45th Chess Olympiad R02: Norway struggles without Carlsen, top teams lose board points
As the Chess Olympiad progresses, the matches become tougher. In the second round, the favorites still faced weaker teams, but the rating differences are narrowing. This led to many teams conceding more individual points and some even not winning their matches. Canada, seeded 50th, delivered an upset by drawing 2-2 with tournament’s #6 Norway. Former U18 World Champion Shawn Rodrigue-Lemieux (2509) won one of the longest games of the round against Johan-Sebastian Christiansen (2661) on board one. The absence of team leader Magnus Carlsen negatively impacted Norway, despite them being approximately 100 rating points favorites on each board. Ireland (#64) surprisingly drew with Israel (#20), Estonia (#60) split points with Serbia (#16), Mongolia (#63) drew with the Czech Republic (#19), and Venezuela (#67) tied their match with Greece (#23). China lost its first individual points but defeated Chile. World Champion Ding Liren drew on the first board against Cristobal Henriquez Villagra. Uzbekistan also conceded half a point to Egypt when Hamed Wafa (2368) managed to draw against Javokhir Sindarov (2677). The Netherlands narrowly won against Belgium with two draws on the lower boards, but were never at risk of losing the match, winning 2.5-1.5. Despite winning two matches, team USA has not yet found its best form. Fabiano Caruana scored the first win against Singapore in Round 2 but expressed concern about his teammates during the match: “At the moment, Levon is struggling. His game today is very dangerous for him, and we can’t really afford to lose a game. We’re playing a solid team, and they are probably going to make two draws with the white pieces.” His worries were in vain, though, as the team eventually won the match 4-0. India has also left no chances for their opponents so far, winning their second match 4-0, this time against Iceland. In the women’s section, Nikolina Koljevic (2030) from Montenegro delivered an upset to Salome Melia (2293), but Georgia, one of the tournament’s favorites, still won the match 3-1. “Some teams come here to have fun and meet friends, but for us, it’s always a fight for medals,” commented Nino Batsiashvili. “Any medal is good, but we’re striving for gold. We were so close last time!” Defending champions Ukraine had a surprisingly tough match against Lithuania as top board Yuliia Osmak (2471) lost to Olena Martynkova (2176) and the last board Evgeniya Doluhanova (2304) drew against Gabija Simkunaite (2005). The two middle boards won their games, securing a narrow 2.5-1.5 victory for Ukraine. Poland and China won their matches convincingly, 4-0. Position of the day: Andres Rodriguez Vila (Uruguay, 2417) – Vasyl Ivanchuk (Ukraine, 2635) Black to move 24…Bxf5! The game continued 25.Qxh5 Bg4 26.Qh8 Bxh3 and Black won in a few moves. Results of the top matches: Open: USA 4-0 SingaporeIceland 0-4 IndiaChina 3.5-0.5 ChileEgypt 0.5-3.5 UzbekistanNetherlands 2.5-1.5 Belgium Women: India 3.5-0.5 Czech RepublicMontenegro 1-3 GeorgiaPoland 4-0 BrazilColombia 0-4 ChinaUkraine 2.5-0.5 Lithuania Full results: Chess-results.com – 45th Chess Olympiad Written by WGM Anna Burtasova Photos: Michal Walusza, Mark Livshitz and Maria Emelianova Official website: chessolympiad2024.fide.com
Judit Polgar’s Global Chess Festival celebrates 10th edition
The world’s most inspiring chess event turns ten this year – Let’s celebrate together with Judit Polgar and Ernő Rubik Inspiration is an integral part of our lives. We can draw ideas from our morning coffee just as much as from a meaningful conversation or the life journey of the world’s best female chess player, whose charisma inspires millions. This inner motivational power is brought to us by the chess legend Judit Polgar at the jubilee Global Chess Festival. Recharge your creative energy! The two-day event series kicks off at the Hungarian National Gallery. “Based on feedback from visitors and speakers, this festival is the most inspiring event of the year, which is why they love to return again and again. Their opinions inspire me as well. That’s why I chose inspiration as the central theme of this year’s event. Looking back, I was inspired as a child by my parents, my siblings, and various situations. For example, I was 12 years old, and one of the greatest chess players of all time, Garry Kasparov, watched my game. As an adult, I can find inspiration in a good book, an interesting performance, or a meaningful conversation. can draw inspiration from a good book, an interesting lecture, or a meaningful conversation. We will not lack any of these at the festival,” revealed Judit Polgár, the best female chess player in history and the festival’s founder. The organizers added that the 10th Judit Polgar’s Global Chess Festival, sponsored by Morgan Stanley, a company with an outstanding chess culture, will be about anniversaries, great encounters, and celebrations. More than 20 programs await visitors across three locations. Chess brings together families and communities On September 17, the first day of the festival at the National Gallery, visitors will have the opportunity to meet the Polgár sisters in person for a joint book signing, happening for the first time in five years. One of the festival’s flagship programs is the community chess simul where Judit Polgar will play against eight communities (hundreds of thousands of people). One of her opponents will be Chess.com, the world’s largest chess community. Other challengers include a team of Hungarian sports legends, featuring Dr. Jenő Kamuti, National Athlete of Hungary, and Ádám Varga, silver medalist in kayaking at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. The artist community will also participate, represented by poet and slammer Zsófi Kemény, musician Charlie, actress and theatre director Enikő Eszenyi, and writer and film director Péter Gárdos. Additionally, the chess influencer Zachary Saine (The Chess Nerd) and his community will take part. The extraordinary chess simul can be followed live on-site and online from 2:00 p.m. This year’s festival patron is Ernő Rubik. “Games and puzzles provide a magical way to learn and flourish. Judit Polgár has explored every small path of this adventure and inspires thousands of children to join in every year. It was with great pleasure that I accepted the invitation to be patron of the Jubilee Chess Festival, as the 50th anniversary of the Cube could not receive a more worthy recognition as a symbol of playful learning,” highlighted the world-famous inventor of the Rubik’s Cube. Alongside the children, parents can also find inspiration at the festival from Judit Polgar’s new six-volume interactive book series, the Chess Palace, and its magic world. “The new book series is the result of two years of work. Parents can experience adventures and creative challenges with their children. They can draw inspiration from the books to play together. Chess Palace brings generations within families closer together,” said Judit Polgar. “We are delighted to support the Global Chess Festival and Judit Polgár’s mission for the sixth consecutive year to inspire the next generation of strategic thinkers. Chess has become an integral part of life at Morgan Stanley, not just in Budapest but globally. It is truly special to see how chess connects our colleagues—from grandmasters to enthusiastic amateurs. I am deeply moved by seeing my colleagues succeed, whether over the chessboard or at the forefront of the global financial world, where they work with the same dedication, creativity, and strategic thinking,” said Norbert Fogarasi, head of Morgan Stanley’s Budapest office. Success Stories in Education from Hungary to Denmark and Singapore What skills can chess develop from the age of four? How can we combat Alzheimer’s disease with chess? How can chess assist in improving the social skills of children with autism? Chess camps in shopping malls? These are just a few of the questions that will be answered on the festival’s second day at the 4th Educational Chess Summit on September 18 at the InterContinental Hotel. With 20 speakers from 14 countries, the presentations will explore chess’s potential in education, its role in fostering social connections, and its contributions to physical and mental well-being. “With the festival, I want to show how inspiring chess is, in the sense that it is present in everything: in our everyday lives, our speech, in science, and the arts,” said Judit Polgár. On the second day of the festival, September 18, you can also meet Judit Polgár at the BOK Hall, the venue of the Budapest Chess Olympiad, where the Judit Polgar Chess Foundation will welcome visitors with creative workshops, games, a photo exhibition, and presentations. Come, join the festival and get inspired by chess challenges and interactive programs! For the detailed program of the 2024 Global Chess Festival, click on this link. Further information: press@juditpolgar.com
Google announced as Title Sponsor of World Chess Championship 2024
Singapore, September 10, 2024 – The International Chess Federation (FIDE) and Singapore Chess Federation (SCF) are proud to announce Google as the Title Sponsor of the FIDE World Chess Championship Singapore 2024, which will take place at Resorts World Sentosa from November 23 to December 15, 2024. This landmark collaboration marks the first time the World Chess Championship has been sponsored by a global technology leader, setting a new standard for the sport’s reach and influence. Google Chief Marketing Officer for Asia Pacific Simon Kahn said: “Google is excited to sponsor this historic event. Chess represents a profound intersection of human ingenuity and technological potential, and has always been a proving ground for AI innovation. In fact, some of our earliest AI breakthroughs came from mastering chess as a proof-of-concept. Through Search, YouTube, and AI, we are now delighted to enhance the Championship experience for chess fans globally, celebrating the beauty of this game that continues to inspire and challenge us.” As chess continues to rise in global popularity, FIDE’s collaboration with Google signals a major step forward in connecting the sport with modern technology. Emil Sutovsky, CEO of FIDE, shared his excitement about the collaboration: “FIDE is thrilled to partner Google, as it becomes the title sponsor of the World Championship Match. It is a milestone for our sport. This collaboration brings a new dimension to the competition, blending the tradition of chess with the innovation of AI. The partnership is set to elevate the visibility of the World Chess Championship, taking the broadcast of the event to the next level and attracting new audiences globally.” Kevin Goh, CEO of SCF, added: “For Google to be our presenting sponsor for this year’s World Championship match is a groundbreaking moment for chess both in Singapore and globally. It is the first time a global technology leader has sponsored the most important chess event. Among many other innovative breakthroughs, Google has, in recent years, captivated the chess community with AlphaZero, its neural networks-inspired chess programme. Chess is all about problem-solving, and we are glad that Google’s special focus on deep learning resonates well with the game.” FIDE and SCF look forward to delivering an unforgettable Championship that will resonate globally, far beyond the final checkmate. Google’s sponsorship redefines the potential of the World Chess Championship, paving the way for a future where technology and chess continue to inspire and challenge each other, creating an engaging and dynamic environment for both players and fans alike.
45th Chess Olympiad: Smooth sailing for favorites in Round 1
The Chess Olympiad commenced today in Budapest with 89 matches in the Open section and 81 in the Women’s section. The favorites faced off against weaker opponents and proved their superiority. In the Open section, the USA, India, China, Uzbekistan, Netherlands, and Norway all won their matches. Among them, India, China, and Netherlands whitewashed their opponents (4-0). In total, 56 teams managed to win their matches with a perfect score on the first day. The defending champions, Uzbekistan, had a more challenging start. Two dubious positions against Trinidad & Tobago were not what they hoped for. Shamsiddin Vokhidov (2650) eventually managed to outsmart his opponent Kevin Cupid (2201) on board three, while Nodirbek Yakubboev (2666) narrowly escaped with a draw from a lost position against Quinn Cabralis (2169) on board two. Team USA’s match against Panama began with a victory by Leinier Dominguez, marking his first classical win since March. However, they couldn’t achieve a sweeping victory as World #10 Wesley So (USA) drew with Panama’s top player, Roberto Sanchez Alvarez (2376). Levon Aronian’s fans were also on edge when he found himself in trouble against Andre Mendez Machado, but Aronian managed to turn the tables and win. The biggest individual upset was likely World #17 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2733), escaping with a draw against 17-year-old Anas Khwaira (1994) from Jordan. Such results highlight the beauty and appeal of the Olympiad, as for players from less developed chess nations, it is an opportunity to take on (and take points from!) the best players in the world. In the Women’s section, the favourites were also in full command. As many as 72 teams managed to take home all four points. Jamaica lost to India but can still celebrate as their Raehanna Brown (1910), who just became a WFM in 2024, managed to sneak a draw from IM Vantika Agrawal (2370). The main favourites, Georgia, Poland, and China, all won their matches 4-0. The defending champions, Ukraine, conceded half a point to Kyrgyzstan as Alexandra Samaganova drew with Anna Ushenina on the first board. Round 1 was attended by Mr. Gábor Schmidt, Deputy State Secretary for Sports Administration and Development, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, and Dr. Zoltán Polyánszky, Hungarian Chess Federation President. The latter two made the ceremonial first moves. Mr. Arkady Dvorkovich made the first move on the first board of the women’s top match between Jamaica and India, while Dr. Polyánszky did so in the Open section’s top match between Panama and the USA. Later, they moved to the media center for a press conference moderated by FIDE Press Officer Anna Burtasova. The speakers answered questions about organizing a Chess Olympiad and promoting chess in general. More details can be found on the official tournament website. After the press conference, the speakers and media moved to the Expo Hall for the official opening of the historical exhibition celebrating 100 years of FIDE. As usual, the Chess Olympiad is a grand festival of chess, featuring numerous side tournaments and activities alongside the main event. The Expo hall buzzed with excitement from spectators and players who had finished their games. Many visitors brought their children, who enjoyed Judit Polgar’s “Chess Palace,” a space designed for younger audiences. The first side tournament, a rapid event, took place in a dedicated hall. Various tournaments will run almost every day, allowing local and visiting players to compete in rapid, blitz, and numerous chess variants. The complete list of side activities can be found here. Position of the day: GM Yu, Yangyi (China) – IM Araujo Sanchez, Josue (Dominican Republic) White to move 22. Rxd5! 1-0 Black resigned in view of 22…exd5 23.Bg4+ Rd7 24.Re8+ Bd8 25.Rxd8# or 22…Rxd5 23.Bxd5 exd5 24.Re8+ Kd7 25.Rxa8 Results of the top matches: Open: Panama 0.5-3.5 USA India 4-0 Morocco Dominican Republic 0-4 China Uzbekistan 3.5-0.5 Trinidad & Tobago Lebanon 0-4 Netherlands Women: Jamaica 0.5-3.5 India Georgia 4-0 UAE Panama 0-4 Poland China 4-0 South Africa Kyrgyzstan 0.5-3.5 Ukraine Full results: Chess-results.com – 45th Chess Olympiad Written by WGM Anna Burtasova Photos: Michal Walusza, Mark Livshitz and Maria Emelianova Official website: chessolympiad2024.fide.com