Last updated: Wednesday 17th June 2026 4:18 pm

The Week in Chess 1649 of 15th June 2026 by Mark Crowther. 29 stories and 7064 games. Links down the right hand margin for games in PGN or Chessbase format or on the The Week in Chess Download page.

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A compilation of the games can be had for a donation of £30. There have been over 4 million games in TWIC since the first edition on 17th September 1994.

TWIC News Feed

Surprise victory for Mukhiddin Madaminov in the 3rd UzChess Cup

3rd UzChess Cup 2026 9

Mark Crowther (Tue Jun 16 08:32:29 2026)

19-year-old Mukhiddin Madaminov made a name for himself in winning the 3rd UzChess Cup Masters. He beat Shamsiddin Vokhidov in a blitz tie-break after they tied on 5.5/9. In the final round Madaminov had a long game against Hans Niemann where he was pressing for a win but Niemann also had a late chance to win himself.

Blohberger beats Navara 3.5-2.5 in a match

Navara vs Blohberger Match 2026 3-4

Mark Crowther (Sun Jun 14 07:23:52 2026)

A win in game three proved to be enough for Felix Blohberger to defeat David Navara in a six game classical match. Game four was probably the most exciting.

Faustino Oro earns his final GM norm in Sardinia

Sardinia World Chess Festival 2026 9

Mark Crowther (Mon May 11 04:55:29 2026)

Faustino Oro is now the second youngest player in history to become a GM after a 6/9 result in Sardinia. I suspect he will be more relieved than anything else after chasing this final norm for five months. He is already among only a select few who have earned the Grandmaster title at such a young age.

Magnus Carlsen wins the 31st Sigeman & Co tournament after tie-break win over Erigaisi

31st Tepe Sigeman & Co Chess Tournament 2026 7

Mark Crowther (Thu May 07 15:41:44 2026)

Magnus Carlsen won the tournament after beating Erdogmus in the final round and then beating Erigaisi in a blitz tie-break. Erigaisi had survived a lost position against Woodward to catch Carlsen.

Erigaisi leads the Sigeman tournament alone with one round to go

31st Tepe Sigeman & Co Chess Tournament 2026 6

Mark Crowther (Wed May 06 16:25:20 2026)

Erigaisi beat Zhu Jiner after grinding out a win in the endgame. Carlsen managed to defeat Woodward after an choosing the King's Indian as black. Erdogmus drew with Abdusattorov and Van Foreest missed a win against Grandelius. Carlsen meets Erdogmus for the first time in the final round.

Dossiers and Main Stories

FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships 2026

FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships 2026 Games and Results

Mark Crowther (Wed Jun 24 14:52:00 2026)

The FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships takes place Wed 17th Jun 2026 Sun 22nd Jun 2026. Three days of rapid followed by three days of blitz in Hong Kong. 48 teams. Players: Magnus Carlsen, Vladislav Artemiev, Arjun Erigaisi, Alireza Firouzja, Levon Aronian, Viswanathan Anand, Wei Yi, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Fabiano Caruana, Wesley So, Javokhir Sindarov, Ding Liren, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Leinier Dominguez Perez, Anish Giri, Nihal Sarin, Dmitry, Andreikin, Jan Krzysztof Duda, Alexander Grischuk etc Read more ....

FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships 2026 (Hong Kong HKG)
Wed 17th Jun 2026 - Sun 21st Jun 2026 - Official Site - Results - Live

FIDE World Rapid Team (12 Rds Swiss Team TC:15m+10spm) - Games in PGN: Games Rapid

FIDE World Bl Team Pool A (13 players 13 Rds League Team TC:3m+2spm)

FIDE World Bl Team Pool B (13 players 13 Rds League Team TC:3m+2spm)

FIDE World Bl Team Pool C (13 players 13 Rds League Team TC:3m+2spm)

FIDE World Bl Team Pool D (13 players 13 Rds League Team TC:3m+2spm)

FIDE World Bl Team Final (4 Rds KO Team TC:3m+2spm)

FIDE World Bl Team 5-8th (2 Rds KO Team TC:3m+2spm)

3rd UzChess Cup 2026

3rd UzChess Cup 2026 Games and Results

Mark Crowther (Mon Jun 15 21:52:00 2026)

The 3rd UzChess Cup took place in Tashkent Sun 7th Jun to Mon 15th Jun 2026. The Masters: Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Arjun Erigaisi, Hans Moke Niemann, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Santosh Gujrathi Vidit, Nodirbek Yakubboev, Shamsiddin Vokhidov, Nikolas Theodorou and Mukhiddin Madaminov.

The lowest rated player, 19 year-old Mukhiddin Madaminov won after winning a tie-break blitz match against 8th seed Shamsiddin Vokhidov. They had both scored 5.5/9 half a point clear of Ian Nepomniachtchi, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Arjun Erigaisi. Mahammad Muradli won the Challengers with a dominant 7.5/9 two points clear of second placed Mittal Aditya. The Futures tournament was won by IM Khumoyun Begmuratov (born 2010). Timur Gareyev edged out Shavkatjon Abdukholikov on tie-break in the open after both scored 7.5/9. Read more ....

3rd UzChess Cup 2026 (Tashkent UZB)
Sun 7th Jun 2026 - Mon 15th Jun 2026 - Official Site - Results

3rd UzChess Cup Masters (10 players 9 Rds SRR Indiv TC:90m:30m+30spm(1)) - Games in PGN: Games Masters | Live Masters

UzChess Cup Challengers (10 players 9 Rds SRR Indiv TC:90m:30m+30spm(1)) - Games in PGN: Games Challengers

3rd UzChess Cup Futures (10 players 9 Rds SRR Indiv TC:90m:30m+30spm(1)) - Games in PGN: Games Futures

3rd UzChess Cup Open (9 Rds Swiss Indiv TC:90m+30spm(1)) - Games in PGN: Games Open

UzChess Cup Masters TB (2 players 2 Rds Match Indiv TC:3m+2spm) - Games in PGN: Games Masters TB

Navara vs Blohberger Match 2026

Navara vs Blohberger Match 2026 Games and Results

Mark Crowther (Sun Jun 14 12:20:00 2026)

David Navara played Felix Blohberger in a six game match in Vienna Mon 8th Jun - Sat 13th Jun 2026. Blohberger won game three and the remaining games were drawn. Read more ....

Navara vs Blohberger Match 2026 (Vienna AUT)
Mon 8th Jun 2026 - Sat 13th Jun 2026 - Official Site - Results - Live

Navara - Blohberger Match (2 players 6 Rds Match Indiv TC:90m:30m+30spm(1)) - Games in PGN: Games

26th European Women's Championship 2026

26th European Women's Championship 2026 Games and Results

Mark Crowther (Fri Jun 5 20:17:00 2026)

The 26th European Women's Championship took place Mon 25th May to Friday 5th Jun 2026. Anastasiia Hnatyshyn took clear first place with 9/11 half a point clear of Sabrina Vega Gutierrez, Olga Badelka and Nurgyul Salimova. Read more ....

26th European Women's Championship 2026 (Batumi GEO)
Mon 25th May 2026 - Sat 6th Jun 2026 - Official Site - Results - Live

26th ch-EUR Indiv w 2026 (11 Rds Swiss Indiv TC:90m:30m+30spm(1)) - Games in PGN: Games

Watch live games

Tournaments for Wednesday 17th June 2026 combined with links to official website, live coverage and PGN file
Event	Site	FED	UK Time	Rd
Web	Live	PGN
Other events today
FIDE World Rapid Team	Hong Kong	HKG	07:00	1
FIDE World Rapid Team	Hong Kong	HKG	08:40	2
FIDE World Rapid Team	Hong Kong	HKG	10:20	3
360 One Masters 2026	Mumbai	IND	10:30	8
FIDE World Rapid Team	Hong Kong	HKG	12:00	4
World Youth Girls U14	Montesilvano	ITA	14:00	3
World Youth Girls U16	Montesilvano	ITA	14:00	3
World Youth Girls U18	Montesilvano	ITA	14:00	3
World Youth Open U14 2026	Montesilvano	ITA	14:00	3
World Youth Open U18 2026	Montesilvano	ITA	14:00	3
World Youth Open U16 2026	Montesilvano	ITA	14:00	3
19th Teplice Open 2026	Teplice	CZE	14:00	5
ch-SVK 2026	Bratislava	SVK	14:00	5
19th Teplice Open 2026	Teplice	CZE	14:00	5
20th ch-SRB 2026	Senta	SRB	14:30	5
38th Pula Open 2026	Pula	CRO	15:30	5
Prishtina Int Open 2026	Prishtina	KOS	16:00	8
59th Capablanca Mem Open	Havana	CUB	21:00	3