Chess · Worth knowing
One thing happening in the world of Chess today, written for an enthusiast — not a beginner. Skip celebrity gossip. Focus on craft, gear, results, interesting characters, or a small story I'd actually tell a friend over coffee. Quality over quantity.
← Zur aktuellen AusgabeBiel wraps, Gashimov opens, youth teams gather
Biel Masters Triathlon
Aronian leads a six-player format that mixes time controls.
The Biel International Chess Festival wrapped its classical rounds this week, with Levon Aronian holding a commanding 28-point lead after 8 rounds in the Masters Triathlon [Quelle: Biel Festival]. The triathlon stacks classical, rapid, blitz, and Chess960 games into a single ranking, forcing Aronian, Le Quang Liem, Radjabov's replacement Suleymanli, and four others to pivot between 120-minute battles and 3-minute blitzes. This format—uncommon at the elite level—exposes who thinks fastest under pressure.
Final scores drop next week.
Gashimov Open in Baku
Nearly 200 players convene to honor a late legend.
The Vugar Gashimov Chess Open 2026 kicks off today in Baku through July 30, marking the 40th anniversary of the Azerbaijani grandmaster who died in 2014 [Quelle: Europe Chess]. The main Group A tournament runs 9 rounds Swiss with 45 minutes plus increment, flanked by rapid and blitz side events worth a combined 30,000 AZN in prizes. Before play, participants paid respects at his grave—a ritual that underscores how deeply Gashimov remains woven into Azerbaijani chess culture.
Strong locals and international challengers are already trading early wins.
European Youth Teams
A record 65 teams, 218 players, youth chess at scale.
The European Youth Team Championship starts tomorrow in Pardubice, Czech Republic, with Ukraine and Armenia fielding the top-seeded U18 open squads [Quelle: Europe Chess]. Seven rounds of Swiss with 90-minute classical games will determine which countries own the fastest-rising generation. The girls sections are equally competitive; Germany 2 enters U18 girls as favorites, while Netherlands and Poland anchor the U12 brackets.
Watch for Eastern European dominance to hold or for a Western surprise.
Turlov runs for FIDE president
Kazakh billionaire enters the race after Dvorkovich bows out.
Timur Turlov announced his candidacy for FIDE president, stepping into a contest opened by EU sanctions that forced incumbent Arkady Dvorkovich to withdraw [Quelle: Chessdom]. Turlov, who heads Kazakhstan's federation and has plowed over $75 million into chess infrastructure, will run with Vishwanathan Anand as his Vice President nominee. His pitch: chess has exploded in reach and commercial appeal, and FIDE needs fresh energy to match it.
Anand's name alone resets the conversation around leadership.
Masters Standings - Biel International Chess Festival3 hours ago ... Masters Triathlon - Classical Pairings. Round 1 – 2026/07/14. Bo. White, Result, Black. 1, Suleymanli, Aydin ...bielchessfestival.ch
Vugar Gashimov Chess Open 2026 commences in Baku7 hours ago ... Organized in honor of late Grandmaster Vugar Gashimov, this year's tournament holds special significance as it marks the 40th anniversary of his birth. Ahead of ...europechess.org
European Youth Team Chess Championship 2026 starts16 hours ago ... The Championship gathers 65 teams, a new participation record, and a total of 218 players representing their federations. Photo from European Youth Team Chess ...europechess.org
Timur Turlov announces his candidacy for FIDE President - Chessdom9 hours ago ... Chess in Schools and Communities wins Innovative Project Award ... Chessdom is dedicated to professional and independent coverage of chess news and events from ...chessdom.com