Al-Ain ACMG UAE become the new World Rapid Team Champions
Dubov’s redemption in the final round secured Al-Ain’s World Rapid Team victory. Decade China, led by World Champion Ding Liren, took second place, while last year’s winners, WR Chess, secured the bronze After three days and 12 rounds, featuring many of the world’s top players, Al-Ain ACMG UAE emerged victorious with 21 matchpoints out of a possible 23, drawing three and winning nine matches. In the final round, Al-Ain faced a surprisingly tough challenge against the significantly lower-rated Theme International Trading. The result was 2.5:2.5 on boards two to six, leaving Daniil Dubov to win on board one to secure the championship. Despite a poor overall performance in the event, winning just one game out of 11 played, Dubov triumphed when it mattered most, clinching first place for Al-Ain. The key drivers for the UAE team included Parham Maghsoodloo (9 points out of 12 games), Vladislav Artemiev (8.5/12), and Dmitry Andreikin (9/10). Apart from the crown, the team also won the first prize of 100,000 Euros. Decade China finished second, the only other team to remain unbeaten, with eight victories and four draws, totaling 20 matchpoints, just one behind Al-Ain. Led by World Champion Ding Liren, the team featured top Chinese players, but the standout was their non-professional player, 26-year-old Pang Bo. Officially rated 1400, Pang won all 11 games he played (he did not play in round one). Pang confirmed in an interview for FIDE that he had played chess since childhood but that his tournaments had not been officially recorded. WR Chess, last year’s champions, took third place with 19 matchpoints. Despite having world number one Magnus Carlsen on board one, along with two-time world champion challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi and other top players, luck was not on their side. After suffering two consecutive defeats in rounds four and five, they fought back and won every remaining match, except a draw with Decade China in round eight, but could not catch up with the top two teams. Chessy finished fourth with 18 matchpoints. Captained by GM Emil Sutovsky and featuring stars like Rapport, Van Foreest, and Vidit, they started strong, knocking WR Chess out of first place in the final round on day one. However, they faltered on the second day with two draws, one win but then lost in round eight. Chessy pressed hard on the final day, but a loss to GMHans.com in round 10 dashed their hopes for first place. Team MGD1 from India, last year’s bronze winners, secured fifth place with 17 matchpoints. Led by India’s top-rated player Arjun Erigaisi, they remained close to the top but never truly contended for first place. On the final day, they drew three matches before a victory against the team of FIDE secured their fifth-place finish. One of the event’s biggest surprises was GMHans.com. Led by the charismatic Hans Niemann, the team, assembled at the last minute and composed of friends, performed well and knocked Chessy out of the top position. In the final round, they narrowly lost to WR Chess, finishing ninth. A closer look at the final day of the 2024 World Rapid Team Championship Round 9 Last year’s bronze medallists, MGD1, finished day two on a high note: they knocked Chessy out of the leadership position and ended the day among the top four, with 12 matchpoints. In round nine, they aimed to dethrone the day two leaders, Al-Ain who were on 14 matchpoints. The first game to finish was on the non-professional board, where Sahir Mihir miraculously saved a lost position to clinch an important half-point for MGD1. This result proved crucial for the outcome of the match. With two more draws, the match could go either way. Dubov was in trouble with the white pieces against Erigaisi on the top board, but Al-Ain’s Parham Maghsoodloo and Dmitry Andreikin were better in their games. Maghsoodloo drew, while Andreikin broke Baskaran to put Al-Ain in the lead. However, Dubov eventually lost to Erigaisi in the endgame, allowing MGD1 to escape defeat. Luckily for Al-Ain, Decade China drew their match with Kazchess, which meant the UAE team maintained first place after the round. World Champion Ding Liren, playing as White, drew in a sharp 18-move game against Mamedyarov, who sacrificed a bishop for two pawns and the initiative but ended worse. Decade China had a chance to win the match, but Ju Wenjun dropped a better position against Assaubayeva and went on to lose. Pang Bo continued to be the best asset for the Chinese team, securing his eighth consecutive victory on the non-professional board. Chessy made a strong comeback, defeating the formidable Ashdod team 3:2, while WR Chess had a comfortable 4:2 victory over Kings of Chess from Krakow. Round 10 The biggest upset of the round saw Chessy suffer a stunning loss to GMHans.com, diminishing their chances of winning the title. Chessy’s captain Emil Sutovsky gave Richard Rapport a break, placing Jorden van Foreest on the top board against Hans Niemann. Things started well for Chessy, with Vidit winning against Tabatabaei after the Iranian’s seemingly innocent pawn advance on move 11 directly landed him in trouble. Chessy’s Erdogmus also secured a victory against Salomova. However, the tables turned dramatically towards the end of the match, as Chessy collapsed on the remaining boards, handing victory to GMHans.com. With this defeat, Chessy moved to fourth place. Tournament leaders Al-Ain triumphed over Astana-1 with a 5:1 score, solidifying their lead. Daniil Dubov drew again, extending his winless streak to 10 rounds. One of the round’s highlights was GM Dmitry Andreikin (2644) of Al-Ain versus IM Meruert Kamalidenova (2316). Kamalidenova, playing Black, surprised Andreikin in a sharp tactical battle. Despite a winning position, Kamalidenova missed a crucial chance, allowing Andreikin to secure the victory. Decade China also won, defeating the strong Uzbek team Royal Chess with 5:1. Ding Liren broke his chain of draws, scoring a win as Black against Sindarov. This secured them second place in the standings. WR Chess had a tough struggle against Kazchess.
Al-Ain emerge as new leaders in day two of World Rapid Team Championship
Day two of the World Rapid Team Championship in Kazakhstan concluded with a new leader: Al-Ain from UAE, who now have 14 matchpoints, one more than Decade China in second place. They are followed by day one leaders, Chessy, and the Indian team MGD1, both with 12 matchpoints The second day featured the toughest matchups as the top-rated teams faced off against each other. Chessy, who finished day one in first place, started with two drawn matches. After a victory over Kazchess in round seven, they suffered a defeat in the final round of the day against Team MGD1. Two other teams emerged as the day’s favorites, trading top positions between rounds: Al-Ain and Decade China. The UAE team, Al-Ain, began the day impressively by defeating the defending champions WR Chess 4:2, marking WR Chess’s second consecutive defeat in the tournament. After a round six draw with Chessy, Al-Ain defeated Royal Chess 4.5:1.5 and edged out Kings of Chess from Krakow 3.5:2.5 in the final match, ending the day as sole leaders with 14 matchpoints. Decade China drew with Chessy in round five before stunning MGD1 with a 4:2 victory in round six. They continued strongly by crushing Ashdod Chess Club 4.5:1.5 in round seven. However, in the final eighth round of the day, Decade China drew with title defenders WR Chess, causing them to slip from the leading position. The final round of the day featured the most anticipated game of the entire event: a duel between world number one Magnus Carlsen and defending World Champion Ding Liren. Carlsen, playing with the white pieces, gained an early advantage and, despite resistance from Ding and time pressure, secured a victory. This was the first defeat for Ding in the tournament. While Carlsen’s win ensured that WR Chess did not lose the crucial match, the team failed to achieve the breakthrough needed to return to the top, making it increasingly unlikely they will defend their World Championship title. Standings after Day 2 Complete standings after Day 2 Despite the top world GMs playing in the tournament, one amateur player has drawn a lot of attention: 1400-rated Pang Bo who plays for the Decade China team, has won all eight games in the tournament, having a perfect score so far. The conclusion of the tournament unfolds on Sunday, with the final four rounds set to determine the ultimate champions. A closer look at the second day of the 2024 World Rapid Team Championship Round 5 The sole leaders from day one, Chessy, who clinched first place after a spectacular 5-1 victory in round four against defending champions WR Chess, faced newcomers Decade China. The all-Chinese squad, led by World Champion Ding Liren, finished the first day just a point behind Chessy. Despite losing a pawn in the opening as Black, Ding Liren managed to hold Richard Rapport to a draw on board one. The day did not start well for Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun, who blundered against Anna Muzychuk and lost, giving Chessy an early lead. Team China bounced back quickly with a victory on the non-professional board. Alexey Sarana beat Xu Xiangyu in time trouble, and Jorden van Foreest drew with Yu Yangyi. However, on board two, Chessy’s Haik Martirosyan made a critical blunder in the endgame against Wei Yi, allowing him to promote a pawn and secure a victory. The match ended in a 3:3 draw. Defending champions WR Chess had a rough start on Day 2. Despite having Magnus Carlsen on their team, WR Chess lost 4:2 to Al-Ain. Carlsen made a strong comeback as White against Daniil Dubov, squeezing out a victory in a complicated endgame. However, Ian Nepomniachtchi lost on board two to Iranian star Parham Maghsoodloo, and WR also suffered losses on the women’s board—where Hou Yifan was defeated by Kateryna Lagno—and on the non-professional board. With this victory, Al-Ain tied with Chessy for first place. The Indian team of MGD1 won their match against Kings of Chess from Krakow 5:1, while Ashdod Chess Club edged out a 3,5:2,5 victory against the notably lower-rated but resilient team of Astana-1, ensuring both MGD1 and Ashdod Chess Club ended the day in shared third place, alongside Decade China. One surprising result of the round was Uzbek Olympic gold medallist Nodirbek Yakubboev, rated nearly 2600, suffering a defeat to 2125-rated FM Erzhan Zhakshylykov. Despite this, the Uzbek team Royal Chess won their match against Noval Group from Kyrgyzstan, 3.5:2.5. Round 6 In the next round, it was time for both teams that had previously defeated the defending World Rapid Champions, WR Chess, to face each other and decide who would take the lead halfway through the tournament. The game between Richard Rapport and Daniil Dubov ended quickly, with a draw after just ten moves. Rapport got up to check the other boards before agreeing to split the point with Dubov, who is not having a great tournament. Soon afterwards, Andreikin and Sarana also drew their game. The match ended 3:3, with two more draws and Al-Ain’s Parham Maghsoodloo defeating Jorden van Foreest on board two, while Chessy won on board six in a game where both sides traded completely winning positions several times. Decade China continued strongly, defeating the Indian team of MGD1 4:2. It started with an early gift for the Chinese when Raunak Sadwahani blundered a piece on board three against Wei Yi. Things didn’t go MGD1’s way on board two either, where Narayanan dropped a dominating advantage against Wei Yi and ended up drawing. To compensate, on board five Xu Xiangyu allowed Pranav to save the game, while Harika Dronavalli held out as Black against Ju Wenjun. Ding split a point as White with India’s top-rated player Arjun Erigaisi. On board six, in a duel between two players who by this point had a score of 100%, Pang Bo emerged victorious against Shah Mihir, securing Decade China a comfortable score in the match, propelling them to a shared first place with Chessy and Al-Ain.
FIDE World School Rapid and Blitz Championships 2024 kick off in Tashkent
The 2024 FIDE World School Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships began today in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, kicking off an exciting week of chess for over 250 young players from around the world. The opening ceremony at the International Hotel featured inspiring speeches and electrifying cultural performances. Notably, the 1st Vice President of the Uzbekistan Chess Federation, Husan Turdialiev, emphasized the vital role of junior chess in developing future leaders. It was followed by the national dances and the laser show. The championship features tournaments in various age groups, ranging from U9 to U20. Young players will compete in both rapid (15 minutes + 10 seconds increment) and blitz (3 minutes + 2 seconds increment) formats over the course of the week. Live broadcasts and continuously updated results are available here: https://lichess.org/broadcast/-/Xk9fngNu https://lichess.org/broadcast/-/NxNWXEtu With a strong start and an impressive line-up of young players, the tournament promises to show exciting performances by future stars of the game. Standings after Round 3 Photos: Uzbekistan Chess Federation
Chessy stuns defending champions WR Chess to lead 2024 WRTC after Day 1
The first day of the event in Astana (Kazakhstan) saw several surprising results, with Chessy scoring a convincing 5-1 victory over WR Chess in round four. On board one for WR Chess, world rapid and blitz champion Magnus Carlsen suffered a stunning defeat as White to Richard Rapport of Chessy in just 22 moves The second edition of the World Rapid Team Championships started in Astana, Kazakhstan, today, with the first four rounds taking place. Five of the world’s top ten players are participating, including Magnus Carlsen, World Champion Ding Liren, and Ian Nepomniachtchi (who met in the same city last year for the World Championship title), alongside a new set of players and teams. After the first day, the team of Chessy—captained by GM Emil Sutovsky—emerged as the sole leader, having won all four matches and securing eight match points. They are followed by the Decade China Team and Al-Ain ACMG UAE, who each have seven match points. WR Chess Team, who won the inaugural World Rapid Championship in Düsseldorf in 2023, trails the leaders by two match points. They lost the final match of the day to Chessy in a direct duel for first place. WR Chess is in a pack of seven teams with three victories and one defeat out of the first four rounds: Team MGD1, Knights Of Chess, Ashdod Chess Club, Kazchess, GMHans.com, and Astana-1. Complete standings after Round 4 In an interview on the first day of the event, World Champion Ding Liren said he was “very happy to be back in Astana,” calling the city a “lucky place” for him: “The last time I was here, I won the world championship match, so this is a lucky place for me.” Following doubts about his recent performances, Ding said he is here to prove others wrong: “I came here to win some points and recover confidence.” He scored 3.5 out of four games on the first day of the tournament. A Closer Look at the First Four Rounds of the 2024 World Rapid Team Championship Round 1 Each match in round one ended with a winner. The favorites and defending champions, WR Chess, started with a perfect score against the Kyrgyz Chess Academy. Ian Nepomniachtchi won a miniature against GM Semetei Tologon Tegin in the first game of the tournament. The new team, Decade China, the second-favorites by rating, scored 5.5 out of six. One of the surprises of the first round was Daniil Dubov’s defeat with the white pieces by GM Boris Grachev. In the Catalan, Dubov had a piece for three pawns but made several mistakes, allowing his opponent to dominate and win. Despite their top player losing, the Al-Ain ACMG team from UAE, the third top team by rating, won their match against the GMs Kazakhstan squad with a score of 4-2. Another surprising result was Hans Niemann losing as White to Meylis Annaberdiyev after blundering in a tactical endgame despite having more time on the clock. Round 2The second round brought early drama as some of the top teams clashed. Just a few minutes into the start, there was a major upset: Richard Rapport, playing for Chessy, defeated chess legend Nigel Short, representing the FIDE Management Board team. In the Ruy Lopez, Short blundered and lost his queen. Chessy went on to win the match 4.5-1.5, while FIDE’s Al-Mudahka staged a surprise by defeating the 200-points higher-rated GM Vidit Santosh Gujrathi with the black pieces, who blundered in a better position. Another early upset saw the young team of Rookies, with an average team rating of 2271, defeating the Ashdod Chess Club 4-2. All the heavyweights in the Ashdod team, including Sarin, Eljanov, and Volokitin, lost their games. One of the most exciting matches of the round was WR Chess narrowly edging out Royal Chess, a team of top players from Olympic Champions Uzbekistan. It started badly for WR, with early trouble for Vadim Rosenstein and Vincent Keymer. However, Praggnanandhaa and Alexandra Kosteniuk made a comeback to equalize. Abdusattorov – playing against the team made up of his Uzbek compatriots – then won on board two, and Nepomniachtchi managed to secure a draw on board one, resulting in a crucial 3.5-2.5 victory for WR Chess. Decade China scored a 6-0 victory over Astana. On board one, Denis Makhnyov sacrificed a piece against World Champion Ding Liren but couldn’t make any progress and ended up losing. Al-Ain ACMG from UAE defeated Teniz Kazakhstan 5-1. Dubov was in trouble again and on the brink of losing but managed to save the game in a knight endgame. Round 3Round three finally saw Magnus Carlsen play his first game in the match between 2023 World Rapid winners WR and third-placed Team MGD1. Playing as Black on the first board for WR, Carlsen opted for the solid Berlin Defense against India’s top-rated player, Arjun Erigaisi. Carlsen gradually outplayed his opponent, winning a pawn and forcing a winning pawn endgame. Ian Nepomniachtchi, now on board two for WR, survived a scare from Narayanan but won after his opponent got into severe time trouble. Harika Dronavalli of MGD1 scored against former Women’s World Champion Hou Yifan in a dramatic, time-troubled game. Mihir Shah of MGD1 defeated Rozenstein on the last board, while Sadwahani drew with Duda, resulting in a final score of 3.5-2.5 for WR. Decade China continued confidently, defeating GMHans.com 4-2. A big surprise in the match was Yue Wang’s loss as White to the 200-points lower-rated Andrew Hong. On board two, strong Iranian GM Amin Tabatabaei had a dominating position against Chinese player Wei Yi but misplayed and lost, handing an important point to Decade China to secure the match. Despite Vidit losing again, Chessy continued strong in this round, defeating the Knights of Chess from Krakow 4-2. Al-Ain ACMG defeated the Rookies 5-1, while Kazchess scored a clean sweep against the team of Egypt, propelling them to second place among the leaders who won all matches. Following a surprise defeat in round two,
Julius Baer SCWC returns on August 12
Watch 16 Top Players Compete in One of the Strongest Events in Women’s Chess NEW YORK, AUGUST 1 — Chess.com is excited to announce the 2024 edition of the Julius Baer Women’s Speed Chess Championship (WSCC). This year’s event will feature an expanded field of 16 of the strongest women chess players in the world, including the current Women’s World Champion, all competing for a $75,000 prize fund. The Julius Baer WSCC is Chess.com’s premier chess event for women. The event starts on August 12, with titled women from across the globe participating in four Play-in events. The winner of each Play-in will qualify for the coveted Main Event, which kicks off on August 22 and runs through September 5. “The 2024 Julius Baer Women’s Speed Chess Championship showcases the incredible talent and competitive spirit of women in chess,” said Erik Allebest, CEO of Chess.com. “Julius Baer’s continued support has been instrumental in making this championship a reality, and we appreciate their leadership in helping to ensure that chess is for everyone.” Among the confirmed players for the Main Event is four-time World Champion GM Ju Wenjun. Ju is the second-highest rated woman in the world across all time controls and one of the favorites to win it all. The chess community can also look forward to watching GM Kateryna Lagno. The three-time women’s World Blitz Champion will be looking to repeat her 2021 Women’s Speed Chess Championship performance, when she defeated the former Women’s World Champion Hou Yifan to win the event. Also confirmed to play is the star from India, GM Vaishali Rameshbabu. Her meteoric rise has led her to the 2023 Candidates Tournament, and recent victories propelled her to the top 10 of women’s worldwide. Can momentum help her win her first Women’s Speed Chess Championship title? “We are delighted to continue supporting the Women’s Speed Chess Championship, empowering women, and contributing to a more diverse, equitable, and vibrant chess scene,” said Antje Hembd, Head Global Brand Partnerships & Sponsoring at Julius Baer. “Women, like in the chess world, are still underrepresented in senior management in our industry. This is why our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion and our focus on fostering a caring and inclusive environment is integral to our corporate strategy and culture at Julius Baer.” The Main Event features the format fans know and love, with the players competing across three different time controls: 5+1, 3+1, and 1+1. The match will be broadcast on Chess.com/TV as well as Chess.com’s YouTube and Twitch channels. This is the second consecutive year that Swiss private bank Julius Baer has presented the WSCC, continuing their strong support of women’s chess. Julius Baer was also a founding partner of Chess.com’s premier event, the Champions Chess Tour, presenting the Julius Baer Generation Cup since 2020. Tune in for the usual (and unusual) brilliancies, drama, and swindles that the Speed Chess Championship series provides. About Julius Baer Julius Baer is the leading Swiss wealth management group and a premium brand in this global sector, with a focus on servicing and advising sophisticated private clients. At the end of June 2024, assets under management amounted to CHF 474 billion. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd., the renowned Swiss private bank with origins dating back to 1890, is the principal operating company of Julius Baer Group Ltd., whose shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker symbol: BAER) and are included in the Swiss Leader Index (SLI), comprising the 30 largest and most liquid Swiss stocks. Julius Baer is present in around 25 countries and 60 locations. Headquartered in Zurich, we have offices in key locations including Bangkok, Dubai, Dublin, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hong Kong, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Mexico City, Milan, Monaco, Mumbai, Santiago de Chile, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, Tel Aviv, and Tokyo. Our client-centric approach, our objective advice based on the Julius Baer open product platform, our solid financial base and our entrepreneurial management culture make us the international reference in wealth management. For more information, visit our website at www.juliusbaer.com. About Chess.com Chess.com is the world’s largest chess site with a community of more than 150 million members from around the world playing more than 10 million games every day. Chess.com organizes and broadcasts the world’s biggest chess events featuring multi-million-dollar prize funds captivating millions of viewers. Chess.com is the 114th ranked site on the internet. In June 2023, Chess.com was named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential Companies.
Grand Opening for FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Championships in Astana
Astana, Kazakhstan – The FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Championships 2024 commenced with a week of chess festivities, highlighted by a spectacular opening ceremony held at the Astana Amphitheater on the Esil River Embankment. This event marked the beginning of an exciting week of world-class chess competitions, celebrating the game’s rich heritage and future. The opening ceremony began with FIDE’s Torch Relay, an event commemorating the 100th anniversary of the International Chess Federation. The relay started at the “Atameken” monument and culminated at the Amphitheater, showcasing a parade of top chess players, local authorities, and prominent figures from Kazakhstan. Among the distinguished torchbearers were the FIDE President, Arkady Dvorkovich, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Oljas Bektenov, President of Kazakhstan Chess Federation Timur Turlov, and current World Champions Ding Liren and Ju Wenjun. They were joined by young chess stars such as Bibisara Asaubaeva, symbolizing the future of the sport in Kazakhstan. The ceremony officially kicked off with the arrival of the Prime Minister and other esteemed guests, followed by a moving performance of the National Anthem of Kazakhstan. Prime Minister Bektenov delivered a heartfelt opening address, highlighting the significance of the event for Kazakhstan and the global chess community: “The International Chess Federation, with more than a century of history, became a reputable and well-known organization, which brought together over 200 countries around the chessboard. FIDE’s famous slogan, “We are one Family”, signifies that chess is not only an intellectual sport but also a deep science and incredible art. In this regard, the lighting of the Olympic torch in the city of Astana is a great pride for the people of Kazakhstan.” FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich also shared his thoughts, celebrating the Federation’s centenary and the collaborative spirit of the chess world. “This gathering today is particularly significant as it marks the first formal FIDE event since World Chess Day on July 20th, the day FIDE was officially established in 1924. As we step into FIDE’s second century, it is fitting to host such a prestigious event here in Kazakhstan. This is our way of expressing our deepest appreciation for all that you have done and continue to do for the chess community. Let us look forward to a spectacular tournament and a promising future for FIDE and the world of chess,” he said, greeted with a round of applause. President of Kazakhstan Chess Federation Timur Turlov stressed the significance of holding the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championship and expressed his gratitude to FIDE for assistance in their joint endeavors. “For us, a young nation, and hundreds of children who are learning chess today in clubs, sections and their schools, it is you – the chess world stars – who are the main conductors of the values of this noble game, idols of hundreds of thousands of young Kazakhstanis. You motivate people to play chess, improve and follow the main trends.” In a moment of unity and pride, the FIDE 100th Anniversary Torch was ceremonially transferred from President Dvorkovich to Prime Minister Bektenov, who then passed it on to Timur Turlov, President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation. The relay continued with notable participants, including world champions, young prodigies, and influential figures, all contributing to the electric atmosphere. As the relay concluded, former women’s World Champion and current Women’s Number one, Hou Yifan, took center stage to light the ceremonial bowl, a symbol of the enduring flame of chess. This was followed by a stunning display of cold fireworks, and all torchbearers were invited onto the stage, where they were introduced and celebrated. The ceremony continued with a dynamic mass dance performance, speeches from key officials, and a musical interlude. Chief Arbiter Laurent Freyd and Grandmaster Jan Gustafsson conducted the draw to determine the first-round colors. The color drawn was black, which means that the first board will be played with black pieces. To conclude the evening, the President of FIDE declared the Championships officially open, accompanied by a countdown and a dazzling fireworks display. The opening ceremony’s headliner, the “Orda” band, delivered a memorable performance, setting a festive tone for the championships. The FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Championships 2024 in Astana promises to be a landmark event, bringing together the best in chess and celebrating the game’s global community. Photos: Ruslan Mazunin and Maria Emelianova Website of the event: World Rapid and Blitz Team Championship 2024 (fide.com) Freedom Holding Corp. is a US-based financial services holding company. The Company has retail locations in 20 countries: the United States of America, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Cyprus, Germany, the United Kingdom, Greece, Spain, France, Poland, Austria, Bulgaria, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the United Arab Emirates. In Eurasia, the company is developing a digital ecosystem under the Freedom brand. The ecosystem already provides services in the field of investment banking and stock market brokerage, digital banking, online insurance, telecommunications, air and event ticket sales, digital car service, smartphone sales and other areas. Freedom Holding Corp. shares are traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange. The activities of the company are regulated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Official site: freedomholdingcorp.com Site of the digital ecosystem: ecosystem.ffin.kz/en
FIDE August 2024 rating list published
The Women’s top 10 remained intact in July, while the Open list saw some changes. Wei Yi reached his career-high 8th position, following his good showing in the Chinese Chess League, while Alireza Firouzja returned to the top 10 after a three-month hiatus. Photo: Grand Chess Tour/Lennart Ootes Biggest gains in top 100 Open and Women Kulon, Klaudia IM POL 2415 (+36) Van Foreest, Jorden GM NED 2696 (+25) Liang, Awonder GM USA 2666 (+18) Vaishali, Rameshbabu GM IND 2506 (+18) Sliwicka, Alicja WIM POL 2373 (+16) Salem, Saleh GM OAE 2652 (+14) Warmerdam, Max GM NED 2676 (+13) Dronavalli, Harika GM IND 2502 (+11) Badelka, Olga IM FID 2409 (+11) Le, Quang Liem GM VIE 2741 (+10) Zhu, Jiner GM CHN 2479 (+10) Klaudia Kulon became the biggest rating gainer in July thanks to her impressive performance in the Pardubice Open, where she finished sixth and picked 36 rating points. The tournament winner, 14-year-old Vaclav Finek, Vaclav Finek earned 15 points, reaching a career-high 88th place in the top 100 Junior list. Photo: Czech Open Jorden Van Foreest had a very successful trip to Canada, winning both the Canadian Open and Maplewood Invitational. He gained 25 rating points and came very close to the 2700 mark. Awonder Liang climbed to his career-high 65th place in the top 100 Open after a very productive July (+18) in the American tournaments that included the 52nd Annual World Open and U.S. Junior Championship. Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club/ Austin Fuller Alicja Sliwicka dropped 12 points in the 2024 FISU World University Mind Sports Chess Championship. However, she recovered with a strong performance in the Open International d’Aix en Provence, gaining 29 points and increasing her overall rating by 16 points in July. Saleh Salem and Rameshbabu Vaishali shone in the inaugural Biel GMT-Challengers, collecting 14 and 18 rating points, respectively. Saleh returned to the top 100 Open after a year’s absence, while Vaishali climbed as high as the 11th position and is now knocking on the top 10 Women’s door. Le Quang Liem won his third straight title in the main event, GMT-Masters, translating into 10 rating points. Photo: Biel International Chess Festival Max Warmerdam won the 2024 Dutch Championship (his second national title) and the Brasov Grand Prix Classic, picking up 13 rating points, while Harika Dronavalli overperformed in the Isbank of Turkiye Chess Super League, gaining 11 points.
Ding and Carlsen meet in Kazakhstan for WRBTC 2024: Everything you need to know
Everything is ready in Astana for a spectacular five-day chess event where top world players and amateurs will play side by side for the titles of World Rapid and World Blitz Team champions “We have been preparing this event for a while and are very grateful for the support we have had from Freedom Holding Corp., KazChess, and local organizers here in Kazakhstan. With elite international players and non-professionals in each team, this promises to be a very exciting and dramatic event for the chess world,” said Pavel Tregubov, tournament director. Altogether, 350 players representing 39 teams are taking part. Leading the lineup are world champion Ding Liren and top-rated player Magnus Carlsen. The competition also includes current and former Open and Women’s world champions in different categories and many of the world’s strongest players, all vying for a prize fund of €350,000. The event will be broadcast live on FIDE’s YouTube channel, and the competition schedule can be found here. The Top Teams Last year’s winners, WR Chess, return with an even stronger lineup. Featuring three former world champions – Magnus Carlsen, Alexandra Kosteniuk, and Hou Yifan (pictured below) – as well as two-time world champion candidate Ian Nepomniachtchi and Polish superstar Jan-Krzysztof Duda, they are the favorites. Captained by German GM Jan Gustafsson, the team includes former World Rapid champion Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Indian prodigy R Praggnanandhaa, and German talent Vincent Keymer, with non-professional player Wadim Rosenstein. Photo: Niki Riga Challenging WR Chess is the team of Chessy, captained by GM Emil Sutovsky. Their roster includes top players Richard Rapport, Vidit Santosh Gujrathi, Alexey Sarana, Jorden Van Foreest, and top women players Anna Muzychuk and Humpy Koneru. The third top-rated team is ALAIN ACMG from the UAE, featuring Daniil Dubov (pictured below), Vladislav Artemiev, Parham Maghsoodloo, Dmitry Andreikin, Kateryna Lagno, and Zhu Jiner. Photo: Lennart Ootes Last year’s third-place winners, the Indian team of MGD1, return with strong players like Arjun Erigaisi, S L Narayanan, Raunak Sadhwani, and Harika Dronavalli. The all-Chinese “Decade China Team” boasts World Champion Ding Liren (pictured below), along with 2700+ GMs Wei Yi, Wang Yue, Yu Yangyi, and women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun. Photo: Stev Bonhage Other notable participants include super GMs Peter Svidler, Alexander Grischuk, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Nihal Sarin, Andrei Volokitin, Nigel Short, Zhu Chen, and Victor Bologan. Hans Niemann will play for “GMHans.com”, while “ROYAL CHESS” features all the stars from the young Uzbek Olympic gold-winning team, excluding Abdusattorov. The full list of registered teams and players can be found – here. Championship Format and Regulations The World Rapid and Blitz Team Championship will consist of two tournaments played over five days. Teams can be composed of club members, members of different federations, or other chess players. Each team shall consist of six to nine players, including at least one female player and one recreational player who has never achieved a FIDE rating of 2000 Elo points or higher. Rapid (August 2-4) · 12-round Swiss tournament · Time control: 15 minutes with a 10-second increment per move from move one Blitz (August 5-6) · Pool stage: Round-robin tournament, no more than seven rounds · Knockout stage: Knockout tournament for the top 16 teams · Time control: Three minutes with a two-second increment per move from move one Matches are scored by match points: two points for a win, one point for a draw, and zero for a loss. The team with the highest match points will be declared the winner. The venue The event will take place at the QAZEXPO Congress Center – the main congressional center in Astana. Opened in 2017, it is used for holding international forums, conferences, official events, as well as sports and cultural events. Photo: qazexpocongress.kz/ Detailed regulations for the event can be found – here. Website of the event: World Rapid and Blitz Team Championship 2024 (fide.com) Freedom Holding Corp. is a US-based financial services holding company. The Company has retail locations in 20 countries: the United States of America, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Cyprus, Germany, the United Kingdom, Greece, Spain, France, Poland, Austria, Bulgaria, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the United Arab Emirates. In Eurasia, the company is developing a digital ecosystem under the Freedom brand. The ecosystem already provides services in the field of investment banking and stock market brokerage, digital banking, online insurance, telecommunications, air and event ticket sales, digital car service, smartphone sales and other areas. Freedom Holding Corp. shares are traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange. The activities of the company are regulated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Official site: freedomholdingcorp.com Site of the digital ecosystem: ecosystem.ffin.kz/en
World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships start in Astana this week
The World Rapid and Blitz Team Championship will be officially opened on August 1 in Astana, Kazakhstan. This five-day chess bonanza will feature both the world champion Ding Liren and the world’s top-rated player Magnus Carlsen, alongside a star-stunned lineup of super-grandmasters playing alongside amateur players Following the 2023 World Rapid Teams competition in Düsseldorf, Germany, this year’s edition also includes a Blitz tournament and will last two days longer. The event will host the FIDE 100 Torch Relay celebration, exhibitions, simuls, and discussions. “This is going to be a spectacular event, and we are pleased it’s taking place in Kazakhstan, which has recently become a global center for chess thanks to the efforts of Kazakhstan Chess Federation and Freedom Holding Corp.,” said FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich. “The lineup looks like the World Cup or the Chess Olympiad – super GMs from all over the world in one place! Including a non-professional player is important as it opens chess to a broader audience and adds unpredictability to the outcomes. We are also pleased to add the Blitz event to the Rapid,” Dvorkovich added. World #1 Magnus Carlsen will lead WR Team in Astana The Rapid and Blitz competitions will feature over 350 players representing 39 teams, including participants from the 2023 edition. A stellar lineup of current and former top world grandmasters will compete for a total prize fund of €350,000. The event will be broadcast live on FIDE’s YouTube channel. The Championships will take place at the QazExpo Congress Center, Kazakhstan’s largest expo center, and will be open to the public through a ticketing system. Tickets can be purchased online here. A Week of Chess Festivities in Astana The event will start with FIDE’s Torch Relay and a spectacular Opening Ceremony held at the Astana Amphitheater on the Esil River Embarkment (Turan Avenue, 2/6). The torch will be carried along the streets of Astana from the “Atameken” monument to the stage of the Opening Ceremony by top chess players participating in the Championships, local authorities, famous athletes of Kazakhstan, young chess stars of the country. The torchbearers include Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Oljas Bektenov, Äkım of Astana Jenis Qasymbek, a Kazakh cosmonaut Talgat Musabayev, world #1 Magnus Carlsen and Hou Yifan, and many others. Other side events also include the photo exhibition “Capture” by photographer Stev Bonhage, a simul for chess bloggers and influencers, a football match involving players and officials, a simul at Astana IT University, a school visit by FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, and the traditional Kazakh Tusau Kesu ceremony. On August 4, there will be a chess simul for children with disabilities at the Hilton Hotel in Astana and the Business Women Brunch event chaired by FIDE Managing Director Dana Reizniece-Ozola, focusing on overcoming barriers and achieving success in the professional field. Astana is set to host an unforgettable week celebrating the game of chess and the centenary of FIDE. Official website of the event: worldrapidblitzteams.fide.com/registered_teams_rapid Photos: Lennart Ootes, Mark Livshitz, Niki Riga and Stev Bonhage
Vaclav Finek wins Czech Open 2024
The biggest talent of Czech chess, fourteen-year-old IM Vaclav Finek (2452), emerged as the winner of the 2024 Czech Open. The 2024 edition of the Czech Open in Pardubice, supported by the FIDE Aid Package, took place from July 19-27 and brought together 721 players from 37 countries. The festival included four main 9-round Swiss tournaments with classical time control. A – Pardubice Open In a major sensation, the main event saw the triumph of 9th seed Vaclav Finek and 24th seed IM Ameya Audi of India. Both pulled off crucial final-round victories over GM Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu (Romania) and Valentyn Prokofiev (Ukraine), respectively and tied for first place with an excellent score of 7.5/9. Just a half-point of Buchholz advantage separated the champion, Vaclav Finek (pictured below, left), from the runner-up, Ameya Audi. As many as four players shared third place scoring (7/9), with GM Jiri Stocek of the Czech Republic completing the podium. “I think I played an awesome tournament, and I was especially pleased with the 100% win rate with white pieces,” said Vaclav Finek in a short interview. IM Klaudia Kulon (pictured below) from Poland became the best woman of the event. Klaudia achieved a great performance 2509 and finished in 6th place. Four norms of the international title were fulfilled in the main tournament: the IM norm by Petr Gnojek (CZE), Valentyn Prokofiev, and Vladyslav Fishchuk (both from Ukraine). The norm of WIM goes to Noga Orian (ISR). Final standings: 1 IM Finek, Vaclav CZE 2452 7½ 2 IM Audi, Ameya IND 2381 7½ 3 GM Stocek, Jiri CZE 2528 7 4 GM Zanan, Evgeny ISR 2476 7 5 IM Hrbek, Stepan CZE 2402 7 6 IM Kulon, Klaudia POL 2379 7 7 GM Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter ROU 2583 6½ 8 FM Prokofiev, Valentyn UKR 2337 6½ 9 IM Pulpan, Jakub CZE 2383 6½ 10 IM Noe, Christopher GER 2520 6½ Complete final standings Pardubice Open B – MOTORGAS OPEN Ukrainian Roman Tyshniuk became the only foreign player to win one of the main events. He came out on top in the Motorgas Open, scoring 7.5/9. Jachym Hrbek had the same score but finished second due to an inferior tiebreak, while Inchan Park (KOR, 7/9) was third. Final standings B- Motorgas Open C – GASCO OPEN The tournament under 1700 was won by 11-year-old Jan Kozusnik (CZE, 8/9), ahead of Hyunbin Choi (KOR, 8/9) and Oskar Gresek (CZE, 7/9). Final standings C – GASCO Open 30+ STAPRO OPEN The Czech players dominated the tournament for players aged 30, occupying the podium. First became Miroslav Muron (7.5/9), followed by Vit Zemlicka (7/9) and Tomas Vesely from the local club Rapid Pardubice (7/9). Final standings 30+ STARPRO Open Photos: Czech Open Official website: czechopen.net/en/