becoming the youngest player ever to do so, and then in September, he reached the world number eight, overtaking Viswanathan Anand as India’s top-rated player, a title which Anand held for more than 37 years. That year, Gukesh finished second in the 2023 FIDE Circuit – a series of tournaments over the year – which secured him a spot at the 2024 Candidates (the winner, Fabiano Caruana had already qualified through the World Cup 2023).

In April 2024, in Toronto, Gukesh again surprised the chess world: in his first-ever appearance at the Candidates tournament, he won the event with a remarkable score of 9/14, becoming the youngest-ever challenger for the title of World Champion.

Gukesh’s final grand appearance before the title match, was at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest where, playing on board one, he scored a phenomenal nine points out of ten, winning individual gold leading his team to their first-ever team gold in the event.

Beyond chess, Gukesh devotes significant time to meditation. As a child who would get “very upset after a game” if he lost, Gukesh worked hard to find his inner balance. In an interview with the British Chess Magazine in May, after his victory in Toronto, he reflected on how important mediating has become for his mental stability: “I started taking mental health seriously. Started doing yoga and meditating. Once I started doing that, I made sure it was done regularly, and it made a difference.”

As the match in Singapore approaches, the question on the table is: can Gukesh defeat the reigning World Champion Ding Liren?

Despite recent successes, Gukesh doesn’t have a favorable head-to-head record against the World Champion, Ding Liren. Out of five classical games, Ding has won two (both as Black, in 2023 and 2024), while the other three ended in draws, including a draw at the 2024 Sinquefield Cup. Gukesh’s sole victory came in a Fischer Random game in 2024, but that format differs from classical chess he will be playing in Singapore.

In a press conference ahead of the match, Gukesh shared his thoughts on his opponent: “Ding is quite universal. Almost all the players at the top level have to be universal at this point. So, there are minute differences between all the players, and I’m trying my best to analyze them and use them to my advantage.” As for predictions, the young Grandmaster remained pragmatic: “I don’t believe in predictions and who are the favorites. I just think that whoever is able to show up every day as the best will win the game eventually.”

Written by Milan Dinic

Photos: Michal Walusza, Lennart Ootes and John Saunders

From From a school in Chennai to the World Championship match in Singapore

Photo: Stev Bonhage

World Champion Ding Liren is a symbol of perseverance in chess. Rising from humble beginnings in the chess-loving city of Wenzhou, his journey to the world title is marked by numerous accomplishments and firsts, as well as significant challenges.

Born on October 24, 1992, in China, Ding was introduced to chess by his mother at the age of four. Destiny seemed to favor him, as he was coached early on by Chen Lixing, who also trained former Women’s World Champion Zhu Chen. This led to Ding’s first notable successes on the global chess stage: tying for first place in both the Under-10 and Under-12 World Youth Championships (2003, 2004), though finishing second on tiebreaks in both events.

In 2009, at just 16 years old, Ding became the youngest-ever Chinese champion, announcing to the world what was to come. Thanks to his stellar performance at the national championship, he earned the Grandmaster title later that year. He would go on to win the Chinese championship two more times, in 2011 and 2012.

Photo: Andreas Kontokanis

After conquering the national scene, Ding set his sights on the global stage. In 2014, he helped China win a gold medal at the Chess Olympiad, and again in 2015 at the World Team Championships. That same year, he became only the second Chinese player, after Wang Yue, to enter the world’s top 10.

Ding’s consistent, solid play led him to the finals of the 2017 and 2019 Chess World Cups, though he fell short in both. Despite these setbacks, his reputation as a world-class player continued to grow.

Photo: Kirill Merkuryev

A major milestone came in 2018 when Ding won individual and team gold at the 43rd Chess Olympiad. That year, he also became the first Chinese player to surpass a 2800 Elo rating, peaking at 2816—the joint tenth highest in chess history. His strong, consistent play earned him a reputation as one of the toughest players to beat. From August 2017 to November 2018, Ding went unbeaten in 100 consecutive classical games, a streak broken only by Magnus Carlsen in 2019.

Though 2018 marked the height of Ding’s success, it also introduced new challenges. In his first shot at the world title during the 2018 Candidates Tournament in Berlin, he drew 13 of his 14 games, winning just one. He silenced critics the following year by winning the Sinquefield Cup with a performance rating of 2845, securing the 2019 Grand Chess Tour title.

Photo: St-Louis Chess Club | Lennart Ootes

Ding’s second attempt at the Candidates Tournament came in 2020 in Yekaterinburg, Russia, just as the COVID-19 pandemic began. Despite being one of the favorites, he secured only 2.5 points after seven rounds before the tournament was postponed due to the pandemic. When it resumed in April 2021, Ding improved his form, winning his final three games to finish with 7 points, placing fifth overall.

His real shot at the title came in 2022 at his third Candidates Tournament in Madrid. Despite an underwhelming start, Ding found his stride in the second half, securing key wins over Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura to finish second behind Ian Nepomniachtchi. Under normal circumstances, this would not have qualified him for the World Championship match, but with Magnus Carlsen stepping down, Ding found himself in a championship match against Nepomniachtchi.

The World Championship match in Astana, Kazakhstan, was closely contested. After 14 classical games, the score was tied 7-7, leading to a rapid tiebreak, where Ding triumphed 2½-1½, becoming the first Chinese player to win the Classical World Chess Championship.

Photo: David Llada

However, his monumental achievement in 2023 was soon overshadowed by personal struggles. After winning the title, Ding took a nine-month break from chess in 2024 to focus on his mental health, citing personal difficulties and depression. He skipped major events during this time but returned to competition later that year at the Tata Steel tournament and the Olympiad, showing that he remains a formidable presence in the chess world.

In an interview before the World Championship match, Ding reflected on his state of mind: “My current state is neither exceptionally good nor bad, as I’ve felt over the past one and a half years. I’ve moved past the deepest or worst moments. I know I’ve been playing great chess—I just couldn’t win certain positions. I still believe I can turn that around, maybe during the match.”

Photo: Mark Livshitz

Ding’s mental strength and resilience have defined his career. As he faces rivals whose recent performances have been more consistent, only time will tell if he can maintain his reign as World Champion. Regardless of the outcome, Ding Liren has secured his place among the greatest names in modern chess.

Written by Milan Dinic

From Chess King from China Who Defies the Odds