Magnus Carlsen will participate in 2024 FIDE World Blitz Championship
FIDE is pleased to confirm that Magnus Carlsen will participate in the 2024 FIDE World Blitz Championship. Speaking to Levi Rozman from “Take, Take, Take” at the playing venue on Wall Street, Carlsen said: “I am playing at least one more day here in New York and, if I do well, another day after that.” “We had a lot of discussions yesterday, and we have a good relationship with FIDE President Dvorkovich… Speaking to Dvorkovich and the main sponsor Turlov it did feel we could have some fruitful discussions and in the end of the day I decided to play,” Carlsen added. FIDE looks forward to continuing our collaboration with Mr. Carlsen and the global chess community to enhance the conditions and atmosphere of FIDE competitions, ensuring the best possible experience for players and fans alike. This is great news for the chess world. We are delighted that the reigning World Blitz Chess Champion will be competing to defend his title and aim for another crown at the highly anticipated event in New York. All the information about the event, including results, news, images and regulations are available on the official event webpage: worldrapidandblitz.fide.com The full schedule of the event is available here: Schedule – 2024 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships. Follow live commentary by Grandmasters and special guests on FIDE’s official YouTube Channel, starting on the 26th: FIDE chess – YouTube.
A collection of 101 studies celebrating each year of FIDE published
The collaboration between FIDE and the World Federation for Chess Composition (WFCC) reached new heights in 2024, marked by several joint projects. Following the FIDE & WFCC World Cadet & Youth Chess Solving Championships in Italy and Brazil this November, a unique collection of 101 outstanding endgame studies was published to celebrate the art of chess over each year of the FIDE Centenary (1924–2024). The project was spearheaded by Gady Costeff, an acclaimed endgame study composer and advocate for chess artistry. Inspired by a suggestion from FIDE Executive Director Victor Bologan, Costeff undertook the formidable task of picking out a single remarkable chess study for each year of FIDE’s history. Selecting one composer per year, without repetition, highlighted FIDE’s motto, “Gens Una Sumus” (We Are One Family). The result, One Endgame Study in a Thousand, draws from the annual production of roughly a thousand high-quality endgame studies on average. In the words of the editor: “The 101 studies in this book are extraordinary, each in their own way. Incredible mate, stunning sacrifice, astonishing foresight, shocking capture avoidance, mind-boggling depth, humorous maneuvers, and many more delightful surprises await you. Taken together, these studies show the development of the endgame study over the period 1924–2024. The studies are presented with up to six sequential diagrams. Each highlight gets its own diagram, so the reader can follow the action from start to finish, much like they would follow a chess game. The commentary includes insights on the studies, their history, and the composers whose work is presented.” For more information about One Endgame Study in a Thousand, the FIDE Album series—the longest-running collaboration between FIDE and the chess composition world—and other works on chess composition, visit fidealbum.com. When the book celebrating the FIDE Centenary came out, it became the first link in the chain of further inspired initiatives. Renouncing his editor’s fee to support future projects popularizing chess composing, Gady Costeff (pictured below) has found a way to direct the booklet to the hands of future composers. He initiated and organized an international chess composing tourney for complete beginners in the field. To help them, he prepared a concise guide to composing endgame studies ending with a mate. Photo: Gady Costeff’s personal archive Who should be hosting such a tournament? The most fertile ground to look for the talents is India, not only the most populous country in the world, but also a chess superpower. Recognizing India’s immense potential as a chess superpower and its untapped talent in chess solving and composing, the tournament received enthusiastic support from Sagar Shah, Co-Founder & CEO of ChessBase India, and Satanick Mukhuty, Chess Composition Editor at ChessBase India. The tournament, My First Endgame Study, invites novices in composing chess endgames. Entries are open until March 1, 2025, with results announced on March 31, 2025. Let’s give the floor to Satanick Mukhuty, the Chess Composition Editor at CBI, who announced the competition. My First Endgame Study: A Chess Composition Tourney Sponsored by WFCC and ChessBase India Beneath its deceptively simple facade of a game, chess conceals a rich tapestry of human ingenuity and thought. It is, as widely remarked, art, science, and sport all rolled into one. Yet, while the competitive aspect of chess basks in the limelight with its high-stakes, action-packed tournaments and matches, the subtle but no less fascinating endeavour of chess composition, where artistry shines the brightest, languishes in relative obscurity. As a step towards redressing this imbalance, ChessBase India and the World Federation for Chess Composition (WFCC) present My First Endgame Study, a beginner-friendly study composing contest designed for chess enthusiasts eager to explore the creative world of chess composition, specifically studies. Chess compositions fall into two primary categories: problems and studies. In problems, the solver has to achieve the stipulated goal in a set number of moves (example: mate in 2, helpmate in 3, etc.). Studies, in contrast, are more game-like, seeking a win or a draw without restrictions on the number of moves. This is a study composition event only. Anyone who has never published an endgame study can participate. This includes everyone from chess amateurs all the way to world-class players. There is no entry fee. Chess lovers of any age, nationality, etc., can apply! The deadline to send your submission is March 1, 2025. Indeed, composing isn’t a rush job. Tapping into creativity and imagination takes time. You have two full months – January and February – to craft your masterpiece! To participate, submit up to three endgame studies to Satanick Mukhuty, Director of the event, at chessbaseindiasocial@gmail.com. You can send the positions along with the intended solution in any format, but PGNs are preferred. Please, mention “My First Endgame Study” in the subject line, and include your name and place. Theme: All submitted studies must have a checkmate finale; that is, the mainline must end in a mate. Newcomers, you have a clear target: choose a beautiful mate position and then work backwards to create an interesting sequence of moves leading up to it! Results and prizes: The results will be published by March 31, 2025 – all participants will receive a link to the results, which will be presented by Gady Costeff. We are excited to offer a wonderful prize pool for at least 10 most successful composers. Our top creators will receive: Monetary prizes, total of $250: $100, $75, $50, and $25 to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th places respectively. Exclusive copies of the highly anticipated book “One Endgame Study in a Thousand” Premium ChessBase products, including the brand-new ChessBase 18 Judge/Mentor: World-renowned composer Gady Costeff will serve as judge and mentor, offering feedback on submissions. Participants can contact him directly at costeff@gmail.com for advice. How to Compose a Study: To wrap up, here’s Gady’s concise step-by-step guide, illustrated with two examples, to help you compose your first endgame study. 1. Choose a pretty mate position. 2. Where did the mating piece come from? Find a square to place it on, such that White’s only
Statement by FIDE President on dress-code rules for Rapid and Blitz Championships
Dear participants of the World Blitz Championships in New York, Let me begin by thanking all of you for your commitment to compete fairly and for bringing joy to millions of spectators all over the world. It is my distinct pleasure to congratulate the winners, Humpy Koneru and Volodar Murzin, for their hard-earned victories, as well as all those who were successful in the World Rapid Championships that finished yesterday. Coming to the last two days of 2024, I would like to express my deep appreciation to the teamwork conducted by all officials and partners at the events. In particular, with regard to creating the best possible conditions for all players and a consistent application of all previously adopted rules. It is unfortunate that the implementation of dress-code rules, while being legally sound and consistent, has left some feeling this is disproportionate and caused the situation everyone would have preferred to avoid, including some of the words being said at the peak of emotions that one would most probably regret afterwards. The withdrawal of Magnus Carlsen, who has played an exceptional role in elevating the sport of chess to the new heights during the last several years, was an extremely unfortunate consequence of this disconnect. I sincerely regret that this situation escalated without a resolution being found by both sides in time to prevent Magnus’s withdrawal. Having said that, FIDE remains committed to taking concrete steps to ensure that all players feel supported and valued, recognizing their vital role in inspiring fans and advancing the game worldwide. Let me underline that the basics of these rules have been developed carefully. I also hope that the active position of many other players now would lead to improving this important framework in the best interests of the fans, players, the partners and the media. The concerns raised by Magnus Carlsen highlight the need for further discussion about how to modernize the current approach, to ensure that our rules and their application reflect the evolving nature of chess as a global and accessible sport. This includes a continued dialogue with players, sponsors, and the broader chess community, to align expectations and minimize the potential for conflicts in the future. Mutual respect and trust is a critical pre-condition to making this dialogue effective. We must collectively strive to preserve the integrity of chess while also ensuring that the sport remains inclusive and appealing. I look forward to seeing Magnus Carlsen and other top players continue to grace the chessboard in major international events, bringing excitement and inspiration to millions of fans worldwide. As far as the application of the rules during the World Blitz Championships is concerned, based on the consultations with our partners and their preferences, I took the decision to trial an approach to provide more flexibility to FIDE officials in judgements regarding the suitability of the attire. Special assistants will be requested to help in those judgements and make final conclusions, shall any doubts arise. The principle is simple: it is still required to follow the official dress-code, but elegant minor deviations (that may, in particular, include appropriate jeans matching the jacket) are allowed. In the end, it is New Year time, and I sincerely hope that nobody would try to undermine the festive mood, including by abusing this additional flexibility. FIDE is fully committed to another successful century for chess. Let us bring fun to all chess fans together. The game is just beginning! Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President
FIDE FPL and EDC actions on the incident involving GM Kirill Shevchenko
IMPORTANT UPDATE as of January 01, 2025: FPL has finished a full-fledged investigation into the incident involving GM Kirill Shevchenko and passed its materials to EDC. Meanwhile, the provisional suspension of GM Shevchenko from any official activities as a player was prolonged for 60 days staring from January 01, 2025. IMPORTANT UPDATE as of October 18, 2024: Based on the preliminary investigation by FPL, that established a prima facie case against GM Kirill Shevchenko, EDC has suspended GM Shevchenko for a period of 75 days from today, i.e. until 1 January 2025, from any official activities as a player. The EDC is prepared to reconsider its decision regarding the provisional suspension if a motivated request to that effect is received from GM Shevchenko at any time within the next two (2) weeks. Meanwhile, FPL will open a full-fledged investigation into the incident. Lausanne, October 17, 2024 Following the incidents that occurred at the Honor Division of the Spanish Club Chess Championship, which involved Grandmaster Kirill Shevchenko (FIDE ID: 14129574), the FIDE Fair Play Commission immediately initiated preliminary investigations, which led the sole investigator, Vincent Geeraets, to be “comfortably satisfied that a prima facie case has been established against GM Shevchenko”. The measure is deemed to be necessary “because it would be inappropriate for a player of GM Shevchenko’s caliber to take part in tournaments or competitions under the auspices of FIDE while he is under investigation for a cheating offense (“use of phone”).” The request, which was formally presented by FPL Chair Yuri Garrett to EDC Chair Yolander Persaud, is strictly based on the FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Code in force: “Art. 12.1e of the Ethics and Disciplinary Code stipulates that a player may be prohibited from participating in chess activities during an investigation. Relevant is art. 12.4a, which indicates that a provisional suspension requires that a prima facie case can be made against the player in question. Art 18.2 of the EDC Procedural Rules indicates that in cases of urgency, such a ban may be imposed directly without the party concerned having been heard beforehand.” It is of paramount importance to highlight that “Such a provisional suspension, however, would not indicate that GM Shevchenko is guilty of a cheating offense. This needs to be carefully investigated on the assumption that the player is innocent.” To this effect, an Investigatory Panel chaired by Vincent Geeraets has been appointed.
Volodar Murzin and Humpy Koneru new FIDE World Rapid Champions
Following a dramatic finish in the Open and Women’s competitions, the chess world got a new chess king and queen in the Rapid. India’s Humpy Koneru clinched her second FIDE World Rapid Crown, while 18-year-old Volodar Murzin made history as the second-youngest person to win the Open Rapid. The third day of the 2024 FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship saw four rounds in the Open and three in the Women’s competition. Eighteen-year-old underdog Volodar Murzin delivered a stellar performance in a fierce field made up of most of the strongest and seasoned players in the world. In the Women’s event, Koneru Humpy, India’s top-rated female chess player, secured her second World Rapid Championship title with a score of 8.5/11, adding to her 2019 victory in Moscow. Rapid Open: Volodar Murzin’s moment Following a spectacular performance featuring seven victories, six draws, and no defeats, 18-year-old Volodar Murzin has claimed the 2024 FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship. He is now the second-youngest player to win the title, after Nodirbek Abdusattorov’s victory in 2021. In his first remarks after the claiming the title, Murzin’s words reflected the attitude of an uncompromising world champion: “For me, it’s easy to play with top Grandmasters because it’s very interesting to play with them. I wanted to win, I was a bit lucky, but it worked”. When asked if he has idols in his chess career, Murzin was brisk: “I don’t.” The 18-year-old demonstrated consistent brilliance throughout the tournament. Leading on both the first and second days, he maintained his momentum during the final four rounds on day three. His decisive push began in round 10, where he secured a victory over Jan-Krzysztof Duda, the 2021 World Cup winner. He followed this with a hard-fought draw against the legendary Alexander Grischuk in round 11. In round 12, Murzin defeated Indian prodigy Praggnanandhaa R who made a crucial blunder in a wining but very sharp endgame position, entering the final round with 9.5 points – a half-point lead over the field. He was closely pursued by seven elite players, with Grischuk at nine points and six others, including Ian Nepomniachtchi, trailing at 8.5 points. In the climactic final round, Murzin, playing White, faced Armenian GM Karen H. Grigoryan. A win would secure the title outright, while a draw could force a tiebreak if Grischuk prevailed in his game. However, the tension eased for Murzin early in the round as Grischuk made a quick draw with Leinier Dominguez. With the pressure off, Murzin played solidly, steering the game to a comfortable draw and claiming the title. Second place was shared by Alexander Grischuk (pictured below) and Ian Nepomniachtchi, both finishing on nine points. At 41, Grischuk – a three-time World Blitz Champion – delivered a resurgent performance, underscoring his enduring strength in rapid chess. Nepomniachtchi also impressed on the final day, defeating Uzbek prodigy Javokhir Sindarov with Black in round 10. After two draws in rounds 11 and 12, Nepomniachtchi closed strongly with a win against American GM Sam Sevian to secure joint second. Six players tied for third place on nine points. Notably absent from the top standings was Hikaru Nakamura, who finished with 7.5/13. Despite being one of the pre-tournament favorites, the streaming superstar struggled for consistency and ended in the middle of the scoreboard. Final standings Rapid Open Humpy Koneru clinches her second World Rapid crown India’s top-rated chess player and one of the most seasoned competitors in women’s chess, Koneru Humpy, secured her second World Rapid Championship title, finishing the tournament with 8.5/11. She won her first gold in the 2019 edition, in Moscow. In a seven-way tie at the top at the start of the final, 11th round, Koneru stood out as the only player to score a victory. Playing with the black pieces, she outmanoeuvred Indonesia’s International Master Irine Kharisma Sukandar in a challenging endgame, claiming the title in style. Koneru’s victory adds another feather to the spectacular success of Indian chess in 2024, after the country won gold in the Chess Olympiad this summer in both the Open and the Women’s Competition, and Gukesh D won the title of World Champion in classical chess. Koneru’s path to the top began quietly, with just 2.5 points out of four on day one. By the conclusion of day two, however, she surged into shared first place alongside compatriot Harika Dronavalli and reigning Classical World Champion Ju Wenjun of China. Then came the most critical part: With just three rounds remaining, the final day of the Rapid was a scramble for top places. Entering the last round, the leaderboard featured an unprecedented seven-way tie. Alongside Koneru – Ju Wenjun, Harika Dronavalli, Kateryna Lagno, Tan Zhongyi, Irine Kharisma Sukandar, and Uzbekistan’s Afruza Khamdamova all held a chance at the title. Lagno, one of the pre-tournament favorites, had earlier dealt a critical blow to former World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk in round nine, while Khamdamova stunned Grandmaster Elisabeth Paehtz to join the leaders. Amid expectations of tiebreaks, Koneru’s win in the final round rendered them unnecessary. Her 8.5 points secured clear first place, half a point ahead of a pack of six players who tied for second: Ju Wenjun, Kateryna Lagno, Tan Zhongyi, Harika Dronavalli, Alexandra Kosteniuk, and Afruza Khamdamova. Last year’s champion, Anastasia Bodnaruk, endured a disappointing final day, suffering two losses before salvaging a victory in the last round. She concluded the tournament with 6.5 points, finishing mid-table. Final standings Women Next up: The World Blitz Things are about to get more exciting, with the World Blitz coming up next. A two-day action on 30 and 31 December will see the strongest world players in the Open and the Women competition tested in nerve-wracking Blitz games, where luck and second can have more power than chess excellence! Written by Milan Dinic Photos: Lennart Ootes and Michal Walusza All the information about the event, including results, news, images and regulations are available on the official event webpage: worldrapidandblitz.fide.com The full schedule of the event is available here: