Preliminary confirmation of participation in WSTC 2023: Deadline announced
To all FIDE National Federations All FIDE member federations should email the FIDE Events Commission for preliminary confirmation of participation in the World Schools Team Championship (WSTC) 2023. Only federations that held or are going to hold Stage 1 (National Championship) are eligible to apply for “invited team” status (with expenses for accommodations and travel covered by the organisers for one team). National Federations should indicate the exact dates before Thursday, May 26; and after the competitions finish, provide the data (documents and photos) that confirm the organisation of the Championship as per Article 2.4 of the WSTC Regulations. If the National Championship has already been held, National Federations should submit all the necessary information according to Article 2.4 of the Regulations to the FIDE Events Commission. The Events Commission should be emailed at: fideevents@fide.com Regulations of the World Schools Team Championship (pdf)
11th FIDE World Cup in Composing 2023: Unearthing new masterpieces
Chess composition dates back to the first Arabic manuscripts on chess. Throughout history, the theory of composition has kept defining and collecting the patterns of chess beauty, record achievements, schools, styles, and fashions – as all the forms of art. One of the milestones was the first international chess tournament in London (1851), followed by the first international tourney in chess composition. Since then, composing competitions have become the driving force of chess composition. Composers compete with the achievements of their great predecessors to add some quality, intensity, elegancy, and originality… At the same time, they do it for the sake of chess solvers: to entertain, puzzle or amaze the coming generations. What would solvers do without new composers? Over the last decades, the FIDE World Cup in Composing has been one of the most important events to inspire new masterpieces, and this year’s edition is no exception. In the next several weeks, until mid-June, chess composers worldwide will prepare and polish their creations for the 11th FIDE World Cup in Composing 2023. As usual, the competition will be held in eight different sections and judged by well-known experts in each genre. The sections are: A. Twomovers – Judge: Gerard Doukhan (France) B. Threemovers – Judge: Jean-Marc Loustau (France) C. Moremovers – Judge: Ralf Krätschmer (Germany) D. Endgame studies – Judge:Branislav Djurašević (Serbia) E. Helpmates – Judge: János Csák (Hungary) F. Selfmates – Judge: Zoran Gavrilovski (North Macedonia) G. Fairies – Judge: Borislav Gadjanski (Serbia) H. Retros (Proofgames) – Judge: Thomas Brand (Germany) There are no set themes. Each participant can submit only one entry per section to the tournament director Alexey Oganesjan (alexeioganesyan@gmail.com), until June 15, 2023. After careful checking and evaluating all anonymous entries, the judges will prepare preliminary awards by August 15, leaving two weeks for appeals before finalizing the awards for publication on the World Federation for Chess Composition website by September 1. In each section, the Cup winner will receive a monetary prize of 500 Euro, a Cup, a medal, and a certificate. Composers taking 2nd and 3rd places will be awarded medals and respective certificates. The prizes and other distinctions will be presented to the winners at the World Congress of Chess Composition 2023 closing ceremony in Batumi (Georgia) on September 8. The previous editions of the FIDE World Cup have inspired many memorable compositions. Here is one of them: Mirko Miljanić, 1st Prize 4th FIDE World Cup 2015 White to play and win White has an advantage and attack, but Black may count on perpetual or – in the later stage – on stalemate: 1.c6+ Ka8 2.Nc7+! (2.Qxd7? Re2+! 3.Kf3 Qf8+ 4.K×e2 Qf3+! 5.Kxf3 stalemate) 2…Qxc7 3.Rg8+ 3…Rf8! 4.Rxf8+ (3…Nf8 4.Qxc7; 3…Ka7 4.Qxd7 Rf4+ 5.Ke3 Rf7 6.Qd4+!) 4…Nb8. 5.Qh6! Qh7+! (5…Qe7+ 6.Kd5 Qb4 7.Qc1) 6.Rf5! Qxh6 7.Ra5+ Na6 8.Rxa6+ Kb8 9.c7+ Kxc7 10.Rxh6 +- The comment by the judge of the FIDE World Cup 2015, the Grandmaster of the FIDE for chess composition Yochanan Afek: “Brilliant sacrificial anti-stalemate play on an open board, with the heavy cannons absolutely free. The battery Rook-pawn is created already in the first move to trap the black queen by checking her king should he move to the sixth rank. Following an amazing journey highlighted by 6.Rf5!! the very same rook eventually lands on the other side of the very same line to complete the initial job by role exchanges with the pawn in regards to the enemy royal couple. A highly original concept presented in an exemplary setting. A remarkable achievement!” While the most ambitious chess composers will be trying their best in the 11th FIDE World Cup, “Generation Z” will try to reach their own heights in the 7th Youth Chess Composing Challenge. This WFCC competition is open to all U23 composers (born in 2000 and later), matching the limit for juniors in the WFCC solving competition. There are three sections, two of them with the set thematic conditions (mate in 2 and endgame studies), and the 3rd one is open to all genres, with no restrictions in length and content. The YCCC Project includes a workshop mentored by some of the leading chess composers in the world. The deadline for the 7th YCCC is one month longer (July 15) than for the 11th FIDE World Cup (June 15), but the results will be announced at the same time, during the closing ceremony of the Batumi WCCC, on September 8, 2023. Official website: https://www.wfcc.ch/ Text: Marjan Kovačević, WFCC President
First Chess for Freedom Conference opens in Chicago
FIDE and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office (Chicago, USA) are hosting the first in-person Chess for Freedom Conference which is taking place from May 17th – May 20th, 2023, in Chicago, USA. More than 40 participants, including FIDE officials, representatives of national chess federations and experts involved in programmes that introduce chess to inmates have come to Chicago to discuss concepts and approaches to using chess as a rehabilitation tool for incarcerated people. On the first day of the conference, the delegation visited the Cook County Jail, where they were greeted by the Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart. He was the one who introduced the chess programme to Cook County Jail more than 10 years ago. The Cook County Sheriff’s Office initiative has now grown into a great “Chess for Freedom” movement. Since 2021 the annual Intercontinental Online Chess Championships for Prisoners are organized, attracting men, women and youth teams from all continents. Chess as a rehabilitation tool is being introduced to more and more prisons around the world. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich greeted the participants of the conference and thanked Sheriff Dart for his enthusiasm in introducing chess to inmates: “We are really proud of the work you’re doing here. We have already visited these facilities a couple of years ago, and what I saw was dedication and inspiration for this programme. Without the continuous support from Sheriff Dart this won’t be possible. We need more people like this around the world to promote this initiative”. With the aim to support and promote this line of work, the International Chess Federation and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to continue and strengthen cooperation in using chess as a rehabilitation tool for incarcerated people within the period of 2023‐2026. The future initiatives mentioned in the memorandum include: – organizing events such as conferences, round‐tables, practical seminars, project presentations, and site‐visits;– engaging with chess federations, responsible governmental authorities and correctional facilities in order to facilitate the Chess for Freedom programme introduction in all continents and provide a continuously growing participation in Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners;– developing video and web training programmes for a chess training in correctional institutions;– launching a research project on the impact of chess on individuals in custody during the incarceration time and after that;– devising a post‐incarceration reintegration and monitoring program;– attracting strategic informative, financial and administrative partners to expand Chess for Freedom activities;– promoting the Chess for Freedom project to media;– organizing the Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners on annual basis. Participants of the conference have also met the Cook County Department of Correction administration and staff, and watched presentations and interactive sessions with members of the penitentiary administration. They had an opportunity to visit the jail and see the social programmes in action – play chess with inmates and have a pizza that was baked by prisoners themselves for lunch. “A recipe for a change!” is the slogan for their cooking programme which could as well be appropriate for the chess programme. Asked why they like chess, the inmates’ answers were sharp: “Chess teaches you to make better moves in life!” Today the conference will continue with the plenary sessions, featuring many experts from the worldwide chess community presenting their national initiatives and approaches to teaching chess in prisons. The conference will be broadcast online on FIDE Youtube channel. Link to the broadcast:https://youtu.be/3M6m1Q18uHk
FIDE Online Cup for People with Disabilities starts on May 21
FIDE DIS Commission published a confirmed list of participants of the first FIDE Online Cup for People with Disabilities. This event, considered by many to be a full rehearsal before the 2020 World Chess Online Olympiad, will be held on a popular online chess platform playchess.com. On May 19 the FIDE DIS Commission held an online meeting with FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich to exchange plans and ideas on how to continue moving forward, keeping chess on top of the activities for players with disabilities. The FIDE Online Cup for People eagerly anticipated by many players will be the first important step in this direction. This invitational event will bring together 38 participants representing 28 national federations who will play not only for the title and glory but also for a €2,200 prize fund. The 5-round Swiss tournament starts on May 21, 2020, and can be followed live at playchess.com. Full list of participants in alphabetical order (pdf) Regulations (pdf) Live games: https://disabledchess.org/LIVE_GAME/m333http://live.chessbase.com/watch/1st-Online-FIDE-Cup-Players-Disabilities/ (will be active after the pairings announced) Live commentary: https://disabledchess.org/LIVE_COMMENTS/m344 Schedule: 14.00 CEST – the platform and Zoom conference opened14.30 CEST – the technical meeting and opening ceremony14.55 CEST – President’s speech15.00 CEST – the start of the tournament. Photo: David Llada