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British Chess Magazine interviews FIDE President They are the champions It is raining awards! A tribute to our seniors (part II) Brief news from National Federations Birthdays READ NEWSLETTER
British Chess Magazine interviews FIDE President
The March issue of British Chess Magazine includes an interview with the FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, by its Editor Milan Dinic. Courtesy of British Chess Magazine, we offer you an advance and some excerpts from this interview. BCM: What do you think will be the long-lasting effect of coronavirus on chess, if any? Arkady Dvorkovich: Hopefully, we’re not going to have any long-lasting effect of the coronavirus on chess. We are hopeful that strict lockdown measures won’t be around for much longer, as the vaccination will improve the situation globally. Also, people will be more prepared for a repeat of the pandemic. However, it would be naïve to say that we’re not going to see the long-lasting effects in terms of the share of online chess. There will also probably be a more cautious attitude towards mass tournaments, in terms of precautionary health measures. The biggest thing is online chess. It provides better access to millions of people, it provides access to training, watching and playing chess, which is crucially important for growing the chess audience. Also, it’s fun to connect to people all over the world without the need to spend money on traveling. For the lovers of mass chess events, coronavirus will have a big consequence. But online is in no way a substitute for over-the-board chess, that’s the point I’d like to stress. One of the important things now is how to structure the chess calendar for professional players and how to make sure that OTB and online chess go well together. BCM: As a consequence of covid-19, do you see chess changing in a way so most events will be played online? A.D: As soon as the restrictions are lifted we will see a big return to OTB tournaments, especially when it comes to major events. But for other levels of events – student festivals, corporate tournaments and similar, they will be mostly online. OTB will come back but it doesn’t mean that online will go away. I estimate the ratio between the two to be 70-30 in favour of OTB. That’s why it’s important to think of the harmony of OTB and online events at the top level. BCM: From the organisational perspective, what are the key differences between online and over-the-board events and which are more difficult to organise? A.D: You have different challenges for both. For the OTB events, you have logistical issues – the venue, travel, accommodation, safety and similar. For online, the key challenges in the field of anti-cheating and the stability of the internet connection. BCM: Chess has for years been struggling to get sponsorship. Has the growth in chess interest during the pandemic helped bring more sponsors in? A.D: I would say it’s a combination of two trends now. First, we are trying to work professionally in the area of marketing. We have invested in getting more people to do marketing, to get companies connected. On the other hand, we are working much more in analysing the data we have – on the number of active players, on children participating in ‘Chess in schools’ programmes and similar – so we’re able to present a clearer picture to sponsors. There is also a very positive atmosphere in the chess world. We have good commercial stories from the Play Magnus Group. Also, online platforms – from chess.com to Twitch and others, have helped raise the interest in as well as the profile of the game. Streaming is now another booming thing – Twitch had record numbers in February. So, on one hand, we have much more effective and organised work on the side of FIDE, and strong market trends in favour of chess. Also, the Queen’s Gambit has had an impact, at least a temporary one. We’re trying to use this factor for promotion. The series was a really important moment for chess. It was not the first movie/series about chess, but it was done in a much more commercially attractive way and both chess-wise. And Netflix did a great job, both for themselves and for us. I’d also like to note the booming chess trends in India. This announcement of the World Chess League by Mahindra is a thing to follow. We have interest from China to do more. There are initiatives from the US – with Rex Sinquefield taking the lead. Uzbekistan has now introduced a huge chess development programme. Israel has increased its Chess in schools programme. Nice things are happening for chess. Just yesterday I was present at the closing ceremony of the African chess championship – there were 2300 players. That’s big. So, again, online chess helps and will help. But the key is to have more partners and sponsors. Recently I was in Serbia and I hope we will be able to do more events there. BCM: If I got you correctly, you see online chess as the driving force which will get more people attractive and more sponsors for over-the-board events as well, rather than it being the other way around. A.D: Yes, that is correct. BCM: Last year, the Yekaterinburg Candidates tournament had to be cut short due to the pandemic. Now you plan to continue it in April. How will you ensure the safety of the participants? Will there be spectators? A.D: There is never a 100% guarantee, that’s for sure. But, I think both we and the whole world now learnt how to deal with such events. It is one of the most important global events but it includes a couple of dozen people involved. Testing should be enough to prevent any negative scenario. We will require players to be tested before coming to Russia and upon arrival and one more time in the middle of this leg of the event. In terms of whether the spectators will be allowed, we are going to announce that just before the tournament. We will make the decision based on the situation in Russia at the moment, and in Yekaterinburg in particular. We will make the decisions
KIAP becomes FIDE’s new official legal partner
The International Chess Federation has signed a partnership agreement with KIAP, a law firm with headquarters in Moscow. This company, which currently employs about 40 lawyers and counsels, will provide consultancy and legal assistance to FIDE in a wide range of matters. KIAP has been shortlisted twice in the “Chambers Europe Awards for Excellence” as the Best Law Firm of the Year in Russia. It has also been named a leading firm of “Pravo-300’s Rating in 2017”, and “Law Firm of the year in Russia” according to Best Lawyers Awards 2020. The relationship between KIAP and chess is not new: in 2018, the firm established the Annual Legal Chess Tournament, a charity event that brings together representatives of one professional community — lawyers, as well as their colleagues, children and friends. The first edition of the tournament was held on July 21, 2018, at Novotel Moscow City, in connection with International Chess Day. The event was organized in cooperation with the Pedagogical Chess Union, and its next edition will take place in the summer of 2021. “We appreciate the important social components of FIDE activities, particularly in the fields of education and chess for people with disabilities, and we would like to take an active part in them”, said Andrey Korelsky, Managing Partner and founder of KIAP. KIAP is a modern law firm with a socially-oriented mission. As the company explains on its website, “we want to make our Russian legal world a better place: we strive to make our contribution to the development of philanthropy in the Russian legal market, as well as to support its unification to work together for the benefit of the country’s legal system. KIAP lawyers are successfully engaged in teaching activities at the law departments of the country’s leading universities. We also support major educational programs and competitions.” About KIAP: https://www.kiap.com/about KIAP statement on Social Responsibility:https://www.kiap.com/about/social-responsibility.php
Giri nails down place in knockout stage
Anish Giri’s hot streak got even hotter today as he nailed down a place in the Magnus Carlsen Invitational’s KO stage with five rounds still to play. The Dutch No.1 scored 4/5 points for the second day in a row and at one point was on a run of six consecutive wins in the $220,000 event’s prelim stage. Giri, who now sits clear in the lead on 8/10, said: “Today it was incredible how many points I managed to collect.” Eight stars face elimination from the $1.5 million Meltwater Champions Chess Tour event tomorrow as the 16-player field is cut in half. But like Giri, World Champion Magnus Carlsen won’t be one of them. The Norwegian rarely looked troubled as he scored three wins to end the day clipping Giri’s heels on 7.5/10. Carlsen said: “Two of the games I won today, were kind of gifts by my opponents. The score today was great, and it puts me in a great position. But I have to do better in the knockout stages.” Tour leader Wesley So lost two games yesterday but he bounced back to haul himself up the leaderboard and into third alongside fellow American Hikaru Nakamura with 6.5/10. For a second day running, So was seen using an electric shaver while playing which he later said was “stress relief”. “To score +3 today is really incredible, really amazing,” he said. Nakamura, meanwhile, remains unbeaten so far and appears to be returning to the form that took him to the final of the Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour final last year. Nakamura’s new fellow countryman Levon Aronian, who announced earlier this month he will switch to the US, finished off the day with a win to stand in seventh. It was also a good day for the youngster Alireza Firouzja and Russia’s Sergey Karjakin who both got themselves back into contention. Today’s play was also notable for an extraordinary Round 9 when 7/8 of the games ended in decisive results. It followed 25/40 games being won or lost yesterday. And tomorrow will surely see more drama as the players battle to stay in the competition. For further information, please contact: Leon Watson, PR for Champions Chess Tourleon@chessable.com+44 7786 078 770
Giri leads as Magnus Carlsen Invitational lifts off
Anish Giri soared into an early lead as Magnus Carlsen’s space-themed online chess event blasted off in style. The Netherlands No.1 rounded off Day 1 of the $220,000 Magnus Carlsen Invitational with three wins in a row including a stunning triumph over Carlsen. The Norwegian had looked in fine form as his own event, the fourth leg of the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour, got underway. Carlsen dispatched new Wijk aan Zee champion Jorden van Foreest in Round 1 and then French No.1 Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. But a tough draw in a hugely-anticipated game against 17-year-old Alireza Firouzja seemed to knock Carlsen off his stride before Giri inflicted the champion’s first loss. The world number 1 did bounce back, however, with a comfortable win over Spanish champion David Anton to stay in touch on the leaderboard. Carlsen, who is still searching for his first Tour event win, was still pleased with his start when asked afterward. He said: “I don’t think I played particularly well but the score is good. The most important thing on the first day is not to mess up.” Giri, who beat Carlsen exactly a year ago in the first MCI, had greater reason to be pleased. He said afterward: “Any day you can beat Magnus is a great day for a chess player.” The Dutch No.1 ended the day on 4/5 sitting joint-top of the leaderboard with Carlsen half a point behind alongside Levon Aronian. Down the leaderboard, the tour leader Wesley So had a disappointing day as he suffered two rare defeats to lie joint ninth alongside Firouzja on 2.5/5. Russia’s No.1 Ian Nepomniachtchi, another big hitter, also suffered a slow start as he collapsed to 1.5/5. However, with 10 rounds to go, there is plenty of time to catch up. The round-robin stage continues tomorrow and Monday before the bottom eight are eliminated and the top eight progress to the knockouts. The Magnus Carlsen Invitational is the return of the online event that kicked off a revolution in chess while the world was in lockdown. Now part of the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour, which carries a record $1.5 million prize pot, the event features 16 of the best players in the world. For further information, please contact: Leon Watson, PR for Champions Chess Tourleon@chessable.com+44 7786 078 770
Early upsets in Israeli Championships
After being postponed twice due to the Corona restrictions, the 40th edition of the Israeli Championships is underway (March 7-15) in hotel “Leonardo Plaza” Haifa under the auspices of Mifal Hapais national lottery and Haifa Municipality. The total prize fund amounted to 100,000 NS with the first prize of 20,000 NS. Among the distinguished chess guests attending the opening and greeting the participants were Dr. Zvika Barkai, chairman of the Israeli Chess Federation, Gil Boruchovsky, general director of the federation, and GM Emil Sutovsky, FIDE Director General. Hili Tropper, minister of culture and sports sent also greeted the participants via video link. Open Section 32 players including 10 GMs and 6 IMs are competing in the open section with 6 past champions among them. The eldest player is 70-year-old IM Nathan Birnboim, 3-time Israeli champion (1980,1976, and 1986). The other 5 past champions are GM Yehuda Gruenfeld (1982, 1990); Gad Rechlis (1988); Ilya Smirin (1992, 2002); Tamir Nabati (2013, 2016) and Victor Michalevski (2014). Among notable absentees are the reigning champion Alon Greenfeld (1984 and 2018) and Maxim Rodshtein (2006). Gifted young talents that qualified from the preliminaries are having a decent chance to gain quality competitive experience and to score norms for international titles. A very experienced IA Almog Burstein serves as the tournament director. All players and officials are vaccinated as is the case with the majority of the Israeli population. Ido Gorshtein The opening rounds found most players still out of their normal form, seemingly due to their forced and lasting absence from real tournaments and possibly an overdose of online accelerated and somewhat superficial alternatives. Quite a few blunders and consequent upsets were witnessed in the first four rounds resulting in surprising defeats of experienced grandmasters against ambitious juniors. The top-rated player GM Tamir Nabaty had a good start beating past champions Birnboim and Gruenfeld and then young FM Yeshaayahu Tzidkiya, after the latter scored surprising wins against GMs Smirin and Rechlis from inferior positions. In Round 4 it was Nabaty’s turn to spoil a better position and lose to young FM Ido Gorshtein. Smirin suffered his second defeat, this time against another young Ohad Kraus. GM Nitzan Steinberg also capitulated twice facing junior players: FM Erez Kupervaser in Round 1 and IM Eytan Rozen in Round 4. Tamir Nabaty After four rounds FM Ido Gorshtein emerged as a surprising leader with 3.5 points, a half-point ahead of GMs Tamir Nabaty, Ori Kobo, Avital Boruchovski, and David Gorodetsky sitting on 3 points. Women’s section Fourteen ladies are taking part in the 33rd edition of the women’s section. The reigning champion IM Yuliya Shvaiger is a clear favorite given the absence of all other members of the national team: WGM Marsel Efroimsky and WIM Michal Lahav (champion in 2016) opted to compete in the open section. Former champions Masha Klinova and Olga Gutmakher are also missing. Another past champion Shlomit Vardi (won the title in 1986), faced her daughter Adi Federovsky in Round 2. The family match ended peacefully pretty fast. WIM Ilana David, the Israeli champion of 1980 performs the duties of the tournament director. After two fairly normal opening rounds, the first unexpected result was recorded in Round 3. Those who expected Yuliya Shvaiger’s easy walk to another title were disappointed, at least temporarily, as she fell to the second-rated 17-year-old WFM Michelle Katkov, whose FIDE-rating is 250 points lower. Michelle Katkov After four rounds of play, she is leading the field with 3.5 points, a half-point ahead of Yuliya Shvaiger, Nadejda Reprun, and Adi Federovsky. Text: Yochanan Afek Photo: Dorit Ritvo Wolfoviz
Abdyjapar and Zairbek win Kyrgyzstan championship
IM Asyl Abdyjapar and WFM Begimai Zairbek Kyzy are the 2021 Kyrgyzstan champions. The open and women’s championships were held in the capital of Kyrgyzstan Bishkek from February 22 to March 5. The rating-favourite of the competition Asyl Abdyzhapar (pictured below) won his fourth national title, scoring 7.5 points out of 9, with a slightly better tiebreak over the Aziz Degenbaev who finished with the same result. Semetey Tologontegin took bronze netting 7 points. Final standings Open: 1. Abdyjapar Asyl (2394) – 7½2. Degenbaev Aziz (1835) – 7½3. Tologontegin Semetey (2378) – 74. Sapar Emelbek (2327) – 6½5. Orozbaev Eldiar (2008) – 6½6. Sezdbekov Ruslan (2229) – 6½7. Zhakshylykov Erzhan (1966) – 6½8. Mamatov Melis (2250) – 69. Imanaliev Talaibek (2332) – 610. Sezdbekov Arzybek (2052) – 6 The women’s champion WFM Begimai Zairbek Kyzy (pictured below) put in a dominating performance and finished undefeated with 7.5 points. Alexandra Samaganova came second just a half-point behind the champion. Aizhan Alymbai Kyzy tied for third but got bronze thanks to better tiebreaks over Aliana Abaeva and Nurai Sovetbekova. Final standings Women: 1. Zairbek Kyzy Begimai – 7½2. Samaganova Alexandra – 73. Alymbai Kyzy Aizhan – 64. Abaeva Aiana – 65. Sovetbekova Nurai – 66. Omurbekova Diana – 5½7. Sezdbekova Aizhan – 5½8. Momunkulova Imannur – 5½9. Zhunusbekova Aymonchok – 510 . Agalykova Angelina – 5
FIDE distributes €30,000 among veterans
After carefully considering the numerous applications received, the special panel appointed by the FIDE Council decided that these will be the twelve chess players, coaches, and promoters to benefit from FIDE’s support to chess veterans: Sergey Makarychev (Russia)Tamaz Giorgadze (Georgia)Hanna Erenska-Barlo (Poland)Roman Hernandez (Cuba)Avigdor Bykhovsky (Israel)Juzefs Petkevich (Latvia)Anatoly Noskov (Kazakhstan)Bosko Abramovic (Serbia)Jan Kalendovsky (Czech Republic)Nina Medyanikova (Russia)Julio Ostos (Venezuela)Irina Ostry (Kyrgyzstan) A total of €30.000 will be distributed among these seniors with each person from the list receiving €2,500. Depending on the situation by summer 2021, FIDE will either increase a prize fund in veteran championships this year or distribute more awards to our distinguished veterans.
Happy International Women’s Day!
“FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess would like to congratulate our inspirational women leaders, players, organisers, arbiters, trainers, and chess teachers in our global chess community for all their efforts in the journey for change on this 2021 women’s day! As we are constantly looking for ways to strengthen our reach and enhance the position of women in chess for the benefit of all, we count on your help and support. Please, don’t hesitate to contact us at women@fide.com with your suggestions and ideas, or to discuss your projects. Eva Repkova, chair of the FIDE Women’s Commission” The FIDE Council approved that 2022 will be declared the “Year of Woman in Chess”. This project outlines future women empowerment path within FIDE for increased lasting support and, as a result, boosting female participation in all areas of chess life. A detailed action plan has been developed, that touches on different topics related to marketing, networking, and enhanced communication. The FIDE Women’s Commission went through some restructuring recently. Its former Secretary, the two-time Junior World Champion Ilaha Khadimova, was “transferred” to the Events Commission. Her replacement was Christelle Hafstad (pictured below) from England. With her experience in entrepreneurship, finance, and youth chess talent development, Christelle is keen to help promote and develop projects that will further increase the participation of women and girls in the organisation of chess activities and playing chess. Another important addition is the former women’s World Champion Xu Yuhua, who was welcomed as a new member of the Women’s Commission just a few days ago. Xu took her first steps in Chinese chess, only to switch to the European version a few years later. At the age of 16, still an unknown player without any FIDE rating, she qualified for the Interzonal tournament (1993). Her road to the champion crown was far from a smooth sail – Xu scored only 5 out of 11 in her debut Interzonal (Jakarta 1993) and then failed in Junior U18 and U20 championships. However, as she shared later, all these setbacks only give her a push to work on chess even harder. Eventually, this grind paid-off: in 1998 Xu clinches the Asian Championship, two years later she won the World Cup (2000) and repeated her success two years later. Xu was a member of the Chinese women’s teams that won the gold medal at the FIDE Chess Olympiads in 2000, 2002, and 2004. Although the late 90s and early 2000s were her best years, Xu Yuhua did not have much luck in the World Championships. In 2006 she had some doubts about even participating but the coach of the national team insisted on her playing. This tournament became the pinnacle of Xu’s chess career as she became the World Champion and earned the GM title. In 2010 Xu Yuhua retired from competitions but not from chess as she serves as Vice-President of the Chinese Chess Association.
Grand Swiss Chess.com 2021 regulations update
Some important clarifications have been made in the qualification systems for the FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss 2021 and the FIDE Chess.com Women’s Grand Swiss 2021. According to the tournaments’ Regulations, the system was to be clarified by March 1. Consequently, article 2.1.A. of the regulations has been updated: A. Average FIDE Rating of the 12 monthly lists starting from 1st July 2020 to 1st June 2021. One hundred (100) players will qualify by their average rating. For the purpose of deciding one hundred qualifiers by rating, the average ELO from the twelve standard FIDE rating lists from 1st July 2020 to 1st June 2021 is used. In case of equality, two decimals are taken into consideration. If the numbers are still equal then the total number of rated games in all 12 standard rating periods shall be decisive: the player with the greatest number of games qualifies. FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss 2021 and the FIDE Chess.com Women’s Grand Swiss 2021 will be held from October 25, 2021 to November 8, 2021 in Villa Marina, Douglas, Isle of Man. You can find the full Regulations below: Regulations for FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss 2021 (pdf) Regulations for FIDE Chess.com Women Grand Prix Swiss 2021 (pdf)