FIDE 100 Awards make history
On the night of Round 8 at the FIDE Chess Olympiad, a dazzling event took place at the Intercontinental Hotel in Budapest. The chess gala, dedicated to the centenary of the International Chess Federation, celebrated the exceptional achievements and contributions of individuals, groups, and organizations within the chess community. Over the past century, chess has evolved and flourished, and this evening was all about honoring those who have made remarkable impacts on the game we love. After the FIDE anthem played, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich and FIDE Vice President Mahir Mammedov welcomed everyone to the gala. Mahir Mammedov said: “The first century of FIDE’s life has been full of remarkable events, great personalities, and memorable matches. For this, we must thank the founders of FIDE!” Following this introduction, the main event of the evening, the FIDE 100 Awards, commenced. Selecting the best of the best in their respective fields was no easy task, and a special panel of experts and professionals worked diligently on the selections. The jury made their decisions in 18 categories: Best Player – Man, Best Player – Woman, Best Team – Men, Best Team – Women, Best Book, Best Trainer, Best Trainer – Woman, Best Arbiter – Man, Best Arbiter – Woman, Most Memorable FIDE Tournament, Most Memorable Private Tournament, Social Impact, Advocate for Women in Chess, Best Educator, Best Photo, Best Social Media Influencer, Best Journalist, and Inclusivity. Each winner received a special FIDE Awards trophy with their name and the title of their nomination engraved on it. Additionally, there were eight special FIDE 100 medals from the FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich honoring those who have significantly contributed to chess development throughout their careers. Let’s celebrate the winners one by one. Advocate for Women in Chess: Jean Michel Rapaire FIDE aims to increase the representation of women in chess, and each initiative supporting this goal is invaluable. Jean Michel Rapaire’s activities are widely known in the chess world. He has led a superstar women’s team to multiple European Club Cup victories and organized some of the most important women’s events, such as the Women’s Candidates, FIDE Grand Prix, and European Women’s Championships. Thanks to his efforts, Monaco has become the capital city of women’s chess. Social Impact: Chess for Freedom, Cook County Sheriff’s Office The award was presented to Mikhail Korenmann, Project Lead at the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. FIDE and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office (Chicago, USA) signed a cooperation agreement and launched the “Chess for Freedom” program in May 2021, aiming to use chess as a powerful tool for the reintegration of inmates. Initiated with an online conference and an exhibition tournament featuring four participating countries, it has now grown into a global movement involving almost 60 countries and more than 120 teams participating in the FIDE Intercontinental Online Championships for Prisoners. The project also includes a global conference and training programs carried out in hundreds of institutions worldwide. The Chess for Freedom project received the prestigious Anthem Awards in 2023. Best Educator: Abel Talamantez Abel Talamantez, a coach at Hamilton K-8 School in the USA, has been teaching chess in classrooms for 12 years. He uses the game as an educational tool to develop essential skills in children, such as grit, patience, resilience, and the ability to learn from mistakes. His goal is not only to help students improve their chess skills but also to equip them with life skills that contribute to their overall success. Abel Talamantez holds several prestigious titles, including Lead School Instructor (LSI) 2021, FIDE Instructor (2021), School Instructor (2021), and International Arbiter (2023). He has received numerous accolades for his groundbreaking work. Abel Talamantez emphasizes, “We fully believe that the success of our chess program is not about trophies and competitions, but about engaging the mind of the student and making learning fun.” Inclusivity: International Physically Disabled Chess Association (IPCA), International Braille Chess Association (IBCA), and International Chess Committee of Deaf (ICCD) Three chess organizations that are making a significant difference in promoting inclusivity in the sport were declared the winners. These FIDE-affiliated organizations are strong partners in organizing events for people with disabilities, including the 2023 Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities. The awards were presented to IPCA President Andrei Gurbanov, IBCA President Jörgen Magnusson, and ICCD President Phillip Gardner. Best Trainer – Man: Vladimir Tukmakov A Ukrainian chess grandmaster and trainer, Vladimir Tukmakov truly shines in the realm of chess coaching. Under his guidance, the Ukrainian team achieved Olympic glory in 2004 and 2010. His coaching prowess also yielded numerous medals in European and World Team Championships, solidifying his reputation as one of the best captains and trainers in the world. His mentorship shaped the careers of top chess players like Anatoly Karpov, Viktor Korchnoi, and Anish Giri. Tukmakov is also the author of several chess bestsellers, and his insightful writings continue to inspire generations of chess enthusiasts worldwide. Best Trainer – Woman: Susan Polgar Susan Polgar achieved incredible success as a player before transitioning to a career as a trainer, where she has passed on her vast experience. She was the Women’s World Chess Champion from 1996 to 1999. At the age of 15, she became the top-ranked female chess player in the world. In 1991, she became the third woman to be awarded the title of Grandmaster. Throughout her career, she won eleven medals at the Women’s Chess Olympiad (4 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze). As a trainer, writer, and promoter, Polgar sponsors various chess tournaments for young players and heads the Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE) at Webster University. She also served as the Chairperson or co-chair of the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess from 2008 until late 2018. Best Arbiter – Man: Andrzej Filipowicz Andrzej Filipowicz is one of the most fascinating personalities in the chess world. He has worn many hats: chess player, arbiter, organizer, editor, writer, and civil engineer specializing in steel structures. He is known for his strong personality, sharp intelligence, well-defined convictions, and
45th Chess Olympiad R08: India dominates open section, faces setback in women’s
While the Indian team is dominating the open section, winning against Iran with an impressive 3.5-0.5 score in Round 8, their compatriots in the women’s competition experienced a setback. India women’s team suffered their first defeat at the hands of Poland. Poland struck with victories by Alina Kashlinskaya against Harika Dronavalli and Monica Socko against Vaishali R on the top boards. Divya Deshmukh, on board 3, bounced back with a win against Aleksandra Maltsevskaya. The pressure was on Vantika Agrawal, who found herself in a must-win situation. She had a winning position against Alicja Sliwicka, but after a blunder on move 56, Vantika let her advantage slip away and had to settle for a draw. Vantika’s disappointment was clear, but her teammate Divya Deshmukh, the best player on the team with 7/8, remained hopeful, saying to commentator Peter Svidler: “If we lose this, I think we will for sure bounce back.” The up-and-coming team of Kazakhstan narrowly defeated France in a match that was far from clear. The teams exchanged blows on the top boards: Assaubayeva defeated Daulyte-Cornette and Nurman won against Guichard for Kazakhstan, while Millet brought a point to France by beating Kamalidenova. It was up to Benmesbah to convert her advantage against Kairbekova to secure a draw in the match. However, it was not meant to be as Benmesbah let the advantage slip, and with a draw in this game, Kazakhstan shares the lead! India, Poland, and Kazakhstan jointly lead the women’s tournament with 14 match points each. The USA, Armenia, and Ukraine are trailing by one point. The USA won by a big score against Uzbekistan, as did Armenia against Mongolia, while Anna Ushenina clinched the victory for Ukraine against Hungary. The women’s tournament is set for intriguing final rounds! India is sweeping the field in the open tournament. The team hasn’t lost a single game so far. As Arjun Erigaisi won again (against Daneshvar, 2598), he is not only the best player on the team with 7.5/8 but also on his way to becoming a 2800+ player as he’s currently earning 14 points, elevating him to 2792! Gukesh D, who also won (against Maghsoodloo, 2723) and has 6.5/7, is gaining even more, 20 points, which currently translates to 2784 for him. In round 9, the amazing Indian squad is going to face Uzbekistan – a key match for the medals. Uzbekistan narrowly won against Serbia thanks to Nodirbek Abdusattorov’s excellent endgame technique in his game vs. Alexandr Predke. If the defending champions want another shot at the gold, they have to grit out a victory over India. Hungary is also following closely. In round 8, Benjamin Gledura secured the hosts’ victory over Armenia, defeating Robert Hovhannisyan while all other games finished in draws. The team of Richard Rapport and Peter Leko is eager to show their best on home soil, and so far their only loss was to India. In round 9, they will be put to the test by the tournament’s rating favorites, team USA. Position of the day: Maxime Lagarde (2598, France) Levon Aronian (2729, USA) The final position of Aronian’s game is quite spectacular. Levon chased the white king all the way from c1 to finally checkmate on f6. Check out the whole game: Lagarde – Aronian Results of the top matches: Open: (13) Iran 0.5-3.5 India (14)(12) Hungary 2.5-1.5 Armenia (12)(12) Serbia 1.5-2.5 Uzbekistan (12)(11) USA 2.5-1.5 France (11)China (11) 2.5-1.5 Romania (11) Women: (12) Poland 2.5-1.5 India (14)(12) Kazakhstan 2.5-1.5 France (12)(11) Hungary 1.5-2.5 Ukraine (11)(11) Georgia 2-2 Bulgaria (11)(11) Uzbekistan 0.5-3.5 USA (11) Top standings after 8 rounds: Open: 1. India – 16 2-3. Uzbekistan, Hungary – 14 4-6. China, USA, Iran – 13 Women: 1-3. India, Poland, Kazakhstan – 144-6. USA, Armenia, Ukraine – 13 Full results: Chess-results.com – 45th Chess Olympiad Written by WGM Anna Burtasova Photos: Michal Walusza, Mark Livshitz and Maria Emelianova See more Round 8 photos on FIDE Flickr Official website: chessolympiad2024.fide.com