7/28/2025 – The knockout stage of the Last Chance Qualifier in Riyadh has determined the final four participants for the Esports World Cup chess main event. After a long day of intense rapid matches, Nihal Sarin, Javokhir Sindarov, Anish Giri and Levon Aronian claimed qualification. They now join twelve invited players, including Carlsen, Nakamura and Firouzja, in the 16-player tournament that begins on Tuesday, 29 July. | Photos: Aditya Sur Roy / ChessBase India

7/27/2025 – The first half of the "Clash of Generations" match between Peter Svidler and Yagız Kaan Erdoğmuş in Marseille has concluded with the score tied at 1½–1½. The six-game classical encounter has already featured a decisive win for each player and one strategic draw. From a sharp French Defence to dynamic Sicilian play, both contenders have shown their readiness to fight in complex positions. | Photo: Harry Gielen

7/26/2025 – The first games of the Women's World Cup final and third-place match in Batumi both ended in draws. Divya Deshmukh missed a promising attacking chance against Humpy Koneru, while Tan Zhongyi and Lei Tingjie played a balanced game in the Exchange Variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined. The second classical games will be played tomorrow, with Humpy and Lei having the white pieces. A win would secure the match without tiebreaks. | Photo: Anna Shtourman / FIDE

7/26/2025 – The Last Chance Qualifier for the Esports World Cup chess event is underway in Riyadh, with 16 players set to battle for the final four places in the main tournament. Held from 24 to 26 July, the qualifier began with a two-day group stage and concludes with a double-elimination knockout on Saturday. The winners will join twelve invited players, including Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura and Alireza Firouzja, in the $1.5 million main event starting on 29 July. | Photos: Aditya Sur Roy / ChessBase India

7/25/2025 – The 2025 US Chess Championships for Juniors, Girls and Seniors produced three new title-holders. Andy Woodward secured first place in the Junior section with 6½/9, while top seed Zoey Tang finished half a point ahead of Megan Paragua to win the Girls' Junior Championship. In the Senior Championship, Alexander Fishbein triumphed in a three-way playoff against Vladimir Akopian and Alexander Shabalov to claim his first title in the event. | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Saint Louis Chess Club

7/24/2025 – Humpy Koneru defeated Lei Tingjie in a closely contested tiebreak match to join Divya Deshmukh in the final of the Women's World Cup in Batumi, marking the first all-Indian final in the event's history. After two drawn classical games, Humpy prevailed 5–3 following rapid and blitz stages. Both finalists have secured places in the 2026 Women's Candidates Tournament, while Lei Tingjie and Tan Zhongyi will compete for third place and the final qualification spot. | Photo: Anna Shtourman / FIDE

7/24/2025 – Divya Deshmukh became the first finalist of the Women's World Cup after defeating Tan Zhongyi in a dramatic 101-move game, securing both a place in the final and qualification for the 2026 Candidates Tournament. The second semifinal between Humpy Koneru and Lei Tingjie ended in another draw after a complex rook endgame, and will be decided in tiebreaks on Thursday. The third-place match also offers a remaining spot in the Candidates. | Photo: Anna Shtourman / FIDE

7/21/2025 – Levon Aronian won the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Las Vegas by defeating Hans Niemann 1½–½ in Sunday’s final, securing his first title and the $200,000 top prize. Magnus Carlsen beat Hikaru Nakamura to finish third and maintain his lead in the overall tour standings. Fabiano Caruana and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu claimed fifth and seventh place, respectively, as the first Freestyle Chess event held in the United States came to a close. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

7/20/2025 – Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura advanced to the third-place match of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Las Vegas after winning their lower bracket encounters on Saturday. Carlsen defeated Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu and Arjun Erigaisi, while Nakamura overcame Wesley So and Fabiano Caruana. Sunday's final day will also feature Hans Niemann vs. Levon Aronian for the title, as well as placement matches for fifth and seventh place. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

7/19/2025 – The first games of the Women's World Cup quarterfinals saw wins for Lei Tingjie and Humpy Koneru, who now lead their respective matches. Lei defeated Nana Dzagnidze in a game which saw the Georgian GM losing on time after a scoresheet miscount, while Humpy overcame Song Yuxin with the white pieces. Divya Deshmukh drew against Harika Dronavalli, while Vaishali Rameshbabu missed a chance to press against Tan Zhongyi. | Photo: Anna Shtourman / FIDE

7/19/2025 – Hans Niemann and Levon Aronian advanced to the Grand Final of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Las Vegas after winning their semifinal matches on Friday. Niemann defeated Fabiano Caruana in tiebreaks, while Aronian overcame Arjun Erigaisi in two classical games. In the lower bracket, Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Wesley So and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu stayed in contention for third place. The final weekend will decide the tournament's champion and remaining podium positions. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

7/19/2025 – All four round-four tiebreak matches at the Women's World Cup were won by Indian players, completing the lineup for the quarterfinals. Humpy Koneru and Divya Deshmukh advanced with wins in the 15+10 games, while Harika Dronavalli and Vaishali Rameshbabu needed additional rounds to progress. The quarterfinals will feature four Indian players alongside Lei Tingjie, Tan Zhongyi, Nana Dzagnidze and Song Yuxin. | Photo: Anna Shtourman / FIDE

7/18/2025 – Day 2 of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Las Vegas saw long and dramatic knockout matches in both brackets, with several encounters going all the way to blitz and Armageddon. Fabiano Caruana, Levon Aronian, Hans Niemann and Arjun Erigaisi advanced to the upper bracket semifinals, while Magnus Carlsen, Wesley So, Vincent Keymer and Leinier Dominguez stayed alive in the lower bracket. Four players were eliminated and finished in shared 13th place. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

7/18/2025 – Four players secured spots in the quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup following the second game of round four, while the remaining four matches will be decided in Friday's tiebreaks. Zhu Jiner won to level her match against Divya Deshmukh, while Lei Tingjie, Tan Zhongyi, Song Yuxin and Nana Dzagnidze qualified directly. Curiously, the four matches that went to tiebreaks features one Indian player each - Divya, Humpy Koneru, Harika Dronavalli and Vaishali Rameshbabu. | Photo: Anna Shtourman / FIDE

7/17/2025 – Magnus Carlsen and Vincent Keymer are out of title contention at the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Las Vegas after failing to qualify for the upper bracket. In the White Group, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov shared first place with 4½/7, while Levon Aronian claimed the final qualifying spot after beating Carlsen in a blitz tiebreaker. In the Black Group, Hikaru Nakamura dominated with 6/7, ahead of Hans Niemann, Fabiano Caruana and Arjun Erigaisi. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

7/16/2025 – The fourth stage of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam will take place in Las Vegas from 16 to 20 July, featuring 16 players and a structured mix of round-robin and double-elimination knockout formats. Top US players including Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana will compete alongside international stars headed by Magnus Carlsen. All participants will play for final placement, with varying time controls and tiebreak systems used throughout the five-day event. | Photo: Stev Bonhage

7/16/2025 – The opening round of classical chess at the Biel Chess Festival's Triathlon produced contrasting fortunes across both sections. While the Masters section saw all three games conclude in draws, maintaining the standings from the rapid phase, the Challengers section delivered three decisive results. David Navara's victory over Daniel Dardha marked the day's most significant development, propelling him from last place to third overall. | Pictured: Vladimir Fedoseev and Aravindh Chithambaram. | Photos: Official website

7/15/2025 – The third round of the Women's World Cup concluded with six matches decided in tiebreaks, completing the round-of-16 lineup. While most favourites advanced, 19-year-old Song Yuxin upset Anna Muzychuk to join fellow rising stars Meruert Kamalidenova and Umida Omonova in the next stage. All three had already secured impressive victories earlier in the event. A rest day now follows before the tournament resumes in Batumi with the final sixteen players. | Photo: Anna Shtourman / FIDE