Everything ready for the start of World Rapid and Blitz in Samarkand
In the backdrop of the historical city of Samarkand, the stage is set for the convergence of top world chess players at the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships The past, present and future of chess will meet in Samarkand, as the city where the world’s oldest chess pieces have been found (dating from the 6-8 century AD) will play host to many of the greatest chess players of today. From December 26 to 30, this highly anticipated five-day event is poised to witness the world’s premier chess players vie for the prestigious titles of World Champion in Rapid and Blitz across both Open and Women’s categories. The prize fund totals one million US dollars, with $700,000 for the Open and $300,000 for the Women’s tournaments. The event boasts an impressive lineup featuring illustrious names synonymous with chess brilliance. Photo: Lennart Ootes In the Open section, the lineup will be headlined by Magnus Carlsen. The former World Champion is defending both the Rapid and the Blitz crown he secured in Almaty in 2022. At that point, he was still the holder of the world crown in classical chess. This was the third time for the Norwegian to hold all three chess crowns. While he has decided that the contention for the crown in classical chess is out of the question, the 33-year-old Norwegian has not given up on Blitz and Rapid and will be looking for his fourth title in both competitions. Fabiano Caruana is heading to Samarkand eager to continue his fantastic run in 2023. He won the Superbet Chess Classic, defended his crown as US champion, took third place in the World Cup, came first in the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz and came on top at the 2023 Sinquefield Cup. With such great form and successful performances, Caruana will be looking to finish the year on a high in Samarkand. Photo: Maria Emelianova/Chess.com With a notable exception of world champion Ding Liren and Hikaru Nakamura, almost all of the strongest figures in the chess realm will be in Samarkand, including two-time World Championship match participant Ian Nepomniachtchi, the experienced Levon Aronian, Anish Giri and Yu Yangyi, young stars Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Vincent Keymer as well as several top world players from India, led by Praggnanandhaa, Vidit, Erigaisi and Gukesh. The host country, Uzbekistan, pins its hopes on the 2021 World Rapid Champion Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov. In the women’s section, Tan Zhongyi will be there to defend her Rapid crown, while Bibisara Assaubayeva will try to merge the previous two successes – from 2022, when she won the Blitz event and 2021, when she took the Rapid title. Standing in their way, however, will be the four-time Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun and the 2023 World Cup winner and former world champion candidate Aleksandra Goryachkina. They are joined by world number two Humpy Koneru, this year’s Women’s World Championship challenger Lei Tingjie, as well as top-10 world players Kateryna Lagno, Anna Muzychuk and Nana Dzagnidze, whose adaptability in diverse game formats make them strong contenders for both the Rapid and the Blitz crowns. Photo: Lennart Ootes In the mix are also three former World Champions, Antoaneta Stefanova, Alexandra Kosteniuk and Mariya Muzychuk, whose remarkable achievements and unyielding determination have propelled them to the summit of women’s chess. The forthcoming event marks an important moment for the local organizers as Uzbekistan gears up to host the 2026 Chess Olympiad, leveraging the World Rapid and Blitz Championships to fortify their preparations for this upcoming grand affair. The competition will unfold amidst the architectural marvel of the Silk Road Samarkand, a multifaceted resort boasting eight world-class hotels, cultural sites, and a state-of-the-art international congress center. As the chess elite get ready to converge on Samarkand, their participation in the World Rapid and Blitz Championships is promising thrilling excitement and high drama, where nerves and speed will be (the) key. 2023 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championship Rapid Open – List of participants 2023 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championship Rapid Women – List of participants 2023 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championship Blitz Open – List of participants 2023 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championship Blitz Women – List of participants Information about the event: Dates: Opening ceremony: December 25World Rapid: 26 – 28 DecemberWorld Blitz: 29 – 30 DecemberClosing ceremony: December 30 Eligibility: For the Open, a rating of at least 2550 in any of the twelve most recent FIDE rating lists (Standard, Rapid or Blitz) at the moment of the beginning of the WRB; the reigning National Champions (in Standard, Rapid, Blitz) representing their National Federation regardless of their title or rating, as well as up to 30 nominations by FIDE and 15 by the Uzbekistan chess federation. For the Women’s tournaments, a rating of at least 2250 in any of the twelve most recent FIDE rating lists (Standard, Rapid or Blitz) at the moment of the beginning of the WRB; the reigning National Champions (in Standard, Rapid, Blitz) representing their National Federation regardless of their title or rating, as well as up to 20 nominations by FIDE and 10 by the Uzbekistan chess federation. Format: Both the Rapid and the Blitz will be played under the Swiss System. The Open Rapid will consist of 13 rounds, while the Blitz will have 21 rounds.The Women’s Rapid will have 11 rounds, while the Blitz will have 17 rounds. Time Control: Rapid: 15 minutes + 10 seconds increment per move, starting from move one.Blitz: Three minutes + 2 seconds increment per move, starting from move one. Prizes: Official website of the tournament: worldrapidandblitz2023.fide.com/ OFFICIAL PARTNERS: Freedom Holding Corp. is a US-based financial services holding company. Through its operating subsidiaries, Freedom Holding provides services like retail securities brokerage, research, investment counselling, securities trading, market-making, retail banking, corporate investment banking and underwriting services in Eurasia. The Company has retail locations in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan and Germany. The Company’s financial services business provides retail securities brokerage, research, investment counselling, securities trading,
FIDE President visits North and West African countries
The President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), Arkady Dvorkovich, visited Cabo Verde, Senegal and Morocco, where he held several high-level meetings and attended a number of chess events. The first stop was Senegal, where Dvorkovich met with the country’s Minister of Sports, Lat Diop. The main topics of the discussion were the organization of international chess tournaments in Senegal, the training of the national Olympic chess team and the upcoming Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. The Organizing Committee of Dakar 2026 and FIDE are discussing the possibility of including chess in this global sports forum program that will be the first IOC event to take place in Africa. The FIDE President also attended chess lessons in one of the local schools “Aime Césaire” and an amateur chess tournament, where he met chess enthusiasts and talked with them about the game’s development on the African continent and worldwide. The next stop on his trip was Cape Verde. On December 10, the FIDE President attended the closing ceremony of the Final Phase of the 7th Absolute Individual National Championship, which took place in Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão. Together with the President of the Cape Verde Olympic Committee, Filomena Fortes, Vice President of the African Chess Confederation, Nadezhda Marochkina and the President of the Cape Verde Chess Federation, Francisco Manuel Carapinha, Dvorkovich awarded the winners of the tournament. The top seed, IM Mariano Ortega Amaralle, dominated the competition, winning all nine games. The champion finished two points ahead of FM Diogo Alho (7/9), who won silver. David Mirulla netted 6/9 and took bronze. “2024 is a very important year for the International Chess Federation as it will celebrate its 100-year anniversary. We will have events all around the world to celebrate it. The most important one will be the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary. I hope your team will be fully prepared to fight there. But there will be many other festivals and tournaments to celebrate. And I hope one of them will be held here, in Cape Verde,” Dvorkovich said in his speech. Then, the FIDE President flew to the capital of Morocco Rabat, where he had a meeting with the organizers of the traditional Casablanca Chess Week and discussed the program of the 2024 edition. Scheduled for May 2024, this chess forum will be a part of the FIDE 100th anniversary celebrations.
FIDE GA 2023 List of Delegates and Constitutional Commission report published
FIDE publishes the list of delegates to General Assembly 2023 together with Constitutional Commission report to the FIDE Council and General Assembly. FIDE GA 2023 – List of Delegates having right to vote (pdf) Constitutional Commission report (pdf)
Mert Yılmazyerli wins 2023 Turkish Championship
The 2023 Turkish Chess Championship, organized by the national chess federation with the support of GURIS Holding, took place in Kemer at Mirage Park Resort from December 1-10, 2023. The competition, a 10-player round-robin, was held in memory of former Turkish champion Ergün Gümrükçüoğlu. In the absence of the defending champion Mustafa Yilmaz, the only GM in the tournament and the top-rated Mert Yılmazyerli entered the competition as a clear favourite, and he really delivered. Coming into the final round a half-point ahead of FM Adar Tarhan and IM Alparslan Isik, Mert confidently outplayed Ufuk Tuncer with the black pieces and secured his second national title, scoring 7/9. Adar defeated Ceren Tirpan and finished second with 6.5/9, while Alparslan Isik managed only a draw against Yanki Taspinar and took bronze but became the only unbeaten player in the tournament. Final standings: 1 GM YILMAZYERLİ, Mert 2524 7 2 FM TARHAN, Adar 2405 6½ 3 IM IŞIK, Alparslan 2452 6 4 FM GÜNDÜZ, Umut Erdem 2318 4½ 5 FM EREN, Ataberk 2429 4½ 6 FM BİÇER, Atakan Mert 2312 4 7 FM TUNCER, Ufuk 2360 3½ 8 FM TAŞPINAR, Yankı 2318 3½ 9 TIRPAN, Ceren 1940 3 10 METİN, Enis 2031 2½ Speaking at the closing ceremony, the President of the Turkish Chess Federation, Gülkız Tulay, said: “On the 100th anniversary of our Republic, we organized the 2023 Turkey Champion in the name of Ergün Gümrükçüoğlu. We had an excellent event with many exciting games. I congratulate our champion and all the participants. We would like to thank our Ministry of Youth and Sports and Osman Aşkın Bak and GÜRİŞ Holding, which has been supporting this championship over the last six years.” Official website: tr2023.tsf.org.tr/ Photos: official website
Italian Championship 2023: Moroni and Zimina defend titles
Luka Moroni and Olga Zimina won the open and women’s events; in the Under 20, Simone Pozzari and Elisa Cassi took the titles. The FSI celebrates its all-time membership record in 2023. Lombardy dominated the Italian Chess Championship, which took place in Brescia from November 28 to December 10, 2023. The Absolute (open) and the Women’s champions, Luca Moroni and Olga Zimina, successfully defended their titles. The 2023 edition of the Italian Championship will be remembered for its excellent location, the Paul VI Center in Brescia, in a historic sixteenth-century building, and Moroni’s clearing the 2,600 rating bar for the first time in his career. Given that Moroni is only 23 years old, there is a lot of hope that he will continue to move up in the ranks. The Italian Chess Federation (FSI) celebrates a historical membership record, which has surpassed the 21,000 mark (in the past, this number has never exceeded 16,000). In the open event, the defending champion Luca Moroni (pictured above), a native of Desio and resident of Bovisio Masciago, got a slow start but stepped up a gear to finish on 8.5/11, 1.5 points ahead of Lorenzo Lodici Sabino Brunello from Bergamo who tied for second place. Lorenzo became the only participant to beat the champion. Alessandro Santagati receives an honourable mention. Despite suffering a severe bereavement in the middle of the tournament, the player for Catania honoured his sporting commitment, which proved decisive for the final outcome. Alessandro defeated Lodici (who was in the lead for most of the tournament) in one of the last rounds, paving Moroni’s way to the title. In the Women’s category, Olga Zimina (pictured above), from Modena, claimed her third national title (to which the unofficial one of 2020 played online can be added). Zimina won all the games except the one with Marina Brunello (Sabino’s sister), which ended in a draw. Brunello’s draw in the last round was decisive, handing the title to Zimina. Elena Sedina from Como took bronze, and Elisa Cassi from Bergamo came fourth, thus winning the Italian Under 20 Women’s title. The Under 20 tournament was very hard-fought and came down to the wire. The Italian Under 18 Champion Simone Pozzari, from Legnano, beat Joshuaede Cappelletto from Treviso, who was ahead of him by half a point in the final round game to wrest the title. Third was Francesco Bettalli from Siena, who started with four straight victories but then slowed down. A good performance by Leonardo Vincenti is also worth mentioning. Facing tough opponents, the 11-year-old from Bergamo scored 2.5 points. Simorne Pozzari awarded by Italian Chess Federation President Luigi Maggi and enterpreneur Giovanni Longo Official website: federscacchi.it/ Photos: Chesstrainer photography and Federazione Scacchistica Italiana Facebook
World School Championships 2024 – Call for Bids
FIDE Events Commission would like to announce the procedure “Call for Bids FIDE World School Championships 2024” and invite FIDE member Federations to participate. The bid deadline is December 28, 2023. Dear bidders, more details about the procedure, including the Bid Form and Bid Form Annex, Bid and Deposit Fees, can be found HERE. Please pay attention to the General Regulations for FIDE Competitions (EVE) effective from December 1, 2023. Please pay attention to the General Regulations for FIDE Competitions (EVE) effective from December 1, 2023. The new document contains significant changes in the bidding process for official chess events.
FIDE World Cadet Rapid & Blitz Championships 2024: Registration is open
FIDE and the Albanian Chess Federation invite all FIDE member federations to participate in the World Cadet Rapid & Blitz Championships 2024. Each federation can register any number of players. The championships will take place in Durres (Albania), a city situated on the Adriatic seaside, from April 25 (arrival) to April 29 (departure) 2024. The playing venue of the competition is the official hotel of the Championships, the 5-star Grand Blue FAFA Resort. The participants must not have reached their 8th, 10th and 12th birthdays in the respective categories before January 1, 2024. The сhampions of World Cadet Rapid & Blitz Championships 2023 have personal right to participate in the World Cadet Rapid & Blitz Championships 2024 in the corresponding age category or higher age category, if the above-mentioned age requirements are met. The registration form is available via the link: worldcadetrb2024.fide.com/registration The deadline for the registration is February 25, 2024 Regulations and inviation letter (pdf) Official website: worldcadetrb2024.fide.com/ E-mail: worldcadetrb@fide.com Photo: grandbluefafa.al/
FIDE sets clear standards for chess organizers and event evaluation
FIDE’s Events Commission introduces reforms in chess event management, redefining standards, titles, and evaluation, with the aim of shaping a transparent, organized tournament landscape FIDE, the International Chess Federation, announces significant changes aimed at standardizing requirements for chess tournament organizers and streamlining the process of awarding titles. These changes encompass both the categorization of organizer titles and the introduction of an evaluation system for assessing the quality of chess events. Changes regarding Titles for Organizers (come in force from December 20, 2023): FIDE has introduced a tiered system for organizer titles, comprising three levels: Associate Organizer, FIDE International Organizer, and Premier Organizer. These tiers reflect varying degrees of experience and responsibilities for hosting chess events. – Associate Organizer: This entry-level tier requires a minimum of three years’ experience organizing at least five rated competitions. Online training resources and tests provided by EVE aim to ensure applicants’ comprehensive understanding of related rules and regulations. Associate Organizers are eligible to organize international competitions supported by FIDE, excluding Events Commission (EVE) and Global Strategy Commission (GSC) tournaments. – FIDE International Organizer: This higher level requires successful multi-year experience in organizing official international chess tournaments. Applicants must pass exams covering team management, financial aspects, tournament standards, and ethical codes. Existing International Organizer titles obtained before these regulations’ implementation remain valid, with license renewal every four years as per FIDE Council requirements. Only Associate Organizers can apply for this title. – Premier Organizer: The highest tier requires at least four years’ experience as a FIDE International Organizer and the organization of a FIDE World Championship event. This title has no expiry and doesn’t mandate renewal. More information about this can be found here: handbook.fide.com/chapter/B092023 Changes to the way the organization of events is evaluated (come in force from December 01, 2023): FIDE has introduced a comprehensive set of 22 evaluation categories to assess the quality of chess events. These categories encompass various aspects, from securing governmental support to organizing parallel activities. Each category is assigned maximum points, with some also allowing for negative points in case of issues or failures. This structured evaluation system aims to provide a clear and transparent assessment of chess events. More information about the new evaluation criteria can be found here: handbook.fide.com/chapter/D04142023 Speaking about the changes, Akaki Iashvili, chairman of FIDE’s Events Commission, said: “FIDE chess events have seen a significant improvement in recent years, and we want to continue this. The requirements for good chess events are changing with the times, and we need to stay on top. By introducing new standards for chess organizers and, for the first time ever, having a clear list of responsibilities on which events and organizers will be benchmarked, the quality of FIDE events will improve, which will benefit the players, the public and the organizers”.
FIDE President takes part in Advanced Tomorrow Singapore Summit 2023
Against the backdrop of geopolitical turbulence, climate change, demographic shifts, and technological and biomedical advances, safeguarding global wellness and longevity has become increasingly complex. Organized by Advanced Tomorrow (ATOM) and Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), the ATOM Summit brought together some of the world’s best thinkers to ponder over the most critical global issues from December 4-5, 2023. The program of the Summit, held at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music at NUS, included several panel sessions, accompanied by parallel breakout discussions and a fireside chat that delved more deeply into healthcare access, biomedical innovations and technology, as well as longevity. On the second day of the Summit, Vartan Sarkissian, CEO of ATOM, hosted the panel session on Longevity, Lifestyle & Well-being and the conversation with FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, Dominique Antiglio, Michael Redd, Roger Gracie, Chatri Sityodtong and Evelyne Bischof focused on how their lifestyle, techniques, and variety practices have helped them achieve peak results in their profession and personal life. FIDE President spoke about chess’s positive impact on a person’s well-being and mental strength. “Chess is not only a fun game but also great for one’s health. Various studies have shown that playing chess helps to strengthen logical reasoning and problem-solving among the elderly and can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Even two people who regularly play against one another will continue to learn and train cognitively,” Arkady Dvorkovich said. “Besides, chess is a game designed to be played in pairs and, therefore, can be a great way to socialize, strengthen the sense of connection and combat feelings of isolation. The act of playing the game and challenging the brain through problem-solving can also improve mood and relieve stress,” he added, stressing the importance of the social aspect of chess. Before the Summit closed to the tunes of Chopin, performed by young Singaporean pianist Goh Kai Cheng, Assistant Professor Kathleen Agres from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music at NUS exchanged remarks with ATOM CEO Vartan Sarkissian on health, well-being and music. Photos: medicine.nus.edu.sg/
Chess for Freedom project among 3rd Annual Anthem Awards Finalists
Entries in each category are eligible to win the first-ever Anthem Community Voice Awards selected by fans The International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences (IADAS) announced the finalists for the 3rd Annual Anthem Awards. Chess for Freedom – FIDE social project aimed at promoting chess among inmates – is among the finalists in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion category. This year’s finalists were selected from a pool of over 2,000 submissions from 44 countries by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS). The Anthem Awards were established in 2021 to celebrate the purpose and mission-driven work of individuals, companies, and organizations worldwide. Now in its third year, the Anthem Awards are the biggest and most comprehensive social impact award in the world. “The work that we have received in the 3rd Annual Anthem Anthem Awards is game-changing. From innovative projects fighting climate change to impactful calls for equal rights across the globe – the Anthem Finalists are a bright light in our uncertain world,” said Patricia McLoughlin, Anthem Awards General Manager. “The Anthem Awards are proud to be able to amplify the voices sparking change, and we invite everyone to join us in celebration of this work through Anthem Community Voice.” The Chess for Freedom program was launched in 2021 when the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office (Chicago, USA) signed a cooperation agreement to promote chess in prisons and organize chess tournaments among prisons. This project kicked off with an online conference and an exhibition tournament with four participant countries. Later, it grew into an annual Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners. On October 11-13, 2023, a record-breaking 118 teams from 50 countries took part in its 3rd edition. “When we started organizing online chess events for people in prison in May 2021, we had just four participating countries. In October 2023, we have teams from over 50 countries playing in our event. This is a great result, but not a limit for us. We want much more since every project means changed lives. Being an Anthem Awards Finalist is another big step forward to promoting our initiative and getting more people involved in it. FIDE is very proud to be among the best purpose and mission-driven projects, people, companies and organizations worldwide.” said Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board. “We are motivated to promote the initiative because we see the power and impact of chess in reducing anxiety, depression, and level of repeated infringement of law. Chess helps to understand the cause and the consequences and allows the inmates to better reintegrate into society. Thus the, society also becomes safer.” New this year, fans can support and celebrate this year’s Finalists through Anthem Community Voice from now until December 21, 2023. The for-profit and nonprofit entries in each category with the greatest amount of support will win the first-ever Anthem Community Voice Awards. Chess for Freedom project can be supported here. Winners for the 3rd Annual Anthem Awards will be announced on Tuesday, January 30, 2024. This year, The Anthem Awards will be recognizing Winners at an in-person event in New York City, and all Winners will be marked in history and celebrated in the Anthem Winner’s Gallery with their “Call to Action Speech”. Photos: Stev Bonhage About The Anthem Awards Launched in 2021 by The Webby Awards, The Anthem Awards honors the purpose & mission-driven work of people, companies and organizations worldwide. By amplifying the voices that spark global change, we’re defining a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their own communities. The Anthem Awards honors work across seven core causes: Diversity; Equity & Inclusion; Education; Art & Culture; Health; Human & Civil Rights; Humanitarian Action & Services; Responsible Technology; and Sustainability, Environment & Climate. Founded in partnership with the Ad Council, Born This Way Foundation, Feeding America, Glaad, Mozilla, NAACP, NRDC, WWF, and XQ.