4th FIDE Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners begins this week
This week marks the start of the 4th FIDE Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners, part of FIDE’s Chess for Freedom initiative, which unites incarcerated individuals from over 50 countries competing in a global online chess event. This championship exemplifies FIDE’s mission to highlight the transformative power of chess within correctional facilities, promoting self-improvement, and critical thinking. About the Chess for Freedom Project The Chess for Freedom initiative, launched in May 2021 in collaboration with FIDE and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office in Chicago, has gained global recognition for its positive impact on prisons. It aims to provide inmates with opportunities for education, social interaction, and personal development through chess. Through various conferences and events, Chess for Freedom has established itself as a vehicle for bringing attention to the rehabilitative value of chess. The project has grown to include prisons worldwide, with notable events such as the Chess for Freedom Conference in Pune, India, highlighting chess programs’ success in correctional facilities across several nations. Championship Format and Growth The 4th Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners is the largest edition to date, with over 115 teams from 51 countries competing. This year, the tournament introduces eight new participating countries: Paraguay, Singapore, Eswatini, Lithuania, Namibia, the British Virgin Islands, Iceland, and Kenya. The tournament features three competition categories: Men’s Category: 10 groups with 77 teams Women’s Category: 3 groups with 21 teams Youth Category: 3 groups with 17 teams Participants will engage in online matches over the coming days, hosted on Chess.com, and are grouped according to continents and time zones: Asia: 06:00–10:00 CEST Europe and Africa: 11:00–15:00 CEST Americas: 16:00–20:00 CEST Follow the action on FIDE’s YouTube channel, where live matches, interviews, and updates will be available throughout the championship. For more information, visit the Chess for Freedom website. You can follow the first day of action on FIDE YouTube Channel Let the games begin!
Global Chess League midway through: Alaskan Knights remain unbeaten at the top
After 15 matches, the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League has reached its halfway point, with each team having faced off at least once. The PBG Alaskan Knights remain unbeaten, winning all five of their matches. On day four, the Knights narrowly edged out the Alpine SG Pipers by a 9–7 score, despite their top player, Anish Giri, blundering a piece and losing to Magnus Carlsen in just 20 minutes. With 15 match points and 58 game points, the Alaskan Knights maintain a commanding lead, making the league increasingly feel like a one-horse race. Defending champions, Triveni Continental Kings climbed to second place after defeating the upGrad Mumba Masters. Their team-leading scorer, Alireza Firouzja, continued his winning streak by defeating Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Though just three game points behind the leaders, Triveni has recorded three wins and two losses, earning them nine match points and 55 game points. Meanwhile, the upGrad Mumba Masters sit in fifth place with only three match points. An epic battle between Carlsen and Nakamura highlighted the final match of the day between the Alpine SG Pipers and the American Gambits. Both players traded winning positions in a time scramble, and the duel ultimately ended in a draw. The match came down to the youth board, where Daniel Darda prevailed over Jonas Bjerre, securing a narrow 9–7 victory for the Alpine SG Pipers, which placed them in third place with nine match points and 43 game points. With one win and one loss in today’s matches, the American Gambits hold fourth place with six match points and 33 game points. At the bottom of the standings, the Ganges Grandmasters continue to struggle, losing their match today to the American Gambits. Former World Champion Vishy Anand fell to World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura after sacrificing a queen for a drawing fortress, only to lose on time. Here follows a closer look at the matches of the fourth day of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League: American Gambits vs Ganges Grandmasters: Nakamura defeats Anand on time, as Ganges Grandmasters struggle Day four of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League kicked off with a match between the American Gambits and the Ganges Grandmasters. With only one victory in three matches, the Gambits entered the day at the bottom of the standings. Just ahead of them, in fifth place, were the Ganges Grandmasters, who had played four matches but also secured only one win. After the coin toss, it was decided that the Gambits would play with the white pieces. John Hinshaw, Chief Operating Officer of global banking giant HSBC, made the ceremonial first move. On the Icon board, world number two and popular chess streamer Hikaru Nakamura surprised former World Champion and Ganges leader Vishy Anand with an unexpected opening. Despite the early surprise, Anand, playing Black, equalized quickly, and the game remained balanced for most of its duration. However, as time became a factor, Anand made a bold decision—sacrificing his queen for a rook and a bishop in hopes of building a “fortress,” a defensive setup where one side has a material disadvantage but can avoid being checkmated. Nakamura maintained the pressure, forcing Anand to spend more time on the clock. In the final seconds, Anand’s hand was visibly trembling, and Nakamura ultimately claimed victory, leveraging the time pressure. On the women’s board, Ganges’ Nurgyul Salimova launched an aggressive attack against Elisabeth Paehtz, but the German defended brilliantly, winning a piece and securing victory for the Gambits. On the second Icon board, Parham Maghsoodloo held Wei Yi to a draw after a rapid series of moves led to a threefold repetition. Other games ended in draws, including Bibisara Assaubayeva vs. Vaishali R, Jan-Krzysztof Duda vs. Arjun Erigaisi, and juniors Jonas Bjerre vs. Volodar Murzin. The Gambits claimed a 10-4 win, their second victory in four matches, while the Ganges Grandmasters face serious trouble after four losses in five games. Alpine Sg Pipers vs PBG Alaskan Knights: PBG secures last-second victory as Giri makes a stunning blunder In the second match of the day, tournament leaders PBG Alaskan Knights faced a tough challenge from the third-placed Alpine Sg Pipers. Despite winning the coin toss, the Pipers opted to play with the black pieces, a decision influenced by Magnus Carlsen after team captain Pravin Thipsay initially wanted to take White. The match’s biggest upset occurred on the Icon board, where Anish Giri blundered a piece against Magnus Carlsen, losing in just 22 moves. This was the shortest game of the League so far, lasting only 20 minutes. On the superstars’ board, Mamedyarov drew with Rapport, while Abdusattorov delivered a crushing victory over Praggnanandhaa in a rook endgame, scoring a first win for PBG. The momentum shifted further in favor of the Alaskan Knights when Tan Zhongyi, in a duel of former world champions, defeated Hou Yifan, currently the top-rated woman player. Kashlinskaya and Lagno drew on the women’s board, bringing the score to 8-6 for PBG. The drama escalated on the final board in play, where PBG’s Nihal Sarin was completely winning against Daniel Dardha but faced severe time pressure. With just three seconds left, Sarin claimed a draw under the rule, which allow a player who is winning to claim a draw in the last two minutes of the game if he is losing on the clock. Had he not done so and Dardha won on time, Alpine Sg Pipers would have leveled the score, tying the match. With this 9-7 victory, the PBG Alaskan Knights extended their winning streak to five rounds. Mumba Masters vs Triveni Continental Kings: Firouzja leads Triveni to second place in the League Season one champions, Triveni, kicked off their first match of the day playing as White against the Mumba Masters. Despite winning the coin toss, the Mumba Masters chose to play as Black. At this stage, both teams had accumulated six match points, though Triveni held a sizeable advantage in game points, leading 43 to 29. Triveni’s top-scorer, Alireza Firouzja, continued his impressive form against
Global Chess League: Alaskan Knights stay unbeaten as Ganges break losing streak
PBS Alaskan Knights continue their unbeaten run, while Ganges Grandmasters secure their first win in a dramatic day at the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League. The arena at London’s Friends House was packed as spectators gathered for the third day of the Global Chess League. The PBS Alaskan Knights extended their lead with a dominant 12-3 win over the Ganges Grandmasters, maintaining a perfect record with four consecutive victories, earning them 12 match points and 49 game points. Defending champions Triveni Continental Kings played two matches today—winning the first 15-3 against American Gambits, where Alireza Firouzja defeated world number two Hikaru Nakamura but narrowly losing the second to Ganges Grandmasters. Triveni remain in second place with six match points and 43 game points, just six behind the leaders. Alpine Sg Pipers also impressed, defeating upGrad Mumba Masters 12-4. They now sit in third position with six match points, though their 27 game points from three matches leave them behind Triveni. upGrad Mumba Masters, in fourth place, have only one win from four matches and 29 game points after losing to the Pipers today. The big upset of the day came in the final match: Ganges Grandmasters, led by former World Champion Vishy Anand, finally broke their losing streak with a 10-8 win over Triveni. With one win and 24 game points from four matches, they sit in fifth place. Hikaru Nakamura’s American Gambits are in last place, with only one match victory and 16 game points from three matches, having been dismantled 15-3 by Triveni. Here follows a closer look at the matches of the day: PBS Alaskan Knights dominate with four wins in a row as Vishy Anand’s Ganges Grandmasters struggle at the bottom The third day of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League kicked off with a clash between the tournament leaders, PBS Alaskan Knights, and the struggling Ganges Grandmasters, who had yet to secure a single victory. The coin toss gave the Alaskan Knights the white pieces, with 20 minutes per player on the clock—there are just 40 minutes for the entire match. Early on, it was clear this was going to be a tense fight. Half an hour in, and with just 10 minutes left, not a single game had been decided. Momentum briefly seemed to shift toward Ganges, as computer evaluations favoured them on several boards. But with time ticking down, the Knights got an edge on the lower boards. The first game to wrap up was on the superstars’ board, where Arjun Erigaisi, playing Black, missed a winning opportunity against Nodirbek Abdusattorov, allowing the game to end in a draw—a frustrating outcome for Ganges. In the clash between Icon players Vishy Anand and Anish Giri, the former world champion built a powerful position ended up drawing due to time issues. It was a rocky start for Ganges, but things quickly got worse. Alina Kashlinskaya gave the Alaskan Knights an early lead with a crucial win on the women’s board. Although Ganges’ Parham Maghsoodloo seemed poised to level the score, a last-second blunder handed victory to Knights’ Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. Tan Zhongyi extended the Knights’ advantage with another win on the second women’s board. With the match already decided, Nihal Sarin calmly secured a draw against Volodar Murzin, sealing a dominant 12-3 victory for the Alaskan Knights. Defending champions Triveni sweep past gambits as Nakamura loses to Firouzja In the second match of the day, the American Gambits, playing with the white pieces, faced off against last year’s champions, Triveni Continental Kings. It was the first meeting between these two teams, both sitting on three match points with one victory and one defeat each. World number two and top chess streamer Hikaru Nakamura found himself in deep trouble against Alireza Firouzja—both on the board and the clock. Despite his best efforts, Nakamura couldn’t escape and was forced to resign. Triveni continued their dominance, with Wei Yi defeating Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Alexandra Kosteniuk pulling off a miracle win in a lost position against Bibisara Assaubayeva. These victories sealed the match for Triveni. With the remaining three games ending in draws, Triveni triumphed with a commanding 15-3 score. The win keeps the defending champions in the thick of the competition, while the Gambits will need to find their form quickly if they want to challenge for the top spot. After the match, Triveni’s top player, Alireza Firouzja, was optimistic, saying that the atmosphere in his team is great and that they are in good form for the event. “This is a great event, and the format is exciting. This is the strongest chess league in the world, so it’s difficult, but our team is in good shape,” Alireza said in an interview after the match. Rapport and Dardha lead Alpine Pipers to 12-4 Victory against Mumba Masters Next up were the Mumba Masters and Alpine Sg Pipers. Despite winning the coin toss, the Pipers opted to play with the black pieces. Team captain GM Pravin Thipsay explained the decision, saying, “It was based on the team we are playing against. When you play with the black pieces in the first half of the league, you have more chances to maneuver in the final part, so I thought it was better to take Black now.” On board one, Alpine’s Magnus Carlsen found himself in a defensive position against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, unable to break free. The game ended in a draw. On board two, Indian teammates Vidit Gujrathi (Mumba Masters) and Praggnanandhaa also played to a balanced draw. The pressure then shifted to Alpine’s star GM Richard Rapport, who delivered a crucial win against Peter Svidler. Despite starting with the advantage of the first move, Svidler found himself in an inferior position early on and couldn’t recover. Both women’s boards ended in draws, leaving the match to be decided on the junior board. Alpine’s Daniel Dardha secured a victory over Raunak Sadhwani by promoting an extra queen and clinched a 12-4 win for the Pipers. This result propelled Alpine
Global Chess League, Day 2: PBG Alaskan Knights take sole lead
Day two of the 2024 Tech Mahindra Global Chess League brought high drama and intense competition to the boards. The PBG Alaskan Knights emerged as the sole leaders, winning all three of their matches and securing nine match points. This puts them ahead of four teams tied with three points each, while the Ganges Grandmasters languish in last place with zero points. With two impressive victories on day two—dominating the American Gambits 14-2, followed by a narrow 8-5 win over the Mumba Masters—the Alaskan Knights secured their position at the top of the standings. They are followed by upGrad Mumba Masters (who have also played three matches) and Triveni Continental Kings, Alpine SG Pipers, and American Gambits—all of whom have three match points from two matches. Meanwhile, Ganges Grandmasters, led by former world champion Vishy Anand, remain winless after two consecutive defeats. The day wasn’t without surprises. World number one Magnus Carlsen suffered a shocking defeat on time against Alireza Firouzja despite being in a winning position. However, the standout player of the day was Indian prodigy Nihal Sarin, whose critical victory in the match against Mumba Masters cemented the Alaskan Knights’ lead. Here follows a closer look at the matches of day two of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League: Mumba Masters start strong The day opened with a match between two teams looking for redemption after losing their openers: Ganges Grandmasters and upGrad Mumba Masters. Playing with the black pieces, the Mumba Masters quickly seized control, condemning Anand’s Ganges Grandmasters to their second straight defeat. Both teams had lost their opening matches by identical 6-11 scores. The key matchup was on board one, where former world champion Vishy Anand faced off against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Despite having a better position, Anand miscalculated a tactical sequence, allowing the Frenchman to turn the tables and secure a crucial win. From there, the Mumba Masters dominated. A win on the youngsters’ board and a draw on the second women’s board put them firmly in the lead. Ganges Grandmasters couldn’t recover despite a valiant effort from Arjun Erigaisi, who only managed a draw against Vidit Gujrathi. Humpy Koneru’s victory over Vaishali Rameshbabu sealed the deal for Mumba Masters. Although Parham Maghsoodloo scored a consolation win over Peter Svidler, it wasn’t enough to prevent a crushing 14-5 defeat for the Ganges team. This second consecutive loss with white pieces puts the Ganges Grandmasters in a tough spot, and they will seriously need to reconsider their approach to the coming matches. PBG Alaskan Knights march to the top In match five, the Alaskan Knights faced the American Gambits. Both teams had won their opening matches, and the Alaskan Knights, playing with the white pieces, were eager to continue their momentum. The top-board duel between Anish Giri (Alaskan Knights) and Hikaru Nakamura (American Gambits) ended in a hard-fought draw. The two GMs were later seen enthusiastically discussing the game’s critical moments, although Nakamura noted it was his opponent’s choice to go for a draw. Giri’s decision proved wise, as his teammates delivered four victories across the youngsters’ board, the women’s boards, and one of the other superstar boards. With an additional draw, the Alaskan Knights secured an overwhelming 14-2 victory. This win pushed the Alaskan Knights to six match points, leaving the American Gambits with three. While the Gambits concluded their games for the day, the Alaskan Knights had one more match ahead. Match six: Carlsen beaten by clock in a winning position against Firouzja One of the most highly anticipated showdowns of the day was the clash between the Alpine SG Pipers and Triveni Continental Kings, which featured world number one Magnus Carlsen against Alireza Firouzja. Carlsen has long regarded Firouzja as the player most likely to succeed him at the top of the chess world, and this match did not disappoint. After an evenly balanced start, Richard Rapport struck first for the Pipers, launching a fierce attack that overwhelmed Teimour Radjabov. Meanwhile, Hou Yifan and Alexandra Kosteniuk agreed to a draw, giving the Pipers a 4:1 lead. On the top board, Carlsen found a weakness in Firouzja’s position and gained a significant advantage. However, Firouzja still had one major weapon—more time on the clock. Under immense time pressure and with no time increment, Carlsen couldn’t convert his advantage and lost on time, handing Firouzja a vital victory. Pragnanandhaa’s loss to Wei Yi (also on time) further strengthened Triveni’s grip on the match. In the end, the Pipers crumbled across the remaining boards, resulting in a decisive 17-4 victory for Triveni, the most lopsided result in the competition so far. Alaskan Knights take the lead The final match of the day saw the Alaskan Knights take on the upGrad Mumba Masters. Both teams entered with strong performances earlier in the day, but it was the Knights who had the upper hand. On board one, Anish Giri and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave quickly agreed to a draw, as did Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Peter Svidler. Mumba’s Vidit Gujrathi had an opportunity to turn the tide against Nodirbek Abdusattorov, but after gaining a promising position, time pressure forced him to settle for a draw. With the match hanging in the balance, it all came down to the final board. Nihal Sarin, the star youngster of the Alaskan Knights, pulled off a crucial win against Raunak Sadhwani, securing an 8-5 victory and putting the Alaskan Knights in the sole lead of the tournament. The league resumes on Saturday with four matches scheduled to begin at 1 PM local time in London. Written by Milan Dinic Photos: Michal Walusza Official website: globalchessleague.com/ About Tech Mahindra Global Chess League The Global Chess League is the world’s first and largest official franchise league of its kind, with chess players from all over the world competing in a unique joint team format. It is a joint venture between Tech Mahindra, a part of the Mahindra Group, and FIDE. The league will feature male and female chess champions competing in the same team. Playing on the popular
Global Chess League 2024 – Day 1 recap
Global Chess League launches second season in London with a day of spectacular matches. London, 3rd October 2024 – The second edition of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League—chess’s first franchise competition—kicked off with a bang as top players from around the world squared off in an electrifying opening day. After three matches, the PBG Alaskan Knights, American Gambits, and Alpine SG Pipers emerged victorious, setting the pace for the competition. The packed venue at Friends House in London erupted in applause as top world players entered the hall, dressed in team jerseys, in an atmosphere more akin to a football match than a traditional chess tournament. The opening match of the season featured the American Gambits against season one runners-up, the Mumba Masters. According to league regulations, each match starts with a coin toss to decide colors. For this round, the American Gambits played with the white pieces. As this is a double round-robin tournament, they will switch to black when they meet the Mumba Masters again. The American Gambits secured a commanding 11:6 victory over the Mumba Masters, earning three match points. On the Icon board, reserved for the league’s strongest players, world number two Hikaru Nakamura, playing as White, earned a hard-fought draw against France’s Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Despite describing his performance as “shaky,” Nakamura remained optimistic about his team’s chances: “I think as the event goes on, we’ll build more chemistry. Everyone’s in a pretty good mood, and today we played really well… My game was maybe a little shaky at times, but everybody seemed to play well, so I’m actually pretty optimistic. As the event goes on, we’ll continue to get better.” While Nakamura sealed a draw, his teammate, 26-year-old Polish grandmaster Jan-Krzysztof Duda, delivered a decisive win. Duda defeated Vidit Santhosh Gujrathi with a brilliant checkmate combination, earning him the title of Player of the Match. Elsewhere, China’s Yu Yangyi drew with Peter Svidler in a balanced encounter between seasoned grandmasters. However, it was on the lower boards that the American Gambits sealed their victory. Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva upset one of India’s top female players, Humpy Koneru, while Harika Dronavalli provided a win for the Mumba Masters beating German GM Elisabeth Paehtz. Jonas Buhl Bjerre capped off the Gambits’ commanding win by defeating Mumba’s Raunak Sadhwani. The second match of the day saw the Ganges Grandmasters, playing with White, face the Alpine SG Pipers. Despite the color disadvantage, the SG Pipers triumphed with an 11:6 victory, thanks to wins by Richard Rapport and Hou Yifan. The top duel of the day featured a showdown between two chess titans—both five-time World Champions—Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen. The game ended in a draw, with Carlsen managing to steady the ship after a tough middlegame. Alpine SG Pipers’ Richard Rapport’s victory came after a tense battle with Iranian grandmaster Parham Maghsoodloo, where he turned the tables despite White’s early initiative. For his performance, Rapport was named Player of the Match. Meanwhile, Ganges’ Vaishali Rameshbabu put up a fierce fight against former women’s World Champion Hou Yifan, but ultimately lost. IM Nurgyul Salimova salvaged some pride for the Ganges Grandmasters by defeating the experienced blitz and rapid player Kateryna Lagno. On the junior board, the game between Volodar Murzin and Daniel Dardha ended in a draw. The final match of the day saw the defending champions, Triveni Continental Kings, face the PBG Alaskan Knights. Despite having the first-move advantage, the champions were caught off guard as the Alaskan Knights came out swinging, securing a dominant 15:3 victory. On the Icon board, 21-year-old Alireza Firouzja—one of the world’s top grandmasters, described by Magnus Carlsen as a potential successor at the top—miraculously saved a lost position against Anish Giri, preventing an even more devastating loss for his team. The Alaskan Knights claimed three victories on the superstars’ boards and drew the remaining two, finishing the match without a single defeat. With the most impressive score on day one, the PBG Alaskan Knights have firmly positioned themselves as strong contenders for the title. Written by Milan Dinic Photos: Lennart Ootes and Michal Walusza Official website: globalchessleague.com/ About Tech Mahindra Global Chess League The Global Chess League is the world’s first and largest official franchise league of its kind, with chess players from all over the world competing in a unique joint team format. It is a joint venture between Tech Mahindra, a part of the Mahindra Group, and FIDE. The league will feature male and female chess champions competing in the same team. Playing on the popular rapid format, the league’s joint male-female teams will have the rare distinction of being a unique multiplayer team in the world of professional sports. In addition, the league is a one-of-its-kind live televised chess event, offering fans a unique viewing experience. Tech Mahindra and FIDE will explore innovative ways to promote the game through interactive technology-enabled platforms by leveraging next-generation technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality, among others. For more information on Tech Mahindra Global Chess League, please visit: globalchessleague.com/ Contact: Abhilasha Gupta, Head – Global Corporate Communications & Public Affairs, Tech Mahindra Email: Abhilasha.Gupta@TechMahindra.com; media.relations@techmahindra.com
Tickets for FIDE World Chess Championship Match 2024 are now on sale!
FIDE is excited to announce that tickets for the highly anticipated World Chess Championship Match 2024, set to take place at Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore, are now available. From November 23 to December 13, 2024, Ding Liren and Gukesh D will battle it out for the most prestigious title in chess. Ticket holders will not only get to watch the intense battles unfold live but also enjoy exclusive access to the Fan Zone, where visiting masters and special guests will engage with fans, providing insights, explaining the moves, and sharing their analysis of the games. For those looking for a premium experience, VIP pass holders will enjoy front-row seats, access to the VIP Lounge with top-tier hospitality, including food and drinks, as well as priority invitations to exclusive side events like workshops, simuls, talks, and fan meets. Additionally, Google activities on-site will be open to all ticket holders, offering an interactive experience that brings fans closer to the game. Secure your tickets now and be part of this landmark event in Singapore! Get your tickets here. Ticket Prices Day Pass: S$64 VIP Pass: S$380 Promotions Concessions (Students/Seniors) – Students under 12 years old and seniors over 65 years old are eligible for this discount – Please note that random checks on concession tickets will be conducted at the point of entry – Patrons unable to present proof of eligibility are required to upgrade their concession tickets to full-price tickets Group Discount (min. 5 people) – 10% off Standard tickets – With a minimum purchase of 5 tickets per transaction VIP Group Discount (min. 5 people) – 10% off Standard tickets – With a minimum purchase of 5 tickets per transaction Standard 3-day Pass – 10% off Standard Day Pass with selection of any 3 games VIP 3-day Pass – 10% off VIP Day Pass with selection of any 3 games About the FIDE World Championship Match The FIDE World Championship Match is one of the most important and widely watched chess events globally. Held every two years, it features the defending World Champion and the Challenger, chosen through a qualification process culminating in the Candidates Tournament, which includes eight of the world’s top players. The defending Champion is Ding Liren, who won the title after defeating Ian Nepomniachtchi in Astana, Kazakhstan, in April 2023 on tiebreaks. The Challenger is the 18-year-old Gukesh D from India, who won the Candidates Tournament in April 2024 in Toronto. The World Championship Match will consist of 14 games. The player who scores 7.5 points or more wins the Match, and no further games are played. If the score is equal after 14 games, the winner is decided by a tiebreak.
Top world chess stars gather in London for Tech Mahindra Global Chess League
From October 3-12, London will host the second edition of the world’s biggest official franchise chess league. Featuring world number one Magnus Carlsen and a host of top-world Grandmasters, this will be one of the strongest chess tournaments ever held in the UK. London, October 02, 2024: In a unique sports event, many of the world’s strongest chess players have gathered in London for the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League, the only professional sports league where men and women compete together on mixed-gender teams. Created as a joint venture between Indian tech giant Tech Mahindra and the International Chess Federation (FIDE), the league aims to bring chess to millions of fans worldwide through a fresh, competitive format that is unlike anything seen before in the sport. Some of the strongest and most well-known players on the planet are competing, including five-time World Champion and current world number one Magnus Carlsen, former World Champion Viswanathan Anand, world number two and popular chess streamer Hikaru Nakamura, and one of the youngest players in the chess elite, 21-year-old Alireza Firouzja. Additionally, former Women’s World Champions Hou Yifan, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Tan Zhongyi, and other leading Grandmasters are among the 36 players participating in this prestigious event. “There’s incredible excitement as the Global Chess League Season 2 rolls out on October 03 here in London. We are looking forward to having a great turnout with chess lovers coming into the Friends House to watch some thrilling matches between the world’s top players,” said Sameer Pathak, CEO of the Global Chess League. Arkady Dvorkovich, President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), added, “This event is groundbreaking in both concept and format. It sets a new standard not only for chess but for sports worldwide. The initiative to combine men and women on the same team is inspiring and will greatly promote the game globally.” World-class teams The reigning champions, the Triveni Continental Kings, claimed victory in the inaugural edition held in July 2023 in Dubai, UAE, with a dramatic last-minute win over the Ganges Grandmasters. This year six teams – owned by major international companies – are participating in the league: Alpine SG Pipers, led by Magnus Carlsen; Ganges Grandmasters, led by Viswanathan Anand; upGrad Mumba Masters, led by Maxime Vachier-Lagrave; PBG Alaskan Knights, led by Anish Giri; Triveni Continental Kings, led by Alireza Firouzja; and American Gambits, led by Hikaru Nakamura. Unique format Each team consists of six players: one Icon Player (a top-rated Grandmaster rated 2700 or above), two world-class Grandmasters, two top-female players, and one player aged 21 or younger. The teams will compete in a double round-robin format, meaning they will face every other team twice. In contrast to traditional chess tournaments, where each team has an equal number of players playing with black or white pieces, here, the entire team will play with one color for the duration of a match and switch in the rematch. Each game lasts only 20 minutes, with no time increment, making time pressure a significant factor in the game. A new scoring system The scoring system resembles football more than traditional chess, where a win with either color earns one point, a draw earns half a point, and a loss earns no points. At the TechM GCL, a win with the black pieces earns 4 game points, while a win with white earns 3. A draw is worth 1 game point, and a loss earns no points. In terms of match points, a team victory is rewarded with 3 points, a draw with 1, and a loss with 0. After the round-robin phase, the two teams with the highest match points will advance to the final, which will be decided over two matches. If a tie occurs, blitz playoffs will determine the winner. Where and when The event takes place at Friends House, Euston (NW1 2BJ) with the first round starting on Thursday, October 03, at 13:15 London time. Each day will feature three matches (at 13:15, 15:55, and 17:15). The final will be held on Saturday, October 12, with matches beginning at 13:15 and 14:35 London time. Photo: friendshouse.co.uk Follow all the action live on chess.com. For more information about the event, visit: globalchessleague.com/ Full Team list: Written by Milan Dinic About Tech Mahindra Global Chess League The Global Chess League is the world’s first and largest official franchise league of its kind, with chess players from all over the world competing in a unique joint team format. It is a joint venture between Tech Mahindra, a part of the Mahindra Group, and FIDE. The league will feature male and female chess champions competing in the same team. Playing on the popular rapid format, the league’s joint male-female teams will have the rare distinction of being a unique multiplayer team in the world of professional sports. In addition, the league is a one-of-its-kind live televised chess event, offering fans a unique viewing experience. Tech Mahindra and FIDE will explore innovative ways to promote the game through interactive technology-enabled platforms by leveraging next-generation technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality, among others. For more information on Tech Mahindra Global Chess League, please visit: globalchessleague.com/ Contact: Abhilasha Gupta, Head – Global Corporate Communications & Public Affairs, Tech Mahindra Email: Abhilasha.Gupta@TechMahindra.com; media.relations@techmahindra.com
X Ibero-American Championship: Alan Pichot captures title
GM Alan Pichot emerged as the winner of the X Ibero-American Championship, an event held at the premises of Hotel RL Anibal in Linares, Spain. Joining Alan on the podium were IM Daniel Garcia Ramos from Spain who took silver and GM Santiago Avila Pavas of Colombia claiming bronze. IM Sabrina Vega from Spain became the best female player, while IM Diego Flores Quillas of Peru was the best junior. The Ibero-American Individual Absolute Championship, which celebrated its tenth edition, attracted with 114 participants from 22 countries-members of FIBDA (Federation Iberoamericana de Ajedrez). The 9-round Swiss tournament, stretching from September 25 to October 1, featured 13 GM, out of a total of 79 titled players (70%). Female representation is also significant, with 21 players (18%). The Linares City Council sponsored this competition, continuing its strong commitment to chess. FIDE, which has been collaborating with the Ibero-American Federation for several years, also provided support for the event. Players with the Mayor of Linares, Auxi del Olmo, President of Iberoamerican Chess Federation, Javier Ochoa; President of the Andorra Federation, Francesc Rechi at the reception in Municipal Palace The tournament was a very close competition that saw a fierce fight from start to finish. Going to the final ninth round, IM Daniel Garcia Ramos was on 7/8, a half-point ahead of the second seed Alan Pichot and full in front of a group of six players. It all came down to the clash Pichot – Garcia Ramos in which Alan scored a crucial victory and clinched the title. GM Santiago Avila Pavas and Alexandr Fier of Brazil won their final round games and caught up with the former leader, all finishing on 7/9. Garcia Ramos (who completed a GM norm) and Avila Pavas took silver and bronze, respectively, based on the Buchholz tiebreaker. Final standings: 1 GM Pichot, Alan ESP 7½ 2 IM Garcia Ramos, Daniel ESP 7 3 GM Avila Pavas, Santiago COL 7 4 GM Fier, Alexandr BRA 7 5 IM Flores Quillas, Diego Saul PER 6½ 6 GM Quesada Perez, Luis CUB 6½ 7 GM Iturrizaga Bonelli, Eduardo ESP 6½ 8 GM Gines Esteo, Pedro ESP 6½ 9 GM Henriquez Villagra, Cristobal CHI 6½ 10 GM Salinas Herrera, Pablo CHI 6 Complete final standings Photos: FEDA Facebook page Official website: fibda.com/
Erigaisi enters top 3 Open in October 2024 rating list
September 2024 was all about the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest. The biggest team competition of the biennium had a great impact on the October 2024 rating list. Given that out of the top 10 Women, only Nana Dzagnidze played in Budapest, it remained intact. On the other hand, top 10 Open saw significant shifts. Photo: Michal Walusza The individual gold winners at the 45th Chess Olympiad Arjun Erigaisi (pictured above) and Gukesh D (pictured below) delivered brilliant performances in Budapest, earning 19 and 30 rating points respectively. Both reached their career high and came very close to the 2800 mark, with Arjun debuting in top 3 after ousting Fabiano Caruana to the fourth position. Gukesh D, in his turn, overtook Nodirbek Abdusattorov in the list of best junior players and climbed to first place. Photo: Michal Walusza Biggest gains in top 100 Open and Women Yip, Carissa IM USA 2418 (+32) Nurman, Alua WIM KAZ 2356 (+32) Gukesh D GM IND 2794 (+30) Kamalidenova, Meruert IM KAZ 2378 (+26) Agrawal, Vantika IM IND 2392 (+22) Mkrtchian, Lilit IM ARM 2388 (+22) Erigaisi Arjun GM IND 2797 (+19) Vokhidov, Shamsiddin GM UZB 2668 (+18) Divya Deshmukh IM IND 2501 (+18) Vega Gutierrez, Sabrina IM ESP 2392 (+18) Abdusattorov, Nodirbek GM UZB 2783 (+17) Virtually all the players qualifying for this list did a great job in Budapest. Nine of them, namely, Nodirbek Abdusattorov (board one Open – silver), Shamsiddin Vokhidov (board three Open – gold) Carissa Yip (board two Women – gold; pictured below), Divya Deshmukh (board three Women – gold), Sabrina Vega Gutierrez (board three Women – silver), Lilit Mkrtchian (board three Women – bronze), Vantika Agrawal (board four Women – gold), plus Gukesh D and Arjun Erigaisi mentioned above, won various individual medals. Alua Nurman did not mange to clinch an individual medal at the 45th Chess Olympiad but earned an impressive 32 rating points. Photo: Maria Emelianova Meruert Kamalidenova is the only player on the list who dropped some rating points (-5) at the 45th Chess Olympiad, but she overcompensated for this loss with her strong showing in the Karaganda Akim Cup 2024 (+31). Photo: Mark Livshitz Chess Olympiad is a great opportunity for young players to make a name for themselves, and the 45th edition in Budapest was no exception. Kudos to Ediz Gurel (+23), Sion Radamantys Galaviz Medina (+19), Avila Pavas, Santiago (+16), Frederik Svane (+15), Bardiya Daneshvar (+15), Kazybek Nogerbek (+15), Jan Subelj (+15), Setayesh Karimi (+100!; pictured above), Milan Babić (+75) Mariia Manko (+68), Gulenay Aydin (+52), Bat-Erdene Mungunzul (+44) and Machteld Van Foreest (+34), to name a few.
WFCC World Solving Championships for Youth and Cadets: Free training sessions
Dear chess friends, The official FIDE & WFCC World Solving Championships for Youth and Cadets are set to take place this autumn, with events in Florianópolis, Brazil, on November 4 (U14, U16 & U18), and Montesilvano, Italy, on November 21 2024 (U8, U10 & U12). You can see a promotional video here. Both events will be organized during the free day of World Youth Chess Championships (28.10-10.11) and World Cadet Chess Championships (14-27.11), mirroring the age and gender categories of the main events. For the first time, FIDE is collaborating with the World Federation for Chess Composition (WFCC) to host these events as a part of FIDE’s centenary celebrations. In the registration forms below, under “Terms & Conditions”, you may find complete Regulations, Instructions and Illustrative examples. To help new generations get acquainted with deep-rooted principles and rich history of chess composition, the WFCC has organized free online training sessions for participants, trainers and all other interested in this branch of chess art. Brazil – Registration form:https://form.jotform.com/FCCC/fide-wfcc-world-youth-chess-solving Italy – Registration form:https://form.jotform.com/FCCC/fide-wfcc-world-cadet-solving-2024 Free Chess Solving Training Sessions – Registration form:https://forms.gle/qrW2gzruW8T2ty657