WSCC-2022: Kosteniuk beat Stefanova to reach quarterfinals
In the battle of former Women’s World Champions, GM Alexandra Kosteniuk defeated GM Antoaneta Stefanova in the second round of 16 match of the FIDE Chess.com 2022 Women’s Speed Chess Championship by a score of 15.5-10.5. Alexandra was quicker and more collected in most of the time-scrambles and deservedly punched her ticket to the quarterfinals. Kosteniuk took a slow start in the first 5+1 segment of the match, falling behind, but then picked up momentum and scored three straight wins to secure a two-point lead heading into the next stage. The 3+1 stage saw Kosteniuk stretch her lead to six points, getting the upper hand in the most chaotic, time-pressure situations. Somewhat surprisingly, Stefanova won the final, the fastest 1+1 segment of the match but did not manage to overcome a huge point deficit. “It was a very long match, and I find it difficult to keep the same level of concentration throughout the match. I was already tired after the first stage, so it is quite difficult to analyze right now. I need some time to rest and then I can go over the games. Of course, I am happy to win,” said Alexandra in a short interview with GM Irina Krush and Jennifer Shahade after the match. The third round of 16 match, GM Kateryna Lagno vs. WGM Vantika Agrawal, begins on Friday, June 24, at 5 a.m. Pacific / 14:00 Central European. To follow the FIDE Chess.com Women’s Speed Chess Championship, watch a live broadcast of the event with expert commentary on Chess.com/TV and Chess.com Twitch Channel. More info and a full schedule of the FIDE Chess.com Women’s Speed Chess Championship can be found here.
FIDE Introduces Torch Relay Tradition into Chess Olympiads
June 21, 2022 — LAUSANNE, Switzerland — The International Chess Federation (FIDE), the chess governing body, held its inaugural Torch Relay ceremony this week in India, initiated by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich. The ceremony gave the start to the 2022 Chess Olympiad as well as to the new chess tradition. Held in Chennai from July 28 to August 10, 2022, this prestigious competition, which has been organized since 1927, is being hosted in India for the first time. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, believes that chess fans, and the sports community in general, will appreciate the introduction of this new tradition: “Chess is one of the oldest sports in the world, and its traditions are centuries old. We have the privilege of adding an important tradition to the chess heritage so that more people who love chess will have a way to connect with the sport. It’s also hugely important to the chess players who dedicate their lives to the sport — they are true athletes, and taking part in the Torch Relay ceremony means a lot to them,” Dvorkovich said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during the inaugural ceremony: “Our ancestors invented games like chaturanga or chess for analytical and problem-solving brains. Chess, via India, reached many countries of the world and became very popular. Today, chess is being used in schools as an educational tool for young people, for children.” In ancient Greece, a sacred fire was kept burning throughout the celebration of the ancient Olympics on the altar of the sanctuary of Hestia. The fire had divine connotations, and it was thought to have been stolen from the gods by Prometheus. Sacred fires were present at many ancient Greek sanctuaries, including those at Olympia. The Olympic flame as a symbol of the modern Olympic movement was introduced in the 1928 Summer Games in Amsterdam by architect Jan Wils, designer of the Olympic Stadium. It received a warm welcome, and very soon, the flame became a symbol of the Olympic message of peace, friendship, tolerance and hope. The inaugural edition of the Chess Olympiad Torch Relay will only travel through India, but in future editions, it will be expanded to the entire world, in line with the traditions of the Olympic Games. It will travel across all continents, visiting FIDE member territories, ultimately culminating in the host country and city ahead of the opening of the Chess Olympiad. During the next weeks, the torch will travel across 75 cities and regions in India, covering a total distance of 23,000 kilometers – more than half the circumference of Earth. The flame will be carried by thousands of torch bearers, including at least 50 chess Grandmasters and chief ministers who will take part in the journey. It will send a strong message of unity and cooperation among people from all walks of life. As of 2022, FIDE will recommend planning official Torch Relay Ceremonies for all Chess Olympiad organizers, including the 2024 Olympiad that will take place in Budapest, Hungary. Photo: All-India Chess Federation
FIDE President on Nigel Short’s resignation as FIDE Vice President
I learned with deep regret about Mr Short’s decision to resign from the position of Vice President today. I would like to note that all these years, Nigel has worked tirelessly to promote chess on all continents. Thanks to his efforts, the FIDE family has been expanded by several new federations. Often the fruits of his dedicated work were to be appreciated only years later. As an example – thanks to his efforts, the long-standing conflict in the Pakistani Chess Federation began to be resolved, ending with legitimate elections in June 2022. I am sincerely glad that in 2018 Nigel agreed to accept my nomination as the Vice President of FIDE. Several more candidates from his 2018 ticket currently work in the FIDE Council and make a significant contribution to our common duties. I would like to highlight Nigel’s organizational and leadership abilities, as well as to reinstate that his intentions have always been consistent with the mission of FIDE. Nigel’s decision is open and sincere, perhaps even a little emotional and related to the decision of EDC, but I believe that Nigel will continue his mission and agree with my proposal to find the right format for our joint work for the benefit of chess. Arkady DvorkovichFIDE President
3rd Preparation of Teachers course announced
FIDE and its Chess in Education Commission are pleased to announce the third Preparation of Teachers course. The course will be held in the English language online from July 01-03, 15:00-20:00 CET each day. The target audience is teachers with good chess basics knowledge and experience working with children. It is recommended that you have at least a level of B1 in English. Candidates for this course should have experience teaching in school and at least some knowledge of pedagogy, psychology and chess basics (how the pieces move, including articles 1-5 of the Laws of Chess – FIDE Handbook E.01 – is enough). Successful candidates will obtain the FIDE title of School Instructor. School Instructors introduce school students to the basic chess rules to improve their educational and social level and to broaden the base of chess players worldwide. They are not trying to create masters or grandmasters. It is a 3-day (15 hours) course with 2-3 breaks each day that will help develop participants’ knowledge and skills in educational chess, help them find new digital tools and platforms for online learning, and get ideas on the application of important pedagogical approaches to the teaching process of chess basics. The last hour of the course will be devoted to an exam (multiple choice questions) with a pass mark of 65 %. Candidates who achieve the pass mark will qualify for the FIDE title of School Instructor, subject to paying the title fee of €50. FIDE Chess in Education Titles are awarded for life and can only be suspended or revoked by a decision of the FIDE Ethics & Disciplinary Commission or FIDE Council, while an EDU Licence is a certification by FIDE and EDU of current proficiency to teach at the indicated level of the awarded FIDE EDU title. Chess in Education Titles, when awarded, include a three (3) year licence. Renewal of the licence requires the completion of a renewal course. During the final six months of the validity of the licence, a title-holder may renew the licence for a further three-year period to run from the end date of the current licence by following the normal procedure and paying the appropriate fees (currently €50). Here is the course description in more detail: https://cloud.fide.com/s/3PqzaH2eRGRoSb7 Candidates who wish to attend the course must complete and return the Registration Form The cut-off date for applications is June 29. However, please note that applicants are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and the absolute maximum number of places on the course is 30. Those who are ‘late’ will be placed on a waiting list and thus be at the head of the queue for the following course. Candidates must also pay the course fee of €100 by June 30 at the latest. Candidates should note that several pre-course emails will be sent to them containing links to material that they will be expected to be familiar with. These will generally be sent out starting on June 25, so those who leave applications until the last minute are likely to find themselves at a disadvantage.
2022 Candidates, Round 3: The calm before the storm
Ahead of the rest day, all four games in the third round of the 2022 Candidates finished with a draw Following three rounds of the Candidates, Fabiano Caruana and Ian Nepomniachtchi are in the lead with two points. Behind them are Duda, Firouzja, Rapport and Nakamura on 1.5. They are followed by Teimour Radjabov and Ding Liren with one point. While some of the Candidates may not be happy with their performance today, they all achieved an important goal: not to go into a free day with a defeat hanging over their heads. Despite all games ending in calm waters, it wasn’t smooth sailing in all of them. Teimour Radjabov and Ian Nepomniachtchi were the first to finish, splitting a point after nearly two hours of play. In a familiar line of the Catalan, Radjabov, playing as White, opted for massive exchanges, leading to an even position. Nepomniachtchi had a solid defence, and after a few courteous moves, the two agreed on a draw in a rook endgame. It seems that both sides welcomed the result. For Radjabov, it was an important break ahead of the rest day. After surviving a surprise attack by the aggressive young lion Firouzja in the first round, then suffering a loss to Nakamura in the second, he needed a break. With one point out of three games, he is still not out of the race for the top. Nepomniachtchi also had reasons to be content: with 1.5 points in two very difficult games, a draw as Black ahead of the rest day was a satisfying result, especially as he finished round three as one of the two leaders in the tournament. The world’s second highest-rated player Ding Liren let a victory slip away against Richard Rapport in the Grünfeld. Following Rapport’s decision to sacrifice the exchange early in the game, Ding managed to gain an advantage. It wasn’t overwhelming, but White was clearly better. Moreover, after Rapport’s mistake on move 21, Ding dug up the strongest 22.Kf1, for which Chess.com commentator IM Daniel Rensch called him a ‘machine’. However, he then failed to find a clear-cut path to victory on the next move and allowed Black to make a lucky escape with a draw. The disappointment was obvious on the face of the Chinese player, who quickly left the playing hall after the game. Many see Ding as one of the favourites, but in the first three games – with two draws and a loss – he has not demonstrated the level of play and creativity he is renowned for. As for Rapport – he goes to the rest day with 1.5/3. Having blundered a victory in the second round and saving a lost game in the third, he should probably hope that the rest day will help him stabilise his performance. The game between American Fabiano Caruana and Jan-Krzysztof Duda of Poland was played until only the kings were left on the board. The American played the English attack in the Najdorf variation of the Sicilian, a line he is known to be one of the best experts. Still, that didn’t show on the board as Duda got a slightly better endgame and had more chances to play for a win. However, Caruana defended accurately and ensured the game ended with a draw. Caruana probably isn’t very happy with a draw with white pieces in a line he knows well, but with two points out of three games, he is in the shared first place. The Polish superstar Jan-Krzysztof Duda also has no reason to be disappointed, having played strongly in all three games and showing his teeth to more experienced players. The most anticipated game of the day was between the 19-year-old superstar Alireza Firouzja and the unlikely qualifier for the Candidates, Hikaru Nakamura. It was the first time the two had played a classical game, and it was the first time in the tournament that Firouzja was leading white pieces (having played with Black in both of the first two games). Firouzja managed to surprise Nakamura in the Nimzo-Indian and got a very promising endgame. Although on the back foot, the American defended himself well and, despite some imprecisions, managed to find the right moves when it mattered the most. Firouzja’s determination to push until the very end is proven by the fact that only the two kings and a knight remained on the board when a draw was agreed upon after five hours of play. In the three rounds so far, both Firouzja and Nakamura showed resilience. Their score of 1.5/3 means that they are in a solid position for the rest of the tournament. Here follows a closer look at the games from Round 3 of the Candidates. Ding Liren vs Richard Rapport: The great escape The history of the encounters between Ding and Rapport suggests the two are evenly matched. They have played ten times before in classical games, with seven ending in a draw and Ding leading Rapport 2:1 in victories. In Madrid, Ding was on the brink of extending that lead, but he didn’t. In the Grünfeld, White (Ding) got more initiative in the centre but was exposed to attacks from Black’s heavy pieces. In a familiar line, Rapport opted for the rarer move 14…Qd6, with the idea of offering an exchange of queens, which would help Black attack the pawns. Ding rightly refused to trade the queens and then started with an advance on the kingside with the h4 move, which would prove to be very important in the later stage of the game. Rapport responded with a natural 17…Rfd8, but 18.Bg5! came as a highly unpleasant surprise for Black. Rapport opted to sacrifice an exchange by playing 18…Nxd4, hoping that his bishops pair plus an extra pawn was enough of a compensation. It was not the case, though, as after a subtle 22.Kf1 by Ding, Rapport captured on e2 with his knight and found himself on the verge of defeat. Surprisingly (given that Ding spent a lot
2022 Candidates, Round 2: A day of missed chances
On a day of draws, Hikaru Nakamura staged a recovery with a victory over Teimour Radjabov The second day of the 2022 Candidates saw just one game ending with a victory and three draws. Following a loss in the opening round, American Hikaru Nakamura made a recovery and beat Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan, scoring a victory after six and a half hours of play. In the Ruy Lopez, White (Nakamura) got a slightly better position after Black failed to find the optimal moves in the opening. White gradually increased pressure on his opponent, who was constantly on the back foot. Most likely, it would not have been enough for a victory had Radjabov not given up a pawn on the move 35. The rest of the game was not a smooth sail for Hikaru, but his patience and determination eventually paid off. After his loss in round one, this is an important victory for Nakamura as it helps him secure a good place early on in the tournament. The most anticipated game of the day, the duel between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Fabiano Caruana, ended in a draw. The two are the only tournament participants to have won the Candidates once already and are the only players who started with victories in round one. In the Italian Game, Caruana, playing with black pieces, stunned his opponent with a well-prepared surprise early on in the opening. Facing Caruana’s bombshell, Nepomniachtchi did not lose heart – he sacrificed a pawn and skilfully defended in a very complicated position. Still, in the end, the computer said Black had a sizable advantage. Caruana, however, either couldn’t see it or disliked the complications. After 33 moves, the two agreed to a draw. Nepomniachtchi and Caruana enter round three as the leaders, with 1.5/2. In another Italian Game, the duel between Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Ding Liren also ended in a draw. The Polish player had a slight edge throughout the game, but Ding managed to place his pieces well enough to prevent White from making progress. After careful manoeuvering on both sides, a draw was agreed on move 41. Following a devastating loss in the first round, a draw with black pieces will surely help the world’s second highest-rated player Ding Liren stabilize. As for Duda, he started the tournament with two draws and had chances in both games, so it remains to be seen if he can keep the flame going. Today was a special day for Alireza Firouzja, who celebrated his 19th birthday. The youngest player of the Candidates might not be happy with how he played, but he has all the reasons to celebrate after saving a lost endgame against Richard Rapport. After two rounds, Fabiano Caruana and Ian Nepomniachtchi lead the field with 1.5/2, followed by four players on one point: Rapport, Firouzja, Duda and Nakamura. World number two, Ding Liren and Teimour Radjabov are on half a point. Here follows a deeper look at the games from the first round of the 2022 Candidates tournament. Richard Rapport vs Alireza Firouzja: A lucky save by the birthday boy It was a special day for Alireza Firouzja as the youngest player of the Candidates turned 19. For some time, the eyes of the chess world have been on the young French superstar, whom many are comparing to Fischer. However, the special birthday mood did not reflect on the board as he struggled as Black against the innovative Richard Rapport. Despite this, Firouzja ended the day with a good reason to celebrate, having saved a lost endgame. In a rare Chekhover variation of the Sicilian, Rapport quickly exchanged his light-squared bishop for a knight, avoiding sharp lines and entering a calm, balanced position with a slightly better pawn structure for White (similar to one Rapport had as black against Duda in game one). White did a better job in the ensuing manoeuvering play and got a slight edge. By move 32, the two entered a rook endgame, but this was when Firouzja committed a grave mistake – 32….Ra1, allowing Black to capture on c6 and then double his rooks along the seventh rank. By move 37, White was completely winning, but then it was Rapport’s turn to err. He could have given a check on g7, followed by an exchange of a pair of rooks, leading to a supported free runner down the e-file and at the same time pinning Black’s d-pawn. Instead, he played 38.Ke4 (see a diagram below), giving some breathing space to Firouzja, who was defending well. Rapport couldn’t find the winning plan, and after 47.Rg6, he dropped the rest of his advantage, and the position was even. Firouzja then returned the favour with 51…Re7?, but Rapport did not accept the gift (52.Kf5! was winning) and opted for 52.b4, leading to a forced draw. Finally, on the move 60, the two sides agreed to split a point. That was a lucky save by Firouzja. Hikaru Nakamura vs Teimour Radjabov: Imprecision and pressure In the Ruy Lopez, Nakamura played d3 and denied Radjabov a chance to enter the main line of the Berlin Defence. Radjabov opted for a rare continuation (5…Nd4) where Black has to make several moves with a bishop in the centre. However, he spent significantly more time in the opening, suggesting he was out of the book. The price of this was soon felt on the board as Nakamura created a strong edge: Black had doubled pawns and a pawn on d7, which was blocking the development of his c8 bishop. Radjabov opted to sacrifice a pawn by playing d7-d5 to complete development and unlock the potential of his bishop pair. Having a 60-minute advantage, Nakamura gradually simplified the position: he returned the pawn and exchanged the queens but managed to place his rook in the Black’s back rank and put his knight on d4, towering over the board. The computer said the position was equal, but Radjabov had five minutes on seven moves to reach the first time control. Nakamura kept his cool:
Winners crowned at Prague Chess Festival 2022
The fourth edition of the Prague Chess Festival is in the books. The event, held in several sections and financially supported by FIDE Aid Package, took place from 8–17 June 2022 in the capital of the Czech Republic. The Prague Chess Festival offered a dramatic spectacle, and the winners were again decided on the last day. In the Masters, a 10-player round-robin with classical time control, Le Quang Liem and Pentala Harikrishna entered the final round a full point ahead of David Navara, Thai Dai Van Nguyen and Sam Shankland. Ironically, the co-leaders were facing Spanish opponents. Liem managed only a draw facing Vallejo Pons with black, while Harikrishna took full advantage of his white pieces to beat David Anton, clinching the title with a solid score of 6½/9. Liem finished second; Thai Dai Van Nguyen took third place thanks to slightly better Sonneborn-Berger over Shankland and Navara. The top 3 finishers completed the event undefeated. Final standings Masters: 1 Harikrishna Pentala IND 2701 6½ 2 Le Quang Liem VIE 2709 6 3 Nguyen Thai Dai Van CZE 2610 5 4 Shankland Sam USA 2718 5 5 Navara David CZE 2681 5 6 Vallejo Pons Francisco ESP 2703 4½ 7 Vidit Santosh Gujrathi IND 2723 4 8 Maghsoodloo Parham IRI 2716 4 9 Salem A.R. Saleh UAE 2679 3 10 Anton Guijarro David ESP 2692 2 The Czech players did not fare well in the previous three editions of the Masters. This year, however, the home fans are happy. Not only will the trophy for the winner remain in Prague (Pentala Harikrishna has been living in the capital for a long time), but the two Czech players performed well and shared third place. The Challengers Tournament saw predators battle it out for a place among the elite and the prospect of advancing to the Masters. Indeed, only nineteen games out of forty-five ended in a split of points. As the tournament progressed, there was an increasingly clear trio of players – Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Vincent Keymer and Hans Moke Niemann – who had the biggest chance to win. By the last round, everything was still open. In the final round, Abdusattorov got into trouble against Slovakian youngster Jergus Pechac who outplayed him with black pieces. It was clear that the World Rapid Champion would fight for a draw in the game. In the end, Nodirbek held the draw, but it was not enough. Hans Moke Niemann and Vincent Keymer had black pieces in their games, but both won, scored 6½/9 each and proceeded into a tiebreaker. The German player achieved an overwhelming position in the first game, and just when it looked like Niemann could save himself in the rook ending, he made a crucial mistake, and black-playing Keymer celebrated his first win. Keymer left nothing to chance in the rematch and ended the game with a symbolic checkmate. After winning 2-0, he is happy with the overall victory and, above all, the ticket to next year’s Masters. Final standings Challengers: 1 Keymer Vincent GER 2675 6½ 2 Niemann Hans Moke USA 2678 6½ 3 Abdusattorov Nodirbek UZB 2661 6 4 Sasikiran Krishnan IND 2635 5 5 Pechac Jergus SVK 2598 4 6 Warmerdam Max NED 2613 4 7 Krzyzanowski Marcin POL 2535 3½ 8 Stocek Jiri CZE 2541 3½ 9 Hracek Zbynek CZE 2564 3 10 Michalik Peter CZE 2577 3 A hallmark of the Prague festival is the Futures Tournament. This year, the organizers once again managed to put together a very interesting lineup of young hopefuls from seven countries. This tournament came down to the wire as well. Kamil Warchol, the overall winner, challenged Atilla Kura in the last round and took the overall victory to Poland with a draw. Pawel Sowinski, also from Poland, joined them on the podium. The best Czech player Jiri Bouška finished just below the podium. Final standings Futures: 1 Warchol Kamil POL 1991 7 2 Kuru Atilla TUR 1949 6½ 3 Sowinski Pawel POL 2066 6½ 4 Bouska Jiri CZE 2191 5½ 5 Bokhnak Timofey CZE 2112 5 6 Kovalskyi Roman UKR 2065 4½ 7 Tolmacevs Artjoms LAT 2032 4 8 Balint Peter AUT 2097 4 9 Zelbova Lada CZE 1980 1½ 10 Peglau Charis GER 2008 ½ Over 300 players took part in the Open tournament with an invitation to the Challengers tournament 2023 at stake. The top seed Alexander Motylev conceded his opponents only two draws and, with a total of eight points, finished a full point ahead of a large group of players tying for the second place. Final standings Open: 1 GM Motylev Alexander FID 2619 8 2 GM Stremavicius Titas LTU 2495 7 3 Kozak Antoni POL 2459 7 4 GM Santiago Yago De Moura BRA 2509 7 5 IM Garriga Cazorla Pere ESP 2495 7 6 GM Petr Martin CZE 2488 7 7 GM Sankalp Gupta IND 2505 7 8 GM Popovic Dusan SRB 2484 7 9 GM Iniyan P IND 2518 7 10 GM Alsina Leal Daniel ESP 2514 7 Official website: praguechessfestival.com Text: Official website Photo: Petr Vrabec and Vladimir Jagr
2022 Candidates Round 1: Confident start for Nepomniachtchi and Caruana
Ian Nepomniachtchi delivered a stunning blow as Black to World No 2 Ding Liren, while Fabiano Caruana scored against compatriot Hikaru Nakamura Fabiano Caruana and Ian Nepomniachtchi are in the lead after the first round of the Candidates, followed by Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Richard Rapport, Teimour Radjabov and Alireza Firouzja, who drew their games, while Hikaru Nakamura and Ding Liren start the tournament with a zero on the scoresheet. The first round of the 2022 Candidates brought excitement as the players in all four games came out swinging. The first game to finish was between the winner of the previous Candidates cycle Ian Nepomniachtchi and the world’s second highest-rated player, Ding Liren. In an exciting game, Nepomniachtchi managed to mount a crushing attack on the white king, forcing the Chinese player to surrender in just 32 moves. The American duel between the four-time Candidates participant Fabiano Caruana and top chess streamer Hikaru Nakamura ended with a victory for White. Despite being surprised in the opening, Nakamura managed to hold his position. In the end, however, it was a one-sided game where it was only a question of when and not if Caruana would win. Similarly to Nakamura, Hungarian Richard Rapport was surprised in the opening as Black against the rising Polish superstar Jan-Krzysztof Duda. Despite the early advantage from the opening, Duda couldn’t find the right path forward, allowing Rapport to gradually consolidate and bring the game to a draw. The duel between the oldest and the youngest participants of the Candidates – Teimour Radjabov (35) and Alireza Firouzja (18) – ended in a draw despite promising to bring the most excitement to the day. Firouzja made a stunning sacrifice of material in the middlegame, threatening to completely throw white pieces into disorder. However, he lost the momentum, and Radjabov’s experience was enough to tame the immense energy of the young Alireza Firouzja. Here follows a deeper look at the games from the first round of the 2022 Candidates tournament. Jan-Krzysztof Duda vs Richard Rapport: A surprise met with endurance With two victories, two draws and a loss in the games with classical time control, Duda had a slight advantage over his opponent, at least when considering their previous encounters. This game brought surprises from move one when Duda played 1.e4. In all their previous games, Duda went for 1.d4 against Rapport. Given that the Hungarian plays various responses to 1.e4, this suggests that Duda has studied Rapport very deeply. Rapport opted for a Sicilian, to which Duda reacted with a new trendy 5.Bf4 line. It immediately seemed that Rapport was caught on the back foot – spending a lot of time thinking about the opening moves. No wonder Rapport made a serious inaccuracy as early as on the move eight with 8…g6. Duda responded with an energetic pawn-thrust c4-c5 that ruined Black’s pawn structure and grabbed the initiative, leaving Rapport thinking for a long time in a sharp unknown position. There was no doubt that the Hungarian wasn’t comfortable with the developments. Following exchanges of heavy pieces down the central files, it was Duda’s time to err. Fearing for his a2-pawn, he naturally recaptured with bishop 16.Bxd1, but that gave Rapport a couple of tempi to complete development. In hindsight, 16.Rxd1, sacrificing a pawn, looks much more menacing for Black. It seemed that inspiration had passed from Duda to Rapport, who was defending with great precision but only up to a certain point. The last critical moment of the game came on move 33. After nearly equalizing, Rapport made a couple of inaccuracies and found himself again in big trouble. However, instead of 33.a4! – creating a permanent weakness on a5 in Black’s camp – Jan-Krzysztof went for the a5-pawn immediately, which wasn’t nearly as dangerous for Rapport. After almost 40 movies, White created a runner on the a-file and had an active pair of bishops, but Black was just in time to control everything and hold his position. The game dragged on, but it was even – with Black preventing White from making any progress on the queenside. After 69 moves and six hours of play, the two opponents agreed on a draw. Rapport is definitely the one who is more satisfied with the outcome, having made a comeback following a weak opening position. Ding Liren vs Ian Nepomniachtchi: The former Challenger delivers Ian Nepomniachtchi, playing with black pieces, delivered a crushing blow to World No 2, Ding Liren, in just 32 moves. It was the first game to finish in the first round. Unlike Nepomniachtchi, who has a recent world championship match experience and has played in other tournaments, Ding Liren hasn’t played in a top-level event for a while. He only qualified for the Candidates at the last moment, after a tournament marathon in China. However, Ding did beat Nepomniachtchi in the last game of the previous Candidates cycle, and he did have the advantage of the white pieces. A rare line of English opening with early 2.g3 and 2…c6 was played. Black’s goal was to build a strong presence in the centre, while White aimed to stop this. The focus of both sides was Black’s advanced e4-pawn, which is key for the whole position: if White wins it, he’ll gain a big advantage; If Black holds it, he’s good. The first critical moment of the game was on the move 14. White spent 20 minutes thinking before playing 14.h4. Previously opting to pursue development on the queenside, White needed to make sure he put a solid defence line against Black’s threats on the kingside. But it seemed as if that wasn’t enough. Contrary to the opening theory, Ding refused to take the e4 pawn from Black and instead focused on development. Nepomniachtchi used his stronghold on e4 to build up the initiative and launched a dangerous attack on the kingside threatening with g7-g5, which was highly unpleasant for White. After 25…g5! Black launched a deadly attack on White’s king Ding was trying to find the best way to save himself
Flamenco and fanfare: 2022 Candidates opening ceremony highlights
The Opening Ceremony of the 2022 Candidates Tournament took place at the Four Seasons Hotel in Madrid. It was a night to remember as the chess elite, officials, guests, and journalists gathered in one of the ballrooms of one of the most luxurious hotels in the Spanish capital to celebrate the grand opening of the most important chess event of the year. The host of the night was the famous Spanish Grandmaster Miguel Illescas, whose charm and wit created a relaxing and smooth atmosphere that even the players – who usually grudgingly appear at these ceremonies – seemed to enjoy. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich and the head of the Spanish Chess Federation (FEDA) Javier Ochoa thanked the organising team, partners, Chess.com, the Scheinberg Family and wished the players memorable games and spectacular victories in Madrid. The President of the Supreme Council for Sports of Spain, D. José Manuel Franco noted that he is pleased that his country was chosen to play host to the Candidates. “Spain, as it is demonstrated, is committed to chess, and chess is also committed to Spain”, Franco said. The grand ceremony included a presentation of a promotional video of the 2022 Candidates Tournament as well as an appearance of Juga di Prima, a singer and chess artist who performed the song ‘Oh Capablanca’, dedicated to the famous Cuban world champion whose parents came from Spain, as well as her new song ‘Open Files’ – dedicated to the candidates. The evening ended with a graceful and rhythmic performance of flamenco. As the guests proceeded to the cocktail party, the eight candidates quietly retired to rest and prepare for the first round of the event, which might define their careers and lives. The first round of the Candidates starts on Friday, 17th June at 3 PM CEST at the Palacio de Santona in Madrid. The pairings of the first round are as follows: Jan-Krzysztof Duda vs Richard RapportDing Liren vs Ian NepomniachtchiFabiano Caruana vs Hikaru NakamuraTeimour Radjabov vs Alireza Firouzja Text: Milan DinicPhotos: FIDE / Stev Bonhage Official website: candidates.fide.com 2022 Candidates Tournament Partners:
Nino Batsiashvili wins Georgian Women’s Championship
Nino Batsiashvili is a new Georgia Women’s Champion. A native of Batumi won her fourth national title in the 79th Georgian Women’s Championship, held from June 6–15, 2022, in Tbilisi. The only GM in the 10-player round-robin with classical time control, Nino lost her first-round game to Salome Melia but roared back, scoring eight (!) straight victories and taking the title. Salome Melia (pictured above) gave the champion a good run for her money and stayed in the contest for gold to the very end, but after drawing her final round game against Meri Arabidze finished just a half-point behind Batsiashvili. Salome became the only unbeaten player in the event. Leila Javakhishvili (pictured below) also turned in an excellent performance and netted an impressive 7/9 (that score would have been enough for gold in many events) but had to settle for bronze. Final standings: 1 GM Batsiashvili, Nino 2453 8 2 IM Melia, Salome 2368 7½ 3 IM Javakhishvili, Lela 2477 7 4 IM Arabidze, Meri 2448 4½ 5 IM Gvetadze, Sofio 2306 4½ 6 WIM Vakhania, Alexandra 2135 4 7 IM Purtseladze, Maka 2287 4 8 WFM Lomaia, Diana 1846 3½ 9 Esadze, Tamari 1982 1½ 10 WFM Tsotsonava, Elene 1915 ½ Official website: gcf.org.ge Photo: Georgian Chess Federation Facebook page