Assaubayeva and Tsolakidou triumph in first round of the Women’s Grand Prix
The first round of the first leg of the 2024/2025 Women’s Grand Prix in Tbilisi saw two victories and three draws. Two-time World Blitz Champion Bibisara Assaubayeva defeated Sara Khadem, while Stavroula Tsolakidou stunned Vaishali Rameshbabu after the Indian star misplayed in an even position After the first round Assaubayeva and Tsolakidou lead with one point, followed by six players on half a point – Javakhishvili, Mariya and Anna Muzychuk, Kosteniuk, Kashlinskaya and Dzagnidze. Vaishali and Khadem start the Women’s Grand Prix with losses. The games started at 3 PM sharp in the elegant ballroom of Tbilisi’s prestigious Biltmore Hotel. FIDE Secretary General Lukasz Turlej and Akaki Iashvili, Chair of the FIDE Events Commission and President of the Georgian Chess Association, made the ceremonial first move on the Georgian board. To avoid any chances of foul play, players from the same country were paired against one another, as were the two sisters playing in the event, Anna and Mariya Muzychuk. The game between the Muzycuk sisters was the first to finish. In a very solid line of the Berlin Defense where Anna played as White against Mariya, both sides were equal without much drama happening on the board. The game finished with a threefold repetition on move 21. While the two sisters do play harder against one another if they meet at a later stage of the event, when paired in the first round they usually tend to draw. As they confirmed in the post-game interview, they trained and prepared together, and neither had an opening secret that she did not share with her sibling. In another game, Alina Kashlinskaya and Alexandra Kosteniuk opted for a cautious approach. Kashlinskaya – one of the star members of the Polish Women’s Olympic team – led white pieces against former World Champion Kosteniuk. In the Semi-Slav, White was looking for her chances playing actively, but an early exchange of queens meant that the game entered calm waters. In a rook and knight endgame, neither side wanted to gamble at the start of the event, so they decided to call it a day. The 24-year-old player from Greece, Stavroula Tsolakidou was the first to make a break and score in Tbilisi. On the white side of the English Opening, Stavroula ended up with a pair of bishops and was making threats on the kingside, but the position was even. However, on move 25, Vaishali Rameshbabu completely misplayed. White had more space which gave her some initiative which she was using. Instead of trying to slow White down, Vaishali helped her by exchanging her bishop for a knight on e5, after which she simply lost an exchange and was completely lost. Even as the game progressed, Vaishali missed options to pose more trouble for White, giving Tsolakidou an easy finish. The game between Bibisara Assaubayeva and Sarasadat Khademalsharieh (Sara Khadem) ended with White’s victory. In the Italian, both sides were not playing the most precise moves. Gradually, it was White who grabbed the initiative. Sara (playing as Black) also got into time trouble. On move 19, Bibisara made a Greek offering to Khadem, placing her rook on f6 and creating a towering position for White with 19. Rf6!! Despite this, Assaubayeva went on to drop the advantage in the very next move after 19…Ne7 20. a5? but not for long. Pressure was mounting on Black’s kingside. As Khadem was short on time, Assaubayeva sensed her opportunity. Sara made a mistake giving space for Bibisara to effectively finish the game, after breaking through on the kingside. Both 34. Nxg5 and 34. hxg5 are equally deadly for Black. Bibisara opted to capture with the knight and wrapped it up six moves later. The longest game of the day was between the two home players, Nana Dzagnidze and Lela Javakhishvili. In the Benko Gambit, Dzagnidze got a better position as White. From the onset of the game, Nana seemed more confident – which she was showing on the board and on the clock. Gradually, Dzagnidze was building up a breakthrough in the center. However, at some point, confidence gave way to overconfidence: in a position where White was notably better, Dzagnidze made a hasty exchange which put Javakhisvili back into the game. Dzagnidze just took on e6 with her rook, and Javakhisvili responded with 30…Bd4, hoping to ease the pressure by simplifying. White should have just proceeded by placing her rook to f1, preparing a kingside push. Instead, Nana played 31.Bxd4?! and after 31…cxd4 she made another mistake, 32.Qe4 (Rc6 was key here), after which Black managed to simplify and force a drawn rook endgame. Clearly upset, Dzagnidze decided to push on in a slightly better position. Making such a gambit this early in the race is a big risk, but Dzagnidze felt her confidence was still there. Gradually, White inched her way ahead but missed her last chance to pose very serious problems for Black on move 53 (53. Rd5+ instead of 53. h5?). The game ended in a draw after just over five hours of play and 66 moves. Nana Dzagnidze must be unhappy after dropping this chance. It remains to be seen if she will be able to recover in time for the second round. Round two pairings and dates The second round of the first tournament in the 2024/25 Women’s Grand Prix series starts on Friday, 3 PM local time in Tbilisi, Georgia. Round 2 pairings: Alexandra Kosteniuk – Vaishali RameshbabuSarasadat Khademalsharieh – Stavroula TsolakidouLela Javakhishvili – Bibisara AssaubayevaMariya Muzychuk – Nana Dzagnidze Alina Kashlinskaya – Anna Muzychuk More information about the event, including the regulations and details of the pairings, as well as live game can be found on the official website: womengrandprix.fide.com/. Written by Milan Dinic Photos: Anna Shtourman
FIDE World Championship Match to be held in Singapore at Resorts World Sentosa
Singapore, August 15, 2024 – The Singapore Chess Federation (SCF) is thrilled to announce that the FIDE World Chess Championship 2024 match will take place in Singapore for the first time at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) from November 23 to December 15, 2024. This iconic event will be the first in 138 years to feature two contestants from Asia between the reigning World Champion, China’s Ding Liren and challenger Dommaraju Gukesh from India competing for the title. RWS, globally renowned for its luxurious facilities and world-class hospitality, will provide the perfect backdrop for this high-stakes match. Singapore’s first integrated resort offers a distinctive blend of diverse leisure and entertainment options, where players, officials, and fans alike can look forward to having a memorable experience. “We are privileged to partner RWS in hosting the Championship, and we look forward to witnessing the intricacies of this match unfold against the backdrop of an exceptional integrated resort,” said Mr Kevin Goh, SCF CEO and Chair of the Local Organising Committee. “This partnership preserves the prestige of the FIDE World Chess Championship while introducing an element of modernity and excitement – visitors can enjoy the luxury of having many attractions a stone’s throw away from the match venue to complement the existing suite of ancillary chess events.” Ms Lee Shi Ruh, RWS President, said: “Chess is a strategic and intellectual game that has been enjoyed for centuries and played by millions around the world. RWS is excited to welcome the FIDE World Chess Championship 2024 match and its fans from across the globe as a silver sponsor. RWS is home to a variety of world-class events that cater to a different passion – just as the game of chess is renowned for its depth and ingenuity, RWS presents a diverse range of offerings with something for everyone. Our collaboration with the SCF captures the very essence of RWS as a top-notch MICE destination for lifestyle and entertainment, and also further presents Singapore’s overall attractive appeal as a premier global hub for international sports and cultural events.” Looking ahead, visitors to RWS can also anticipate exciting blockbuster events as well as new developments, including all-new attractions, hotels, retail and dining, significantly elevating its appeal as a top lifestyle resort. Speaking about the partnership, Goh said: “We are looking for more like-minded enterprises to partner us in delivering a world-class event and showcasing the many benefits of chess. Chess is an intellectual sport that involves strategic thinking, discipline and resilience. These are values that many organisations would be aligned with.” In conjunction with the match, there will be a top-level open tournament held within minutes of the playing hall of the match. Organised by the SCF, the Singapore International Open will feature competitors from all over the world – including our very own from Singapore. “It’s amazing that I will not only be able to witness the World Championship match up close but also compete in a strong international tournament in my own country,” said local grandmaster Siddharth Jagadeesh (pictured above), who at 17 is Singapore’s youngest ever grandmaster. Tickets for the FIDE World Chess Championship Match will go on sale soon. There will also be extensive live coverage and commentary across multiple platforms, ensuring that the excitement reaches a global audience. For media enquiries, please contact press@fide.com Contact for sponsorship opportunities: marketing@fide.com For more information about the Singapore International Open, go to https://www.sgchessfestival.com
All eyes on Tbilisi as Women’s Grand Prix spectacle begins
At 3 PM local time on August 15, Georgia will become the epicenter of the chess world for the next 10 days, as elite women Grandmasters embark on an intense competition that will extend into the coming year. The ballroom of Tbilisi’s iconic Biltmore Hotel, typically a venue for balls and conferences, will transform into a battlefield where women’s and world chess history will be made. All but one of the players was present on stage at the opening – Alexandra Kosteniuk was absent as her flight was delayed and she could not make it in time. “Chess, Friends, and Love” The night before, the grandees of the Georgian chess world gathered at the same venue for the official opening ceremony. Among the 70 distinguished guests were many notable figures from Georgian chess, as well as prominent public figures, officials from the Georgian government and FIDE officials, including five-time Women’s World Champion Nona Gaprindashvili, FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky, FIDE Secretary General Lukasz Turlej, FIDE Continental President for Europe Zurab Azmaiparashvili and FIDE Special Tasks Director Akaki Iashvili. As the FIDE Official and Chair of the Appeal Committee Sava Stoisavljevic put it – “Georgia can be described in three words: chess, friends and love”, and the opening ceremony showed all three. The hospitality extended by the Georgians was second to none. From the moment the players, officials, and special guests arrived in Georgia, they were treated like Hollywood stars—whisked into limousines straight from the airplane, with their passports and luggage handled for them, receiving true VIP treatment. The opening ceremony continued in the same grand fashion. It was hosted by Giorgi Chanishvili, one of Georgia’s most famous sports journalists, also known as “the voice of Judo” in a country where the sport is incredibly popular. In fact, the ceremony began with the Georgian Chess Federation congratulating the Georgian Olympic squad, who—despite numbering only 28 athletes—achieved an outstanding feat at the Paris Olympics by winning three golds, three silvers, and one bronze medal, surpassing many larger nations and marking one of the greatest sporting successes in Georgia’s history. Akaki Iashvili opened the ceremony and greeted all the participants. “We all know that Georgian chess is rich in tradition. I believe the Georgian Chess Federation and FIDE will implement the highest level of the event. I would like to extend my gratitude to all the foreign participants who arrived in our beautiful city, the capital of Georgia,” he said. Nona Gapridashvili and Zurab Azmaiparashvili expressed similar sentiments in their short speeches. Then FIDE Secretary General General Lukasz Turlej took the stage: “It is a wonderful opportunity to be here in Georgia. The Georgian Chess Federation is one of the strongest partners of FIDE. It has an amazing history of many successful events, and I am sure this one will be no exception.” After the performance of the Georgian national anthem, the participants were invited to the stage to receive memorable gifts. There is no better place than Georgia to launch the new season of the Women’s Grand Prix. As the birthplace of chess legends like former Women’s World Champions Nona Gaprindashvili (the first woman to be awarded the title of Grandmaster) and Maia Chiburdanidze, as well as three-time Soviet Women’s Champion Nana Alexandria, Georgia holds a revered place in chess history. The country continues to produce world-class talent, including Nana Dzagnidze, Nino Batsiashvili, Lela Javakhishvili, and Bella Khotenashvili, making it a fitting host for this landmark event. The tournament in Tbilisi, a ten-player round-robin, is taking place at the luxurious Biltmore Tbilisi Hotel – the first glass skyscraper in Georgia and the highest hotel in the Caucasus Region. This inaugural event is a good mix of local players, talented youngsters and experienced GMs, including two former Women’s World Champions — Alexandra Kosteniuk, winner of the Munich leg in the 2022/23 series, and Mariya Muzychuk. The first round starts on Thursday, 3 PM local time. The time control will be 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move one. Round 1 pairings: Kashlinskaya, Alina – Kosteniuk, AlexandraMuzychuk, Anna – Muzychuk, MariyaDzagnidze, Nana – Javakhishvili, LelaAssaubayeva, Bibisara – Khademalsharieh, SarasadatTsolakidou, Stavroula – Vaishali, Rameshbabu Photos: Anna Shtourman Official website: womengrandprix.fide.com/