Nine new female teams to compete in 45th Chess Olympiad
The Women’s Commission National Female Team Initiative, a significant step in promoting women’s chess, reached its penultimate stage on Sunday, June 23, 2024. Led by the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess (WOM) with the support of FIDE Trainers’ Commission (TRG), this initiative aims to help countries establish female teams for the upcoming 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest. The online closing ceremony celebrated the successful completion of the first phase of training for these new Olympiad participants. Notable figures like Khader Sami (Chair, Trainers Commission) and Jose Carillo (President, Chess Confederation of America) joined coaches and new Olympiad participants. The training program, running from March 15, 2024, to June 16, 2024, featured an impressive lineup of coaches, including FM Ricko Depaune, WFM Anu Bayer, FI Ryan Blackwood, WIM Denise Bouah, IM Jomo Pitterson, WIM Natalija Popova, WIM Deborah Richards Porter, WIM Knarik Mouradian, and FI Russel Porter. Their expertise and guidance have been instrumental in preparing these teams for their international debut. The initiative, spearheaded by WOM Chair Anastasia Sorokina and WOM Councilor Tris-Ann Richards, along with team members Yilmaz Kartal, Paris Klerides, Akua Kosife Esse, and Monalisha Khamboo, began in August 2023. It has successfully fostered the development of female teams from nine countries: Liechtenstein, Guernsey, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, the US Virgin Islands, St. Lucia, Nauru, and the Cayman Islands. St. Kitts and Nevis female team – one of the first-timers in the upcoming Olympiad This initiative provides these countries with a team captain and financial travel support, ensuring they are well-prepared to compete in the Olympiad for the first time. Looking ahead, the final stages of the initiative will involve collaboration with the FIDE Trainer Commission (TRG) to enroll these countries in the Olympiad Training Support Program (July-August 2024). This program is set to provide further support and resources to these debutants. This initiative represents a significant step towards gender equality in chess, empowering female players from underrepresented countries to participate in one of the sport’s most prestigious events.
Indjic and Chelushkina triumph at 2024 Serbian Championship
Aleksandar Indjic and Irina Chelushkina emerged victorious at the 2024 Serbian Championship. Aleksandar successfully defended his title and won his fifth overall, while Irina lifted the trophy for the second time. The 18th Serbian Championship 2024 took place from June 17–25 in the Fantastico Exclusive Hotel in Senta. The open and women’s tournaments ran concurrently. Both competitions were 10-player round robins with classical time control. In the open competition, Aleksandar Indjic seized the lead after Round 4 and maintained his top position to the very end. Facing top seed Alexey Sarana with black pieces in the final round, he displayed exceptional defensive skills, securing a draw and the championship title with an excellent 7/9 score. Robert Markus and Alexey Sarana finished on 6/9 and tied for second place. Just like a year ago, Robert Markus took silver (this time, thanks to a better tiebreak). The rating-favorite Alexey Sarana had to settle for bronze. The champion and the runner-up became the only unbeaten players in the tournament. Final standings Open: 1 GM Indjic, Aleksandar 2602 7 2 GM Markus, Robert 2587 6 3 GM Sarana, Alexey 2712 6 4 GM Popovic, Dusan 2486 5 5 GM Ivanisevic, Ivan 2536 5 6 GM Perunovic, Milos 2531 4½ 7 GM Atalik, Suat 2450 4 8 GM Kovacevic, Aleksandar 2482 3½ 9 IM Radovanovic, Nikola 2441 3 10 GM Muratovic, Alija 2513 1 The women’s section witnessed Irina Chelushkina’s dominance. Conceding only two draws, she finished a clear 1.5 points ahead of the runner-up, WIM Adela Velikic. WIM Jovana Srdanovic earned the bronze medal with 6/9 points. Final standings Women: 1 WGM Chelushkina, Irina 2134 8 2 WIM Velikic, Adela 2290 6½ 3 WIM Srdanovic, Jovana 2134 6 4 WGM Mandura, Tijana 2224 5 5 WIM Djukic, Sandra 2118 5 6 WGM Eric, Jovana 2184 5 7 WFM Vujovic, Vera 2154 4½ 8 WFM Bukhteeva, Viktoria 2070 3 9 Stankovic, Andrea 1990 2 10 Radenkovic, Mila 1870 0 The chief arbiter IA Vladica Andrejic and the deputy chief arbiter, Zoltan Helenji, officiated the competition, while IO, IA Nebojša Baralić, acted as the championship director. At the closing ceremony, the president of the Chess Federation of Serbia, Dragan Lazić, and the owner of the “Fantastico Exclusive” hotel, Šandor Lerinc, presented cups and medals to the top finishers. All the participants received gifts from the host and the Serbian Chess Federation (ŠSS). Official website: serbiachess.org/ Photos: Šahovski savez Srbije
2024 FISU World University Championship Mind Sports underway in Uganda
Entebbe, Uganda is playing host to the 2024 FISU World University Championship Mind Sports Chess & Bridge, taking place from June 24 to 30. The Association of Uganda University Sports (AUUS) is proud to continue its tradition of hosting FISU World University Championships. This marks the fourth time Uganda has organized a FISU event, following Woodball in 2010 (Kampala), Cross Country in 2014 (Entebbe), and Netball in 2018 (Kampala). “The Entebbe 2024 FISU World University Championship Mind Sports promises to be an exhilarating display of intellectual prowess, strategic thinking, and friendly competition,” states Vincent Kisenyi, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (pictured below, in the middle). Entebbe, a captivating town situated on a peninsula of Lake Victoria near the Entebbe International Airport, provides a stunning backdrop for the competition. Participants can enjoy breathtaking views and access to Africa’s largest lake, renowned for its diverse fish population. The women’s podium in 2022 in Antwerp The 2022 Antwerp championship saw Fiona Sieber (Germany) claim the women’s chess title, followed by Anastasia Avramidou (Greece) and Anna Kubicka (Poland). In the open chess competition, Arash Daghli (Iran) secured gold, while Igor Janik (Poland) and Jingyao Tin (Singapore) took silver and bronze respectively. The open podium in 2022 in Antwerp This year’s edition features twelve teams from across the globe: Botswana, Czech Republic, France, India, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Poland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Slovakia, and Uganda. The championship chess program offers classical and blitz tournaments for both the open and women’s categories. Following a vibrant opening ceremony, the players made their first moves, officially launching the chess program of the 2024 FISU World University Championship Mind Sports. For more details, visit the official website. Photos: fisu.net/ and official website
26th Asian Youth Chess Championships conclude in Almaty, Kazakhstan
The 26th Asian Youth Chess Championships, held June 10-20, 2024, at the Almaty Sports Palace in Kazakhstan, came to a successful close. Setting a record for participant numbers in an international chess event hosted by Kazakhstan, the competition attracted 650 young players aged 7 to 18 from 33 countries. The youngsters battled it out in all time controls: standard, rapid, and blitz. The event was organized by the Kazakhstan Chess Federation (KazChess), with support from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Asian Chess Federation, the Akimat of Almaty, and the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation. Freedom Holding Corp. is the general partner of the championships. Kazakh chess players emerged victorious, winning the first team place. Competing against top juniors from leading chess countries such as India, China, and Iran, they secured 25 medals, including 12 gold. The closing ceremony featured by KazChess President Timur Turlov, Almaty City Mayor Beibut Shakhanov, Secretary General of the Asian Chess Federation Hisham Al-Tahera, FIDE Management Board Executive Director Viktor Bologan, and other dignitaries. “This tournament is of great significance for our country, reflecting the trust of the global chess community. For the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, it was a test of our professionalism. Judging by the number of awards won by our players and the positive feedback from participants from 33 countries, we passed this test with flying colors,” said Timur Turlov, President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, who personally congratulated the winners at the closing ceremony. Participants hailed from various parts of Asia, from Iran to New Zealand. Besides the Kazakh team, which won medals in all three time controls (12 gold, 8 silver, and 5 bronze), other notable winners included FIDE (9 gold medals), India (5 gold medals), Vietnam (3 gold), Iran (3 gold), China (1 gold), Mongolia (1 gold), Kyrgyzstan (1 gold), and the Philippines (1 gold). Three participants achieved double victories in both standard and rapid: Narayani Umesh Maratha (G08) from India, Anna Shukhman (G18, FIDE), and Kazakhstan’s Aldiyar Ansat (U18). Besides the overall team standings, 36 gold medals were awarded across boys’ and girls’ categories in six age groups and three time controls (rapid, standard, and blitz). At the closing ceremony, the newly crowned World Junior Chess Champion, Kazybek Nogerbek, was also honored. In a remarkable gesture, KazChess President Timur Turlov announced a “golden package” of support worth 30 million tenge, presented Kazybek with the keys to an electric car and personally congratulated him on his remarkable victory, marking a new chapter in the history of Kazakh chess. The 26th Youth Championship was held with a focus on environmental friendliness and sustainable development. All plastic used at the tournament was recycled, with participants even contributing by using a unique bicycle shredder. Notably, the championship winners’ cups were also crafted from recycled plastic. Beyond the intense competition, the championship offered participants opportunities to explore Almaty’s natural beauty by hiking at Shymbulak. The Kazakhstan Chess Federation also organized master classes with Moldavian grandmaster and FIDE executive director Viсtor Bologan and Kazakh grandmaster Alisher Suleimenov as well as other leisure activities. Official website of the event: aycc2024.kazchess.kz Press releases and photos of the 26th Asian Youth Championship can be found here.
FIDE World Cup 8-12: Multiple leaders emerge after Day 2
It’s been a thrilling start to the FIDE World Cup Under 8-12 in Batumi, Georgia, with several players sharing the lead after two rounds. U8 Group A in the girls section sees a three-way tie for first between Chen Zhihan (China), Yan Rayna (USA), and Baghramyan Sofia (Armenia). Group B is even more competitive, with five players – Elizabeth Xia (USA), Azaliya Balakanova (Kazakhstan), Reana Kinzyabulatova (FIDE), Harshika M (India), and Amira Shomanova (Kazakhstan) – all on two points. Similar stories unfold in the older age groups. Both U10 sections boast multiple leaders. Samhita Pungavanam (India), Khusnitdinova Husnorakhon (Uzbekistan), Zhang Jianning (China), and Kiyana Parihar (India) share the top spot in Group A. Yunker Alisa Genrietta (FIDE), Yi Ruiyu (China), and Divi Bijesh (India) lead Group B. In the Girls U12 Group A, as many as five participants recorded two wins in two rounds: WFM Laurie Qiu (USA), Aknur Mamakova (Kazakhstan), Xue Tianhao (China), Leyla Mirzaliyeva (Azerbaijan), and Kristina Zavivaeva (FIDE). Similarly, in Group B, there are also five players with 2 points each: WFM Devindya Oshini Gunawardhana (Sri Lanka), Bordoloi Pratitee (India), Pavithra R V (India), Xu Luna Yuexiu (New Zeland), and Khanzada Amanzhol (Kazakhstan). The Open sections mirror the Girls’ section with exciting close races. In Open U8 Group A, five players – Prokhor Baranov (FIDE), Rizat Ulan (Kazakhstan), Reddy Adulla Divith (India), Jan Szumiec (Poland), and Swain Sattwik (India) – are tied for first. Open U8 Group B is even tighter with six players sharing the lead. The fight for the championship continues in the U10 and U12 Open sections as well. Five players in Open U10 Group A – CM Reyaansh Chakrabarty (Australia), Lev Shangin (USA), CM Kaushik Ashwath (Singapore), Malhotra Vyom (India), and Nurali Bolashakov (Kazakhstan) – boast perfect scores. Open U10 Group B sees Modith Aaroh Mutyalapati (Canada), Joshua Xia (USA), Yu Zechen (China), and Khasan Akramov (Uzbekistan) leading the pack. Finally, the U12 Open sections are equally tense. Four players – Biloliddin Obidov (Uzbekistan), Siddhanth Poonja (India), Damir Bulgak (FIDE), and Yang Zilong (China) – top Group A. Tatvidze Davit (Georgia), Gabriel Gabadadze (Georgia), Qu Haoming (China), and Baatar Batbaatar (Mongolia) share the lead in Group B. Stay tuned for more updates from the FIDE World Cup U 8 – 12 in Batumi, Georgia. Official website: wcc2024.fide.com Live games: chess.com/events/2024-fide-world-cup-u8-group-a/games Video and live commentaries:youtube.com/watch?v=3yXvGJwXe3w&ab_channel=chessingeorgia64 Photos: Sophie Nikoladze and Tornike Tavadze
Max Warmerdam wins Teplice Open 2024
Grandmaster Max Warmerdam emerged victorious in the 2024 Teplice Open, a chess tournament with a rich history dating back to 1922 and held annually since 2006. The competition, supported by the FIDE Aid Package initiative (launched in 2021), took place from June 15th to 23rd at the Sports Hall in Teplice, Czech Republic. The event attracted 240 players from 33 countries, including 16 Grandmasters. It was a tightly contested event, with several players sharing the top position most of the way. Going into the final round, a remarkable six participants jointly lead with 6.5 points each. Max Warmerdam, Alexander Donchenko, and Tin Jingyao secured crucial victories in the final round, resulting in a three-way tie for first place. Warmerdam came out on top thanks to a superior rating average of the opponents, while Doncheko and Jingyao took second and third place respectively, based on the Buchholz tiebreaker. Women’s honors went to WGM Ravi Rakshitta, who scored 6.5 points out of 9. Local hopeful IM Vaclav Finek (pictured below) also impressed, netting 7 points and tying for third place overall while simultaneously winning the U18 category. Final standings: 1 GM Warmerdam, Max NED 2654 7½ 2 GM Tin, Jingyao SGP 2570 7½ 3 GM Donchenko, Alexander GER 2639 7½ 4 GM Stocek, Jiri CZE 2524 7 5 IM Akbas, Umut Ata TUR 2437 7 6 IM Finek, Vaclav CZE 2450 7 7 GM Svane, Frederik GER 2638 6½ 8 IM Martin, Julian GER 2402 6½ 9 IM Kaasen, Tor Fredrik NOR 2465 6½ 10 GM Babula, Vlastimil CZE 2521 6½ Complete final standings Official website: tepliceopen.com Photos: Teplice Chess Club
Gawain Jones and Elmira Mirzoeva сrowned English Chess Champions
Gawain Jones and Elmira Mirzoeva are the new English Chess Champions, emerging victorious after thrilling tiebreaker battles. The 2024 English Championship took place in Kenilworth from June 20-23. Both the Open and Women’s competitions were 7-round Swiss tournaments with classical time control. The open event became a tense race between defending champion Michael Adams, Peter Wells, and Gawain Jones. Although Adams held a half-point lead entering the final round (5.5/6), a draw against Ameet Ghasi opened the door for his competitors. Jones pulled off a crucial victory over Wells on the black side of Ruy Lopez and tied for first place. According to the tournament regulations, a rapid tiebreaker was played to determine a champion. After winning the first game with black pieces, Jones drew the second one and captured the title. Final standings Open The women’s tournament followed a similar script, with Elmira Mirzoeva winning on-demand her final round game to catch up with the defending champion, top seed Katarzyna Toma. The women’s tiebreaker was a very close affair. Mirzoeva won the first rapid game, but Toma bounced back in the second one, forcing the blitz playoff. There, Elmira prevailed in the first blitz encounter with black pieces and secured the title after drawing the second one. Final standings Women Photos: Lennart Ootes and Etery Kublashvili
FIDE World Cup U8-12 kicks off in Batumi, Georgia
The inaugural FIDE World Cadet Cup commenced off in Batumi, Georgia, marking a momentous occasion for youth chess and opening a new chapter of opportunities for young players. This prestigious competition, held from June 22 to July 3, takes place in Batumi, renowned as a “chess city”. The event is dedicated to FIDE’s centenary, adding an extra layer of significance to the World Cadet Cup. The competition features six groups across three age categories: U8, U10, and U12, with separate tournaments for both boys and girls. The strongest young player on the planet vie for the coveted titles of the first-ever champions in their respective age groups. A total of 288 participants from 37 countries from around the world made their first moves on June 23, embarking on a quest for medals and gaining invaluable experience for their future chess careers. CM Guo Ethan (USA), Reyaansh Chakrabarty (Australia) and Luca Protopopescu (France) are the highest-rated players in the U-12, U-10 and U-8 Open sections. WCM Laurie Qiu (USA), WCM Milner Romi (USA) and Stella Xin top the starting lists in the U-12, U-10 and U-8 tournaments. After a brief opening ceremony led by the president of the Georgian Chess Federation, member of the FIDE Management Board, Akaki Iashvili, a special guest, the Deputy Minister of Sports of Georgia, Badri Nkashidze, made the first ceremonial move, and the FIDE World Cadet Cup went underway. We extend our best wishes to all participants and look forward to exciting games for the spectators. The official website offers live games with commentary, which provides insightful analysis and enhances the viewing experience for chess enthusiasts. Official website: wcc2024.fide.com Live games: chess.com/events/2024-fide-world-cup-u8-group-a/games Video and live commentaries:youtube.com/watch?v=3yXvGJwXe3w&ab_channel=chessingeorgia64 Photos: Sophie Nikoladze and Tornike Tavadze
Cairns Cup 2024: Tan Zhongyi clinch title
Tan Zhongyi, a former Women’s World Champion and the current challenger, emerged as the winner of the Cairns Cup 2024. The Chinese GM took the lead as early as after Round 4 and preserved her top position to the very end. She landed the $50,000 first prize for her effort. Going into the final round with 5.5/8, a full point ahead of five of her closest competitors, Tan made a quick draw on the white side of the Slav Defense with Alexandra Kosteniuk and clinched her maiden super-tournament title. After Harika Dronavalli, Mariya Muzychuk, and Nana Dzagnidze drew their games, Anna Muzychuk seized the opportunity and climbed to second place by defeating Alice Lee and finished on 5.5/9. She took home the $40,000 prize. Kosteniuk, Dronavalli, Dzagnidze, and Mariya Muzychuk tied for third place with 5/9 and will each receive $19,000. Photos: Saint Louis Chess Club / Lennart Ootes Official website: uschesschamps.com/2024-cairns-cup/
Ganzorig Amartuvshin and Turmunkh Munkhzul win Mongolian Championship
The 62nd Mongolian Championship and 54th Mongolian Women’s Championship concluded recently in the ceremony hall of Choibalsan Hotel, central Dornod province. Both tournaments, 13-player round-robins with classical time control, were qualifiers for the national teams to represent Mongolia at the 45th Chess Olympiad. In the open event, IM Ganzorig Amartuvshin quickly pulled away with five straight victories and, despite losing to IM Munkhdalai Amilal in Round 9, finished clear first with an excellent score of 9.5/12, a half-point ahead of FM Sumiya Chinguun. FM Erdene Baasansuren and Munkhdalai Amilal netted 8/12 and tied for third place, with the former claiming bronze thanks to the last-round victory in their direct encounter. Final standings Open The women’s section saw the domination of WGM Turmunkh Munkhzul who secured impressive 9.5/12 and finished 1.5 points ahead of the runner-up WGM Batkhuyag Munguntuul. WGM Davaademberel Nomin-Erdene and Erdenebayar Khuslen both scored 7.5/12 and shared third place. The bronze medal goes to Davaademberel, who won their direct encounter. Final standings Women The top five players from each section will represent Mongolia at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Hungary in September 2024. Notably, both Mongolian teams are primarily composed of young players this year. The Mongolian Chess Federation extends its gratitude to all sponsors and supporters for organizing the championship: Chief Organizer Batjargal Dorjsuren (journalist and producer of the MNB Sports channel), General Sponsor “Choibalsan Group” LLC, State Committee for Physical Culture and Sports regulatory agency of Government of Mongolia, Local Governance of Dornod province, Local council in Ulaanbaatar of Bulgan sum and “Step Gold” LLC. Photos: Mongolian Chess Federation Facebook