Shenzhen Road Primary School stages impressive chess scene
More than a thousand primary school students in Liaocheng played chess on the playground simultaneously, with the unfolding scene being reminiscent of a giant chessboard. Aiming to improve the intelligence and competitive level of the majority of children and to provide students with a chess exchange platform, on the morning of April 15th, the second “Liangzhi Cup” chess competition was held in Shenzhen Road Primary School, Liaocheng High-tech Zone, Shandong Province of China. More than a thousand elementary school students lined up in the playground, sitting face to face in pairs, competing with each other over chessboards. “Chess activities not only help develop children’s intelligence and improve thinking skills but also cultivate good habits of tenacity, unity, and courage to challenge.” Song Demin, principal of Shenzhen Road Primary School in the High-tech Zone, said in his opening speech. The school’s chess-based curriculum has been in place for 3 years. It was a massive chess competition held by the school. Hopefully, every student will be able to advance as a chess pawn and eventually get promoted to a queen, achieving his or her full potential. “Engage, think, and play” – inspired by this motto, the young players darted into the battle full of fighting spirit and self-confidence. Some kids are already quite experienced players. Take for example a fourth-grade student 11-year-old Luo Zihan. At her young age, she has already won the title of Alternate Chess Association Master. Influenced by her family, Zihan has been exposed to chess since her early childhood. She is going to work on chess even harder and play much more events striving for better results. After a morning competition, the prizes were awarded in course of a brief but eventful ceremony. Source: https://w.dzwww.com/p/8352925.html (includes a short video)
Qualification for FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2022 announced
The FIDE Council has approved the qualifying path to the Women’s Candidates Tournament 2022. The eight spots in the Women’s Candidates Tournament 2022 will be allocated based on the following criteria: A. 1 spot – FIDE World Championship Match 2020, Runner-up GM Goryachkina B. 2 spots – FIDE Grand Prix Series 2019-20 The players who finish 1st and 2nd in the FIDE Grand Prix Series 2019-20. If one or two of these players is/are GM Ju Wenjun and/or GM Goryachkina, the reserved spot(s) is (are) awarded to the next non-qualifying player(s) in the final ranking of the FIDE Grand Prix Series 2019-20. C. 3 spots – FIDE World Cup 2021 The three winners of the FIDE World Cup 2021. If GM Ju Wenjun and/or GM Goryachkina and/or one of the players qualified via event B is (are) among the three winners, one qualification spot is awarded to the fourth place of the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2021. D. 1 spot – FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss Tournament 2021 The winner of the FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss Tournament 2021. If the winner is GM Ju Wenjun or GM Goryachkina, or one of the players qualified via events B or C, the reserved spot is awarded to the next non-qualifying player of the FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss Tournament 2021. E. 1 spot – by Rating The player having the highest standard rating in the January 2022 FIDE rating list, provided she has at least 15 standard games rated in FIDE standard rating lists 2021 or participated in events C or D. Comments 1. If there are unawarded spots after event C, they shall go to event D, but can be awarded only to players who finish in 4th place or higher. 2. If there are unawarded spots after event D, they shall go to event B, but can be awarded only to players who finish in 4th place or higher. 3. If there are still unawarded spots, they shall be awarded by rating as described in clause E. Women’s World Championship Cycle events scheduled for 2021: WGP Series, 4th leg – May Women’s World Cup – July Women’s Grand Swiss – October-November In case of any schedule modification caused by force majeure/pandemic circumstances, the FIDE Council is entitled to adjust the qualification criteria accordingly.