Zandanshatar Gombojav previously served as the 12th chairman of the State Great Khural from 2019 to 2024, the chief cabinet secretary of Mongolia under the government Prime Minister Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh from 2017 to 2019, and as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade under Prime Ministers Sanjaagiin Bayar and Sükhbaataryn Batbold from 2009 to 2012.

Mongolia Chess Federation President

The Mongolian Chess Federation held its Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on December 14, 2024, at the conference hall of the Mongolian State University of Education.

The meeting was attended by approximately 200 representatives from Ulaanbaatar’s nine districts and 21 aimags. The primary agenda was the election of the new President of the Federation.

G. Zandanshatar, Head of the Office of the President of Mongolia, and Kh. Batchuluun, Vice President of the Mongolian Chess Federation, was nominated for the position. However, Kh. Batchuluun withdrew his candidacy, leaving G. Zandanshatar as the sole contender.

With the majority vote from the attending representatives, G. Zandanshatar was elected President of the Mongolian Chess Federation. Notably, G. Zandanshatar previously held this position from 2011 to 2015.

Kh. Batchuluun will continue to serve as First Vice President and expressed his full support for the implementation of the new president’s action plan.

Dvorkovich congratulates Zandanshatar Gombojav

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich extended his congratulations to Mr Gombojav on his appointment.

“Your elevation to the highest executive office in Mongolia comes at a time when your vision, experience, and political wisdom are most needed,” Dvorkovich stated.

The FIDE President further highlighted that, as the head of the Mongolian Chess Federation, Gombojav has been a steadfast advocate for the growth and promotion of chess, both as a competitive sport and an educational tool.

“Under your leadership, Mongolia has made remarkable progress in developing its chess culture and nurturing young talents. FIDE deeply appreciates your efforts in integrating chess into national programs and international cooperation. We are confident that your new role will offer further opportunities to advance the values of strategic thinking, education, and international collaboration – principles that chess embodies and promotes globally”.

FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team 2025 participants feature 104 Grandmasters (including 5 from the World top 10 – Hikaru Nakamura, Arjun Erigaisi, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Alireza Firouzja, Ian Nepomniachtchi) 63 IMs, and a total of 316 titled players. See the full participants list here

Live games will be daily on Chessdom. The FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team 2025 is on of the Major events in The Chess Calendar for the month of June.

FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team 2025 LIVE

Rapid Live 1-10 / Rapid Live 11-20 / Rapid Live 21+

Results: Results round 1 / Results round 2 / Results round 3 / Results round 4 / Results round 5 / Results round 6 / Results round 7 / Results round 8 / Results round 9 / Results round 10

Sharjah Masters 2025 is among the top events of The Chess Calendar for the month of May, visit the dedicated page here

Live games from Sharjah Masters will be daily on Chessdom. More information will be published in the Newsletter, you can signup for free with your email in the form below

The match in Italy precedes another encounter between Anand and Faustino Oro, as they will play Torneo Magistral de Ajedrez Ciudad de León in the month of July. A match between Faustino Oro and Nakamura is also being prepared

Both encounters are in The Chess Calendar, see more youth events in the Junior Chess Calendar here and in the European Chess Events here

Viswanathan Anand – Faustino Oro in La Versiliana

Organized by Unichess and conceived by Grandmaster Roberto Mogranzini and passionate chess lover Andrea Bocelli, the match will shine an international spotlight on this corner of Tuscany.

The event opens with a carriage parade from Forte dei Marmi and Pietrasanta to Villa La Versiliana—symbolically crossing the territory that will host this celebration of chess, the third most played sport in India and one of the most practiced globally, with over 650 million players.

Following the match, the winner will face twenty guests in a simultaneous exhibition. The entire event will be hosted by none other than Andrea Bocelli, a Versilia local and chess aficionado, who will welcome guests to this exclusive, invitation-only event for a select international and Italian audience of chess lovers.

Organisers, partners, and public authorities have expressed deep enthusiasm for the project:

“Since its beginning—now in its 46th edition—La Versiliana has offered refined entertainment, reflection, dialogue, and constant innovation for both locals and visitors who choose Versilia as their beloved destination. It’s in the DNA of one of Italy’s longest-running festivals to seek renewal. The chess world and its sporting culture represent a new path we’re excited to explore—looking to the future and working with excellence. That’s why we immediately embraced Andrea Bocelli and Roberto Mogranzini’s idea to organize an exhibition of exquisite chessboards and to welcome world-class players and amateurs from around the globe. The aim is to make Pietrasanta and Versilia an international chess hub. I thank Andrea Bocelli and Roberto Mogranzini for creating this opportunity to engage stakeholders and chess lovers worldwide in our cultural journey.”
– Paola Rovellini, President of the Versiliana Foundation

“Never before, in this fragile historical moment, has sports culture served as such a hopeful bridge between people and communities. The Municipality of Pietrasanta is proud to support this beautiful initiative at La Versiliana, a cultural beacon for over 40 summers. The exhibition will be appreciated by residents and tourists alike, and the match—broadcast globally—will be a remarkable promotional vehicle for Versilia. Pietrasanta confirms itself as a cultural powerhouse.”
– Alberto Stefano Giovannetti, Mayor of Pietrasanta

“What better place to merge sport and culture? For Andrea and me, Versilia and its festival were the natural choice. This will be a unique event for those who view chess not just as a game, but as an intellectual discipline uniting art, science, and strategy. The match between legends Vishy Anand and Faustino Oro will recall epic past duels like Kasparov vs. Carlsen, and the exhibition—curated by Corrado Ciano and Giovanni Longo—will be an aesthetic journey through time. The final piece, a chessboard by Enrico Baj, pays tribute to Pietrasanta’s devotion to contemporary art.”
– Roberto Mogranzini, President of Unichess

“As President of the Italian Chess Federation, I’m proud to endorse the Pietrasanta, Versilia Chess Roads project, which celebrates chess as both a competitive sport and an international showcase of art and culture. The exhibition of historic boards from the 1700s to today and the legendary match between Viswanathan Anand and the young prodigy Faustino Oro show how Italy can tell its story to the world through the universal language of chess—with elegance, history, and passion.”
– Luigi Maggi, President of the Italian Chess Federation

“The Clash of Generations match between Anand and Oro and the exhibition of some of the world’s finest chessboards, held at La Versiliana, are important for many reasons—not least for offering families a unique chance to spend meaningful time together. I hope to attend this beautiful initiative, and I thank and congratulate Mayor Alberto Giovannetti, Paola Rovellini, and the entire Versiliana Foundation for this inspiring project.”
– Daniela Santanchè, Minister of Tourism

“I’m thrilled that a special project I’ve envisioned with friends has come to life in the best way. It combines my passion for chess with my love for my Versilia. In Marina di Pietrasanta, we’ll host a private match celebrating the encounter—and clash—between generations: a grand chess duel between two extraordinary champions. The world will be watching Versilia. Alongside the match, we’ll have a unique exhibition of chessboards from different eras and regions, a fascinating journey through the game’s cultural and historical richness. It’s an honor to be part of it. Don’t miss it—see you at Villa La Versiliana!”
– Andrea Bocelli

“The most forward-thinking regions understand that tourism is a global competition. They must evolve, organize, and offer enriching experiences to travelers increasingly seeking authenticity and meaningful engagement with host communities. Chess tourism is booming, which is why I view the Pietrasanta and Versilia Chess Roads project as a fantastic opportunity for destination marketing. As Mayor of Forte dei Marmi and head of the Versilia Tourism Council, I proudly support those who serve the community with vision and integrity.”
– Bruno Murzi, Mayor of Forte dei Marmi for Versilia Tourism Area

More: https://fondazioneversiliana.it/chess-roads/

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)

More from Argentina: 6th Mar de Ajó International Open CADA 2024 / Lucas Coro claims the title at the XXXI International Chess Open ProAm Copa Clarin 2024

Follow the games of the 99th Argentinian Chess Championship Finals LIVE on Chessdom, in cooperation with Lichess:

Participants list

More: 4 Nations Chess League 2024-2025 Division 1 LIVE

Participants List 4 Nations Chess League 2024-2025 Div 2

More: 4 Nations Chess League 2024-2025 Division 2 LIVE

Participants list 4 Nations Chess League 2024-2025