6/15/25 Update

Some recent happenings...

• The last few days have seen the 2025 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships in London. Unlike the Chess Olympiad where teams represent their countries, this tournament is made up of teams with players from all over. However there were requirements of both a female player and a recreational (<2000 rating) so some interesting battles. In the rapid event the winning team was composed of 4 Indians, 1 Spaniard, and 1 Greek player. A better example was WR Chess Team consisting of Firouzja, MVL, Nakamura, Duda, So, Hou, Kosteniuk, and 2 lower players. What a team! But, there were many strong teams. Also in the rapid the recreational player on the winning MGD1 Team scored 11 points out of 12 – only losing his final match! His FIDE rating is ~1952 but it seems his online rating is 2600 to 2700 so definitely underrated. For Saturday and Sunday they are playing the blitz event. Games are on lichess and live coverage on the FIDE Chess youtube channel. As I have mentioned both the strength of the Indian players and the young vs. old battle, the rapid event featured a fight involving both. Vishy Anand scored one for the old guys in Round 5 vs. young Arjun Erigaisi (#1 in India, #4 in world in classical) - Chess-Results.com - Partien

In the blitz section, WR Chess Team reigned supreme.     

• Meanwhile in St. Louis they are midway through The Cairns Cup with some of the top female players in the world. To see the commentary either check the Saint Louis Chess Club website or youtube channel.

• I did not cover last week but the Norway Chess Tournament concluded with yet another victory for Magnus Carlsen – like the 8th time he was won this tournament! One interesting game was in Round 10 with Erigaisi-Carlsen where Magnus gave up his Queen so the ending was Q+N+p vs. R+2N+2p but the weaker side held strong and arguably could have played for a win. Good demonstration of piece coordination creating pressure. Yet another reason that Carlsen is on a whole different level. Games on lichess, Norway Chess 2025 | Open • Round 10 • lichess.org