Workshop on broadcasting tournaments using VAR took place in Montesilvano
On November 23, at the World Youth Championship 2023 in Montesilvano, Italy, a workshop for arbiters and federation representatives on how to make chess broadcasts using VAR (video assistant referee) in tournaments was held. VAR (Video assistant referee) is a set of technological solutions to help referees at sports competitions. In many sports, various technologies are already used to help referees make decisions. The VAR system allows arbiters to track controversial moments in the game. However, the final decision remains with the human arbiter. In other words, VAR systems provide additional information but do not make decisions for people. Representatives of Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Denmark, Cyprus, India, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Monaco, UAE, and other countries attended the workshop. They learned how to use the idChess platform and to implement VAR technologies at tournaments. “I learnt about idChess last year. I see that a platform has a lot of useful features; it recognizes the game very well. I’ll definitely recommend it,” said IA& IO Arild Rimestad from the Danish Chess Federation. “I was already familiar with this technology and had seen it at many tournaments. The broadcasting platform is very convenient and easy to use. As an arbiter, I welcome the use of VAR at all tournaments very much,” said Bauyrzhan Khamzin, a FIDE arbiter from Kazakhstan. For all federations, tournament organizers, and coaches idChess grants free access to the tournament organizer account at live.idChess.com. The account allows you to create and manage tournaments, save game data in PGN format, instantly upload pairings, and many more. To gain access to a personal account, leave a request. If you were unable to participate in the workshop, join the idChess webinar November 30: “How to easily broadcast tournament games and use VAR to resolve controversies in the game”. To participate, please fill out the form. Photos: Przemek Nikiel
2023 Sinquefield Cup: Day 3 Recap
Breaking news was delivered shortly before the start of the third round of the Sinquefield Cup, as GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda withdrew from the tournament due to health issues. This meant that GM Leinier Dominguez essentially received a rest day, as the rest of the field continued to battle it out. But once again, after the dust settled, the draw curse is still alive with all draws yet again in Round 3. Additionally, due to Duda’s withdrawal from the event, players will now play 8 games and GM Anish Giri’s draw in the first round against Duda will be voided. ROUND 3 RAPPORT-FIROUZJA | ½-½, 35 moves This game got off to a promising start, as Rapport chose 5.Nc3 against the Petroff, deviating from his choice in Round 1. Firouzja surprised everyone with 9…Nb6, opting away from the normal placement of the black knight on f6. Fire came on the board as the players contested a fresh position, with the ever-creative Rapport coming up with 13.c4!?, a move “not in the top 10 moves” of commentator GM Peter Svidler, and Firouzja responding 2 moves later with 15…Bxb2+. Just when the game seemed to reach its climax and Black’s position hanging in the balance, Rapport bailed out to a level endgame and the players split the point. Rapport-Firouzja: Complications strewn all over the board, and Rapport liquidated with 18.Bc7; 18.Be5! then Qg3 or 18.Qg3! first then Be5 would’ve given White the upper hand. Photo courtesy of Saint Louis Chess Club, Lennart Ootes GIRI-SO | ½-½, 39 moves Two potential 2024 Candidates faced off with hopes of gaining an edge in the race for a Candidates spot, but no harm, no foul. Known for his solid style, So met Giri’s 1.e4 with the Berlin, and the two headed into the topical Anti-Berlin after 4.d3 Bc5. An unbalanced game quickly headed towards a draw after both sides locked up the position, and a repetition ended the game before time control. Fighting for a spot in the Candidates, will nerves play a role as the race comes down to the wire? | Photo courtesy of Saint Louis Chess Club, Lennart Ootes ARONIAN-NEPOMNIACHTCHI | ½-½, 32 moves Aronian opted for the less popular 4.e3 in the Queen’s Gambit, but it was not enough to deter Nepomniachtchi as he diffused the complications with accurate calculation. Soon an approximately balanced endgame was reached, and when Aronian decided on further simplifications, the game was the first to be in the books; an uneventful and accurate-played draw. VACHIER-LAGRAVE-CARUANA | ½-½, 41 moves Having experimented with various lines in the Spanish recently, Caruana turned to the Zaitsev as his weapon of choice against Vachier-Lagrave. But once again a position filled with tension was turned into a quick skirmish and mass liquidation with Caruana’s 19…bxa4 followed by 20…d5. Though Vachier-Lagrave kept trying, entering a two minor pieces versus a rook ending, a draw was never far from sight and the players settled to share the point on move 42. Vachier-Lagrave-Caruana: Caruana’s accurate calculation led to simplification, and Vachier’s attempt to spice up the game with 25. Rxe5 here was to no avail; draw. Photo courtesy of Saint Louis Chess Club, Lennart Ootes DOMINGUEZ-DUDA | CANCELED Due to the health issues that were reported yesterday, Duda decided to withdraw from the tournament. On his X account, he remarked, “I regret to have to withdraw from the competition due to serious health issues. I appreciate all the effort from organizers to help me, but unfortunately I am not able to compete. I wish all players and spectators a great event.” We wish him a fast recovery and best wishes. The Sinquefield Cup continues on November 24, with live coverage starting at 1:15 PM CST. Catch all the action live with grandmaster commentators Yasser Seirawan, Peter Svidler, and Jovanka Houska on uschesschamps.com and on the Saint Louis Chess Club’s YouTube and Twitch.tv channels! Written by WGM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova Official website:grandchesstour.org/2023-grand-chess-tour/2023-sinquefield-cup/