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Checkmate Coronavirus: week one Carlsen and Lagno take titles in Steinitz Memorial FIDE held the first Online Cup for People with Disabilities First online meeting of the FIDE Council Continents go online “We are all children of Informant” Anniversaries READ NEWSLETTER
FIDE QC on duration of leagues and national team championships
On 15th March, the FIDE Qualification Commission provided some guidance for events regarding the ongoing Coronavirus situation: https://fide.com/news/443 Earlier in May, we received a request from leagues in continental Europe about waiving rule 1.14 of the title regulations: 1.14 Leagues and national team championships may last longer than 90 days, but not more than one year. In the current circumstances, QC is happy to waive 1.14 of the title regulations for leagues that started before the lockdown in their countries. Federations that wish to do this for their League should write to QC to make this request before they resume their season so that QC can compile a list of these leagues to aid with checking any title norms that may be achieved in these events. Doing this is not an obligation that the league will resume, and if the Federation decides to abandon their league season anyway at some point in the future, then they will still be free to do so. National Federations should note that this exemption applies to any ongoing season only, and not any future season that has not yet started or been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. For the avoidance of doubt, please be assured that Nick Faulks (Chairman) and I both recused ourselves from voting for this rule to be waived, due to conflicts of interest. Voting on this proposal was restricted to the five other QC Councillors. Alex HolowczakQC Secretary
Checkmate Coronavirus: week one
The Checkmate Coronavirus initiative is in full swing, as it enters its second week of activity. We are very grateful for the warm welcome that the chess community has given to this project, with special mention all those to have contributed to its success. First and foremost our partners at Chess.com, Lichess.org, Chess24, FIDE Online Arena, and Playchess. Secondly, to the many National federations that have already organized events within the Checkmate Coronavirus project: so far, the list includes the European Chess Union, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, Finland, Greece, Japan, Mongolia, Qatar, Romania, Syria, Uruguay, and Venezuela, but the number keeps growing by the day. We are also very grateful to the many private organizers who have tried to contribute. And last but not least, to the dedicated team who has been running this project, headed by Ilya Gorodetsky. One week and 170 hours into the project, a total of 520 chess online tournaments have been organized as a part of this initiative, with an average of 261 participants each. This amounts to an approximate total of half a million chess games played, and 74 tournaments per day. These numbers are already slightly above our initial expectations, so we hope to reach new heights as we are reaching cruise speed. If you want to be a part of this celebration of chess, you can still do it. On our website, you can find instructions on how to join the initiative. There is also a FAQ section at the dedicated website for Checkmate Coronavirus, with some additional information. And if you simply want to be a participant in one of the events, please check out our complete schedule of events. As the FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich explained in his letter addressed to all of you, this project wants “to promote the ideals of unity and solidarity which must be manifested in such times”, apart from providing “a creative outlet to those who have to spend many hours at home” under the global lockdown. We believe that both goals are being fulfilled, and we are very proud of how we, the whole chess community, have stood together in these trying times.
Lindores Abbey QFs: Carlsen and Dubov hit the ground running
World Champion Magnus Carlsen stood up for US star Wesley So today after his opponent was accused of “unsporting” behavior. So sparked shock as he tamely conceded a draw that consigned him to defeat against the World Champion in their first Lindores Abbey Rapid Challenge quarter-final mini-match. The former US champion accepted a three-fold repetition when he could have fought on in the third game of the rubber. It left him sunk on 2.5-0-5. In the commentary box, IM Lawrence Trent said So had been “unsporting” before clarifying his position. “It was just not Wesley’s day,” said Trent. “I want to make something clear, I am a big Wesley fan. I’ve known Wesley for a very long time and I think he’s a great chess player and great ambassador, but what I think he did today is not in the spirit of the competition, to be brutally honest.” Carlsen replied: “I would say, let the man redeem himself in the next few days!” Photo: Lennart Ootes Carlsen had calmly won the first two games of the day but So, who has been extremely solid in the tournament so far, was not out of it. The champion said afterward: “I’m not going to sit and dwell too much on that, but it was obviously a pleasant surprise for me.” So will now have to come back and win mini-matches on both Tuesday and Wednesday to go through. It will be a tough ask. In the other quarterfinal, an all-Russian clash, Daniil Dubov went 2-0 up against Carlsen’s former World Champion title challenger Sergey Karjakin. Photo: John Saunders Dubov played some strategically perfect chess and never gave his fellow countryman any respite. It left Karjakin needing a miracle, and it did not come as Dubov impressively ended the mini-match in the third with another win the “Minister of Defence” spurned a three-fold repetition. The event, which runs until June 3, is being put on in association with the Lindores Abbey Heritage Society, which maintains the historic site. Coverage begins with commentary in 10 languages at 16.00 CEST. You can watch it live here Highlights English New files at around 23.00 CEST. FOR MORE INFORMATION:Leon Watsonleon@chessable.com+447786 078770