fide
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FIDE May Ratings: Sindarov Breaks Into Top 5, Erdogmus Youngest Ever at 2700
The May 2026 FIDE rating list reshapes the world's top 10. Candidates winner Javokhir Sindarov surges 31 points to World No. 5, closing in on 2800. Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus becomes the youngest player to cross 2700. Hikaru Nakamura drops 18 points, and for the first time, no Indian player sits in the top 10.
FIDE Approves Faster Classical Time Controls: 45+30 Now Counts for Ratings and Norms
FIDE has officially approved 45+30 and 60+30 time controls for classical ratings and title norms, effective immediately. The change could cut tournament duration nearly in half, from 9-10 days to 5-6, and reshape how competitive chess is organized worldwide.
Sindarov and Vaishali Map Out Their World Championship Campaigns
Both 2026 World Championship challengers spoke this week about what comes next. Sindarov credited a pandemic-era turning point and named his target: 'I will try to win the World Championship match.' Vaishali's coach R.B. Ramesh revealed the relentless training regime behind her Candidates triumph. Meanwhile, FIDE confirmed the 2026 Chess Olympiad will be held in Sindarov's homeland, Uzbekistan.
FIDE April Ratings: Gukesh Drops to World No. 15, Abdusattorov Climbs to No. 4
The April 2026 FIDE rating list is out and the World Champion is nowhere near the top. Gukesh lost 16 points after a rough Prague Masters, dropping to 15th in the world. Meanwhile, Abdusattorov surged to No. 4, Bodhana Sivanandan gained 98 points in a single month, and Divya Deshmukh cracked the women's top 10.
Freedom Holding Acquires ChessBase: What It Means for Chess Software
Kazakh investment conglomerate Freedom Holding Corp has acquired ChessBase, the German chess software company that revolutionized professional chess preparation. With EUR 5 million earmarked for AI integration and expansion, the deal raises questions about the future of the chess world's most important database.