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Chess Tidbits |
For this Bulletin, Anil Anand, could not contribute his usual detailed article about OTB events (he had to leave his home in Baharain because of the war situation). However he has sent brief highlights.
FIDE World Cup, Goa, Nov 1–27, 2025
Winner: Javokhir Sindarov. Only 19 years of age, he is the youngest player to win the World Cup. Runner-up: Wei Yi. Third Place: Andrey EsipenkoFIDE Grand Swiss, Samarkand (Uzbekistan), Sep 3–15, 2025
Open section winner: Anish Giri. Women's section winner Vaishali Rameshbabu.Tata Steel Masters, Wijk aan Zee, Jan 16–Feb 1, 2026
Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan won the 88th Tata Steel Masters with a score of 9/13, securing the title as the sole winner without needing a playoff. Javokhir Sindarov also of Uzbekistan was 2nd with 8.5 points and Jorden van Foreest of Netherlands was 3rd.Norway Chess, May 26–June 6, 2025
1st: Magnus Carlsen, 2nd: Fabiano Caruana, 3rd: D GukeshSinquefield Cup, Aug 18–28, 2025
Winner: Wesley So, Runner-up: R. Praggnanandhaa, Third Place: Fabiano Caruana2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament (ongoing at the time of writing)
Qualified Participants:- R Praggnanandhaa: 2025 FIDE Circuit Winner.
- Fabiano Caruana: 2024 FIDE Circuit Winner.
- Javokhir Sindarov: 2025 FIDE World Cup Winner.
- Wei Yi: 2025 FIDE World Cup (2nd place).
- Andrey Esipenko: 2025 FIDE World Cup (3rd place).
- Anish Giri: 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss Winner.
- Matthias Blübaum: 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss (Runner-up).
- Hikaru Nakamura: Highest Rating (August 2025 – January 2026).
Javokhir Sindarov won the tournament with a round to spare, thus becoming the Challenger to play against the reigning World Chess Champion Gukesh Dommaraju for the World Championship.
Pic Source: Wikipedia
Vaishali Rameshbabu won the Women's section and earned the right to play the Women's World Chess Championship 2026 against the reigning Champion Ju Wenjun.
Superbet Chess Classic, Romania, May 7–16, 2025
Winner: R Praggnanandhaa, Runners-up (tied for 1st): Alireza Firouzja and Maxime Vachier-LagraveSuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia, July 2–6, 2025
Winner: Magnus Carlsen, Runner-up: Wesley So, Third Place: Gukesh D (he won the rapid portion with 14/18).Saint Louis Rapid and Blitz, USA, August 11-15, 2025
1st: Levon Aronian, 2nd: Fabiano Caruana, 3rd: Maxime Vachier-LagraveLondon Chess Classic, Nov 26 – Dec 5, 2025
Winner: Nodirbek Abdusattorov (7½/9, £25,000 prize)Runner-ups: Alireza Firouzja (5½) and Nikita Vitiugov (5½)
FIDE Open Winners: Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, Velimir Ivic, and Ameet K. Ghasi tied for first.
World Rapid and Blitz Championships: Dec 2025
Open Rapid: Magnus Carlsen finished first with a score of 10.5/13Open Blitz: Magnus Carlsen defeated Nodirbek Abdusattorov 2.5–1.5 in the final match of the knockout stage to secure his ninth world blitz title
Women's Rapid: Aleksandra Goryachkina won her first World Rapid title after defeating Zhu Jiner in a tie-break match (1.5–0.5). Koneru Humpy secured the bronze medal.
Women's Blitz: Bibisara Assaubayeva won the women’s blitz crown for the third time and secured the final qualification spot for the Women's Candidates
Women's World Chess Championship, April 1–23, 2025
Ju Wenjun defended her title, defeating Tan Zhongyi 6½–2½, winning the world championship for the fifth time.Indian Women's Chess
Divya Deshmukh winning the World Cup beating Humpy in finals on TB, qualifying for the Candidates and becoming a GM, was the highlight of Indian women's chess.