Starting with a bang: Chess Torch Ceremony kicks off FIDE’s centennial celebration
2024 promises to be a momentous year for chess as FIDE celebrates its 100th birthday. To commemorate this huge milestone, the year will be filled with chess activities around the world – from festivals and historical exhibitions, to special tournaments such as the Candidates. There is a lot in store and a lot to be excited about. Now, what better way to start the festivities with a bang? This is exactly what happened today, with a special Chess Torch Ceremony held in India to mark FIDE’s centennial celebration. The Chess Torch Ceremony began with a vibrant event in New Delhi at the Major Dhyan National Stadium. The event, rich in cultural performances and chess-related activities, saw the lighting of the Chess Torch by India’s Sports Minister, Anurag Singh Thakur. Esteemed guests and chess greats, including Viswanathan Anand and Judit Polgar, were present, and the big day included multiple chess activities and speeches. The event began at 08:30 with a Kids Blitz tournament, with chess legends Viswanathan Anand and Judit Polgar making their inaugural moves, setting a lively and inclusive tone for the day. Dr. Sanjay Kapoor, President of the All India Chess Federation, offered a warm welcome address, followed by a captivating video presentation celebrating FIDE’s centennial and its diverse activities planned for the year. Then, a “Hand & Brain” chess game between Mr Anurag Singh Thakur and Vishy Anand vs Arkady Dvorkovich and Judit Polgar was played, adding an interactive element to the event. What was the result, you may ask? Well, after some friendly competition, the game ended in a draw! FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich delivered an address, further emphasizing the global and unifying nature of chess, stating, “It is my firm belief, and our joint vision at FIDE, that chess is not just a game or a sport, but it is a huge tool to improve our society.” This address highlighted how chess can bridge cultures, ages, and backgrounds and how FIDE aims to bring chess to all communities in the world. The speech was followed by a vibrant cultural act representing various parts of India, showcasing the country’s diverse heritage and connection to chess. The highlight of the ceremony was the lighting of the cauldron by Mr. Anurag Singh Thakur and Arkady Dvorkovich, symbolizing the official start of the Chess Torch Relay, which aims to unite the chess community worldwide. The Torch will travel the world to reach Budapest, Hungary in September, where the 45th Chess Olympiad will take place. All India Chess Federation President, Dr Sanjay Kapoor’s address beautifully highlighted the significance of the Torch: “Today, as the torch embarks on its journey from India to Budapest, let us remember that it symbolizes the unity and camaraderie that define our global chess family. And the values that it represents: perseverance, determination, and the unbreakable bonds that tie us together. Together, let us ignite the flames of inspiration and passion for the game of chess, and may they burn brightly for generations to come.” Overall, it was a uniquely meaningful day which represents the special centennial year that we, as a global chess community, will get to celebrate with FIDE. Photos: Stev Bonhage
FIDE announces 2024 World Corporate Chess Championship
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) is pleased to announce the second World Corporate Chess Championship, bringing chess and business together in a series of online events that will conclude with an over-the-board final in New York in June FIDE is excited to present the 2024 World Corporate Chess Championship aimed at companies and corporations from across the world. Chess and business share similarities in strategic thinking, decision-making, competition, and the need for effective planning. Both involve navigating complex environments where individuals or companies must assess risks, seize opportunities, and formulate tactics to achieve their objectives. In both realms, success often hinges on the ability to analyze situations, make informed decisions, and adapt to changing circumstances. That is why bringing people from the world of business to chess makes sense! “Business and work are areas of life where chess vocabulary is often used to explain and illustrate things and where concepts from the 64-square game play a role in conceptualizing strategies and plans. With this in mind, we thought it would be a good idea to bring chess closer to the corporate world,” said Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Deputy Chair of FIDE’s Management Board and former minister of economics and finance of Latvia. “In a year where we celebrate our 100th anniversary, this is also a good opportunity to foster new connections and open new opportunities for the promotion of chess,” Reizniece-Ozola added. The first World Corporate Chess Championship was held in 2021 and was completely online. This year’s edition will feature an over-the-board final, with top teams meeting in New York to decide the winner. Who can take part The event is open to teams representing legally recognized companies from all around the world. A participating company can register more than one team, with each team consisting of four members plus a team captain (who may or may not also be a player on the team). Every team has a right to have one invited player who is not directly employed at the company or a member of the board, while all other team members have to be working for/on the board of the company. In any round at any stage of the competition, each team must have at least one male and one female player playing. To ensure a level playing field, each team may only have one player whose FIDE standard rating exceeds 2400 (according to the January 2024 FIDE Rating list). The qualifying stages The FIDE World Corporate Chess Championship will consist of three stages: Online Qualifiers (played on Lichess.org) Online Knockout (played on Lichess.org) The Finals (played over-the-board at the grand finale in New York in June) The Online Qualifiers will be played in two different formats – Rapid (six rounds, played with a time limit of 10 minutes plus 2 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1) and Blitz (eight rounds, played at a time limit of 5 minutes plus 2 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1). The Online Qualifiers will be played as Team Swiss System tournaments. The team’s score shall be calculated as a sum of gamepoints. Each team will score 1 gamepoint for each game won, and ½ gamepoint for each game drawn, and 0 gamepoints for each game lost. The qualifier stages will take place on the following dates: Date Time Time control March 16 14:00 – 18:00 UTC Blitz March 17 14:00 – 18:00 UTC Rapid March 23 06:00 – 10:00 UTC Blitz March 24 22:00 – 02:00 UTC Rapid April 6 14:00 – 18:00 UTC Blitz April 7 06:00 – 10:00 UTC Rapid April 13 22:00 – 02:00 UTC Blitz April 14 14:00 – 18:00 UTC Rapid The top 8 teams in each qualifier’s final rankings will advance to the Online Knockout Stage. The knockouts will be organized on Saturday, April 20, between 14:00 and 18:00 UTC. The Finals will take place in New York on June 14-17. They will be played between eight winners of the Online Knockout Stage. The event will feature a group stage and a playoff stage. The prize Teams reaching the finals have their travel and accommodation expenses in New York covered. Additionally, they secure four seats each for an online simultaneous chess game against a participant of the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024. Additional prizes will come. Also, the winner will get FIDE’s recognition as the smartest company in the world. Every participating team/corporate gets a digital diploma for participating. The official website of the event with the registration form will be launched on Monday, February 19. Regulations for World Corporate Chess Championship 2024
World Cadet U8, U10 and U12 Rapid & Blitz Championship: Registration is open
FIDE and the Albanian Chess Federation cordially invite all young players to participate in the World Cadet U8, U10 and U12 Rapid & Blitz Championship, which will be held in Durres, Albania from April 25-29. The playing hall is located in the official hotel of the Championship: Grand Blue FAFA Resort 5*. Registration is open until February 25, 2024, via the following link: worldcadetrb2024.fide.com/registration/ Schedule Full regulations for the Cadet World Championship and all the details are available on the official website: worldcadetrb2024.fide.com/
FIDE WSTCC 2024: Registration is open
FIDE, the Polish Chess Federation and the Malopolska Chess Association are happy to invite all the FIDE member federations and eligible teams to participate in the World Senior Team Chess Championships 2024 in Krakow, Poland. The dates are from July 1 (day of arrival) to July 12 (day of departure), 2024. The event will be held in two age categories: Open 50+ and Open 65+, with separate competitions for women. The player must have reached or reach the required age during the year of the competition. Separate Women’s Championship(s) will take place if there are at least ten teams from at least two continents. Otherwise, women’s teams will play in open competition. The Championships are open tournaments for teams registered by their federation. FIDE member federations can send as many teams as they wish. The deadline for the registration is May 10, 2024. The official website for the FIDE Senior Teams Championship will be launched by February 20, 2024. Official website: worldseniorteam2024.fide.com E-mail: worldseniorteam@fide.com World Senior Team Championship invitation letter and regulations (pdf) World Senior Team Championship registration form (pdf)