- Georgia fields reserves while France scores a last-round triumph.
"VAN" (Sports Desk - 21.11.2025) :: With the qualifying rounds concluded, the quarterfinal line-up is finalized, showcasing a mix of powerhouse teams and emerging contenders.
Azerbaijan, China, and other top seeds demonstrated both depth and precision, while prodigious talents like Lu Miaoyi and Ulviyya Fataliyeva reminded the chess world of their rising potential. The upcoming duels will test strategy, resilience, and nerves under pressure.
Eight teams move forward, each carrying hopes, ambitions, and the scars of previous battles. Every quarterfinal match promises intense battles, where experience meets ambition, and every move could decide the fate of a championship run.
Let’s look at how the afternoon unfolded in greater detail in each pool.
The afternoon of chess began with Javier Ochoa de Echagüen, President of the Spanish Chess Federation and of the Ibero-American Chess Federation and FIDE Adviser, opening the round with the ceremonial gong.
Pool A
Azerbaijan prevailed in their crucial clash against the host nation, Spain. The final result — a convincing 3.5–0.5 — leaves no room for doubt and secured the Azeri team a spot in the quarterfinals, while simultaneously eliminating the Spaniards from the competition.
One of the key victories came on board one, where IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva (2420) outplayed IM Sarasadat Khademalsharieh (2429). European U-14 and U-18 champion, Fataliyeva also won the 2024 European Women’s Individual Chess Championship.
In this middlegame position, Fataliyeva enjoys more space, and her pieces are harmoniously placed for an attack. Until this moment, Khademalsharieh had defended accurately, striving to keep the position as closed as possible.
However, her last move – 21…Qd7? instead of the stronger 21…0–0–0 – allowed the Azeri player to break through with a classical piece sacrifice, beginning with 22.f5! gxf5 23.Bxf5! exf5 24.e6! fxe6 25.Nxe6.
The knight on e6 prevents Black from castling and threatens multiple discovered checks. Spain’s top board tried to block with 25…Be7, but after 26.Qe5! the rook on h8 came under direct fire. Khademalsharieh replied with 26…Rg8, yet 27.Qxf5 (threatening 28.Qxh5#) only intensified the pressure.
Following 27…Qc6, the precise 28.Qf7+ forced immediate resignation, as 28…Kd7 29.Nc5+ Kd6 30.Bf4 leads to checkmate. A fantastic attacking masterpiece by IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva!
In the other afternoon encounters, team FIDE completed the qualifying stage with a perfect 100% score, delivering a dominant 3.5–0.5 victory over Peru.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan produced the upset of the round, defeating team USA by the same margin and securing second place in the group.
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