Description
In this special episode, we look back at 2025 — a year that reshaped the world of chess.
From the infamous blitz jeans scandal and Magnus Carlsen’s exit from the FIDE cycle, to his triumphant return as the undisputed Rapid & Blitz Champion. From bold experiments like Freestyle and Total Chess to chess officially entering the world of esports.
We revisit every monthly episode to assemble a kaleidoscopic portrait of a game in transition — and look ahead to what’s next: the 2026 Candidates Tournament, the World Championship match, and a new era of innovation in chess.
Along the way, we travel to Stockholm to meet chess legend Pia Cramling, whose journey helped pave the way for a new generation — including Divya Deshmukh, the 19-year-old Women’s World Cup winner now competing in open fields. We also celebrate Daniel Naroditsky: blitz genius, commentator, and one of the most unforgettable voices in modern chess.
This is not just a recap.
It’s a reflection, a celebration, and a preview of what’s coming next.
Goodbye, 2025 — and welcome to the future of chess. ♟
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Media Attribution
This video includes images licensed under various Creative Commons licenses. All content has been used in accordance with the terms of those licenses.
Attribution has been provided as follows:
Photos
Arturo Pomar et Juan Manuel Bellón © Europe Echecs
Anatoli Karpov et Juan Manuel Bellón © Europe Echecs
Erik Lundin, Pia Cramling et Ferdinand Hellers © Europe Echecs
Juan Manuel Bellón López et Pia Cramling en 1982 à Lucerne © Europe Echecs
Pia Cramling en couverture d'Europe-Echecs : avril 1986 © Europe Echecs
Vasyl Ivanchuk, 2023 by By Stefan64 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=143162344
Vasyl Ivanchuk by By Stefan64 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=143162254
Pia Cramling, Borislava Borisova, Margaretha Aatolainen, Chess Olympiad 1982 in LucerneBy GFHund CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9524016
Pia Cramling, Chess Olympiad 1984 in Saloniki, By GFHund CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9516646
Nona Gaprindashvili, 30 January 1975, By Hans Peters for Anefo https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=68068716
Team of the Soviet Union, Chess Olympiad 1988 in Thessaloniki, By GFHund CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9759874
Semenova, Levitina and Chiburdanidze, Chess Olympiad 1984 in Thessaloniki By GFHund CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9765051
Faustina Oro By Frans Peeters from Roosendaal, The Netherlands, cropped 17 % vertically, 17 % CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=158403895
Stockholms bokhelg på Hasselbacken. Schackutmaning där allmänheten fick möta schackinfluencern Anna Cramling by Zquid, CC BY-SA 4.0
Pia Cramling bei der Schacholympiade in Luzern 1982, by Krtschil, CC BY-SA 4.0
Videos
Video excerpt courtesy of Tata Steel Chess Tournament,”Teaser | Jeugdsimultaan bij Telstar 2026” retrieved from Youtube: https://youtu.be/rV6L7oCRuL8?si=xEMDDRxQSIbj7A4H
Video excerpt courtesy of Tata Steel Chess Tournament,” Inside the Press Conference | Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2026” retrieved from Youtube: https://youtu.be/I5BuzoIHQcY?si=jGZUGCYp-Ok_WOkw
Video excerpt courtesy of FIDE chess,”🇮🇳 GUKESH D: "Deep down I’m still this kid who loves chess..." | Interview with 18th World Champion” retrieved from Youtube: https://youtu.be/IASejdBmHoU?si=WbY83QUbBRzKpqqc
Video excerpt courtesy of FIDE chess,”Gukesh wins! - The final minutes of the FIDE World Championship 2024” retrieved from Youtube: https://youtu.be/W9JtcW_0Sr8?si=704TV8eY26S55m2D
Video excerpt courtesy of FIDE chess,”Highlights | Game 2 | Round 1 | FIDE World Cup 2025” retrieved from Youtube: https://youtu.be/aNvUBrEHNjE?si=WVpTSdxFtzsUloF7
Video excerpt courtesy of FIDE chess,”Highlights | Round 4 | FIDE Grand Swiss 2025” retrieved from Youtube: https://youtu.be/-MZwGUCOmBI?si=-VmYufvqzP85ngT4
Video excerpt courtesy of FIDE chess,”Highlights | Round 5 | FIDE Grand Swiss 2025” retrieved from Youtube: https://youtu.be/PlTtBUPkO70?si=mu24fDULDeGtweGc
Video excerpt courtesy of Esports World Cup - VOD,”Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura | Chess at EWC 25 - Day 3 - Semifinals” retrieved from Youtube: https://youtu.be/jGGf41oiCT8?si=byTwWy3RWknUFS2D
Video excerpt courtesy of CrazyTroll “Stavanger, Norway - City Tour & Drone, 4k” retrieved from Youtube: https://youtu.be/-9d-DRjpWaI?si=x1rGrMoG74cj27hL