Four teams in the finals of the World Corporate Chess Championship
Following an intense day of matches between top companies from around the world, four teams have qualified for the finals. On Monday, June 17, they will compete in the final matches for the title of the Smartest Company on the planet Fifth Women’s World Champion, legendary Nona Gaprindashvili made the first ceremonial move on the second day of the competition in the match between BlackRock and Google. The teams of ChessMood and UBS Group AG (from Group A) and Chessify and SIG and (from Group B) successfully navigated five turbulent rounds on day two to reach the finals. The squad of Goldman Sachs, which traditionally performs well in the New York corporate league, struggled despite playing on home turf and ultimately failed to qualify for the finals. This fate was shared by the New York-Kazakh team of Freedom Holding, Kazakhstan’s Tengizchevroil, and China’s Nanjing Spark Chess Technology Co., Ltd. In Pool A, UBS Group AG reached the finals after securing a crucial victory in the final round against Deutsche Bank. UBS took second place, while the first spot in the group went to ChessMood. Unfortunately, this meant that the teams of LLC “LC “GRECO,” Deutsche Bank, and Google were eliminated. Despite eight teams going home, the atmosphere at the event remained friendly and relaxed throughout. After the rounds ended, players and guests were invited to a cocktail event where they could mingle, discuss games and chess, and network professionally. In the evening, the teams and organizing officials got together for a dinner at a restaurant just next to the New York Stock Exchange – bringing the chess atmosphere to the heart of Wall Street. “This was a great event for us. Despite not qualifying for the finals, we really enjoyed this tournament. At BlackRock, we have 400 registered chess players in the company, and we are sure there are many more. This event will help boost our profile and the profile of chess in the company, and we hope there will be more opportunities like this one,” said Alex Krol from the BlackRock team. Similar sentiments were echoed by other teams participating in the tournament. The final day of the World Corporate Chess Championship will feature a double-round-robin in the semifinals, from which two teams will qualify for the finals to determine who will carry the title of the Smartest Company on the planet. The rounds start at 2 PM. However, there will be a special announcement by FIDE and Freedom Holding at 1 PM at the playing venue, and players, guests, and the general public are invited to attend. About the World Corporate Chess Championship: The 12 finalists competing in New York are: Goldman Sachs (USA) BlackRock (USA) Nanjing Spark Chess Technology Co., Ltd. (China) ChessMood Inc. (USA) LLC “LC” “GRECO” (Ukraine) UBS Group AG (Switzerland) Chessify (USA) Freedom Holding Corp. (Kazakhstan) Google (USA) Tengizchevroil (Kazakhstan) Deutsche Bank (USA) SIG (USA) The finals are the culmination of two online qualifying stages with entrants from around the world. The competition features group stage matches and intense playoff rounds, culminating in the crowning of the World Corporate Chess Champion. Teams are split into two groups, each with four knockout qualifiers and two wild-card teams. The competition unfolds in two stages: a 10-round group stage over June 15 and 16, followed by the semi-finals and finals on June 17. The games will be broadcast live on Lichess. Event Details: Dates: June 15, 16, and 17 Venue: Cipriani, 25 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 Official website: worldcorporate.fide.com/ Written by Milan Dinic Photos: Rafał Oleksiewicz
WCCC 2024: The race for the smartest company in the world is on
New York – The World Corporate Chess Championship kicked off on Friday at Cipriani on 25 Broadway, a renowned New York landmark known for its monumental interior design and exterior appeal The tournament, presented by Freedom Holding Corporation, features 12 corporate teams from around the world competing for the title of the “smartest company” in the world. “This event highlights the parallels between the chess board and the boardroom, celebrating strategic thinking which drives success in both fields. We want this event to become a marker for mutual respect and friendship between countries and corporations as well as a platform for networking,” said Timur Turlov, CEO of Freedom Holding. The 12 participating teams, split into two groups, played five rounds on the first day. In Group A, the team from ChessMood—a company dedicated to helping aspiring players improve their game—came out on top, winning all five matches. The team from UBS Bank is in second place with two wins, two draws, and one defeat. In Group B, Chessify, another company with a chess background, leads the group, followed by SIG, a quantitative trading firm. Despite the fact that the players are not chess professionals, the competing teams were required to comply with the same regulations and standards as top professional chess events. This includes the scanning of players before the games, strict rules of behavior in the playing area, and random fair play checkups. For more than four hours, the grand hall of Cipriani echoed with the sounds of pressing chess clocks and pieces moving on the board. The first day of the World Corporate Championship was not only about the first five rounds of the event. The day started with a “Move and Go Game,” where visitors had a chance to make one move on the board in a game against one of the world’s leading chess grandmasters, Hikaru Nakamura. Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, Global CEO of SIGA, gave a speech highlighting the challenges for integrity and transparency in sports. One of the highlights of the day was a fireside chat where GM Hikaru Nakamura, Timur Turlov (CEO of Freedom Holding Corp.), and Emil Sutovsky (CEO of FIDE) discussed the relationship between business and chess. They talked about concrete issues in business where chess can be useful—from time management and making decisions under pressure to utilizing advantageous positions and strategic planning. The full video of the conversation can be found HERE. The official events of the day concluded with Nakamura analyzing one of the best games of the first day, providing the audience with insight into how a grandmaster thinks, assesses and makes decisions. An Evening with Nona Gaprindashvili at the Marshall Chess Club Participants of the World Corporate Championship were treated to an evening with the renowned chess player Nona Gaprindashvili—five-time women’s world champion, the first woman to receive a grandmaster title, and the winner of 11 gold medals in Chess Olympiads. The event took place at the historic Marshall Chess Club, named after its founder, the famous U.S. master Frank J. Marshall. The guests gathered in the very same room where chess legends such as Emanuel Lasker, Alexander Alekhine, and Richard Reti played. Over exceptional Georgian wine and food, the guests listened to Nona Gaprindashvili talk about her life and struggles in chess—from her early days in the USSR to Georgian independence and beyond. Like many women in business today, Nona faced many uphill battles to make her name and earn respect in a male-dominated field. “Chess is my universe. Chess is my world. It has helped me extend my life, so make sure you continue playing chess, as it will make your life longer,” Nona said to the audience. In the true spirit of chess, the evening concluded with a blitz tournament, which was won by IM Mykola Bortnyk of the Marshall Chess Club. A rare chess treat for the visitors on the second day of the event Day two of the World Corporate Championship will start with a special chess experience for the guests: Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura will play blindfolded on two chessboards against visitors, who will each have the opportunity to make one move. About the World Corporate Chess Championship: The 12 finalists competing in New York are: Goldman Sachs (USA) BlackRock (USA) Nanjing Spark Chess Technology Co., Ltd. (China) ChessMood Inc. (USA) LLC “LC” “GRECO” (Ukraine) UBS Group AG (Switzerland) Chessify (USA) Freedom Holding Corp. (Kazakhstan) Google (USA) Tengizchevroil (Kazakhstan) Deutsche Bank (USA) SIG (USA) The finals are the culmination of two online qualifying stages with entrants from around the world. The competition features group stage matches and intense playoff rounds, culminating in the crowning of the World Corporate Chess Champion. Teams are split into two groups, each with four knockout qualifiers and two wild-card teams. The competition unfolds in two stages: a 10-round group stage over June 15 and 16, followed by the semi-finals and finals on June 17. The games will be broadcast live on Lichess. Event Details: Dates: June 15, 16, and 17 Venue: Cipriani, 25 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 Official website: worldcorporate.fide.com/ Written by Milan Dinic Photos: Rafał Oleksiewicz
Schools receive FIDE School Awards
The FIDE Chess School Award has a multi-dimensional purpose: to enhance the quality and position of chess in the broader education system. The first objective is to provide recognition and motivation for existing Chess in Education activities and programs in schools through a certification process. The second objective is to serve as a quality assurance tool for the improved and established standard of educational chess delivery. In June, 22 schools from 14 countries achieved the FIDE School Award. This title represents global recognition of a school’s commitment to introducing students to the benefits of chess as an educational tool. Of the 22 schools, three received the Bronze level award, six received the Silver award, and 13 received the Gold Award. We are proud to recognize these schools for their excellent chess programs and commitment to education. A big thank you to all participating schools for their hard work and dedication. Check out the complete list of awarded schools here. In addition to the certificate, schools also receive the following benefits: ChessKid memberships – up to 500 Gold memberships (for four months) for each school. A 20% Discount for teachers of your school to attend an online Preparation of Teachers (PoT) Course. Other benefits will be added in the months ahead. The physical certificates will be presented to leaders of national chess federations during the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, in September. Schools may participate in an upcoming EDU Welcome Webinar, which will include teachers and administrators from FIDE Award schools. The webinar provides an opportunity to interact with the global Chess in Education community. The second cycle of the FIDE Chess School Award will begin in July 2024. Applications will be invited until October 31, and the awards will be announced in December. Award-winning school: Peak Primary School Peak Primary School is located in Kampala – Uganda. Chess was introduced at the school by FIDE School Instructor Kalanzi Jude, the head coach at the school. The idea was supported by the school administration. Initially, fewer than 20 students enrolled, and currently, Peak Primary School has over 300 children actively involved in chess. The growth of the game is a result of commitment from parents, coaches and the school. The school has сhess as part of the curriculum and a dedicated chess room for all chess players. It also has a team of qualified coaches from Great Thinkers Chess Academy.
Chess and Business Meet at Nasdaq: Opening Ceremony of World Corporate Chess Championship
New York –The World Corporate Chess Championship was officially launched with a spectacular ceremony at the Nasdaq Stock Exchange in Times Square, marking a significant milestone for chess in the business world The World Corporate Chess Championship aims to celebrate strategic excellence in business and chess by uniting 12 strong chess teams composed of employees from major companies across the globe. The championship will help build a lasting connection between chess and the business community on an international scale. Guided by the idea of bringing together some of the smartest companies across the glove, the event – hosted by Nasdaq and presented by Freedom Holding – saw history being made as the logo of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) appeared on the giant screen of the world renown financial institution. Dating back to the 1870s, ringing the closing bell at the Nasdaq Stock Market is a significant event, symbolizing the official end of the trading day. As a company registered at the Nasdaq, Freedom Holding got the honor to ring the closing bell in a ceremony broadcast live worldwide. Thanks to Freedom – FIDE was a part of this ceremony broadcast across the U.S. and the world. “The universal language of chess knows no borders and requires no special translators and brings together the most unlikely sports people across the board… Competing in this event will give participants tremendous networking opportunities, and we hope that many arrangements will be reached and for this event to be a win-win for everyone, where chess serves an important role as an intermediator,” said Timur Turlov, CEO of Freedom Holding, which presents the World Corporate Chess Championship. The ceremony also celebrated the fifth anniversary of Freedom’s listing on the Nasdaq stock exchange. Since going public, Freedom Holding’s shares have surged by an impressive 600%. With 6,000 employees across 20 countries, the company recently reported record revenue of $1.6 billion. “Competing in this event offers tremendous networking opportunities, fostering valuable connections and collaborations. We hope this event will be a win-win for everyone, with chess serving as an important intermediary,” Turlov said. FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky noted that, “for FIDE, it is crucial to maintain global connections across various fields, including finance. Our relationship with Freedom is very reliable and goes from strength to strength. Freedom has shown a genuine appreciation for chess, and we extend our gratitude to Timur. This event marks the beginning of a long journey, with plans for many more major events, potentially even here in New York.” During his speech, Turlov announced Freedom’s intention to support more social initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable development and business practices. One such initiative is the Chess in Schools project in New York, which supports the intellectual and social development of low-income youth through chess education. Stating that “chess teaches critical thinking, which is crucial in an age of short attention spans”, Turlov announced a $50,000 donation to this project adding that “this is not just a donation, but an investment in the future.” The ceremony featured fifth Women’s World Champion Nona Gaprindashvili and U.S. Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura. Hikaru mingled with players and VIP guests, including economist and Harvard professor GM Ken Rogoff, journalist and author Frank Brady, and several high-profile figures from New York’s chess and business scenes. Nakamura also participated in an exhibition game against Turlov and Sutovsky, each supported by three non-professional guest players. About the Event: The 12 finalists competing in New York are: Goldman Sachs (USA) BlackRock (USA) Nanjing Spark Chess Technology Co., Ltd. (China) ChessMood Inc. (USA) LLC “LC” “GRECO” (Ukraine) UBS Group AG (Switzerland) Chessify (USA) Freedom Holding Corp. (Kazakhstan) Google (USA) Tengizchevroil (Kazakhstan) Deutsche Bank (USA) SIG (USA) The finals are the culmination of two online qualifying stages with entrants from around the world. The competition features group stage matches and intense playoff rounds, culminating in the crowning of the World Corporate Chess Champion. Teams are split into two groups, each with four knockout qualifiers and two wild-card teams. The competition unfolds in two stages: a 10-round group stage over June 15 and 16, followed by the semi-finals and finals on June 17. The games will be broadcast live on Lichess. Event Details: Dates: June 15, 16, and 17 Venue: Cipriani, 25 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 Official website: worldcorporate.fide.com Written by Milan Dinic Photos: Rafał Oleksiewicz
Nogerbek Kazybek and Divya Deshmukh triumph at Word Junior Championship 2024
The FIDE World Junior Chess Championship 2024 is in the books. Nearly 230 players from 42 countries participated in this fascinating event in Gujarat, India. Both Open and Girls competitions were 11-round Swiss tournaments with classical time control. The open section was a tightly contested tournament that came down to the wire. Going into the final 11th round, Mamikon Gharibyan of Armenia was in the lead with 8/10, closely followed by his compatriot Emin Ohanyan and IM Nogerbek Kazybek (Kazakhstan), both on 7.5/10. To add excitement to the finale, the leader faced Kazybek with black pieces, while Ohanyan took on IM Daniel Quizon of the Philippines. Nogerbek’s persistence and determination in a roughly even endgame earned him a crucial victory over Mamikon, which allowed him to leapfrog the leader. Meanwhile, Emin Ohanyan defeated Daniel Quizon, who blundered a nice intermezzo in a balanced position and caught up with Nogerbek. Both scored an impressive 8.5/11, tying for the top position, but the title goes to Nogerbek Kazybek, thanks to a slightly better Buchholz. Three players netted 8/11 and shared third place with Luka Budisavljevic taking bronze with the help of superior Buchholz. Final standings Open: 1 IM Nogerbek Kazybek KAZ 2502 8½ 2 GM Ohanyan Emin ARM 2501 8½ 3 GM Budisavljevic Luka SRB 2468 8 4 GM Gharibyan Mamikon ARM 2492 8 5 IM Koelle Tobias GER 2470 8 6 GM Grebnev Aleksey FID 2540 7½ 7 GM Cardoso Cardoso Jose COL 2497 7½ 8 IM Makarian Rudik FID 2524 7½ 9 IM Quizon Daniel PHI 2448 7½ 10 GM Pranav Anand IND 2540 7½ Complete final standings In the Girls section, the top seed Divya Deshmukh (India) seized the lead after Round 6 and never looked back. The home player turned in a commanding performance and won the title with a spectacular score of 10/11. The second seed WIM Mariam Mkrtchyan (Armenia) stayed in the race for gold to the final round but finished a half-point behind the champion and took silver. Ayan Allahverdiyeva collected 8.5/11 and earned bronze. Final standings Girls: 1 IM Divya Deshmukh IND 2456 10 2 WIM Mkrtchyan Mariam ARM 2300 9½ 3 WIM Allahverdiyeva Ayan AZE 2133 8½ 4 WFM Shubhi Gupta IND 1943 8 5 WGM Rakshitta Ravi IND 2271 7½ 6 Abdinova Narmin AZE 2121 7½ 7 WFM Rindhiya V IND 1965 7½ 8 WIM Mrudul Dehankar IND 2028 7½ 9 WIM Hryzlova Sofiia SUI 2246 7 10 Norman Kseniya FID 2134 7 Complete final standings Photos: ChessBase India
Cairns Cup 2024 begins in St. Louis
The fourth edition of Cairns Cup hosted by the Saint Louis Chess Club began on Thursday, June 13. The ten-player Round Robin features seven players in the top 25 of FIDE’s June top players list as well as eight-time U.S. Champion GM Irina Krush, reigning American Cup winner IM Alice Lee, and the reigning Cairns Cup champ IM Anna Zatonskih. The returning champion: Anna Zatonskih looks to defend her 2023 Cairns Cup title(Photo: Lennart Ootes/SLCC) The highest rated player in the field is Chinese GM Tan Zhongyi. Tan is coming off her victory in the 2024 FIDE Women’s Candidates in Toronto two months ago, and should be the favorite once again. Of course, Zatonskih won the tournament last year as the lowest rated player in the field, so ratings are not all that matter. Tan Zhongyi is treated to a jaw-dropping move from Nona Gaprindashvili(Photo: Crystal Fuller/SLCC) Interestingly, only one other player from Toronto is in this year’s field: Ukrainian GM Anna Muzychuk. Muzychuk had a difficult event in Toronto, finishing tied for seventh (out of players) with a 5½/14 score, failing to convert and hold several promising positions. Anna will be joined by her sister Mariya in St. Louis. In addition to Tan, the Ukrainian sisters, and the three Americans, players from four other federations will be represented in this year’s Cairns Cup. GM Harika Dronavalli will be the lone Indian player in the field, while GM Elisabeth Paehtz will represent Germany, GM Nana Dzagnidze hails from Georgia, and GM Alexandra Kosteniuk now plays under the Swiss flag. The field at the opening ceremony (Photo: Lennart Ootes/SLCC) This star-studded line-up promises to produce another year of fighting, decisive chess. The ten players will be competing for their share of the $200,000 prize fund, with the winner earning $50,000. Before the official start of the tournament, the players competed in an “Ultimate Moves” battle of team chess, with players rotating in and out of blitz games. It took just seven games for “Team A” to win the ten-game match 5½-1½, with the team of Tan, Anna Muzychuk, Harika, Kosteniuk, Lee, and Zatonskih enjoying the victory. Photo: Lennart Ootes/SLCC For those wondering why a ten-player tournament featured six of its participants in one group, that would be because special guest Georgian GM Nona Gaprindashvili was in attendance for the opening ceremony, and joined Team B along with commentator and former U.S. Women’s Champion IM Nazi Paikidze. Dr. Jeanne Cairns Sinquefield, our co-founder, announced the Cairns Chess Queens Award, a $100k award for up to 5 American women who achieve the title of Grandmaster within the next five years. Congratulations to GM Irina Krush, who is honored to be the first American woman to receive this award! Photo: Lennart Ootes/SLCC The award came as a complete surprise to Krush — who is the only woman to have earned the GM title while playing for the United States — at least in part because Krush earned the title 11 years ago! As far as who the next recipients of this award might be, of course the 14-year-old Lee comes to mind. But, remember, Zatonskih earned her first GM norm last year at this very tournament, and a repeat victory would net a second. Elisabeth Paehtz celebrates with Krush during the award announcement(Photo: Lennart Ootes/SLCC) Stay tuned for coverage on Chess Life Online, featuring updates after every third round from WGMs Tatev Abrahamyan, Begim Tohirjonova, and more. Games are available with live commentary courtesy of SLCC from GM Yasser Seirawan and IMs Nazi Paikidze and Jovanka Houska. Written by JJ Lang / uschess.org Photos: Saint Louis Chess Club / Austin Fuller, Lennart Ootes and Crystal Fuller Official website: uschesschamps.com/2024-cairns-cup/
World Amateur Championship 2024: Registration is open
All FIDE Member Federations and eligible players with FIDE rating under 2300 are invited to participate in the FIDE World Amateur Chess Championship 2024. The competition will take place in Rhodes, Greece, from October 26 to November 5, 2024. The event is open to players registered by their national federations. FIDE member federations have the right to send as many players as they wish. The Championship will be held in FIDE rating categories U 2300, U 2000 and U 1700. There will be separate Women’s Championship(s) if there are at least ten players from at least two continents in each category. All competitions will be 9-round Swiss tournaments with classical time control (90 min +30 sec). The registration deadline for all players, accompanying persons and delegation members is September 9, 2024. FIDE World Amateur Chess Championships 2024 official website will be launched soon: worldamateur2024.fide.com E-mail: worldamateur@fide.com Invitation letter and regulations (PDF) Photo: hhotels.gr/
Chess tables in the prison yard of Alphen: A strategic move
The prison yard of the Penitentiary Institution (PI) Alphen has undergone a special enhancement: a self-made chess table, crafted by the inmates themselves. This black-and-white checkered table is not only a testament to their craftsmanship but also a contribution to a stimulating environment within the prison. The initiative was inaugurated with a ceremony led by none other than eight-time Dutch chess champion Loek van Wely. This ceremony marks the beginning of a plan to distribute no fewer than 35 chess tables across all penitentiary institutions in the Netherlands, allowing chess to play a more significant role in the inmates’ daily lives. On Tuesday, May 14, chess champion Loek van Wely came to PI Alphen to unveil the first chess table and to test it out immediately. Four of the best inmate chess players were allowed to challenge him. One of them, who learned to play chess within the prison walls, shared: “I’m going to do my best to win,” he laughed. “We play a lot in the ward and during yard time. I hope this beautiful table will soon have a permanent place in our yard.” A game of chess in prison is not a new phenomenon, but its potential is now being fully embraced. By placing chess tables in the yard, not only is the playing of the game encouraged, but also mental activity is promoted, helping PI create a more active living environment. Loek sees great value in playing chess within prison walls. “It’s important to be in top physical and mental shape for the period after detention. Chess is a game that requires you to take your time, which fits well in this environment. It may be harsh, but here, you have the time to work on yourself. I hope everyone here gets the most out of themselves now that they have the time to develop within these walls.” Blitz Chess Van Wely played blitz chess against four inmates, where typically each player has from 3 to 5 minutes of thinking time for the entire game. In this case, Loek had just one minute on his clock, while each inmate had five minutes to give his opponents a chance to win. One inmate succeeded in beating the chess champion! “Especially with blitz chess, you often have to sit on your hands to avoid moving a piece too quickly, to not act under the pressure of the clock or the spectators’ eyes. This is also true in real life. I often think: if only more people played chess. Because through chess, you learn that acting out of emotion often does not lead to good ‘moves’,” van Wely said. Hidden Strengths Chess master Jop Delemarre was also present at the unveiling of the chess table. Jop, a former Dutch youth champion, participated several times in European and World Youth Championships. Additionally, he is a member of the ECU Social Commission, where he is responsible for the ‘Chess for Freedom’ portfolio. Delemarre frequently visits the PI Alphen prison to give clinics to inmates. “Chess has many hidden powers. With chess, you have an objectivity that is the same for everyone. And while you play against others, you also fight against yourself.” A Step Forward The prison director of PI Alphen does not see the chess table in the yard as just a game. “It offers inmates an opportunity to develop skills. Within our prison, we place a high value on sports. By encouraging sports activities, including mind sports, we stimulate inmates to reflect and engage positively. A game of chess certainly provides this and offers distraction, improving the living environment and thus enhancing our own safety.” With the chess tables in the yard of PI Alphen and the planned expansion to other institutions, the opportunities for growth and rehabilitation for inmates are increased. It is a small step toward a better future. Text and photos: Shireen Habiballah
Important update to C.04.1 Basic Rules for Swiss Systems
We are pleased to announce an update to the article “C.04.1 Basic Rules for Swiss Systems” in the FIDE Handbook. As part of our ongoing efforts to improve the clarity and functionality of our competition regulations, the wording of Article C.04.1.4 has been revised. This change aligns with the recent modifications in the “04. FIDE Swiss Rules” section. Key Update: The revised Article C.04.1.4 now stipulates that a player who has already received a full-point bye or has scored a full point in a round without play, due to an opponent not appearing on time, will no longer be eligible to receive a pairing-allocated bye. This adjustment ensures consistency in how byes are awarded and avoids any undue advantage. Effective Date: This change will take effect on July 1, 2025. For any inquiries or additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at secretary.tec@fide.com
FIDE Grand Swiss & Women’s Grand Swiss 2025 – Call for bids
1.1 The International Chess Federation (FIDE) will hold the Grand Swiss Tournament & Women’s Grand Swiss Tournaments in the first half of 2025 (see the drafts of regulations for the Grand Swiss Tournament and Women’s Grand Swiss). 1.2 FIDE is opening a bidding procedure to invite any FIDE federation member or any Organizer to host the events. 1.3 The tentative budget of the event is 2.2 million USD, including the minimum total prize fund of 1 million USD. The bid may contain special proposals on financial and commercial conditions. The FIDE Council shall decide whether these conditions are admissible. 1.4 The Bidding Form shall be filled in by an Applicant. A signed copy shall be submitted as an e-mail message to the FIDE Secretariat to office@fide.com by August 1, 2024, 23:59 Lausanne time (FIDE has a right to extend this deadline). All the documents shall be submitted in English. The FIDE General Strategy Commission (GSC) may request additional documents for further evaluation. 1.5 Bid Evaluation Report shall be presented by GSC for an approval by FIDE Council. 1.6 Once the Organizer is granted the right to host the event, a relevant announcement shall be made on the FIDE website. A FIDE Technical Delegate may be appointed at the same time to supervise the event on behalf of FIDE in consultation with GSC.