FIDE100 Awards: Selecting the Most Memorable Tournaments
To celebrate FIDE 100 anniversary, a series of awards to honor those who have made exceptional contributions to the world of chess in the past 100 years was established. The awards are given in 19 categories. Each category has a specified nomination and voting criteria. National federations are welcome to submit their events in the categories “the Most Memorable FIDE Chess Tournament” and “the Most Memorable Private Chess Tournament.” These awards will recognize the most impactful chess tournaments, which have earned their place in chess history thanks to their strength, reputation in the chess world, and recognition by players and the chess audience. They will also recognize the exceptional efforts of organizers who have created unforgettable experiences, inspiring the global chess community. Nominations can be submitted here until August 20, 2024: The Most Memorable FIDE Chess Tournament: 100.fide.com/fide-awards-2024-%E2%81%A0the-most-memorable-fide-chess-tournament/ The Most Memorable Private Chess Tournament: 100.fide.com/fide-awards-2024-%E2%81%A0the-most-memorable-private-chess-tournament/ The winners of the FIDE 100 Awards will be announced during the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest in September 2024. For more information about the FIDE100 Awards and to submit nominations, please visit 100.fide.com/fide-awards-2024/.
Hungarian Post releases commemorative stamp for 45th Chess Olympiad
Hungarian Post pays tribute to the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad with a commemorative stamp release. The event, organized by the National Event Management Agency in cooperation with the Hungarian Chess Federation and the International Chess Federation (FIDE), will be held between September 10 and 23, 2024, in Budapest. From 5 August, 40,000 copies of the special edition stamp will be released and can be purchased at Filaposta, through philatelic specialist services, in select post offices, and at www.posta.hu. Hungary has been a significant player in chess for hundreds of years. The Game of Kings arrived in the country as early as the 14th century; Hungary was involved in founding the International Chess Federation 100 years ago and since then, Hungarians have produced many world-famous chess players. The names Lajos Portisch, Péter Lékó, Zoltán Almási, Ildikó Mádl, Richárd Rapport, and the Polgár family are known worldwide. “On behalf of the sports community, I am delighted and honored that an organization with such a long and illustrious history as the Hungarian Post is issuing a commemorative stamp as a gesture of homage to the Budapest Chess Olympiad. It is not widely known, but chess and postal services share a long-standing tradition; Hungary has achieved remarkable results in correspondence chess over the years. In a series of correspondence chess Olympiads conducted via postal mail, taking several years, Hungary has won 1 gold and 2 silver medals in the men’s category and 1 bronze medal in the women’s category. We would like to thank the Hungarian Post for this wonderful gesture,” said Dr. Zoltán Polyánszky, President of the Hungarian Chess Federation, on the occasion of the stamp issue. Therefore, Hungary is one of the leading centers of chess, and it is a great honor that one of the sport’s most important global events is being hosted in Hungary this year. World-class chess players from around the globe will come to Budapest for this major competition. “It is wonderful to see that the Hungarian Post has created a stamp to commemorate the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad, which will be held in Budapest this September. This follows in the footsteps of other countries that have, in previous decades, published postal stamps to celebrate chess and their national achievements in the game. This act is another step from Hungary in making the 45th Olympiad a memorable event, and we are truly grateful for that,” said FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich. The Hungarian Post pays tribute to this outstanding event by releasing a unique stamp and other philatelic items featuring the visual elements and logo of the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad. The stamp design evokes the black and white squares of the chessboard, and the central element of the commemorative envelope is the image of the black queen. The event logo is displayed on the stamp imprint of the First Day Cover (FDC). The image for the Chess Olympiad was inspired by the art of the Hungarian-born Victor Vasarely, the greatest figure of optical painting. Not only does the visual world of black and white squares connect Vasarely to chess, but the artist himself was also a passionate chess enthusiast, and chess played an important role in his life. The design inspired by him can be found not only on products from the Hungarian Post but also throughout the entire event. The 45th Chess Olympiad will be open to visitors at the BOK Sports and Conference Centre from 10 to 23 September. For the event, the organizers are preparing a free exhibition where visitors can participate in various chess-related programmes. For more information about the stamp, please visit: www.posta.hu
FIDE100 Torch Relay reaches New Zealand
Continuing its global journey spanning five continents, the FIDE100 Torch Relay, commemorating a century of FIDE, made several thousand miles and landed in New Zealand. The country has been given a special role ahead of the FIDE Chess Olympiad, to take place in Hungary next month. This year’s 45th Chess Olympiad is celebrating 100 years since the governing body of chess competitions, FIDE, was created. To mark the momentous occasion, FIDE has chosen New Zealand to represent Oceania in the global torch relay. A special ceremony by the New Zealand Chess Federation took place on Sunday, August 11, in Auckland, North Island. Featuring several high-ranking chess officials, including FIDE Deputy President Viswanathan Anand, Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board Dana Reizniece-Ozola,, and President of New Zealand Chess Federation Nigel Metge, the event climaxed with the lighting of the cauldron symbolizing the enduring flame of chess in Oceania. New Zealand Chess Federation vice president Paul Spiller said it was significant for New Zealand to be recognized by the global chess body. “This is a very exciting event for New Zealand chess. It’s a rare occasion for New Zealand to get a visit from a deputy president of FIDE and also a former five-time world champion, Vishy Anand, who is a very popular sporting figure in India.” The 15th World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand gave a masterclass and amicably chatted with his numerous fans. New Zealand Chess is sending two teams of five to compete in the Olympiad’s open team and women’s team events. The competition is expected to be stiff, with a record 3000 players from across the world participating. Since the pandemic and the release of Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit, Spiller said chess had grown in popularity, particularly among young people. He said there were now more opportunities in chess than ever before. “There’s more chess in the news these days, there are more tournaments, and there is more money involved. Chess is now seen as a career opportunity. Not only playing but being arbiters, photographers and chess coaches.” Notably, most of New Zealand’s Olympiad players are under the age of 22. Sixteen-year-old Felix Xie, who had been playing chess competitively since he was eight, was one of the youngest players representing New Zealand at the competition. Xie said competing in the 2022 Olympiad in Chennai, India, when he was just 14, was one of his proudest achievements. “The first time I competed, I was quite proud of that. Even though I didn’t have the greatest tournament, it was a really proud moment to be all the way in India representing New Zealand.” He was pleased to see chess gaining popularity among his peers. Felix was looking forward to meeting Anand at the torch ceremony this weekend and the opportunity to take part in the upcoming Olympiad. With the chess flame reaching New Zealand, the relay continues with stops in Quebec, Abu Dhabi and culminating in Budapest, Hungary in September, where the 45th Chess Olympiad will take place. Based on the article by Jessica Hopkins (rnz.co.nz/) Auckland reporter Photos: Sergey Indeykin
World Youth CC 2024: Important comment by FIDE EVE
To all FIDE Member Federations: FIDE Events Commission issued a comment on p. 2.5 of the World Youth Chess Championships 2024 Invitation letter: Quote: 2.5. Important: According to Brazilian national legislation, all minors (-18 years old) must always be accompanied by one or both parents or legal guardians during their stay at the hotels and must present identification documents at check-in. In case of absence of both parents or legal guardians, the child/adolescent must be accompanied by an adult who must present written legal authorization granting powers for the care and custody of the minor. EVE comment: According to Brazilian law (“Child and Adolescent Statute”), heads of delegations should present written notary authorization for each player (who hasn’t reached the age of 18) from their parents. This is very important for hotel accommodations, as hotels cannot host a child or adolescent without a legal parental consent. In case all notary-authorized documents are collected, but a delegation is facing problems with accommodation, please inform Events Commission ASAP at: fideevents@fide.com. Official website: worldyouth2024.com/
Unlocking Minds: Register for 2024 FIDE Prisoners’ Chess Championship
The Chess for Freedom initiative, launched by FIDE and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office in May 2021, has grown significantly, promoting the integration of chess as a rehabilitative tool in correctional facilities worldwide. With increasing participation each year, the initiative now includes a diverse range of categories, such as male, female, and juvenile tournaments. “We believe in the transformative power of chess and its ability to offer hope and a sense of community to those who need it most,” said FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich. “Through initiatives like Chess for Freedom, we are committed to bringing the benefits of this noble game to all corners of society.” The 4th FIDE Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners, set to take place from October 8-10, 2024, continues this tradition, fostering global engagement and offering inmates a chance to experience the positive impact of chess. Event Dates: October 8-10, 2024 Event Format: The championship is open to teams of 4 players across three categories: men’s, women’s, and juvenile correctional facilities. Each country can register up to three teams: – A male team – A team representing a female correctional facility (all four players must be female) – A team representing a juvenile correctional facility (players under the age of 20) Additional teams can be submitted for the waiting list in case the tournament organizers seek to complete the 8-team field for each group. Time control: Game in 10 min + 5 sec per move starting from move 1. Tournament Structure: (for each category; male, female) Registration: Interested participants can register for the championship via the following link: Registration Form. The registration deadline is September 30, 2024. For more information about previous events and the impact of our Chess for Freedom initiative, please visit our Chess for Freedom website. Contact Information: For any inquiries, please contact: Mikhail Korenman Chess Program Coordinator at Cook County Department of Corrections,FIDE International Chess Organizer and Member of FIDE Social Commission E-mail: Mikhail.Korenman@ccsheriff.org Tel.: 1-785-906-0402 We look forward to your participation in this unique and impactful event. Join us in celebrating the power of chess to inspire and rehabilitate within correctional facilities worldwide. Regulations for 4th FIDE Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners (PDF) Official website: chessforfreedom.fide.com/
Winners crowned at FIDE World School R&B Championships
The 2024 FIDE World School Rapid and Blitz Championships concluded in Tashkent. Held in the vibrant capital of Uzbekistan, the event attracted over 250 young prodigies from all around the world, competing in rapid (15 minutes + 10 seconds increment) and blitz (3 minutes + 2 seconds increment) formats. Spanning a week, the championship hosted tournaments for age groups from U9 to U20. Uzbekistani and Kazakhstani youngsters triumphed in the championship, securing seven gold medals each. The 9-round Swiss rapid events were fiercely contested battles, with four ending with a tie for first place (the champions emerged thanks to better tiebreaks). Rapid Championship winners: Open U20: IM Maksim Tsaruk (FID) Girls U20: WFM Aliaksandra Tarasenka (FID) Open U17: FM Bakhrom Bakhrillaev (UZB) Girls U17: Zilola Aktamova (UZB) Open U15: Alikhan Daulet (KAZ) Girls U15: WFM Zarina Nurgaliyeva (KAZ) Open U13: Egor Korelskiy (FID) Girls U13: Ailin Zarkym (KAZ) Open U11: Alimzhan Zhauynbay (KAZ) Girls U11: Kristina Zavivaeva (FID) Open U9: Arlan Mirzhanov (KAZ) Girls U9: Sriiyukthaa Marksim Karki Abirami (IND) Complete standings Rapid Championships (all groups) The blitz championships were equally exciting, with many thrilling games played across twelve 9-round Swiss tournaments. Kudos to Aliaksandra Tarasenka (FIDE), Bakhrom Bakhrillaev (Uzbekistan) and Kristina Zavivaeva (FIDE), who repeated their success in rapid part and clinched double gold. Blitz Championship winners: Open U20: GM Denis Lazavik (FID) Girls U20: WFM Aliaksandra Tarasenka (FID) Open U17: FM Bakhrom Bakhrillaev (UZB) Girls U17: WFM Ayaulym Kaldarova (KAZ) Open U15: FM Akbarali Abdukhakimov (UZB) Girls U15: Madinabonu Khalilova (UZB) Open U13: Aldiyar Zhauynbay (KAZ) Girls U13: Rukiya Olimova (UZB) Open U11: CM Oriyat Obidjonov (UZB) Girls U11: Kristina Zavivaeva (FID) Open U9: Aayansh Guntaka (USA) Girls U9: Husnorakhon Khusnitdinova (UZB) Complete standings Blitz Championships (all groups) Photos: Uzbekistan Chess Federation
EDU Commission announces its 18th “Preparation of Teachers” course
Dear Chess Friends, We bring another exceptional opportunity to enhance your teaching skills and get certified as FIDE School Instructors! When: August 23-25, 2024 Where: Online, conducted in English Presenters: Anzel Laubscher and Boris Bruhn, esteemed commission members Target audience: Teachers, chess educators, both novice and seasoned players with fundamental chess knowledge, and individuals with a passion for working with children. Bonus: Unlock exclusive, lifelong access to premium OPENING MASTER chess databases upon successful completion. Read the detailed course description here. Reserve your spot now by registering here. Registration closes on August 19, with only 20 spots available! Note: Titles are conferred during the subsequent FIDE Council meeting and will be reflected on FIDE profiles approximately four weeks later. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at edu.courses@fide.
Magnus Carlsen leads WR Chess to World Blitz team crown
With a dominant performance in the tournament, last year’s World Rapid winners claimed another title, this time in the Blitz, coming out on top among 40 teams featuring top players from around the globe. In the finals, WR Chess defeated the Indian squad MGD1, who took the silver This year’s event saw the debut of The World Blitz Team Championship alongside the World Rapid. In the 2023 edition in Dusseldorf, only the rapid championship was held. The intense one-day event saw 40 teams compete for the World Blitz Championship and a prize fund of 100,000 Euros. The Blitz Championship had two parts – the pool stage and the knockout stage. Only 16 teams out of 40 advanced to the playoffs: the top three in each pool and the best team among all teams that finished in 4th place in the pools. With the time control of three minutes plus a two-second increment per move, the players had to think and move quickly. The scoring mirrored the rapid format, with two matchpoints for a win, one for a draw, and none for a loss. WR Chess got off to a good start. In Pool A, they dominated all their competitors, including GMHans.com, led by Hans Niemann. There was little uncertainty for WR in the knockout stages. First, they faced an easy challenge against Mongolia’s Hunnu Air, defeating them both times with 4.5:1.5. Then, in the quarter-finals, they had their second encounter of the day with GMHans.com. While Magnus Carlsen did not play, WR took the first match with a narrow victory but came back much more confident in the second, entering the semi-finals with a 5.5:0.5 victory. In the semi-finals, WR was up against a team they had a score to settle with: Chessy, who knocked them out of the lead on the first day of the World Rapid. Magnus Carlsen avenged his loss in the rapid against Richard Rapport, defeating him convincingly in the first knockout match. In the rematch, Chessy had a chance to stage a comeback: Anna Muzychuk had a significantly better position against Alexandra Kosteniuk but misplayed and lost. The match was tied, which meant WR Chess moved on to the finals, where they played MGD1. The Indian squad of MGD1 came to Astana with the similar lineup they had in the World Rapid Team in 2023. In Dusseldorf, they won bronze in the World Rapid, but in this year’s event, they finished fifth. The Blitz Championship was their big chance. They had a great run in the pool stage, winning all their matches. In the knockouts, they started with a strong performance against the local team of Astana-2. The first big challenge for them came in the quarter-finals against the Ashdod Chess Club from Israel. Not even their compatriot, Nihal Sarin, who played the first board for Ashdod, could do much to stop MGD1, who had the most convincing results of all the teams in the quarter-finals. The first serious challenge for MGD1 came from World Rapid winners Al-Ain, who got to the semis by eliminating the Decade China team in the tiebreaks. Both matches ended in tense 3:3 draws, which meant that the finalist was decided in the third round. MGD1 came out strong from the beginning of the round, creating better positions on all boards. In the end, they reached the finals in style by defeating Al-Ain 5.5:0.5 in the playoffs. This meant that WR would face MGD1 in the finals, a match where the 2023 World Rapid winners faced the 2023 World Rapid bronze medalists. The Blitz finals In the first round of the finals, WR’s top player, Magnus Carlsen, played as Black on the top board against India’s No. 1 player, Arjun Erigaisi. Carlsen ended up with an exchange down and a poor position where he could do nothing more but resign. WR also lost on the non-professional board. However, the team then struck back on other boards, scoring 3.5 out of four, winning the match. Things could have easily gone the other way as WR’s Jan-Krzysztof Duda had a lucky escape from a lost position against Narayanan and ended up winning. In the second round of the finals, the WR team was the first to score: Ian Nepomniachtchi had a lucky break as Black against Raunak Sadhwani, who blundered an even endgame. MGD1 made a comeback on the final board. In a wild game on board five, Alexandra Kosteniuk emerged victorious against Harika Dronavalli, giving an edge to WR Chess. But Narayanan won, leveling the score. On board four, Pranav had a winning endgame against Nodirbek Abdusattorov. It all came down to the duel on board one between Carlsen and Erigaisi. All WR needed was a draw. It seemed that the world number one player got into difficulties again, but as the game progressed, he took control of the position. Carlsen didn’t want to draw but to win and finish the tournament in style. Ultimately, that was the case. The round ended in a tie, 3:3, but that was enough for WR to claim the title of World Blitz Team Champions. The best performers Apart from team medals, individual players were also awarded for their performance in the Rapid. Magnus Carlsen took the gold for best performance on the first board, silver went to Erigaisi while the World Champion Ding Liren from Decade China took the bronze. Apart from board one, WR Chess took the gold for the third board as well (Duda). Decade China took as many as three gold medals – for the second board (Wei Yi), women’s board (Ju Wenjun) and the non-professional board (Pang Bo). Here follows an overview of the 2024 World Blitz Team Chess Championship In the first stage, the teams were split into five pools of roughly equal strength. In each pool, there was a round-robin tournament, with the top three moving to the next stage. All the usual suspects qualified, with some notable third-place surprises such as the young team of Rookies
Dragnev and Newrkla win 2024 Austrian Championship
Valentin Dragnev (Ottakring) and Katharina Newrkla (SK Austria Wien) are the new chess champions of Austria. The 2024 National Championships took place in the Oberbank Donau Forum in Linz from July 27 to August 4. Both competitions were 9-round Swiss tournaments with classical time control. The Upper Austrian Regional Association organized the championships to mark its 75th anniversary and created optimal playing conditions in the Oberbank Donau Forum. A record prize fund of almost 30,000 Euros provided additional motivation for the participants. In the open event, the fate of the title was decided in Rounds 6 and 7 as Dragnev defeated his main rivals, GMs Felix Blohberger and Dominik Horvath. He took the sole lead and extended it to a full point with another win against Laurenz Borrmann. In the final round, a draw was enough for Dragnev to secure his second national title (netting 7.5/9) and the first prize of 5,000 Euros. In a minor sensation, the young FM David Schernthaner scored 6.5, tied for second place with four players and took the silver, also completing an IM norm. The top seed, Dominik Horvath, Felix Blohberger, Lukas Leisch and Robert Ernst, finished on the same points. The bronze medal went to Horvath based on a better Buchholz. Final standings: 1 GM Dragnev, Valentin 2557 7½ 2 FM Schernthaner, David 2329 6½ 3 GM Horvath, Dominik 2561 6½ 4 GM Blohberger, Felix 2527 6½ 5 IM Leisch, Lukas 2394 6½ 6 FM Ernst, Robert 2292 6½ 7 FM Balint, Peter 2317 6 8 FM Borrmann, Laurenz 2378 6 9 FM Postlmayer, Jakob 2358 6 10 Kienböck, Benjamin 2215 6 Katharina Newrkla from Vienna, who lives in Barcelona, triumphed in the women’s category, securing gold with 5.5 points. Newrkla took the lead in the seventh round with a win in a direct duel against Nikola Mayrhuber and confidently carried her advantage over the finish line with draws against Shengelia and Benjamink Kienböck. In the battle for the podium, Nikola Mayrhuber, Veronika Exler, Jasmin-Denise Schloffer and Nino Kardzadze each scored 5/9. The silver medal goes to Mayrhuber, while Exler claimed bronze. Florian Charaus from Upper Austria won an Oberbank Open held simultaneously with the championship, ahead of the Slovakian Radoslav Flasik and the rating favorite Maximilian Mostbauer (Upper Austria). Written by Gerald Huemer Photos: official website Official website: schach.at/
British Championship: Gawain Jones captures third title
Gawain Jones emerged as the winner of the 2024 British Championship in a dramatic showdown with David Howell. The gripping tiebreaker followed a fiercely contested tournament that saw Jones and Howell share first place. The 2024 British Chess Championships were held at Hull City Hall and the DoubleTree by Hilton in Hull City Centre, with several events running from July 25 to August 4, 2024, across the two city center venues. It was the 110th British Chess Championship, which has run almost unbroken since 1904. The event was supported by the Hull and East Riding Chess Association, Hull City Council, Hull Culture and Leisure, Visit Hull and East Yorkshire, the Chess Trust and the John Robinson Youth Chess Trust. The championship, a nine-round Swiss tournament, that brought together 86 players, was a very tightly contested competition, with Jones and Howell seizing the joint lead only after the penultimate round. After their final-round game ended in a draw, both players finished with an impressive 7/9 score, forcing a playoff to determine the champion. The opponents traded blows in the rapid games (David was close to the title but missed a tactical subtlety in the second encounter), and it all came down to blitz. After drawing the first blitz game with black pieces, Jones gradually outplayed Howell in a roughly equal ending with White and captured his third title. The new champion and the 2023 British champion, Michael Adams (who finished 11th), became the only undefeated players in the tournament. Three players shared third place, with Matthew Wadsworth taking bronze in the tiebreak. Congratulations to 15-year-old IM Shreyas Royal (pictured above) on gaining his final GM norm. Final standings: 1 GM Jones, Gawain Cb 2640 7 2 GM Howell, David Wl 2675 7 3 IM Wadsworth, Matthew 2456 6½ 4 GM Mcshane, Luke J 2617 6½ 5 FM Czopor, Maciej 2361 6½ 6 IM Royal, Shreyas 2487 6 7 IM Ghasi, Ameet K 2495 6 8 GM Conquest, Stuart C 2510 6 9 IM Kanyamarala, Tarun 2337 6 10 IM Bazakutsa, Svyatoslav 2490 6 Complete final standings (all sections) Photos: Dennis Dicen and Melinda Wilde Official website: britishchesschampionships.co.uk/