A prestigious All India FIDE Rating Chess Tournament is set to take place in Mumbai, attracting over 200 players vying for a prize pool of Rs 3 lakh. The event will feature International Master Vikramaditya Kulkarni as the top seed and promises to be a thrilling showcase of chess talent.
Indian chess prodigy D. Gukesh has reached a career-high ranking of World No. 4 in the latest FIDE live rankings. This follows his compatriot, Arjun Erigaisi, suffering a loss in the German Bundesliga, causing a shift in the top Indian rankings. Gukesh’s rise coincides with his impressive performance at the Chess Olympiad, where he is set to face Ding Liren in the upcoming World Chess Championship.
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has decided to consult with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on partially lifting the ban on Russian and Belarusian players imposed after the Ukraine invasion. The decision, made at FIDE’s General Assembly, was met with mixed reactions, with Ukraine and the US urging against any relaxation of the ban.
The All India Chess Federation (AICF) has filed a police complaint after the Chess Olympiad trophy won by the Indian team in 2022 went missing from its office. The incident has forced the federation to arrange for a replica trophy and issue an apology. The missing trophy is the Gaprindashvili Trophy, awarded to the team with the best overall performance in the open and women’s divisions. The AICF is investigating the matter and has ordered a replacement trophy for the ongoing Chess Olympiad in Budapest.
Chess world champion Magnus Carlsen has joined the chorus of voices opposing the potential reinstatement of Russia and Belarus to the International Chess Federation (FIDE). Carlsen, speaking at a FIDE gala in Budapest, urged the governing body not to readmit the two countries, citing the ongoing war in Ukraine and echoing the sentiments of fellow chess legend Garry Kasparov. The move comes ahead of a crucial vote this weekend on whether to adopt a controversial proposal to allow Russia and Belarus back into the federation.
Magnus Carlsen and Judit Polgar were awarded the best male and female player awards, respectively, at the FIDE 100 Awards ceremony in Hungary. Carlsen, currently playing in the Chess Olympiad, acknowledged Garry Kasparov’s career as more deserving of the award, highlighting Kasparov’s stance against reinstating Russian and Belarusian chess federations.
The 45th Chess Olympiad is set to take place in Budapest, Hungary from September 10 to 23. This will be the first time since 1926 that the world’s biggest multi-national chess tournament returns to the Hungarian capital. India, the bronze medalist from the previous edition, enters the Open section as the second seed and will be looking to build on their success with a strong team led by D. Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and R. Praggnanandhaa. The Olympiad will be played in a 11-round Swiss format with a total of 193 teams in the Open section and 181 in the Women’s section battling it out for a podium finish.
Singapore has been chosen to host the 2024 FIDE World Chess Championship Match between Indian challenger D Gukesh and defending champion Ding Liren. The match will take place from November 20 to December 15, 2024, and features a prize fund of $2.5 million.
The Global Chess League is set to return to London for its second edition, featuring top chess players competing in a unique team format. The 10-day event, scheduled from October 3-12, 2024, promises high-stakes play and strategic collaborations, attracting new audiences to the sport.
