Women and Records in the spotlight at 45th Chess Olympiad
Budapest is set to host the 45th Chess Olympiad from 10 to 23 September at the BOK Csarnok events venue. This year’s Olympiad marks a new era, with several significant milestones: it will feature the highest number of participating teams in history, including a record number of women’s teams. Notably, Hungary will be represented by three women’s teams at this premier global chess event. As one of the world’s largest sporting events, the Olympiad will see 196 teams competing in the Open Section and 184 teams in the Women’s Section. “I’m delighted with the record number of teams, particularly the remarkable growth in women’s participation. This is the closest the ratio of men’s to women’s teams has ever been in the history of the Chess Olympiads,” said Dr. Zoltán Polyánszky, President of the Hungarian Chess Federation. “This progress is inspiring for women’s chess, but it also draws on deep traditions. In the 1970s and 80s, the renowned teams featuring Mária Ivánka and Zsuzsa Verőci earned four silver and two bronze medals in the FIDE Chess Olympiads, followed by the Polgár sisters and Ildikó Mádl winning two golds. Later, Zsuzsa Polgár became the Women’s World Champion, and Judit achieved groundbreaking results in men’s chess, setting an example for future generations. At this year’s Olympiad, I’m proud to highlight that of the 10 competitors on our women’s A and B teams, five are competing as mothers. Balancing these two roles requires extraordinary effort and exceptional organizational skills, and we are proud of them and especially grateful for their dedication.” The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has initiated programs to ensure women have equal opportunities to participate in chess. The FIDE Women’s Commission launched a special project, the National Female Team Imitative, to enable more countries to send women’s teams to the Chess Olympiad. Each of these teams represents a significant step toward gender equality in chess. Over the past year, the program has supported the preparation of women’s teams from nine countries: Liechtenstein, Guernsey, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, the US Virgin Islands, St. Lucia, Nauru, and the Cayman Islands. The debuting teams received financial support, expert coaching, and substantial mental and material support for their training sessions in July and August. “Taking our first-ever female team to the Olympiad is a milestone that highlights the progress we’ve made in increasing the number of women playing chess in St. Lucia. This achievement will undoubtedly inspire more females to take up the game. Our team members were selected from our Schools Chess Championships and the Queens Gambit Challenge Initiative. I’m proud to say that the majority of our preparation was supported by the training provided through the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess National Female Team Initiative,” said TrisAnn Richards, President of the Saint Lucia Chess Federation. Additionally, the FIDE Women’s Chess Commission introduced a pilot project called ChessMom earlier this year. This initiative provides support to female players with children under one year of age. In the past, many women were unable to participate in the Olympiad due to the challenges of being away from their children or finding childcare during competitions. The Commission addressed this by recognizing each child and caregiver as official members of their national delegation, ensuring they receive lodging, meals, and all the other benefits provided to delegation members. Participants in this project include Alina Kashlinskaya (Poland), Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia), Yuliia Osmak (Ukraine), Aster Melake Bantiwalu (Ethiopia), Rauha Shipindo (Namibia), and Nolwazi Nkwanyane (Eswatini). FIDE aims to establish this support system for chess-playing mothers as a standard feature, expanding the pilot project into a full program for future competitions. Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board, emphasized FIDE’s commitment to promoting women’s chess: “FIDE is deeply committed to empowering women in chess by creating opportunities and providing the necessary support to help them excel. Whether through initiatives like the ChessMom program or supporting the participation of new teams at the Olympiad, our goal is to ensure that women in chess have the same opportunities to succeed as their male counterparts.” Adding to the celebration of women in chess, Chilean singer and performance artist Juga will launch a unique art project in Budapest. Known for her chess-inspired work, Juga is filming a new video in Budapest to honor women in chess worldwide. The short film will showcase the top female chess players from 160 countries, as well as women who contribute to chess as teachers, streamers, photographers, referees, and officials. Filming will take place on September 17, a rest day for the Olympiad, at the iconic Hungarian Fine Arts Museum in Budapest. The video will feature her song ‘Queen Trap’ and Juga has promised that she will represent female chess players in a way that has never been done before. Juga is hoping to work with all of the Olympiad’s female competitors where a number of international stars have already signalled their participation, including Judit Polgár, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Elizabeth Paehtz, Bibisara Assaubayeva, and Tania Sachdev. As part of this year’s Chess Olympiad, the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess hosts “Women&Chess&Balance” conference on 21 September 2024. More information can be found here: https://wom.fide.com/womconference/. “I am extremely excited that FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess implemented so many incredible projects. FIDE will continue thriving in this meaningful direction! Taking the opportunity I would like to invite you all to the Conference to attend the conference,” said Anastasia Sorokina, Chair of the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess. About the FIDE Chess Olympiad The 45th Chess Olympiad is being organized by the Nemzeti Rendezvényszervező Ügynökség Nonprofit Zrt (Hungarian National Events Organizing Agency) in collaboration with the Hungarian Chess Federation and FIDE. The event will run from September 10 to 23, featuring a variety of free chess activities and programming at the BOK Csarnok venue. The tournament will be broadcast live with expert commentary. Organizers will also host numerous additional programs and side events, including the exhibition dedicated to the 100-year anniversary of FIDE. Children new to chess can learn the basics in a
French Championship 2024: Moussard and Daulyte-Cornette win titles
Jules Moussard and Deimanté Daulyte-Cornette are the new chess champions of France. Just like a year ago, the French Chess Championship 2024, 16-player knockout tournaments held in open and women’s sections, took place from August 16-25 in Alpe d’Huez, France. In case of a tie after two classical games, a 2-game Rapid (15+10) was played, followed by a 2-game Blitz (5+3) and an Armageddon (5 vs 4) if needed. The competition brought together the best French players except for Alireza Firouzja and Maxime Vachierv-Lagrave, battling in the 2024 Sinquefield Cup. On his way to the final, Jules Moussard beat Marie Sebag (the only female player who played in the open section) in the round of 16, then prevailed over Sebastien Maze on the blitz tiebreaker in the quarterfinals and finally defeated Romain Edouard in the rapid games. Laurent Fressinet’s path to the final was even more challenging, as he had to play two Armageddon games in the round of 16 and the quarterfinals (battling past Matthieu Cornette and Peio Duboue) and defeating Pierre-Laurent Paoli in the semis. As expected, the final was a very tightly contested match. The opponents traded victories in classical and rapid games, but Jules Moussard won both blitz games to clinch his second national title. Romain Édouard defeated Pierre Laurent-Paoli in the small final and took bronze. The women’s final featuring Deimanté Daulyte-Cornette and Pauline Guichard was also a close affair that came down to blitz. After drawing the first game, Deimanté Daulyte-Cornette emerged victorious in the second one and secured her maiden national title. Sophie Milliet completed the podium after besting Mitra Hejazipour in the match for third place. Photo: official website Official website: alpedhuez2024.ffechecs.org/
FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships 2024: Making history on Wall Street
New York City will become the epicenter of the chess world as the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships make their North American debut from December 26-31, 2024. The iconic Wall Street backdrop will set the stage for a thrilling competition as the world’s top chess players converge in the heart of global finance. Fast chess formats, including Rapid and Blitz, are among the most exciting in the sport, demanding quick decisions, sharp instincts, and nerves of steel. These fast-paced games are not only a test of skill but also of mental endurance, making them a favorite among players and spectators. Adding to the excitement, another addition to this year’s event is a free day between the Rapid and Blitz Championships, which will be dedicated to Chess Davos – an exclusive conference exploring the intersection of chess and finance. “This is going to be a unique event in so many ways. Top chess grandmasters will gather at the financial heart of the world, and what fascinates me is the enormous concentration of the sharpest minds and the synergies that will be born,” said Emil Sutovsky, FIDE CEO. “I’m very much looking forward to an event that has everything it takes to become a landmark, ‘I-was-there’ kind of gathering.” A Monumental First in the Heart of the United States Wall Street, synonymous with power and intensity, provides the perfect backdrop for this high-stakes event. The 2024 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships promise to be the most spectacular yet, as chess converges with the beating heart of global finance. This historic occasion marks the first time the event is held in North America, bringing the excitement and prestige of chess to new heights in the United States. The championship is a widely broadcast and watched event, and all eyes will surely be on Wall Street this December. “This year’s FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships represent a historic milestone for chess, bringing the event to North America for the first time and returning to New York, a city with a rich chess tradition,” said Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President. “This year, as we celebrate FIDE’s centenary, it’s fitting to reflect on the legendary New York International Chess Tournament held exactly a century ago, marking a glorious era for chess in the United States. Now, as chess enjoys a new golden age in the U.S., we are excited to bridge this glorious past with a prosperous present.” A New Schedule This year, FIDE has introduced a new schedule designed to enhance the experience for players and spectators. The event kicks off with the Rapid Championship from December 26 to 28, followed by a day off on December 29. The competition will resume on December 30 and 31 with the Blitz Championship. Get ready to be part of the electrifying atmosphere! Tickets for both general admission and VIP packages will be available to the public soon. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks. Join us in New York for an unforgettable celebration of chess on Wall Street. With an iconic venue, an exciting new schedule, and massive global interest, the 2024 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships are set to become a landmark event in the history of chess. Contact email for participants: worldrapidandblitz@fide.com