WGP Shymkent: Salimova scores her first win in a day full of draws; Goryachkina maintains lead
The penultimate round of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix was the quietest one by far, with four draws and one decisive result. Humpy Koneru broke Aleksandra Goryachkina’s remarkable five-game winning streak with a well-fought draw, keeping her steady under Goryachkina’s pressure. In a hard-fought battle, Divya Deshmukh and Stavroula Tsolakidou drew after a complex pawn race, leaving both players visibly exhausted. Tan Zhongyi and Bibisara Assaubayeva also had a peaceful result, with Tan maintaining her second place standing behind Goryachkina. Meanwhile, Nurgyul Salimova achieved her first Grand Prix victory, capitalizing on a late-game blunder by Munguntuul Batkhuyag. It was a case of déjà vu at the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix today, as we saw a few exact repeat openings from the previous rounds, making for interesting games as alternatives were played out. With only one round remaining, the players are in the final stretch, each vying to finish the tournament on a high note. Here’s a look at the key moments from today’s games: Aleksandra Goryachkina – Humpy Koneru ½-½ The last few rounds have seen absolute domination by Goryachkina, who took down every opponent, going into today with a five-game winning streak. It was difficult to imagine that she would be stopped, particularly so close to the finish line, but Indian chess titan Humpy Koneru halted the former World Championship challenger’s momentum with a draw. In the Neo Arkhangelsk variation of Ruy Lopez, the game saw an early trade of queens, leaving Black with an isolated d-pawn. However, this was never a concern for Humpy, as even though Goryackina tried to apply pressure, she surprisingly followed with consecutive trades, leading to a completely equal endgame. A draw was predicted at this point, but Goryachkina, remaining true to her fighting spirit, continued pressing. It was to no avail, however, as Humpy kept good time management and remained extremely solid. After 54 moves, the game was drawn. In a post-game interview, Humpy noted that even though the position was completely equal, she felt her opponent pushing hard for a win, but she found the correct moves and managed to hold her ground. Even though Goryachkina’s winning streak has been broken, she still maintains a solid one-point lead after Tan Zhongyi’s draw with Bibisara Assaubayeva. Tan Zhongyi – Bibisara Assaubayeva ½-½ The final two rounds are critical for most players, but Tan had the important task of ensuring that Goryachkina’s one-point lead over her did not increase. Facing the in-form Assaubayeva, this was not an easy task at all. Stemming from (another) Sicilian Defense in the Moscow variation, the theory was followed by both until Black decided to push her f-pawn forward, resulting in a backward e-pawn – a small positional concession, which White aimed to take advantage of by applying pressure on the e-file. Although Assaubayeva was not in her tactical element, she defended and held the position well. White was indeed more comfortable throughout the game, and even though it seemed that she had an advantage at some point, it was never enough to make real progress. The game concluded in a draw after move repetition. Kateryna Lagno – Elisabeth Paehtz ½-½ Lagno and Paehtz have been at the top of women’s elite for a long time and have faced off multiple times in their careers, including at the recent Global Chess League, where Paehtz beat Lagno a couple of times. Today’s clash, however, was a quiet affair. It seemed as if Lagno was playing for something as she first advanced her pawns on the kingside, and declined Paehtz’s first move repetition offer. But the position was dry, and with no way forward, the opponents called it a day after three-fold repetition. Divya Deshmukh – Stavroula Tsolakidou ½-½ After a lucky escape with a draw yesterday, Deshmukh came to her eighth round extremely well-prepared, backing up her sentiment in yesterday’s interview about winning in her final two rounds. She blitzed out every until move 21, at getting a whole hour advantage on the clock. Tsolakidou, unfamiliar with the opening intricacies, thoroughly calculated her way through possible complications and opted to avoid them. With queens traded off and the fireworks neutralized, the game became balanced. The players swapped having the advantage a few times, where White first held the reins, but missed a significant chance, allowing Black to seize the initiative. After a few missteps, the position remained completely equal until White erred on move 36, at which point Divya no longer had her time advantage: In this pawn race, White pushed 37.c6? When 37.Rd4 was critical – attacking the h-pawn and covering the e4-square from a knight check, which would become important later. After 37…h3 38.c7 Black had to insert the important zwischenzug 38…Ne4! forcing 39.Kc1 (39.Kd3 pushes the king towards more danger). A possible continuation is 39…Ra8 40.Rd3 (if 40.Rd8, then 40…h2 seals the deal as h1Q comes with a check) 40…h2, and both running pawns would be traded, leaving Black a pawn up. But Stavroula immediately pushed 38…h2, and both pawns were promoted. Following trades of the queens and knights, the opponents reached the following position: Divya implemented the incorrect plan of taking the king to the pawn, allowing Black to push the g-pawn whilst having the king close enough to help out on the queenside, giving Stavroula a significant advantage. But Tsolakidou’s timing was off again, as she had to keep pushing the g-pawn. Instead, she made a final mistake 48…Ke6?? losing crucial tempo instead of advancing her g-pawn immediately (48…g4!) with a winning position. A few moves later, the game ended in a draw. Both players came out of the playing hall visibly exhausted after fighting on the board for almost 5 hours, and neither was happy with their play. Divya attributed her errors to overthinking, whereas for Stavroula, it was fatigue. Nevertheless, it was an exciting game to watch. Once again, it is important to reiterate that although it is easy to find the winning continuation while watching from the comfort of one’s couch hanging out with
WGP Shymkent: Goryachkina and Tan top the standings after Round 7
Aleksandra Goryachkina extended her winning streak with a fifth consecutive victory, this time against Munguntuul Batkhuyag. Tan Zhongyi also secured a crucial win over Nurgyul Salimova, keeping her hopes for the top spot alive. The battle between the two youngest players, Bibisara Assaubayeva and Divya Deshmukh, ended in a hard-fought draw after Assaubayeva missed a decisive continuation. Stavroula Tsolakidou and Kateryna Lagno’s positional encounter concluded peacefully, while Elisabeth Paehtz and Humpy Koneru opted for an early draw to reset after challenging recent rounds. Today was the quickest round of the tournament, with all games finishing within three and a half hours. Perhaps this sounds like a long time, but it is short in comparison to the usual 5.5-6-hour battles. It is also not surprising that since we have entered the final three rounds of the event, fatigue is most likely setting in for our players. Nevertheless, it is still crunch time, and we saw a few exciting games: Munguntuul Batkhuyag – Aleksandra Goryachkina 0-1 Goryachkina is on a winning streak that we rarely witness in such high-level events. After crushing Munguntuul Batkhuyag, Aleksandra secured her fifth consecutive win. Starting out as a Sicilian Sveshnikov the game was destined to show fireworks after Munguntuul neglected her kingside defense in pursuit of play on the queenside (reminiscent of yesterday’s game between Lagno – Assaubayeva). After a wonderful sacrifice, Black lured away White’s only defending piece, and suddenly the black queen, knight, and kingside pawns were barreling down on the kingside. The white king, left exposed, soon found itself pinned up against the edge of the board by a pawn, as the black queen inched closer and closer. White managed to escape checkmate, but with a loss in material and the king still exposed, Munguntuul accepted her fate and resigned. This convincing win was a testament to Goryachkina’s impressive momentum. With no sign of her slowing down, it is difficult to imagine that she will be stopped in the final rounds. Still, anything can happen, and tomorrow’s game will be a big indicator of her final position in the standings. Nurgyul Salimova – Tan Zhongyi 0-1 The game started out as a gambit line of Semi-Slav Defense, where Black quickly obtained a passed pawn supported by a solid pawn chain. Salimova played aggressively, launching an attack against Tan’s uncastled king, throwing all she had at her opponent. But Tan could bloodily counter each threat, and her king escaped the danger unscathed. Eventually, Salimova’s queen got trapped, and she lost material. There was nothing left to play for, and without needing the additional time given on move 40, Salimova resigned on move 39. Bibisara Assaubayeva – Divya Deshmukh ½-½ The youngest participants of the event exited the playing hall in high spirits, discussing their game in depth. Deshmukh remarked that her opening play was terrible, a sentiment supported by Assaubayeva, who thought her opponent made strange choices at the beginning of the game. This was indeed the case, as White obtained an early advantage after Black misplayed her knight, placing it in a bad position. Despite this edge, Bibisara later closed off her powerful fianchettoed bishop with an uncharacteristic pawn e2-24 push, allowing Divya to regain balance. The back-and-forth continued until Bibisara achieved a winning +3 position, but a critical misstep let Divya back into the game: White had to retreat the rook with 34. Re4 (threatening Rxd4) but instead played the pseudo-active 34.f6?? As a result, Bibisara dropped the lion’s share of her advantage as after the g-pawns were traded off, the black king could join the game via the h-file. A few moves later, White’s pressure dissipated completely, and the players agreed to a draw. This was a missed chance for Assaubayeva, but in post-game remarks, both expressed their commitment to winning their remaining games. Stavroula Tsolakidou – Kateryna Lagno ½-½ The game started as the English opening transitioning into the Neo-Catalan Defense and quickly became a positional struggle. Early piece exchanges led to an opposite-colored bishop endgame, which resulted in a balanced position. The opponents called it a draw on move 40, each satisfied with the result as they prepare for the final rounds. Elisabeth Paehtz – Humpy Koneru ½ – ½ After tough losses in recent rounds, Paehtz and Koneru opted for a quick draw via threefold repetition on move 14. Sometimes a draw can be a strategic reset, particularly after a losing streak, and both players will be looking to bring renewed focus to their next games. Moment of the Day Aleksandra Goryachkina once again played a brilliant game, and her exchange sacrifice was a standout moment: Here she played the devastating 24…Rxc4! and after 25. Bxc4, the black queen arrived on the scene with 25…Qg5. Optically, it is clear that the white king is in big trouble, and the end sure was a sight to see: 26. g3 fxg3 27.hxg3 f4! Even though …Nf3 was always an option, but Goryachkina’s eyes were set on the white king. 28. Rxe4 fxg3 29.f4 Qg4 30. Qc2 g2 This is the moment referred to previously, where White’s king is pinned back to the 1st rank. 31.Be2 Qh3 32.Qd1 Qh1 + 33.Kf2 g1Q 34.Qxg1 Qxe4, and White resigned. 0-1 With only two rounds left, Goryachkina has firmly positioned herself as the tournament leader, showing no signs of slowing down. Tan Zhongyi remains within striking distance, while Assaubayeva and Tsolakidou are also eager to make their mark in the final stretch. The penultimate round tomorrow promises high-stakes matchups as players look to secure their final standings. Standings after Round 7 Round eight pairings and dates Round 8 of the second leg in the 2024/25 Women’s Grand Prix series starts on Thursday, November 7, 15:00 local time in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. Round 8 Goryachkina, Aleksandra – Koneru, HumpyLagno, Kateryna – Paehtz, ElisabethDivya, Deshmukh – Tsolakidou, StavroulaTan, Zhongyi – Assaubayeva, BibisaraMunguntuul, Batkhuyag – Salimova, Nurgyul More information about the event, including the regulations and details of the pairings, as well as live games can be found on the
FIDE World Youth Rapid & Blitz Championship 2024: Registration deadline extended
The organizing committee for the FIDE World Youth Rapid & Blitz Championship in Terme Čatež, Slovenia, scheduled from December 13-17, 2024, has extended the registration deadline to November 20, 2024. All FIDE member federations are invited to participate in the World Youth Rapid & Blitz Championships 2024. Each federation may register any number of players. The championships will take place at the Terme Čatež Hotel. Participants must not have reached their 14th, 16th, or 18th birthday by January 1, 2024. The champions of the 2023 World Youth Rapid & Blitz Championship hold personal rights to participate in this event. For more information:Official website: worldyouthrb2024.fide.comEmail: worldyouthrb@fide.com
Winners crowned at FIDE World Amateur Championship 2024
The FIDE World Amateur Chess Championship 2024 concluded on Monday at the Rodos Palace Hotel in Rhodes, Greece. The event, held from October 26 to November 4, brought together 245 amateur players from 54 countries, competing across four rating categories: Open U2300, Open U2000, Open U1700 and W1700. The closing ceremony, held on the evening of November 4, celebrated the achievements of the participants and honored the champions of each category. The event was attended by the Honorary Chairman of the FIDE Events Commission, Mr. Ozgur Solakoglu, Pr. Katerina Frantzi of the University of the Aegean and member of the FIDE Ethics Commission, Mr. David Hater. Final Standings: Open U2300: 1. Tomasz Zebracki (POL) – 7 points2. CM A Kumaresh (IND) – 6.53. FM Khishigbat Ulziikhishig (MGL) – 6.5 points Top Women Open U2300: 1. WFM Bayanmunkh Amin-Erdene (MGL) – 52. WFM Georgia Grapsa (GRE) – 53. WFM Sabina Sariteanu (ROU) – 4 points Open U2000: 1. Nurasyl Zhumabek (KAZ) – 7.52. Amartaivan Erkhembayar (MGL) – 7.53. AFM Levi Kalani Alexander Fogo Esquivel (MEX) – 7.5 Top Women Open U2000: 1. Tsogtsaikhan Saikhanchimeg (MGL) – 6.52. Ekaterina Kirdyashkina (FIDE) – 6.5 3. WCM Davaakhul Unurzul (MGL) – 5.5 Open U1700: 1. Yassine Rafik (MAR) – 7.52. Medet Dzhaparov (KGZ) – 7.53. Lkhagvagaram Sumiya (MGL) – 7 Women U1700: 1. Anastasiia Osadchuk (UKR) – 82. Bayal – Uchral Anu (MGL) – 73. Sonali – Jena Sovna (IND) – 6 The competition showcased exceptional talent and sportsmanship, with participants demonstrating impressive skills and performances. Open U2300CM A Kumaresh (IND), seeded 22nd with a rating of 2048, secured second place with 6.5 points, demonstrating remarkable skill and determination. Open U2000Nurasyl Zhumabek (KAZ), rated 1862, claimed the title with 7.5 points, outperforming higher-rated opponents. Emil Shafikov (KAZ), rated 1710, achieved a commendable 11th place with 6 points, gaining 120.4 rating points. Open U1700Yassine Rafik (MAR), an unrated player, emerged victorious with 7.5 points, showcasing exceptional talent and potential. Likewise, Dmytro Nikolaienko (UKR), also unrated, climbed to 7th place, scoring 6.5 points. Women U1700Anastasiia Osadchuk (UKR), an unrated player, dominated her category with 8 points, demonstrating outstanding skill and potential. Bayal-Uchral Anu (MGL), rated 1624, finished second with 7 points, while Sonali Jena Sovna (IND), rated 1587, took third with 6 points. For detailed results and further information, please visit the official tournament page: Open U2300 Open U2000 Open U1700 Women U1700 Rhodos Chess Club “Ippotis” congratulates all participants and eagerly anticipates the next edition of the World Amateur Chess Championship. The World Amateur Championship was an official event of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), co-organized by the Rhodes Chess Club “Ippotis,” the South Aegean Region, the Municipality of Rhodes, and the Hellenic Chess Federation (ESO). Special thanks to the South Aegean Region, Governor George Hatzimarkos & Deputy Governor for Sports Akis Delaportas, RODOS PALACE Hotel 5*, Antonis Kampourakis of Xenakis Mobility, Melissokomiki Dodecanese, J@D Rent a Car, At Holidays, the accounting firm “Papadimitriou & Partners,” and Ilektrodomi S.A. for their unwavering support. Photos, content, and additional materials from the Championship can be found on the social media pages of the Rhodes Chess Club “Ippotis.” Website: ippotis.comFacebook: facebook.com/rhodeschessevents/Instagram: instagram.com/rhodes_chess_events/TikTok: tiktok.gr/@rhodes_chess_evenYouTube: youtube.com/@rhodes_chess_events Photos: Jim Laga
WGP Shymkent: Goryachkina extends her winning streak
Round 6 of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix showcased players refreshed from their rest day, leading to a round packed with decisive results. Aleksandra Goryachkina claimed her fourth consecutive win, solidifying her lead with a victory over Elisabeth Paehtz after a fateful endgame blunder by the German GM. Kateryna Lagno finally struck and scored her first win, defeating Bibisara Assaubayeva, one of the better performers in the event so far. Stavroula Tsolakidou comfortably beat Humpy Koneru, while Tan Zhongyi outlasted Munguntuul Batkhuyag in a 68-move battle. The day’s only draw was between Divya Deshmukh and Nurgyul Salimova, a tense positional struggle that ended in a threefold repetition. Players took advantage of their day off in different ways—some rested while others joined a city excursion organized by the hosts, immersing themselves in local culture. Notably, three of the four winners participated in the outing, a reminder of the benefits of stepping away from intense competitive environments. With the tournament entering its final phase, a healthy mindset and a good mood are important. Today was filled with exciting games, let’s take a look: Aleksandra Goryachkina – Elisabeth Paehtz 1-0 Already leading the standings, Goryachkina continued her winning streak, prevailing over Paehtz in a game that started with a French Defense. Early exchanges led to an endgame by move 20, where Goryachkina’s bishop pair and passed pawn gave her a subtle edge. She started by taking her king for a long walk to the queenside. Black’s a-pawn was eventually captured, resulting in a position with opposite-colored bishops, which was defendable for Black. Unfortunately, Elisabeth found herself in a situation where she had to demonstrate great accuracy, which she did not manage to do. The black king should have retreated to b7 to defend against White’s passed pawns (inserting 48…Bf5, most likely, worked as well), relieving the bishop from this job. Instead, 48…e3?? was played, and soon Black could not stop White’s passers: 49.Bxe3 Kc7 50.Kf6 Bf5 51.a6 Be4 52.h4 Kc6 53.Ba7 Kc7 54.c5 Kc8 55.Bb6 Kb8 56.c6 1-0 With this victory, Goryachkina now leads the pack by a full point. Kateryna Lagno – Bibisara Assaubayeva 1-0 The first result of the day was a surprising one as Kateryna Lagno, who has had a difficult start to the tournament after losing two back-to-back games in the third and fourth rounds, beat Bibisara Assaubayeva, who entered the round in second place. Coming out of the tournament hall, both were surprisingly in good moods and discussed their game. Bibisara noted that Kateryna did not play what she had prepared, and she struggled to remember the correct theory for the opening that came on the board. In what became an unfamiliar position, Black tried to create an attack on the queenside, but White was always more comfortable. Although Kateryna initially missed an opportunity to obtain a nice advantage by creating a play on the kingside, a few moves later, she found the correct plan and regained the initiative, albeit playing too carefully at some points. Eventually, this advantage transformed into a devastating attack, as Bibisara, focusing too heavily on queenside play, left her king vulnerable. Kateryna executed the final onslaught flawlessly and brought the point home. In an interview, she said she spent her rest day walking around the city, taking her mind off the tournament games. Perhaps this “reset” will help her in the final rounds of the tournament. It undoubtedly worked in Round 6! Humpy Koneru – Stavroula Tsolakidou 0-1 Tsolakidou’s decision to take a break from chess during the rest day paid off, as she delivered a strong performance against Koneru. In another King’s Indian Defense (a popular opening choice in this event), Humpy opted for a lesser-played line, and by move 12, the opponents reached a fresh position. Black got a slight advantage after Humpy’s erroneous capturing en passant on move 13, but just several moves down the road it increased substantially as Stavroula timely sacrificed an exchange. In an interview after the game, Stavroula said she knew she was somewhat better and feeling more comfortable, but she didn’t know how much better. Black dominated the game from there – with active pieces, a solid pawn structure, and the bishop pair. Humpy eventually gave the exchange back, but it was too late. Stavroula started picking off the white pawns one by one, and with passive pieces and a material disadvantage, Humpy capitulated right after reaching time control. Divya Deshmukh – Nurgyul Salimova ½ -½ The game between two of the younger participants of the event was a long positional battle where neither side ever had a real advantage. Things did become interesting when Nurgyul entered a position in which she had double-isolated pawns: The position might seem better, or at least more comfortable for White, but there was never any way to obtain something substantial. Although Divya kept pushing, Nurgyul remained solid, and a three-fold repetition eventually secured the draw. Tan Zhongyi – Munguntuul Batkhuyag 1-0 After a tough loss to Aleksandra Goryachkina in the fifth round, Tan Zhongyi came back to claim her third overall victory of the event, this time against Munguntuul Batkhuyag. But it wasn’t an easy win, as Black, who also lost in the previous round, played aggressively, clearly also fighting for the point. Arising from the Slav Defense in what is called the “Quiet Variation, Schallopp Defence” the game became a not-so-quiet one after opposite-side-castling. Tan launched her h-pawn forward toward the black king while Munguntuul pushed her queenside pawns on the opposite wing. After queens were traded, optically, it looked scary for White as Black’s two rooks had doubled up on the a-file, staring down at the white king. But Tan remained composed, and after trading off one of the rooks, Black’s attack lost the punch it once had, and it was eventually White who had the better-placed pieces and an advantage. The evaluation bar would sway between equality and an advantage for White, until Black made a fateful error on move 55 that allowed Tan
FIDE World Championship special: Unique events for visitors of Singapore Match
FIDE and SCF have put together an exclusive program for visitors of the FIDE World Championship Match presented by Google, featuring former world champions and contenders, renowned Grandmasters, AI experts, VIP simuls, and commentary. The forthcoming FIDE World Championship match in Singapore promises not only a spectacular duel between two elite players but also an unforgettable chess festival. Visitors can look forward to exhibitions, presentations, and simultaneous matches that offer unique opportunities to meet and play with top Grandmasters and AI experts. Special guest appearances and expert commentary: Special events kick off on November 24 – one day before round one in the Match – with the first round of the National Age Group Championships, where the former Women’s World Champion, Xie Jun, will be the guest of honor. Xie Jun will later be joined by U.S. Grandmaster and renowned chess commentator Maurice Ashley, and the two will provide commentary on the first match game both in-studio and in the fan zone, allowing fans to gain insights and ask questions in person. Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club | Lennart Ootes AI and chess: On November 26, Google DeepMind scientist Nenad Tomašev will deliver an exclusive presentation on the development and impact of AlphaZero, an AI program that has mastered complex games like chess. This session will shed light on the intersection of technology and chess, offering unique perspectives for enthusiasts. Simuls with chess legends: During the event, several top-world Grandmasters and former world champions and contenders will appear in Singapore as special guests. Former World Champion Challenger and celebrated Grandmaster Boris Gelfand will join live commentary on November 26 and interact with visitors in the fan zone. Photo: Stev Bonhage Gelfand, along with former Women’s World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk, will also hold simultaneous exhibition matches, giving fans a chance to play against chess icons. Visitors will also have the rare opportunity to meet former World Champion Viswanathan Anand, who will offer expert match commentary and engage with attendees in the fan zone. Photo: Michal Walusza One of the most popular chess streamers WGM Nemo Zhou (akaNemsko) will also be in fan zone to interact with chess fans. Additionally, top Grandmasters such as England’s David Howell and Jovanka Houska will lead masterclasses for chess enthusiasts of all skill levels. Photo: ChessBase India Lessons from the first Asian GM: On November 30, visitors of the Match will have an opportunity to see in person and talk to one of the greatest living chess legends, Grandmaster Eugene Torre – the first Asian GM who took part in a record 23 Chess Olympiads and defeating many of the 20th century greatest players. Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club | Bryan Adams Singapore International Open: For those more interested in competitive events, the Singapore Chess Federation is throwing the Singapore International Open 2024. Featuring global chess talent, the event will take place at the Resorts World Sentosa Convention Centre alongside the FIDE World Championship. The tournament comprises two categories: Group A for players rated 1800 and above, utilizing accelerated pairings to enhance title norm opportunities, and Group B for players rated up to 1900, following standard Swiss pairings. Plan your visit More information about the match and side events can be found on the official website: worldchampionship.fide.com. Tickets for the match and side events are available here. For an all-inclusive experience, check out the specialized travel packages here. WCC Programme (PDF) WCC Programme mobile version (PDF)
FIDE World Cadet & Youth Rapid and Blitz Championship 2025: Registration is open
All FIDE member federations are invited to participate in the FIDE World Cadet U8, U10, U12 & FIDE World Youth U14, U16, U18 Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships 2025. The competitions will take place in Rhodes, Greece from April 12 (arrival) to April 18 (departure), 2025. The gold medal winners of the 2024 World Cadet & Youth Rapid and Blitz Championships of the corresponding, or higher, age category have personal rights to participate if the age requirements, set out in the invitation letter, are met. All above-mentioned participants will be eligible for free full-board double-room accommodation. The registration deadline is February 21, 2025. All players, accompanying persons and delegation members have to be registered through their national federations. Email: wcyrb@fide.com Official website: wcyrb2025.fide.com Invitation letter and regulations (PDF)
World Youth Championship 2024: Leaders emerge at the halfway mark
The World Youth Chess Championship 2024 in Florianópolis, Brazil reached its midpoint. The competition running from October 28 to November 9 brought together 520 players, up to eighteen years old, from 62 countries. After six rounds of exciting chess, clear leaders emerged in five categories with Nho Kiet (VIE), Javier Habans Aguerrea (ESP) and Amina Kairbekova (KAZ) achieving perfect scores. In the Girls 14 tournament, three players are tied for the top position with 5.5/6. A rest day on November 4 will feature additional activities, including the inaugural World Youth Chess Solving Championship at 10 a.m. In the evening, a 9-round open blitz tournament is scheduled to start at 9 p.m., with registration available through the tournament organizers. The competition resumes with Round 7 on November 5 at 3 p.m. local time. The World Youth Chess Championships is organized by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in collaboration with the Brazilian Chess Federation. Elena Polovina serves as the Chief Arbiter, and Kaiser Luiz Mafra is the general organizer. Leaders after Round 6: Open 14 1. FM Nho Kiet (VIE) – 6/62. FM Patryk Cieslak (POL) – 53. Haochen Jiang (CHN) – 5 Girls 14 1. WFM Kesaria Mgeladze (GEO) – 5½2. WFM Diana Preobrazhenskaya (FIDE) – 5½3. WFM Nilufarkhon Imomkuzieva (UZB) – 5½ Open 16 1. FM Javier Habans Aguerrea (ESP) – 62. FM Daniyal Sapenov (KAZ) – 53. FM Raczek Krzysztof (POL) – 5 Girls 16 1. WIM Afruza Khamdamova (UZB) – 5½2. WFM Zarina Nurgaliyeva (KAZ) – 53. Mallick Mrittika (IND) – 5 Open 18 1. GM Aleksey Grebnev (FIDE) – 5½2. IM Aldiyar Ansat (KAZ) – 53. FM Aleks Sahakyan (ARM) – 5 Girls 18 1. WIM Amina Kairbekova (KAZ) – 62. WFM Galina Mikheeva (FIDE) – 53. WFM Olga Dm Karmanova (FIDE) – 5 Detailed results for each category are available at the following links: Open 18, Girls 18, Open 16, Girls 16, Open 14, Girls 14. The games are broadcast live on the Lichess. Photos, content, and additional resources from the Championship are available on official platforms: Official website: worldyouth2024.com/Instagram: instagram.com/worldyouth2024 Photos: flickr.com/photos/fide/albums/72177720321585911 Written by Liziane Nathália Vicenzi Photos: Vivian Passig and Laura Mayumi Hisano Shikasho
FIDE Book Awards 2024 – Call for nominations
The FIDE Trainers’ Commission (TRG) invites you to submit nominations for the Yuri Averbakh/Isaac Boleslavsky Book Awards 2024. Eligible are chess books published in 2023. Authors/Publishers can submit up to three books. Nomination Form must be submitted by November 21, 2024. Once confirmed, TRG will advise where copies of the books should be sent to the judges for review. The panel of judges will consist of three prominent chess personalities. The winner and two runners-up will be announced in the middle of December. The Isaac Boleslavsky FIDE Book Award was launched in 2009 for the best chess book and publications of remarkable instructional value. In 2019 the award’s name was changed to the Yuri Averbakh/Isaac Boleslavsky Award out of respect for these two giants of chess literature. Nomination Form
Goryachkina takes sole lead as fierce battles mark halfway point of WGP Shymkent
The FIDE Women’s Grand Prix Shymkent reached its halfway mark in dramatic fashion, with four of five games ending decisively in Round 5. Aleksandra Goryachkina emerged as the sole leader after scoring a brilliant victory over Tan Zhongyi, her third consecutive win. In a day full of surprises, Bibisara Assaubayeva outplayed Humpy Koneru, Divya Deshmukh netted her first full point against Munguntuul Batkhuyag, and Stavroula Tsolakidou ground out a hard-fought win over Elisabeth Paehtz. Meanwhile, Nurgyul Salimova and Kateryna Lagno drew their game. Usually, the round before a rest day is one of the quieter ones, where players tend to finish quickly as they reach the first tournament milestone. But this is far from what happened today, as players gave their all, setting off sparks across the boards. We saw attacking chess, missteps that were capitalized on, and overall a sense of players fighting to win and not settle for draws. Tan Zhongyi – Aleksandra Goryachkina 0-1 The most anticipated matchup of the round was between former World Champion Tan Zhongyi and former World Champion challenger Aleksandra Goryachkina, and it was undoubtedly the most exciting game to watch. What started off as a regular Italian, quickly became extremely dynamic as Goryachkina intentionally allowed a weak pawn structure, with double-isolated pawns on the e-file. But after castling queenside, this risky game plan gave her a lot of space and opportunity to launch a kingside attack, which Tan had castled right into. As a result, Goryachkina obtained a strong early advantage and control of the game as she mobilized all of her pieces for the kingside assault. Eventually, Tan traded her two knights for a rook, hoping to alleviate pressure, but it was too late – Black’s attack was already deadly and Goryachkina played with precision to finish it off. What makes Goryachkina so scary to play against is that she takes every player out of their comfort zones, making them enter positions where logical continuations (as Tan played) are not the best, and missteps are easy. Munguntuul Batkhuyag – Divya Deshmukh 0-1 Determined to avoid the time trouble that cost her spoiling a winning position against Tan in Round 4, Divya came out with impressive speed, establishing a 50-minute lead on the clock by move 16. And this was a good approach – stemming from the Ruy Lopez, Black achieved a good position out of the opening, holding an advantage that she would keep throughout. The young Indian star said in an interview that she felt that she got lucky as her opponent blundered at a certain point. This happened on move 38 as White made consecutive bad trades when she just had to keep the position as is. But luck was not the only ingredient in Divya’s success, as her tactical eye helped her pounce at the correct moment, spotting a combination that had her win a couple of pawns, and then, the game. Nurgyul Salimova – Kateryna Lagno 1/2-1/2 The game that started with the Queen’s Gambit Declined, Tartakower Defense, saw early trades and an asymmetrical pawn structure with Black holding a 3-2 queenside majority. Lagno engineered some activity by pushing her pawns, eventually obtaining a passed pawn, and was first to obtain a slight advantage, which she increased after Salimova erred, grabbing a “poisoned” a7-pawn. It looked like Black would capitalize on this as Kateryna played all the best moves until reaching a critical position where she did not find the correct plan. Nurgyul did not miss her chance and reached a draw with an accurate play. Bibisara Assaubayeva – Humpy Koneru 1-0 Uncharacteristic of her usual aggressive style, Bibisara opted for the English today, where the game entered the Four Knights, Nimzowitsch Variation. She showed her range by first playing a good positional game – creating a queenside weakness in the form of an isolated pawn, which she kept pressure on. Black defended well, and the position was equal until Humpy made the grave mistake of unnecessarily opening the kingside. Bibisara immediately punished this decision, playing with surgical accuracy and a natural flair for attack, and ten moves later, Humpy threw in the towel. Stavroula Tsolakidou – Elisabeth Paehtz 1-0 The longest game of the day spanned five hours, which could have ended earlier as Tsolakidou actually obtained an advantage by move 16 already. But even though White was better, there was no clear-cut way forward, and soon it became equal as Black’s pieces finally came to life and joined the game. Pretty soon, Tsolakidou would regain the advantage and what would ensue was a long grind to convert it. Elisabeth attempted to create some counterplay, but with her queen being the only active piece, it was not enough. White eventually liquidated into a winning endgame and sealed the deal by move 63. After a tough loss to Goryachkina yesterday, Stavroula bounced back admirably and goes into the rest day with her second victory of the tournament. As the players head into the rest day, Goryachkina stands alone at the top, riding a three-game winning streak. The tournament remains wide open, however, with many opportunities for others to challenge her position. The rest day will offer players a chance to recharge and step away from the intensity of hotel-based tournament life. With fresh energy, they’ll return to the board on November 5th for Round 6, where new pairings promise continued excitement and shifting dynamics on the leaderboard. Moment of the Day Goryachkina’s game was an excellent one that should be seen. There was no specific moment, as she played brilliantly throughout. You can view the full game here. In terms of moments, a standout one was Bibisara’s swift response to Humpy’s blunder: Bibisara Assaubayeva – Humpy Koneru Humpy juist played 23…f5? Unnecessarily opening up the kingside. The game continued: 24.exf5 Bxe5 and suddenly 25.Nd5! Is a huge problem for Black. Now there are all kinds of threats including Ne7 and d4. 25…Bg6 26.Rb5 Qa3 27.Ne7 Kh8 28.Nxg6 hxg6. Black’s Kingside has crumbled. 29.d4 exd4 30.Qxd4 Ne5 31.c5! Although