UAE hosts Asian Educational Seminar “Chess for children with ASD. Learn & Teach”
The International Chess Federation (FIDE), together with the Asian Chess Federation and Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination, with the support of the International Olympic Committee, FIDE Planning and Development Commission, and FIDE Social Commission, hold the first offline Asian Educational Seminar “Chess for children with ASD. Learn & Teach”. The event took place at the Al Ain Convention Center, UAE, from December 18 to 19. Twenty-one chess teachers and coaches from 14 countries (Bangladesh, Vietnam, Azerbaijan, UAE, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Philippines, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and others) explored the ways of teaching chess to children with autism spectrum disorder, studied a unique training program developed in 2021 and got practical advice on how to work with kids with ASD. The following prominent figures participated in the seminar: Hisham al Taher, General Secretary of the Asian Chess Federation Abdulla Ismail Alkamali, Executive Director of Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination (UAE) Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Project Supervisor, Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board Anastasia Sorokina, Leader of the project, FIDE WOM Chair, Chairperson of Asian Chess Federation Social Commission Speakers at the seminar: Ala Mishchanka – Special needs educational assistant, more than 17 years of experience (Canada); Natalia Popova – WIM, FIDE Trainer, leader of the two-year-long project teaching chess to children with autistic spectrum disorder (FIDE); Melodi Dincel – MD, child and adolescent psychiatry specialist at Istanbul University, Infinite Chess project partner (Turkey) Viesturs Kapce – FIDE Instructor, chess coach, Infinite Chess project partner (Latvia) All participants were honoured to visit the Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination in Al Ain and exchange teaching experiences with local experts. We thank Abdulla Ismail Alkamali for the hospitality and inspiring tour he provided personally for all the participants and the project team. On December 19, FIDE, the Asian Chess Federation and Zayed Higher organization signed a Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding, a significant step forward to the further cooperation and expansion of partnership within the Infinite Chess project. “Infinite Chess is our project where we use the game to improve socio-emotional wellbeing of children with autistic spectrum disorder. With this agreement we aim to provide new opportunities, empower and change lives of children with special abilities here in the region,” said Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Project Supervisor and Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board. Presentations (pdf): Chess for Children with Autism and Spectrum Disorder by Natalia Popova – Part 1 Chess for Children with Autism and Spectrum Disorder by Natalia Popova – Part 2 Classroom Organization by Natalia Popova FIDE Infinite Chess Project by Ala Mischanka – Day 1 FIDE Infinite Chess Project by Ala Mischanka – Day 2 Infinite Chess – Turkey by Melodi Dincel Infinite Chess – Latvia Experience by Viesturs Kapce
Gergely Antal wins 2023 Hungarian Championship
GM Gergely Antal emerged as the winner of the 2023 Hungarian Individual Chess Championship. Men, women, and some invited youngsters aspiring for a place in the Hungarian U25 national team in the 2024 Olympiad in Budapest competed in a shared pool but were ranked separately. All in all, 30 players battle it out in a 9-round Swiss tournament from December 12-20, 2023. The competition was a very close race of three top-seed participants that boiled down to the final round. Gergely Antal and Adam Kozak jointly led the field after Round 8 with 6/8, closely followed by Tamas Fodor and Adam Horvath on 5.5/8. In the final round, the leaders played with black pieces: Antal faced Horvath, while Kozak took on Oliver Mihok. Antal scored a crucial victory after his opponent fell into a trap and lost a piece in a roughly equal position to clinch the title, as Kozak could not do much against Mihok and drew the game, taking silver. Meanwhile, the 2022 Peter Prohaszka totally outplayed Tamas Fodor to leapfrog his opponent and Horvath to secure bronze. All three players making the podium completed the competition unbeaten. Zsóka Gaál (pictured below) scored 5/9 and became the women’s champion, while Julianna Terbe and Barbara Mihók-Juhász both netted 4.5/9 and tied for second place. Silver goes to Terbe, thanks to a superior Buchholz. Gergely Kantor (pictured below) was the best U25 player with 5.5/9. Tamas Vanczak scored equal points with Kantor but had to settle for silver due to inferior Buchholz. Gleb Dudin is third with 5/9. Final standings: 1 GM Antal, Gergely 2569 7 2 GM Kozak, Adam 2588 6½ 3 GM Prohaszka, Peter 2579 6 4 GM Fodor, Tamas Jr. 2470 5½ 5 GM Kantor, Gergely 2531 5½ 6 GM Horvath, Adam 2439 5½ 7 IM Nemeth, Miklos 2417 5½ 8 IM Vanczak, Tamas 2422 5½ 9 IM Csonka, Balazs 2485 5½ 10 IM Dudin, Gleb 2545 5 Complete results Official website: chess.hu/ Photos: Magyar Sakkszövetség Facebook
New EDU Program and Titles endorsed by the FIDE Council
FIDE Chess School Award The 2021 Global Survey identified thousands of schools which promote chess activities. For many of these schools, chess is a sign of prestige used for school promotion. FIDE EDU recognizes the need for recognition for existing schools and the opportunity to encourage other schools to begin or increase their involvement. The FIDE Chess School Award provides an effective means of achieving both goals. FIDE EDU will use existing connections with federations and individuals interested in chess in education to promote the program. In addition, the EDU website, social media, and other platforms will be used for promotion. Several aspects of school chess are examined, and points from 0 to 3 are awarded for each. Applicants are asked to answer each question in as much detail as possible and provide supporting evidence. There are ten questions altogether, and the award is handed out in three levels (Gold, Silver, and Bronze) depending on the applicant school’s score. Questions are posed about facilities, student involvement, teaching materials as well as the qualification of the chess educators. There is special emphasis on social inclusion, sustainability, and using chess as an educational tool in the classroom. In general, schools that involve many students and reach out to many people in activities related to chess as a tool for education have a good chance of receiving an award. As a counter-example, a school that hires a single trainer to coach a handful of children is unlikely to qualify. Primary and secondary schools (ages 6 to 18) are invited to apply for the FIDE Chess School Award starting January 2024. Applications will be accepted in English, Spanish, and Russian. Other languages may be added at a later stage. Full details about the application process will be available from the FIDE EDU website. New Titles in Chess in Education FIDE Chess in Education Titles are awarded for life and include a three-year license. For title renewal, the title holder must attend a professional development course approved by FIDE EDU. School Instructor The School Instructor title is not a new one, but the Preparation of Teachers (PoT) course that awards the title has undergone extensive revision to meet the goal of using chess as an educational tool in the classroom. The new PoT course reflects the focus of FIDE EDU on the need to assist teachers and others who work with students in making curriculum connections while integrating chess into regular lessons. In total, 18 POT courses were conducted during 2023, involving 473 participants and 284 SI title holders. Nine courses were conducted online and nine in person. The courses involved participants from 79 countries. The following countries hosted in-person PoT courses: Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Guyana, Namibia, Tanzania, and South Africa. FIDE School Instructors introduce the school students to the basic chess rules to improve social, academic and 21st Century skills and to increase the number of chess players worldwide. They learn strategies for classroom management along with using mini-games and social chess activities that promote student motivation. Lead School Instructor FIDE Lead School Instructors (LSI) lead the courses to certify colleague educators. All lecturer titles obtained prior to 2023 will be automatically converted into LSI titles. The converted lecturer title holders are invited to familiarize themselves with the new PoT course. They will receive a free soft copy of the new PoT coursebook and materials upon request. If lecturers with the converted title would like to achieve a higher level of qualification to train people for the SI title, they must participate in the new Preparation of Lecturers (PoL) course. The new PoL course will be launched early in 2024, and it will consist of two parts and give two different qualifications. The first level of qualification will award the LSI title and enable lecturers to train their colleagues and hand out participation certificates to them. Senior Lead Instructors The objective of the preparation of FIDE Senior Lead Instructors (SLI) is to develop a pool of lecturers who can train educators for the SI title. The candidate SLI is required to complete the LSI title and submit a portfolio of evidence of their educational practice. Successful completion of the second part of the new PoL course will award the SLI title and enable lecturers to teach the PoT course in their main or second language.
FIDE statement on rating specific tournaments
Today, on December 18, the mini-matches featuring GM Alireza Firouzja (Elo 2750) began in Chartres, France – his hometown. This eight-game tournament pits Firouzja against three veteran players with an average rating of 2497 Elo points. Concerns have arisen regarding the tournament’s potential purpose: whether it was orchestrated to aid Mr Firouzja in boosting his rating for potential qualification into the Candidates Tournament 2024. The International Chess Federation would like to point out that, according to Clause 0.4 of its Rating Regulations, “FIDE reserves the right not to rate a specific tournament”. FIDE has already sent an official request to the organizers of the event. We will carefully follow and investigate all aspects of the organization of the above-mentioned tournament and all the games played by its participants before deciding whether to rate it. The International Chess Federation is dedicated to addressing not just this specific case but also similar occurrences that may arise. Discussions will be held to explore potential amendments to the FIDE Rating Regulations, aiming to prevent such situations in the future. FIDE reiterates its unwavering commitment to upholding fair play and ensuring equal opportunities for all chess players.
Abu Dhabi wins bid to host 47th Chess Olympiad in 2028
Photo: adnec.ae/ Abu Dhabi has been selected as the host city for the 47th Chess Olympiad in 2028, triumphing over Genoa with a vote of 96 to 60 during the FIDE Council meeting on December 17th The bid to secure the rights to host the FIDE Chess Olympiad 2028, FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities 2028, and FIDE Congress 2028 was a joint effort by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the UAE Chess Federation. The proposed venue for these events is the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), the largest of its kind in the Middle East. Before the vote, FIDE conducted visits to both Abu Dhabi and Genoa to inspect the proposed venues and facilities. Official meetings were held with local and government authorities in both cities and with potential organizers. In Abu Dhabi, meetings were conducted with prominent figures, including His Excellency Aref Al Awani, the General Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, the President of the Asian Chess Federation, H.E. Tarim Matar Muhammad Tarim, the President of the UAE Chess Federation, and Hussein Abdullah Al-Khoury, the President of the Abu Dhabi Chess Club. FIDE’s inspection concluded that “Abu Dhabi presented a compelling bidding proposal, supported by the findings of the inspection visit on December 6th and 7th, 2023. The city boasts a robust transportation and accommodation infrastructure, a venue meeting top international standards, and experienced organizers capable of hosting world-class events not only in chess but in various other sports and spheres.” This marks the second time that the UAE will host a chess Olympiad, following the event held in Dubai in 1986. Abu Dhabi and the UAE have recently demonstrated a strong commitment to organizing numerous chess events. In 2023 alone, the country hosted the inaugural Global Chess League, the 29th Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival, and the Asia Chess Amateur Championship. The city is set to host the Asian Youth Chess Championship next year.
Champions Chess Tour 2023: Magnus Carlsen scoops third title in a row
The curtain came down on Chess.com’s $2 million Champions Chess Tour Finals for another year with GM Magnus Carlsen winning his third title. Norway’s chess superstar defeated GM Wesley So 2.5-1.5 and shared that the tour “came full circle” in the final game where he cracked So’s super-solid opening line. Carlsen won three of the six legs across the year-long event, when finishing first in just one was enough to qualify for the Finals. Pocketing the $200,000 first prize, Carlsen continues to be the only person to win the Champions Chess Tour since 2021. Carlsen won the first set on the previous day after scoring a point in game three with the black pieces. He said that his strategy against So is often to “hustle him. I use his sort of lack of aggression against him.” Although So played with 96.43% accuracy on the previous day, Carlsen put up the nearly perfect 98.1%. Our statistics team awarded Carlsen an 89% chance of victory on Saturday. Carlsen won the first set on the previous day after scoring a point in game three with the black pieces. He said that his strategy against So is often to “hustle him”. Carlsen added: “I use his sort of lack of aggression against him.” Although So played with 96.43% accuracy on the previous day, Carlsen put up the nearly perfect 98.1%. Chess.com’s statistics team awarded Carlsen an 89% chance of victory on Saturday. So had to win two sets in order to turn the match around. On the plus side, GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave proved that it’s possible in the 2023 AI Cup. On the other hand, beating Carlsen on demand is a tall order in any context. Playing timidly as “Solid So” wasn’t an option for the 2022 Global Champion. As IM Levy Rozman put it: “We need to see a checkmate on the board today or it’s gonna be an early night.” The Filipino-American grandmaster started the match with the same first move as game one on the previous day, 1.b3. The flank opening didn’t seem to challenge Carlsen, who said afterward: “He felt a bit shaky in this game. I think he was on the back foot very early on.” Carlsen converted the advantage in model fashion, just once allowing a miracle defense 37.Rxb5! Rd1+ 38.Kf2! that was missed, and ultimately finished with a nicely-calculated sequence with just seconds on the clock. “Losing with White is the most heartbreaking thing as a chess professional. It’s demoralizing,” concluded GM David Howell after the game. Howell then called game two “one of the most chaotic games, one of the most unruly games, I’ve ever seen!” It was the most emotional and unstable game we’d seen from So or Carlsen in the CCT Finals. So won the rollercoaster time scramble, though after the game he said he wasn’t proud of it: “It’s such an ugly game. I probably made like six blunders or something.” He did, however, add a retort to Carlsen’s previous comment: “I was just hustling him in the end!” Rozman put it well: “These guys looked human for the first time in this event!”. 41…Nd3?? by So was both a blunder and also the move that instigated the complications that confused Carlsen, who went from winning to losing in a matter of seconds. Game three, and So’s last time with the white pieces, was a super-solid Nimzo-Indian and a super-solid draw. It was all down to game four, with Carlsen commanding the white army. The last game was quite literally worth $100,000, but So still found the time to check the Candidates race and post on X. When he arrived at the board for the last game, he also asked the arbiter if he could replace his rook with a queen before the game—a request that was not granted. The final game started as a super-solid Semi-Tarrasch Variation of the Queen’s Gambit Declined. It was an innocent-looking queenless middlegame, which is also the kind of position the world number-one thrives in. At the award ceremony, IM Danny Rensch and Chess.com CEO Erik Allebest gifted flowers to both of the finalists. “I just want to congratulate Magnus for a well-deserved performance,” said So before Carlsen received the trophy, presented by VP of Esports Michael Brancato. Carlsen, who earned an additional $8,000 for winning eight matches in total, shared the personal significance of this final game: “I’m very, very happy with the way the event ended, the very last game, cause for me it sort of comes full circle. “When we had the first Champions Chess Tour event in 2020, I think that was when I turned 30, and I lost to Wesley in the Final, that’s exactly when, sort of, this line in the Queen’s Gambit that Wesley played today… made it just difficult to play d4 at all. “Like, it’s the Berlin versus d4. So to actually win a game, like decide the tour by winning a game against Wesley in that line, that’s really come full circle for me.” Adapted from NM Anthony Levin’s report for Chess.com. Read the full report with game analysis here. The Champions Chess Tour 2023 (CCT) is the biggest online tournament of the year. It is composed of six events that span the entire year and culminate in live in-person finals. With the best players in the world and a prize fund of $2,000,000, the CCT is Chess.com’s most important event.
European Rapid and Blitz Championship 2023: Sarana and Navara win titles
The 2023 European Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships concluded yesterday in Zagreb, Croatia. The event was played from 14-16 December, with nearly 700 players from 41 European federations participating. The first event on the schedule was the European Rapid Chess Championship 2023, an 11-round Swiss tournament which took place from 14-15 and brought together over 450 players. It was a very tight competition that came down to the wire. Heading into the final round, as many as four players were on 8.5/10 tied for first place: GM Haik Martirosyan (ARM, 2634), GM Alexey Sarana (SRB, 2649), GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac (ROU, 2623), and GM Casper Schoppen (NED, 2553). While Haik Martirosyan and Deac-Bogdan Daniel drew their Round 11 games, Alexey Sarana and Casper Schoppen were the last to finish their encounter. Sarana had an endgame with a bishop pair, offering practical chances. With perfect endgame technique, Alexey managed to pull off a victory and emerged as the sole winner of the event, scoring 9.5/11. It is the third European title for Alexey Sarana this year! After winning the European Individual Chess Championship 2023 in Vrnjacka Banja, he took gold at the European Team Championship 2023 with the Serbian team as the best individual 2nd board player! GMs Haik Martirosyan and Bogdan-Daniel Deac tied for second place, with the former taking silver thanks to better tiebreaks. Bogdan-Daniel Deac won bronze. Final standings Rapid The European Blitz Chess Championship 2023, a 13-round Swiss tournament, attracted nearly 600 participants and was played yesterday. GM David Navara (CZE, 2661) emerged as the sole leader of the event after 12 played rounds with 10.5 points, closely followed by four players with 10 points: GM Denis Kadric (MNE, 2591), GM Etienne Bacrot (FRA, 2640), GM Rauf Mamedov (AZE, 2635), and GM Vasyl Ivanchuk (UKR, 2678). Once again, the final round determined the champion and the medalists. 12-time Czech Chess Champion David Navara had white pieces against Etienne Bacrot and gained a sizable advantage from the opening, as the French Grandmaster missed his chances to equalize the game. Navara eventually won the game and secured the title with an impressive final score of 11.5/13. After winning the European Blitz Championship 2022 in Katowice, Poland, David successfully defended his title in Zagreb. Vasyl Ivanchuk defeated Rauf Mamedov (AZE, 2635) to win the silver medal, netting 11 points, while Denis Kadric and Ivan Saric (CRO, 2586) tied for third place scoring 10.5 points each. Having better tiebreaks, Denis Kadric got bronze; Ivan Saric finished in fourth place. Final standings Blitz The closing ceremony of the event took place yesterday evening in the playing venue with the attendance of ECU President Zurab Azmaiparashvili, ECU Vice President Alojzije Jankovic, the President of the Croatian Chess Federation Ivica Brkic, Minister of Tourism and Sports of Croatia Nikolina Brnjac, Head of Croatian Prime minister office Zvonimir Frka-Petešić, famous football player Zvonimir Boban, Ambassador of Georgia in Croatia Zaza Gogsadze, FIDE Secretary General Mr. Lukasz Turlej and other distinguished guests. Text: europechess.org Photos: Luka Rifelj
Refugee team to make historic debut at 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest
In a groundbreaking decision aimed at promoting inclusivity and support for displaced persons, a team representing refugees will take part in the 45th Chess Olympiad set to take place in Budapest, Hungary, in 2024 The move follows a request made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to the FIDE Council, which has now been officially approved. The team of refugees will be carefully selected through a supervised process and endorsed by the UNHCR to compete in both the Open section and the Women’s section of the most prestigious team chess tournament. The selection process will be coordinated with the UNHCR and finalized on or before April 1 2024. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich noted the significance of this decision, stating, “In our complex global landscape where numerous people are left displaced and without homes, the inclusion of a refugee team in the Chess Olympiad is a testament to our commitment to support those in need. Chess has the power to offer solace and empowerment to individuals facing adversity, and this initiative shows our dedication to using chess as a tool for positive change.” This landmark decision by FIDE comes after its inaugural participation in the Global Refugee Forum 2023, held from December 13-15 at Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland. Anastasia Sorokina, Chairperson of the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess, and André Vögtlin, Chairman of FIDE Social Commission, represented FIDE at the event. Sorokina, who founded the Girls Chess Club in the Kakuma refugee camp, shared her experiences at the preliminary event focused on education, discussing the theme of “Protection, Gender, Sport”. She emphasized the transformative role of chess in aiding refugees to navigate life challenges and regain stability. For years, FIDE has supported refugees, primarily through the Chess for Protection project, providing assistance to displaced communities. Implemented in partnership with various organizations, including the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), the Kenya Chess Federation, and the Kakuma Chess Club, the Chess for Protection project has been operating since August 2021. This initiative consolidates and expands chess-related activities in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, now entering its third year of operation. The inclusion of a refugee team at the Chess Olympiad signifies a milestone in promoting inclusivity and leveraging chess as a tool for empowerment and support. FIDE remains committed to advancing such initiatives that harness the potential of chess to make a meaningful impact on the lives of the displaced worldwide. Photos: Stev Bonhage
151st FIDE Arbiters’ Seminar (WOM) announced
The 151st FIDE Arbiters’ Seminar, organized by the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess and the Polish Chess Federation under the auspices of FIDE will be held online from 12/01/2024 to 14/01/2024 . The lecturer will be IA Nikolopoulos, Panagiotis (GRE), a FIDE Lecturer. The language of the Seminar will be English. The Seminar will award norms and titles of FIDE Arbiter according to the Regulations for the titles of Arbiters. Note: 20 participants, women only. All participation costs will be covered by the FIDE WOM commission. Eight participants will be nominated by continents and two by Poland (as co-organizer); others need to apply via THIS LINK Schedule: January 12, 2024 16:00-21:00 Laws of Chess January 13, 2024 09:30-12:00 Laws of Chess, Rapid, Blitz, Appendices and Guidelines12:15-13:00 System of Games13:00-14:30 Tie break regulations16:00-18:00 Swiss System, Pairings18:15-19:30 Titles Regulations19:45-21:00 Ratings Regulations January 14, 2024 09:30-11:00 General Regulations for Competition11:00-12:00 Arbiters’ titles12:15-14:00 Fair play Regulations16:00-16:45 Review, Questions-Answers17:00-21:00 Examination Test
Carlsen and So meet in Champions Chess Tour Finals Finale
GM Magnus Carlsen will face GM Wesley So in the Title Match to decide the winner of Chess.com’s premier event, the 2023 Champions Chess Tour Finals, and who takes home the $200,000 first prize. Carlsen knocked out his 2018 world championship nemesis GM Fabiano Caruana in Armageddon after just two sets. Meanwhile, So vs. GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov went down to the wire, going into overtime in their third set. The Title Match begins on Friday, December 15, starting at 12 p.m. ET / 18:00 CET / 10:30 p.m. IST. Similar to tennis, three sets in the Semifinals decide a winner. Every set is four games and a possible armageddon tiebreak; if the players have an even score after two sets, as happened in So vs. Abdusattorov, the third will break the tie. For the full format information, read more here. With one victory in his pocket from the day before, Carlsen had the chance to close out the Semifinals with another set win while Caruana started the day fighting for survival. In the first game, Caruana had no trouble holding off Carlsen’s attempts at an edge in the players’ mutually beloved Ruy Lopez. Afterward, Carlsen remarked: “I wasn’t thrilled with the way I handled it. I think the way I played it was a little bit too soft.” With his own chance at the white pieces, Caruana built up a dangerous king attack by sinking his pieces into Carlsen’s weak light squares. Yet, at the critical moment, Caruana missed the winning line. Given the chance, Carlsen created his usual magic, escaping to the endgame and, in the end, making Caruana fight for the draw. After his miracle reversal in game two, Carlsen started the next with a fresh fire in his play, pressing from the opening and winning with a classic Carlsen grind in the ending. Caruana now found himself in a must-win position, not just for the set―but for his chance to continue in the entire event. Would Caruana’s CCT run end here or could he win on demand against the highest-rated player in history? The world number-two rose to the challenge evening the score by orchestrating an attack on Carlsen’s wide-open king. As the players reached Armageddon, everything seemed to be going Caruana’s way. First, he won out on the bidding war: gaining draw odds with Black by under-bidding Carlsen by two seconds with 9:58 against 10:00. Next, Carlsen surprisingly went into the Open Variation in the Ruy Lopez, a line Caruana knows very well, allowing him to equalize while playing quickly. Then, Carlsen offered a queen trade―a seemingly counter-intuitive choice when you’re fighting for the win. Yet, once again, Carlsen showed that he can create winning chances from any position. Within a few moves of trading queens, Carlsen’s pieces were diving into the enemy position, targeting the opposing pawns and supporting his newly-created passed e-pawn. At the close of this hard-fought matchup, Carlsen reflected: “Caruana’s really strong. It didn’t feel like I was ever outplaying him much. I was mainly holding on. To be fair, he could have easily won this match. There’s no doubt about that with the chances he had… He’s extremely strong, not an easy guy to kick.” Caruana takes home $50,000 for making it to the Semifinals, plus $6,000 for his match wins in the previous stages. In the other semi, So struck back emphatically. After Abdusattorov’s comeback and set win yesterday, So needed a victorious run to keep the match going. Perhaps inspired by Carlsen’s first goal for the CCT, So chose 1.b3!? to open the first game, avoiding mainline theory and evoking what Carlsen calls “anti-young-player chess.” So’s opening choice seemed to unsettle Abdusattorov, who sunk much of his time on figuring out his opening setup. The American grandmaster soon gained a dream position with his dark-squared, fianchettoed bishop staring down the open board toward the enemy king. Then, he began to launch his h-pawn up the board as a wrecking ball headed for the black kingside. When So’s queen joined the bishop on the long diagonal, deadly mating threats began to emerge. As commentator GM David Howell described: “The beast has woken.” In game two, So stole two pawns to call Abdusattorov’s tactical bluff. In the process, So gave up his queen but came out ahead and with two unstoppable connected passers. So’s 2-0 streak put Abdusattorov in a must-win position. Yet, reaching a situation in need of a comeback has become par for the course for the 19-year-old grandmaster. As So fought to make it to set three while Abdusattorov fought for survival in this one, the players produced an explosive duel featuring one unbelievable move after another. Abdusattorov took over the position with Black by sacrificing a pawn with check. With his back against the wall, So responded with a series of remarkable defensive moves. Abdusattorov broke open the center to hunt after his opponent’s uncastled king and even gained the opposing queen. Yet, So counter-struck and created an untouchable passed pawn. In the end, Abdusattorov surmounted the odds and came through in the time scramble finish. But in the last game of the set, So gained vast space on the kingside and turned it into a vicious attack. With Abdusattorov’s position on the verge of collapse, So offered a draw to guarantee set three. Game one was a battle of opening preparation and endgame technique where the players’ efforts were equally matched. Abdusattorov had an opening novelty ready on move 21, yet So still gained an edge he could press into the ending. The second game was the most balanced of all, sending the match into armageddon. A single game now stood between both players and the Title Match… or elimination. Both players bid boldly for the black pieces. Abdusattorov chose 9:19 while So chose 9:27 and included a drawing of a cat as his good luck charm and secret weapon. Now in the must-win seat, So steered the game to the dynamic waters of an IQP middlegame.