African Individual Chess Championships announced
The Chess Association of Malawi is pleased to invite all African Chess Federations affiliated to the International Chess Federation (FIDE) to the 2021 African Individual Chess Championships. The Championships will be held at the Crossroads Hotel in the City of Lilongwe in Malawi from May 17, 2021 (arrival) to May 28, 2021 (departure). The event includes an Open Section and a Women’s Section. Each National Federation is entitled to delegate a maximum of five (5) players to each Section. Both events are 9-round Swiss tournaments tournament played with the time control of 90 minutes for the first 40 moves followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an addition of 30 seconds per move from move one for each player. All participants will be required to adhere to the specific local Covid-19 guidelines as communicated by the host Federation. The specific ruling guidelines at the time of the event will be communicated by the Local Organising Committee (LOC) prior to the commencement of the tournament. The 2021 African Individual Championships are a qualification event for the FIDE World Cup 2021. The top 4 placed players in the Open Section will qualify for the FIDE World Cup 2021 which will take place in Sochi, Russia from July 10, 2021, to August 3, 2021. Entry Forms must be completed and returned to the Local Organising Committee (LOC) no later than May 10, 2021. Regulations, Schedule and Entry Form (pdf)
FIDE Chess.com Women’s Speed Chess Championship announced
The International Chess Federation and Chess.com announce the FIDE Chess.com Women’s Speed Chess Championship, an online competition to be held between May 28th and July 3rd. The first edition of the FIDE Chess.com Women’s Speed Chess Championship was held in summer 2020, right in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic. With participants like Hou Yifan, Ju Wenjun, Anna Ushenina, Valentina Gunina, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Kateryna Lagno and others the event was a big success both among audience and participants. The event will consist of two stages: the qualifiers for the event will happen from May 28 till June 6, while the main event runs from June 10 till July 3 with the semifinals on July 01 and 02, and the finals on July 03. The first stage will comprise a total of eight Swiss tournaments open to any titled women player (WCM/WFM/WIM/WGM/CM/FM/IM/GM). Organizers expect to have participants from around 100 countries. One player from each playoff qualifier will move on to the main event. The main event of the FIDE Chess.com Women’s Speed Chess Championship will consist of a 16-player bracket, one match per day. Eight players will be invited directly to the knockout bracket, while a qualification system will determine the eight remaining spots. In the 16-player brackets players will face each other under three different time controls – rapid, blitz and bullet. The closer they will be getting to the end of their matches, the less time they will have to make decisions – the more thrilling the games will become. The FIDE Chess.com Women’s Speed Chess Championship features one of the biggest prize pools in the history of online women’s chess tournaments. $58,000 will be allocated to the main event with $20,000 going to the winner and $12,000 to the runner-up. The total prize fund of the event is $66,000. All the games from the FIDE Chess.com Women’s Speed Chess Championship will be broadcast live with multilingual expert commentary on Chess.com/TV and Chess.com’s Twitch channel. Fans will also be able to enjoy the event through Chess.com’s Events page. All the information about the Championship can be found here: https://www.chess.com/article/view/2021-womens-speed-chess-championship-all-the-information
Chicago hosts 2021 North American Youth Championship
With the relaxing restrictions and Chicago’s goal of reopening by July 4, the organizers of the 2021 North American Youth Chess Championship (NAYCC) are excited to announce they are moving forward with a tournament in Chicago from August 16 – 21, 2021. The tournament will take place at the Hilton Chicago, a centrally located luxury hotel in downtown Chicago that overlooks Lake Michigan, Grant Park, and the Museum Campus. The Renaissance Knights Chess Foundation, the International Chess School, the United States Chess Federation, the Confederation of Chess for America, and the International Chess Federation (FIDE), are pleased to invite players under 18 years old (as of Jan 1, 2021) from the USA, Mexico, Canada, and the Bahamas to the 17th Annual North American Youth Championship. Players will participate in the following categories: Under 8 years old, under 10, under 12, under 14, under 16, and under 18; Open and Girls sections. This is an international tournament where FIDE Titles and norms will be awarded to the top 3 players in each section. Trophies will also be awarded to the top players in each section. This will be a FIDE and US Chess rated tournament. Players may register online through the event website. The early entry fee is $150.00 thru June 15 (This includes $25 for FIDE America and all rating fees). The tournament is a 9-Round, Swiss with a time control of 90 minutes plus 30-second increment per move. The tournament schedule allows players and their parents the time to enjoy all Chicago has to offer. Arrival day is Monday, August 16 with a Blitz tournament scheduled at 5 PM. There will be two rounds each day from August 17 – 20. At 10 AM & 4 PM. On Saturday, August 21, the final round is at 9 AM and the closing ceremony is at 3 PM. The organizers have arranged with the hotel a special rate of $165 (USD) for single/double occupancy, triple $189, quad $214; plus tax. This rate is good for three days pre and post-event for those who want to arrive early or stay after the tournament to enjoy all the city has to offer. The organizers recognize the challenges presented by COVID-19 and are implementing precautionary measures to prevent and reduce the spread of COVID-19 among players and guest at the tournament. Details can be found on the event website. To register for the tournament, make hotel reservations, or for more details visit www.naycc2021.com Contact: info@naycc2021.com FIDE Official Chess Learning Partner FIDE General Partner
Intercontinental ChessKid/FIDE Challenge Returns
Following the tremendous success of the first edition, the Intercontinental ChessKid FIDE Challenge returns in the first month of summer. The second edition, open to any child aged 12 and younger, will be held on June 19, 2021. Over 1900 kids from 86 countries competed in the first edition that took place in January 2021. Let’s try to get 100+ countries participating! The prizes for the winners include group lessons localized to winning kids’ language and time zone. For the last event, GM Humpy Koneru and GM Vishy Anand taught in English, GM Irina Krush – in Russian, GM Jorge Cori – in Spanish, GM Stelios Halkias – in Greek, and IM Hongjin Ahn – in Korean. To accommodate as many time zones as possible, there will be two different tournaments. Children are eligible to play in either one or both, whichever is more convenient for them. Each of the two events will be played in two sections: Age 9-12 and 8 & Under. Both will be broadcasted on Chess.com/TV with FunMasterMike and his guests commentating on the games. Both editions will be 7-round Swiss tournaments with the time control 10+2 (10 minutes starting time plus 2 seconds added per move). The expected length for each tournament is about three hours. Although the Intercontinental ChessKid FIDE Challenge is first of all about involvement and fun, every child will have a chance to win a prize. For every half-point earned, a player receives one “raffle ticket” (two “raffle tickets” for every win). In addition, any player finishing the tournament receives a bonus raffle ticket. The prize draw for both events will take place on June 26, 2021. To join the tournaments, register here: The Eastern Hemisphere edition (starts at 9 am UK):https://www.events4chess.com/events/?event_ID=1367 The Western Hemisphere edition (starts at 9 am Pacific U.S.):https://www.events4chess.com/events/?event_ID=1366 FIDE invites you to join this worldwide initiative and hopes kids from all over the world will enjoy the challenge. You can find all the details at the ChessKid website: www.chesskid.com
Russian juniors and trainers awarded in Sirius
The award ceremony for the Russian juniors and trainers, the members of the Russian national team, which jointly won the first FIDE Online Olympiad, took place in the Main Media Centre of the Educational Centre “Sirius” in Sochi. Andrey Esipenko, Polina Shuvalova, Alexey Sarana, and Margarita Potapova are the graduates of the chess section of Surius. All of them contributed a lot to the victory of the Russian team. Dmitry Savin, the Deputy Director of Sirius, greeted the chess players and guests before the ceremony and showed them around the exhibition halls. Andrey Filatov, President of the Chess Federation of Russia, thanked the Educational Centre “Sirius” and personally its director Elena Shmeleva for the great contribution to the preparation of the Russian chess players, future members of the national team. In his speech, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich recalled how the Russian President Vladimir Putin had suggested creating a chess section in the Education Centre while visiting Sirius in 2015 and a year later in 2016, this idea had come to fruition. Arkady Dvorkovich presented the FIDE gold medals to the juniors and the trainers Andrey Filatov, Alexander Motylev, and Sergei Rublevsky. Other team members have already received their medals during the ceremony held in the Central Chess Club in Moscow in December 2020. The leading Russian players were also given high state awards. Photos: Education Centre “Sirius”
UPDATE: 1st workshop “Equal Opportunities”
Dear member federations, We would like to remind you that the 1st Online Workshop “Equal Opportunities” will be held 16-19 of May, 2021. Below you can find an updated programme for the workshop, which now includes the confirmed names of the 4 keynote speakers and 3 special guests that will make a brief presentation together with the lecturers: Arthur Kogan, Arkady Dvorkovich, Zurab Azmaiparashvili, Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Sonja Johnson, Elias Mastoras, Dr Marape Marape, Victor Bologan, Sorin Lapadatou, David Cordover, and Jirina Prokopova. The purpose of this workshop is to introduce and explore important information about chess players with disabilities. We will demystify the concept of disability in chess and offer basic skills for interacting with and accommodating people with disabilities acting as Organizer, Trainer and Arbiter. The following are the goals of the workshop: Increase participant awareness of disability issues and disability culture. Educate Chess Arbiters, Trainers & Organizers providing special certificates of specialization. Inform about European programs and activities that National Chess Federations as also the rest of chess organizations can create or take part in. The workshop is organized by the FIDE Commission for the Disabled (DIS) together with the European Chess Union (ECU), and is supported by the FIDE development fund. Schedule: List of lecturers: Trainers: Thomas Luther, GM and FIDE Senior Trainer Organizers: Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou, FM and International Organizer Arbiters: Carolina Muñoz Solis, WIM and International Arbiter Registration form: Information: secretariat@europechess.org(Ms Ismini Tzegka)
Shenzhen Road Primary School stages impressive chess scene
More than a thousand primary school students in Liaocheng played chess on the playground simultaneously, with the unfolding scene being reminiscent of a giant chessboard. Aiming to improve the intelligence and competitive level of the majority of children and to provide students with a chess exchange platform, on the morning of April 15th, the second “Liangzhi Cup” chess competition was held in Shenzhen Road Primary School, Liaocheng High-tech Zone, Shandong Province of China. More than a thousand elementary school students lined up in the playground, sitting face to face in pairs, competing with each other over chessboards. “Chess activities not only help develop children’s intelligence and improve thinking skills but also cultivate good habits of tenacity, unity, and courage to challenge.” Song Demin, principal of Shenzhen Road Primary School in the High-tech Zone, said in his opening speech. The school’s chess-based curriculum has been in place for 3 years. It was a massive chess competition held by the school. Hopefully, every student will be able to advance as a chess pawn and eventually get promoted to a queen, achieving his or her full potential. “Engage, think, and play” – inspired by this motto, the young players darted into the battle full of fighting spirit and self-confidence. Some kids are already quite experienced players. Take for example a fourth-grade student 11-year-old Luo Zihan. At her young age, she has already won the title of Alternate Chess Association Master. Influenced by her family, Zihan has been exposed to chess since her early childhood. She is going to work on chess even harder and play much more events striving for better results. After a morning competition, the prizes were awarded in course of a brief but eventful ceremony. Source: https://w.dzwww.com/p/8352925.html (includes a short video)
Qualification for FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2022 announced
The FIDE Council has approved the qualifying path to the Women’s Candidates Tournament 2022. The eight spots in the Women’s Candidates Tournament 2022 will be allocated based on the following criteria: A. 1 spot – FIDE World Championship Match 2020, Runner-up GM Goryachkina B. 2 spots – FIDE Grand Prix Series 2019-20 The players who finish 1st and 2nd in the FIDE Grand Prix Series 2019-20. If one or two of these players is/are GM Ju Wenjun and/or GM Goryachkina, the reserved spot(s) is (are) awarded to the next non-qualifying player(s) in the final ranking of the FIDE Grand Prix Series 2019-20. C. 3 spots – FIDE World Cup 2021 The three winners of the FIDE World Cup 2021. If GM Ju Wenjun and/or GM Goryachkina and/or one of the players qualified via event B is (are) among the three winners, one qualification spot is awarded to the fourth place of the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2021. D. 1 spot – FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss Tournament 2021 The winner of the FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss Tournament 2021. If the winner is GM Ju Wenjun or GM Goryachkina, or one of the players qualified via events B or C, the reserved spot is awarded to the next non-qualifying player of the FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss Tournament 2021. E. 1 spot – by Rating The player having the highest standard rating in the January 2022 FIDE rating list, provided she has at least 15 standard games rated in FIDE standard rating lists 2021 or participated in events C or D. Comments 1. If there are unawarded spots after event C, they shall go to event D, but can be awarded only to players who finish in 4th place or higher. 2. If there are unawarded spots after event D, they shall go to event B, but can be awarded only to players who finish in 4th place or higher. 3. If there are still unawarded spots, they shall be awarded by rating as described in clause E. Women’s World Championship Cycle events scheduled for 2021: WGP Series, 4th leg – May Women’s World Cup – July Women’s Grand Swiss – October-November In case of any schedule modification caused by force majeure/pandemic circumstances, the FIDE Council is entitled to adjust the qualification criteria accordingly.
Ian Nepomniachtchi: “The strategy was not to lose”
The winner of the FIDE Candidates Tournament answered Eteri Kublashvili’s questions in great detail. We publish this interview, courtesy of the official website of the Chess Federation of Russia, with some minor edits. The video version is available here. – Ian, you won one of the most important events in every chess player’s career and qualified for the World Championship Match. It’s a great achievement, congratulations! So, how do you feel now? – Thank you. I feel really exhausted because it was an incredible tournament in many, many senses of the word. First of all, I guess it took 400 days from start to finish, it is kind of outstanding. Well, when you read about chess history, players were travelling by sea, from America to Europe and so on… In our times, you know, it’s not romantic at all because of the global pandemic thing. I think the most difficult part was not playing chess, but these 13 months between the first and second legs, during which one somehow needed to keep one’s focus, needed to prepare constantly thinking about other guys: what were they doing, how did they prepare, what were they going to play, because basically, it’s one year between the tournaments and only seven games to prepare for. So, you should be ready that you’re going to face completely different players in a completely different situation. I believe, for instance, Ding played really poorly in the first leg, scoring –2, and now, in the second leg, he scored +2. He also beat me on the last day. It’s just one of the examples. – Yes, it was a very long and nervous period of expectation and negotiations, but still, in one of his interviews, Anatoly Karpov said that this one-year break would do you good because probably you would save more energy for the second part. Do you agree with this? – Well, especially now when I know the result – yes. Indeed, I’m not the person who should whine about this long break, since in the end, I won the whole thing. However, I’d say that this also would help other guys, because, you know, the Candidates Tournament is a very difficult competition, the stakes are very high, and there’s only one place, so it doesn’t matter if you finish on +1, or +2, or earn some rating: you should score the maximum amount of points, you should take the first place. Basically, you can earn some rating, you can play some good games, but all this will never make you happy unless you win the Candidates. If you remember the last year, everyone was afraid of the COVID-19. As for me, on my last training session before the tournament, I got a slight cold, but somehow it was going worse and worse and worse, and by the end of the tournament, I was feeling really bad. As far as I remember, in the last game of the first leg against Maxime, I actually skipped most of my preparation because I was feeling so bad that I just wanted to save as much energy as I could, but it produced the opposite effect. I just mixed up moves in the line that happened and quickly got a worse, almost lost position. After that game, the situation wasn’t that clear anymore. I was on a +3 score, in a commanding position, but then I ended up sharing first place on +2 with Vachier-Lagrave, and it was very bad news for me. Anyway, I was determined to show that this was just a random slump, and I was preparing hard for my next game against Anish… I was very shocked and disappointed when I learned that the tournament was stopped to be resumed “sometime in the future”. Then some time passed, and I understood that I was very far from my best conditions, so I guess this [stopping and resumption] made me a really big favourite. – What was your strategy before the second part? – The strategy was quite simple: not to lose (laughs). Because, well, it may sound funny, but in general, I had an opportunity to commentate on two last editions of the FIDE Candidates Tournament. In Moscow 2016, we commentated with Miroshnichenko, and it was only for one half of the tournament. I think I was also helping Svidler a little bit during the event but wasn’t really involved in it. In 2018, I covered the tournament fully on my Twitch channel. And I noticed that people were just going completely crazy for some reason. Perhaps the stakes are so high that they can’t help it… The smaller problem is they can’t play their best chess. They are affected by the strength of their opponents, their good preparation, and the pressure. But it goes without saying that the bigger problem is that sometimes you’re just going completely crazy, you play some moves or make some decisions you’d never make in any other circumstances. It was a big lesson for me, especially commentating on Kramnik’s games. I guess he’d played six or seven decisive games: win-loss, win-loss, win-loss… Well, OK, win and loss are the same as two draws, but they don’t bring you closer to the first place. At some point, I realized that as far as I scored +2, I was kind of lucky because the games against Wang Hao and Ding Liren at the start of the tournament went really well for me, I got something I prepared for, and I managed to convert, of course, not as smoothly as I wanted, but still. And I thought, all right, I have four White games in the second part of the tournament, while Maxime has four Blakc games. I feel that MVL is more a “white” player, he does want to push with White, it’s one of his strengths. On the other hand, his repertoire with Black is a little bit risky for such a tournament. I mean, people had one year to prepare… Last year, it
Rafael Araque wins first hybrid tournament in the Americas
The chess federations of Panama, Puerto Rico, and Colombia joined efforts to run the Hybrid Invitational Chess Tournament of Puerto Rico (April 30 – May 02), the first competition in the Americas held in the hybrid format. This new format, presented and approved by FIDE at the beginning of the year, implies that the games are played online, but the participants are physically present in a public place like a club, federation headquarters, hotel, etc. It is expected to be a good alternative to keep chess players active and alleviate the negative impact caused by the global epidemic. The 5-round Swiss tournament with classical time control brought together 30 players (10 per federation). The rating favourite Rafael Araque (Colombia) rose to the occasion and came out on top netting 4 out of 5 points. A large group of players scored 3½ points and tied for second place with Diego Zilleruelo (Puerto Rico) finishing second thanks to a greater number of victories. Carlos Neira (Panama) is third on account of better Buchholz over his competitors. Final standings: 1. Araque, Rafael (COL) – 42. Zilleruelo, Irizarry Diego (PUR) – 3½3. Neira, Carlos (PAN) – 3½4. Mendez, Andre (PAN) – 3½5. Ramos, Efren Andres (PAN) – 3½6. Fellman, Mike (PUR) – 3½7. Diaz Montes, Edwin (PUR) – 3½8. Otalora Pacheco, Carlos Eduardo (COL) – 3½9. Rojas Castillo, Leibnitz Edison (COL) – 310. Oquendo, Abel (PAN) – 3 Photo: Courtesy of the Puerto Rico Chess Federation