45th Chess Olympiad: Smooth sailing for favorites in Round 1
The Chess Olympiad commenced today in Budapest with 89 matches in the Open section and 81 in the Women’s section. The favorites faced off against weaker opponents and proved their superiority. In the Open section, the USA, India, China, Uzbekistan, Netherlands, and Norway all won their matches. Among them, India, China, and Netherlands whitewashed their opponents (4-0). In total, 56 teams managed to win their matches with a perfect score on the first day. The defending champions, Uzbekistan, had a more challenging start. Two dubious positions against Trinidad & Tobago were not what they hoped for. Shamsiddin Vokhidov (2650) eventually managed to outsmart his opponent Kevin Cupid (2201) on board three, while Nodirbek Yakubboev (2666) narrowly escaped with a draw from a lost position against Quinn Cabralis (2169) on board two. Team USA’s match against Panama began with a victory by Leinier Dominguez, marking his first classical win since March. However, they couldn’t achieve a sweeping victory as World #10 Wesley So (USA) drew with Panama’s top player, Roberto Sanchez Alvarez (2376). Levon Aronian’s fans were also on edge when he found himself in trouble against Andre Mendez Machado, but Aronian managed to turn the tables and win. The biggest individual upset was likely World #17 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2733), escaping with a draw against 17-year-old Anas Khwaira (1994) from Jordan. Such results highlight the beauty and appeal of the Olympiad, as for players from less developed chess nations, it is an opportunity to take on (and take points from!) the best players in the world. In the Women’s section, the favourites were also in full command. As many as 72 teams managed to take home all four points. Jamaica lost to India but can still celebrate as their Raehanna Brown (1910), who just became a WFM in 2024, managed to sneak a draw from IM Vantika Agrawal (2370). The main favourites, Georgia, Poland, and China, all won their matches 4-0. The defending champions, Ukraine, conceded half a point to Kyrgyzstan as Alexandra Samaganova drew with Anna Ushenina on the first board. Round 1 was attended by Mr. Gábor Schmidt, Deputy State Secretary for Sports Administration and Development, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, and Dr. Zoltán Polyánszky, Hungarian Chess Federation President. The latter two made the ceremonial first moves. Mr. Arkady Dvorkovich made the first move on the first board of the women’s top match between Jamaica and India, while Dr. Polyánszky did so in the Open section’s top match between Panama and the USA. Later, they moved to the media center for a press conference moderated by FIDE Press Officer Anna Burtasova. The speakers answered questions about organizing a Chess Olympiad and promoting chess in general. More details can be found on the official tournament website. After the press conference, the speakers and media moved to the Expo Hall for the official opening of the historical exhibition celebrating 100 years of FIDE. As usual, the Chess Olympiad is a grand festival of chess, featuring numerous side tournaments and activities alongside the main event. The Expo hall buzzed with excitement from spectators and players who had finished their games. Many visitors brought their children, who enjoyed Judit Polgar’s “Chess Palace,” a space designed for younger audiences. The first side tournament, a rapid event, took place in a dedicated hall. Various tournaments will run almost every day, allowing local and visiting players to compete in rapid, blitz, and numerous chess variants. The complete list of side activities can be found here. Position of the day: GM Yu, Yangyi (China) – IM Araujo Sanchez, Josue (Dominican Republic) White to move 22. Rxd5! 1-0 Black resigned in view of 22…exd5 23.Bg4+ Rd7 24.Re8+ Bd8 25.Rxd8# or 22…Rxd5 23.Bxd5 exd5 24.Re8+ Kd7 25.Rxa8 Results of the top matches: Open: Panama 0.5-3.5 USA India 4-0 Morocco Dominican Republic 0-4 China Uzbekistan 3.5-0.5 Trinidad & Tobago Lebanon 0-4 Netherlands Women: Jamaica 0.5-3.5 India Georgia 4-0 UAE Panama 0-4 Poland China 4-0 South Africa Kyrgyzstan 0.5-3.5 Ukraine Full results: Chess-results.com – 45th Chess Olympiad Written by WGM Anna Burtasova Photos: Michal Walusza, Mark Livshitz and Maria Emelianova Official website: chessolympiad2024.fide.com
Final list of Member Federations having right to vote at GA 2024 published
In accordance with the FIDE Electoral Regulations, FIDE is publishing the final list of Member Federations having right to vote at the General Assembly 2024 together the list of suspended Member Federations. List of Member Federations having right to vote at the General Assembly 2024 (PDF)
45th FIDE Chess Olympiad is officially open!
The grand opening of the 45th Chess Olympiad took place at the Dr. Jeno Koltai Sports Center in Budapest, bringing together thousands of people: players from 194 countries (an absolute record), team captains, FIDE Congress delegates, officials, tournament guests, and media. The mood was set by performances from Lilla Vincze, an acclaimed Hungarian singer, and Jason Kouchak, an internationally renowned pianist and composer, complemented by aerial views of beautiful Budapest on the screen behind them. Together, Lilla and Jason, an amateur chess player, composed a song titled “Royal Game,” which premiered this evening. The hosts of the ceremony welcomed everyone to the Hungarian capital and noted that this year marks a truly special moment in the history of chess as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the International Chess Federation. Over the past century, FIDE has worked tirelessly to promote the universal values of chess, bringing together minds from all corners of the globe in the spirit of friendship, respect, and competition. The host invited Dr. Gábor Schmidt, Deputy State Secretary for Sport of the State Secretariat for Sports – Ministry of Defence, to the stage. He welcomed everyone to Budapest and thanked the National Event Management Agency and the Hungarian Chess Federation for their dedicated work organizing this event. “Chess is extraordinary because it teaches strategic thinking that not only helps in competitions, but also in facing everyday life’s challenges. I sincerely hope that thanks to the Chess Olympiad, more people—young and old—will sit together at the chessboard, learn, and use this common language more than ever,” said Dr. Gábor Schmidt. After the Hungarian national anthem was played, the host invited the next speaker, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich. The FIDE President extended his gratitude to the hosts and officials who have worked tirelessly to make this event possible and to the players whose dedication brings the beauty of chess to life. He concluded with the words: “May this Olympiad stand as a testament to the enduring spirit of chess, and may Budapest 2024 be remembered for many generations to come! Good luck to each and every one of you. I now declare the 45th Chess Olympiad officially open!” The highlight of the ceremony was the torch relay, making its final stop in Budapest and lighting the Olympiad cauldron. The video showed the long route it took around the world. The torch relay started in India, the host of the previous Olympiad, and visited 11 more countries along its way: Canada, Colombia, France, Georgia, Ghana, Kazakhstan, Morocco, New Zealand, Romania, Switzerland, and UAE. The final seconds of the video showed the brilliant Judit Polgar, the strongest female chess player of all time, marching through the streets of Budapest in stunning red, holding the torch high and proud. The video ended with Judit appearing in the opening ceremony hall to the awe of the audience, bringing the torch to the stage. She lit the cauldron, marking the end of the torch’s long journey and the start of the Olympiad. A moment later, Judit’s two legendary sisters, Susan and Sofia Polgar, entered the stage to draw lots for the color of pieces for the top teams. Chief Arbiter Ivan Syrovy pointed them to the gigantic Rubik’s cubes, a famous invention of Hungarian sculptor Ernő Rubik. Inside each were two smaller cubes, and they had to choose one. Both Susan, for the Open section, and Sofia, for the Women’s section, ended up getting the ones with the black color inside. Thus, the top teams in both tournaments will start their first-round games with the black pieces. By the way, every participant of the Olympiad received a colorful Rubik’s cube as a souvenir from the organizers, along with their accreditation badge. The President of the Hungarian Chess Federation, Dr. Zoltan Polyanszky, spoke next. He thanked FIDE and the Hungarian Government for their support and addressed the age-old question: What is chess? Is it art, sport, or science? He said, “I went to the venue of the Olympiad and saw all those chess tables set there. I imagined that approximately 1,500 people would sit there in silence and full concentration, ready to give their all, and this was when I was convinced that chess is, in fact, a religion!” At the pinnacle of the ceremony, Rose May and Raul performed the official song of the 45th Chess Olympiad, “Trojan War.” You can watch the video of this blockbuster chess song on YouTube. The ceremony concluded with a beautiful video tribute to all the countries participating in this year’s edition, as their names and flags were shown one after another, accompanied by more songs by Lilla and Jason. As the music faded and the list of nations ended, it was time to return to the hotels and prepare for the games that start tomorrow, September 11, at 3 PM local time. Written by WGM Anna Burtasova Photos: Michal Walusza Official website: chessolympiad2024.fide.com
Tech Mahindra and FIDE strengthen partnership for 45th Chess Olympiad
India/Hungary, September 10, 2024: Tech Mahindra (NSE: TECHM), a leading global provider of technology consulting and digital solutions to enterprises across industries, announced its association with the 45th Chess Olympiad by FIDE (International Chess Federation) as the General Sponsor, which is set to take place from September 10 to 23 in Budapest, Hungary. The Olympiad, one of the biggest sporting events globally, will have 196 teams competing in the Open Section and 184 teams in the Women’s Section. The 45th Chess Olympiad is notable for having the largest participating teams ever and a record-breaking number of women’s teams. In addition, Tech Mahindra and FIDE have been revolutionizing the historic game through various initiatives over the years. One such initiative is the Global Chess League, a unique joint venture with FIDE launched in 2023. The inaugural season, held in Dubai, was a resounding success, featuring top players from across the globe. Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President, said, “Our association with Tech Mahindra has been instrumental in advancing chess, and we’re excited to extend this partnership to the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest. Tech Mahindra’s contributions, from pioneering next-generation digital experiences to launching the Global Chess League, have been vital in the rapid rise of chess over the years. We are looking forward to an exciting tournament, and together, with Tech Mahindra, we’re set to take chess to new heights.” The highly anticipated second season of the Global Chess League is scheduled to take place at Friends House in London from October 3 to 12, 2024. Six franchises – Alpine SG Pipers, Ganges Grandmasters, Mumba Masters, PBG Alaskan Knights, Triveni Continental Kings, and American Gambits – have assembled strong squads at the recently held Player Draft in Delhi. Peeyush Dubey, Chief Marketing Officer, Tech Mahindra, said, “The 44th Olympiad received an incredible response, showcasing India’s growing influence in chess. We’re delighted to strengthen our partnership with FIDE for the upcoming 45th edition in Budapest. Technological advancements have played a pivotal role in the global expansion of chess, and we’re committed to furthering its reach worldwide through initiatives like the Global Chess League and the development of next-gen digital fan experiences. Our best wishes to all the teams participating in the Olympiad.” The Global Chess League will set benchmarks for tech innovations in the sport as Tech Mahindra will explore unique fan engagements to promote the game, particularly across London and UK by leveraging next-generation technologies such as AI, Metaverse, AR/VR, among others. About the FIDE Chess Olympiad The 45th Chess Olympiad is being organized by the Nemzeti Rendezvényszervező Ügynökség Nonprofit Zrt (Hungarian National Events Organizing Agency) in collaboration with the Hungarian Chess Federation and FIDE. The event will run from September 10 to 23, featuring a variety of free chess activities and programming at the BOK Csarnok venue. The tournament will be broadcast live with expert commentary. Organizers will also host numerous additional programs and side events, including the exhibition dedicated to the 100-year anniversary of FIDE. Children new to chess can learn the basics in a fun environment through the famous Judit Polgár Chess Palace program, while more experienced players can explore the latest trends in chess and browse a selection of specialist literature available for purchase. All expo programming is free of charge. About Tech Mahindra Tech Mahindra (NSE: TECHM) offers technology consulting and digital solutions to global enterprises across industries, enabling transformative scale at unparalleled speed. With 147,000+ professionals across 90+ countries helping 1100+ clients, TechM provides a full spectrum of services, including consulting, information technology, enterprise applications, business process services, engineering services, network services, customer experience & design, AI & analytics, and cloud & infrastructure services. It is the first Indian company in the world to have been awarded the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Terra Carta Seal, in recognition of actively leading the charge to create a climate and nature-positive future. Tech Mahindra is part of the Mahindra Group, founded in 1945, one of the largest and most admired multinational federation of companies. For more information on how TechM can partner with you to meet your Scale at Speed™ imperatives, please visit https://www.techmahindra.com/ Our Social Media Channels: For more information on Tech Mahindra, please contact: Abhilasha Gupta, Head – Global Corporate Communications & Public Affairs, Tech Mahindra Email: Abhilasha.Gupta@TechMahindra.com; media.relations@techmahindra.com
C.07 Play-Off and Tie-Break Rules revised
FIDE Technical Commission is pleased to announce a revision to the C.07 Play-Off and Tie-Break rules, effective from 1 August 2024. These revisions, requested by the ARB, aim to simplify the language, clarify the regulations, and ensure uniform application across all chess tournaments. We extend our gratitude to the FIDE Technical Commission SPP Department, led by Mr. Roberto Ricca, for their diligent efforts. For a detailed overview of the changes, please click here. Should you have any inquiries or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact FIDE TEC at secretary.tec@fide.com.
Chess Palace, exhibitions and amateur competitions at 45th Chess Olympiad
Chess Olympiad, the largest global chess event, will be hosted this year by Budapest between 10 and 23 September. Legendary players and rising stars will come together to compete. Hosted by the BOK Sports and Conference Centre, the Olympiad will offer an array of satellite events. The Judit Polgár Chess Foundation will take you on a special adventure to its Chess Palace, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) will present its 100-year history in an exhibition, and you can participate in competitions, a chess quiz and more, organized by the Hungarian Chess Federation. Chess enthusiasts and those who are just getting to know this sport can take part in the events of the 45th Chess Olympiad for free. The venue is the BOK Sports and Conference Centre, open on competition days, games are scheduled between 3 pm and 9 pm. Attendance is free, but there is limited audience capacity: visitors can watch the games of the Olympiad from the stands, but on-the-spot registration is required. In order not to disturb the games and the players, no electronic devices are allowed on the stands. The grand opening ceremony is on 10 September, and the games of the Olympiad start on 11 September. The opening ceremony will be an event worthy of the Olympiad. Lilla Vincze, the Hungarian singer from the band Napoleon Boulevard, and French pianist, singer and composer Jason Kouchak will perform together. Kouchak is known for his work and charitable activities globally, from the UK to France, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong. Their chess-themed song will premiere at the opening ceremony of the 45th Chess Olympiad. The song Royal Game draws inspiration from chess games and speaks about human relationships and the games we play in those. Besides Royal Game, Lilla Vincze and Jason Kouchak will sing songs in three languages, in Hungarian, in English and in French to highlight the cultural diversity of the chess community. It’s no coincidence that they sing about chess: Jason Kouchak is an amateur chess player, and while he does not take part in competitions, chess plays a central role in his life. Royal Game will not be the only premiere at the opening ceremony, the official song of the Chess Olympiad will also be performed live for the first time. The song Trojan War was created by Rose May and Raul in a songwriting camp organized by Artisjus and zeneszöveg.hu. This way the opening ceremony will be an event where various cultures and nations, and also various generations can come together. Only players competing at the Olympiad and the press can attend the opening ceremony, but there will be a number of exciting events for the general public. From 11 September, the EXPO in Hall C will offer free events and activities. You can watch the games live on a screen and listen to experts analysing the key games from the previous day. In addition to the events, there will be several exhibitors with chess-related stands, including Women in Chess and DGT. At DGT, you can check out the state-of-the-art chessboards with Bluetooth functionality that competitors also use. If you would like to buy some special merchandise as a keepsake from the 45th Chess Olympiad, you can do that, too. The Judit Polgar Chess Foundation will invite children and adults to the magical world of the Chess Palace. This is a project of the greatest ever female chess player, Judit Polgár, where you can explore a fantasy chess world and its inhabitants. You can also get the autograph of the Polgár ladies, Zsuzsa, Zsófia and Judit. The International Chess Federation (FIDE) is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. An exhibition will mark this special occasion at the Chess Olympiad, with highlights from the past 100 years of the federation and the chess community. FIDE is also bringing an urban installation, Capture, with photos of people playing chess from around the world. You can visit the exhibition in Vigadó Square between 17 and 22 September. FIDE will have several conferences and seminars at the event. For further information, please visit fide.com/news/3189 The Hungarian Chess Federation is also offering a number of events and activities at the Olympiad. You can take part in a walkabout chess quiz, enrol in competitions and watch the simultaneous displays at the event. Further information: chess.hu/tovabbi-esemenyek/ The 45th Chess Olympiad is organized by the National Event Management Agency, in cooperation with the Hungarian Chess Federation and the International Chess Federation.
Official Swiss Team Pairing System rules announced
Dear Members, We are excited to announce the official Swiss Team Pairing System rules, set to take effect on 1 August 2024. The newly established rules, detailed in the Basic Rules for Swiss Systems (C.04.1) and the General Handling Rules for Swiss Tournaments (C.04.2.A, C.04.2.C, C.04.2.D), have traditionally been applied to individual competitions. Now, these rules have been thoughtfully adapted for team events. Notably, articles 6 and 7 from the Basic Rules are excluded from application to teams due to the unique nature of team compositions, which can be adjusted between rounds. This flexibility ensures a balanced distribution of White and Black pieces across teams, diminishing the significance of piece color compared to individual competitions. The adaptation allows for different team formats, where some tournaments may disregard the importance of piece color altogether, while others may maintain a lesser but still relevant consideration. Moreover, Article 2 of the General Handling Rules, which deals with the initial order of teams, has been intentionally omitted. Determining team strength involves multiple complex factors, thus each competition may define the initial team order based on its specific regulations. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the FIDE Technical Commission SPP Department, under the guidance of Mr. Roberto Ricca, for pioneering these essential rules for Swiss Team Tournaments. For any inquiries or additional information, please do not hesitate to contact FIDE TEC at secretary.tec@fide.com.
2025 World Cup qualification quotas updated
The key changes for the 2025 edition include an updated distribution of continental spots based on 2024 ratings FIDE has updated the qualification quotas for the 2025 World Cup, and the Women’s World Cup – one of the most important global chess events, next to the Olympiad and the World Championship matches. “The World Cup represents a flagship event for FIDE, and each cycle, we carefully consider changes and adjustments. The final distribution of continental spots was determined after the ECU and ACC used their rights (described in the Rules: World Cup – Art 2.1.VII; Women’s World Cup – Art 2.1.VI) and transferred numbers of Olympiad spots to their Continental Events,” said Grandmaster Pavel Tregubov, secretary of FIDE’s Global Strategy Commission. “It should be noted that in the Open section of the Olympiad, only 80 teams will gain Olympiad spots for their federations, as the number of spots is reduced accordingly. Particularly, Europe will get 11 fewer Olympiad spots, and Americas – 9 fewer Olympiad spots. In the Women’s section of the Olympiad, 35 teams instead of 50 will gain Olympiad spots”, he added. For the World Cup, the number of players who can qualify remains the same – 206 – but the allocation of spots has changed, reflecting the new ratings and standings as of January 2024. Africa now has three spots, while the Americas have 21. Europe is on 41, while Asia is on 35. The nominations by FIDE President have increased from three to four. For the Women’s World Cup, the continental spots distribution has been adjusted based on updated rating lists. A slight modification in the number of spots has been made: Europe will now have 21 spots and Asia 20. Additionally, nominations by the FIDE President have increased from one to two. Final Distribution of Qualification Spots for Continental Events SPOTS Africa Americas Asia Europe World Cup Granted 3 3 3 3 Top 8 juniors 0 0 6 2 Top 60 players 0 9 26 25 Transferred Olympiad spots – 9 – 11 TOTAL 3 21 35 41 Women’s World Cup Granted 3 3 3 3 Top 4 girls 0 0 4 0 Top 23 players 0 0 13 10 Transferred Olympiad spots – 7 – 8 TOTAL 3 10 20 21 Qualification regulations can be found here: World Cuphandbook.fide.com/files/handbook/QualificationForWorldCup2025.pdf Women’s World Cup:handbook.fide.com/files/handbook/QualificationForWomenWorldCup2025.pdf For any questions and further information, please contact the Global Strategy Commission – gsc@fide.com
Rising stars and “veterans”: 2024 Women’s Olympiad preview
By WGM Anna Burtasova The Women’s Chess Olympiad, like the Open section, will set a participation record this year with 184 teams registered, compared to 162 in Chennai in 2022. Several women’s teams, including Liechtenstein, Guernsey, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, the US Virgin Islands, St. Lucia, and the Cayman Islands, will make their debut. The top teams from the last edition—Ukraine, Georgia, and India—are among the favorites in Budapest as well. According to the average rating of their rosters, the top teams are India (2467), Georgia (2462), Poland (2422), China (2416), and Ukraine (2400). India’s lineup is a mix of experienced players and young stars. In the absence of Humpy Koneru, who played in 2022, the team is led by Harika Dronavalli, participating in her 10th Olympiad. Harika debuted for the national team in 2004 and hasn’t missed an Olympiad since, playing on the first board six times. Her teammates include youngsters Vaishali R, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal, and seasoned player Tania Sachdev, who has been on the national team since 2008. Indian chess is on the rise, and it’s time for them to shine. The Indian women have never been Olympic rating favorites before and have only one bronze medal, won at home in Chennai in 2022. Georgia, on the other hand, is a traditional chess superpower with nine medals in total (four gold, two silver, three bronze), the latest being silver in 2022 in a close contest with champions Ukraine. However, Georgia’s gold medals were won in the 90s, with the team still led by the legendary Nona Gaprindashvili, and the latest in 2008, with another legend, Maia Chiburdanidze, on board one. It’s time for their successors to remind us of Georgia’s women’s chess phenomenon. The lineup includes well-known names: Nana Dzagnidze, Lela Javakhishvili, Nino Batsiashvili, Bella Khotenashvili, and Salome Melia. For all of them, this is not their first or even second Olympiad, and they are eager to finally win the gold. Their task, as well as that of defending champions Ukraine, won’t be easy. Recent years have marked a generational shift in chess, and both Georgia and Ukraine are full of “veterans.” For example, Dzagnidze’s first Olympiad was in 2004. For Ukraine, another problem is the absence of the Muzychuk sisters. Without two of the world’s top-10 players, it will be difficult to fight for the top spot, yet the team of Yuliia Osmak is rated #5 in the starting list. The lineup continues with Anna Ushenina, Nataliya Buksa, Inna Gaponenko, and Evgeniya Doluhanova. The trump card for the Ukrainians is their spirit. They have proven that they can deliver surprises against all odds, so even a quest for gold is not completely out of the question. Apart from the up-and-coming India, China has made a bet on a new generation and is bringing in a very young squad. All four top players—Hou Yifan, Ju Wenjun, Tan Zhongyi, and Lei Tingjie—are missing the tournament. Instead, the country that holds the Olympic medal record, having made it to the podium 14 times, more than the Soviet Union, presents a team of emerging talents: 21-year-old Zhu Jiner, 14-year-old Lu Miaoyi, 19-year-old Song Yuxin, 29-year-old Guo Qi, and 27-year-old Ni Shiqun. Lu Miaoyi (pictured below) was mentioned by Tan Zhongyi in her post-Candidates interview as the greatest rising star. She’s already rated 2438 and is #31 in the women’s rating list. Born into a chess family, her mother, WGM Xu Yuanyuan, introduced her to chess at three and started formal training with her at the age of seven. The performance of this team will definitely attract a lot of attention, and rightly so. After the pandemic years, the young Chinese talents are still relatively unknown and are very likely to cause a sensation in Budapest. Reinforced by Alina Kashlinskaya and Aleksandra Maltsevskaya, who changed federations, Poland’s team is starting historically high at the third spot. Kashlinskaya proved her great form coming out of maternity leave by clinching the Tbilisi FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in August. The matriarch of Polish chess, Monika Socko, has been a constant in the Polish team since 1994. Blend in Oliwia Kiolbasa, who scored the best individual performance at the previous Olympiad (9.5/11 with a 2565 performance rating), and young talent Alicja Śliwicka, and you get a team that will be fighting for their first Olympic gold this year. The scene for the team competition is set, but let’s not forget about individual performances. Among the players to follow are many bright personalities, like Bodhana Sivanandan, who’s playing for England at 9 years old, or 80-year-old WIM Rani Hamid from Bangladesh, who is a 20-time national champion and started playing chess at 34, or WIM Natasha Morales Santos, a visually impaired player leading the team of Puerto Rico. In anticipation of the great chess spectacle starting on September 10, you can check the participating teams here: Chess-Results – 45th Chess Olympiad Budapest 2024. Photos: Lennart Ootes, Madelene Belinki, Mark Livshitz and Stev Bonhage
Exciting format changes announced for 2024 World Rapid & Blitz Championships
FIDE is pleased to announce a significant format change for the 2024 World Rapid & Blitz Championships, scheduled to take place in New York, Wall Street, from December 26 to 31, 2024. This year’s event will introduce a new knockout structure for the Blitz Championship, along with the addition of a free day between the championships, will serve as a media day and host the prestigious Chess Davos conference, bringing together the worlds of chess and finance. Blitz Championship: New Swiss-Knockout Format In a major shift from the traditional structure, the 2024 World Blitz Championship will be decided through a two-stage format. The first stage will follow the familiar Swiss system, consisting of 13 rounds for the open section and 11 rounds for the women’s section, with a time control of 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment per move. The top eight players from this stage will qualify for the knockout phase. The knockout stage will feature four-game matches, allowing players to have ample fighting opportunities, and giving viewers a show that will keep them on the edge of their seats. Speaking about the changes, FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky said: “This year, FIDE adjusted the format, and the Blitz Championship will be decided in the KO. This is not only much more exciting but also will allow for the direct match-ups of the strongest players to decide the winners. The Blitz format allows for the matches of four games to be played at each stage of the KO, whilst a long-enough qualifier with eight spots reduces the role of chance. Oftentimes, there is a trade-off between objective merit and attractiveness – here, we will have both. FIDE is already in talks with several networks, and we believe this format would ideally suit for TV broadcast.” Media Day & Chess Davos The free day on December 29 will serve as both a media day and the occasion for “Chess Davos”, a unique chess and finance conference. The media day is designed to offer press outlets access to interviews, behind-the-scenes insights, and other content that will enrich the broadcast experience for fans worldwide. These changes ensure that the 2024 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships will be not only a gathering of top chess players but also a spectacle for media and fans. The knockout format for Blitz promises to create high-stakes drama while maintaining fairness, allowing the top eight players to battle it out in direct competition. This is one of the most anticipated events in the chess calendar, and whether attending in person or following via broadcast, chess fans are in for an extraordinary experience. Further details and ticket information will be released soon. Stay tuned for more updates as we count down to the grand event.