FIDE WGP 2024-2025: Complete allocations published
FIDE has published the complete allocations for the WGP 2024–2025 series. Following consultations with renowned women chess players, the 2024–25 series introduced several notable format changes. The 2024-2025 season includes six tournaments (up from four previously) held across the world, with each of 20 elite female players participating in three events. The overall prize fund for the Women’s Grand Prix Series increased from 80,000 Euros to 120,000 Euros. The winner of the Grand Prix series will receive 30,000 Euros (up from 20,000 Euros), and the runner-up will be awarded 22,000 Euros (compared to the previous 16,000 Euros). The first leg of the 2024-2025 season held in Tbilisi, Georgia and saw the triumph of Alina Kashlinkaya, who took the lead in the overall standings. Shymkent, Kazakhstan will host the second tournament of the series from October 29 to November 9, 2024. FIDE WGP official website: womengrandprix.fide.com/
World Senior Championships 2024: Registration deadline extended
The organizing committee of the FIDE World Senior Chess Championships 2024, scheduled to take part in Porto Santo, Portugal, from November 16-29, 2024, announces that the deadline for registration has been extended to October 16, 2024. For useful information and details on how to get to Porto Santo, please visit the official webpage:https://worldsenior.fpx.pt/how-to-get-to-porto-santo/ There will be several options to reach the island: by ferry and by air, including a charter flight from Lisbon to Porto Santo on November 16, returning November 29. E-mail: worldsenior@fide.com Helpline via WhatsApp: +351937245507 (in English, French, German, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, and other languages to assist you with information, Visas and travel arrangements) Regulations and invitation letter (PDF)
45th Chess Olympiad R05: Vietnam, Armenia and Mongolia deliver upsets
India is excelling in both the open and women’s sections at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest. In the open section, team India defeated Azerbaijan by a strong 3-1 score, with two victories and two draws. Gukesh D and Arjun Erigaisi won their games, while Vidit Gujrathi came close to defeating Mamedyarov but missed his chance. In the women’s section, India triumphed over Kazakhstan 2.5-1.5. Both squads are displaying confident play and have avoided any close matches so far, unlike other favorites. Will they maintain this good pace through the second half of the tournament, and who will challenge them? In the next round, Gukesh and his team will face the hosts, Hungary. In round 5, this consistent team defeated Ukraine. Richard Rapport outplayed Vasyl Ivanchuk, and all other games ended in draws. Hungary has a glorious history of Olympiad victories, but all of them were achieved in the previous century: in 1927, 1928, and 1978. Altogether, Hungary has won 12 Olympic medals, the latest being silver in 2014. The team of Péter Lékó, Csaba Balogh, Zoltán Almási, Richárd Rapport, and Judit Polgár finished ahead of India, which took bronze. Fast forward ten years, and Richard Rapport is now leading the team, eager to exceed this result on home turf. China in the open section is also steadily winning but by narrow margins. Three draws and a victory by Wei Yi against David Anton secured them a win over Spain in round 5. In round 6, they will face the sensational team of Vietnam. After defeating Uzbekistan, Vietnam continued their hot streak by upsetting Poland. And again, Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (2633) and Le Tuan Minh (2564) won their games, this time against Radoslaw Wojtaszek (2681) and Mateusz Bartel (2618), respectively. With 4.5/5, having defeated Sindarov and Bartel, Le Tuan Minh’s performance rating is currently 2810. The 27-year-old became Vietnam’s 13th grandmaster in 2022. He’s also a streamer who regularly plays online chess and has Titled Tuesday win under his belt. In the women’s section, the leaders alongside India are Armenia and Mongolia. Both teams toppled favorites in round 5. Armenia caused a sensation by beating China. Anna Sargsyan (2364) defeated 14-year-old Lu Miaoyi (2438), Elina Danielian (2393) drew with Ni Shiqun (2348), and after Mariam Mkrtchyan (2328) lost to Song Yuxin (2373), the score was 1.5-1.5. The outcome was decided by the first board game, where Lilit Mktchian (2366) was precise against Zhu Jiner (2487), who, looking at the other boards, pushed too hard for a win and ended up in an inferior position. Mongolia triumphed over the USA 2.5-1.5. Munkhzul Turmunkh (2256) bested Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova (2380) on the top board to secure the win, as all other games ended in draws. While India will face Armenia in the next round, Mongolia will be put to the test by one of the tournament’s favorites, Georgia, who are trailing the leaders by one point. Position of the day: Vasyl Ivanchuk (Ukraine, 2635) – Richard Rapport (Hungary, 2715) Black to move The white king on e5 is quite exotic, but how to get to it? 24…Nb8! and after 25.Rd6 Qc4 26.Qf4 White resigned as 26…f6+ wins the queen. Results of the top matches: Open: (8) India 3-1 Azerbaijan (8)(8) Ukraine 1.5-2.5 Hungary (8)(8) Spain 1.5-2.5 China (8)(8) Vietnam 2.5-1.5 Poland (8)(7) Turkiye 1-3 Norway (7)(7) Iran 3.5-0.5 Canada (7) Women: (8) Kazakhstan 1.5-2.5 India (8)(8) China 1.5-2.5 Armenia (8)(8) Mongolia 2.5-1.5 USA (8)(8) Uzbekistan 1.5-2.5 Georgia (7)(7) Poland 3-1 Turkiye (7)(7) Azerbaijan 2-2 Ukraine (7) 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