It's been a thrilling start to the FIDE World Cup Under 8-12 in Batumi, Georgia, with several players sharing the lead after two rounds.
U8 Group A in the girls section sees a three-way tie for first between Chen Zhihan (China), Yan Rayna (USA), and Baghramyan Sofia (Armenia). Group B is even more competitive, with five players - Elizabeth Xia (USA), Azaliya Balakanova (Kazakhstan), Reana Kinzyabulatova (FIDE), Harshika M (India), and Amira Shomanova (Kazakhstan) - all on two points.
Similar stories unfold in the older age groups. Both U10 sections boast multiple leaders. Samhita Pungavanam (India), Khusnitdinova Husnorakhon (Uzbekistan), Zhang Jianning (China), and Kiyana Parihar (India) share the top spot in Group A. Yunker Alisa Genrietta (FIDE), Yi Ruiyu (China), and Divi Bijesh (India) lead Group B.
In the Girls U12 Group A, as many as five participants recorded two wins in two rounds: WFM Laurie Qiu (USA), Aknur Mamakova (Kazakhstan), Xue Tianhao (China), Leyla Mirzaliyeva (Azerbaijan), and Kristina Zavivaeva (FIDE). Similarly, in Group B, there are also five players with 2 points each: WFM Devindya Oshini Gunawardhana (Sri Lanka), Bordoloi Pratitee (India), Pavithra R V (India), Xu Luna Yuexiu (New Zeland), and Khanzada Amanzhol (Kazakhstan).
The Open sections mirror the Girls' section with exciting close races. In Open U8 Group A, five players - Prokhor Baranov (FIDE), Rizat Ulan (Kazakhstan), Reddy Adulla Divith (India), Jan Szumiec (Poland), and Swain Sattwik (India) - are tied for first. Open U8 Group B is even tighter with six players sharing the lead.
The fight for the championship continues in the U10 and U12 Open sections as well. Five players in Open U10 Group A - CM Reyaansh Chakrabarty (Australia), Lev Shangin (USA), CM Kaushik Ashwath (Singapore), Malhotra Vyom (India), and Nurali Bolashakov (Kazakhstan) - boast perfect scores. Open U10 Group B sees Modith Aaroh Mutyalapati (Canada), Joshua Xia (USA), Yu Zechen (China), and Khasan Akramov (Uzbekistan) leading the pack.
Finally, the U12 Open sections are equally tense. Four players - Biloliddin Obidov (Uzbekistan), Siddhanth Poonja (India), Damir Bulgak (FIDE), and Yang Zilong (China) - top Group A. Tatvidze Davit (Georgia), Gabriel Gabadadze (Georgia), Qu Haoming (China), and Baatar Batbaatar (Mongolia) share the lead in Group B.
Stay tuned for more updates from the FIDE World Cup U 8 – 12 in Batumi, Georgia.
Official website: wcc2024.fide.com
Live games:
chess.com/events/2024-fide-world-cup-u8-group-a/games
Video and live commentaries:
youtube.com/watch?v=3yXvGJwXe3w&ab_channel=chessingeorgia64
Photos: Sophie Nikoladze and Tornike Tavadze
