Castillo Pena wins Dominican Republic Women’s Championship
Patricia Evarista Castillo Pena. Photo: Alina L’Ami The Dominican Chess Federation has expressed its gratitude to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MESCYT), Dr. Franklin García Firmin, who announced during the opening of the LXIII National Championships of the Dominican Republic, that the first-prize winners will be awarded national or international scholarships, to continue expanding their knowledge and professionalism is at the highest level. “Chess, called a science game, has proven for years that it greatly benefits those who participate in this fundamental practice,” said Franklin Garcia Fermin in his speech. Photo: amicohoops.net The country’s national women’s championship, an 8-round Swiss tournament, brought together 24 female players from 13 provinces of the country. The opening ceremony was led by the President of the Dominican Chess Federation (FDA), Pedro Dominguez Preto, along with the president of the Dominican Olympic Committee (COD), Antonio Acosta, at Albergue Olímpico Dominicano. The event was a close race of three rating favourites with the third-rated Patricia Evarista Castillo Pena coming out on top, just a half-point ahead of Wilsaida Pieranlly Diaz Cesar and Doribel Munoz Santana who tied for second place. Thanks to better tiebreaks Diaz Cesar took silver whereas Doribel Munoz Santana settled for bronze. Final standings: 1. Castillo Pena Patricia Evarista – 6½2. Diaz Cesar Wilsaida Pieranlly – 6 3. Munoz Santana Doribel – 64. Moronta Ramos Dianelva – 5½5. Hazim Gonzalez Elizabeth – 56. Ramirez Luzon Franchesca – 57. Joaquin Salcedo Candida – 58. Martinez Jimenez Manyely – 59. Sanchez Jaspez Rosangel – 510. Cabreja Lora Suzette – 4½ Text: Izer Hector (amicohoops.net/)
FIDE enters partnership with Chessable and chess24
Monday, April 19th, 2021 FIDE has signed a historic global partnership agreement with Chessable, making it one of the sponsors for the World Chess Championship cycle, the Olympiad, and the World Rapid and Blitz. Sister company chess24 acquires broadcast rights for top FIDE events from 2021 until 2026. The International Chess Federation has entered into a six-year commercial agreement with Chessable, the world’s leading chess E-learning platform. By becoming a sponsor of the chess world championship cycle, Chessable strengthens its brand’s position as the preferred E-learning choice among chess fans and top players alike. The agreement covers different areas, including youth programs, professional chess, and broadcast rights for top events, but also education and social activities. Chessable CEO David Kramaley: “We see great potential in helping to realize the chess world championship cycle for the hundreds of millions of chess fans in the world. Since 2015, Chessable has communicated a love of science-backed learning, celebrating chess education and curiosity. The chess world championship cycle is the perfect fit for this concept, as it showcases the world’s best players, many of whom are already published Chessable authors, playing for the ultimate title, showing what they know.” In addition to sponsoring the chess world championship cycle, Chessable will partner with FIDE for a new chess talent development program, the FIDE Chessable Youth Development Fund, to which it will contribute $150,000 annually. The agreement is part of Chessable’s global growth strategy and another step in its mission to make chess a sustainable career choice for all. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich: “We are extremely proud to be able to create new opportunities for the chess youth of the world through this new talent development program in partnership with Chessable. We hope it will help foster many new champions and attract many new young people to the game.” “Such a long-term partnership shows a strong commitment and a shared vision between both parties. The agreement will allow FIDE to grow and plan for the future, strengthening different areas. It contributes to consolidate our top events even further, and many social projects, as well as the chess in schools programs are about to take off. Chess is a great game to learn for any child, and has a proven track record of improving children’s cognitive and educational skills.” Since launching in 2014, chess24 has demonstrated its continued commitment to promoting chess. It was the first international chess company to take chess broadcasting to a worldwide audience and it continues to innovate in this field. With this agreement, chess24 will become one of the broadcast partners for the world chess championship cycle as well as major FIDE events such as the World Rapid & Blitz, World Cup and Chess Olympiad. Chess24 CEO Gerald Tan: “Broadcasting and commentating on chess tournaments have always been core to our activities and passion at chess24. Over the last year, we have made significant strides in developing new ways to bring chess to a wider audience with our Champions Chess Tour broadcasts and are excited to apply our insights to the World Chess Championship broadcast in 2021 and beyond.” The partnership becomes effective immediately, and this means Chessable is one of the sponsors of the Candidates Tournament that resumes today in Yekaterinburg. About Chessable Chessable is the world’s leading chess E-learning platform and largest digital chess library in the world. Chessable’s mission is to make learning chess as fun and efficient as possible. It has published interactive video courses by a wide range of presenters and authors, including many of the world’s top players such as current World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen. The company was co-founded in 2015 by David Kramaley and International Master John Bartholomew. Chessable’s team consists of expert content creators, scientists, developers and chess grandmasters all working together to create the best chess learning platform in the world.