Gala in Barcelona celebrates 100th anniversary of Catalan Chess Federation
Last Tuesday, November 5, the CaixaForum auditorium in Barcelona hosted a gala celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Catalan Chess Federation, an event that also marked the centenary of FIDE (International Chess Federation), which was a special guest at the celebration. Approximately 300 attendees gathered at sunset for the dynamic event, which featured tributes, recognitions of various entities, and musical performances. The gala, hosted by presenter Danae Boronat, began with performances by Juga di Prima, a Chilean singer residing in Catalonia who merges her passion for chess with contemporary music. Distinguished guests recognized by both FIDE and the Catalan Chess Federation included Gerard Esteva, president of the Union of Sports Federations of Catalonia (UFEC), who paid tribute to the Federation’s 100 years; FIDE Deputy Chair Dana Reizniece-Ozola; FIDE Executive Director Victor Bologan; and Cristóbal Ramon Frontiñán, acting president of the Spanish Chess Federation, who received a standing ovation for delivering his speech in Catalan despite not being fluent. Jesús Naharro, Deputy of the Sports and Physical Activity Area, also offered words of recognition. The occasion was perfect for unveiling the Federation’s new corporate image, designed to be more functional, modern, versatile, and adaptable, setting the tone for the future. The event also showcased several productions created for the 2025 celebration, including a commemorative chessboard limited to 100 units, a centennial book, a sticker album for the 2024-2025 teams, and the evening’s highlight: the world premiere of the Centennial Song. The celebration continued at Luz de Gas, where chess games illuminated by cellphone lights extended the festivities into the night. The centennial season promises to be filled with proposals and activities, culminating on August 2 with the Centennial Celebration Party. Leading up to this, there will be exhibitions, challenges for all ages, street tournaments, surprises, and plenty of chess.
Gukesh Dommaraju: “I just want to enjoy the experience”
Just 18, Gukesh Dommaraju is on the cusp of an extraordinary achievement – he is about to fight against Ding Liren in the match that will determine the new world champion. The Indian prodigy’s rapid ascend to the top has stunned many in the chess world. In a recent interview with the media, organized by FIDE, Gukesh shared his thoughts on the upcoming match, his preparation, and what he thinks of his opponent. “The year so far has been quite good,” Gukesh said, reflecting on his recent successes. “A lot of interesting chess and some nice achievements. I’m really looking forward to the World Championship match in Singapore. It’s coming soon, and I’m quite eager to start the match.” Photo: Michal Walusza While many have labeled him as the favorite for the title, Gukesh is understandably more cautious. “In general, I don’t believe in predictions and who are the favorites. I just think whoever shows up every day as the best will win the game eventually,” he explained. “I’m just focusing on the process, and I try to be at my best every day and play a good game. I just want to enjoy the experience.” And when it comes to that process, he outlined key elements of it: “The process is pretty much typical for the World Championships. I have a team, and we are preparing hard. I’m trying to be at my best and enjoy each moment of this journey.” Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club | Lennart Ootes When asked about Ding Liren and whether he had any specific strategies in mind for the match, Gukesh was diplomatic yet insightful. “It’ll be an interesting match for sure. We are both strong players, and there’ll be a lot of exciting games. I hope it’s a beautiful experience for all chess lovers,” he said. “As for my team, I can say Gajewski will be my trainer for the match, but beyond that, I can’t reveal much.” A key theme throughout the interview was the question about how well the 18-year-old can handle the pressure of playing such a demanding and high-profile event, particularly on the international stage where he represents India. “It’s always a privilege to play for India at such a high level, and I enjoy the experience. I think how I handle pressure is mostly through experience. I’ve played in many high-pressure situations, though not the World Championship, of course,” he noted. “But I’m looking forward to the new experience.” It’s a rare feat to become a role model at 18, but Gukesh seems to have achieved that, and many players are inspired by his meteoric rise. But his message to anyone wanting to follow in his footsteps is simple: “Just enjoy the game; chess is a beautiful game. It has many benefits. If you enjoy it, it’s a very good hobby to have. And if you’re talented, it’s very nice to be a professional chess player.” Photo: Michal Walusza Gukesh, like many of his contemporaries, belongs to the “computer generation” – kids who grew up with engines significantly stronger than humans and who learned with those engines and not via books. In the interview, he was asked about the influence computers have on chess preparation. One of the interesting points raised during the interview was about the influence of computers on chess preparation, something Magnus Carlsen has openly expressed frustration with in his decision not to defend the crown. But Gukesh’s outlook is different: “It’s different for Magnus and me. Magnus has been doing this for so many years, and I’m just coming up, so it’s a new experience for me. I basically enjoy the process,” he said. “It’s hard work, but I’m enjoying it, and let’s see how things unfold.” Another topic was his age and the advantages and disadvantages that come with it. Photo: Michal Walusza “Because of my age, compared to the more experienced players, I have more energy levels, and it’s easier to stay focused during long tournaments,” he said, before acknowledging, “The disadvantage is obviously that I’m not as experienced and haven’t played as much as them. But, so far, it’s been positive.” For the first time in the history of the game, both players come from Asia – signifying a symbolic return of chess to its roots. “It’s nice that this will be the first time there is no European in a World Championship match. I hope it becomes even more popular in Asia,” Gukesh remarked. “We’re already seeing some very nice growth. China has been a superpower for a few years, and Uzbekistan is catching up. But in India, chess is already quite popular, and I hope it grows even bigger.” The venue for this momentous match holds a special place in Gukesh’s heart as well—Singapore. “I’ve been there a couple of times. Once on vacation before I started playing chess, and the other time was one of my first international wins—some Asian under-nine tournament, I think. I have some pleasant memories from that championship in Singapore,” he shared with a smile. “Singapore is a beautiful country, and I’m super glad to have the match there.” About the FIDE World Championship Match The FIDE World Championship Match is one of the most important and widely watched chess events globally. Held every two years, it features the defending World Champion and the Challenger, chosen through a qualification process culminating in the Candidates Tournament, which includes eight of the world’s top players. The defending Champion is Ding Liren, who won the title after defeating Ian Nepomniachtchi in Astana, Kazakhstan, in April 2023 on tiebreaks. The Challenger is the 18-year-old Gukesh D from India, who won the Candidates Tournament in April 2024 in Toronto. The World Championship Match will consist of 14 games. The player who scores 7.5 points or more wins the Match, and no further games are played. If the score is equal after 14 games, the winner is decided by a tiebreak.
Champions crowned at 36th FIDE World Youth Championship
The island of Florianópolis, the capital of Santa Catarina, Brazil, has been immersed in chess over the past days as it hosted the 36th World Youth Chess Championships 2024, held from October 28 to November 9 at the Canasvieiras International Hotel. This prestigious event brought together 520 players under 18 from 62 countries. The awards ceremony on Saturday evening celebrated the new world champions in the 14, 16, and 18-year-old categories, with trophies, medals, and culturally inspired gifts, accompanied by official speeches. Among the highlights in Girls 16, WIM Afruza Khamdamova (UZB; pictured below) secured her title with a round to spare, scoring an impressive 10.5 points out of 11, conceding only one draw to Guadalupe Montano Vicente (MEX) in the third round. In Girls 14, WFM Diana Khafizova (FID) claimed the title with 9 points despite a final-round loss. The Girls 18 championship was decided in the last round, with WFM Olga Karmanova (FID) and WIM Amina Kairbekova (KAZ) tied at eight points. Karmanova ultimately emerged as champion due to her direct-encounter victory. In the Open 14 category three players shared first place with Patrik Ciesllak (POL) taking the title thanks to a superior Buchholz. The Open 18 category also made waves, with four players achieving international master norms. GM Aleksey Grebnev (FIDE; pictured below), the sole grandmaster in the event, confirmed his status as the favorite by winning without a single loss. The top delegations were also recognized at the awards ceremony, with the FIDE team taking first place, followed by Poland in second and Uzbekistan in third. Additional honors included the Fair Play Award, given to Luiza Lessing Vieira. Tournament Director Kaiser Luiz Mafra presented awards to Sarah de Oliveira Orsini and Frederico Dhom Lemos from Brazil, as well as Justiniano Flores from Bolivia. FIDE Delegate Sergei Indeikin awarded Candela Francisco Guecamburu from Argentina, the only girl to compete in the Open 18 category, and Melania-Cristina Grigore from Romania, the youngest competitor at nine years old, who participated in Girls 16. Chief Arbiter Elena Polovina presented the Chief Arbiter Award to Tatiana dos Santos Spineva Bohonok from Brazil and Stefani Chuhukova from Bulgaria. Rest Day and Cultural Exchange On November 4, the rest day featured the inaugural World Youth Chess Solving Championship and the World Blitz Chess Tournament. Players and their families had the opportunity to explore iconic Santa Catarina landmarks, including the Hercílio Luz Bridge and Beto Carrero World Park. Support and next edition The World Youth Chess Championships were organized by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in collaboration with the Brazilian Chess Federation. The Chief Arbiter for the event was Elena Polovina, and Kaiser Luiz Mafra served as the Tournament Director. Key supporters of the event included FIDE, FIDE America, the Brazilian Chess Federation, the Santa Catarina Chess Federation, WR Logistics, Fort Atacadista, Jaehrig, Chess Trips, Fesporte, and the Sports Foundation of Florianópolis. The 37th World Youth Chess Championships will be held in Albania in 2025, continuing the mission of fostering cultural exchange and developing young chess talents. Detailed standings for each category are available at the following links: Open 18, Girls 18, Open 16, Girls 16, Open 14, Girls 14. FIDE WYCC 2024 awarding list Girls U14 1. WFM Diana Khafizova (FIDE) – 92. CM Victoria Smietanska (Poland) – 8.53. WFM Mariya Vlasova (FIDE) – 8.5 Open U14 1. FM Patrik Ciesllak (Poland) – 8.52. IM Edgar Mamedov (Kazakhstan) – 8.53. FM Sauat Nurgaliyev (Kazakhstan) – 8.5 Girls U16 1. WIM Afruza Khamdanova (Uzbekistan) – 10.52. FM Yana Zhapova (FIDE) – 83. WFM Charis Peglau (Germany) – 8 Open U16 1. FM Havier Aguererra Habans (Spain) – 92. FM Krszysztof Raczek (Poland) – 8.53. Nikita Kalinin (FIDE) – 8.5 Girls U18 1. WFM Olga Karmanova (FIDE) – 92. WIM Amina Kairbekova (Kazakhstan) – 93. WFM Galina Mikheeva (FIDE) – 8 Open U18 1. GM Alexey Grebnev (FIDE) – 92. IM Aldiyar Ansat (Kazakhstan) – 8.53. IM Ian Klimkowski (Poland) – 8 Fair play award Luiza Lessing Vieira (Brazil) Tournament Director Award Sarah De Oliveira Orsini (Brazil)Frederico Dhom Lemos (Brazil)Justiniano Flores (Bolivia) FIDE Delegate Award Candela Be Francisco Guecamburu (Argentina)Melania-Cristina Grigore (Romania) Chief Arbiter Award Tatiana Dos Santos Spineva Bohonok (Brazil)Stefani Chuhukova (Bulgaria) Photos, content, and additional materials from the Championship can be found on the social media pages: Official website: worldyouth2024.comInstagram: instagram.com/worldyouth2024 Photos: flickr.com/photos/fide/albums/72177720321585911 Written by Liziane Nathália Vicenzi Photos: Vivian Passig
European Chess Championship 2024 kicks off in Montenegro
The 2024 European Individual Chess Championship began on November 8 in Petrovac, Montenegro. The opening ceremony of the event took place shortly before the start of the first round, with the attendance of the ECU President Zurab Azmaiparashvili, ECU Vice President Alojzije Jankovic, Deputy Prime Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development of Montenegro Milun Zogovic, Vladimir Obradovic on behalf of the Ministry of Sports and Youth of Montenegro, President of the Montenegro Chess Federation Jovan Milovic, ECU Honorary Vice President Veselin Draskovic, and other distinguished guests. ECU President Zurab Azmaiparashvili and Deputy Prime Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development of Montenegro Milun Zogovic made the first ceremonial move on the top board, officially opening the event. Most first-round games ended decisively, with only 23 draws. The round saw some unexpected results, including top-seeded players drawing against underdogs. GM Jorden Van Foreest (NED, 2687) drew with black against FM Atilla Kuru (TUR, 2371), GM Shant Sargsyan (ARM, 2655) was unable to secure a win with the white pieces against FM Matic Lavrencic (SLO, 2366), and GM Etienne Bacrot (FRA, 2653) drew with FM Henry Edward Tudor (ROU, 2365). The game between IM Ori Kochavi (ISR, 2363) and GM Aleksandr Predke (SRB, 2652) and ended in a perpetual check, while GM Vasyl Ivanchuk (UKR, 2640) split a point with FM Borna Derakhshani (ENG, 2355). All results, pairings, and rankings can be found here. The second round begins on November 9 at 15:00 CET and will be broadcast live on the ECU YouTube channel with commentary by GM Alojzije Jankovic. Text: europechess.org/ Photos: Mark Livshitz Official website: eicc2024.sahcg.me/
FIDE WGP Shymkent: Goryachkina clinches victory
The second leg of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024/2025 concluded in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, with Aleksandra Goryachkina emerging as the undisputed winner. Dominating the tournament from start to finish, Goryachkina only needed a draw in the final round to secure the title, which she confidently achieved. Here’s how the final round unfolded: Nurgyul Salimova – Aleksandra Goryachkina ½-½ Aleksandra Goryachkina has been dominating this event, so much so that she only needed a draw in the final round to secure the tournament victory. This what came from her game against Nurgyul Salimova, an excellent result for the rising young star (particularly in terms of rating) who scored her first win yesterday. In the London System, the game was mostly uneventful with both players playing solidly, trading off into an endgame in which White had just a slight edge. Happy with the half point, Goryachkina offered a draw on move 42, and the tournament crown was in her hands. Goryachkina made her mark in her first leg of the series so far, and will play the next two in Monaco and Cyprus. Whether she will assert the same dominance there is something to be seen, but for now, she has secured important grand prix points for the overall standings. Salimova has only recently entered the realm of women’s elite after reaching the finals in the 2023 FIDE Women’s World Cup where she lost to her today’s opponent, Goryachkina, but cemented herself as one of the best by achieving silver. This was her Grand Prix debut, and where others fatigued towards the end, she picked up momentum, showcasing her ability to endure these tough tournaments. We will see her at the Austrian and Indian Grand Prix legs next year. Bibisara Assaubayeva – Munguntuul Batkhuyag ½-½ Assaubayeva, who had been mostly consistent throughout the event, was not in her top form today, which, coupled with a position that did not give her any sort of attacking potential, resulted in her drawing her final game to Munguntuul Batkhuyag. The game saw the Reti opening and by move 9 the opponents stepped into an uncharted territory. Munguntuul had chances to incorporate more dynamism into the game, but instead chose quieter moves, perhaps the best choice considering Assaubayeva’s aggressive style. By move 26, Black was a pawn up, but in a position where her pieces had no play, and after a few repeated moves, the game was drawn. We will see both players once again in the next grand prix in Monaco. Elisabeth Paehtz – Divya Deshmukh ½-½ In this game, we saw a Caro-Kann, a rare sight in this tournament. The specific variation played is not very popular nowadays, and by move 7 they reached a position that had not been played before. Deshmukh, achieving an early slight advantage, was clearly the one driving the game – executing threats, refusing unfavorable trades, and playing for the initiative after giving up a pawn. In the mutual time trouble, both players managed to parry each other’s threats, but followed incorrect plans. As a result, Black allowed White to activate her rooks at some point and take over the h-file. There was an opportunity for Paehtz to sacrifice a piece for a dangerous kingside attack, but playing with mere minutes, she decided to forgo this unclear plan. Eventually, her active h-file rooks secured a draw by perpetual. This was Divya’s debut at the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix, after what has already been an extremely successful year with her winning the World Junior Girls Championships, and securing double gold at the Olympiad. She has definitely shown that she is a player to watch in this series. We will see her in the Cyprus and Indian legs. Although Paehtz has remarked that her career is not what it used to be, she will continue to compete at the highest level, and we will see her in the next two legs in Monaco and Cyprus. Humpy Koneru – Kateryna Lagno ½-½ The game between Koneru and Lagno ended within the hour. Both players had a tough event and were not vying for places in the standings, leading to a fast-paced game with many consecutive trades, which eventually lead to a completely equal endgame and resulted in a draw. This tournament might not have seen the best of both players, but they still remain in the top ranks of women’s chess, and with two more Grand Prix legs each, we will be sure to see exciting performances coming up. Both will play in the Monaco and Indian legs. Stavroula Tsolakidou – Tan Zhongyi 0-1 Tan Zhongyi has been one of the best players in this event, competing with Goryachking for the top spot to the very and. The Chinese GM finished off her successful tournament with a 22-move miniature against the Greek talent Stavroula Tsolakidou. Tsolakidou once again found herself spending a considerable amount of time in the opening after entering an inferior position with her pieces placed awkwardly. By move ten, Black was already slightly better, and from this point things went from bad to worse in the moves that would follow. In this position, it was crucial for White to play 12.g4 in order to obtain some play in the center after 12…Nxg4 13.dxe4. Instead, Tsolakidou erred with 12.Nc2? and after 12…Qd7, Tan took full control over the position. Black did not play with 100% accuracy, but well enough to maintain her advantage throughout. After a few trades in the center, Tan arranged her rooks in the center d8 and e8, controlling the central files. Tsolakidou collapsed shortly after and threw in the towel on move 22 facing heavy material losses caused by the black knight’s fine maneuver: Tan has also had a successful year, winning the FIDE Women’s Candidates, allowing her to challenge Ju Wenjun for the crown next year. For now, Tan is not too concerned about that and saying in an interview that she is just enjoying playing chess. It will be interesting to see if she will continue this
European Chess Championship 2024 starts in Montenegro
The 2024 European Individual Chess Championship kicks off this Friday in Petrovac, Montenegro, and will run from November 8-19 in the 4-star Hotel “Palas”. The Championship is an 11-round Swiss tournament, with the time control of 90 minutes for 40 moves, plus 30 minutes until the end of the game, with 30 seconds increment for each move starting from move one. Nearly 400 players from 42 European federations registered for the event, including 120 GMs, 85 IMs, 71 FMs, 3 WGMs and 8 WIMs. The top-seed players in the field are GMs Vladimir Fedoseev (SLO, 2712), Bogdan-Daniel Deac (ROU, 2687), Jorden Van Foreest (NED, 2687), Haik Martirosyan (ARM, 2676), David Navara (CZE, 2674), Ivan Saric (CRO, 2668), Nikita Vitiugov (ENG, 2668), Shant Sargsyan (ARM, 2655), Jonas Buhl Bjerre (DEN, 2654) and Matthias Bluebaum (GER, 2654). Starting rank list of players can be found here. The European Individual Chess Championship 2024 serves as a qualifier for the FIDE World Cup 2025. According to the FIDE regulations for World Cup and the ECU Board decision, the top-20 players will qualify for the World Cup. The total prize fund of the Championship is €100,000, with €20,000 reserved for the champion. The opening ceremony of the event will take place on November 8 at 14:00 CET, followed by the first round at 15:00 CET. Live broadcast with commentaries by GM Alojzije Jankovic and Dragana Nikolovska is available in the ECU TV platform. It will also be streamed on the ECU YouTube channel. Text and photos: europechess.org/ Official website: eicc2024.sahcg.me/
WGP Shymkent: Salimova scores her first win in a day full of draws; Goryachkina maintains lead
The penultimate round of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix was the quietest one by far, with four draws and one decisive result. Humpy Koneru broke Aleksandra Goryachkina’s remarkable five-game winning streak with a well-fought draw, keeping her steady under Goryachkina’s pressure. In a hard-fought battle, Divya Deshmukh and Stavroula Tsolakidou drew after a complex pawn race, leaving both players visibly exhausted. Tan Zhongyi and Bibisara Assaubayeva also had a peaceful result, with Tan maintaining her second place standing behind Goryachkina. Meanwhile, Nurgyul Salimova achieved her first Grand Prix victory, capitalizing on a late-game blunder by Munguntuul Batkhuyag. It was a case of déjà vu at the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix today, as we saw a few exact repeat openings from the previous rounds, making for interesting games as alternatives were played out. With only one round remaining, the players are in the final stretch, each vying to finish the tournament on a high note. Here’s a look at the key moments from today’s games: Aleksandra Goryachkina – Humpy Koneru ½-½ The last few rounds have seen absolute domination by Goryachkina, who took down every opponent, going into today with a five-game winning streak. It was difficult to imagine that she would be stopped, particularly so close to the finish line, but Indian chess titan Humpy Koneru halted the former World Championship challenger’s momentum with a draw. In the Neo Arkhangelsk variation of Ruy Lopez, the game saw an early trade of queens, leaving Black with an isolated d-pawn. However, this was never a concern for Humpy, as even though Goryackina tried to apply pressure, she surprisingly followed with consecutive trades, leading to a completely equal endgame. A draw was predicted at this point, but Goryachkina, remaining true to her fighting spirit, continued pressing. It was to no avail, however, as Humpy kept good time management and remained extremely solid. After 54 moves, the game was drawn. In a post-game interview, Humpy noted that even though the position was completely equal, she felt her opponent pushing hard for a win, but she found the correct moves and managed to hold her ground. Even though Goryachkina’s winning streak has been broken, she still maintains a solid one-point lead after Tan Zhongyi’s draw with Bibisara Assaubayeva. Tan Zhongyi – Bibisara Assaubayeva ½-½ The final two rounds are critical for most players, but Tan had the important task of ensuring that Goryachkina’s one-point lead over her did not increase. Facing the in-form Assaubayeva, this was not an easy task at all. Stemming from (another) Sicilian Defense in the Moscow variation, the theory was followed by both until Black decided to push her f-pawn forward, resulting in a backward e-pawn – a small positional concession, which White aimed to take advantage of by applying pressure on the e-file. Although Assaubayeva was not in her tactical element, she defended and held the position well. White was indeed more comfortable throughout the game, and even though it seemed that she had an advantage at some point, it was never enough to make real progress. The game concluded in a draw after move repetition. Kateryna Lagno – Elisabeth Paehtz ½-½ Lagno and Paehtz have been at the top of women’s elite for a long time and have faced off multiple times in their careers, including at the recent Global Chess League, where Paehtz beat Lagno a couple of times. Today’s clash, however, was a quiet affair. It seemed as if Lagno was playing for something as she first advanced her pawns on the kingside, and declined Paehtz’s first move repetition offer. But the position was dry, and with no way forward, the opponents called it a day after three-fold repetition. Divya Deshmukh – Stavroula Tsolakidou ½-½ After a lucky escape with a draw yesterday, Deshmukh came to her eighth round extremely well-prepared, backing up her sentiment in yesterday’s interview about winning in her final two rounds. She blitzed out every until move 21, at getting a whole hour advantage on the clock. Tsolakidou, unfamiliar with the opening intricacies, thoroughly calculated her way through possible complications and opted to avoid them. With queens traded off and the fireworks neutralized, the game became balanced. The players swapped having the advantage a few times, where White first held the reins, but missed a significant chance, allowing Black to seize the initiative. After a few missteps, the position remained completely equal until White erred on move 36, at which point Divya no longer had her time advantage: In this pawn race, White pushed 37.c6? When 37.Rd4 was critical – attacking the h-pawn and covering the e4-square from a knight check, which would become important later. After 37…h3 38.c7 Black had to insert the important zwischenzug 38…Ne4! forcing 39.Kc1 (39.Kd3 pushes the king towards more danger). A possible continuation is 39…Ra8 40.Rd3 (if 40.Rd8, then 40…h2 seals the deal as h1Q comes with a check) 40…h2, and both running pawns would be traded, leaving Black a pawn up. But Stavroula immediately pushed 38…h2, and both pawns were promoted. Following trades of the queens and knights, the opponents reached the following position: Divya implemented the incorrect plan of taking the king to the pawn, allowing Black to push the g-pawn whilst having the king close enough to help out on the queenside, giving Stavroula a significant advantage. But Tsolakidou’s timing was off again, as she had to keep pushing the g-pawn. Instead, she made a final mistake 48…Ke6?? losing crucial tempo instead of advancing her g-pawn immediately (48…g4!) with a winning position. A few moves later, the game ended in a draw. Both players came out of the playing hall visibly exhausted after fighting on the board for almost 5 hours, and neither was happy with their play. Divya attributed her errors to overthinking, whereas for Stavroula, it was fatigue. Nevertheless, it was an exciting game to watch. Once again, it is important to reiterate that although it is easy to find the winning continuation while watching from the comfort of one’s couch hanging out with
WGP Shymkent: Goryachkina and Tan top the standings after Round 7
Aleksandra Goryachkina extended her winning streak with a fifth consecutive victory, this time against Munguntuul Batkhuyag. Tan Zhongyi also secured a crucial win over Nurgyul Salimova, keeping her hopes for the top spot alive. The battle between the two youngest players, Bibisara Assaubayeva and Divya Deshmukh, ended in a hard-fought draw after Assaubayeva missed a decisive continuation. Stavroula Tsolakidou and Kateryna Lagno’s positional encounter concluded peacefully, while Elisabeth Paehtz and Humpy Koneru opted for an early draw to reset after challenging recent rounds. Today was the quickest round of the tournament, with all games finishing within three and a half hours. Perhaps this sounds like a long time, but it is short in comparison to the usual 5.5-6-hour battles. It is also not surprising that since we have entered the final three rounds of the event, fatigue is most likely setting in for our players. Nevertheless, it is still crunch time, and we saw a few exciting games: Munguntuul Batkhuyag – Aleksandra Goryachkina 0-1 Goryachkina is on a winning streak that we rarely witness in such high-level events. After crushing Munguntuul Batkhuyag, Aleksandra secured her fifth consecutive win. Starting out as a Sicilian Sveshnikov the game was destined to show fireworks after Munguntuul neglected her kingside defense in pursuit of play on the queenside (reminiscent of yesterday’s game between Lagno – Assaubayeva). After a wonderful sacrifice, Black lured away White’s only defending piece, and suddenly the black queen, knight, and kingside pawns were barreling down on the kingside. The white king, left exposed, soon found itself pinned up against the edge of the board by a pawn, as the black queen inched closer and closer. White managed to escape checkmate, but with a loss in material and the king still exposed, Munguntuul accepted her fate and resigned. This convincing win was a testament to Goryachkina’s impressive momentum. With no sign of her slowing down, it is difficult to imagine that she will be stopped in the final rounds. Still, anything can happen, and tomorrow’s game will be a big indicator of her final position in the standings. Nurgyul Salimova – Tan Zhongyi 0-1 The game started out as a gambit line of Semi-Slav Defense, where Black quickly obtained a passed pawn supported by a solid pawn chain. Salimova played aggressively, launching an attack against Tan’s uncastled king, throwing all she had at her opponent. But Tan could bloodily counter each threat, and her king escaped the danger unscathed. Eventually, Salimova’s queen got trapped, and she lost material. There was nothing left to play for, and without needing the additional time given on move 40, Salimova resigned on move 39. Bibisara Assaubayeva – Divya Deshmukh ½-½ The youngest participants of the event exited the playing hall in high spirits, discussing their game in depth. Deshmukh remarked that her opening play was terrible, a sentiment supported by Assaubayeva, who thought her opponent made strange choices at the beginning of the game. This was indeed the case, as White obtained an early advantage after Black misplayed her knight, placing it in a bad position. Despite this edge, Bibisara later closed off her powerful fianchettoed bishop with an uncharacteristic pawn e2-24 push, allowing Divya to regain balance. The back-and-forth continued until Bibisara achieved a winning +3 position, but a critical misstep let Divya back into the game: White had to retreat the rook with 34. Re4 (threatening Rxd4) but instead played the pseudo-active 34.f6?? As a result, Bibisara dropped the lion’s share of her advantage as after the g-pawns were traded off, the black king could join the game via the h-file. A few moves later, White’s pressure dissipated completely, and the players agreed to a draw. This was a missed chance for Assaubayeva, but in post-game remarks, both expressed their commitment to winning their remaining games. Stavroula Tsolakidou – Kateryna Lagno ½-½ The game started as the English opening transitioning into the Neo-Catalan Defense and quickly became a positional struggle. Early piece exchanges led to an opposite-colored bishop endgame, which resulted in a balanced position. The opponents called it a draw on move 40, each satisfied with the result as they prepare for the final rounds. Elisabeth Paehtz – Humpy Koneru ½ – ½ After tough losses in recent rounds, Paehtz and Koneru opted for a quick draw via threefold repetition on move 14. Sometimes a draw can be a strategic reset, particularly after a losing streak, and both players will be looking to bring renewed focus to their next games. Moment of the Day Aleksandra Goryachkina once again played a brilliant game, and her exchange sacrifice was a standout moment: Here she played the devastating 24…Rxc4! and after 25. Bxc4, the black queen arrived on the scene with 25…Qg5. Optically, it is clear that the white king is in big trouble, and the end sure was a sight to see: 26. g3 fxg3 27.hxg3 f4! Even though …Nf3 was always an option, but Goryachkina’s eyes were set on the white king. 28. Rxe4 fxg3 29.f4 Qg4 30. Qc2 g2 This is the moment referred to previously, where White’s king is pinned back to the 1st rank. 31.Be2 Qh3 32.Qd1 Qh1 + 33.Kf2 g1Q 34.Qxg1 Qxe4, and White resigned. 0-1 With only two rounds left, Goryachkina has firmly positioned herself as the tournament leader, showing no signs of slowing down. Tan Zhongyi remains within striking distance, while Assaubayeva and Tsolakidou are also eager to make their mark in the final stretch. The penultimate round tomorrow promises high-stakes matchups as players look to secure their final standings. Standings after Round 7 Round eight pairings and dates Round 8 of the second leg in the 2024/25 Women’s Grand Prix series starts on Thursday, November 7, 15:00 local time in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. Round 8 Goryachkina, Aleksandra – Koneru, HumpyLagno, Kateryna – Paehtz, ElisabethDivya, Deshmukh – Tsolakidou, StavroulaTan, Zhongyi – Assaubayeva, BibisaraMunguntuul, Batkhuyag – Salimova, Nurgyul More information about the event, including the regulations and details of the pairings, as well as live games can be found on the
FIDE World Youth Rapid & Blitz Championship 2024: Registration deadline extended
The organizing committee for the FIDE World Youth Rapid & Blitz Championship in Terme Čatež, Slovenia, scheduled from December 13-17, 2024, has extended the registration deadline to November 20, 2024. All FIDE member federations are invited to participate in the World Youth Rapid & Blitz Championships 2024. Each federation may register any number of players. The championships will take place at the Terme Čatež Hotel. Participants must not have reached their 14th, 16th, or 18th birthday by January 1, 2024. The champions of the 2023 World Youth Rapid & Blitz Championship hold personal rights to participate in this event. For more information:Official website: worldyouthrb2024.fide.comEmail: worldyouthrb@fide.com
Winners crowned at FIDE World Amateur Championship 2024
The FIDE World Amateur Chess Championship 2024 concluded on Monday at the Rodos Palace Hotel in Rhodes, Greece. The event, held from October 26 to November 4, brought together 245 amateur players from 54 countries, competing across four rating categories: Open U2300, Open U2000, Open U1700 and W1700. The closing ceremony, held on the evening of November 4, celebrated the achievements of the participants and honored the champions of each category. The event was attended by the Honorary Chairman of the FIDE Events Commission, Mr. Ozgur Solakoglu, Pr. Katerina Frantzi of the University of the Aegean and member of the FIDE Ethics Commission, Mr. David Hater. Final Standings: Open U2300: 1. Tomasz Zebracki (POL) – 7 points2. CM A Kumaresh (IND) – 6.53. FM Khishigbat Ulziikhishig (MGL) – 6.5 points Top Women Open U2300: 1. WFM Bayanmunkh Amin-Erdene (MGL) – 52. WFM Georgia Grapsa (GRE) – 53. WFM Sabina Sariteanu (ROU) – 4 points Open U2000: 1. Nurasyl Zhumabek (KAZ) – 7.52. Amartaivan Erkhembayar (MGL) – 7.53. AFM Levi Kalani Alexander Fogo Esquivel (MEX) – 7.5 Top Women Open U2000: 1. Tsogtsaikhan Saikhanchimeg (MGL) – 6.52. Ekaterina Kirdyashkina (FIDE) – 6.5 3. WCM Davaakhul Unurzul (MGL) – 5.5 Open U1700: 1. Yassine Rafik (MAR) – 7.52. Medet Dzhaparov (KGZ) – 7.53. Lkhagvagaram Sumiya (MGL) – 7 Women U1700: 1. Anastasiia Osadchuk (UKR) – 82. Bayal – Uchral Anu (MGL) – 73. Sonali – Jena Sovna (IND) – 6 The competition showcased exceptional talent and sportsmanship, with participants demonstrating impressive skills and performances. Open U2300CM A Kumaresh (IND), seeded 22nd with a rating of 2048, secured second place with 6.5 points, demonstrating remarkable skill and determination. Open U2000Nurasyl Zhumabek (KAZ), rated 1862, claimed the title with 7.5 points, outperforming higher-rated opponents. Emil Shafikov (KAZ), rated 1710, achieved a commendable 11th place with 6 points, gaining 120.4 rating points. Open U1700Yassine Rafik (MAR), an unrated player, emerged victorious with 7.5 points, showcasing exceptional talent and potential. Likewise, Dmytro Nikolaienko (UKR), also unrated, climbed to 7th place, scoring 6.5 points. Women U1700Anastasiia Osadchuk (UKR), an unrated player, dominated her category with 8 points, demonstrating outstanding skill and potential. Bayal-Uchral Anu (MGL), rated 1624, finished second with 7 points, while Sonali Jena Sovna (IND), rated 1587, took third with 6 points. For detailed results and further information, please visit the official tournament page: Open U2300 Open U2000 Open U1700 Women U1700 Rhodos Chess Club “Ippotis” congratulates all participants and eagerly anticipates the next edition of the World Amateur Chess Championship. The World Amateur Championship was an official event of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), co-organized by the Rhodes Chess Club “Ippotis,” the South Aegean Region, the Municipality of Rhodes, and the Hellenic Chess Federation (ESO). Special thanks to the South Aegean Region, Governor George Hatzimarkos & Deputy Governor for Sports Akis Delaportas, RODOS PALACE Hotel 5*, Antonis Kampourakis of Xenakis Mobility, Melissokomiki Dodecanese, J@D Rent a Car, At Holidays, the accounting firm “Papadimitriou & Partners,” and Ilektrodomi S.A. for their unwavering support. Photos, content, and additional materials from the Championship can be found on the social media pages of the Rhodes Chess Club “Ippotis.” Website: ippotis.comFacebook: facebook.com/rhodeschessevents/Instagram: instagram.com/rhodes_chess_events/TikTok: tiktok.gr/@rhodes_chess_evenYouTube: youtube.com/@rhodes_chess_events Photos: Jim Laga