Aktobe Open – Vladimir Dvorkovich Memorial announced
The Kazakhstan Chess Federation invites you to participate in the International Chess Tournament Aktobe Open 2024, dedicated to the memory of Vladimir Dvorkovich, a renowned arbiter and prominent figure in the chess world. The tournament is supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The general partner is Freedom Holding Corp. while Aktobe Copper Company acts as a partner of the competition. Dates: from May 24 (day of arrival) to June 3 (day of departure). Location: ACE Tennis Club, 2, Mangilik El St., Aktobe. The Aktobe Open will be held in two sections: Masters Tournament for GM, FM, IM, WGM, WIM, and WFM ranked 2400 and above (men) and 2200 and above (women) as of May 1, 2024. The organizing committee provides support only for invited athletes with a rating above 2600 as of May 1, 2024 (the list of invited participants is formed by the Kazakhstan Chess Federation). Open Tournament is for players rated 1800 – 2399 as of May 1, 2024. Both events are 9-round Swiss tournaments with classical time control (90 minutes + 30 seconds increment). The guaranteed prize fund for the Masters Tournament is 45,000,000 KZT (approximately $100,000), with 9,000,000 KZT (approximately $20,000) going to a winner. Special prizes will be awarded to the three best women and three best Kazakhstani players. The guaranteed prize fund for the Open Tournament is 4,550,000 KZT. Special prizes will be awarded to the best women, veterans (born in 1964 or earlier), and boys and girls under 14 and under 10. Applications for participation in tournaments are submitted on the website of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation: kazchess.kz/pay Regulations for Aktobe Open – Vladimir Dvorkovich Memorial (pdf)
Daniel Barrish and Jesse February win South African Closed Championship
Congratulations to FM Daniel Barrish and WIM Jesse February, winners of the 2024 South African Closed Chess Championships hosted by the Cape Town Chess Federation at the Newlands Cricket Ground. Both open and women’s tournaments were 12-player round robins with classical time control. Fifth seed Daniel Barrish delivered an impressive performance, taking clear first in the open section, finishing a full point ahead of the runner-up FM Caleb Levitan. The champion scored 8/11 and became the only unbeaten player in the tournament. IM Jan Karsten netted 6.5/11 and won bronze. Final standings open: 1 FM Barrish, Daniel 2218 8 2 FM Levitan, Caleb 2235 7 3 IM Karsten, Jan 2323 6½ 4 Mnyasta, Charlton 2123 6 FM Mhango, Banele 2193 6 6 IM Cawdery, Daniel 2380 6 7 Mnguni, Jacob 2134 6 8 IM Kobese, Watu 2268 6 9 FM Klaasen, Calvin 2155 5½ 10 FM Simpson, Michael 2093 4 11 Mfazwe, Lutho 1956 2½ 12 CM Khumalo, Keith 2079 2½ Fresh from her triumph in the African Championship, Jesse February dominated the women’s competition, conceding her opponents just a half-point. WIM Charlize Van Zyl (9/11) and WFM Chloe Badenhorst (8/11) completed the podium. Final standings women: 1 WIM February, Jesse 1920 10½ 2 WIM Van Zyl, Charlize 1909 9 3 WFM Badenhorst, Chloe 1917 8 4 Klaasen, Robyn 1746 6½ 5 Nel, Hayley 1678 6 6 Strong, Davida 1672 5½ 7 Boshoma, Chisomo 1780 5 8 Grobbelaar, Jacqui 1726 4½ 9 Rautenbach, Helen 1586 3½ 10 WIM Laubscher, Anzel 1820 3 11 Joya, Imkhita 1656 2½ 12 Van Zyl, Bea 1507 2 The senior section was jointly won by CM Dr Lyndon Bouah and FM Dr Shabier Bhawoodien, who could not be separated by tie-breaks. Based on the competition results, the following players were selected to represent South Africa at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary in September 2024: OPEN: FM Daniel BarrishFM Caleb Levitan (13 years old)IM Jan Karsten (15 years old)Charlton Mnyasta (18 years old)FM Banele Mhango LADIES: WIM Jesse FebruaryWIM Charlize van ZylWFM Chloe Badenhorst (17 years old)Robyn KlaasenHayley Nel (17 years old) Photo: Flashlight Pictures
Kirill Alekseenko trimphs in VIII Open Semana Santa
GM Kirill Alekseenko (Austria) is the triumphant champion of the eighth edition of the prestigious Semana Santa (Holy Week) International Chess Open. This highly anticipated event, supported by the FIDE Aid Package, was hosted in the Ginés Alenda pavilion in San Vicente del Raspeig from March 27 to April 1, witnessing an impressive turnout of nearly 600 players. Alekseenko turned in a commanding performance, scoring 8/9 and taking clear first thanks to a crucial final-round victory over Stamatis Kourkoulos-Arditis (Greece). GM Kasper Piorun (Poland), who drew his last-round game, and IM Dimitris Alexakis (Greece) finished a half-point behind the champion and tied for second place, with the former claiming silver thanks to a better Buchholz. Final standings Group A There was a three-way tie for the top position in the B Tournament. Based on the Buchholz tiebreaker, Zhuravlev (FIDE) came out on top, followed by Carretero Ajo in second and Vila Castillo (both Spain) in third. Impressively, throughout the course of the tournament, a total of seven title norms were successfully completed, including six IM and one GM. Final standings Group B The closing ceremony took place in the sports hall, and the prizes were awarded by the president of the Dama Negra Chess Club and organizer of the event, Patricia Claros, the representative of Chess Excelsior, David García, the representative of the International Chess Federation, Patrick Van Hoolandt, the president of the Chess Federation of the Valencian Community, Emilio González Gómez and the editor of Europe Echecs, Jean Michel Pechine. Photos: Luis Barona
FIDE World Cup Under 8, 10, 12: Personal right players
According to 3. 4. A of WC regulations, top 3 players from each age category (6 X 3 = 18 players) by FIDE standard rating (1st April 2024) have personal rights to participate. The above mentioned personal right players will be provided with free full board accommodation (in twin share rooms) from 22 of June (lunch) to 3 of July (breakfast). The personal right players will also get compensation for air-tickets – 600 Euros for players from Europe and 1200 for players from other continents. The list of top players by FIDE standard rating (1st April 2024): Open 8 Name FED ELO 1 Protopopescu, Luca FRA 1929 2 McCallum, Elliot CRO 1850 3 Stanisic, Lukas CAN 1840 Girls 8 Name FED ELO 1 Xin, Stella USA 1807 2 Balakanova, Azaliya KAZ 1728 3 Zhou, Abigail USA 1702 Open 10 Name FED ELO 1 Llari, Marc FRA 2182 2 Chakrabarty, Reyaansh AUS 2085 3 Ivanovic, Leonid SRB 2082 Girls 10 Name FED ELO 1 Sivanandan, Bodhana ENG 2065 2 Charvi A IND 1956 3 Amr Abid, Nourseen EGY 1893 Open 12 Name FED ELO 1 Oro, Faustino ARG 2330 2 Mendes Aaron Reeve CAN 2288 3 Filindash, Nikita CZE 2282 Girls 12 Name FED ELO 1 Li, Iris USA 2136 2 Sivanandan, Bodhana ENG 2065 3 Quickpen, Deborah NGR 1984 The two categories below also have personal rights (only free full board in twin share rooms) to participate in World Cup in Batumi: 6 nominations (one in each age category) shall be sent by the Continental President’s offices: 6 nominations X 4 continents = totally 24 players. Specific registrations are national federations responsibility. Top 3 winners of the corresponding age – category or a higher age category of the 2023 World Cadets Championships (Egypt), if the age stipulation designated in the regulations is met.https://chess-results.com/tnr832523.aspx?lan=1&art=28&flag=30 DEADLINES: The registration deadline is April 22th 2024. If any player or any continent does not accept the invitation by April 22th 2024, the places will become additional organizer’ wildcards. In order to ensure proper tournament standards, FIDE member federations must fully complete the excel registration form and send it back to the contact person before the registration deadline April 22th 2024. Incomplete registrations will not be accepted. WC will be played with two stages. Stage 1 will be a 7-round Swiss system tournament. In Stage 2, players who finish in the same position in each group will play against each other. PRIZES: 6 Playing categories X 3 Players each category = 18 players (Open 8, 10, 12 + Girls 8, 10, 12) I Cup, Medal, Diploma, MacBook Air 2022 II Cup, Medal, Diploma, iPhone 15 III Cup, Medal, Diploma, IPAD The three top finishers in each age category/any gender will get free FB (in twin share rooms with bath and/or shower) for the World Cadets championship of the same year. Each participant will receive an appropriate certificate. Contact Information E-mail: wcc@fide.com Official website: wcc2024.fide.com/ World Cup U8-10-12 players with personal rights (pdf) Photo: Mark Livshitz
World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships 2024 to take place in August
FIDE is proud to announce the second edition of the World Team Championship, which will this time also include a World Blitz Team Championship Following the success of the inaugural tournament held in Dusseldorf (Germany) in August 2023, the second event aims to bring more excitement and drama with the inclusion of the Blitz competition. “We are very excited that this event is going into its second season and that we have also added another competition to the format, making it even more exciting. Alongside the World Corporate Championship we are organizing this year, the World Rapid and Blitz Team events are another example of FIDE’s continued investment in promoting chess to different audiences,” said FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich. The tournament will be held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, between August 1 and 6, and is expected to bring together a number of top world professionals and chess lovers, as was the case in the first edition in Dusseldorf in 2023. Each team must have at least six but no more than nine players. Among them, they have to have at least one woman player as well as a player who has never achieved a 2000 Elo Rating, in either Rapid or Blitz, up to and including on the July 2024 FIDE rating list. In a significant promotional boost for the event, former world champion Magnus Carlsen – who is also the world’s top-rated chess player (and holder of the world titles in Rapid and Blitz) – will also be playing in the Championships. World #1 will strengthen WR Team, which won the inaugural edition, and is ready to defend their title and try to take the first team crown in the Blitz. Photo: Anna Shtourman The event will be broadcast live online with star commentators and special guests. Prizes The World Rapid and Blitz Championship features a total prize fund of 350,000 Euros (380,000 US dollars), with 250,000 allocated for the Rapid and 100,000 for the Blitz. Apart from the financial rewards, every member of the top three placed teams (players and captains) will receive a medal. Format and Time Control The Rapid and Blitz tournaments will be played under different pairing regulations. The Rapid tournament will consist of 12 rounds played under the Swiss system, with a time control of 15 minutes and a 10-second increment per move. The Blitz tournament will have two stages: in the first stage, teams will be grouped into pools based on their strength. Each pool shall play a round-robin tournament with no more than seven rounds. From this stage, 16 teams will qualify for the second phase – the knockout tournament. The time control for the Blitz will be three minutes for the whole game with an increment of two seconds per move, starting from move one. The scoring system in both competitions will be based on matchpoints: a win scores two points, a draw scores one point, and a loss scores zero points. The full regulations of the event can be found here. Registration Registration will start soon and will be open until July 1, 2024, 12 PM Lausanne time. A maximum of 80 teams can take part (10 teams with the highest average ratings and the remaining 70 teams will be selected based on the earliest registrations). Continued support from Freedom Holding The main partner of the event will be Freedom Holding, which has in recent years sponsored several top chess events and brought them to Kazakhstan in an effort to develop the country’s chess potential. “We are delighted to partner with FIDE in making this event possible. Our commitment to chess continues in 2024 with our ambition to promote the game globally but also in Kazakhstan, where we have helped organize and sponsor a number of events in recent years,” said Timur Turlov, CEO of Freedom Holding and the head of Kazakhstan Chess Federation. About Freedom Holding Corp. Freedom Holding Corp. is a US-based financial services holding company. Through its operating subsidiaries, Freedom Holding provides services like retail securities brokerage, research, investment counselling, securities trading, market-making, retail banking, corporate investment banking and underwriting services in Eurasia. The Company has retail locations in the USA, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, UAE, Germany, Great Britain, France, Spain and Poland. In Kazakhstan, the company is developing a digital ecosystem under the Freedom brand. The ecosystem already provides services in the field of investment banking and stock market brokerage, digital banking, online insurance, telecommunications, air and event ticket sales, digital car service, smartphone sales and other areas. Freedom Holding Corp. shares are traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange in New York under the ticker symbol FRHC. The activities of the company are regulated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Official website: freedomholdingcorp.comWebsite of the digital ecosystem: ecosystem.ffin.kz/en
Breaking the limits: How FIDE’s Infinite Chess project helps people with autism
Five years since its launch, the Infinite Chess project has expanded globally, offering valuable insights to the chess community on its potential to enhance the lives of individuals on the autism spectrum The World Health Organization notes that autism affects one in every 100 children worldwide. In 2007, The United Nations General Assembly established April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) to raise awareness and provide opportunities for people with autism not only to survive but also to prosper. In 2019, FIDE answered the call and launched the Infinite Chess project aiming to help children with autism thrive using chess as a vehicle for developing important life skills. What began as a pilot program in 2019 has grown to encompass 19 countries worldwide, including Albania, Latvia, France, Spain, Portugal, UK, Gibraltar, Mongolia, Turkey, Morocco, Cyprus, India, Gambia, South Africa, Tanzania, Brazil, Taiwan, Malaysia, and New Zealand. Another six countries are expected to join this year: Jamaica, Botswana, Nigeria, Pakistan, Maldives, and Puerto Rico. Today, the project equips autistic individuals with essential life skills through free training and resources, promoting their acceptance and contribution to society. In March 2024, a three-day seminar at the Second International Congress of Chess, Education, and Health showcased studies on the project’s impact. The results confirmed that chess has helped children with autism improve their socio-emotional well-being and build a stronger foundation for life skills. In March 2024, a three-day seminar at the Second International Congress of Chess, Education, and Health showcased studies on the project’s impact. The results confirmed that chess has helped children with autism improve their socio-emotional well-being and build a stronger foundation for life skills. In the same month, the Spanish island of Menorca hosted the Second International Congress of Chess, Education, and Health as part of the FIDE100 Celebration program. The congress brought together experts in the fields of chess, education, and health. The three-day seminar showcased studies and experiences from different parts of the world about the role of chess in education and health, including the Infinite Chess project. The results showed that chess has helped children with autism improve their socio-emotional welfare and provided them with a stronger foundation for grasping important life skills. Reflecting on the past five years, WIM Anastasia Sorokina, the project leader, emphasizes the significant learning experience for both the chess community and health experts. “It has been an important learning curve for both the chess world and health experts. Through direct work with children who have autism, we gained a better understanding of how chess can be made more accessible. Chess is for all – we are all one family – and FIDE is steadfast in its commitment to providing everyone, regardless of their background or life circumstances, with an opportunity to learn and play chess as it does help make one’s life better,” she said. Running in sync with FIDE’s Social Commission and supported by the International Olympic Committee, the Infinite Chess project explores how chess can help children with autism develop through the 64-square game. Through specially designed courses and seminars, educators are taught how to present chess to children with autism and help them learn the game. The program, available online on the Infinite Chess website, as well as through courses and seminars published on YouTube, has been translated into five languages (English, Spanish, French, Arabic, and Russian) and is currently taught to more than 150 children between the ages of four and 17. You can watch a video on the Infinite Chess here.
The best students of FIDE Chessable Academy shine in in-person training camp
Thirteen exceptional young talents, born between 2007 and 2013, recently participated in an exclusive in-person training camp alongside chess legends Judit Polgar and Artur Jussupow These students distinguished themselves among over 450 participants in the project, which brought together some of the most promising chess talents globally. In its third year, the FIDE Chessable Academy, a partnership between FIDE and Chessable, aims to provide an in-depth training experience for the most gifted young chess players nominated by their national federations and FIDE-endorsed Academies. This initiative provided a unique opportunity for advanced chess training led by renowned players and coaches. Running from January until the beginning of April, the FIDE Chessable Academy comprised weekly online lessons culminating in an intensive in-person camp for the most successful participants. From March 28 to April 2, thirteen talented players, including five girls, convened in Menorka to undergo rigorous training under the mentorship of Judit Polgar and Artur Jussupow. To qualify for the in-person training, each FIDE Chessable Academy student had to meet specific criteria, including FIDE standard rating above 2000, attendance of a minimum of 75% of the online lectures, and others. Both FIDE and Chessable reserved the right to add one additional player each. Although originally planned for twelve participants, the final training stage included thirteen individuals. The FIDE Chessable Academy in-person training camp, organized by the FIDE Trainers’ Commission, covered essential aspects of chess gameplay, including exploring typical and innovative opening ideas, position evaluation, game planning, prophylactic thinking, principles of attack and defence, piece evaluation, and exploiting weaknesses in a position. In addition to the chess mastery class, the participants also took part in the “FIDE Personal Growth Academy”, where they were taught about the importance of developing social skills and personal development. The session featured experts like Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Geert van der Velde, Maria Yuste, and Natalia Ryzhenko, covering topics such as the power of a personal brand, the rules of communication and the dress and ethics codes of FIDE. “With personal growth training, we want to give these young talents and their parents a glimpse into those skills that will be important in their professional career – healthy nutrition and fitness, personal brand development and media training,” says Sami Khader, the Chair of FIDE Trainers’ Commission. About the FIDE Chessable Academy The FIDE Chessable Academy was launched in 2021 as a joint training initiative by FIDE and Chessable — the world’s leading chess e-learning platform. Its mission is to help up-and-comers become the best players they can be. Over these years, hundreds of promising youngsters from over 100 national federations enjoyed free access to Chessable courses — plus exclusive lessons from the world’s top coaches. Among the academy’s students were the 2024 Candidate GM Gukesh D and the 2023 World Junior Girls’ Champion WGM Candela Belén Francisco Guecamburu.
FIDE April 2024 rating list: Abdusattorov, Erigaisi crack top 10
The FIDE April 2024 rating list was impacted by the Prague International Chess Festival, the 5th Shengzhen (Longgang) Chess Masters 2024, and several open tournaments across Europe. The world #1 Junior, Nodirbek Abdusattorov (pictured below), gained 15 rating points following his excellent performance in the Prague International Chess Festival and is now #4 in the world, while 21-year-old Arjun Erigaisi collected 8 points in the 5th Shengzhen Chess Masters and Bundesliga and mounted to the ninth position on the list. Both players debut in the top 10 Open. Photo: Petr Vrabec Biggest gains in the top 100 Open and Women Lu, Miaoyi WGM CHN 2438 (+45) Beydullayeva, Govhar WGM AZE 2402 (+28) Balajayeva, Khanim IM AZE 2371 (+21) Hejazipour, Mitra WGM FRA 2376 (+20) Maltsevskaya, Aleksandra IM POL 2393 (+19) Nguyen, Thai Dai Van GM CZE 2643 (+16) Abdusattorov, Nodirbek GM UZB 2765 (+15) Maghsoodloo, Parham GM IRI 2732 (+15) Stefanova, Antoaneta GM BUL 2447 (+14) Garifullina, Leya IM FID 2427 (+14) Lu Miaoyi (pictured below) continues her rise in the rankings, reaching 33rd position in the women’s list. This is thanks to her strong showing in the 55th Ladies’ Grandmaster Tournament in Serbia (won by Alexandra Maltsevskaya, who collected 16 points) and the Reykjavik Open, where she added 45 points to her rating. Over the last three months, the Chinese teenager increased her rating by a whopping 186 points! Photo: Lennart Ootes Govhar Beydullayeva and Khanim Balajayeva did an excellent job in the Women’s Tournament Azerbaijan vs Georgia, picking up 28 and 21 points, respectively, while Mitra Hejazipour put in a solid performance in Jubilaeumsturnier 125 Jahre Werder Bremen that translates into 20 points. Khanim returned to the top 100 Women after a two-month absence. Nodirbek Abdusattorov was not the only rating beneficiary of the Prague International Chess Festival Masters. Nguyen Thai Dai Van and Parham Maghsoodloo, who completed the tournament podium, gained 16 and 15 points, respectively. Photo: Hallfríður Sigurðardóttir Leya Garifullina (pictured above) overperformed in two strong open tournaments (Aeroflot Open and Reykjavik Open), earning 14 points and reaching her career high in the women’s rating list.
Danish Championship: Boris Chatalbashev retains title
GM Boris Chatalbashev emerged as the winner of the 2024 Danish Championship. The 50-year-old successfully defended his last-year national title, scoring an impressive 8/9. The 2024 Danish Chess Championship, a 10-player round-robin tournament with classical time controls, was held in Svendborg from March 23 to April 1. Chatalbashev got off to a fantastic start, winning the first five games and taking the lead early on. Going into the final round a half-point ahead of his main rival GM Jesper Sondergaard Thybo, he convincingly outplayed FM Mikkel Manosri Jacobsen and clinched the title. Jesper Thybo (pictured below) started with two draws but then picked up steam and stayed in the race for gold to the very end. Just like the champion, the runner-up completed the event unbeaten, netting 7.5/9. IM Filip Boe Olsen and GM Bjorn Moller Ochsner both scored 5.5/9 and tied for third place, with the former completing the podium thanks to better tiebreaks. Final standings: 1 GM Boris Chatalbashev 2448 8 2 GM Jesper Thybo 2542 7½ 3 IM Filip Boe Olsen 2456 5½ 4 GM Bjorn Ochsner 2518 5½ 5 IM Nikolaj Borge 2379 4 6 FM Casper Liu 2283 4 7 IM Martin Haubro 2436 3½ 8 FM Jens Ramsdal 2378 3 9 FM Mikkel Jacobsen 2367 1½ 10 IM Jens Fries-Nielsen 2364 1½ Photos: Jesper Simonsen Official website: turnering.skak.dk/
Johan-Sebastian Christiansen triumphs in Mar del Plata
The unforgettable 53rd City of Mar del Plata International Chess Open, one of the oldest tournaments in South America, took place from March 23-30 in the Hotel Provincial. The event, supported by the FIDE Aid Package, brought together 278 players from 11 countries and was a great success. The President of the Mar del Plata Chess Federation, Lic. Javier Curilen was the tournament director, while AI OI Leandro Plotinsky and his team officiated the competition. After nine exciting rounds, GM Johan-Sebastian Christiansen, a member of the Norwegian Olympic team, was crowned undefeated champion. The top seed arrived in Mar del Plata with great expectations and confirmed his status as a pre-tournament favorite, scoring 8/9 and taking clear first. As many as four participants finished a half-point behind the champion on 7.5/9 and tied for second place, with GMs Diego Flores and Leonardo Tristán completing the podium thanks to superior Buchholz. Final standings: 1 GM Christiansen, Johan-Sebastian NOR 2633 8 2 GM Flores, Diego ARG 2530 7½ 3 GM Tristan, Leonardo ARG 2521 7½ 4 IM Espinoza Palomino, Willyam PER 2400 7½ 5 CM Jaque Gutierrez, Matias CHI 2173 7½ 6 IM Acosta, Pablo Ismael ARG 2463 7 7 FM Spata, German ARG 2421 7 8 GM Felgaer, Ruben ARG 2565 7 9 IM Villegas, Franco ARG 2328 7 10 FM Schnaider, Ilan ARG 2314 7 Complete standings Official website: mdpajedrez.ar/