Chess in New York: A walk through parks, clubs and history
New York City is a universe unto itself: everything and nothing. The flashiest, shiniest city on the planet, an iconic symbol of America, yet lacking the historic relics of its global peers. In this melting pot of skyscrapers, cultures, and burning and burnt-out ambitions, chess thrives in its most electric forms—from bookshops and cafés to hustlers in the parks. During my visit to New York earlier this year, while waiting at passport control at JFK airport, I noticed one of the officers briefly checking a chess game on his phone. We started chatting, and he told me that chess is very popular in New York and to make sure I visit the Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village, where hustlers play every day. Not long after my arrival, I met up with Larry List – a curator and expert on chess art with whom I’ve been exchanging emails over the years and who published some of his work in the British Chess Magazine. Larry took me to MOMA first, to show me several artworks related to chess, most notably Man Ray’s Silver Chess Set and the Chess Table he created in collaboration with French designer Jean-Michel Frank. MOMA houses several notable artworks related to chess, including Josef Hartwig’s Bauhaus minimalist chess set, Marcel Duchamp’s “Chess Players” etching, as well as Yoko Ono’s White Chess Set. Artworks related to chess are also featured in the Guggenheim Museum and The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met). Man Ray’s Silver Chess Set, designed in 1926 for the Maharaja of Indore, and his Chess Table he created in collaboration with the French designer Jean-Michel Frank From MOMA, we continued to Washington Square, where people from all walks of life play, and some even teach chess. This is “the hustler’s hunting ground,” as one friend told me. For me, the fascinating fact was that this was the place where Stanley Kubrick played chess as a hustler, supporting himself as a student. In the vibrant cacophony of New York City’s parks, chess hustlers have long been a captivating presence, engaging passersby and offering a window into a different side of the city—one built on the 64 squares of the chessboard. Among these figures, perhaps the best-known is Asa Hoffmann. A quintessential chess hustler, Hoffmann chronicled his remarkable journey in the acclaimed book The Last Gamesman: My Sixty Years of Hustling Games in the Clubs, Parks, and Streets of New York. In it, Hoffman paints a vivid picture of chess and life in the bustling heart of New York City. There in the park, I watched a hustler play a match against a tourist who seemed to know his way around the board, much to the irritation of his host. “Ten dollars a game, five if it’s a draw” I heard the hustler say. The Washington Square Arch, located in New York City’s Greenwich Village As we continue walking through the park, we pass by the Washington Arch which commemorates the centennial of George Washington’s inauguration in 1789 and whose construction was supported by the Freemasons. In 1917, after a jolly night of drink, Marcel Duchamp and several other artists climbed the memorial and – allegedly declared the “Free and Independent Republic of Washington Square”, as a form of protest against the establishment. Duchamp moved to New York in 1915, which marked a period of his life where his focus gradually shifted from art to playing chess, a passion he shared with his pal Man Ray. He lived close to the park and was a member of the Marshall Chess Cub. Just as we were about to exit the park, I saw another set of benches and tables with people playing chess. I sat across a man in his 20s who immediately offered to give me lessons. After beating him in a game, he retracted the offer, but I still wanted to pay. “But you won,” he protested. I confessed that it was a miracle that I beat anyone having not touched a chess piece for years and said that he did give me a valuable lesson – about picking up loved habits left behind (not that I followed through on this). Playing the chess hustlers in Washington Square He didn’t know much about chess history, save about Bobby Fischer, nor did he seem to follow the current events in chess, but he seemed to know about how the game is developing in his city. “The chess scene in New York is really vibrant. It’s becoming more popular with children and we often have them coming here with parents who want to see if their kid has talent. I play a bit and teach and it helps me with my studies… Chess has really picked up since COVID and the Queen’s Gambit series,” he tells me. Indeed, in places like Bryant Park or the well-known Chess Forum café (which was established in 1995 and sells chess sets, books and memorabilia, plus offering people an opportunity to play), it’s common to see people of different ages enjoying the game. The inside of the famous Chess Forum café, a hub for chess lovers and newcomers to the game Walking past the busy streets lined up with cafés and bars, I was under the impression that chess is also “in” with the hipster community in New York’s Greenwich Village. The person behind the counter of the Chess Forum café also confirmed this. While we were talking – with the pictures of Sting and Robin Williams playing chess hung close to one another – I noticed a couple in their 20s walk in. They paid around five dollars to play for an hour. Behind them were two, it would seem, seasoned players who looked like characters from Stefan Zweig’s novels. Their game was terrible and their attitude towards outsiders was even worse. As I passed by their table to check out the game, they gave me an irritated, almost angry look. You could tell they were really focused on the
Season’s greetings from FIDE President
As 2024 draws to a close, we take this moment to reflect on an extraordinary year for chess and FIDE. This year has been nothing short of exceptional, filled with successes and milestones that will shape the future of our sport. From celebrating FIDE’s centenary across the globe to hosting the Candidates Tournament in Toronto, the 45th Olympiad and FIDE Congress in Budapest, and the World Championship match in Singapore, 2024 has showcased the power and global reach of chess. We continued with improving the Women’s Grand Prix, launching it in an updated format. Also, we opened new avenues for chess, with the World Corporate Championship finals in New York and the second season of the Global Chess League in London. And, even, FIDE set a Guinness World Record for the most chess games played in 24 hours, with an astonishing 7,284,970 games! This year will also be remembered as the year of Indian chess. With historic victories in both the Open and Women’s Olympiads and Gukesh D’s triumph as the youngest World Champion, India has taken its rightful place at the chess Acropolis. Yet, our journey isn’t over. As we count down to the final hours of 2024, we look forward to the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in New York, a fitting finale to a great year! For FIDE, this has been a year of celebration and progress. We have broadened chess’s reach across continents, from the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya to Wall Street and beyond, engaging players and communities at every level. Through hard work and collaboration, we’ve organized world-class events, secured new sponsorships, and expanded opportunities for all who love the game. And we are continuing to work hard on doing more! The coming year, 2025, will see the launch of a new FIDE initiative – The Year of Social Chess. Aimed at bringing chess to diverse communities around the world, this is a continuation of our mission to make chess accessible to everyone, at every level. None of this would have been possible without the passion and dedication of the global chess family: federations, players, partners, sponsors, and the tireless FIDE team. Your commitment has been the driving force behind our shared success as we continue to build strong foundations for the development of chess. I extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who has contributed to making 2024 a spectacular year for chess. As we welcome the new year, let us carry forward the energy which brings the world together through the universal language of chess! Wishing you and your loved ones all the best for the holiday season and a wonderful 2025! Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President
José Carlos Vaz crowned Cape Verde Champion
The VII Individual Absolute Championship of Cape Verde, a 10-player round-robin event, took place at the Jorge Barbosa Municipal Library in Espargos on the island of Sal. Nine men and one woman competed for the prestigious title of Cape Verdean Chess Champion. It was clear from the outset that a new champion would emerge, as the defending champion, IM Mariano Ortega, did not participate due to professional commitments. With Cape Verde’s top two players on the FIDE rating list missing, the tournament carried high expectations. Adding to the excitement, the country’s third-ranked player was participating in a national competition for the first time. The tournament was fiercely contested, with the top seed suffering his first defeat early on. By Round 3, every participant had experienced at least one loss. In the end, José Carlos Vaz, making his debut in the national championship, emerged victorious. Fresh off earning his Candidate Master norm at the recent Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Vaz scored an impressive 7.5 points out of 9. His only loss came against CM David Mirulla, who finished third, while he drew against runner-up Diogo Neves and defeated the rest of the field. Notably, Deise Pereira, the only woman in the tournament, who achieved WCM title in Budapest, finished fourth with 5 points. The event concluded with a closing ceremony led by a representative from the Institute of Sport and Youth, the government body responsible for overseeing sports and youth activities in Cape Verde. Final standings: 1 CM Vaz, Jose Carlos 1923 7½ 2 Neves, Diogo 1755 6½ 3 CM Mirulla, David 1893 6 4 WCM Pereira, Deise 1692 5 5 Barros, Luis 1776 4 6 Santos, Steven 1945 4 7 Lopes, Ruben 1550 4 8 Soares, Carlos 1654 3½ 9 Moes, Carlos 1678 2½ 10 Delgado, Luis 1638 2 Text and photos: Cape Verdean Chess Federation
FIDE World Rapid and Blitz in New York preview: An epic ending to 2024
As the clock ticks down to 2025, the best players in the world will descend on Wall Street for the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships In a year that marked the International Chess Federation’s centenary, celebrated the 45th Chess Olympiad, and witnessed an intense battle for the World Championship title, 2024 will conclude with a fitting and extraordinary finale: the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships in New York City. Thanks to sponsorship from NASDAQ-listed Freedom Holding, New York’s financial district will host the event from December 26–31. Top Grandmasters from around the globe will compete in this much-anticipated tournament, traditionally held in the final week of the year. Famous for its chess hustlers, important tournaments from the 1920s and the historic Marshall Chess Club, New York has been chosen as the venue for one of the biggest and most popular elite chess events on the planet, watched by millions worldwide. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2024 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships. Star Players This year’s event features an all-star lineup of over 300 players in both the Open and Women’s categories. Among them are current and former world champions in various time control formats, continental and Olympic medal winners, and elite Grandmasters from all corners of the globe. The Open competition is headlined by the five-time World Champion in classical chess and current number one in the world rating list – Magnus Carlsen. The Norwegian superstar holds the Rapid and the Blitz crowns and altogether has six Blitz and five Rapid Championship titles. Carlsen will be facing a large field of challengers, led by world number two and three, Americans Fabiano Caruana (current U.S. champion and former World Championship contender) and Hikaru Nakamura, a five-time U.S. champion and one of the most dominant blitz players in chess history. Despite focusing more on streaming where he became the world’s most popular chess content creator, Nakamura remains at the top, as one of the greatest players of all time. Adding the pressure on the Norwegian will be the 21-year-old Iranian-born Frenchman, Alireza Firouza, who has this year solidified his status as one of the most formidable players challenging Carlsen’s dominance. The field will also see former world championship title contenders as well as previous Blitz and Rapid Championship winners take part, including Ian Nepomniachtchi, Boris Gelfand, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Alexander Grischuk. Many of the top-U.S. Grandmasters are also playing, including Olympic team members Wesley So, Levon Aronian, and Leinier Dominguez Perez. Unlike the dominance asserted by Carlsen in the Open competition, the Women’s Rapid and Blitz are renowned for their unpredictability. China’s world champion Ju Wenjun leads the field in the women’s competition, which includes former and current world champions in different formats, including Alexandra Kosteniuk, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Valentina Gunina and Kateryna Lagno. Top U.S. players at the event are Alice Lee, as well as current U.S. champion Carissa Yip and former champion Irina Krush. The format and the stakes The total prize fund is just shy of $1.5 million, spread across the Rapid and the Blitz. The event will open with the three-day FIDE World Rapid Championships, from 26 to 29 December. There will be 13 rounds in the Open and 11 rounds for the Women’s section. Each player will start with 15 minutes on the clock and get a 10-second increment per move. There will be no penalties for players arriving late to the game, but their time will keep ticking from the start of the round. The Blitz follows with two thrilling days of high-speed action on December 30 and 31, featuring a new – two-stage – format in both the Open and Women’s competitions. On the first day, the Open tournament will feature 13 rounds, while the Women’s tournament will have 11 rounds. The time control will be three minutes plus a 2-second increment per move. On the second day, December 31, the top 8 players from each competition will face off in a knockout finale. The Wall Street Gambit Between the FIDE Rapid and the Blitz Championships, on December 29, FIDE and the sponsor Freedom Holding are organizing the Wall Street Gambit conference, which will explore the links between chess and finance. Chess grandees Magnus Carlsen, Vishwanathan Anand and Fabiano Caruana will join leading figures from the financial world, including Boaz Weinstein, D. Sculley, and Kenneth Rogoff. The day will begin with a chess tournament for the conference participants, followed by keynote speeches from some of the most influential names in chess, finance and AI, who will explore the connection between the black-and-white game and investing. D. Sculley, CEO of Kaggle, will deliver a keynote titled “Predicting in the Face of Incomplete Knowledge: Chess, Finance, and Other Challenges for AI.” Kenneth Rogoff, the former Chief Economist at the International Monetary Fund and chess grandmaster, will speak on the topic “Chess, AI, and Economics”. Iconic venues Both the Open and the Women’s tournaments will take place at renowned New York venues, just a few steps away from the NYSE. The Open Rapid and Blitz tournaments will be held at Cipriani Wall Street, an iconic landmark built in 1841 and once the home of the New York Stock Exchange. The Women’s tournaments will be held at 48 Wall Street, a historic building that once housed the Bank of New York & Trust Company Building and the Museum of American Finance. “A milestone for chess” With its renowned international tournaments of 1924 and 1927, the Manhattan Chess Club and the historic Marshall Club, New York have an important place in the history and development of chess in the U.S. Now, a new page in chess history is being written in New York, as the forthcoming FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships will be the strongest tournament ever played on U.S. soil. This edition of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz pays homage to the deep connection between chess and the Big Apple, capping a year filled with some of the most significant events
2024 Turkish Championship: Vahap Şanal claims third title
Vahap Şanal has been crowned the 2024 Turkish Chess Champion. The 2024 Turkish Championship , organized by the Turkish Chess Federation (TSF) with support from GÜRİŞ Holding, was held at the Antalya Mirage Park Resort Hotel from December 12–23, 2024. It featured an exciting knockout format and boasted a record prize fund of 1,250,000 TL. The event attracted the 16 strongest Turkish players, including five Grandmasters and four International Masters. GMs Vahap Şanal, Mustafa Yılmaz, and Muhammed Batuhan Daştan entered as the top-rated players and lived up to expectations by advancing to the semifinals. In this stage, Şanal defeated Daştan 1.5–0.5, while Yılmaz overcame Gökerkan by the same score. In the final, Şanal, playing with the white pieces in the first game, secured a crucial victory and clinched his third national title by drawing the second game. GM Muhammed Batuhan Daştan (pictured above, left) won the match for third place, completing the podium. Photos: official website Official website: tr2024.tsf.org.tr/en
FIDE announces proposed changes to 2025 Circuit Regulations
FIDE is planning several changes to the FIDE Circuit 2025 Regulations based on feedback from the 2024 Circuit. These changes aim to create a more competitive environment for all participants. The key proposed updates are: 1. Changes to the Number of Players Eligible for Circuit Points in Round-Robin Tournaments For tournaments with fewer than 10 participants, points will still be awarded to the top 3 finishers. In round-robin tournaments with 10–12 participants, points will be awarded to the top 4 finishers. For tournaments with more than 12 participants, the top 5 finishers will receive points. Why? This change aims to better reflect the value of longer tournaments by awarding points to more players, ensuring that larger tournaments are rewarded fairly. 2. Eligibility of Double Round-Robin Super Tournaments Double round-robin tournaments with at least 6 participants and an average rating of 2700 Elo points will also be eligible for Circuit points. Why? This change acknowledges the importance of prestigious super tournaments, which often feature top-level players and are key events in the FIDE calendar. 3. Reduction of Points for Tournaments with Multiple Rounds in One Day Tournaments with two rounds in one day will have a reduced total of Circuit points. Why? The idea is to reduce points for shorter tournaments, where the compressed schedule might not reflect the same level of effort as longer events. Final Approval and Publication The final version of the FIDE Circuit 2025 Regulations is expected to be approved by the FIDE Council in the coming days and published by December 31, 2024. These changes are designed to create a more balanced and competitive system for awarding FIDE Circuit points, ensuring that players are fairly rewarded for their performance in high-quality tournaments.
Spanish Championship: Daniil Yuffa and Sabrina Vega claim titles
GM Daniil Yuffa and IM Sabrina Vega have emerged as the new Spanish chess champions. The Spanish Chess Championship 2024, a 9-round Swiss tournament with classical time control, took place in Marbella, Spain from December 11-19. While men and women competed in the same pool, they were ranked separately. The event attracted some of the best Spanish players, including six grandmasters rated over 2600, and turned into a fiercely contested competition. Third-seeded Daniil Yuffa secured crucial victories in Rounds 7 and 8 against IM Diego Macias Pino and Alexei Shirov, heading into the final round with a comfortable 1-point lead over five rivals tied for second place. Despite his advantage, the leader faced a tough challenge in the final round, playing with the black pieces against top-seeded GM David Antón Guijarro. Daniil rose to the occasion, managing to escape with a draw in a difficult position and clinching his maiden national title. GMs Maksim Chigaev and Eduardo Iturrizaga Bonelli secured final round victories and tied for second place, with the former taking silver due to a superior Buchholz. In the women’s rankings, IM Sabrina Vega Gutiérrez scored 6.5/9 to claim her ninth national title as the best female player. IM Marta García Martín took second place, while Miranda Herrera Belén earned bronze. IM Diego Macías Pino finished ninth and won the Best U18 Award. Final standings Photos: Patricia Claros Aguilar Official website: feda.org/feda2k16/
Aleksandr Volodin and Margareth Olde crowned Estonian champions
GM Aleksandr Volodin and WIM Margareth Olde have emerged as the new chess champions of Estonia. This year’s Estonian Championship finals, held from December 12–19 at the Paul Keres Chess Hall in Tallinn, featured knockout tournaments in the Open and Women’s sections. The events boasted a combined prize fund of €10,000. In the Open section, a 16-player knockout tournament, GM Aleksandr Volodin faced IM Mai Narva, the highest-rated Estonian woman player, in the final. Volodin triumphed decisively, winning 2.5–0.5 to secure his fourth national title. Final Standings – Open Section GM Aleksandr Volodin (SK Diagonaal) IM Mai Narva (SK Reval-Sport) GM Meelis Kanep (Tõnu Truusi MKK) In the Women’s section, top-seeded WIM Margareth Olde lived up to expectations as the pre-tournament favorite. In a tightly contested final against WCM Grete Olde, Margareth clinched victory in the fourth game, capturing her third national title. Final Standings – Women’s Section WIM Margareth Olde (Tallinn MK) WCM Grete Olde (Tallinn MK) WIM Monika Tsõganova (MK Areng) Photos: Eesti Maleliit Facebook Official website: maleliit.ee/et/
FIDE and World Chess present limited edition FIDE 2024 R & B Championships collection
This December, Wall Street isn’t just about market moves—it’s hosting the FIDE Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships. To mark the occasion, FIDE and World Chess are dropping a limited-edition merch collection celebrating this historic event. The drop includes classic crewneck sweatshirts and T-shirts in a range of colors, each piece designed to feel at home in the middle of a chess match or a late-night dive into Nolita. The sweatshirts are pill-resistant, soft, and cozy enough for a blitz session on a freezing December evening. The tees are lightweight, perfectly cut, and layer well—because this is New York, and no one’s just wearing one thing. It’s the official merch. The kind you wear when you want to remind the world that New York just hosted the fastest, fiercest players on the planet. The championship itself is unfolding in the heart of Wall Street, bringing a new kind of speed to the financial district. It’s a mash-up of fast games and holiday energy: grandmasters trading moves while Christmas lights twinkle outside and fans spill into downtown cafés, bookstores, and chess-friendly corners. This drop is for anyone who wants to keep a piece of that scene, whether you’re part of the action or just want something better than a touristy hoodie. The FIDE Rapid & Blitz Championships Collection 2024 is now available. Shop it while you can, because in chess and in New York, timing is everything. Get yours now at shop.worldchess.com/collections/2024-rapid-and-blitz-new-york-city — limited stock, unlimited style. Visit the Championship if you are in New York. Grab your tickets at tickets.fide.com.
Kenya Championship 2024: Mclingeyo and Mongeli win titles
CM Robert Mclingeyo and WFM Master Sasha Mongeli emerged as the champions of the 2024 Kenya National Chess Championship (KNCC) held in the Makini School, Nairobi. The winner of the open section, 18-year-old CM Robert Mcligeyo, was awarded a brand-new Nissan Note worth Sh1.8 million (approximately $14,000) by the Chess Kenya Federation (CKF). Eighteen-year-old CM Robert Mcligeyo, the winner of the Open section, was awarded a brand-new Nissan Note valued at Sh1.8 million (approximately $14,000) by the Chess Kenya Federation (CKF). Representing KCB Chess Club, Mcligeyo delivered a remarkable performance, clinching the title with eight points. He edged out his closest rival and teammate, Jackson Ndegwa, who finished with 7.5 points. Mcligeyo’s ascent to the summit of Kenyan chess has been nothing short of extraordinary. Along the way, he dethroned his former coach and defending champion, Joseph Methu. His victories included wins against strong opponents such as Shem Aberi (1738), Hadem Nyamiaka (1785), Felix Boera (1891), Brian Kadenge (1843), CM Aguda Lwanga (1845), and Methu (1976). He also held his ground with draws against Hillary Sagwa (1854) and Allan Chumba (1832). “I had been completely out of a winning position and I think the nerves got the better of me and I blundered and I think I was completely lost but then got a sudden surge of energy and I was able to push through and eventually win,” said Robert about his final-round game. This marks the fifth consecutive year Chess Kenya has awarded the national champion a car, a tradition that has inspired many junior players. “Our goal is to use sport to impact lives and give youth an option of succeeding through chess. Next year we will have two cars for open and women section,” said Benard Wanjala, Chess Kenya President. Final standings Open In the women’s section, WFM Sasha Mongeli successfully defended her title, claiming a cash prize of Sh100, 000 (approximately $775) for her efforts. The ladies’ event was highly competitive, with four players tying for first place with a score of 7/9. Sasha secured the championship based on the second tiebreaker—achieving the highest number of victories. “I kicked the tournament with a bad start after losing my second round game. I was so devastated, but I thank God for enabling me to reach here by emerging as the winner,” Sasha shared. Final standings Women Text and photos: Chess Kenya