Eldiyar Orozbaev and Begimai Zairbek Kyzy win 2025 Kyrgyzstan Championship
IM Eldiyar Orozbaev and WFM Begimai Zairbek Kyzy are the new chess champions of Kyrgyzstan. Organized by the Kyrgyz Chess Union in collaboration with the Directorate for Non-Olympic Sports of the Kyrgyz Republic, and supported by the general sponsor, financial company MBulak, the 2025 Kyrgyzstan Chess Championship took place from February 13 to 23 at Kyrgyz State Technical University, named after I. Razzakov. A total of 92 players participated in the championship, including 65 men and 27 women. Both the open and women’s events were Swiss tournaments (eleven and nine rounds, respectively) with classical time control. A panel of arbiters, led by IA Aziz Umarbekov, officiated the competitions. The open tournament was fiercely contested, culminating in a tiebreaker to determine the national champion. Remarkably, five of the top ten finishers, including the champion, are under twenty years of age. After IMs Eldiyar Orozbaev, Asylbek Abdyjapar, and Semetei Tologon Tegin tied for first place with 9/11, the top two players based on Buchholz tiebreak scores—Orozbaev and Abdyjapar—competed in a rapid tiebreak match. Top seed Orozbaev emerged victorious, winning both games to claim the title. Despite his excellent performance, Abdyjapar had to settle for second place, while Tologon secured bronze. Final Standings – Open 1 IM Orozbaev, Eldiyar U20 2403 9 2 IM Abdyzhapar, Asylbek 2353 9 3 IM Tologon Tegin, Semetei 2353 9 4 IM Khoroshev, Nikita 2359 8 5 CM Momunaliev, Ruslan U14 2032 7½ 6 Sulaimanov, Tilekmatali U18 1744 7½ 7 CM Sharshenbekov, Emir U16 2078 7 8 NM Takyrbashev, Bolot 2042 7 9 IM Markov, Mikhail 2255 7 10 IM Zhakshylykov, Erzhan U18 2310 7 In the women’s competition, which also featured a very young lineup, WFM Begimai Zairbek Kyzy (pictured below) claimed the national title with a strong score of 7.5 points out of 9. WFM Nuray Sovetbekova finished second, just half a point behind, while WCM Aizhan Sezdbekova completed the podium with 6.5 points. Final Standings – Women 1 WFM Zairbek Kyzy, Begimai 1848 7½ 2 WFM Sovetbekova, Nurai U20 1940 7 3 WCM Sezdbekova, Aizhan U16 1881 6½ 4 WCM Lesbekova, Assel 1952 6 5 WCM Zhanybekova, Begimay U18 1909 6 6 Tursunalieva, Nurelina U14 1697 6 7 Sagynbekova, Zhibek U12 1609 5½ 8 Poliak, Margarita U12 1762 5½ 9 Zhunusbekova, Aimonchok U16 1907 5 10 Sabyrbekova, Aizhan U14 1537 5 This event showcased the high level of competition in Kyrgyzstan, with the country’s best players battling for the titles. The Kyrgyz Chess Union expresses its gratitude to all participants, sponsors, and partners for their support in advancing chess in Kyrgyzstan. Congratulations to the winners! Photos: Kyrgyz Chess Union
Goryachkina and Tan strike back as Women’s Grand Prix heats up in Monaco
Round 6 of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in Monaco saw players return from their rest day with renewed energy as Tan Zhongyi and Aleksandra Goryachkina secured important victories whilst all other games were drawn. After a well-deserved rest day, the players were back for Round 6 of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in Monaco with a mix of refreshed determination and strategic focus. While some participants joined an organized excursion to explore Monaco, others opted for rest and quiet preparation. The impact of these choices varied, as some players returned reinvigorated, while others struggled to find their rhythm. The round delivered a mix of decisive results and hard-fought draws, with Aleksandra Goryachkina and Tan Zhongyi scoring crucial wins to keep their tournament alive. Meanwhile, Kateryna Lagno held her lead despite drawing her game, setting the stage for an intense second half of the tournament. Results Aleksandra Goryachkina 1-0 Humpy KoneruSarasadat Khademalsharieh 0-1 Zhongyi TanKateryna Lagno 1/2-1/2 Alexandra KosteniukBibisara Assaubayeva 1/2-1/2 Batkhuyag MunguntuulHarika Dronavalli 1/2-1/2 Elisabeth Paehtz Aleksandra Goryachkina – Humpy Koneru The Ruy Lopez is arguably one of, if not the top, most-played openings in the world which is why it is quite interesting that by move 10, Koneru took the game into a position not played before by introducing a novelty 10…Rd8. However, it was White who had an edge in subsequent play. Our commentators noted that Humpy played perfect chess, essentially completely equalizing. The opponents eventually reached a dry four-rook endgame that seemed to be heading to a draw (although it was always guaranteed to be a long grind – typical of both players) when Black, playing with only a minute, massively erred on move 39: Here, Humpy played 39…Ra8? instead of 39…Re8 (39…Ra4). White quickly capitalized on this mistake by doubling rooks on the h-file, which along with the threat of e6, spelled big danger for Black. After 40.Rh3 Ree8 41.Reh1 Kf8 42.e6 Ra4? 43.exf7 White eventually got to f7-pawn, created two advanced passers to score a full point. With this victory, Goryachkina has clawed her way back into the race, sitting just half a point behind leader Kateryna Lagno. Sarasadat Khademalsharieh – Tan Zhongyi Tan Zhongyi, the Women’s World Championship Challenger, had struggled in Monaco before the rest day, with four draws and a loss in her first five games. However, as is often the case at the elite level, a break proved invaluable—Tan came back rejuvenated and delivered a strong performance. Playing with Black in Queen’s Gambit Declined, Tan quickly gained a superior position, but White still have defensive resources. In the critical phase around move 40, both players entered time trouble, leading to mutual inaccuracies. The engine evaluated this as -0.4, indicating a slight edge for Black. However, Tan’s position was much easier to play in a real game, with an active queen and bishop, as well as White’s exposed king. Khadem soon bulked under pressure, attempting to trade queens when she desperately needed to find a defensive move with her knight. Instead of 42.Nd2! with a holdable position, Sara played 42.Qb2? but after 42… Qe4+ 43. Kd2 Qg2+ 44. Kc3 Qf3+ 45. Kd2 Be4! it was all over for White. Tan systematically picked up White’s weak pawns, eventually forcing resignation by move 60. This victory is a much-needed boost for Tan as she seeks to build momentum in the tournament’s second half. Kateryna Lagno – Alexandra Kosteniuk At 99% accuracy for both players, this was an exceptionally precise game. A well-known line of the Four Knights Scotch, lead to a fascinating sequence of desperado trades. The resulting endgame left both players with a rook, bishop, and a few pawns, with Lagno holding an extra pawn. However, opposite-colored bishops ensured complete equality, making a draw the logical conclusion. A threefold repetition sealed the result. Lagno remains the sole tournament leader, albeit with a shrinking margin. Bibisara Assaubayeva – Batkhuyag Munguntuul A Sicilian Taimanov quickly became an exciting affair, with Black pushing on the queenside, and White pressuring in the center and kingside. Then, at move 13, Black – already down in time by 30 minutes – made a serious mistake by castling Kingside onto a semi-open g-file. After castling, Black’s king fell out of the frying pan into from the fire. White had a golden opportunity to lauch a dangerous kingside attack with 14.Qh5 f5 15.Rg1 (followed by pushing g4). Given Assaubayeva’s aggressive style, this move was right up her alley—yet she hesitated, spending 13 minutes before choosing 14.h4 instead. Munguntuul defended resourcefully, gradually reaching a balanced position hold a draw. After the game, Assaubayeva admitted that she missed the key attacking idea of Rg1 followed by g2-g4. She also revealed that she has been struggling with health issues, affecting her form. Despite this, she remains determined to finish strong and is aiming for at least one victory before the tournament ends. Harika Dronavalli – Elisabeth Paehtz The game began with 1.c4, transposing into a Sicilian Accelerated Dragon with a Maroczy Bind. Paehtz demonstrated good preparation, employing the thematic idea of advancing her a-pawn, quickly gaining a time advantage on the clock. Both players invested a significant amount of time in subsequent maneuvering and by move 27 Harika was down to less than 5 minutes. However, in a wise practical decision, she opted to simplify the position, trading into an opposite-colored bishop endgame, which offered complete equality. A draw was agreed soon after. With just three rounds remaining, the battle for first place is heating up. Kateryna Lagno continues to lead, but Goryachkina’s win has put her within striking distance, joined by tournament underdog Batkhuyag Munguntuul. Standings after Round 6: 1 GM Kateryna Lagno 2515 4 2 IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul 2331 3½ 3 GM Aleksandra Goryachkina 2546 3½ 4 GM Alexandra Kosteniuk 2484 3 5 GM Zhongyi Tan 2561 3 6 GM Humpy Koneru 2523 3 7 IM Sarasadat Khademalsharieh 2458 3 8 GM Elisabeth Paehtz 2427 2½ 9 IM Bibisara Assaubayeva 2492 2½ 10 GM Harika Dronavalli 2489 2 Round seven
First Continental Online Chess Championships for Prisoners announced
The first-ever Continental Online Chess Championships for Prisoners will take place in May 2025, marking a significant milestone in the effort to bring chess into correctional institutions worldwide. As part of the Chess for Freedom initiative, this expansion provides incarcerated individuals with new opportunities for intellectual engagement, rehabilitation, and reintegration into society. The event will feature separate championships for four continents: Africa – May 13, 2025Americas – May 16, 2025Europe – May 20, 2025Asia – May 23, 2025 Tournament Format & Eligibility Each championship is a team event, open to correctional institutions within their respective continents. Each country may register up to three teams: One team from a male correctional facility One team from a female correctional facility One team from a juvenile correctional facility (under 20 years old) Additional teams may be invited from countries that organize national championships among prisoners. Each team will consist of four players, with an unlimited number of substitutes. All participants must be incarcerated individuals, and anonymity will be maintained in accordance with legal regulations. The tournaments will be played on Chess.com, using a 10-minute + 5-second increment time control. The format – Round Robin or Swiss System – will depend on the number of participating teams. The top two teams in each continental event will advance to the Championship Match (which will be held on the second day) to determine the continental winner. Registration & Key Dates Registration Deadline: May 1, 2025 Registration Link: Click HERE to register Technical Meeting: Week of May 5, 2025 (via Zoom) Correctional institutions must complete the online registration form and confirm their team’s participation via email to Mikhail Korenman (mikhail.korenman@ccsheriff.org). Since its launch in 2021, the Chess for Freedom initiative has introduced chess to correctional institutions around the world, demonstrating its value as a tool for education, personal development, and social reintegration. The introduction of continental-level championships represents a step forward in expanding access to the game, allowing teams from different regions to compete on a larger stage. For full tournament details, please refer to the official event guidelines. Regulations for Continental Online Championships for Prisoners (PDF)
World Senior Championships 2025: Four-way tie in 50+; England leads 65+
The 2025 World Seniors Team Chess Championship in Prague is entering its final stages. With just three rounds to go, both the 50+ and 65+ competitions remain wide open, setting the stage for an exciting finish. After six rounds in the 50+ section four teams–England 1, USA, Slovakia and Italy– share the lead on 10/12 points with England 1 holding the top spot due to a greater number of points. Round 7 will feature key matchups between the leaders, as USA faces Italy while Slovakia takes on England 1. In the women’s standings, China leads with 8/12 points, closely followed by Czech Women and the USA. 50+ standings after Round 6 In the 65+ category, England 1 leads with 11/12 points, having won five matches and drawn just one against Lasker Schachstiftung GK, which trails by a single point on 10/12. Five teams—France, England 2, Israel, Hungary, and Norge – OSS—are tied for third place. Round 7 will see England 1 tested by France, while Lasker Schachstiftung GK faces Norge – OSS, and England 2 plays Israel. 65+ standings after Round 6 The tournament has already produced many remarkable encounters, with the best game of each round being awarded a special prize. GM Lexy Ortega from Italy won the first-round award (a small chess horse), followed by English GM Michael Adams, Swedish IM Nils-Gustaf Renman, Dutch FM Prakken Gerrit and Moshe Gal of Israel (pictured below). On the rest day, February 22, participants had the opportunity to take a guided tour of Prague, the stunning capital of the Czech Republic. Additionally, a blitz tournament was held, with Jaan Ehlvest emerging as the winner. Photos: Ave Chess