Ding Liren takes down Gukesh in the first game of title match
In an unexpected turn of events, Ding Liren defeated Gukesh D with the black pieces in the first game of the 2024 FIDE World Championship match in Singapore. Despite spending a lot of time at the beginning of the game, the Chinese Grandmaster found a way to nullify his opponent’s opening initiative and take advantage of White’s pawn weaknesses to break through with a decisive middlegame counterattack. The action began at 5 PM sharp. Just before the arbiter started the clocks, the master of ceremonies, GM Maurice Ashley, introduced the two players, along with two rising stars from the Singaporean youth academy. Ding Liren was accompanied by 9-year-old candidate master Ashwath Kaushik, the youngest player to defeat a GM in classical chess and the reigning World Rapid Cadets U8 Champion. Gukesh D was joined by 9-year-old Tanvi Trivedi, gold medallist in rapid and silver in standard and blitz at the 2023 Eastern Asian Championship, and Singapore’s highest-rated U10 girl. Immediately afterward, the ceremonial first move featured an exceptional guest: Sir Demis Hassabis. Co-founder and CEO of Google DeepMind, a leading AI research organization that created AlphaZero, Hassabis is also a FIDE Candidate Master. He once was the second highest ranked U-14 player in the world after the legend herself, Judit Polgar. Most recently, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing AlphaFold, a ground-breaking AI system that predicts the 3D structure of proteins from their amino acid sequences. Gukesh pointed to his e-pawn – a slight surprise, as the Indian wunderkind generally favors 1.d4 or 1.Nf3. The game was on! Ding Liren chose the French Defence, but Gukesh remained unphased: although Ding Liren has played this opening quite frequently, including a couple of rapid games in 2023, his main move against 1.e4 in recent times has always been 1.e5. Nonetheless, he did use the French once in his 2023 World Championship match against Ian Nepomniachtchi, a game which he lost although definitely not due to the opening. Ding was visibly surprised by Gukesh’s 6.Nce2 (instead of 6.Ngf3) and took around three minutes to reply 6…Nc6 and a further seven minutes to go for the secondary line 7…a5 followed by 8…a4. Later, he argued that he had analysed the line but couldn’t remember the correct continuations and decided to improvise on the board. According to databases he has never faced 6.Nce2 before, although between 2009 and 2012 he played twenty-one times against the main line 6.Nf3. Still in preparation, Gukesh decided to go for it with 10.g4, playing for an attack. It was clear that both players had brought their fighting spirit to the board. Soon, the game was a mess, with all three results on the line. In the commentary booth, former Women’s World Champion Xie Jun was certainly surprised at the result of the opening: “It seems that they haven’t played this line before. They analyzed, they prepared, and they probably knew the plans, but this is the first time they gave it on the board. It’s a very complicated position – the way they played is a little bit out of control”. Ding decided not to take any breaks – he spent 100% of his time at the board, while Gukesh would go to his personal room now and then. As the game progressed, Ding managed to create real counterplay on the queenside. Although the engines were claiming equality, it started to look like Gukesh’s aggressive kingside attack might have backfired. The retreat 22.Qe1 was definitely a blunder, and after that, Ding Liren seemed to be on the right track to win the game. However, by playing 27…fxe6 instead of the solid 27…Bxe6, he allowed Gukesh a chance to get off the hook. POSITION OF THE DAY Put yourself in Gukesh’s shoes. What would you play 30.Qc2 or 30.Bc5? Low on time, Gukesh had initially calculated 30.Bc5 Qxg4 and now the brilliant 31.Qxh7!! with the point 31…Rxh7 32.Rf8 checkmate. However, upon arriving at the position on the board, he noticed that Black had the intermediate check 31…Qd4!+, and abandoned the idea. Therefore, he chose 30.Qc2 and Ding Liren wrapped up the game. Instead, the 18-year-old Indian should have played 30.Bc5 Qxg4 and now 31.Rf3! attacking the a-pawn and after 31…Nc4, he could go 32.Qf1! which would have given him enormous tactical compensation and a real chance to muddy the waters. In the postgame press conference, Ding Liren acknowledged that he had been a bit lucky as he had missed two tactics that, fortunately for him, didn’t work for his opponent. For his part, Gukesh confessed that he was quite nervous before the game, and although he was able to calm down, he understood that his opponent had played very well. For the first time since the 2010 Anand vs Topalov match, the first game of a title match ended decisively. On that occasion, Indian superstar Vishy Anand also lost to Veselin Topalov but went on to claim the title. This is Ding’s first win in classical chess since January 27, when he defeated GM Max Warmerdam in Tata Steel. Warmerdam joked about it on X after today’s game. The second game of the match will take place on Tuesday, November 26, at 5 PM local time in Singapore, with Ding Liren playing White. FACT SHEET, Game 1, FIDE World Championship 2024: White: Gukesh DBlack: Ding LirenResult: 0-1Opening: French Defence, Steinitz variationGame length: 42 movesOpening: French DefenceVariation: Steinitz VariationMatch score: 1-0 (in favor of Ding Liren) Official website: worldchampionship.fide.com/ Full programme of side-events: worldchampionship.fide.com/events Written by IM Michael Rahal (Singapore) Photos: Eng Chin An and Maria Emelianova About the event Current World Champion Ding Liren, representing China, and challenger Gukesh D, from India, will face each other in a fourteen-game classical chess match. The player who scores 7.5 points or more will win the match, picking up the better part of the $2.5 million total prize fund. The first of the fourteen scheduled games will take place on Monday, November 25 at 5 pm. Gukesh will open with White.
Beyond the board: A virtual exhibition by FIDE and Google
From its ancient origins to computers and AI, a new digital exhibition by FIDE and Google celebrates chess and its history, with a particular focus on world championship matches. Curated with the help of Women Grandmaster Anna Burtasova, the “Beyond the Board” digital exhibition will explore the history of chess from its origin to the modern era, highlighting key events, people, and cultures that have shaped the black-and-white game. Featured on the Google Arts & Culture platform, the online exhibition opens with ten surprising facts about chess and then splits into two themes—history and Artificial Intelligence. Visitors are taken on a journey from the game’s ancient origins to the rise of supercomputers and the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in chess. “The exhibition is designed and presented in a way that gives visitors a rounded picture of this ancient game. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to work with Google on this project, which will bring chess closer to millions of people globally,” said Anna Burtasova. Google is the Title Sponsor of the FIDE World Championship 2024, which starts today, November 25, at Resorts World Sentosa. Chess represents a profound intersection of human ingenuity and technological potential, and has always been a proving ground for AI innovation. In fact, some of our earliest AI breakthroughs came from mastering chess as a proof-of-concept. Through Search, YouTube, and AI, Google is enhancing the Championship experience for chess fans globally, celebrating the beauty of the game that continues to inspire and challenge people. Check it out here: artsandculture.google.com/project/chess About FIDE: The International Chess Federation (FIDE) is the global governing body for chess, overseeing international competitions. It encompasses 201 countries as affiliate members. Founded in Paris in 1924 under the motto “Gens una sumus” (“We are one family”), FIDE was recognized by the International Olympic Committee as a Global Sporting Organization in 1999. Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, FIDE promotes chess worldwide, reflecting its status as a truly global sport. About Google Arts & Culture: Google Arts & Culture is an online platform developed by Google in collaboration with over 2,000 museums, galleries, and cultural institutions worldwide. It offers users the ability to explore high-resolution images and videos of artworks and cultural artifacts, providing virtual tours of galleries and detailed information about various art pieces.
Chess stars come to New York for the strongest chess tournament in U.S. history
Most of the world’s top players – including world number one Magnus Carlsen – have confirmed their participation in the World Rapid & Blitz Championship. With a spectacular line-up, a prize fund of nearly $1.5 million, and the electrifying rapid format, this promises to be the most thrilling chess event of the year. One of the most popular and most prestigious chess tournaments held by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), the World Rapid & Blitz will see many of the best players on the planet fight for the world crowns in two popular speed chess formats – Rapid and Blitz. Coming to the U.S. for the first time ever, the event will take place in the heart of Wall Street from December 26 to 31, setting the backdrop for a spectacular showdown in New York. This year’s event introduces a thrilling twist: a knockout stage in the later rounds, making it even more challenging for the players. This new format raises the stakes, ensuring dramatic finishes and keeping players and fans on edge until the final move. Altogether, some 300 players are expected to turn up in New York, with many of the biggest names in chess already confirming their participation, making this event the strongest tournament ever played in the U.S. With its scale and caliber, this tournament is expected to draw significant attention. Fans wishing to experience the event in person, can now purchase tickets, available at https://tickets.fide.com/ Magnus Carlsen leads a star-studded line-up The list of participants is led by Magnus Carlsen, the world’s top-rated player and reigning World Champion in both the Rapid and the Blitz. Carlsen, who has won five Rapid and six Blitz World Championships, will be coming to the Big Apple seeking to set a new world record. Photo: Anastasia Korolkova Joining the lineup is Ian Nepomniachtchi, a two-time World Championship challenger, and two-time World Rapid Championship runner-up, currently ranked eighth in the world. Despite his near misses at the classical crown, Nepomniachtchi remains one of the most dangerous players in rapid and blitz formats. Also looking to make history is 21-year-old Alireza Firouzja. The youngest player ever to break the 2800 ELO barrier, Firouzja was tipped by Carlsen as his most likely successor. In New York, the Iranian-born Frenchman seek to fulfil that promise. Additionally, 2021 World Blitz Champion Maxime Vachier-Lagrave will be representing France and aiming to regain the crown he won in Warsaw three years ago. The U.S. brings out its best World number two Fabiano Caruana headlines the list of home players. The former world championship challenger recently claimed his fourth (!) U.S. championship title, bringing him one step closer to the legendary Bobby Fischer’s record of eight wins. One of the best blitz players ever, Hikaru Nakamura also confirmed his participation. His potential duel with Magnus Carlsen promises to be one of the tournament’s highlights. Another U.S. heavyweight, Wesley So, has confirmed he will be competing. A key member of the U.S. national team and widely respected as a blitz player, So is among the favorites to perform well in both the Rapid and Blitz events. Joining them will be Levon Aronian, one of the most experienced players, known for his creativity and charisma, his fellow team-member Leinier Dominguez Perez and Samuel Sevian – a chess prodigy from New York who won the 2017 American Continental Chess Championship. The world’s strongest women players coming to New York In addition to the Open competitions, there will be separate events for women players. The Women’s World Rapid & Blitz will bring together World Champions, top contenders, and some of the brightest emerging talents in women’s chess. Among the stars competing are former world champions Alexandra Kosteniuk (Switzerland), also known as “The Chess Queen,” and Mariya Muzychuk from Ukraine. Former challengers China’s Lei Tingjie and India’s Humpy Koneru have also confirmed their participation. Other elite women players coming to New York include three-time Women’s World Blitz Champion Kateryna Lagno, two-time Women’s World Blitz Champion Anna Muzychuk, Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali R and Zhu Jiner. A global chess stage Players will be coming from every continent, representing countries all around the world. India, currently holding the World Olympic crown in both the open and women’s categories, is also expected to make a strong showing with several of their top players coming to New York, including world number four Arjun Erigaisi as well as the formidable Praggnanandhaa R. Many other top players have confirmed participation, including China’s Yu Yangyi, Wei Yi, and Bu Xiangzhi, as well as Poland’s Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Anish Giri from the Netherlands. “There is still some time to go before the event, but we are excited that many of the world’s best players have already confirmed they will be coming”, said Emil Sutovsky, CEO of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). “We are preparing a grand chess spectacle at the highest level for the audience. Whether you’re watching in person or online, the action promises to be thrilling from start to finish”. With more top players expected to join in the coming weeks and special events planned for visitors, the 2024 World Rapid & Blitz Championship in New York is set to feature one of the strongest lineups in the event’s history. For the first time ever, there will be a free day between the events, which will be used to host a Conference on Chess and Finance, bringing together chess legends and financial leaders to explore the fascinating intersections between the two worlds. About the event For more information about the event, including tickets, visit the official website: worldrapidandblitz.fide.com/.
2024 FIDE World Championship: Opening press conference
“We are going to give our best and see what happens” This afternoon’s fantastic chess experience in Singapore began with the first official press conference with the World Champion Ding Liren and the challenger Gukesh D, moderated by one of the event’s official commentators and master of ceremonies, GM Maurice Ashley. The panel also featured Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President and GM Kevin Goh Wei Ming, CEO of the Singapore Chess Federation. Both Dvorkovich and Goh Wei Ming thanked the media for attending the presser and highlighted FIDE’s partnership with Google for this match. Dvorkovich even suggested that we were going to experience unprecedented social media coverage. “When I heard the news that Google was going to join as a titled partner, I was really excited. We were joined by a global company who has reached the whole world, showing that the game of chess is really something. This partnership brings us a unique visibility, that we haven’t experienced for many years – for that we are very thankful to the Google team. I think during the next three weeks, we shall see something completely unprecedented every day on social media and on the web driven by Google resources.” After introducing the players, Maurice Ashley opened fire with a barrage of discerning questions to both players, followed by several more perceptive ones from the attending journalists. Asked about his state of mind and feelings before the match, Ding Liren opened up to the audience: “I was very nervous in my first world championship match, but this time I feel in peace with a lot of energy. It’s my first time in Singapore, and there are many to visit. It’s a warm country and I received a lot of gifts and a warm welcome from many kids this morning. It’s not so often that I play against a player younger than me. I have more experience than him: he is younger but has already displayed his maturity in many aspects. I hope that both of us can perform our best, but I know that he will not be easy to beat. Yesterday I reviewed my games from recent times and the quality was not so good. I made many short draws, even in better positions. It’s clear I was far from my peak performance. But I intend to review some of my best games, to regain my confidence and fighting spirit to perform better.” Gukesh said that he was very happy to be in Singapore and that he had been looking forward to being here since he started playing chess. “There are certainly some nerves, but I feel good about it. The only thought I have is to give my best and see what happens. It’s an honor and privilege for me to play for India in any kind of event, especially an event like the Olympiad or World Championship. It’s such a huge event to represent my country and carry the hopes of Indians: it’s an honor for me. I take it very seriously. For me, it’s pretty clear who I’m going to face. I’m going to face Ding Liren, who is one of the best players of the world for more than a decade. My job is also pretty clear – just go to every game as the best version of myself and play the best moves in the position and if I do that, if I keep playing good chess […], I’m confident I have all the chances in the world”. When questioned about the extent a chess player can detach themselves from their personal problems in such an important competition, both players did their best to dodge the issue. Ding Liren said, “Normally, I can handle them quite well. When playing chess, I do not consider other things. Maybe last year I didn’t play so well, but I think that when we come to the stage to play chess, we need to forget about other things. We need to just focus on the game itself.” Gukesh was even more pragmatic, “I think, in this case, my age helps me a lot because I don’t have much of a personal life. I mean, my whole life revolves around chess. Everything is taken care of by my parents and my team. My only job is to play chess, so that’s quite nice.” Official website: worldchampionship.fide.com/ Full programme of side-events: https://worldchampionship.fide.com/events Written by IM Michael Rahal (Singapore) Photos: Maria Emelianova About the event Current World Champion Ding Liren, representing China, and challenger Gukesh D, from India, will face each other in a fourteen-game classical chess match. The player who scores 7.5 points or more will win the match, picking up the better part of the $2.5 million total prize fund. The first of the fourteen scheduled games will take place on Monday, November 25 at 5 pm. Gukesh will open with White. The match will be hosted at the luxurious Resorts World Sentosa and will be broadcasted live with expert commentary on the FIDE YouTube Channel.
2024 FIDE World Championship: Gukesh draws White in the first game
The 2024 FIDE World Championship match between Ding Liren and Gukesh D kicked off this afternoon with the opening ceremony. Packed to the brim with more than 400 guests, the magnificent Capitol Theatre, an architectural and lifestyle gem in the heart of Singapore’s civic and cultural district, hosted the festivities. The gala evening included a wonderful musical performance, three motivational opening speeches, the two national anthems, and, most importantly for the players, the drawing of colors for the first game of the match. In an unprecedented technological display in which both players participated actively, the drawing of colors awarded Gukesh D the white pieces in the first of the fourteen games. Three of the many attending guests of honor addressed the audience, highlighting the significance of the event for the Singapore chess community. Mr Teo Chee Hean, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, was the first on the stage and was eager to keep in mind the huge impact of the championship on his country. “This year’s World Championship has spread special significance for our part of the world. It is the first ever between two Grandmasters from Asia. Singapore is proud to play host for this historic match,” he said. FIDE President, Mr Arkady Dvorkovich, began his speech by thanking the media for paying so much attention to the match. He also mentioned the many side events organized around the event. In addition, he highlighted the fact that special attention had been given to the younger generation, “The match itself is the most important thing, but today we already had dozens of kids coming to the playing venue. I would like to thank both players for sharing their time with the kids: they will remember this moment for the rest of their lives, and maybe some of them will compete at the highest possible level at some point.” Dvorkovich also directed his attention to the worldwide audience and chess legacy, “Now, for the first time in history, the Indian Tiger faces the Chinese Dragon in the fight for the world crown. We are about to witness a monumental clash as Gukesh, just 18 years old, challenges the reigning World Champion, Ding Liren, one of the strongest players ever to emerge from China. This match will not only shape the history of the game, but also its future, with millions watching worldwide”. Finally, the President of the Singapore Chess Federation, Dr Hsu Li Yang, also an International Master in his own right, was confident that the match would help inspire the new generation of players in Singapore, “My federation and I hope that this match will serve as a powerful catalyst for our thriving chess community, inspiring the next generation of chess players in our country and around the world. Singapore has long valued education, innovation, perseverance and the pursuit of excellence – qualities that are the essence of chess and which both Champion and Challenger possess in spades.” The full video of the opening ceremony can be found here:youtube.com/live/tpAolTm1mTU?si=ElgLxn1L5U29iV2h The official website: worldchampionship.fide.com/ The full programme of side-events: https://worldchampionship.fide.com/events Written by IM Michael Rahal (Singapore) Photos: Eng Chin An and Maria Emelianova About the event Current World Champion Ding Liren, representing China, and challenger Gukesh D, from India, will face each other in a fourteen-game classical chess match. The player who scores 7.5 points or more will win the match, picking up the better part of the $2.5 million total prize fund. The first of the fourteen scheduled games will take place on Monday, November 25 at 5 pm. Gukesh will open with White. The match will be hosted at the luxurious Resorts World Sentosa and will be broadcasted live with expert commentary on the FIDE YouTube Channel.
World Senior Championship 2024 crosses halfway mark
Golden Island’s late summer has brought both literal and figurative heat to the 2024 World Senior Championship. After six rounds of intense chess battles in Porto Santo, Portugal, the competition has entered its second half. In the 50+ age group, GMs Alexander Shabalov (USA) and Michal Krasenkow (Poland) share the lead with 5/6 points. Both secured critical victories in Round 6, with Shabalov defeating Viktor Mikhalevsky (the overnight leader) and Krasenkow prevailing over Uffe Vinter-Schou. The leaders have each conceded two draws, including their Round 5 encounter. In that game, Shabalov, playing Black, came close to victory in a rook endgame, but Krasenkow escaped with a miraculous draw. A large group of eight players, including top seed Kiril Georgiev (Bulgaria), trail the leaders but just a half-point. In the 65+ age group, five grandmasters are tied for first place sitting on 5/6: Jaime Sunye Neto (Brazil), Rainer Knaak (Germany), Zurab Sturua (Georgia), Lubomir Ftacnik (Slovakia) and Alonso Zapata (Colombia). The women’s tournament, merging the +50 and +65 age categories, is also very closely contested. WIM Sopio Tereladze (Georgia) and IM Masha Klimova (Israel) drew their Round 6 game, maintaining their co-lead with 4.5/6. Joining them at the top is IM Silvia Alexieva (France), who defeated Galina Strutinskaia (FIDE). With five rounds remaining, all three tournaments are still wide open, promising a thrilling finish. Saturday, November 23, is a well-deserved rest day, with many players taking the chance to explore the natural beauty of Porto Santo. For those eager to return to the chessboard, a blitz tournament is organized in Vila Baleira Hotel. Additionally, a masterclass by GM Michael Gurevich was held on November 19, World Chess Day, providing valuable insights for the audience. Pairings, results and standings Written by Paulo Felizes, FPX Head Press Officer Photos: FPX Official website: worldsenior.fpx.pt/
World Cadet Championship 2024 reaches midpoint
The 2024 World Cadet Chess Championship has passed its halfway mark, with six rounds completed. After a rest day on November 21, the competition will resume on November 22. Each age group currently has a sole leader, but with many players close behind, the remaining five rounds promise thrilling games and potential upsets. Here’s a detailed recap of Round 6: Opening of Round 6: Round 6 was inaugurated by Geert Bailleul of Belgium, Chairman of the European Arbiters’ Council, who made the first ceremonial move in the game between David Lacan Rus and Antoni Radzimski (U-12 Open). Under-8 Girls: Round 6 featured a clash between the two leaders, top seed Stella Xin (USA) and Chen Zhihan (China). Xin opened with 1.d4, leading to the Queen’s Gambit Declined. She tried to attack, but a misstep on move 26 with a pawn move allowed Chen to grab the initiative. Despite time pressure, Chen played precisely and won a marathon game that lasted 112 moves, taking the sole lead in the section. After six rounds, Chen leads the group with a perfect score, while Valeryia Zhyttkevich, Reana Kinzyabulatova (FIDE); Stella Xin, Allyson Yu (USA), Eliza-Ioana Badescu (Romania) and Defne Karaman (Turkey) are trailing her by one point with 5/6. Under-8 Open Round 6 began with three leaders. On Board 1, top seed Timofei Demchenko (Spain) faced Sattwik Swain (India). Playing with the white pieces, Timofei chose the Scotch Opening. Sattwik handled the attack well until he misplayed with the move 33 in the endgame, giving Timofei a significant advantage. However, on move 37, Timofei miscalculated, resulting in a draw after 47 moves. Meanwhile, on Board 2, Li Aiden Linyuan (USA) defeated Xu Zhihan (Samuel) (Canada) to seize the lead with 6/6. Sattwik and Timofei are close behind with 5.5 points. In the next round, the leader will face Sattwik. Under-10 Girls Kazakhstan’s Alanna Berikkyzy demonstrated her exceptional calculation skills once again. Playing with the black pieces, she opted for the Sicilian Defense against Cetin Beren (Turkey) but ended up in a difficult position. However, Cetin first missed a tactical opportunity and then declined a knight sacrifice by Alanna, which was a decisive mistake. Alanna capitalized on her pawn advantage to win in 34 moves. With a perfect 6/6 score, Alanna remains the leader. Ider Tselmuun (Mongolia); Alisa Genrietta Yunker (FIDE); Zhansaya Sholpanbek (Kazakhstan); Angelina Nguyen Doan Bao Anh (Poland); Mehriban Ahmadli (Azerbaijan) and Pooja Shree R (India) follow with five points each. Under-10 Open Roman Shogdzhiev (FIDE) continued his winning streak, defeating top seed Sameh Mohamed Abdalrahman (Egypt). Playing with the white pieces, Roman countered Sameh’s Modern Defense, and after Sameh misplaced his queen on move 16, White emerged clearly better. Roman confidently converted his advantage and wrapped it up on move 39. After six rounds, Roman leads with six points, followed by Boris Kolodziejczyk (France) with 5.5 points. Advik Amit Agrawal (India), Tsogtbileg Anand (Mongolia), Marc Llari (France), and Ling Chenxuan (USA) are on five points each. Under-12 Girls Khanzada Amanzhol of Kazakhstan retained her lead with a draw on Board 1 against Batpelden Buyankhishig from Mongolia, bringing her total to 5.5 points. All games on boards 2-5ended decisively. Tatyana Mozolevskaya (FIDE); Nika Venskaya (FIDE); Batpelden Buyankhishig (Mongolia); Zahra Allahverdi (Azerbaijan) and Xue Tianhao (China) share second place on five points each. Under-12 Open The strongest section of the World Cadet Chess Championship saw an intense battle on Board 1. Antoni Radzimski (Poland) defeated overnight leader David Lacan Rus (France). Playing with the white pieces against the Nimzo-Indian Defence David had a chance to obtain significant advantage, but a few hesitant moves allowed Black to strike in the center and grab the initiative. Antoni’s knights became very active, leading to his victory in just 29 moves. As many as seven players, including top seed Wiktor Golis (Poland) are tied for second place on 5/6. Results, parings and standings Rest Day Highlight For the first time, the inaugural World Cadet Chess Solving Championship 2024 was organized on the rest day, attracting 247 players from 47 countries to this historic event. Written by Niklesh Jain Photos: Patricia Claros Aguilar and Niklesh Jain | ChessBase India Official website: worldcadetschess2024.com/
Showdown in Singapore: Ding Liren vs Gukesh
Featuring a landmark title sponsorship from global technology leader Google, the 2024 FIDE World Championship match will take place in Singapore from November 23 to December 13. Current World Champion Ding Liren, representing China, and challenger Gukesh Dommaraju, from India, will face each other in a fourteen-game classical chess match. The player who scores 7.5 points or more will claim the title, picking up the better part of the $2.5 million total prize fund. The champion Photo: Anna Shtourman Rated 2728, Chinese Grandmaster Ding Liren is the reigning World Champion. At 32, he will defend his title for the first time, after defeating Ian Nepomniachtchi in 2023, in arguably one of the most exciting matches in history. He is the highest-rated Chinese player of all time, with a peak rating of 2816 in 2018, and a three-time Chinese champion. Amongst his many unbelievable achievements is a 100-game unbeaten streak, one of the longest in history, which will forever remain in the memories of chess fans all over the world. Notwithstanding, the 2023 World Championship match took its toll. Personal difficulties including depression led to a nine-month hiatus from competitive chess, during which he focused on his mental health. His return to the board at Tata Steel at the beginning of 2024 didn’t go as expected, while Norway Chess in June also turned into another unremarkable performance. Recent events such as the 11th Sinquefield Cup and the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest don’t give the impression that Ding is fully recovered, but without a doubt if he is able to bring his best game to Singapore he will be a formidable opponent. The challenger Photo: Michal Walusza 18-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju has taken the chess world by storm. Currently boasting a whopping 2783 FIDE rating, number five in the world, Gukesh qualified for this match by dominating the 2024 April Candidates tournament in Toronto; in his first-ever appearance he claimed first, becoming the youngest-ever challenger in the history of chess. An under-12 World Youth Champion in Spain, multiple gold medalist in the Asian games, dominating many international tournaments all over the world, Gukesh has built an extraordinary career over the past six years. His recent achievements also include an impressive gold medal on board one of the Indian team that brilliantly won the 45th Chess Olympiad, renewing an individual gold that he secured in his hometown, Chennai, two years before. Nonetheless, it remains to be seen if Gukesh will be able to continue this seemingly untrue run of success, avoiding the inevitable spotlights and attention that he will experience. The favourite Most of the world’s top players consider Gukesh the clear favourite, but the opinion of former World Champion and number one player in the world Magnus Carlsen carries much weight: “Obviously, Gukesh is a significant favourite, and if he strikes first he will win the match without any trouble. However, the longer it goes without a decisive game, the better it is for Ding Liren, because he has the ability but he doesn’t have the confidence”. In addition to Carlsen’s analysis, their head-to-head record may bolster up Ding Liren’s self-assurance. Due to the age gap, Gukesh and Ding Liren have only faced each other on three occasions in classical chess, with a total score of 2.5 to 0.5 for the Chinese Grandmaster, who defeated his opponent twice at the Tata Steel Masters in 2023 and 2024. Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club | Lennart Ootes All in all, the endless appeal of competitive sport is the uncertainty of the result. The match The match is scheduled for 14 classical games. The winner will be the first to score 7.5 points or more. Each game will feature a time control of 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment kicking in on move 41. If the match ends in a tie after 14 games, a rapid-play tie-break will determine the champion. The official website with all the results, stats, games, and other useful information can be found here: worldchampionship.fide.com/ You can also follow the action with live commentaries by England’s David Howell and Jovanka Houska on FIDE YouTube channel. The venue The match will take place in Singapore, a city-state and island country in Southeast Asia. For many years it has been a major aviation, financial, and maritime shipping hub and features one of the highest GDP per capita in the world. The Singapore Chess Federation has played a decisive role in the organization and promotion of the event, securing the luxurious Resorts World Sentosa as an outstanding venue for this exciting encounter. The playing hall is located in the magnificent Equarius Hotel, a 5-star facility with stunning views of the surrounding rainforest canopies. Game-day access tickets can be purchased here: worldchampionship.fide.com/tickets.php The side-events The match in Singapore will also host an unforgettable chess festival. Exhibitions, presentations, and simultaneous matches will offer unique opportunities to meet and play with top Grandmasters and experts in other fields. A dedicated fan zone has been designated, in which visitors can enjoy in-person commentary by renowned world-class commentators such as GM Maurice Ashley and former Women’s World Champion Xie Jun. Other highlights include interactions with 5-times World Champion Viswanathan Anand and simultaneous exhibitions by former Women’s World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk and former World Champion Challenger Boris Gelfand. And if you feel like playing yourself, the Singapore International Open 2024, will be held alongside the World Championship – a once in a lifetime opportunity to take part in the most important chess event of the year. The full programme can be found here: worldchampionship.fide.com/Side-events.php Written by IM Michael Rahal (Barcelona, Spain)
Inspiring refugee girls through chess in Kakuma
The Girls Club “Chess for Protection” was launched by FIDE and UNHCR in 2021 as part of the Chess for Refugees program in the northwestern region of Kenya. Kenya is one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in Africa and the world, with over 500,000 refugees. Over 40% of these refugees reside in the Kakuma refugee camp, and the majority of the population in Kakuma are children and youth. The goal of this initiative? To help young refugee girls learn the game of chess, acquire important life skills, improve their mental well-being, and give them the belief that great things are possible in life; all in a safe environment. The first classes at the start of the project were held at Angelina Jolie Primary School in Kakuma, with 40 students in attendance. Three years in, the project now operates in three girls’ boarding schools in the region: Angelina Jolie Primary School, Morneau Shepell Secondary School, and Bhar-El-Naam Primary School. Over 250 refugee girls attend chess classes each year. Photo: Stev Bonhage “This project is very special to me personally. I truly believe in the FIDE motto, “Gens una sumus,” and the motto of Judit Polgar’s Global Chess Festival, “Chess Connects Us.” I have experienced it many times in my life, and I have seen how chess and the chess community can transform people’s lives. It can uplift in seemingly hopeless situations, open minds, and give confidence. I know this project will help us witness it once again in Kakuma,” shared Anastasia Sorokina, leader of this project and Chairperson of the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess. Empowerment through education and leadership The chess training combines online lessons with experienced coaches, training with a local tutor, and workshops featuring inspiring guests as well as the Girls Book Club. The online trainers, WGM Anastasiya Karlovich (UKR) and IM Salome Melia (GEO), are both exceptional educators and accomplished chess players. The Girls Chess Club aims to give the girls in Kakuma Camp new life skills and confidence, and these coaches are excellent leaders in achieving that goal. Anastasiya Karlovich is a Woman Grandmaster who has also served as a Press Officer at multiple major events and was awarded FIDE’s “Best Chess Photographer of the Century.” Salome Melia, an International Master and Woman Grandmaster, is a top female player who has won medals at the European Championships and World Team Championship title with the Georgian team in 2015. Both coaches bring their chess expertise and personal experiences to inspire the girls to dream big and pursue their dreams bravely. Photo: Stev Bonhage Book Club The “Girls Book Club”, a part of a chess project for girls from the Kakuma refugee camp, is an opportunity to fall in love with books, find inspiration in them and, let’s be honest, gain an escape tool; an escape from the completely non-fairy-tale reality in which children live in Kenya. The club is run by Natalia Ryzhenko and Anastasiia Karlovich, who presents books, read, and invites the girls to conversation. During the discussion, students watch short videos and cartoons to understand the material better since the lessons are online. Workshops with inspiring personalities The most recent special guest was author and chess enthusiast Kyla Zhao. Her book, May the Best Player Win, is, in her own words, “a story about not letting other people’s opinions nor your own doubts hold you back.” Kyla gave a thought-provoking presentation about her journey, emphasizing the importance of self-belief and hard work. She echoed the words of Judit Polgar, the greatest female chess player of all time, to highlight that gender is never a barrier to success. We are really grateful to Kyla Zhao for her time and for leading by example. Chess lessons During the months of chess training, the girls learn the basic rules and continue to practice even after the online course ends. Refugee students also participate in competitions, including school tournaments in Kakuma. Modern technology is integrated into the training to make lessons engaging and impactful. Girls play chess with their peers and tutors, solve puzzles, compete against chess robots, watch educational materials from “ChessKid,” and have discussions about the chess world and the lives of chess players. Physical workouts are also part of the program to keep the lessons dynamic and fun. The curriculum, designed by Anastasiya Karlovich and Martina Skogvall, was specifically tailored to teach chess in refugee camps. Visit to Kakuma Camp and refugee teams To support and develop the project further, FIDE representatives, including FIDE Managing Director Dana Reizniece-Ozola and Project Leader and WOM Chairperson Anastasia Sorokina, visited Kakuma Camp to meet with the girls and other refugees. Photo: Stev Bonhage One of the important initiatives of FIDE and UNHCR is the inclusion of refugee teams in the Chess Olympiad. The teams for both open and women sections have been carefully selected and had months of training and preparation to participate in the biggest chess event in the world. Two girls from our Girls Chess Club have also managed to win spots in the women’s team, proving how powerful the project is. To prepare for this historic participation, the teams had training sessions with experienced Latvian coach FM Sergejs Klimakovs, first online and then in Kakuma, in August. Although technical challenges prevented participation this year, significant progress has been made, and we hope to see refugee teams competing in the next Olympiad. We cannot wait to see what they will achieve. Photo: Stev Bonhage Girls Club “Chess for protection” will continue to uplift girls in Kakuma The project is set to continue in 2025. Chess lessons and workshops will remain a focus, and girls will also have the opportunity to participate in the Queens’ Festival, competing in the Princess section – our global online festival for female chess players. Next year could be historic for the project, as we aim to reach over 1,000 students since the initiative began.
FIDE and Google create the Efficient Chess AI Challenge, hosted on Kaggle
The International Chess Federation and the world’s top tech company challenge enthusiasts to make chess-playing programs which work well without requiring powerful computers to run them. Chess has long been a grand challenge for artificial intelligence, a proving ground for pushing the boundaries of algorithms and computational power. While advancements like AlphaZero and Stockfish engines have achieved superhuman performance, they often rely on vast resources inaccessible to most developers. The project, being part of Google’s sponsorship activities for the FIDE World Chess Championship 2024, emphasizes ingenuity and efficiency over computing force. Participants are tasked with making smart chess programs that use limited computer power and memory, instead of relying on brute computing strength and huge amounts of data. The prize fund of the competition of $50,000 has been generously donated by Kaggle. The initiative is inspired by a 1950 concept put forward by Claude Shannon, a mathematician who is widely recognized as the father of information theory: “Thinking rigorously about the construction of a chess-playing computer might act as a wedge in attacking other problems of a similar nature and of greater significance.” The exploration of novel, optimized techniques can address a growing complexity and scale of problems, like advancements in modeling and inference techniques and improvements upon traditional heuristic-based algorithms, beyond the field of chess. The competition and evaluation are open to coders across the world. From the moment a participant or team joins, they are able to submit up to five agents (bots) to the competition each day. Each submission will play episodes (games) against other bots on the leaderboard that have a similar skill rating. Over time, skill ratings will go up with wins, down with losses, or even out with ties. Every bot submitted will continue to play episodes until the end of the competition, with newer bots selected to play more frequently. Once a team has reached two active submissions, older entries will be deactivated. The project is hosted on Google’s platform Kaggle – a place for data science and machine learning where users can compete in challenges, and learn through collaborative coding and tutorials. Individuals or teams participating must submit their programs by February 11, 2025, the latest. More information about the event and registration can be found here: FIDE & Google Efficient Chess AI Challenge | Kaggle More activities involving Google and its products planned to enhance the Championship experience for chess fans globally will be announced shortly!