2024 FISU World University Championship Mind Sports underway in Uganda
Entebbe, Uganda is playing host to the 2024 FISU World University Championship Mind Sports Chess & Bridge, taking place from June 24 to 30. The Association of Uganda University Sports (AUUS) is proud to continue its tradition of hosting FISU World University Championships. This marks the fourth time Uganda has organized a FISU event, following Woodball in 2010 (Kampala), Cross Country in 2014 (Entebbe), and Netball in 2018 (Kampala). “The Entebbe 2024 FISU World University Championship Mind Sports promises to be an exhilarating display of intellectual prowess, strategic thinking, and friendly competition,” states Vincent Kisenyi, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (pictured below, in the middle). Entebbe, a captivating town situated on a peninsula of Lake Victoria near the Entebbe International Airport, provides a stunning backdrop for the competition. Participants can enjoy breathtaking views and access to Africa’s largest lake, renowned for its diverse fish population. The women’s podium in 2022 in Antwerp The 2022 Antwerp championship saw Fiona Sieber (Germany) claim the women’s chess title, followed by Anastasia Avramidou (Greece) and Anna Kubicka (Poland). In the open chess competition, Arash Daghli (Iran) secured gold, while Igor Janik (Poland) and Jingyao Tin (Singapore) took silver and bronze respectively. The open podium in 2022 in Antwerp This year’s edition features twelve teams from across the globe: Botswana, Czech Republic, France, India, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Poland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Slovakia, and Uganda. The championship chess program offers classical and blitz tournaments for both the open and women’s categories. Following a vibrant opening ceremony, the players made their first moves, officially launching the chess program of the 2024 FISU World University Championship Mind Sports. For more details, visit the official website. Photos: fisu.net/ and official website
26th Asian Youth Chess Championships conclude in Almaty, Kazakhstan
The 26th Asian Youth Chess Championships, held June 10-20, 2024, at the Almaty Sports Palace in Kazakhstan, came to a successful close. Setting a record for participant numbers in an international chess event hosted by Kazakhstan, the competition attracted 650 young players aged 7 to 18 from 33 countries. The youngsters battled it out in all time controls: standard, rapid, and blitz. The event was organized by the Kazakhstan Chess Federation (KazChess), with support from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Asian Chess Federation, the Akimat of Almaty, and the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation. Freedom Holding Corp. is the general partner of the championships. Kazakh chess players emerged victorious, winning the first team place. Competing against top juniors from leading chess countries such as India, China, and Iran, they secured 25 medals, including 12 gold. The closing ceremony featured by KazChess President Timur Turlov, Almaty City Mayor Beibut Shakhanov, Secretary General of the Asian Chess Federation Hisham Al-Tahera, FIDE Management Board Executive Director Viktor Bologan, and other dignitaries. “This tournament is of great significance for our country, reflecting the trust of the global chess community. For the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, it was a test of our professionalism. Judging by the number of awards won by our players and the positive feedback from participants from 33 countries, we passed this test with flying colors,” said Timur Turlov, President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, who personally congratulated the winners at the closing ceremony. Participants hailed from various parts of Asia, from Iran to New Zealand. Besides the Kazakh team, which won medals in all three time controls (12 gold, 8 silver, and 5 bronze), other notable winners included FIDE (9 gold medals), India (5 gold medals), Vietnam (3 gold), Iran (3 gold), China (1 gold), Mongolia (1 gold), Kyrgyzstan (1 gold), and the Philippines (1 gold). Three participants achieved double victories in both standard and rapid: Narayani Umesh Maratha (G08) from India, Anna Shukhman (G18, FIDE), and Kazakhstan’s Aldiyar Ansat (U18). Besides the overall team standings, 36 gold medals were awarded across boys’ and girls’ categories in six age groups and three time controls (rapid, standard, and blitz). At the closing ceremony, the newly crowned World Junior Chess Champion, Kazybek Nogerbek, was also honored. In a remarkable gesture, KazChess President Timur Turlov announced a “golden package” of support worth 30 million tenge, presented Kazybek with the keys to an electric car and personally congratulated him on his remarkable victory, marking a new chapter in the history of Kazakh chess. The 26th Youth Championship was held with a focus on environmental friendliness and sustainable development. All plastic used at the tournament was recycled, with participants even contributing by using a unique bicycle shredder. Notably, the championship winners’ cups were also crafted from recycled plastic. Beyond the intense competition, the championship offered participants opportunities to explore Almaty’s natural beauty by hiking at Shymbulak. The Kazakhstan Chess Federation also organized master classes with Moldavian grandmaster and FIDE executive director Viсtor Bologan and Kazakh grandmaster Alisher Suleimenov as well as other leisure activities. Official website of the event: aycc2024.kazchess.kz Press releases and photos of the 26th Asian Youth Championship can be found here.
FIDE World Cup 8-12: Multiple leaders emerge after Day 2
It’s been a thrilling start to the FIDE World Cup Under 8-12 in Batumi, Georgia, with several players sharing the lead after two rounds. U8 Group A in the girls section sees a three-way tie for first between Chen Zhihan (China), Yan Rayna (USA), and Baghramyan Sofia (Armenia). Group B is even more competitive, with five players – Elizabeth Xia (USA), Azaliya Balakanova (Kazakhstan), Reana Kinzyabulatova (FIDE), Harshika M (India), and Amira Shomanova (Kazakhstan) – all on two points. Similar stories unfold in the older age groups. Both U10 sections boast multiple leaders. Samhita Pungavanam (India), Khusnitdinova Husnorakhon (Uzbekistan), Zhang Jianning (China), and Kiyana Parihar (India) share the top spot in Group A. Yunker Alisa Genrietta (FIDE), Yi Ruiyu (China), and Divi Bijesh (India) lead Group B. In the Girls U12 Group A, as many as five participants recorded two wins in two rounds: WFM Laurie Qiu (USA), Aknur Mamakova (Kazakhstan), Xue Tianhao (China), Leyla Mirzaliyeva (Azerbaijan), and Kristina Zavivaeva (FIDE). Similarly, in Group B, there are also five players with 2 points each: WFM Devindya Oshini Gunawardhana (Sri Lanka), Bordoloi Pratitee (India), Pavithra R V (India), Xu Luna Yuexiu (New Zeland), and Khanzada Amanzhol (Kazakhstan). The Open sections mirror the Girls’ section with exciting close races. In Open U8 Group A, five players – Prokhor Baranov (FIDE), Rizat Ulan (Kazakhstan), Reddy Adulla Divith (India), Jan Szumiec (Poland), and Swain Sattwik (India) – are tied for first. Open U8 Group B is even tighter with six players sharing the lead. The fight for the championship continues in the U10 and U12 Open sections as well. Five players in Open U10 Group A – CM Reyaansh Chakrabarty (Australia), Lev Shangin (USA), CM Kaushik Ashwath (Singapore), Malhotra Vyom (India), and Nurali Bolashakov (Kazakhstan) – boast perfect scores. Open U10 Group B sees Modith Aaroh Mutyalapati (Canada), Joshua Xia (USA), Yu Zechen (China), and Khasan Akramov (Uzbekistan) leading the pack. Finally, the U12 Open sections are equally tense. Four players – Biloliddin Obidov (Uzbekistan), Siddhanth Poonja (India), Damir Bulgak (FIDE), and Yang Zilong (China) – top Group A. Tatvidze Davit (Georgia), Gabriel Gabadadze (Georgia), Qu Haoming (China), and Baatar Batbaatar (Mongolia) share the lead in Group B. Stay tuned for more updates from the FIDE World Cup U 8 – 12 in Batumi, Georgia. Official website: wcc2024.fide.com Live games: chess.com/events/2024-fide-world-cup-u8-group-a/games Video and live commentaries:youtube.com/watch?v=3yXvGJwXe3w&ab_channel=chessingeorgia64 Photos: Sophie Nikoladze and Tornike Tavadze