Levon Aronian wins prelim stage
A nail-biting end to the Goldmoney Asian Rapid’s prelim stage saw old-hand Levon Aronian dominate as an almighty scramble for places unfolded below him. The 38-year-old rolled back the years as he dominated his younger opponents to finish on 10.5/15. It meant Aronian won a prelim stage on the $1.6 million Meltwater Champions Chess Tour for the first time. Below Aronian, however, it was musical chairs in the final moments as the top eight qualifying places were decided. First, 17-year-old Arjun Erigaisi – by far the lowest-rated player in the field – sprung an incredible surprise by making the knockouts for the first time of asking. Erigaisi drew a round 15 match with birthday boy Anish Giri that meant both sailed through. Then, in a blockbuster game with Indian wunderkind Gukesh D, the Pole Jan-Krzysztof Duda put in a late surge to secure his seat with a dramatic win. That result had enormous implications for the leaderboard and meant heartbreak for both Gukesh and 18-year-old Alireza Firouzja, who was looking on. Both crashed out by the narrowest of margins. Gukesh, the youngest in the field, had fought tooth and nail to win a place in the last eight, but it was not to be. Asked how the tournament has gone for him, Erigaisi said: “It has panned out quite well!” Giri, who turned 27, said after: “I managed to qualify and I helped a friend in need, so it’s all good!” While Erigaisi and Giri sneaked in, Aronian posted his best performance in the prelims of a Meltwater Champions Chess Tour event. Playing from Paris, Aronian said afterwards: “I was basically trying to stay safe and take my chances, and it worked. “I feel good and I feel I can even score more. But I was very relaxed.” In another surprise, the Russian Vladislav Artemiev continued his stunning form to finish clear second with 10/15 and set up a quarter-final clash with Giri. China’s Ding Liren also marked his return to form with a place in the quarters and will face Duda. One of the games of the day saw Gukesh pose serious questions for Carlsen in their Round 13 clash. The 15-year-old looked to have a decisive advantage but allowed the champ back into the game. Gukesh, seen as a potential future challenger for Carlsen’s crown, was left fighting to save a draw. He managed it but looked bitterly disappointed and aware he now faced an uphill task to go through. Gukesh did, however, show he belongs at this level. Carlsen, meanwhile, ended the day with a win that took him to fourth – but he was far from happy with his performance and the fact his position sets up a quarter-final against Wesley So. Asked why he seemed unhappy, Carlsen said: “Well, have you seen the pairings?” Carlsen added: “It’s not ideal, but that’s the way it is… In general, I’m extremely unhappy with the way I played today.” The Goldmoney Asian Rapid is broadcast live on Norwegian TV station TV 2 and streamed with commentary in several languages on chess24’s YouTube and Twitch channels. Highlights will also be available in 60 countries on the Eurosport app. Play resumes tomorrow at 13:00 CEST. All games will be played on the chess24.com playzone. For further information, please contact: Leon Watson, PR for Play Magnus Groupleon@chessable.com+44 7786 078 770
Lei Tingjie reaches semifinals
Lei Tingjie (China) became the last semifinalist of the FIDE Chess.com Speed Chess Championship after defeating Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria) 11:9 in a very close and tense match. It was all Stefanova in the 5+1 segment, taking the lead 5-2. Lei Tingjie fought back in the second 3+1 section and narrowed the gap. It all came down to the last 1+1 portion, in which the Chinese GM was a tad quicker and more collected to squeak out the victory in the match. “I think I just got very tired very quickly, so I became a bit slow and I made too many mistakes,” explained Antoaneta, who was up three points after the first blitz portion. “I was quite confident at the beginning but later started to blunder too many things.” “I was quite disappointed after 5+1 and then I just tried to tell myself that 3+1 is the new beginning. I got an advantage in that portion, and then I think I really had an advantage in bullet because I play very fast,” commented the winner. Lei Tingjie will face Hou Yifan in the semifinals that are scheduled for the end of this week. The FIDE Chess.com 2021 Women’s Speed Chess Championship is an online competition for titled female players. The qualifiers for the event took place from May 28-June 6, while the main event runs from June 10 to July 3. Players are battling for their share of a total prize fund of $66,000. Fans can follow the FIDE Chess.com Women’s Speed Chess Championship by watching the live broadcast with expert commentary on Chess.com/TV and Chess.com’s Twitch channel. They will also be able to enjoy the event through Chess.com’s Events page (https://www.chess.com/events). More info and a full schedule of the FIDE Chess.com Women’s Speed Chess Championship can be found here.
QCA and Northwestern University in Qatar hold joint course “Chess and Strategic Thinking”
“Truly innovative and groundbreaking initiative” was the way Arkady Dvorkovich, the current President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), Chairman of the Organizing Committee of 2018 Football World Cup in Russia and former deputy Prime Minister of Russia, described a new course “Chess and Strategic Thinking” offered jointly by the Qatar Chess Association and Northwestern University in Qatar, a university partner of Qatar Foundation. Dvorkovich pointed out that FIDE is looking closely to this experience in Qatar to replicate it across other universities worldwide. The first course that combines strategic and critical thinking with chess was delivered as part of a full credited program in Liberal Arts. In his speech, which was attended in a hybrid format by all 20 students participating in the course, FIDE President promised to visit Doha in the nearest future to give further support to the development of chess in Qatar. The course “Chess and Strategic Thinking” was developed by Grandmaster and Head Coach of the Qatar National Team, Victor Bologan and Jairo Lugo-Ocando, who is a professor in residence at Northwestern University in Qatar as part of the Liberal Arts program. The course was open to all students in Education City. In addition, there were guest lecturers such as President of the Qatar Chess Association Mohamed Al-Mudahka considered the best Arabic chess player of the 20th Century and Miss Zhu Chen, former Women World Champion. Besides the credits counting towards their degree, the participating students also received a certificate from the Qatar Chess Association. “It is the first time in Qatar that a chess course is offered as part of an accredited program in a university. It is also a novelty in the Middle East region despite its long history of engagement with that game. It allows students to develop strategic and critical thinking by exploring key notions and concepts around strategy while playing chess”, said Victor Bologan. “The fact that it combines strategic and critical thinking with our game is truly wonderful. It is a great idea that will help students to apply a particular perspective to life”, he added. “Study after study shows that young people playing chess see significant improvements in their learning ability and enhance their employability. Many companies and organizations often like candidates that can think critically and strategically”, said Lugo-Ocando. “Of course, this is not only about playing chess but rather a way of exploring strategic and critical thinking, studying different aspects of Game and Complexity Theories, while learning about Conflict Resolution and Confrontational Strategy in real life. All this why students also learn by playing”, added Professor Lugo-Ocando. The course was held intensively for five weeks (May-June 2021) in a row with 3-hours daily lessons, lots of homework, chess tournaments, individual training and consultations. The final grade will be composed of attendance (which was excellent!), a chess tournament and a test, and the final essay, which should describe a political, economic, social or historical situation using chess terms and strategic thinking taught during the course.