Currently David Navara is playing the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team 2025 for the team of Hetman GKS Katowice. In an interview for David Howell from Take Take Take, David Navara shares, “I am doing better […] but after I heard the reaction of GM Kramnik, I was sleeping very poorly and I was very stressed” Navara also adds, “I made it clear that his statistics should be investigated, it was published on Lichess and Chess.com so that everyone can see it” and jokes, “Today I made an incorrect queen sacrifice, I wonder if someone will accuse me of making the incorrect queen sacrifice? Hopefully not!” See the full interview of David Navara below. David Howell concludes the interview with, “David, I just want to say that I am such a big fan and supporter of yours, I think the whole chess world is on your side. I am glad you are doing better“

Timeline of events

23.05.2025 Navara publishes an open letter about Kramnik’s actions
23.05.2025 Reactions to Navara’s open letter – Aronian, Polgar, etc
23.05.2025 Navara and Kramnik to meet at FIDE World Rapid and Blitz
24.05.2025 David Navara, “I firmly believe that Mr Dvorkovich should resign”
24.05.2025 Kramnik, “I am deeply disappointed Navara participates in unjust PR campaign against me”
24.05.2025 Kramnik rage-blocks Chessdom over a comment on David Navara’s case
24.05.2025 Live: David Navara at French Top 16
25.05.2025 Kramnik admits to allegations, FIDE has grounds to act
25.05.2025 Open call to action for FIDE
26.05.2025 David Navara now has personal chess calendar
26.05.2025 Czech Chess Federation: We stand behind chess legend GM David Navara
28.05.2025 MrDodgy : “Kramnik bullies Navara, will he be satisfied if he ends in hospital or worse?”
29.05.2025 Emil Sutovsky : “I find Kramnik’s latest address to David Navara inhuman”
12.06.2025 David Navara: “When I heard Kramnik’s reaction, I slept really poorly”
26.06.2025 Official Statement of Hetman GKS Katowice Chess Club + Keti Tsatsalashvili of support of David Navara
28.06.2025 Levon Aronian addresses Kramnik’s lawsuit threats towards David Navara
29.06.2025 FIDE addresses the Kramnik vs Navara case
29.06.2025 The entire Nový Bor Chess Club stands firmly behind David Navara
29.06.2025 Prague International Chess Festival thanks cFIDE for taking a clear stance on Kramnik vs Navara
04.07.2025 David Navara in an interview with Greg Mustreader
08.07.2025 Average centipawn loss vs Avereage Relative Centipawn loss in Kramnik vs Navara

Context (28.05)

Kramnik is known to have published numerous articles and videos regarding cheating in chess. On multiple occasions he uses a small sample size. As a result, his conclusions may be perceived as accusations (this is the case in a multitude of well documented videos, articles, and opinions by experts here, here, here, here are just a few examples), allegations, or suspicions about cheating in chess, and even as insults to players’ professionalism. Despite how each individual perceives his words, on Chessdom, starting 25 May, we have adopted a term that Vladimir Kramnik used himself – allegations.

In accordance with established journalistic practices, we work with information and quotations from sources, including Kramnik himself. Kramnik has never contacted Chessdom via its official communication channel posted in the header of the website. Our attempt to contact Kramnik was futile and met with a swift block. The latest threats by Kramnik on social media leave little room for any good-faith discussions (further details to follow)

Regardless, we stand by accuracy, fairness, and independence of journalism and will continue reporting on the Kramnik – Navara case and its tremendous social importance.

Sohum Lohia commented for Chessdom, “My main goal is to keep enjoying chess. I would also like to make improvements in the areas I’m currently struggling in. I would like to thank my family for believing in me and my Coaches for pushing me.” His mother Aarti Lohia noted, “I am very happy for Sohum. It hasn’t been an easy road for him because we moved to the UK when Sohum was 7. It was extremely difficult navigating the chess ecosystem in the UK as there was hardly any information or help available from chess parents or the federation. Despite the ups and downs Sohum stuck to chess and worked hard. His success comes from his focus and determination.”

Sohum Lohia – a rising chess star

Profile: International Master (IM) 
Sohum Lohia
Age: 15 | Nationality: Indian | Title: International Master (2025)

Sohum Lohia is a 15-year-old chess prodigy from England and one of some 35 International Masters under the age of 16 worldwide. With a FIDE rating on the rise and a string of successes to his name, he is fast becoming a name to watch in the world of competitive chess.

Born in Singapore, Sohum began playing chess at the age of 6—learning the game alongside his mother, Aarti Lohia. His natural talent quickly caught the attention of a visiting Indian chess coach, who urged Aarti to invest in formal training. Unfortunately, by the time Sohum turned 7 the family had to move to the UK which resulted in a one year break from chess for young Sohum.  It was difficult for the family to navigate the chess ecosystem in the UK so Aarti reached out to family friend Aruna Anand (5-time world champion Vishwanathan Anand’s wife) for advice and this led to his early mentorship under RB Ramesh, the renowned coach of several Indian chess stars, including GM R. Praggnanandhaa.

By age nine, Sohum was back at the board—and rising fast. In 2019, he made history by winning both the British Under-10 and Under-11 Championships in the same year, a feat not repeated since 1996.  Earlier he had won the British under-8 championships and won 2nd place in the under-9 championships.   

Sohum’s growth continued steadily. By the end of 2021, he had crossed a FIDE ELO rating of 2200, and with the support of his coaches, he kept climbing. Chess columnist Leonard Barden identified Sohum as one of England’s top juniors. 

His training has been shaped by the guidance of world-class mentors, including RB Ramesh and GM Luke McShane. Sohum also draws immense inspiration and guidance from GM Viswanathan Anand and Aruna Anand, close family friends whose counsel has deeply influenced his growth both on and off the board.

Behind his rise is not just talent, but also a family’s dedication. His mother, Aarti, has been his constant companion—traveling across continents, balancing life with two other children, and spending countless hours outside tournament halls. Her advocacy for chess and belief in its power to develop discipline and resilience have been pivotal in shaping Sohum’s journey. Aarti is currently filming her first chess documentary.  

With the International Master title now to his name, Sohum stands at the edge of even greater challenges—with the Grandmaster title in sight. Whether it’s his ability to be calm under pressure, deep strategic insight, or love for the game, one thing is clear: this is just the opening act of a remarkable chess career.

While Niemann’s appearance after 12 days of radio silence was the key motif of the first rounds, chess spoke for itself and Carlsen’s performance acted like a magnet for all media covering the event.

Niemann himself finished with a lower than expected score, but he was followed by a team of Netflix, who are shooting yet another episode of Netflix UNTOLD 2025 – Carlsen – Niemann story. This will be an ongoing story, here is a timeline of the events so far:

05.04. Norwegian TV reports that Niemann is withdrawing after he was informed about anti-cheating
05.04 Breaking: Hans Niemann withdraws from Freestyle Chess Paris 2025 (rolling updates)
06.04 Reactions to Hans Niemann withdrawing from Paris Freestyle Chess 2025
06.04 Chess Song: Disappearing stars (Hans Niemann & Alireza Firouza) #TweetOftheDay
06.04 The organizer of Freestyle Chess Paris comments on the withdraw of Hans Niemann
17.04 Hans Niemann shows at round 1 of Grenke Chess after 12 days radio silence
17.04. Round 1 pairings of Grenke with Hans Niemann playing
19.04 Interview with Hans Niemann at Grenke
21.04 Vladimir Kramnik is the bodyguard of Hans Niemann (Video interview)

Congratulations on the gold medal! With a couple of days gone since the big triumph at Budapest, can you grasp the importance of the double gold achieved by India?

It is still a bit early. But I can grasp that it is an historic achievement and I happened to be the captain of one of the strongest teams in the illustrious history of Chess Olympiads.

You received a heroes welcome in your home country. Everyone seems to want to have a moment with the heroes, to get a photo, handshake, or an autograph. How does that feel?

It feels great to receive such adulation from our honourable Prime Minister, Chief Minister, the union sports Minister, the State Sports Minister and our chess federation. It makes us feel as if our achievement matters. The love and affection shown by the people also fills us with immense joy.

Before the Olympiad you mentioned in the interview that “this team needs help more to relax rather than to be pushed” The result says that you have succeeded! Were there any difficulties on the path of achieving this relaxed state? Was there a moment where pressure could be felt?

It wasn’t difficult. The players were also on the same page. We decided that we will be positive in general with each other and not play blame games. We also awarded a star medal for one player on the each day. We kept this tradition all through. Overall we had a lot of fun. The only game where we felt some pressure was before the round against USA, as we knew at some level that we could almost finish the tournament by that point, and our opponents were very dangerous. But in general it was a smooth sail.

See: Gold for Gukesh D and Arjun Erigaisi / Final standings Olympiad

You had the spotlight on yourself from day 1 with choosing the board order and placing Arjun Erigaisi on board 4. Now that the Olympiad is gone, can you tell us the secret about this move?

Gukesh and Pragg have mostly played in elite events recently, with opposition rated 2700+ and in some cases 2750+. Arjun had been playing a lot of opens with players below 2700, with impressive success. The idea was to simply let them continue what they did well.

Both Arjun and Gukesh are at the door of the 2800 club. With the rating deflation hitting the top players, what does this mean for the future of Indian chess?

It is normal that in every cycle the new generation takes over and challenges the existing generation. In most cases the top representatives of the existing generation continue to fight and compete for a long time. I expect the continuation of the same in this cycle as well. Gukesh and Arjun reaching 2800 is quite impressive, but it’ll be a challenge for them to continue rising, with so many top players losing rating in recent times. I believe that there are a lot of underrated top players now who are not even rated 2700 anymore, but in terms of strength, continuing to retain their class.

You said in the previous interview, ” I feel optimistic about Gukesh’s chances. ” Has this optimism increased after he placed the second highest performance in history

I think Gukesh is certainly stronger at the present moment than Ding, and the same pattern continued in Olympiad. In terms of history, I think it is similar situation to the match between Carlsen and Anand in 2013 in Chennai. But Ding can draw hope from the fact that the stronger player/team doesn’t necessarily always win in sporting events. Despite being stronger, one has to continue to keep motivation and do a number of things right and not get complacent. In this sense, the match will definitely be interesting.

How about the ladies team. They had a blast, winning the title and two individual gold medals – Deshmukh Divya and Agrawal Vantika

The women’s team were great. Like the open team, the young girls in their team really shined. Before the 10th round, they were behind Kazakhstan but in the last two rounds, they really showed the difference. Winning the last round by a margin of 3.5-0.5 under pressure is not something I have seen before, and also highlighted the mettle of our women’s team.

In the past several days you and your team were meticulously giving interviews, answering questions, visiting celebratory events, and even answering tweeter congratulatory messages.

As I mentioned earlier, the love and affection by people fill us with immense joy as essentially any sport is played for the people watching. This victory is as much theirs as it is ours.

What do you think of the random chess player club?

The random chess player club :) The one tweet with Vishy and Gukesh was original and witty, but I am not impressed with the copies :P

Official website / IOW on Twitter/X

This is the first edition of the Masters tournament on the Isle of Wight. How did you come up with the idea?

I fell in love with competitive chess during the lockdowns and began traveling to tournaments as soon as they resumed. The UK has an excellent network of weekend tournaments across the country, and players frequently travel to these events. In my first year, I think I played in around nine tournaments from one end of the country to the other. Some events are better than others, generally it’s people volunteering their time for free and organising on a shoestring budget for little appreciation. I learned a lot about what players really want from a tournament and had some ideas about what I might add to it.

The Isle of Wight is a beautiful holiday destination, just 22 minutes from the South Coast of England (we’re in England too!). A lot of people confuse us with the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, which are closer to France. So I thought, why aren’t we doing this here?

There’s a proud history of chess on the island, but there hasn’t been a formal tournament for many years. Using what I had learned as a player, I organised the 2024 Isle of Wight Congress, placing the player experience at the centre. I also aimed to bring registration and information sharing into the 21st century. This approach seemed to be well received, and the event sold out, proving that there is an appetite for players to travel here. From this success, and with the help of our sponsors and the English Chess Federation, we’re now ready to step it up a notch and host a 9-round event.

With multiple events available in the chess calendar, what makes you stand out from the rest?

We are the only UK event to take place on an island! We also fit nicely into the UK chess calendar and offer players a great chance at achieving norms. Not many tournaments in the UK have all sections FIDE-rated as we do. We should also have a good number of LiveBoards, so most players will get the opportunity to play on them and have their games broadcast. For European players, it’s a fantastic chance to visit the UK and play chess in a lovely location by the sea.

The Isle of Wight Masters starts in about six months, yet there are already 24 titled players signed up! It certainly looks like a good place for title and norm seekers!

It is indeed. Our generous sponsors have enabled us to offer conditions to some excellent players, and many more have purchased tickets to attend. International Arbiter Shohreh Bayat is in charge, and I think this certainly helps, as players know they will be participating in a high-standard event.

Interview: Stanley Badacsonyi will play IOW chess 2025

Will you have enough capacity to host chess players and their families in the designated hotels?

We believe so. The island is very much a holiday and tourism destination. While hotels near the venue may sell out or become expensive, there are thousands of rooms available on the island and in nearby towns. There are also lots of Holiday Parks that may not be on booking apps but have a look on google. You’re never more than a 45-minute drive from one side of the island to the other, and there are excellent local bus services and even a train connecting three of the major hotel towns.

We’ll see how many people sign up to attend this year. We have capacity for around 400 seated players at once across all events, though we would be surprised if it reaches this number. If we do get a large turnout, we will book out local hotels entirely next year and offer better rates to players. There’s actually a similar venue opposite this one so the event could accommodate twice as many players if needed.

The Masters is certainly the event we will follow closely on Chessdom. What about side events for players under 2000 ELO?

The tournament will also feature a U2000 section and a standard play weekend event, plus three Blitz tournaments. We are waiting to confirm exactly how many LiveBoards we can accommodate. The Masters will be 100% LiveBoard and broadcast with commentary. If we have enough boards, we will also broadcast the other events.

Such a large event doesn’t happen without sponsors. Who is supporting the 2025 edition of the Isle of Wight Masters?

We have been very fortunate to have several sponsors who share my vision that the Isle of Wight can host a major elite annual event. Wightlink Ferries have supported all of our events so far, contributing to costs and offering players discounts on travel. Visit IOW, the local tourism board, are also supporting and have been very helpful. The English Chess Federation is backing and promoting the event as part of their goal to grow elite-level chess. Chess and Bridge (Chess.co.uk) have assisted with marketing the event and are supplying equipment and hosting a shop on site. Digital Game Technology is also providing equipment and continuing to support after initially backing the Congress. The event would not be possible without any one of these supporters, and I can’t thank them enough. We look forward to seeing the tournament grow over the next few years.

Accommodation problems for federations at the Chess Olympiad 2024 continue. This time Bulgaria reported issues with hotels in Budapest. Speaking from Spain for Sportal.bg, Antoaneta Stefanova commented, “In Budapest we have accommodation problems, which I hope to be solved. The problems are for players from many countries. […] I hope those organizational problems do not spread to transfers to playing halls.” But that is not what worries her most. After more than 1 million eur disappeared through an offshore company with the involvement of Danailov and the ex-Bulgarian chess federation, the state of chess in Bulgaria is appalling. There are no less than 5 chess federations in the country, of them 3 with local activity, one recognized by FIDE and ECU, and one recognized by the Ministry of Sports.

Antoaneta Stefanova is the delegate of the Bulgarian Chess Federation recognized by FIDE and ECU, but not by the local Ministry of Sports. “We continue to receive no financial support from the Ministry, we are still denied a license,” commented Stefanova.

Stefanova will be board 1 of the Bulgarian women team at the Chess Olympiad. The other players in the team are Nurgyul Salimova, Viktoria Radeva, Beloslava Krasteva, and Gergana Peycheva. Board 1 of the open team of Bulgaria is Stefanova’s husband Ivan Cheparinov

More about Chess Olympaid 2024 : Live blog / Participants open / Participants women / All news about Chess Olympiad 2024

Chessdom had the chance to speak to Brian Karen, founder and manager of both groups.

Join: FIDE World Chess Championships Facebook Group / Chess Book Collectors Facebook Group

The FIDE World Championship Facebook Group is one of the most valuable chess resources online. How and when was it created?

I had already established a successful Facebook group for chess book collectors, which now has 50K members and, in my opinion, the highest ‘Chess IQ’ of any group on Facebook. One day, I thought, “Why not create a similar group dedicated to the World Chess Championship?” I’ve been an avid follower of the World Chess Championships since the 1980s, so it made sense to start sharing articles and other resources I had collected with like-minded fans. This group was born from that idea, providing a space for fans to engage in discussions around the championship. My approach to creating groups is driven by my deep passion for chess. While I’m not a super-GM, I’m definitely a super chess fan. My love for chess began with devouring magazines like Chess Life, New In Chess, Inside Chess, and Chess Chow. As the internet grew, I engaged with online forums like the Rec.Chess forums, ChessCafe, and ChessBase. Nowadays, with the plethora of chess information, including Chessdom, I continue to stay deeply connected to the chess world, sharing the most intriguing content I find with the group. Over time, the group has expanded beyond just World Chess Championships and now serves as a general hub for chess enthusiasts. While most of the posts are from me, that’s not by design—I encourage and welcome members to contribute what they find interesting, though I generally filter out off-topic content.

The group currently has 97.3k members, just shy of the 100k mark! Are you excited about reaching this milestone?

Even if my groups had only 10 members, I’d be satisfied. As I mentioned earlier, my groups are an extension of my lifelong passion for chess. While it’s nice that we’re nearing 100K members, it won’t drastically change my life. However, I am glad the group is growing, as it means more contributions from like-minded fans, which is always a positive.

World Championships can be intense, but the discussions in the group remain civil. Is it difficult to moderate?

When I first started the group, I intended for it to be an open space where members could post freely. However, I quickly realized this approach wasn’t sustainable, as inappropriate or irrelevant content began to appear. Moderating the group became a challenge, so I decided to implement post-approval. I now approve most submissions, except for those that I find trivial or unrelated to the group’s focus. The group’s growth suggests that this approach has worked well, and I believe my judgment in moderation has been effective.

The upcoming championship will be the first to feature players from two Asian countries, both with the largest populations in the world. Will this boost viewership?

It’s quite possible. We have a significant number of Indian members, and I’ve noticed that posts about Indian players generate a lot of engagement in the form of comments and likes. I’m thrilled that two of the world’s most populous nations have embraced chess, and I hope this interest continues to grow.

Interesting: Anand – Carlsen 80 million viewers on DD Sport in a single round

Gukesh could become the youngest World Champion if he wins. In general, young chess players are becoming stronger compared to previous generations. Do you see many young members in the group? What is the estimated age distribution?

I’m not entirely sure. Nowadays, it’s possible to become very strong at chess by using computers to solve puzzles and analyze recent games, without necessarily engaging deeply with chess culture or following events. While younger members certainly exist in my groups, I believe the majority of our group members are older. Without specific data, my guess is that the average age of the group is over 30.

What is your level in chess?

I am a FIDE Candidate Master. Although I have a Masters in Social Work, I began teaching chess in the late 1990s. I thought it would be a side gig but it quickly expanded into a full, full time job. I enjoy teaching chess and I guess I am good at it as I have always had a full schedule even though I do not do much self promotion (except for now:)).

What is the easiest way to find your groups?

On Facebook search for chess book collectors. The group with >48K members is the one I organize. Then search for FIDE World Chess Championship 2024 to find the general chess events page that I organize with around 100K members. I will change the year as each new cycle is announced. So at some point it wont be 2024 but 2026, etc.

More recent interviews

Srinath Narayanan, captain of India for Chess Olympiad 2024
Peter Giannatos about 2024 US Masters
David Llada about skipping Chess Olympiad 2024
Skye Attieh, 9 years old and playing the Chess Olympiad
Stanley Badacsonyi about becoming FIDE Master

More about Chess Olympiad 2024: Live blog / Participants open / Participants women / Chess Olympiad all news

At the age of 6, she was ranked first in the world in her age category for a whole year in all 3 time controls: Classical, rapid, and blitz. Last year, she played in the world cadet chess championship; her first experience abroad. Despite minimal professional guidance, she managed to finish 12th (tied with 8th place). A month later, she played in the Asian cadet championship, which is on par with the world championship due to its extreme competitiveness, and tied for 5th place.

Chessdom talked to Skye Attieh and her father Wael Attieh just ten days before the start of the Chess Olympiad. We will follow with interest Skye’s performance at the Olympiad and future competitions. If you want to support the dream of this young talent and the efforts of her father, please consider the ongoing Go Fund me campaign

Hello Skye, are you excited about the upcoming Olympiad in Budapest?

Yes! I am very excited! This is the first time I will see famous chess players! And if I score enough points I can finish the Olympiad with a title. For WCM I need 3,5/7, which is possible.

You ranked first in the world in all 3 time controls: Classical, rapid, and blitz. Which one is your favorite?

Skye Attieh: I like blitz the most!

Now the Olympiad is classical chess. If you could play one player at the Olympiad, who do you wish her to be?

Skye Attieh: I would like to play Bodhana!

[ed.note WFM Bodhana Sivanandan is an English chess player and World Under-8 Champion, also 9 years old and will play for team England]

This August Skye added 73,6 ELO points. What is next?

Wael Attieh: Reaching 2000 rapid in the next few months. However, the tougher challenge is classical because these are a bit rarer in our country. Traveling to nearby countries to take part in classical tournaments is definitely on our list as I’m sure this is what Skye needs in order to elevate her game to the next level.

Did you manage to raise enough funds to support the trip to Hungary?

Wael Attieh: We started a Go Fund Me campaign. We wish to raise enough money not only to cover the expenses of the trip, but more importantly to pay for coaches so that Skye gets the chance to be trained at the highest level. In that respect, we are surely way off as our target is 10.000 US $ to cover all related expenses for the period of a whole year, but we’ve only managed to raise like 700 USD so far.

That is far from the target. Besides the Go Fund Me campaign, does anyone else support Skye?

Wael Attieh: At this moment, unfortunately no one.

This is the 60th Anniversary of the Akiba Rubinstein Chess Festival. How does the responsibility to organize such a long-lasting event feel?

The stress and the associated responsibility are certainly a significant burden, especially considering the prestigious nature of the festival and its long-standing tradition. However, this is far from our first event, and the entire team is quite experienced. Over the years, we have honed our organizational skills, and thanks to our dedicated and passionate team, the pressure becomes more manageable. It is also an honor to continue the legacy of this tournament, knowing how important it is in the history of Polish and global chess.

The main event is much stronger than previous editions. Was it difficult to collect this star field?

Thanks to the anniversary nature of the event and the rich history behind it, gathering such a star-studded field was surprisingly smooth. The players were very receptive, and almost none of them declined the invitation. Many top players recognize the prestige associated with this festival, and they were eager to be part of this milestone edition. The legacy of Akiba Rubinstein, one of the greatest chess players in history, is also a significant draw for participants.

GMs Duda, Bartel, and Wojtaszek are true ambassadors for Polish chess. Was it difficult to convince them to join the event?

We started the discussions with these three players, and I’m delighted to say that their responses were swift and positive. Having the top three Polish players in the lineup was incredibly important for us. They represent not only the strength of Polish chess but also its bright future. Their participation elevates the level of the tournament and reinforces its status as a key event in the international chess calendar.

These three players are the top 3 boards of the Polish Olympic team. What do you expect from Poland at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest?

Objectively speaking, the performance of our players in this tournament wasn’t their best. However, I hope that their participation here served as a valuable warm-up and will help them at the Olympiad. Expectations for the Olympiad are high, and we certainly hope that our team will fight for the top positions, including medals. I firmly believe that if all the players hit their peak form, it’s entirely possible for the Polish team to achieve something special.

See: Polish team at the Chess Olympiad (open) / Live blog from the Chess Olympiad 2024

Vincent Keymer won the tournament and entered the world top 20. What are your impressions of his performance?

Vincent Keymer, the youngest Grandmaster in the field, has undoubtedly left a strong impression on all of us. His brilliant start of the tournament was particularly striking, and despite a slightly less dominant finish, it was enough for him to secure an individual victory. There is no doubt that Vincent is a phenomenal player with immense potential. I am confident that he has a long and successful career ahead of him, and we will see him competing at the very highest levels of world chess.

There are multiple side events at the festival. That looks like a huge organizational effort.

Indeed, it’s a very demanding period, requiring meticulous coordination. However, this effort is not just mine alone; it is the collective work of a dedicated team of organizers and arbiters. I am incredibly proud of the team we have assembled. Their experience and commitment are what make it possible to run such a complex and multifaceted event. The side events add vibrancy to the festival and ensure that there is something for chess players of all levels and interests.

A festival of this size requires support. What are the sponsors that made the event possible?

The title sponsor of the Grandmaster tournament is ALREH, a company specializing in, among other things, the production of medical equipment. However, the list of sponsors, both big and small, is much longer. We also cannot overlook the support of the Polish Chess Federation and other public funding, which has been crucial in making this event a reality. Without this support, it would be impossible to organize such a prestigious festival.

This year is an anniversary of the event. But can we say that the foundation for a strong chess festival is here? What can we expect of the Akiba Rubinstein festival in 2025?

The round-robin tournaments held in Polanica-Zdrój during the 1990s were incredibly strong, featuring world champions and legendary players. Without a doubt, we are drawing inspiration from those fantastic editions. I sincerely hope that this year’s tournament is not a one-off, but rather the start of a new tradition where a strong grandmaster tournament becomes a permanent fixture in Polanica-Zdrój. The festival is not just about the grandmaster event—it’s now a celebration of chess for hundreds of players! I am optimistic that 2025 will bring even more excitement and growth to the festival.

Stavroula Tsolakidou commented, “The start of the FIDE Women Grand Prix is pretty good for me, especially my win yesterday. Even though she blundered, the game was quite good. Today I had some chances and I also misplayed a bit after the opening. I hope to continue with better chess”

Many who have followed the games of Stavroula Tsolakidou for years may be surprised to learn, but she shared, “I started playing professionally only a year ago […] I hope to be invited in more tournaments like this”

WGP Series consists of six Women’s Grand Prix tournaments held over two years 2024-2025. A total of twenty players compete in the WGP series, as each Women Grand Prix event will have ten participants. Full information / All games live

Round 1: Bibisara Assaubayeva – Sarasadat Khademalsharieh / Nana Dzagnidze – Lela Javakhishvili / Anna Muzychuk – Mariya Muzychuk / Alina Kashlinskaya – Alexandra Kosteniuk / Stavroula Tsolakidou – R Vaishali

Round 2: Alexandra Kosteniuk – R Vaishali / Sarasadat Khademalsharieh – Stavroula Tsolakidou / Lela Javakhishvili – Bibisara Assaubayeva / Mariya Muzychuk – Nana Dzagnidze / Alina Kashlinskaya – Anna Muzychuk

FIDE Women Grand Prix round 1

The first round of the first leg of the 2024/2025 Women’s Grand Prix in Tbilisi saw two victories and three draws. Two-time World Blitz Champion Bibisara Assaubayeva defeated Sara Khadem, while Stavroula Tsolakidou stunned Vaishali Rameshbabu after the Indian star misplayed in an even position

After the first round Assaubayeva and Tsolakidou lead with one point, followed by six players on half a point – Javakhishvili, Mariya and Anna Muzychuk, Kosteniuk, Kashlinskaya and Dzagnidze. Vaishali and Khadem start the Women’s Grand Prix with losses.

The games started at 3 PM sharp in the elegant ballroom of Tbilisi’s prestigious Biltmore Hotel. FIDE Secretary General Lukasz Turlej and Akaki Iashvili, Chair of the FIDE Events Commission and President of the Georgian Chess Association, made the ceremonial first move on the Georgian board.

To avoid any chances of foul play, players from the same country were paired against one another, as were the two sisters playing in the event, Anna and Mariya Muzychuk.

The game between the Muzycuk sisters was the first to finish. In a very solid line of the Berlin Defense where Anna played as White against Mariya, both sides were equal without much drama happening on the board. The game finished with a threefold repetition on move 21.

While the two sisters do play harder against one another if they meet at a later stage of the event, when paired in the first round they usually tend to draw. As they confirmed in the post-game interview, they trained and prepared together, and neither had an opening secret that she did not share with her sibling.

In another game, Alina Kashlinskaya and Alexandra Kosteniuk opted for a cautious approach. Kashlinskaya – one of the star members of the Polish Women’s Olympic team – led white pieces against former World Champion Kosteniuk. In the Semi-Slav, White was looking for her chances playing actively, but an early exchange of queens meant that the game entered calm waters.

In a rook and knight endgame, neither side wanted to gamble at the start of the event, so they decided to call it a day.

The 24-year-old player from Greece, Stavroula Tsolakidou was the first to make a break and score in Tbilisi. On the white side of the English Opening, Stavroula ended up with a pair of bishops and was making threats on the kingside, but the position was even. However, on move 25, Vaishali Rameshbabu completely misplayed.

White had more space which gave her some initiative which she was using. Instead of trying to slow White down, Vaishali helped her by exchanging her bishop for a knight on e5, after which she simply lost an exchange and was completely lost.

Even as the game progressed, Vaishali missed options to pose more trouble for White, giving Tsolakidou an easy finish.

The game between Bibisara Assaubayeva and Sarasadat Khademalsharieh (Sara Khadem) ended with White’s victory. In the Italian, both sides were not playing the most precise moves. Gradually, it was White who grabbed the initiative. Sara (playing as Black) also got into time trouble.

On move 19, Bibisara made a Greek offering to Khadem, placing her rook on f6 and creating a towering position for White with 19. Rf6!!

Despite this, Assaubayeva went on to drop the advantage in the very next move after 19…Ne7 20. a5? but not for long.

Pressure was mounting on Black’s kingside. As Khadem was short on time, Assaubayeva sensed her opportunity. Sara made a mistake giving space for Bibisara to effectively finish the game, after breaking through on the kingside.

Both 34. Nxg5 and 34. hxg5 are equally deadly for Black. Bibisara opted to capture with the knight and wrapped it up six moves later.

The longest game of the day was between the two home players, Nana Dzagnidze and Lela Javakhishvili. In the Benko Gambit, Dzagnidze got a better position as White. From the onset of the game, Nana seemed more confident – which she was showing on the board and on the clock. Gradually, Dzagnidze was building up a breakthrough in the center. However, at some point, confidence gave way to overconfidence: in a position where White was notably better, Dzagnidze made a hasty exchange which put Javakhisvili back into the game.

Dzagnidze just took on e6 with her rook, and Javakhisvili responded with 30…Bd4, hoping to ease the pressure by simplifying. White should have just proceeded by placing her rook to f1, preparing a kingside push. Instead, Nana played 31.Bxd4?! and after 31…cxd4 she made another mistake, 32.Qe4 (Rc6 was key here), after which Black managed to simplify and force a drawn rook endgame.

Clearly upset, Dzagnidze decided to push on in a slightly better position. Making such a gambit this early in the race is a big risk, but Dzagnidze felt her confidence was still there. Gradually, White inched her way ahead but missed her last chance to pose very serious problems for Black on move 53 (53. Rd5+ instead of 53. h5?). The game ended in a draw after just over five hours of play and 66 moves.

Nana Dzagnidze must be unhappy after dropping this chance. It remains to be seen if she will be able to recover in time for the second round.

FIDE Women Grand Prix round 2

The second day of the Women’s Grand Prix Tbilisi concluded with all games ending in draws. However, in at least two of the games, one side was clearly better and on the brink of victory. After two rounds, Assaubayeva and Tsolakidou remain at the top, each with 1.5 points

Vaishali Rameshbabu faced a tough challenge, playing as Black against former Women’s World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk. After starting the tournament with a loss, Vaishali was under significant pressure on day two. Despite achieving a clearly better position as Black, she opted for a threefold repetition, giving away half a point.

The biggest surprises of the day came from the two Georgian players in the tournament, both of whom dropped their winning chances.

First, Nana Dzagnidze, playing Black, chose the French Defense and outplayed Mariya Muzychuk in the early stages of the game. Dzagnidze was completely winning towards the end but, in time trouble, opted for simplifications that allowed her opponent to equalize. Upon leaving the playing venue, Dzagnidze was clearly unhappy, shaking her head and remarking, “Unbelievable.”

The final game of the day to finish was between Lela Javakhishvili and Bibisara Assaubayeva. Javakhishvili came out of the opening with a better position. After a few mistakes by Assaubayeva, the Georgian player was dominating both on the board and on the clock. However, Assaubayeva maintained her calm resistance, eventually making the first time control and entering a rook endgame where Javakhishvili missed several chances, allowing a draw. It was a lucky save for the Kazakh player, who, with this draw, remained in the shared first place.

Sarasadat Khademalsharieh managed to stabilize after her round one loss, drawing as White with Stavroula Tsolakidou in the Nimzo-Indian. Alina Kashlinskaya and Anna Muzychuk also split the point in the Queen’s Gambit Declined, with both playing precisely and not allowing any chances.

Standings after Round 2

Here is a closer look at the games from the second day of the Women’s Grand Prix:

Alexandra Kosteniuk – Vaishali Rameshbabu

After blundering in the first game against Stavroula Tsolakidou, India’s Vaishali Rameshbabu needed to make a comeback. However, it wasn’t going to be easy: she was playing as Black against none other than former women’s world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk.

Kosteniuk opened with 1.e4, to which Vaishali responded with 1…e6, entering the Classical line of the French Defense. Vaishali made a push on the queenside and started to grow her initiative.

Alexandra has just made a serious error with 29. g4 (instead of reserved 29. Bf2), which failed to a nice combination: 29…Nxe5! White now has to follow: 30.dxe5 Qxg4+ 31.Kf1? (31.Qg2 was slightly better, according to chess engines).

And now, Vaishali repeated the moves: 31..Qh3+ 32.Kg1 Qg4+ 33.Kf1 Qh3+ 34.Kf1 Qg4+ Kosteniuk now called the arbiter, who confirmed the repetition.

Vaishali should have continued with bringing her knight into the attack with Nh4 on moves 32, 33 and 34, followed by Kg8 with a crushing attack, but she didn’t. After the draw was agreed, the Indian player quickly exited the playing hall.

Sarasadat Khademalsharieh – Stavroula Tsolakidou

On the second board, Sara Khadem was White against Stavroula Tsolakidou. In the Nimzo-Indian, White was looking to make a push in the center, but Tsolakidou countered. It seemed that Black got out of the opening slightly better, but – in Tsolakidou’s own words, she “wasn’t sure how to proceed”.

After exchanging heavy pieces on the kingside, the two entered an endgame with a rook and bishop each and agreed to a draw.

With this draw, Tsolakidou is on 1.5/2, while Khadem got her first half a point.

Lela Javakhishvili – Bibisara Assaubayeva

The last game of the day to finish was between Lela Javakhishvili and Bibisara Assaubayeva. The two played for four and a half hours.

In the Queen’s Gambit Declined, the position was even until move 19 when Black (Assaubayeva) made a mistake.

Here, Assaubayeva had several options to maintain the balance, but decided to start rerouting her knight from a6. 19…Nc7?, undermining the threats to her king.

20.Rfe1 Nd5 Black got her knight in the center, but at what cost? She was under immense pressure, and the king’s castle was in danger.

21.Nxd5 Bxd5 22.Bxd5 cxd5 23.Qd3 (23.Rac1 might be even stronger), and White is clearly better. Black’s pieces are underdeveloped and the king’s fortress is exposed.

As Assaubayeva later said in the post-game interview: “I knew I was weaker, and I tried not to make any more mistakes and see if she can beat me”.

Javakhishvili also was better on the clock. Despite this, she started to struggle and could not work out the best way to convert her advantage. After exchanging several heavy pieces, White emerged with an extra pawn on the kingside but in the rook endgame that followed Assaubayeva showed more confidence in her play, bringing the game to a draw.

Mariya Muzychuk – Nana Dzagnidze

After letting a better position slip in round one, Nana Dzagnidze wanted to set things right in round two. It was a tough task as she was playing as Black against Mariya Muzychuk. In the second French Defence game of the round, things were largely even until move nine when White made an error and prematurely castled on the queenside handing an advantage to Black.

Black has control of the center and her pieces are storming down the queenside. White tried to counter on the kingside but ended up even more exposed as Nana timely sacrificed an exchange and reached a very promising position.

10.f5 Rb811.Qe1 b5 12.f6 gxf6 13.Bh6 Kh8 14.exf6 Bxf6 15.Bxf8 Qxf8 16.Qe3 b4 17.Ne2 Black is an exchange down, but she has the initiative, while White’s pieces are still largely undeveloped.

However, at this point, Nana started losing her way.

17…b3?? Keeping up the pressure with 17…a5 was the right choice. 17.cxb3 cxb3 18.a3 e5 19.Nc3? e5? Giving White some breathing space. Still, Black is better, and by move 26, she was completely winning.

In this position 26…Qe8; Qe7 or Qc5 were all strong choices. Instead, Dzagnidze offered a rook exchange with 26… Rd8 and let a large chunk of her advantage slip away. Still, just a couple of moves down the road, Nana missed another chance to secure victory, although it was not that easy to find.

Nana played 28…Nc6? which is OK (Black is still better), but not nearly as strong as 28…Bxe4! indicated by chess engines. The point is that after 29.Qxe4 Qd1+ 30.Qb1 Qd6!! White has no defense against 31…Nc4 (d3 or d7, depending on White’s reaction) followed by 32…Qxa3+ with checkmate in several moves.

When you miss several chances, despite being better on the board, the opposing player feels more comfortable. The game ended in a draw after 46 moves.

Dzagnidze left the playing hall, visibly annoyed at herself.

Alina Kashlinskaya – Anna Muzychuk

In the Queen’s Gambit Declined, the position was largely even during the game, until the end. It was a fight. A lot of things happening in the center, but both played precisely and the outcome was logical, as one of the commentators of the tournament, Keti Tsatsalashvili put it.

Both players are on one point.

 Round three pairings and dates

The third round of the first tournament in the 2024/25 Women’s Grand Prix series starts on Saturday, August 17, at 3 PM local time in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Round 3 pairings:

Anna Muzychuk – Alexandra Kosteniuk
Nana Dzagnidze – Alina Kashlinskaya
Bibisara Assaubayeva – Mariya Muzychuk
Stavroula Tsolakidou – Lela Javakhishvili
Vaishali R – Sarasadat Khademalsharieh

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

Written by Milan Dinic

Photos: Anna Shtourman