Organizers of the FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship 2026 announced that Swiss GM Alexandra Kosteniuk will replace Chinese GM Hou Yifan in the exhibition match during the main event. The reason for the replacement is a problem with obtaining a German visa.

Freestyle Chess

Freestyle Chess

Tournament organizer

“Unfortunately, Hou Yifan won’t be able to play the exhibition match due to visa issues, but we’re excited to announce that Alexandra Kosteniuk will be stepping in!”

Alexandra Kosteniuk vs. Bibisara Assaubayeva in Weissenhaus will play a Chess960 exhibition match during the FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship 2026 from February 13 to 15, 2026, in Weissenhaus. Following the match, the tournament organizers will hold a preview of the planned FIDE Women’s Freestyle Chess World Championship, which will take place later in 2026.

Russian-born Swiss GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (2483) is the 12th Women’s World Champion. Kazakh GM Bibisara Assaubayeva (2497) was the only female player to compete in the 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour in Las Vegas. She finished in 13th-16th place, earning a $7,500 prize.

Credit: Rafal Oleksiewicz/FIDE