FIDE Council meeting 2024 8, 13 April List of Decisions published
FIDE Council meeting 2024 8, 13 April List of Decisions CM1-2024/01 To note President’s report. CM1-2024/02To approve Treasurer’s report and support the suggested 2024 expenditure ceilings. CM1-2024/03To note the Global Strategy Commission’s report. CM1-2024/04To note the Arbiters’ Commission’s report. CM1-2024/05To approve the recommendations of the Arbiters’ Commission on Seminars, Classification upgrades, Amendments to the lecturer list, FA norms and titles. CM1-2024/06To note the Qualification Commission’s report. CM1-2024/07To approve recommendations of the Qualification Commission on titles. CM1-2024/8To approve the Qualification Commission’s decision not to rate the First Saturday Nadassy 2024 February. CM1-2024/9To approve the Qualification Commission’s proposal to introduce aTournament investigation guidelines and the form. CM1-2024/10To approve the recommendations of the Trainers’ Commission on titles and Academies. CM1-2024/11To approve the recommendations of the Events Commission on titles. CM1-2024/12To note that the Prahova County Chess Association has withdrawn from organising the FIDE World Schools Team Championships 2024 CM1-2024/13To decide on the venues regarding the FIDE WorldCadet U8, U10, U12 Championships 2024 and FIDE World Senior Championship 2024 by the end of April 2024. CM1-2024/14To note the Fair Play Commission’s report. CM1-2024/15To approve the recommendations of the Fair Play Commission on titles. CM1-2024/16To refer the proposals of the Fair Play Commission related toFIDE Fair Play Definitions, FPL Title Regulations, FPL Appointment Regulations, FPL Financial Regulations, Fair Play protection measures and Fair Play Regulationsto the relevant FIDE Commissions’ review and comments and to examine final updated versions of the proposals. CM1-2024/17To note the FPL Commission’s appeal against the FIDE Arbiters Disciplinary Subcommittee (DSC) decision regarding Mr.Biagioli and request the President to communicate to Mr.Biagioli, the FPL Commission and the ARB Commission the opinion of the Council. CM1-2024/18To note the Technical Commission’s report. CM1-2024/19To recognise Chess Online Pairing Programme (COPP)as a FIDE Endorsed product. CM1-2024/20To approve the Technical Commission’s proposal regarding Basic Rules for Swiss System.Table of changes. CM1-2024/21To approve the Technical Commission’s proposal regarding FIDE (Dutch) System.Table of changes. CM1-2024/22To approve the Technical Commission’s proposal regarding References for General Handling Rules for Swiss Tournaments, Dubov System, Burstein System, other FIDE-approved pairings systems, FIDE-approved accelerated systems. CM1-2024/23To note the Rules Commission’s report. CM1-2024/24To note the Commission’s for Women’s Chess report. CM1-2024/25To note the Chess in Multi Sports Games Committee’s report. CM1-2024/26To note the Planning and Development Commission’s report. CM1-2024/27To note the Chess in Education Commission’s report. CM1-2024/28To approve the recommendations of the Chess in Education Commission on titles. CM1-2024/29To note Continental Presidents’ reports. CM1-2024/30To appoint FIDE Executive Director Mr. V. Bologan as a FIDE Council’s representative for discussions with the relevant authorities of the country and Chess Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mr.Bologan shall come back to the Council with specific proposals on how to improve the situation related to the Chess Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina by June 3, 2024. CM1-2024/31To note the FIDE100 Awards structure and timeline. CM1-2024/32To confirm Ms. Elena Donaldson-Akhmilovskaya, Ms. Nana Alexandria, Ms. Zhu Chen, Mr.Efim Geller, Mr. Robert Hübner, Mr. Vladimir Kramnik, Ms. Irina Levitina, Mr.Fredrik Olafsson, Mr. Oscar Panno, and Mr.Lev Polugaevsky, as FIDE inductees to the World Chess Hall of Fame for the year 2024. CM1-2024/33 To hold the 2024 2ndFIDE Council meeting in July 2024.
EWCC 2024: Three in the lead at midpoint
The European Women’s Chess Championship 2024 is halfway through. With five rounds to go, three players are sharing the lead on 4.5/5: IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva (AZE, 2377), IM Marta Garcia Martin (ESP, 2349) and 15-year-old WCM Bozhena Piddubna (UKR, 2005). The Round 4 top board encounter between Ulviyya Fatliyava Marta Garcia Martin ended in a draw after precise play by the opponents. This draw allowed 15-year-old Ukrainian WCM Bozhena Piddubna to joined Fataliyeva and Garcia Martin in the lead after defeating eight-time Spanish Champion IM Sabrina Vega Gutierrez (ESP, 2383). Getting closer to the time trouble, Vega blundered a piece and resigned a few moves later. Rated only 2005, Ukrainian talent Bozhena Piddubna has the impressive performance of 2697, and has already earned over 150 rating points! A group of 17 players follow the top trio sitting on 4/5: IM Lela Javakhishvili (GEO, 2447), WIM Martyna Wikar (POL, 2214), IM Deimante Daulyte-Cornette (FRA, 2381), IM Mai Narva (EST, 2401), IM Klaudia Kulon (POL, 2348), WIM Alicja Sliwicka (POL, 2315), IM Irina Bulmaga (ROU, 2394), GM Anna Ushenina (UKR, 2418), WGM Govhar Beydullayeva (AZE, 2402), WGM Olga Babiy (UKR, 2306), WGM Beloslava Krasteva (BUL, 2220), IM Marina Brunello (ITA, 2353), WGM Mitra Hejazipour (FRA, 2376), IM Sophie Milliet (FRA, 2392), IM Aleksandra Maltsevskaya (POL, 2393), WIM Sofiia Hryzlova (SUI, 2251) and IM Olga Zimina (ITA, 2299). All results, pairings and rankings can be found here. In Round 6 that starts on April 25 at 3 PM local time, Ulviyya Fataliyeva takes on Bozhena Piddubna while Marta Garcia Martin faces Lela Javakhishvili. You can follow the games with live commentaries by GM Alojzije Jankovic and Dragana Nikolovska on the ECU YouTube channel. Rich photo gallery with photos by ECU and Jim Laga can be found on the European Open and Women’s Individual Chess Championships Facebook page. Text and photos: ECU Official website: ewcc2024.eu/
Changes to Regulations of transferring to FIDE flag for Refugees
In an effort to further improve the position of chess players who are refugees, asylum seekers or stateless persons, FIDE has amended the regulations regarding transfer rules for playing under the FIDE flag. As of 1st May 2024, refugees and persons with similar status will have an easier way to switch to playing under the FIDE flag. This applies to players who are refugees but are unable to obtain a FIDE ID in the country where they are now permanently residing. Before being transferred to play under the FIDE Flag, players covered by the regulations should initially request in writing a transfer to the Federation of their current pace of residence. If that request is denied, a player may request a transfer to play under the FIDE flag. Importantly, FIDE players with refugee status who transfer will be exempt from paying the annual fee of 100 Euros. FIDE flag players will be eligible to participate in all official FIDE tournaments, subject to qualification criteria. “We want to make it easier for refugees and displaced people to play chess and participate in events. That is why we looked into easing the regulations for switching to the FIDE flag. We understand that refugees in foreign countries may face challenges obtaining documents due to various regulations. We hope that, at least when it comes to chess, we can make that easier and open a path for them to participate in tournaments and play the game they love,” emphasized Aleksandr Martynov, FIDE’s Legal Director.
Registration for 45th Chess Olympiad is now open
The 45th Chess Olympiad, organized by the International Chess Federation, the Hungarian Chess Federation and the National Event Management Agency, will take place from September 10-23 in Budapest, one of chess strongholds. Approximately 190 countries are expected to participate in the event hosted by the BOK Sports and Conference Centre. Registration for the 45th Chess Olympiad is open for national federations from April 18 to July 10. 937 men and 800 women, in 188 and 162 teams respectively, participated in the previous 44th Chess Olympiad, in Chennai, India. To promote gender equality, the Hungarian Federation, national federations and FIDE strive to increase women’s team participation. The Budapest Chess Olympiad is supported by the Government of Hungary. Dr. Ádám Schmidt, State Secretary for Sport, said about the event: “Hungary has had a lot of great chess players. I am delighted that we can welcome the greatest players in the world in the autumn. In sports governance, it is our aim to ensure that international sports events held in Hungary have a long-term positive impact on sports in Hungary. I hope that Hungarian chess can benefit from the attention sparked by the Chess Olympiad, and we can reach even broader audiences with this special sport.” Besides the competition, cultural and educational programs, including introductory chess sessions for children, will be available to the public. The FIDE Congress and celebrations for FIDE’s 100th anniversary will also take place in Budapest during the 45th Chess Olympiad. “The Chess Olympiad represents the pinnacle of team chess events, an honor granted only to the best chess players. The opening of the registration process for teams marks the beginning of the final phase of preparation for this great event, as the drumbeats of excitement begin to sound louder. We hope the players and federations are ready, and we trust that the organizers will provide them with all the support they need. With this year’s Chess Olympiad scheduled to take place in one of the chess capitals of the world, Budapest, we are confident that it will be a memorable experience for all participants! It is with great excitement and anticipation that we look forward to September, when the chess world will gather in Hungary – the country which has given and continues to give so much to chess,” said Arkady Dvorkovich, President of FIDE. The 45th Chess Olympiad will be held in the BOK Sports and Conference Centre, a state-of-the-art sports hall that has hosted many prestigious events, including the 2019 Hungarian Athletics Indoor Championships, the 2019 World Fencing Championships and the 2022 European Wrestling Championships. This momentous chess event with international appeal expects 2,000 players from 190 countries. Participants and guests can explore Budapest during the two weeks of the competition, boosting tourism. “There is no greater honor for a sport than to host its most prestigious competition in its own country. I see that the Chess Olympiad movement is strengthening unity in our sport, and it is our goal that everyone who wants to be a part of this joyful, global event can find their role and place, either in the organization and implementation of the Olympiad or in a lead-up event or a satellite programme. The preparations for the Chess Olympiad have electrified the chess community, and the top players are getting ready; as the host country, we can have two men’s and two women’s teams instead of 1 each, and we will also have a U25 team – we hope this will be a truly memorable experience for these young players,” Dr Zoltán Polyánszky, President of the Hungarian Chess Federation said about the 45th Chess Olympiad. Organized by the National Event Management Agency with federation cooperation, this global competition guarantees high quality. CEO of the organization, Dr Mátyás Falvai, said: “Chess has a long tradition in Hungary. Almost 100 years ago, the Hungarian team won the first and the second official Chess Olympiad. This inspires us not just to provide everything for a well-organized competition but also to show the keen interest Hungarians have in chess as a sport.” The 2024 Chess Olympiad will honor Hungarian chess heritage, welcoming players worldwide to compete in this strategic and intellectual game. The Hungarian public will have a unique opportunity to learn about chess and witness star players in action.
FIDE Candidates 2024: And it’s a wrap!
The FIDE Candidates Tournament, which captivated audiences for three weeks, is in the books. The Closing Ceremony was held at 1 Hotel Toronto, the residence of the players for almost a month. The ceremony was hosted by the tournament’s Chief Arbiter, Aris Marghetis, and charming Charlize Van Zyl, a familiar face from the FIDE broadcasts, where she conducted interviews, narrated recaps, and captured the event’s essence for viewers worldwide. The ceremony began with the national anthems of the host country, Canada, and the International Chess Federation. Aris and Charlize then shared some tournament statistics, highlighting the online viewership that reached millions and the full house at the venue, evidenced by the sold-out tickets. A video recap brought memories of the intense 14-day competition before Vlad Drkulec, President of the Chess Federation of Canada, graced the stage and delivered an inspiring speech. “It was quite an eventful competition. I would like to thank all the people who made it possible: the sponsors, the Scheinberg family and FIDE for putting this event in Canada. We are very thankful as it will help us to continue growing at a phenomenal rate. It is the most exciting thing that has been in Canada for a century or even more. We would also like to thank the members of Parliament who contributed to getting all the visas just in time, and also the army of volunteers who made this successful event. We thank all the players for coming to Canada and putting up a spectacular show for the world,” he said. Emil Sutovsky, the CEO of FIDE, expressed his gratitude on stage, thanking the Scheinberg family, the main sponsor of the event, chess fans, volunteers and all those who took part in the organization of this celebration of chess. “It is a really special moment for me… In January 2023, we announced that the event would go to Toronto. From that moment on, we started to prepare. It was a long, bumpy journey at times, but we are very proud that we managed to pull this event together, and I would like to thank everyone involved. Of course, the Scheinberg family for their continuous support. As you know, they support one major chess event that FIDE hosts every year. The 1 Hotel. It is a really special place, and we all enjoyed being here. I hope we will be here again… I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers. They were numerous. Wherever you were in this competition, you felt this warm attitude. Volunteers played an important role in creating this unique atmosphere; thank you very much.” The award ceremony then began. The champions, Gukesh D and Tan Zhongyi, were honored with unique trophies crafted from reclaimed Toronto wood, symbolizing their achievement and the enduring connection with the city they’ll carry home. The rendering of the national anthems of India and China honored the winners’ home countries. The ceremony drew to a close, leaving guests to savor the gala dinner that ensued. With a mix of celebration and a touch of melancholy, the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024 and FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2024 were officially declared closed, marking the end of a remarkable chapter of the World Chess Championship Cycle.
Update on FIDE Resolution on suspending membership of Egyptian Chess Federation
Following the FIDE Resolution of March 6, 2024, on suspending the membership of the Egyptian Chess Federation (ECF), FIDE is pleased to report a significant progress. FIDE received a partial payment towards resolving the debt that led to the suspension. In this regard, FIDE extends its gratitude to the Egyptian National Olympic Committee and personally to Dr Ashraf Sobhy, the Minister of Youth and Sports of Egypt, Eng. Yasser Edris, President of the Egyptian National Olympic Committee, and Eng. Sharif El Erian, Secretary General of the Egyptian National Olympic Committee. Also, FIDE thanks for their hard work and cooperation Interim Committee which leads Egyptian Chess Federation now: GM Ahmed Adly, (Chairman), WIM Dr. Eman Elansary (member), IA Mohamed Abdelaal (member). It is assumed that the repayment schedule for the remaining debt will be signed by the parties no later than May 31, 2024. Despite this, FIDE will begin partial payments to all affected federations in the next two weeks, that will be proportional to total amount of the funds received from the Egypt Federation. All refunds will be made based on the FIDE Regulations in force at the time of the 2023 World Championship. The procedure for imposing strict sanctions on those responsible for this situation, primarily on the former President of the Federation, Mr. Hesham Elgendy, continues and will be fully implemented. Taking into account this updated situation and the efforts made, FIDE decided to fully restore the rights of the federation, including the rights to organize tournaments, the right of players to perform under the Egyptian flag etc and recognise the Interim Committee as legitimate Federation’s Representative.
Gukesh D and Tan Zhongyi are World Championship Challengers
The 2024 FIDE Candidates has concluded. Gukesh D and Tan Zhongyi are the Challengers for the World Championship. 17-year-old Indian prodigy Gukesh is the youngest World Chess Championship Challenger in history. He will face World Champion Ding Liren in the match at the end of this year, while Tan Zhongyi will play with her compatriot Ju Wenjun in the Women’s Championship matchup. With four players vying for the top spot heading into the final round, the exciting climax made the 2024 edition of the FIDE Candidates Tournament one of the most suspense-filled Candidates tournaments in history. Gukesh D needed not to lose against Hikaru Nakamura with the black pieces to secure at least joint first, and he rose to the challenge admirably. Gukesh caught Hikaru Nakamura off-guard in the opening, swiftly achieving an equal position. Magnus Carlsen, the world’s top-rated chess player, provided live commentary on one of the streams and praised Gukesh’s 11…b4 move: “I love what Gukesh has done. It’s something I haven’t seen before.” By the 20th move, Gukesh had gained a pawn, but the position in the game was drawish. Nakamura never really risked losing, and both players logically drew the game. The tournament’s destiny was in the matchup between Fabiano Caruana and Ian Nepomniachtchi, who were both in a must-win situation. If either side won, they would have joined Gukesh in the lead and played a tiebreak for first place on the following day. This nerve-wracking game had every chess fan feeling a rollercoaster of emotions. Caruana and Nepomniachtchi quickly navigated into a complex position where victory, defeat, or a draw were all plausible outcomes. Caruana, playing with White, managed to get a completely winning position, and it looked like the tournament outcome would be decided by a playoff. However, the American player first allowed some counterplay with 39. Bh7?! (instead of 39. Bc2 or Bf5 offering Black no chances) 39…Rxg5! and then blundered on the 41st move (41. Ka1 instead of 41. Ka2), allowing Nepomniachtchi a path to a draw. However, a few moves later, Nepomniachtchi returned the favour: His move 44…Nb3 meant that White was winning again. Instead, Ian had to play 44…Ka6 to keep the position equal. On move 59, Caruana erred again, letting his advantage slip. Nepomniachtchi returned the favour a couple of moves later, and White got a winning position again. The final blunder happened on move 66. White could have wrapped it up with 66. Qe8+ Ka6 67. Qe2+ Nd3 68. Qxh2 as Black has no perpetual. Sadly for him, Caruana was the one to make the final mistake 66. Qc6+? and after 66…Ka6 67. Re7 Qf1 it was equal again with no more chances for White. Finally, on the 109th move of this excruciating game, the players agreed to a draw, making Gukesh the clear winner of the FIDE Candidates Tournament. At the start of the post-game press conference, Caruana criticized himself, remarking “I feel like an idiot.” Later, going through the game, Caruana was murmuring “but it’s amazing not to win this position…” At the tournament’s conclusion, Gukesh commented joyfully, “I am so relieved and so happy. Following this crazy game [Caruana-Nepomniachtchi], I was completely emotional. Now I am feeling quite good.” From the players tied for second place, the Sonneborn-Berger tiebreak puts Hikaru Nakamura in second place and Ian Nepomniachtchi in third, with Caruana finishing fourth. Tan Zhongyi, the leader of the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, needed merely a draw to secure her triumph. Facing Anna Muzychuk with the black pieces, Tan ventured into a sharp line of the Sicilian Defense. It was evident she was playing according to her preparation, as by move 15, she was already 5 minutes ahead of her clock. On move 16, with 45 minutes down on her clock, Anna Muzychuk made a dubious move 16. Qd3, and Tan started thinking for the first time in the game. She found the best continuation and obtained a solid advantage, but sadly, she did not manage to convert it to a full point. The game ended in a draw, which was a fine result for Tan Zhongyi, who claimed the overall victory and became the next Challenger for the Women’s World Championship title. The runner-up going into the last round, Lei Tingjie, was playing with White against Humpy Koneru. Lei entered a sharp and complex position, with White being a pawn down but with enough compensation in piece activity. On move 23, Lei played one of the most beautiful moves of the whole tournament. The Chinese GM sacrificed her queen with 23. Qxa5! for an attack on the centralized black king. Black was forced to return the queen as the combination unfolded. When the dust settled, Black up an exchange in the endgame, but White had compensation with the greater activity. However, Lei made a mistake with 31. Rxe6, instead of pushing her passed pawn forward with 31. d7. After that, Black’s king became very active on the queenside, the powerful d6 pawn fell, and Koneru’s position became a winning one – a disappointing finish for Lei Tingjie. As a result of this loss, she was pushed down to third place in the standings, while her opponent Humpy Koneru, who started slowly in the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, played a great second half of the event to finish second. Vaishali R won her fifth game in a row, this time against Kateryna Lagno, to also share second place on points; the tiebreak criteria puts her in fourth place. Vaishali, who finally found her momentum, is surely one of the players who’s unhappy that the tournament is over! Final Standings after Round 14: Open: 1. Gukesh – 92. Nakamura – 8½3. Nepomniachtchi – 8½4. Caruana – 8½5. Praggnanandhaa – 76. Vidit – 67. Firouzja – 58. Abasov – 3½ Women’s: 1. Tan – 92. Koneru – 7½3. Lei – 7½4. Vaishali – 7½5. Goryachkina – 76. Lagno – 6½7. Salimova – 5½8. A. Muzychuk – 5½ Written by WGM Anna Burtasova Photos: Michal Walusza and Maria Emelianova/Chess.com Official website: candidates2024.fide.com/ Partners:
Vitaliy Bernadskiy wins 21st Bangkok Chess Club Open
Vitaliy Bernadskiy emerged triumphant in the 21st Bangkok Chess Club Open. The top seed Ukrainian GM scored an impressive 7.5/9 and tied for first place with Guha Mitrabha of India but came out on top thanks to a superior Buchholz. The 21st Bangkok Chess Club Open, supported by the FIDE Aid Package, took place at the luxurious Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa from April 14-21, 2024. Hua Hin, a popular resort town, has recently become a magnet for local tourists and Western retirees. This year, 335 participants hailing from 41 different countries have congregated in Thailand, making the BCC Open once more a staple of Asia’s chess calendar. While this number is not a record, what was remarkable about the 2024 edition is the sharp increase in players representing India. More than a hundred showed up in Hua Hin, representing the bulk of titled players in attendance. The competition, a 9-round Swiss tournament was a very close race of the top seeds and a few upcoming youngsters with Bernadskiy grabbing the sole lead in the penultimate round. Coming into the final round a half-point ahead of a group of five players Vitaliy made a quick draw with Denis Makhnev, which was enough to clinch the title. Only Guha Mitrabha (pictured below) managed to catch up with Bernadskiy to tie for first place after defeating young FM Reja Neer Manon of Bangladesh. The latter became a tournament’s revelation, finishing seventh and picking up a whopping 121 rating points. As many as four players tied for third place, with Denis Makhnev completing the podium thanks to a greater number of wins. Final standings: 1 GM Bernadskiy, Vitaliy UKR 2561 7½ 2 GM Mitrabha, Guha IND 2537 7½ 3 GM Makhnev, Denis KAZ 2516 7 4 IM Srihari, L R IND 2482 7 5 GM Das, Sayantan IND 2507 7 6 IM Morris, James AUS 2432 7 7 FM Manon, Reja Neer BAN 2285 6½ 8 IM Urazayev, Arystanbek KAZ 2471 6½ 9 GM Zhao, Zong-Yuan AUS 2485 6½ 10 GM Pranesh, M IND 2538 6½ Complete standings Photos: Bangkok Chess Club Facebook Official website: bangkokchess.com/
European Women’s Championship starts in Rhodes
UPDATE: April 22 Three rounds have been played at the European Women’s Chess Championship 2024 in Rhodes, Greece with six players sharing the lead with a perfect 3/3 score: IM Klaudia Kulon (POL, 2348), IM Mai Narva (EST, 2401), IM Marta Garcia Martin (ESP, 2349), WIM Natacha Benmesbah (FRA, 2306), WIM Martyna Wikar (POL, 2214) and IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva (AZE, 2377). Playing on the first board in Round 3, IM Klaudia Kulon toppled the top seed IM Yuliia Osmak (UKR, 2459). After Osmak failed to find a correct middlegame plan on the black side of Scotch Game, Kulon got a clear edge and converted it into a victory on move 37. IM Klaudia Kulon defeated the top seed IM Yuliia Osmak; Photo: ECU IM Mai Narva (EST, 2401) beat FM Nadya Toncheva (BUL, 2258), WIM Natacha Benmesbah (FRA, 2306) won her game against higher-rated IM Irina Bulmaga (ROU, 2394), IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva (AZE, 2377) outplayed WGM Beloslava Krasteva (BUL, 2220), WIM Martyna Wikar (POL, 2214) prevailed over IM Pauline Guichard (FRA, 2362) and IM Marta Garcia Martin (ESP, 2349) defeated WFM Ronit Levitan (ISR, 2187). IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva; Photo: ECU As many as 26 players are trailing the leaders by a half-point 2.5 points, including one of the top-seeds IM Dinara Wagner (GER, 2453) who yesterday delivered a beautiful mating attack against WIM Michalina Rudzinska (POL, 2302). Standings after Round 3 Round 4 is scheduled for April 22, starting at 14:00 CEST The European Women’s Chess Championship 2024 began this Friday in Rhodes, Greece with the drawing of lots. In the presence of the Chief Arbiter Aleksandra Dimitrijevic, former Women’s World Champion Antoaneta Stefanova picked a Black pawn. It means that the top-seeded player in the tournament will play as Black on the first board. Round 1 pairings The event taking place April 18-30 at the 5-star “Rodos Palace” Conference Hotel with the first round is scheduled for April 19. The 9-rond Swiss tournament with classical time control brought together 183 players coming from 35 European federations and is set to be the largest European Women’s Championship ever. It boasts of a very strong line-up headlined by IM Yuliia Osmak (UKR, 2459), IM Marsel Efroimski (ISR, 2457), GM Bella Khotenashvili (GEO, 2454), IM Dinara Wagner (GER, 2453), GM Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL, 2447), IM Lela Javakhishvili (GEO, 2446), GM Nino Batsiashvili (GEO, 2445), IM Gunay Mammadzada (AZE, 2436), GM Monika Socko (POL, 2428) and IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE, 2424). Video preview of the event The European Individual Women’s Chess Championship 2024 is a qualification event for the FIDE Women’s World Cup. According to the decision of the European Chess Union, at least 10 players will qualify. The total prize fund of the Championship is 60,000 EUR with 10,000 EUR reserved for the champion. Live broadcast of the event can be exclusively followed through the ECU YouTube channel, with commentaries by GM Alojzije Jankovic and Dragana Nikolovska. Official regulations of the event and detailed information can be found on the official website. Starting list of players, results & pairings can be followed here. Photo: Official website
FIDE Candidates Round 13: The calm before the storm
Nothing is clear in the FIDE Candidates! The penultimate round saw some important results but everything will be decided in the final round. Gukesh is in the clear lead after defeating Firouzja, with Caruana, Nakamura, and Nepomniachtchi trailing by half a point. In the last round, it’s Nakamura faces Gukesh and Caruana takes on Nepomniachtchi: it will be one of the most exciting final rounds of the Candidates ever. Mack Hollins, wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL), made the first ceremonial move for Ian Nepomniachtchi in Round 13. The game between Nepomniachtchi and Hikaru Nakamura ended in an uneventful draw, postponing the climax to the last round. Gukesh D started somewhat slow against Alireza Firouzja and did not gain an advantage from the opening in the Ruy Lopez as White. However, as the game progressed, Firouzja opened up his position, providing White with chances to play on. “After he played 17…Re8 I felt that the position is getting a bit messy,” commented Gukesh. “After 22. Bb3, I think he got over-optimistic and started pushing for more. Although my pieces looked passive, strategically, if I consolidate, I will be better.” This is exactly what happened in the game. “I was quite happy to see 27…f5 because I wanted to win, and I thought this move would give me some chances.” This is when Gukesh started to slowly outplay his opponent and obtained a promising position after the 40-move time control. A serious mistake 45…Qg6? (instead of 45…Ne6! with the idea of 46. Qxf5 Qg7) allowed White to trade queens and enter the technically winning endgame, which Gukesh smoothly converted. Fabiano Caruana won an excruciating 89-move game against Praggnanandhaa R while on the black side of Rosslimo Attack. White committed a serious mistake on move 15 (15. Qh3), which allowed Caruana to advance his kingside pawns with tempo and secure a solid advantage. He won an exchange, but for a time, it appeared that White had managed to build a fortress and maintain the balance. However, from a practical standpoint, it was challenging to defend, as Praggnanandhaa acknowledged post-game because White always had to anticipate potential queenside breakthroughs. Caruana exercised patience and gradually improved his position, eventually opting for the 54…b5 break, which conferred a clear advantage. Nonetheless, he mishandled the situation, and White gained reasonable drawing chances. It was then Praggnanandhaa’s turn to err. Instead of pursuing active play with 67. g5 or 67. Ra1, Pragg chose the passive 67. c3 and 68. Ba1, which ultimately led to a losing position. This crucial victory places Caruana on equal footing with Nakamura and Nepomniachtchi, with all three half a point (8) behind the leader, Gukesh (8.5). Vidit Santosh Gujrathi and Nijat Abasov made a draw, a game that had no influence on the outcome of the tournament. Chess fans will be glued to the screens during Round 14 of the FIDE Candidates. All the contenders for first face one another, and three of them are in a must-win situation. Nakamura is White against Gukesh and has to push for a win. Caruana is White against Nepomniachtchi, and both of them will be playing for a victory, too, as this is the only chance to catch up or overcome Gukesh. “It’s like some sort of a movie,” remarked Fabiano Caruana about this exciting finale. “I will try to play some decent chess. If I manage, then it’s already not bad,” was Nepomniachtchi’s comment. “I am Black, so I am a bit short on options. But Fabiano will only need a win so it will be an interesting game.” “I guess I’ll go with the same strategy and try to play a good game tomorrow,” said Gukesh. Who will emerge as the last man standing, and will we witness a tiebreak for first place? Should one or more players tie for the top spot, the champion will be determined in a rapid tiebreak on April 23. In Round 13 of the Women’s Candidates, the sole decisive outcome was Vaishali R securing her fourth consecutive victory, this time defeating Lei Tingjie. Consequently, Tan Zhongyi, who settled for a brief 29-move draw against Aleksandra Goryachkina, now leads Lei by a full point. With 8.5 points to Lei’s 7.5, Tan Zhongyi will face Anna Muzychuk with White in Round 14, where a draw will be sufficient for her to clinch the Challenger title. Kateryna Lagno was on the verge of victory against Nurgyul Salimova but failed to execute the most potent continuations, ultimately agreeing to a draw. This tournament has been a series of missed chances for Lagno. Nevertheless, she remains in contention for third place (and theoretically even second) alongside Goryachkina, Vaishali, and Humpy Koneru, who drew with Anna Muzychuk. The 14th and final round of the Candidates Tournament will commence on the 21th of April at 14:30 EDT (Toronto). Standings after Round 13: Open: 1. Gukesh – 8½2-4. Caruana, Nakamura, Nepomniachtchi – 85. Praggnanandhaa – 66. Vidit – 5½7. Firouzja – 4½8. Abasov – 3½ Women’s: 1. Tan – 8½2. Lei – 7½3-6. Goryachkina, Koneru, Lagno, Vaishali – 6½7-8. A. Muzychuk, Salimova – 5 Round 14 pairings: Open: Nakamura – GukeshFirouzja – ViditAbasov – PraggnanandhaaCaruana – Nepomniachtchi Women’s: Lagno – VaishaliLei – KoneruA. Muzychuk – TanGoryachkina – Salimova Written by WGM Anna Burtasova Photos: Michal Walusza and Maria Emelianova/Chess.com Official website: candidates2024.fide.com/ Partners: