Leon Watson
@leonwatson.bsky.social
Editor-in-Chief at WorldChess.com. PR advisor to the English Chess Federation. Previously worked for Chess.com, Chess24, The Telegraph, MailOnline & The Sun. Cricket fan. Chess coach. Season ticket holder at Spurs. #COYS
When you're doing the PR for a chess event, and ANDY MURRAY turns up unannounced.
worldchess.com/news/andy-mu...
worldchess.com/news/andy-mu...
Tennis legend Andy Murray Serves Up Ace At London Chess Classic / News / World Chess - Official FIDE Online Chess Gaming Platform
Apparently the Brit enjoyed BBC2 series Chess Masters and got in touch with its host GM David Howell.
worldchess.com
December 1, 2025 at 10:42 AM
When you're doing the PR for a chess event, and ANDY MURRAY turns up unannounced.
worldchess.com/news/andy-mu...
worldchess.com/news/andy-mu...
World Chess Weekly: World Cup Sorted, Candidates Sorted, Now for the London Chess Classic
worldchess.com/news/world-c...
worldchess.com/news/world-c...
World Chess Weekly: World Cup Sorted, Candidates Sorted, Now for the London Chess Classic / News / World Chess - Official FIDE Online Chess Gaming Platform
It's been a momentous and important week in chess as a 19-year-old outsider won the World Cup and all the spots for the 2026 Candidates tournament have been filled. At last.
worldchess.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:40 PM
World Chess Weekly: World Cup Sorted, Candidates Sorted, Now for the London Chess Classic
worldchess.com/news/world-c...
worldchess.com/news/world-c...
Quite-literally bumped into this guy, GM Alireza Firouzja, yesterday at the London Chess Classic. It was in the toilets. I think he was a bit annoyed. The bang didn't put him off his game, though.
Photos: John Saunders.
Photos: John Saunders.
November 28, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Quite-literally bumped into this guy, GM Alireza Firouzja, yesterday at the London Chess Classic. It was in the toilets. I think he was a bit annoyed. The bang didn't put him off his game, though.
Photos: John Saunders.
Photos: John Saunders.
Sindarov Will Go To The Ball! World Cup Ends In Fairytale For Uzbek Teenager
worldchess.com/news/sindaro...
worldchess.com/news/sindaro...
Sindarov Will Go To The Ball! World Cup Ends In Fairytale For Uzbek Teenager / News / World Chess - Official FIDE Online Chess Gaming Platform
GM Javokhir Sindarov earns a place in the history books and an all-important ticket to the Candidates at the FIDE World Cup in Goa.
worldchess.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Sindarov Will Go To The Ball! World Cup Ends In Fairytale For Uzbek Teenager
worldchess.com/news/sindaro...
worldchess.com/news/sindaro...
World Chess Weekly: World Cup Rages In Goa, Russian Controversy, Pragg At The London Chess Classic And A Lot More
worldchess.com/news/world-c...
worldchess.com/news/world-c...
World Chess Weekly: World Cup Rages In Goa, Russian Controversy, And A Lot More / News / World Chess - Official FIDE Online Chess Gaming Platform
A bonfire of big names, Ukraine angry and Praggnanandhaa makes a dash for the Candidates by making a return to the London Chess Classic. And the World Rapid and Blitz.
worldchess.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:11 PM
World Chess Weekly: World Cup Rages In Goa, Russian Controversy, Pragg At The London Chess Classic And A Lot More
worldchess.com/news/world-c...
worldchess.com/news/world-c...
'Fast Classical' Makes Debut Amid Controversy Over Russian Involvement
worldchess.com/news/fide-wo...
worldchess.com/news/fide-wo...
'Fast Classical' Makes Debut Amid Controversy Over Russian Involvement / News / World Chess - Official FIDE Online Chess Gaming Platform
The Women's World Team Chess Champs have started in Linares, but there's more at stake than just chess.
worldchess.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:19 AM
'Fast Classical' Makes Debut Amid Controversy Over Russian Involvement
worldchess.com/news/fide-wo...
worldchess.com/news/fide-wo...
Isn't It Weird How The Big Chess Nations Aren't Doing Well At The World Cup
worldchess.com/news/big-che...
worldchess.com/news/big-che...
worldchess.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Isn't It Weird How The Big Chess Nations Aren't Doing Well At The World Cup
worldchess.com/news/big-che...
worldchess.com/news/big-che...
How is Aronian only world number 23?
November 14, 2025 at 4:46 PM
How is Aronian only world number 23?
World Chess Weekly: It's ALL About The World Cup, And We're On Tenterhooks
worldchess.com/news/world-c...
worldchess.com/news/world-c...
worldchess.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:46 PM
World Chess Weekly: It's ALL About The World Cup, And We're On Tenterhooks
worldchess.com/news/world-c...
worldchess.com/news/world-c...
Peter Leko's Chess World Cup Fairytale Ends: Goodbye To One Of The Game's Great Ambassadors
worldchess.com/news/peter-l...
worldchess.com/news/peter-l...
worldchess.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Peter Leko's Chess World Cup Fairytale Ends: Goodbye To One Of The Game's Great Ambassadors
worldchess.com/news/peter-l...
worldchess.com/news/peter-l...
It costs £450 + £100 for kit if your child is accepted onto a County pathway.
But according to the ECB, the "State of Equity in Cricket" is improving.
www.ecb.co.uk/news/4400947
But according to the ECB, the "State of Equity in Cricket" is improving.
www.ecb.co.uk/news/4400947
ECB publishes State of Equity in Cricket Report 2025
The report provides an update on progress happening across cricket to make it more accessible and inclusive.
www.ecb.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 11:32 AM
It costs £450 + £100 for kit if your child is accepted onto a County pathway.
But according to the ECB, the "State of Equity in Cricket" is improving.
www.ecb.co.uk/news/4400947
But according to the ECB, the "State of Equity in Cricket" is improving.
www.ecb.co.uk/news/4400947
Have You SEEN How Well Jospem Is Doing At The World Cup? Jose Martinez, We Salute You!
worldchess.com/news/jospem-...
worldchess.com/news/jospem-...
worldchess.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Have You SEEN How Well Jospem Is Doing At The World Cup? Jose Martinez, We Salute You!
worldchess.com/news/jospem-...
worldchess.com/news/jospem-...
English chess fans delight: GM Shreyas Royal is being anything but peaceful at the Tournament of Peace 2025 in Zagreb.
He is leading the field on 5.5/7 so far with a performance rating of 2752.
Go on Shrez!
He is leading the field on 5.5/7 so far with a performance rating of 2752.
Go on Shrez!
November 12, 2025 at 10:29 AM
English chess fans delight: GM Shreyas Royal is being anything but peaceful at the Tournament of Peace 2025 in Zagreb.
He is leading the field on 5.5/7 so far with a performance rating of 2752.
Go on Shrez!
He is leading the field on 5.5/7 so far with a performance rating of 2752.
Go on Shrez!
We'll see what happens to Mr Kramnik then.
November 11, 2025 at 7:24 PM
We'll see what happens to Mr Kramnik then.
Yes, we know the World Cup is wild and exciting. But on its rest day we just want to draw your attention to another international tournament World Chess has helped boost. worldchess.com/news/preside...
worldchess.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Yes, we know the World Cup is wild and exciting. But on its rest day we just want to draw your attention to another international tournament World Chess has helped boost. worldchess.com/news/preside...
After looking at the various possibilities, here's my bet on who'll qualify for the 2026 FIDE Candidates:
- Erigaisi
- Abdusattorov
- Firouzja
- Pragg
- Nakamura
London Chess Classic looks critical for FIDE Circuit points.
------------
Giri, Caruana and Bluebaum are already there.
- Erigaisi
- Abdusattorov
- Firouzja
- Pragg
- Nakamura
London Chess Classic looks critical for FIDE Circuit points.
------------
Giri, Caruana and Bluebaum are already there.
November 7, 2025 at 4:07 PM
After looking at the various possibilities, here's my bet on who'll qualify for the 2026 FIDE Candidates:
- Erigaisi
- Abdusattorov
- Firouzja
- Pragg
- Nakamura
London Chess Classic looks critical for FIDE Circuit points.
------------
Giri, Caruana and Bluebaum are already there.
- Erigaisi
- Abdusattorov
- Firouzja
- Pragg
- Nakamura
London Chess Classic looks critical for FIDE Circuit points.
------------
Giri, Caruana and Bluebaum are already there.
The Chess World Cup in Goa is throwing up some incredible pictures. Here's a roundup of what's happened this week: worldchess.com/news/world-c...
worldchess.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:53 PM
The Chess World Cup in Goa is throwing up some incredible pictures. Here's a roundup of what's happened this week: worldchess.com/news/world-c...
Nepomniachtchi Crashes Out Of World Cup In Latest Sign Russian Chess Is In The Doldrums
worldchess.com/news/ian-nep...
worldchess.com/news/ian-nep...
Nepomniachtchi Crashes Out Of World Cup In Latest Sign Russian Chess Is In The Doldrums / News / World Chess - Official FIDE Online Chess Gaming Platform
The elimination of GM Ian Nepomniachtchi, Russia's number-one, in Round 2 typifies the state of Russian chess. He went out with a whimper.
worldchess.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Nepomniachtchi Crashes Out Of World Cup In Latest Sign Russian Chess Is In The Doldrums
worldchess.com/news/ian-nep...
worldchess.com/news/ian-nep...
Russian number-one Ian Nepomniachtchi is on the brink of crashing out of the chess World Cup in R2.
Nepo has already fallen out of the world's top 20.
Russian chess, which used to dominate the world, is in the doldrums.
Nepo has already fallen out of the world's top 20.
Russian chess, which used to dominate the world, is in the doldrums.
November 5, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Russian number-one Ian Nepomniachtchi is on the brink of crashing out of the chess World Cup in R2.
Nepo has already fallen out of the world's top 20.
Russian chess, which used to dominate the world, is in the doldrums.
Nepo has already fallen out of the world's top 20.
Russian chess, which used to dominate the world, is in the doldrums.
FIDE says it has been busy strengthening ties with the IOC.
Hmm.
Grovelling might be more accurate?
www.fide.com/fide-strengt...
Hmm.
Grovelling might be more accurate?
www.fide.com/fide-strengt...
FIDE strengthens ties with IOC, UEFA and ARISF – International Chess Federation
www.fide.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:37 PM
FIDE says it has been busy strengthening ties with the IOC.
Hmm.
Grovelling might be more accurate?
www.fide.com/fide-strengt...
Hmm.
Grovelling might be more accurate?
www.fide.com/fide-strengt...
It's a sorry state of affairs when there's only one woman among 206 competitors at FIDE's flagship chess World Cup, one of the most prestigious events the game has.
But this is where chess finds itself.
worldchess.com/news/divya-d...
But this is where chess finds itself.
worldchess.com/news/divya-d...
Farewell, Divya! Only Woman Competing At Chess World Cup Is Knocked Out / News / World Chess - Official FIDE Online Chess Gaming Platform
India's 19-year-old star-in-the-making GM Divya Deshmukh, the FIDE Women's World Cup winner, was in a field with 205 men. We really hoped she would make her mark.
worldchess.com
November 3, 2025 at 11:53 AM
It's a sorry state of affairs when there's only one woman among 206 competitors at FIDE's flagship chess World Cup, one of the most prestigious events the game has.
But this is where chess finds itself.
worldchess.com/news/divya-d...
But this is where chess finds itself.
worldchess.com/news/divya-d...
🎵Oh, Mickey, you're so fine...
England's chess hero Michael Adams has started the FIDE World Cup with a trademark win.
C'mon Mickey!!!
England's chess hero Michael Adams has started the FIDE World Cup with a trademark win.
C'mon Mickey!!!
November 1, 2025 at 6:25 PM
🎵Oh, Mickey, you're so fine...
England's chess hero Michael Adams has started the FIDE World Cup with a trademark win.
C'mon Mickey!!!
England's chess hero Michael Adams has started the FIDE World Cup with a trademark win.
C'mon Mickey!!!