The day Switzerland showed its love for chess: FIDE100 torch ceremony in Bern
In a vibrant series of events involving Swiss chess players, children, politicians, government officials and people from all walks of life, Switzerland celebrated the 100th anniversary of FIDE with elegance and enthusiasm, staying true to the spirit of the game and its universal appeal Switzerland is a country with a significant chess history. As the official seat of FIDE (located in Lausanne), it holds a prestigious position in the chess world. Additionally, the first treasurer of FIDE was Swiss, and the Swiss Chess Federation, founded 135 years ago, predates FIDE itself. The Swiss hosted two chess Olympiads (1968 and 1982), a world championship match, and numerous important chess tournaments. It was home to the great Viktor Korchnoi and is also known for the Swiss system tournament format. Living up to its chess heritage and role as a home of the International Chess Federation, the Swiss threw a big party for chess on Sunday, April 7. For the first time in the history of the Swiss capital, Bern, an Olympic-style ceremony unfolded – as the President of FIDE, Arkady Dvorkovich, carried the torch that lit the flame on the Bundesplatz, the central square in the city, in front of the Parliament Building – the seat of political power in Switzerland. With the deep, melodious sound of the alphorn players, as if to announce Caissa’s descent from the Alpes, the torch was carried through the centre of Bern to the amazement of onlookers. Arkady Dvorkovich thanked Bern, the Swiss Chess Federation, Swiss officials and all chess enthusiasts for “coming to the event and enriching this celebration”. “We truly feel at home here in Switzerland, and we hope that this event will help get more people interested and involved in chess,” Dvorkovich said, thanking the Swiss Chess Federation for organizing the celebration. The torch ceremony was the start of several special events that took place in Bern on the day. The message from the President of the Swiss Federation The celebration also included a greeting message by the President of the Swiss Federation, Viola Amherd who thanked FIDE for its “loyalty to Switzerland”, having maintained its office in Lausanne since its foundation in 1924. Amherd wished everyone a “wonderful family celebration,” noting the FIDE motto “We are One Family” and adding: “We want the family to keep on growing”. Swiss Post commemorative stamp To commemorate the 100th anniversary of FIDE, Swiss Post (which is celebrating 175 since its foundation) issued a special 1st class stamp designed by Lausanne illustrator Catherine Pearson, which was presented on the Bundesplatz by the company’s director, Christian Levrat. A prominent Swiss politician for many years, Levrat is also a dedicated chess player. In his address – “after a night spent watching the Candidates tournament in Toronto” – Levrat said that the stamp is “a testament to the rich history of FIDE”. “Catherine Pearson created a stamp with vibrant colours that radiates joy. The geometric abstract chess pieces crisscross and intertwine, reminding us of the endless calculation of variants by sitting on the chess board. I believe it’s a great success, and I would like to thank the artist and the Swiss Chess Federation for their cooperation,” said Levrat. Thanking the Swiss Post for their gift, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich acknowledged the value of the gesture for the entire chess community, noting that “it is a beautiful stamp – modern but also showing history”. “Both FIDE and the Swiss Post have the same task – to connect people. Now, the stamp belongs to the whole world. This is a huge present to the whole chess family and keeps the tradition of issuing post stamps that make chess visible to people around the world. Thank you,” said Dvorkovich. This is only the second time that Switzerland has issued a chess stamp. The first one was issued in 1968 in celebration of the Lugano Olympiad. Chess simul and banquet True to chess tradition, the Bern celebration featured a chess simul on 32 boards, given by the former Women’s World Champion, Alexandra Kosteniuk and one of Switzerland’s greatest players – Werner Hug, who was the Junior World Champion in 1971, and Swiss champion in 1975. The simul lasted 90 minutes, and the opponents proved tricky, as both Kosteniuk and Hug lost a game. This was followed by a banquet for the FIDE and Swiss chess officials as well as distinguished guests, including the former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik and one of the leading world players in the 1980s, Artur Yusupov. During the evening, Vladimir Kramnik gave a short speech in which he shared memories of chess in Switzerland from “many years and 20 kilograms ago,” including from the famous match between him and Peter Leko in 2004 in the scenic Swiss town of Brissago. The Swiss way in chess: 50 years of youth chess and beyond Chess is recognized as a sport in Switzerland and, in recent years, has seen an increase in public visibility thanks to the nation’s chess federation, which is currently headed by André Vögtlin – an economist and headhunter by profession – who also loves chess. “The strategy of the Swiss Chess Federation is to increase the number of members because we have a demographic problem. We want to flatten the hierarchy of ages,” explains Vögtlin. “I started a project named Generation Chess, and after we had an improvement of 20 percent in two years, we renamed the project to – The New Generation. With this in mind, we thought of taking part in the celebration of FIDE100 with a chess party. The party would not be just for us but the whole chess world, the chess people in Switzerland and the new chess generation everywhere,” he explains. “We have worked for one year on this project, and we had a lot of support from FIDE, and we are happy to have pulled this off,” says the President of the Swiss Chess Federation, who is also active in several other chess initiatives – from chess for displaced
“Capture”: changing the perception of chess through photography
More than a traditional exhibition, “Capture” is a project by photographer Stev Bonhage challenging the conventional perception of chess The exhibition was opened on Saturday evening in the center of the Swiss capital, Bern. Situated in a bustling public square within Bern’s historic Old City, “Capture” invites the audience to discover the colorful world hiding behind sixty-four black and white squares. From palaces to prisons, from world champions to children in slums, chess transcends boundaries, uniting people from all walks of life. More than a relentless pursuit of victory, the 64-square game creates a world of its own, combining life experiences, hopes, dreams and sorrows. It is this human story that Stev Bonhage hopes to communicate with the audience in his first chess exhibition, showcasing his work covering top international events and FIDE’s social initiative in refugee camps and prisons, where chess is played. The exhibition’s grand opening on Saturday evening welcomed esteemed guests, including former Women’s World Champion Aleksandra Kosteniuk, alongside FIDE officials and the President of the Swiss Chess Federation, André Vögtlin. Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Deputy Chair of FIDE’s Management Board, emphasized the exhibition’s significance in broadening public perceptions of chess. “FIDE is not only for professional chess players; it is so much more. FIDE is investing in many different initiatives – for women, children, projects for people with ADHD, people in prisons and many other groups… Chess is for everyone, and this exhibition aims to showcase that. We therefore hope that people who see these photos will be engaged and inspired to take up the game,” Reziniece-Ozola said. Stev Bonhage (born in 1985 in Germany) has been photographing chess since 2022. The photographs in the exhibition are based on his monograph “Capture”, representing a visual dialogue between chess and life, seen through the lens of the camera. It is part of his broader approach in which Bonhage wants to change the way chess is perceived. “Chess is something that brings everyone together. It combines tradition and change, and in life, you need a balance of the two. I always say that I am a better player off the board than on the board thanks to what I have learnt through the game,” Bonhage said. “Chess is a game of life. If I can come close to what chess has given me, this exhibition is what I want to give back,” he added. “Capture” is sponsored by Freedom Holding Corp. – a U.S.-based financial services company that has been supporting chess events in recent years – as well as the Kazakhstan Chess Federation and France’s energy giant, TotaleEnergy. “The ambition of Stev’s project and the quality of his work resonate deeply with our company’s values and aspirations. We support every effort to enhance chess, recognizing its significance in developing human potential in both life and business. We are proud to be sponsoring this project and look forward to the exhibition traveling to other countries, spreading the message of chess,” Freedom Holding said in a statement. “FIDE is grateful to the sponsors for their belief in our organization and support of the cause to promote chess more to the wider audience,” Dana Reizniece-Ozola said. Visitors are invited to experience the “Capture” exhibition, open 24 hours a day in Bern’s public square until April 14. After Switzerland, the exhibition will travel to Morocco as part of the next phase of the FIDE 100 celebration. Photos: Stev Bonhage
Arjun Erigaisi wins III Open Chess Menorca
The third edition of Open Chess Menorca, supported by the FIDE Aid Package, took place in Ciutadella de Menorca (Spain), in the 4-star MarSenses Paradise Club from April 02-07, 2024. The 9-round Swiss tournament with classical time control brought together nearly 300 players, including such big names as Arjun Erigaisi, Nihal Sarin (both India), Vladimir Fedoseev (Slovenia), Hans Niemann (USA) and Jorden Van Foreest (Netherlands), to name a few. The race for the title was very tight with several players sharing the top position most of the way. However, after the penultimate round the rating favorite Arjun Erigaisi scored a crucial victory over his compatriot Aryan Chopra and emerged as the sole leader with 7/8, heading to the final round a half-point ahead of six players. The Indian GM made a quick draw with the white pieces against Vladimir Fedoseev and allowed Kirill Alekseenko (Austria) and Maxim Chigaev (Spain), who notched up final-round wins, to catch up with him. As a result, three players tied for place with Erigaisi claiming the title thanks to a superior Buchholz. Interestingly, Indian players won all three editions of the Menorca Open. Alekseenko and Chigaev came second and third respectively. Final standings: 1 GM Erigaisi, Arjun IND 2756 7½ 2 GM Alekseenko, Kirill AUT 2655 7½ 3 GM Chigaev, Maksim ESP 2621 7½ 4 GM Fedoseev, Vladimir SLO 2690 7 5 GM Aryan, Chopra IND 2630 7 6 GM Yuffa, Daniil ESP 2607 7 7 IM Vogel, Roven GER 2528 7 8 GM Dardha, Daniel BEL 2630 6½ 9 GM Van Foreest, Jorden NED 2668 6½ 10 GM Krzyzanowski, Marcin POL 2510 6½ Complete final standings Photos: Open Chess Menorca Facebook Official website: openchessmenorca.com/
FIDE Candidates: Nepomniachtchi and Tan Zhongyi lead going to rest day
Four rounds have been played at the FIDE Candidates in Toronto, and the first rest day is upon us. The players will have the chance to experience the April 8th solar eclipse with a Lake Ontario cruise. The tournament continues to be a treat for the fans, with a lot of uncompromising fighting chess and decisive outcomes. Our man of the day is the winner of the two previous FIDE Candidates Tournament, Ian Nepomniachtchi, who became the sole leader with a win against Vidit. Ian, playing with White, was pressing Vidit out of the opening, both on the board and on the clock. “I can’t recall any occasion when I get two Berlins in a row and manage to get a game,” said Nepomniachtchi at the press conference. “11. g4 is a very rare move. 11…Ne7 12. Nh2 was the idea of my team. Nh2 doesn’t look good, but my plan is simple: I push f4-f5 and create some forcing play.” Later in the game, Vidit failed to coordinate his defensive setup, which allowed Nepomniachtchi to use his central passed pawn and piece activity to seal the deal. With two wins and two draws, the tournament has thus far been a smooth sailing one for the two-time World Championship Challenger. Hikaru Nakamura and Praggnanandhaa R were the first to finish today. Nakamura, with the white pieces, did not manage to get much out of the opening in the Ruy Lopez and agreed that a draw was the logical result. After the game, fan-favourite Nakamura met fans in the fan zone and spent time graciously signing autographs and taking selfies with his fans. “Oh my God, it’s Hikaru!” exclaimed a fan near the entrance when the American player stepped into the hall. Many spectators have been coming to the venue with chess boards and other memorabilia with hopes of getting autographs. Fans also bought various merchandise available for sale on-site in the fan zone. Gukesh D demonstrated creative defence in his game against the top seed Fabiano Caruana. When it seemed that Caruana was applying some pressure on White, Gukesh came up with two brilliant intermediate moves which helped Black to equalise. One of the moves was 23…cxb4 instead of capturing the knight en prise. White correctly realized that he couldn’t keep the extra piece because the black pawns on the queenside were too strong. For example, Black would be winning had the continuation been 24. Be3 b3 25. Qb2 Nd5. Caruana confessed in the post-game interview that he also missed Gukesh’s follow up, 24. cxb4 Qd4! After this, the evaluation of the position was completely equal. Caruana continued to try to squeeze water from the stone, but Gukesh remained precise till the end, and the players agreed to a draw on move 72. In the final game of the open section, Alireza Firouzja was up a pawn against Nijat Abasov, but it did not make much of a difference. Firouzja’s extra pawn was a doubled pawn on the kingside, and Abasov had enough defensive resources to make this an easy draw. Nevertheless, though Firouzja attempted to exploit every opportunity, the game finished in a draw on move 64. Today, the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament had the potential to produce three decisive results from some spectacular battles. Unfortunately, only one game lived up to expectations. Nurgyul Salimova, playing with White against Humpy Koneru, bounced back from her defeat yesterday by outplaying her more-experienced opponent. “I was out of my preparation very early on. She surprised me in the opening with 5…Ne4, but the position later turned into something that I have checked. So, it was not like I was completely unfamiliar. When she started pushing the pawns, it looked scary, but it felt like I was always in control,” commented Salimova after the game. Kateryna Lagno, up a pawn, had a winning position against the tournament’s leader, Tan Zhongyi. However, Lagno blundered in time trouble and stormed out of the playing hall after the game finished in a draw. Kateryna played very natural 52. Be5? but after the precise 52…Qe6! 53. Qe4 Bxd6 had to settle for a draw. The right path is 52. Bf2! and after 52…Qxd6+ 53. Kh1 Kg7 54. Qa7 Qd1+ 55. Bg1 White’s a-pawn will eventually cost Black her bishop. Anna Muzychuk also did not manage to convert her winning position into a full point. This is the second game in a row that the Ukrainian player had to settle for a draw. Similarly to yesterday, the path to victory was not an easy one. One precise move was required in her rook endgame against two passed pawns, and Muzychuk sadly did not manage to find it. The move in question is 53. Kf7! (or 53. Rg8 with the same idea) and after 53…g4 54. Rg8 Kf4 55. Kg6 f5 56. Kh5 Kg3 57. Rg6! Kf3 58. Kh4 White stops Black’s pawns. Anna, however, opted for 53. Re4+? but it failed to 53…Kf4 54. Kxf6 g4 and Black escaped with a draw. The game between Aleksandra Goryachkina and Vaishali R was a calmer battle. It did not have the surprises and the evaluation swings of the other three games, and the opponents split a point in an equal position. The tournament will be pausing for a rest day tomorrow. As it stands, Ian Nepomniachtchi is the sole leader in the FIDE Candidates Tournament, and Tan Zhongyi is the clear leader in the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament. The fifth round of the event will commence on April 9th at 14:30 EDT (Toronto). Standings after Round 4: Open: 1. Nepomniachtchi – 32-3. Caruana, Gukesh – 2.54-8. Abasov, Firouzja, Nakamura, Vidit, Praggnanandhaa – 1.5 Women’s: 1. Tan Zhongyi – 32. Goryachkina – 2.53-4. Salimova, Lagno – 25-8. A. Muzychuk, Lei, Vaishali, Koneru – 1.5 Round 5 pairings: Open: Firouzja – NakamuraGukesh – AbasovVidit – CaruanaPraggnanandhaa – Nepomniachtchi Women’s: Lei – LagnoVaishali – A. MuzychukKoneru – GoryachkinaTan – Salimova Written by WGM Anna Burtasova Photos: Michal Walusza and Maria Emelianova/Chess.com Official website: candidates2024.fide.com/ Partners:
FIDE Candidates: Praggnanadhaa and Vaishali victorious in Round 3
The third round of the FIDE Candidates continued with a trend of spectacular games. Even though there were more draws today compared to Round 2, we still saw plenty of interesting developments. Nijat Abasov’s and Hikaru Nakamura’s game saw most of the pieces swapped off the board by move 20, and thereafter, it slowly cruised to a peaceful ending in the Exchange Variation of the Slav Defense. Nakamura commented, “If I’d known that my opponent wasn’t feeling well, I probably would have just done something random. On the other hand, if I had gone crazy and lost today, there is a very good chance the tournament would just be over for me, objectively speaking.” Gukesh D chose a very solid line against Ian Nepomniachtchi with the white pieces, and had some opportunities to press risk-free throughout the game. Ian defended impeccably to reach a draw. Facing Fabiano Caruana, Alireza Firouzja burnt a lot of time on his clock in the opening. After 11 moves into the Nezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Firouzja spent almost half of the allocated time for the first 40 moves of the game, while Fabiano Caruana used barely more than 10 minutes. It took Firouzja over half an hour before playing 9. exd4. As a result, Alireza managed to come out of the opening with an extra pawn. However, Fabiano’s piece activity and two strong bishops proved enough compensation, and both players chose to repeat the position to split a point. “I felt like I had a chance to push for more, but he defended very well. It was a good game, I think,” said Firouzja after the game. The most exciting battle in the open section today was the derby between the two Indian superstars, Vidit Santosh Gujrathi and Praggnanandhaa R. Pragg sprung a surprise on Vidit in the opening with 4…f5 and 7…Na5. Vidit spent almost 20 minutes on his eighth move before playing Nxd4 and then more than 20 minutes after that for 11. Qe2, accepting the challenge of a sharp and double-edged game. Pragg, playing with Black, gradually repelled White’s threats and took over the initiative. After several inaccuracies from Vidit, Black built upon this initiative and finally got a decisive advantage. When Vidit stopped the clock in resignation, the players spent a few moments in the playing hall amicably analysing this complicated game together. The leader in the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, Tan Zhongyi, faced Humpy Koneru with Black today. It was a calm game, as the opponents quickly repeated for a draw on move 32. “I am not really satisfied with the game. It’s not about the draw, but I couldn’t really continue with the game. She’s very well prepared,” said Koneru. In Lei Tingjie’s game against Aleksandra Goryachkina, the Chinese GM surprised her opponent with the rarely-seen Evans Gambit. “I think nowadays, every opening can be played,” said Lei. “I checked her games and saw that she only had one game in this opening. She spent a lot of time so I think it was a good choice to play this opening today.” Unfortunately, this did not lead to any spectacular attacks or sacrifices typically seen with this opening. Goryachkina promptly returned the pawn to finish the development and consolidate her position. The players soon entered an equal endgame, and a draw was agreed. Anna Muzychuk, playing with White, was very close to winning over Kateryna Lagno. Black’s king was trying to escape multiple checkmate threats by Anna’s queen and rook, but Muzychuk, unfortunately, missed the winning continuation at a critical moment. 41. Qe8 would have kept her on the path to victory. Insread Anna player 41. Rg8? but Kateryna protected the g7-pawn with 41… Ra1+ 42. Kh2 Qe5+ 43. g3 f5. As a result, Lagno found a much-needed defensive resource and managed to escape with a draw. Indian superstar Vaishali, playing with White, won a spectacular game against Nurgyul Salimova. She diligently followed her preparation in the Petroff Defence. “10. Bd4 is an interesting idea; it’s a new move,” shared Vaishali. “I did not know 10… Bd7, but just continued with my original idea of h4.” White unraveled an attack on the kingside and sacrificed her knight on f7. This caught Salimova off guard and she sadly did not manage to find the correct defense, erring right away with 16…Bg5+ (the only move maintaining the balance was 16…Bf6) and 17…Ne5. This allowed Vaishali to quickly exploit the numerous vulnerabilities around the black king and emerge as today’s heroine. “Winning a nice game always feels good,” Vaishali said with a smile at the press conference. The fourth round of the event will commence on the 7th of April at 14:30 EDT (Toronto). Standings after Round 3: Open: 1-3. Caruana, Gukesh, Nepomniachtchi – 2; 4-5. Vidit, Praggnanadhaa – 1.5; 6-8. Abasov, Firouzja, Nakamura – 1 Women’s: 1. Tan Zhongyi – 2.5; 2. Goryachkina – 2; 3-5. Vaishali, Koneru, Lagno – 1.5; 6-8. Salimova, A. Muzychuk, Lei – 1 Round 4 pairings: Open Nakamura – PraggnanandhaaNepomniachtchi – ViditCaruana – GukeshAbasov – Firouzja Women’s Lagno – TanSalimova – KoneruGoryachkina – VaishaliA. Muzychuk – Lei Written by WGM Anna Burtasova Photos: Michal Walusza and Maria Emelianova/Chess.com Official website: candidates2024.fide.com/ Partners:
FIDE Trainers Online Seminars to be held in April
Organized by the Asian Chess Federation under supervision of FIDE Trainers’ Commission, FIDE Trainers’ Online Seminars will take place from April 19-21 and April 26-28, 2024. Venue: Zoom Seminar language: English Participation fee: 200 Euros Registration deadline: April 15, 2024 Seminar program and schedule: Lecturers: FST, GM Artur Jussupow FST, GM Iossif Dorfman FST, GM Mikhail Gurevich FST, GM Alexey Dreev FST, GM Vladimir Akopian FST, GM Vladimir Malakhov Contact: FIDE Trainers’ Commission trainers@fide.com Rules and regulations: trainers.fide.com/trg-online-seminars/ Venue: Zoom Seminar language: English Participation fee: 200 Euros Registration deadline: April 21, 2024 Seminar program and schedule: Lecturers: FST, GM Iossif Dorfman FST, GM Mikhail Gurevich FST, GM Alexey Dreev FST, GM Ramesh R B FST, GM Vladimir Malakhov FST, GM Melikset Khachiyan Contact: FIDE Trainers’ Commission trainers@fide.com Rules and regulations: trainers.fide.com/trg-online-seminars/
FIDE Candidates 2024: Exciting second round sees six victories
The second round of the FIDE Candidates brought a day full of excitement. Feeling more settled in the playing hall, the players of the FIDE Candidates delivered a day full of decisive outcomes, with six out of eight games producing a winner. In the FIDE Candidates Tournament, all four games ended in victories. The first game to finish was Vidit’s brilliant spectacle against Hikaru Nakamura. Everything went right for him: first, his preparation worked perfectly, and then he managed to build up on another impressive bishop sacrifice. The novelty 8…c6 in the Berlin Defense was prepared by his team, but Vidit did not reveal who came up with this idea. On the 11th move, the Indian player offered a bishop sacrifice on h3. 11…Bxh3! This piece was poisoned, and Nakamura, realizing this, did not capture it. However, this allowed Black to develop an initiative and eventually convert it into a full point. At the post-game press conference, Vidit was brimming with delight, calling this game one of the best ones in his career. In our Indian derby between two prodigies, Gukesh D gained the upper hand on Praggnanandhaa R. It was a complicated game requiring precise defence, which Gukesh executed perfectly. Praggnanandhaa’s initiative petered out, allowing Gukesh, playing with Black, to capitalize on his extra material. The rating favourite of the event, Fabiano Caruana, defeated the underdog Nijat Abasov in a confident manner that did not leave his opponent many opportunities for counterplay. “The game was quite tough; there was a lot of calculation. I think I got a lucky break at the end because he collapsed in a very surprising way by taking on b3, 34…Bxb3.” After 34…Bxb3? (better was 34…Qe6) 35. Qxb3 Rxa5? 36.Rf1! White penetrates to f7 with decisive effect as 36…R5a7 fails to 37.e6! He added, “It’s very complicated, and it’s the type of advantage where you make one mistake and it completely slips away.” The last game to finish was the wild encounter between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Alireza Firouzja, where Nepomniachtchi’s king marched to the center of the board and surprisingly found shelter from Black’s desperate attack. The players were following the 2022 game between Durarbayli and Rodshtein (which White won) in the Berlin Defense up to move 16. This is when Firouzja deviated and made the bold choice of capturing the pawn on d3. A very interesting position emerged as a result, with White a pawn down and a damaged kingside structure, but with a lot of piece activity and attacking possibilities as compensation. Nepomniachtchi confessed that he was out of concrete preparation after 18…Qe8, but decided to play h4 on move 19, which is the recommended move in the other lines he remembered. Wild complications ensued, but Nepomniachtchi was always confident that he was the only one pressing for a win. In the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, Tan Zhongyi extended her lead with a second victory. She gradually outplayed Vaishali R, finishing the game off with a knight sacrifice. 34. Ng6+! and Black immediately capitulated in view of 34…Kg8 35. Nxe7+ followed by 36. gxf6 1-0 Tan confessed that she did not use her opening preparation but was more familiar with the resulting position, which helped her to develop the right plan and execute it. The rating favourite of the event, Aleksandra Goryachkina, won against Anna Muzychuk and is now trailing Tan by half a point. She enjoyed a comfortable advantage in the endgame, which emerged from the Slav Defense. “I liked how I played. It was a complicated position, but for Black, it was more difficult to play, and my opponent did not manage to defend successfully”, said Goryachkina after the game. When asked about her general plan for this event, she said, “I will be a typical athlete and say that I have a plan and I am following it,” referencing a famous sports meme. The games between Kateryna Lagno and Humpy Koneru, as well as Nurgyul Salimova and Lei Tingjie, were drawn. The third round of the event will commence on the 6th of April at 14:30 EDT (Toronto). Standings after Round 2 Open: 1-4. Caruana, Gukesh, Nepomniachtchi, Vidit – 1.5; 5-8. Abasov, Firouzja, Nakamura, Praggnanandhaa – 0.5 Women: 1. Tan Zhongyi – 2; 2. Goryachkina – 1.5; 3-5. Koneru, Salimova, Lagno – 1; Muzychuk, Lei, Vaishali R – 0.5 Round 3 pairings: Open Abasov – NakamuraFirouzja – CaruanaGukesh D – NepomniachtchiVidit – Praggnanandhaa R Women Anna Muzychuk – LagnoLei – GoryachkinaVaishali R – SalimovaKoneru – Tan Written by WGM Anna Burtasova Photos: Michal Walusza and Maria Emelianova/Chess.com Official website: candidates2024.fide.com/ Partners:
FIDE Candidates: Tan Zhongyi leads after first round
After the dust has settled, the inaugural round of the Candidates Tournament brought us one decisive result – Tan Zhongyi’s win over Lei Tingjie – and many exciting games which finished peacefully. The FIDE Candidates Tournament and FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament have kicked off in Toronto. Sixteen contenders—eight men and eight women – battle to be crowned the Challenger for the World Championship and are playing under the same roof at the Great Hall, located in West Queen West, the city’s centre of artistic innovation. In the Candidates Tournament, all the games finished in draws. Nijat Abasov, playing Ian Nepomniachtchi, was one of the first players to leave the playing hall. Abasov, who’s wearing a special knee brace, revealed he was injured during a soccer game and was barely walking a week ago. “Everyone told me I had to work on my physical shape, so I played a football match, and unfortunately, I tore my ACL. After that, I had to undergo surgery about a month ago, and now I am recovering.” Despite this setback, the injury did not stop him from keeping the game solid and making a comfortable draw with White against Nepomniachtchi, the winner of the previous two Candidates Tournaments. The Indian derby between Gukesh and Vidit saw a brilliant 17…Bg4 from Vidit, who was playing with the black pieces. After the game, he was not sure that this was the right way to proceed, as it led to a draw, but he could not resist executing such a beautiful move. For Gukesh, this move came as a surprise, but he had sufficient time remaining on the clock to realise that the bishop was poisoned and, in fact, posed no danger. Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura, two spectator favourites, did not disappoint with an exciting game. Nakamura chose the bold and risky 5…e5, which came as an unexpected surprise for Caruana, who, of course, knew that “this move exists” but had not analysed it in depth before the game. Nevertheless, Caruana got a comfortable position, where one single mistake could cost Black the game. With little time on the clock remaining and no increment, he made a decision to go into a line with no risk. This, however, also brought about an easier defence for Black and the subsequent draw. Both players were satisfied with the result and considered this a fine start to their tournament. The last players to finish in the first round of the Candidates Tournament were Praggnanandhaa and Alireza Firouzja. The two young stars played a very double-edged game, with both sides striving to reach the opponent’s king. The computer evaluation, however, was always nearly equal, and the game ended with a perpetual check. In the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, Tan Zhongyi raced into an early lead with a win over Lei Tingjie. After winning a pawn, she demonstrated impeccable endgame technique until the very end, outplaying her compatriot in and not leaving Lei any chance for counterplay. Tan Zhongyi is a former Women’s World Champion, winning her title in a knockout format in 2017 and subsequently losing it to her compatriot and current Women’s World Champion, Ju Wenjun. This first-round win is a strong indication to the rest of her colleagues that she’s serious in her pursuit of regaining the Women’s World Champion title. The remaining three matchups, Aleksandra Goryachkina vs Kateryna Lagno, Vaishali R vs Humpy Koneru, and Anna Muzychuk vs Nurgyul Salimova, were all fairly balanced, and draws came as a logical result. Nurgyul Salimova, playing in her very first Candidates, said that she was happy to start the event with a draw and become familiar with the playing hall and the tournament routine to offset her pre-tournament nervousness and excitement. The venue’s fan zone was buzzing with excitement, too. Eric Hansen and Aman Hambleton, popularly known as the Chessbrahs, were the hosts, conducting live commentary and engaging with the audience. The second round will commence on April 5th at 2:30 pm EDT (Toronto). Standings after Round 1: FIDE Candidates Tournament: 1-8. Caruana, Abasov, Firouzja, Gukesh D, Vidit, Praggnanandhaa R, Nepomniachtchi, Nakamura – 0.5 points FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament: 1. Tan – 1; 2-7. Goryachkina, Anna Muzychuk, Vaishali R, Koneru, Salimova, Lagno – 0.5; 8. Lei – 0 Round 2 pairings: FIDE Candidates Tournament: Nakamura – ViditPraggnanandhaa R – Gukesh DNepomniachtchi – FirouzjaCaruana – Abasov FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament: Lagno – KoneruTan – Vaishali RSalimova – LeiGoryachkina – Anna Muzychuk Written by WGM Anna Burtasova Photos: Michal Walusza and Maria Emelianova//Chess.com Official website: candidates2024.fide.com/ Partners:
16th edition of “Preparation of Teachers” course announced
Embark on an extraordinary journey into the world of chess education! Get ready for the 16th edition of the “Preparation of Teachers” course hosted by the FIDE Chess in Education Commission. When: April 26-28, 2024 Where: Online, conducted in English Presenters: commission members Anzel Laubscher and Boris Bruhn Target audience: Teachers, chess educators, beginner and advanced players with basic chess knowledge, and anyone with experience working with children. Read the detailed course description here. Don’t miss out on your ticket to becoming a certified FIDE School Instructor! Plus, gain exclusive lifelong access to the premium OPENING MASTER chess databases upon successful completion. Secure your spot now by registering here. Registration closes on April 22, with only 20 spots available! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at edu.courses@fide.com
FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024 opens in Toronto
The historic FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024 kicked off in Toronto with the inaugural press conference and the Opening Ceremony at the welcoming 1 Hotel Toronto, a sustainable sanctuary in the heart of downtown. George Sovatzis, the Director of Sales and Marketing, set the tone with a warm welcome address. “We take immense pride in being part of this competition as it makes its North American debut,” he said. The press conference, moderated by Anna Burtasova, the event’s Press Officer, featured notable speakers: Emil Sutovsky, CEO of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Vladimir Drkulec, President of the Chess Federation of Canada Fabiano Caruana (USA), the top-rated contender in the FIDE Candidates Tournament Vaishali R (India), one of the youngest participants in the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament When asked about the decision to host the tournament in Toronto, Sutovsky explained, “North America has not seen world championship cycle competitions. However, we were well aware of the chess boom in Canada, with a lot of young players emerging. There are a lot of chess fans in the country. The Scheinberg family’s support for staging the event here, coupled with the backing of the Chess Federation of Canada, made it a logical choice. Judging by the feedback we are getting, by the interest from the fans and the media and by the government’s support, it was the right decision.” Drkulec addressed a recent hiccup that had the community on edge: visa delays for the participants. “We embarked on an adventure to mobilize our entire chess community, ensuring timely visas for the players. I’ve never witnessed so many chess parents, former players, current players, and many others rallying together. We’ve managed to connect with over a dozen Members of Parliament and four Ministers, ultimately resolving the situation. It was amazing to get all this support.” Caruana said he doesn’t feel the pressure from the fact that he’s the rating favourite of the event. “We know that every player here can potentially win the tournament if they bring their best game. The numbers say something about the past performances, but I think it will be a mistake to take any of the players lightly.” The upcoming tournament marks a series of firsts. Not only is Canada hosting this prestigious event as it debuts in North America, the FIDE Candidates Tournament and the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament are being played under one roof for the very first time. Additionally, it’s a momentous occasion as siblings Vaishali R and Praggnanandhaa R compete side by side in this high-caliber event, which has never occurred before. “We discuss our games all the time and help each other throughout various events,” confirmed Vaishali. “We also have our mother here with us; this family support is very important to us.” The Opening Ceremony of the tournament set a delightful tone. Aris Marghetis, the Chief Arbiter, donned a different hat as he hosted the event alongside the charming Charlize Van Zyl. Drkulec took the stage first, expressing gratitude to FIDE and the Scheinberg Family, the main sponsor of the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024, without whom this event would not have been possible. Adding a touch of humor, Kevin Vuong, Member of Parliament for Spadina-Fort York, shared a witty anecdote from his own days as a chess player 22 years ago. Each player was then invited to the stage to receive a welcome bag filled with tournament merchandise. A special question awaited them, such as “Oppenheimer or Barbie?” added a personal touch to the proceedings. Alireza Firouzja enthusiastically exclaimed, “Barbie!” while Ian Nepomniachtchi playfully disagreed by declaring, “Definitely Oppenheimer!” Sutovsky then took to stage and awarded the FIDE Medal of Merit to Isai Scheinberg. The significance of this award is marked by the fact that it had not been presented since 1994. In his acceptance speech, Isai shared that his support for chess was a tribute to his father, who had participated in two Chess Olympiads before pursuing a career in medicine. Both tournaments will be set in motion on April 4 at 14:30 local time with the first round. Watch the event live on FIDE YouTube with star commentators GM Viswanathan Anand and GM Irina Krush. Written by WGM Anna Burtasova Photos: Michal Walusza Official website: candidates2024.fide.com/ Partners: