Fourth leg of FIDE WGP 2024-2025 kicks off in Nicosia
The fourth leg of the 2024-25 FIDE Women’s Grand Prix kicked off this evening in the magnificent Nicosia Hilton Hotel, in the capital of Cyprus. Under the auspices of the International Chess Federation and Cyprus Chess Federation, the event runs from the 14th to the 25th of March, and will showcase the skills of ten of the best female players in the world. The opening ceremony began at 19:00 with the national anthem of the Republic of Cyprus, followed by the anthem of FIDE. Immediately afterward, FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky took the stage, welcoming everyone to the opening ceremony, and highlighted the significance of the tournament. “In the past two years, Cyprus has become one of the European chess hubs. We are delighted with our cooperation with the Cyprus Chess Federation and with our partner, Freedom, who are backing a number of important events all over the world. Our mission here is not only to stage a high-level event, but to lay a foundation and keep building on the previous work to make chess more popular, more accessible and more attractive to everyone.” Furthering their firm commitment to promoting chess in Cyprus, and supporting the event, Freedom Holding Corp CEO Timur Turlov, initiated his speech thanking the players for their participation and pointing out that it is a great honor to have them here. “I believe that the Cyprus role as interconnector of finance and chess will continue to grow. This is a country with very welcoming people, great weather, great cuisine, and with a lot of opportunities to enjoy and also focus on your business.” Turlov wished the players to be really focussed on their games but also have fun during their breaks and, if at all possible, visit other beautiful cities in Cyprus, such as Limassol. He was also very grateful to FIDE for their continued cooperation. “I am very thankful to FIDE for our partnership. We definitely share the same values and I believe that we will continue this cooperation through some new initiatives such as the International School Federation. I really see how prestigious this game is rising all over the world and how more and more people are being involved.” Finally, the President of the Cyprus Chess Federation, Criton Tornaritis, took the floor, welcoming all the players to Cyprus and highlighting the joint association with Freedom. “This is the second time we organize this tournament in Cyprus and I hope that there will be a third time. The most important thing for me is to enjoy some good games. Chess in Cyprus before Freedom was very poor. Now we have more than 2,000 members, most of them kids.” After the speeches, the attendees enjoyed the performance by a talented group of young dancers from Live Dance Studio, who brought a touch of energy and artistry to the ceremony. The evening culminated in a family group photo, with all the players on the stage joined by FIDE Secretary General and tournament director Lukasz Turlej and Takis Nikolopoulos, Chief Arbiter. Afterward, the guests had the chance to speak to the players, take photos, and enjoy the cocktail reception. The first round is scheduled for Saturday, March 15, at 3pm. As per rules, players representing the same federation must face each other at the start of the event. You can follow the games live and watch the action with our wonderful commentators GM Alik Gershon and WGM Anastasiya Karlovich on YouTube. Written by Michael Rahal Photos: Mark Livshitz Official website: womengrandprix.fide.com/
International Festival Baku Open 2025 announced
The Azerbaijan Chess Federation (ACF) is thrilled to announce the Baku Open 2025, an international chess festival celebrating the game and the rise of Azerbaijani talent. The event will take place at Baku Crystal Hall from April 27 (arrival) to May 6 (last round and closing ceremony). The festival features three tournament sections (A, B, and C)—all 9-round Swiss tournaments with classical time control: Tournament A: Open to players with a FIDE Elo rating above 2250 (Women: above 2100). Tournament B: Open to players with a FIDE Elo rating under 2250 (Women: under 2100). Tournament C: Open to young players with a FIDE Elo rating born in 2013 or earlier. Unrated players may be accepted at the ACF’s discretion. The total prize fund for the festival is $55,000, with $12,000 awarded to the winner of Tournament A. Additionally, the first 10 registered players with a FIDE Elo above 2650 (as of April 1, 2025) and women rated above 2450 will receive full board accommodation at the official festival hotel, Ibis Hotel. Exciting side events Simultaneous exhibition by a former World Champion Viswanathan Anand (April 27, 2025) The legendary Viswanathan Anand will showcase his exceptional skills in a simultaneous exhibition against some of Azerbaijan’s most talented young players. This is a rare opportunity to see a chess icon take on the future stars of Azerbaijani chess! Rapid match: Viswanathan Anand vs. Rauf Mamedov (April 28–29, 2025) A thrilling rapid match between Viswanathan Anand and the 2025 Azerbaijani Chess Champion promises an intense, fast-paced showdown. Blitz match: Viswanathan Anand vs. Rauf Mamedov (April 30, 2025) A high-energy blitz match between Viswanathan Anand and Azerbaijan’s third-rated player will deliver lightning-fast moves and an electrifying conclusion to this prestigious event. All side events will be held at the Museum of Carpet in Baku, a venue that beautifully blends culture and competition, providing a perfect stage for these exciting chess battles. We warmly invite chess enthusiasts and supporters from around the world to join us for this spectacular festival. Don’t miss this celebration of chess, talent, and tradition in Baku! Regulations for Baku Open 2025 (PDF) Official website: http://www.asf.org.az/