American Teams Off To Solid Starts at 2025 FIDE World Senior Team Championships

After four matches in Prague, the US Chess-sponsored USA team is a full point behind the leading teams from Italy and Kazakhstan after surrendering two draws. The US Chess-sponsored USA Women's team improved to 2½/4 after its win earlier today. 

Both teams are competing in the 50+ section. The fifth round of the nine-round event begins Friday, February 21, at 8:00 a.m. CST with playing resuming on Sunday, February 23, at the same time. More information about the USA teams can be found in our preview, and full regulations are available here.

USA Women Strong After Four

With only the top ten matches being broadcast on DGT boards, we unfortunately have not been able to follow the games of the USA Women's team yet. We hope to have games to share before the end of the event, but, if not, we can promise plenty of highlights after. 

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The USA Women team (minus the photographer). From left: Belakovskaia, Tsodikova, Sagalchik, Jezierska. (Photo by Alexey Root.)

After defeating the Czech team Jawa 2025 3½–½ in the first round, the USA Women's team lost a tight match 2½–1½ to China Women. The Chinese players outrated the American women by at least 200 points on the top three boards, yet WGM Anjelina Belakovskaia, WFM Natalia Tsodikova, and WIM Alexey Root each managed to hold a draw. WGM Liu Shilan's win over WFM Ivona Jezierska on board four decided the match.

On Wednesday, the team rebounded with a 2–2 tie against another Czech team, ŠK Bohemia Pardubice. This time, Jezierska tied up the match with her win on the fourth board. 

Earlier today, a 2½–1½ win over German team Sachsenwölfe saw USA Women close within a half-point of the other official American squad. Tsodikova and captain WFM Olga Sagalchik each delivered wins. 

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The USA Women team, minus the photographer. (Photo by Alexey Root)

Tomorrow, USA Women will face Scotland 2 on board ten. This is especially noteworthy as it means they will be on DGT boards!

Defending Champions in the Midst of the Chasing Pack

In the first round, USA defeated the Jhunjhnuwala brothers of Team USA 5 Brothers 3½–½. FM Krishan Jhunjhnuwala held GM Gregory Kaidanov to a draw on board one, with the other boards breaking the way of the two-time defending champions. Can you find the key moves from GMs Igor Novikov and Alexander Shabalov?

You can also check out WGM Sabina Foisor's analysis of Novikov's game on our Youtube channel. Be sure to subscribe, and keep your eyes peeled for more highlights from Sabina, including a featured game from each round of the championship.

In round two, the Czech team ŠK Moravská Slavia held USA to a tie thanks to FM David Holmar's win over Novikov on board three:

With draws on the top two boards, it all came down to the rookie! IM Stuart Rachels, in his first World Senior Team Championship, ground out the black side of a Queen's Gambit Accepted, breaking through after a prolonged battle (in a rook endgame, get it? rookie?).

The Americans returned to their winning ways in round three, defeating an overmatched French team (Philidor Brothers) 3½–½. GM Jaan Ehlvest delivered a fine win in an offbeat line of the Rossolimo that deserves further study:

Earlier today, the Americans was again held to a tie, this time by a strong Slovakian team featuring three veteran grandmasters. Kaidanov won a fine game over GM Martin Mrva on board two, but Rachels was on the ropes from early on. Just when it looked like he had survived the worst of it, one miscalculation gave Slovakia the equalizer:

Tomorrow, USA plays the official Czech Republic team on board three. 

How to Watch

Games begin daily starting Monday, February 17 at 3:00 p.m. local time (8:00 a.m. EST) with the exceptions of Saturday, February 22 (rest day) and Wednesday, February 26, when the game begins two hours earlier.

Full regulations are available here.

Games will be broadcast live on Chess.com and Lichess.

Keep up with results on Chess-Results.com.

WGM Sabina Foisor will be providing game analysis on the US Chess Youtube channel.

Chess Life Online will report on results throughout the event, and we will share even more updates on X.

Solutions

1. White resigned after Black's 35. ... Qxh3+, with 36. ... Rh2# coming. 
2.  Black resigned shortly after 23. Rxd5!, as after 23. ... Qxe5 24. Rd8+ Rxd8 25. Rd8+ Kg7 26. fxe5, White emerged piece-up.