FIDE publishes regulations for 2024 Candidates Tournaments
General information about the forthcoming 2024 FIDE Candidates and Women’s Candidates Chess Tournaments in Toronto Toronto is poised to make chess history as it hosts the 2024 FIDE Candidates from April 3-23, where the challenger for the title of world champion will be determined in both the Open and the Women’s categories. It will be a double first for chess: the first time the Candidates are held in North America and the first time that both the Open and the Women’s Candidates tournaments take place together. This event, featuring 16 top-world players (eight in the open and eight in the Women’s category), has a combined prize fund of 750,000 euros, with 500,000 allocated for the Open and 250,000 for the Women’s event. The event continues a long-term collaboration initiated in 2022 under the patronage of the Scheinberg family, demonstrating their commitment to supporting the growth of chess on the global stage. General information: Toronto’s historic Great Hall (located at 1087 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1H3) will serve as the battleground for the elite players, engaging in a double round-robin tournament spanning 14 rounds. Spectators will be able to witness the intensity of the matches firsthand and experience the thrill of seeing top world players in person. Participants: Open Candidates*: Ian Nepomniachtchi, 2023 Match Runner-up R Praggnanandhaa, 2023 World Cup 2nd Fabiano Caruana, 2023 World Cup 3rd Nijat Abasov, 2023 World Cup 4th Vidit Santosh Gujrathi, 2023 Grand Swiss winner Hikaru Nakamura, 2023 Grand Swiss 2nd Alireza Firouzja, Best by Rating Gukesh D 2023 FIDE Circuit Winner *Magnus Carlsen, who qualified for the Candidates by winning the 2023 World Cup, earlier informed FIDE that he will not be taking part in the event. As per FIDE Candidates qualification paths, Nijat Abasov, who finished 4th in the World Cup, took his place. Women’s Candidates: Lei Tingjie, 2023 Match Runner-up Kateryna Lagno, 2022-23 WGP 1st Aleksandra Goryachkina, 2022-23 WGP 2nd Nurgyul Salimova, 2023 World Cup 2nd Anna Muzychuk, 2023 World Cup 3rd Vaishali Rameshbabu, 2023 Grand Swiss 1st Tan Zhongyi, 2023 Grand Swiss 2nd Humpy Koneru, Best by Rating (World Cup spot replacement) Drawing of Pairings and Colors: The drawing of pairings and colors will be conducted by the Chief Arbiter, in coordination with the FIDE COO, no later than four weeks before the start of the Candidates Tournament. Players from the same federation shall play each other in rounds 1 and 8 (if only two) and in rounds 1, 2, 3 and 8, 9, 10 if there are up to three players from the same federation. Withdrawals after completing 50% or more of games will result in the remaining games being declared as lost by default. For withdrawals before this threshold, all results will be annulled. The dress code is strictly observed for the tournament and all the official events and press-conferences. Men are required to wear a neat shirt and formal suit, while women players should wear a neat shirt/blouse and formal suit (with slacks or skirt) or dress. Any requests to wear national or traditional dress shall be approved by the FIDE Technical Delegate. Open Candidates Tournament Information: Time control: 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment per move starting from move 41. Prizes: 48,000 euros for the winner, 36,000 euros for the second place, and 24,000 euros for the third place. Additionally, players receive 3,500 euros for every half-point scored. Women’s Candidates Tournament Information: Time control: 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment per move starting from move 1. Prizes: 24,000 euros for the winner, 18,000 euros for the second place, and 12,000 euros for the third place. Additionally, players receive 1,750 euros for every half-point scored. Preparations for the event: Tournament Director, Grandmaster Pavel Tregubov, who is also the Secretary of FIDE’s Global Strategy Commission, said that everything is going to plan so far with the organization of the event. “We are thrilled to host the 2024 FIDE Candidates and Women’s Candidates tournaments in Toronto, uniting the global chess community in a groundbreaking event,” said Tregubov. “The simultaneous staging of these prestigious tournaments is a testament to the international appeal and growth of chess. We are grateful for the ongoing support of the Scheinberg family, whose dedication continues to elevate the sport,” Tregubov added. Useful links: Regulations for the Open Candidates (pdf) Regulations for the Women’s Candidates (pdf)
European Women’s Rapid and Blitz 2023: Alexandra Kosteniuk wins double gold
The European Women’s Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship 2023 took place from January 11-15, 2024 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco, bringing together 120 players from 26 European federations. Alexandra Kosteniuk emerged as the winner of both Rapid and Blitz tournaments, taking the historical double gold. The European Women’s Blitz Championship 2023, a 13-round Swiss event, was played on January 12. Heading into the last round of the competition, Alexandra Kosteniuk had a sole lead, being a whole point ahead of her closest rivals. However, after she suffered a loss at the hands of IM Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, three players tied for first place, scoring 10 points each. Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI) claimed the gold medal thanks to best tiebreaks, winning her fourth European Women’s Blitz Champion title. IM Sarasadat Khademalsharieh (ESP) clinched silver, and GM Bella Khotenashvili (GEO) took bronze. The European Women’s Rapid Chess Championship 2023 took place from January 13-14, with 116 players from 26 European federations participating. Three players headed into the final round jointly leading the field, all on 8/10: GMs Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL), Elisabeth Paehtz (GER) and Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI). While Antoaneta Stefanova and GM Elisabeth Paehtz drew their last-round game, Alexandra Kosteniuk defeated Anna Ushenina (UKR) and emerged as the sole winner of the European Women’s Rapid Championship 2023. Three players tied for second place, netting 8.5/11 points each, but Antoaneta Stefanova had the best tiebreaks and clinched silver, Elisabeth Paehtz claimed bronze, and Klaudia Kulon (POL) finished fourth and missed the podium. The Closing ceremony of the European Women’s Blitz Chess Championship 2023 took place on Friday, January 12, while the Closing ceremony of the European Women’s Rapid Chess Championship was held on January 14. The ceremonies were attended by ECU President Zurab Azmaiparashvili, the President of the Monaco Chess Federation and ECU Vice President Jean Michel Rapaire, ECU Vice President Gunnar Bjornsson, ECU Chief Executing Officer Erald Dervishi, and other distinguished guests. The final rankings of the championship can be found here. Written by europechess.org Photos: Patricia Claros Aguilar The photo gallery by Patricia Claros Aguilar can be found on the official Facebook page of the event.
Tata Steel Masters 2024: Firouzja grabs the lead
Alireza Firouzja scored his second straight victory and emerged as the sole leader after Round 2 of the Tata Steel Masters 2024 in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands. Gukesh D defeated Wei Yi and joined Anish Giri and Ian Nepomiachtchi, who drew their games. This trio is trailing the leader by a half-point. Max Warmerdam came off victorious in a Dutch derby beating Jorden Van Foreest. Alireza Firouzja – Parham Maghsoodloo | 1-0, 43 moves The game saw a sharp line of the Ruy Lopez Berlin in which White sacrifices two pawns for the initiative. Most likely, Parham either forgot or mixed up his preparation as a novelty he introduced (20…Be6 instead of 20…c6) will hardly find followers. After a precise sequence, 19. Bc4! Bd4+ 20. Kh1 Bf7 21. Qe4 Bc5 22. Ne7+ Kf8 23. Qxh7, Alizera gained a considerable advantage. Black gave up his queen, for which he got almost sufficient material equivalent, but with poorly coordinated pieces and a weak king, his position was defenceless. As soon as White snatched Black’s central pawns and advanced his h-pawn, Parham threw in the towel. Wei Yi – Gukesh D | 0-1, 33 moves The opponents followed a recent game, Praggnanandhaa – Vidit (Tata Steel India 2023), in the Giocco Piano up to a certain point, but Black deviated with 12…Qc8 (instead of 12…Rg8). The players manoeuvred in a position with a little edge for White, but around move 21, things went awry for Wei. Instead of the natural 21.Bd3, the Chinese GM opted for 21.c4?! and after 21…exd4 22. Nd5 Qd8 played 23. Nxd4, which was met with a very strong response 23…Bc5! White ended up in an inferior position with numerous weaknesses and spiralled into self-destruction, sacrificing too much material: 24. Nb3 Ba3 25. Nxc7 Qxc7 26. c5 Bxc1 27. cxd6 Qb6 28. dxe7 Rfc8. After a few moves down the road, it was all over for Wei. Jorden Van Foreest – Max Wanderdam | 0-1, 40 moves The game was decided on move 19, when in a roughly equal position, Jorden played the tempting 19.e5? but missed a very strong response. 19…Qc5! It turns out that 20.exf6 fails to 20…Qf5! Taken aback, Van Foreest did not find the most stubborn 20.Rhe1 and opted for 20.Bxe6, but after 20… fxe5 21. Qxc5 Bxc5 22. Bh6? Bd4! 23. Bb3 Rd6! had to give up an exchange (24. Rxd4 exd4). Wanderdam activated his rooks, centralized the king and forced the opponent’s capitulation right after reaching the time control. Anish Giri – Vidit Gujrathi | ½-½, 35 moves The players tested a trendy line of the Exchange Variation in Slav Defence in which Black leaves his h7-pawn unprotected for a while. On move 17 Anish introduced a new but quite logical move breaking through in the center, but Vidit was just in time to castle and coordinate his pieces, reaching equality. As soon as the opponents exchanged most of the pieces and treaded weak pawns on d4 and e6, they shook hands, splitting a point. Ding Liren – Alexander Donchenko | ½-½, 37 moves After yesterday’s defeat, Alexander boldly essayed the King’s Indian as Black. After Donchenko played the thematic d6-d5, breaking in the center, Ding introduced a new move 14. Qc1, attacking the h6-pawn that allowed Black to solve all the opening problems. At first glance, White still had some edge, but Donchenko accurately traded most of the pieces. A draw was agreed in a dead-equal rook endgame. Nodirbek Abdusattorov – Praggnanandhaa R | ½-½, 47 moves The Indian GM demonstrated excellent preparation in the Catalan and completely equalized by move 15. In the rest of the game, the opponents played with great accuracy, gradually traded most of the pieces and signed a piece in an equal rook endgame. Ian Nepomniachtchi – Ju Wenjun | ½-½, 80 moves In a long theoretical line of the Catalan, the first original move was 19…c5 by Ju, who equalized. Having a minimal edge in an endgame, Ian tried his best to grind his opponent down, but the Women’s World Champion built an impregnable fortress. White even sacrificed a pawn in a rook endgame, but to no avail. A draw was agreed with only two rooks and kings left on the board. Standings after Round 2 1 Firouzja, Alireza FRA 2759 2 2-4 Gukesh, D IND 2725 1½ 2-4 Giri, Anish NED 2749 1½ 2-4 Nepomniachtchi, Ian FIDE 2769 1½ 5-10 Warmerdam, Max NED 2625 1 5-10 Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi IND 2742 1 5-10 Praggnanandhaa, R IND 2743 1 5-10 Abdusattorov, Nodirbek UZB 2727 1 5-10 Wei, Yi CHN 2740 1 5-10 Ding, Liren CHN 2780 1 11-13 Ju, Wenjun CHN 2549 ½ 11-13 Donchenko, Alexander GER 2643 ½ 11-13 Maghsoodloo, Parham IRI 2740 ½ 14 Van Foreest, Jorden NED 2682 0 Masters pairings Photos: Jurriaan Hoefsmit and Lennart Ootes – Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2024 Official website: tatasteelchess.com