Georg Meier wins VII Marcel Duchamp Cup in Montevideo
From February 1-9, 2024, Montevideo hosted the seventh Marcel Duchamp Cup, organized by IA Sabrina de San Vicente. This tournament, established in the South American circuit, distributed $6000 in prizes and brought together the finest chess players from America in the Uruguayan capital. This competition would not have been possible without the initial support of Argentine entrepreneurs International Master Tomas Darcyl and Atty. Ricardo Costianovsky, who secured the main prize fund. Additinal support was provided by the ‘Asociacion Española Primera de Socorros Mutuos’ for visiting masters, and the Duchamp International Organization, which contributed prizes for the Women’s and Senior categories. This year, the tournament also carried the name “300 Years of Montevideo,” thanks to the support of the Departmental Board, which included the tournament as part of the city’s founding celebration framework. The tournament was also supported by FIDE as part of its 100th-anniversary celebration, commemorated in 2024. Thanks to the support provided by the Montevideo Municipality, once again, the competition took place in the Red and Golden Rooms of the Conference Center, which with their excellent facilities, spaciousness, well-lit, and air-conditioned rooms, provided the necessary comfort to all participants. The event brought together over 130 participants, including 31 titled players (6 GMs, 1 WGM, 5 IMs, and 2 WIMs), representing a total of 12 countries. Among the contenders were some strong favorites before the start: former champions GM Leonardo Tristan (3rd edition, 2019) and IM Pablo Ismael Acosta (4th edition, 2020), both from Argentina. They were joined by GMs Leandro Krysa, Pablo Salinas, and Carlos Garcia Palermo from Argentina, Chile, and Italy respectively, as well as the top-rated player, the current Continental Champion of the Americas GM Jorge Meier, from Uruguay, who made his debut in this tournament. The top seed, Georg Meier (pictured above), stormed out of the gates with six straight wins and took the lead, but he could not feel safe as one of his main rivals, Leonardo Tristan, was just a half-point behind. Two draws by Georg in Rounds 7 and 8 allowed Leonardo to catch up with the leader. Going to the final ninth round on 7/8, both had the white pieces. After Tristan made a quick draw with Pablo Salinas, Meier tested Pablo Ismael Acosta in an equal ending for a while but eventually had to settle for a draw. As a result, Meier and Tristan tied for first place with 7.5/9, but ‘Jorge’, as he Georg likes to be called since representing Uruguay, emerged as the winner thanks to a slightly better Buchholz. He became the became the first Uruguayan to win this event. The winner and the runner-up were the only unbeaten players in the competition. The podium was completed by GM Pablo Salinas from Chile with 7 points, as well as GM Carlos Garcia Palermo and IM Pablo Acosta, who finished fourth and fifth respectively. Final standings: 1 GM Meier, Georg URU 2616 7½ 2 GM Tristan, Leonardo ARG 2515 7½ 3 GM Salinas Herrera, Pablo CHI 2483 7 4 GM Garcia Palermo, Carlos ITA 2403 7 5 IM Acosta, Pablo Ismael ARG 2479 7 6 GM Krysa, Leandro ARG 2541 6½ 7 GM Hoffman, Alejandro URU 2361 6½ 8 IM Roselli Mailhe, Bernardo URU 2359 6½ 9 WGM Amura, Claudia ARG 2196 6½ 10 WIM Agrest, Inna SWE 2279 6½ In the Women’s category, the best-placed players were WGM Claudia Amura from Argentina and WIM Inna Agrest from Sweden, with 6.5 points each, finishing ninth and tenth respectively. They earned higher prizes according to the overall standings. Therefore, the prizes in the Women’s category went to WIM Milagros Brizzi and WFM Anahi Meza, both from Argentina, and the Uruguayan players WFM Andreina Quevedo and Nahiara Fabra. In the Senior +65 category, the best-placed player was GM Carlos Garcia Palermo, who finished fourth in the overall standings, so the three prize winners were IM Leon Piasetski from Canada, FM Alejandro Bauza from Uruguay, and Mario Sepliarsky from Argentina. In the Sub 2000 category, the top three players were Jairo Araque from Venezuela, Adriano Gaspar de Lima from Argentina, and Marcelo Lanzilotta from Uruguay. Mauricio Errazola came out on top in the Sub 1800 category, followed by Mauro de los Reyes, both from Uruguay. Nicolas Jasper from Argentina finished third. In the Sub 1600 category, the best-placed player was Emanuel Menezes, followed by Nahiara Fabra and Francisco Borgiani, all from Uruguay. The event was streamed at TacticaMenteAjedrez YouTube channel, and there were also live comments by FM Jose Riverol on his Twitch channel Nau64ajedrez, which were viewed by more than 60 thousand unique visitors. Additionally, the main boards could be followed live on the chess.com platform. This year, the first edition of the Marcel Duchamp Promotional Tournament was held exclusively for players with less than 1500 FIDE rating and not rated. This tournament was an excellent opportunity for those making their first steps in chess to compete on an equal footing with their peers. The first edidtion, held from February 4-9, attracted 38 players with a significant participation of youngsters seeking to establish themselves in national chess. Marcos Gonzalez Prestes, born in 2013, delivred a standout performance scoring scoring the maximum points 5/5. Additionally, he became the Sub 12 champion. The podium was completed by Luca Tessadri and Juan Borgiani, who netted 4 points and had better tiebreaks over participants with the same score. In the Sub 14 category, the best-placed player was Julius Werle. In the Sub 20 category, the Luca Tessadri lifted the trophy. Among those over 65, the first place was achieved by Diego Roselli, who was also the best unrated player. In the Women’s category, Milagros Costa was crowned champion. All participants enjoyed this true chess festival and received a tournament t-shirt as a gift. You can see all the results of the VII Open here.You can see all the results of the I Promotional here.Photos of the event can be viewed on the tournament’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Photos: Julian Zen, Gaston Fernandez, Edgardo Campora
Tickets for the 2024 Candidates: Early bird offer expires this week
The Early Bird offer on tickets for the FIDE Candidates Tournament and the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament in Toronto will expire on February 15, 2024. The event will take place in Toronto from April 03-23, 2024 and will be open to the public through a ticketing system. The ticketing policy includes general admission tickets with access to the playing hall balcony and the fan zone and VIP passes, which also include the VIP room with drinks and snacks, a personalised experience and priority registration for side events. In addition, daily tickets and packages for all rounds of the tournament are available in all categories. Until midnight February 15, Toronto time, chess fans can purchase coveted Candidates tickets at the following special Early Bird pricing (in Canadian dollars): • General Admission, one day: CA$49 (Saturdays and Sundays CA$64) • All rounds General Admission package: CA$549 • VIP, one day: CA$169 (Saturdays and Sundays CA$199) • VIP Grand Package: CA$1999 Don’t miss out! Secure your seat for the best available price! Tickets can be purchased online via the official website: candidates.fide.com
2023 FIDE Online General Assembly: Minutes
FIDE publishes the Minutes of FIDE Online General Assembly Meeting which was held on December 17, 2023. FIDE General Assembly Minutes (pdf)
2023 FIDE Online Zonal Council: Minutes
FIDE publishes the Minutes of FIDE Online Zonal Council Meeting which was held on December 14, 2023. FIDE Online Zonal Council Meeting Minutes (pdf)
Magnus Carlsen strikes back to win 2024 Chessable Masters
GM Magnus Carlsen powered through to win Division I of the 2024 Champions Chess Tour Chessable Masters on Wednesday. GM Alireza Firouzja took the first set of the Grand Final, impressively winning the first two games in a row, but the world number-one struck back in the second set. Carlsen won the match reset with a 2-0 sweep. It was Carlsen’s 14th victory in 17 CCT finals. He made $30,000, gains 100 tour points, and earns direct entry into both Division I of the next event and the live Finals at the end of the year. Carlsen was a favorite against his 13-years-younger opponent, as he would be against just about anyone. Carlsen won their only previous Grand Final encounter in the 2023 Julius Baer Generation Cup. Firouzja’s been in two Grand Finals but has yet to win one. Firouzja was in nearly full control in the first set. After the French number-one won the first two games back-to-back, the Herculean task of winning twice on demand was too much even for the former world champion. GM David Howell, commentating on the action during game one, said: “We couldn’t have hoped for a more exciting beginning to this game.” By quality of play and intrigue, it was the best of the first four games. Firouzja, with Black, sacrificed a piece for a wall of pawns. The two grandmasters played a perfect game for 41 moves, and just one slip, 41.Qf7?, lost the game for Carlsen after 41…h6! — cementing 99.1% accuracy in the game—made Firouzja’s king untouchable. Firouzja shocked the commentators and fans alike in game two by outplaying the world’s endgame maestro in the endgame. In hindsight, it’s easy to appreciate the way he activates his king from move 34 to 38 so that it becomes a leader in threatening checkmates. “He outplayed me completely,” said Carlsen about this game after the match. “He is just dominating Magnus Carlsen!” said Hess after the second win, while Howell concluded: “It’s one-way traffic right now.” Carlsen played the London System and won a nice rook endgame in game three, but he seemed to run out of steam in the fourth game. After he made a mistake, he himself offered a draw to throw in the towel. Carlsen later explained: “I just missed Be2 and I was kind of pissed about that and there were no winning chances, so I thought, it’s fine, I get White the next game, I start anew.” Then the Reset Match started. They sometimes say that you have to beat a grandmaster three times to win one game—meaning they keep fighting their way back in. From this perspective, Carlsen can be like the mythological Hydra—you cut off one head, two grow in its place. “I don’t know if he lost energy, if he got nervous, but it’s hard to keep it up,” said Carlsen after winning the next, and last, two games. The first game was the better one, where we were treated to a dynamic, opposite-sides castling position that arose from the Trompowsky Opening. A sharp middlegame turned into a winning endgame, which Carlsen converted with exceptional power. Firouzja was much better, and very close to winning, in the second game. But when Carlsen traded queens—still much worse—endgame magic happened. Firouzja’s best chance would have been 33.Rf1, but after drifting into an equal position, 37.Re4?? was the nail in the coffin. Carlsen needed just three moves to finish the game. There have been 32 CCT tournaments in total and Carlsen has won 18 of them. After this latest win, he started the interview with: “I really needed my extra life today, that’s for sure.” The former world champion, true to his nature, reflected: “It was not a sparkling event for me by any means, but it feels awesome to win.” Firouzja still pockets $20,000 and 80 tour points for reaching the Grand Final. He also gains direct entry to Division I of the next event, as does GM Vincent Keymer for winning Division II. There are just three more CCT events before the live Finals at the end of the year, and so the clock is ticking for everyone whose name is not Magnus Carlsen. Adapted from NM Anthony Levin’s report for Chess.com. To read the full report with game analysis, click here. The Champions Chess Tour 2023 (CCT) is the biggest online tournament of the year. It is composed of five 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 $1,700,000, the CCT is Chess.com’s most important event. For further info contact: Leon Watson Head of PR, Chess.comleon@chess.com+447786 078 770
FIDE Aid Package to Open Tournaments 2024
The FIDE Open Tournaments support project has enjoyed remarkable success in its first three years. Introduced during the challenging pandemic period, the initiative was met with widespread appreciation from organizers worldwide. It played a crucial role in helping many tournaments survive and supported chess professionals navigate through those difficult years. We have already received dozens of applications from organisers for the year 2024. Today, we are excited to announce the 2024 edition of the Open Aid Package Project, taking place in the historic year of FIDE’s 100th anniversary. Tournament organisers are invited to apply for the FIDE Aid Package 2024. They shall accept the conditions, meet the requirements listed below and fill out the application form. CONDITIONS & REQUIREMENTS An application for the Aid Package shall be sent to gsc@fide.com by 15 February 2024 The Aid Package cannot exceed 20% of the prize fund and 10% of the total budget indicated in the application form At least 10% of the total prize fund shall be allocated for women’s prizes and at least 5% of the total prize fund shall be allocated for Veteran’s prizes FIDE may require the tournament to establish the lower fees (or absence of fees) for the agreed categories of participants (veterans, youth, women, representatives of developing countries) Mention “Financially supported by FIDE Open Aid Project” shall be visible on tournament’s media resources (e. g. webpage, social media pages) FIDE may require FIDE and its sponsors to be reasonably represented at the tournament The Organiser is requested to fill out the following form (all the provided data will remain confidential). IMPORTANT: If the provided information does not match with the real data, the planned aid package can be decreased of fully cancelled. The Organiser is required to specify how exactly the Aid Package is supposed to be used (added to the prize fund, used for titled players invitations, other…) SELECTION CRITERIA Events with the classical time control shall be prioritised Event’s history Event’s strength Geographical location Amount of the prize fund and its distribution Fair Play measures The list of the selected Opens shall be announced by 20 February 2024.
Baadur Jobava wins 2024 Georgian Championship
Baadur Jobava is the new champion of Georgia. The 40-year-old native of Gali claimed his fourth national title after winning this event in 2003, 2007 and 2012. The Georgian Chess Championship 2024 took place from January 29 to February 7, 2024, in the country’s capital Tbilisi. A 10-player round-robin with classical time control brought together all the best Georgian players, including the defending champion Mikheil Mchedlishvili. The rating favourite Baadur Jobava (pictured above) and Luka Paichadze got off to a great start, scoring 3 points in the first four rounds. In Round 5, however, their paths diverged. Luka suffered a defeat at the hands of Giga Quparadze, while Baadur drew with the 2022 champion Levan Pantsulaia and took the lead. He then pulled away by notching up two consecutive victories in Rounds 6 and 7 and never looked back. Going to the final ninth round a full point ahead of Giga Quparadze and Mikheil Mchedlishvili, Baadur convincingly outplayed Luka Paichadze and took the title with an excellent score of 7/9. The champion became the only unbeaten player in the event. Nikolozi Kacharava (pictured above, left) pulled off a crucial last-round victory over Giga Quparadze and caught up with Mikheil Mchedlishvili (pictured above, right), who drew his game with Luka Kiladze. Both netted 5.5/7 and tied for second place, but silver goes to Nikolozi thanks to a greater number of victories. Final standings: 1 GM Jobava, Baadur 2591 7 2 GM Kacharava, Nikolozi 2523 5½ 3 GM Mchedlishvili, Mikheil 2569 5½ 4 GM Quparadze, Giga 2491 5 5 GM Gagunashvili, Merab 2562 5 6 GM Paichadze, Luka 2503 5 7 GM Sanikidze, Tornike 2449 4 8 FM Tsomaia, Nikoloz 2231 3 9 GM Pantsulaia, Levan 2561 3 10 FM Kiladze, Luka 2179 2 Photos: Georgian Chess Federation Facebook page Official website: gcf.org.ge
FIDE delegation meets with Pakistan’s President and PM
Pakistan’s government makes a strong push towards promoting chess, starting with 10,000 schools The delegation of FIDE, headed by President Arkady Dvorkovich, met with the President of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi, and Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Friday in Islamabad for the launch of Pakistan’s National Mind Sports Initiative. Promoted by the government, the initiative aims to introduce chess and other activities in schools and to the public, fostering the development of mind sports in the country. During the meeting in Islamabad, FIDE officials and representatives of Pakistan’s chess federation discussed strategies to increase the popularity of chess in Pakistan. Currently, Pakistan’s top player, Mohamed Zohaib Hassan, has a rating of 2269. Recognizing the mental and educational benefits of chess and its positive impact on intellectual development, the government of Pakistan introduces chess into its educational system. Following the meeting, it was announced that Pakistan, with 236 million residents, will promote chess in the country, particularly at the grassroots level, through programs aimed at schools. FIDE, Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, and other Pakistani state officials discussed how this could be done, with a focus on the primary school level, modeling on FIDE’s successful project “Chess in schools,” implemented in many countries worldwide. As part of the mind games project, chess is to be introduced in 10,000 public schools across Pakistan, starting with 100 schools in Islamabad, the country’s capital. “Some 6,000,000 children in 10,000 schools in Pakistan will have the chance to get access to this game,” said Arkady Dvorkovich. He promised FIDE’s support in coaching teachers for the chess in schools initiative. FIDE’s Development Director Nigel Short and Secretary of FIDE’s Chess in Education Commission Rita Atkins continue to tour Pakistan with chess in schools lectures, simultaneous game exhibitions, and meetings with prison authorities in promotion of the Chess for Freedom project. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said he was happy that he made a commitment to this special cause, and he will also continue to support and promote this cause in the future. He added that every school in the country should have access to this game. Apart from Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE’s delegation included Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al-Nehayan (President of the Asian Chess Federation), Dana Reizniece-Ozola (Deputy Chair of FIDE’s Management Board), GM Nigel Short (FIDE’s Development Director), Hisham Al Taher, Secretary-General of the Asian Chess Federation, as well as Jauhar Saleem, Chief Patron of the Chess Federation of Pakistan. Late Mian Sultan Khan given Grandmaster Title Photo by unknown cameraman, 1932 The federal minister for inter-provincial cooperation, Fawad Hassan Fawad, noted the legacy of Mian Sultan Khan (1903–1966), a native chess player from Sargodha in northeast Pakistan, who won the British Chess Championship in 1929, 1932, and 1933. Arkady Dvorkovich presented Pakistan’s officials with the document awarding the title of Honorary Grandmaster to Mian Sultan Khan. A Punjabi chess player, and a citizen of Pakistan is thought to have been the strongest chess master of his time from Asia. Mian Sultan Khan, who beat some of the world’s top players despite growing up with little access to chess books and knowing next to nothing about the theory of chess, became the first Pakistani grandmaster.
14th “Preparation of Teachers” course announced
Dear chess friends, Save the dates: February 23-25, 2024, for our 14th edition of the “Preparation of Teachers” course – a golden opportunity to become a certified FIDE School Instructor. Conducted in English, this 3-day online course is designed to boost your teaching skills using chess as an educational tool. Learn innovative methods for the 4C’s (critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity). Bonus: Successful candidates get lifelong access to OPENING MASTER PREMIUM chess databases. Read the detailed course description here. Presented by commission members Anzel Laubscher and Boris Bruhn, this course is perfect for teachers, chess educators, beginner and advanced players with basic chess knowledge, and anyone with experience working with children. To secure your spot, kindly complete and return this registration form. Registration closes on February 19, only 20 spots available! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at edu.courses@fide.com
Budapest gets ready for the 2024 Chess Olympiad
Budapest is set to proudly host the 2024 Chess Olympiad, a monumental event to take place from September 10 to 23. The highly anticipated 45th Chess Olympiad is bringing together acclaimed heavyweights and rising stars, promising a showcase of chess brilliance from top-tier players from all across the globe. The event will be another milestone in Hungary’s rich chess history. With 12 team medals from Chess Olympiads, Hungary is one of the most successful chess nations. Home to many great chess players, from Géza Maróczy to Andor Lilienthal and from Laszlo Szabo to Lajos Portisch, Andras Adorjan, Zoltan Ribli and Peter Leko, including the most recognizable Hungarian chess marvels – the Polgar sisters (Judit, Susan and Sofia) – it is no surprise that chess is at home in Hungary. Photo: Jorge Franganillo The Olympiad will take place at the BOK Sports Hall, one of Hungary’s most modern event centers that hosts over 120 events annually and can accommodate up to 10,000 people. In a historic move toward inclusivity, the 2024 Chess Olympiad will welcome a team of refugees, as officially approved by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). This groundbreaking decision aims to promote diversity and support displaced individuals, reinforcing chess as a tool for positive change. As part of the event’s commitment to gender equality, the organizers and FIDE will seek to increase the participation of women’s teams. The Budapest Chess Olympiad will not only be a battleground for the world’s chess teams but will also feature other events, including cultural programs and events for children. Concurrently, the FIDE Congress will be hosted alongside the Olympiad, accompanied by marking 100 years since the formation of FIDE. “We are proud and happy that Hungary will play host to the 45th Chess Olympiad, given the country’s astonishing chess legacy and place in today’s chess world. It is also nice to see the Chess Olympiad return to Europe. The organizers, in collaboration with FIDE, aspire to make this Olympiad a memorable and inclusive experience for participants and spectators and make them truly feel like they are at home in Hungary,” said FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich. “One of the best things in chess is that it’s international. Just like music, or love. The Olympiad brings us all together and tells us once again that chess is not just black and white. Owing to the sports strategy of our government, Hungary has become a professional host to a series of world events in recent years. It is an honour to have the Chess Olympiad in this line, and we’ll do our best to make it memorable for all our guests.” – added Dr Zoltán Polyánszky, President of the Hungarian Chess Federation. With a huge commitment from the Hungarian Chess Federation and the government, the Chess Olympiad 2024 promises to be a testament to Hungary’s chess legacy, welcoming players from around the globe to engage in the noble game of strategy and intellect. The registration portal will be launched soon and the organizing committee will start pre-registration of teams and Congress delegations. Logins and passwords for the registration portal access will be sent to the official e-mail addresses of national federations. The detailed registration will be available on the same website from March 10, 2024 Regulations of 45th Chess Olympiad (pdf)