MADISON Madison City Chess League or MCCL was well represented and awarded for masterful playing at the 2024 Alabama State Scholastic Chess Championship.

Twenty-three MCCL members competed in this event on March 23-24 in Pike Road with hosts Pike Road Elementary School and Rasberry Chess Academy. Alabama Chess Federation runs this annual event.

Several Madison schools won top team awards in their sections at the State Scholastic, MCCL Executive Director Todd Guthrie said.

Bob Jones High School was the first-place team in the High School Championship section. Team members are Xavier Bruni, Steven Pan, Nirvana Rajbhandari, Aadi Saxena and Jacob New Andrew Yang.

Xavier Bruni was named High School State Champion. Steven Pan finished in third place in the section, and Andrew Yang and Jacob New tied for fifth place. Aadi Saxena finished eighth, and Nirvana Rajbhandari finished ninth.

Discovery Middle School ruled as first-place team in the Middle School Championship section. Team members are Noah Hsu, Caden Jordan and Holland Lang. Individually, Sophia Jerez of Journey Middle School finished third in the section.

The team from Rainbow Elementary School with Annabelle Hsu and Dennis Lenski was the first-place team in the Elementary Championship section. Individually, Esteban Jerez of Horizon Elementary School finished second in the Elementary Championship section. Dennis Lenski tied for second. Annabelle Hsu finished in sixth place.

The Mill reek Elementary School team with Brandon Edmondson and Ananth Ravishekar was the first-place team in the Primary Championship section. In individual standings, Ananth Ravishekar finished second in the Primary Championship section, Milan Malak from Heritage Elementary School tied for second, and Brandon Edmondson finished in fifth.

Congratulations to MCCL member Grattan ONeill who finished third in the High School Under 1,300 section, Guthrie said. Abigail Barbre from Discovery Middle School and Daksh Sunil from Liberty Middle School both finished tied for fifth place in the Middle School Under 1,100 Section.

Christopher Chan from Columbia Elementary School finished second in the Elementary Under 700 section. Austin Pullum from Rainbow Elementary School finished tied for first place in the Primary Under 400 section.

For more information, visit Madisonchess.com.

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Bob Jones hails as section's top team at Scholastic Chess Championship - The Madison Record - themadisonrecord.com

Only a select few in the annals of chess history have broken into the world top-five before their 20th birthday. GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov has now joined that prestigious list, and shares his insights with Chess.com on his rise from prodigy to chess superstar.

The latest FIDE ratings for April, released on Sunday, once again see GM Magnus Carlsen at the top. The Norwegian maestro holds a comfortable lead of 27 points over GM Fabiano Caruana, with another 14-point gap to GM Hikaru Nakamura in third place.

However, stealing the spotlight is Abdusattorov, who not only breached the top-10 for the first time, but takes it one step further to make the top-five, climbing from 11th to 4th. While there is a gap of 24 points up to Nakamura, the young Uzbek is three points ahead of World Champion Ding Liren.

Abdusattorov's entry into the elite circle follows a 17-point gain after he tied for first placein the 2024 Tata Steel Chess in January. He then added another 15 points by winning the Prague Masters with a round to spare in March.

Research conducted by Chess.com reveals the rarity of Abdusattorov's achievement, attained at a historically very early age. In fact, only five players have previously made the top-five before turning 20: GMs Garry Kasparov (1982), Alexei Shirov (1992) and Vladimir Kramnik (1994) achieved the milestone in the 80s and 90s, while Carlsen (2010) and GM Alireza Firouzja (2021) round out the exclusive group.

Noteworthy mentions include Caruana who reached seventh as a 19-year-old, GM Gata Kamsky hit eighth at a mere 16, GM Veselin Topalov eighth at 18, while GM Vasyl Ivanchuk was sixth before his 20th birthday.

Speaking to Chess.com in an exclusive interview, Abdusattorov responds with a smile when informed about the feat:

"I am pleasantly surprised to hear that. I didn't know. It's a great achievement, but at the same time, it's a big responsibility for me as it's a totally new level. I am really happy to be there."

Abdusattorov calls it an important step forward in his career, and feels that his jump from 2720 and breaking into the top-10 was a "huge breakthrough." However, he has always remained firmly grounded, acknowledging that he is just getting started. Nothing is taken for granted:

"I will try my best to push even more, but it will take some time."

Abdusattorov has been eating such records for breakfast for quite some time in his short career. The highlight is becoming the youngest-ever world champion by winning the 2021 World Rapid Championship as a 17-year-old, ahead of the entire world elite.

The Uzbek also holds the record as the youngest-ever 2400-rated player, a feat he achieved at the age of just ten-and-a-half. As an 11-year-old he set a record by becoming the youngest player to enter the top-100 juniors.

Youngest Players To Break 2400

Responding to the question of whether he pays attention to such records, he says with a smile:

"It's been some sort of competition. I have always wanted to break records. It gives me motivation and it's also a very tough challenge. But if you set a goal, you have to motivate yourself with a tough challenge. When I was a kid, I set myself a goal to become the youngest grandmaster at the time. After I became a grandmaster, I set myself a goal to reach 2700. Then you set new goals every time, and that becomes a motivation."

It's been some sort of competition. I have always wanted to break records. It gives me motivation and it's also a very tough challenge.

Nodirbek Abdusattorov

Abdusattorov's record-breaking journey started when he became the Under-8 World Youth Champion in 2012. Only two years later, at the age of nine, he caught the attention of the entire chess world by beating two grandmasters in a single tournament.

His win against 2600-rated GM Andrey Zhigalko at home in Tashkent in 2014, makes him the fifth-youngest player to defeat a grandmaster in classical chess of all time. However, his achievement is perhaps the most impressive of all considering his opponent's strength.

"It was a very special feeling as it was the first time I played against a 2600-grandmaster. I think it was my first open tournament as well, so I had never had a chance to play against s strong grandmaster. And the first time I play against a 2600-rated grandmaster, I managed to beat him. I couldn't believe it myself! I didn't understand what I did at the time. It was a special achievement."

I couldn't believe it myself. I didn't understand what I did at the time. It was a special achievement.

Abdusattorov on his victory against a 2600-rated GM as a nine-year-old

He reveals an amusing story about how he at the time had just discovered who the world number one since 2010 was, one he would later be competing against and even defeating.

"I didn't know Magnus at all. I hadn't heard about him. First time I heard about him was in the 2013 Candidates. I was like eight years old. At the time I found out that he was the world number one. I just knew the world champion, Vishy, and I only knew Magnus as a famous player. When I found out that Magnus is much stronger and higher-rated, I was kind of surprised."

"After the match against Vishy, Magnus was clearly stronger and much better. I was just so impressed with him. He was my idol at the time."

I was just so impressed with him. He was my idol at the time.

Abdusattorov on Carlsen in 2013

Just two years later, in 2015, Abdusattorov had quite the breakthrough. He catapulted from 2263 to 2465 in a matter of a month. That same year he participated in the Qatar Masters, rubbing shoulders with some of the world's biggest chess stars for the first time.

Eight years later, he has a confession to make: "I was looking at each player and seeing them for the first time with an open mouth. It was so exciting!"

In Qatar he also got to show off his skills, such as incredible pace and determination on the soccer (football) pitch, as this reporter witnessed first-hand. "I remember I scored a goal," he says smilingly, adding that he is still a keen player.

He ended up taking a picture with Carlsen, who won the tournament. "I did not talk to him. I was just happy to get the picture!"

Abdusattorov has the memory fresh is his mind when now he has become a star himself and fans are chasing after a selfie with him instead. The young Uzbek's rise has been meteoric. He was barely 13 when he became a grandmaster, the sixth youngest in history, and 15 when he crossed the 2600 barrier. He faced Carlsen for the first time in the 2019 World Blitz Championship, where he held a draw as Black.

In the 2021 World Rapid Championship he won a key game against Carlsen that sensationally secured him the title. After defeating him in their first classical encounter in Tata Steel Chess 2023, Abdusattorov remains the only top player with a plus score against the Norwegian in classical chess.

"After that event, it was obvious that I was going to reach the very top very soon. My childhood time had passed, and I had to grow and take it seriously from that point. Now it's very, very serious."

"Looking back at the time, it was my dream to play even one classical game against him. After some time, I am almost playing against him in every big tournament. It is changing in a very straightforward and unexpected manner. It's a very pleasant feeling to play against him. I enjoy it, but at the same time it's some kind of competition."

Abdusattorov has a clear warning for the world number one.

"Now it's obvious that Magnus is... despite being the best player in the world, our generation is coming for him. It's going to be very tough for Magnus."

Our generation is coming for him. It's going to be very tough for Magnus.

Nodirbek Abdusattorov

Carlsen himself said he feels the youngsters, including Abdusattorov, still have some way to go before they are at his level.

"For the moment, I don't think any of them are close to being at my level. That doesn't mean that it's always easy," Carlsen said in the recent Sjakksnakk podcast.

The former world champion has previously praised Abdusattorov's concentration and discipline, and abilities to defend inferior positions, calling him "extremely impressive." However, the former world champion rates Firouzja higher.

"There's no doubt that Alireza is a bigger talent. Whether he is a more likely pick to have a better chess career than Abdusattorov, I am not sure. But I am not 100 percent convinced by Abdusattorov, still. I am talking in terms of being a clear number one, not whether he is going to be a perennial top player, obviously. But it's still hard to say," Carlsen said.

Whether Abdusattorov will make it to the very top one day remains to be seen, but he certainly seems to be in a good place.

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Abdusattorov Enters World Top 5 Before Age 20: 'I Always Wanted To Break Records' - Chess.com

As eight of the world's very best grandmastersGMs Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, Alireza Firouzja, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, Gukesh Dommaraju, Vidit Gujrathi, and Nijat Abasovdescend on Toronto, Canada for the 2024 Candidates Tournament, only one can emerge with the rights to faceGM Ding Liren in the 2024 FIDE World Championship.

But who will it be? That's the question we're looking at today. Below, you can see the odds that each of these stars takes one step closer to the glory of becoming a world champion, and read on to find out why. Many thanks to Tai Pruce-Zimmerman (@chessnumbers) for running the numbers!

In addition to the stats, four grandmasters have graciously offered their thoughts on the favorites, underdogs, and everyone in between: commentators extraordinaire GM David Howell and GM Robert Hess, 12th women's world champion GM Alexandra Kosteniuk, and Chess.com resident GM Rafael Leitao. Our thanks to all of these brilliant players!

Note: Stats are based on players' official March 2024 ratings.

Caruana is the only player in the world, besides GM Magnus Carlsen, who enters the Candidates Tournament maintaining a 2800 rating. He also has by far the most Candidates Tournament experience in the field, with 2024 being his fifth straight. It all adds up to some very high expectations for the three-time U.S. champion.

Most of our grandmasters agreed with the stats that Caruana is the single favorite in the tournament.

Although I don't like giving predictions in general... Caruana has been showing very consistent results in the last year and clearly is the main contender to win this tournament.

GM Alexandra Kosteniuk

By rating, Nakamura is easily one of the top two players in the Candidates, on a margin of almost 30 points over Firouzja. Nakamura has been in the world's top five every month for a year and, after Caruana, has the tournament's best chance at advancing to the World Championship.

Nakamura just constantly looks like he's in the zone... and he's turned winning into a habit.

GM David Howell

The youngest of the four players who has been in a Candidates before, and one of just three participants who has ever been rated 2800, Firouzja has the third-best statistical chances to win the event. Still, he finds himself closer to the rest of the field than to the top two of Caruana and Nakamura.

The grandmasters were rather split on Firouzja's chances.

If I had to make a bet with these odds, Firouzja would be my choice for a value bet.

GM Rafael Leitao

Nepomniachtchi has won this tournament twice in a row, his first two times playing in it. Statistically speaking, however, this fact neither increases or decreases his odds of winning a third time in a row, and he is just a fraction less likely than Firouzja to take the tournament.

There was perhaps no greater disagreement between the grandmasters and the percentages than with Nepomniachtchi.

This percentage almost feels disrespectful!

GM Robert Hess

The ranking of the three Indian players in the field has been constantly shuffling in the past few monthsin fact, in the official March rankings, all three of them were rated exactly 2747but as we enter the Candidates, it is Praggnanandhaa who finds himself at the top of the numbers hierarchy.

Howell and Kosteniuk were very high on Praggnanandhaa as well, while Hess and Leitao have all three Indian players about the samea reflection of their bunched-together ratings.

Pragg has great nerves, a very flexible opening repertoire, and is so universal. All key ingredients for a successful Candidates campaign.

GM David Howell

Gukesh is only 17 years old, the youngest player in the tournament. Of the three Indian players, he is the only one who has cracked a 2750 rating so far, becoming the first Indian player in 37 years to surpass GM Viswanathan Anand, but he has lost a few points since then. And that seems to be reflected in his stats.

Not surprising for the youngest player, all four grandmasters were a bit worried about Gukesh's chances, but not for talent reasons.

It's always hard to predict results from youngsters, so I'm just looking forward to seeing him performing in his first Candidates.

GM Alexandra Kosteniuk

Vidit stumbled in March with a 3/9 finish at the Prague Masters, giving him the second-lowest rating in the field as the tournament begins. While bad performances before the Candidates historically don't mean very much, Vidit's statistical odds are not as high as they would have been with a higher rating.

Definitely the most underrated player... he's not behind his two compatriots, with the advantage of being a more mature player.

GM Rafael Leitao

Yes, out of 10,000 simulations, Abasov won the tournament a grand total of seven times. His rating is more than 110 points lower than anyone else in the field, giving him a major uphill battle.

You might expect the GM panel to agree with Abasov's low odds... and they do.

Abasov truthfully has zero chance of winning this event, but will determine who in fact challenges for the world championship.

GM Robert Hess

If you want even more expert opinions, GM Daniel Naroditsky posted his thoughts on Reddit, and even Carlsen himself was interviewed by Howell below:

It is pretty clear that the expectations on Caruana are stratospheric, but he has met such expectations before. If it doesn't happen for him, the numbers may like Nakamura next, but other grandmasters see Nepomniachtchi as bigger threat. Firouzja may be the least predictable player in the field. The Indian players total 18.5% in their chances, but it's almost impossible to say which one of them specifically might surprise.

Who do you think will win the Candidates and why? Let us know in the comments!

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Who Will Win The Candidates Tournament - Chess.com

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World Chess Hall of Fame to Open New Exhibition: Clash for the Crown: Celebrating Chess Champions - The Bakersfield Californian

DETROIT Before the nets came down on a day few will forget, Matt Painter walked across the court and extended a hand. He needed to see one of his own. Robbie Hummel had done his damnedest for the previous two hours to play it down the middle, with no bias, no allegiance, as a radio analyst for Westwood One, but now the former Boilermaker star clasped the hand of his old coach and it all came out. Big, real, hot tears. The purest kind. Because Hummel knows perhaps more than anyone else what it meant for Purdue to beat Tennessee on this Sunday in Detroit and book a spot in the programs first Final Four in 44 years.

Hummel could hardly collect himself, so broadcast partner Kevin Kugler handled the questions for Painter. Only in the waning moments of the interview did Hummel muster a few words.

We, he said of himself and everyone else who has worn a Purdue jersey, are so proud of you.

Everyone was spent. This was no ordinary Midwest Regional victory. This was catharsis. A moment so large that fans young and old wept. Gene Keady, the programs modern patriarch, was a 43-year-old head coach at Western Kentucky the last time Purdue reached a Final Four. Painter, now 53, was 9 years old in 1980. Hummel wasnt born.

But this was a day that, for two hours, embodied what Purdue basketball is. A 72-66 win was ruthless and tough. Bodies on the floor. Elbows in chests. Rebounds requiring co-pays. But it was also tactical and exacting. The right reads at the right time. Course correction in timeouts.

Basketball, well-engineered.

Exactly what Painter has tried to manifest for so long.

If you can put skill and competitive spirit together, Painter would say afterward. Those two qualities together is magic, man.

Sundays alchemy began with Painter in the pregame locker room delivering this final message: Up 10, or down 10, I dont care. Just keep going. Score the ball. And make sure you have fing fun.

The theory was promptly tested. Tennessees Dalton Knecht is a first-team All-American because he gets off shots few others can, kills fools with a deep bag of tricks and is unhindered by conscience. Fifteen minutes into Sundays game, it was all on full display. Knecht made six of his first nine shots, including all four 3-point attempts, and scored 16 early points. Seeing 5:11 on the clock and his team on the wrong end of a 15-2 run, and suddenly trailing 32-21, Painter called timeout.

As the teams exited the floor to their respective huddles, Knecht was met with chest bumps by every teammate. He then stared up into the rows and rows of Volunteers fans behind the bench and declared: This is my fing game!

Knechts clean looks were coming, in part, because he was being checked by 6-foot Purdue guard Braden Smith. Purdue needed to defend the Vols star more physically, so Painter tasked Lance Jones with chasing and harassing Knecht. Jones isnt much taller than Smith, but hes older, stronger and more physical.

What needed to be said was said in that huddle.

Totally changed the game, Hummel said of that timeout. I dont know what (Painter) said, but if you could bottle that, you could sell it for a lot of money.

Turns out, according to Purdue director of basketball operations Elliot Bloom, it wasnt only Painter talking. Zach Edey had a message, and, yes, when 7-foot-4, 300-pound Zach Edey speaks, everyone listens. Were not tired, Edey shouted. Theyre tired. Lets go!

Purdue outscored Tennessee 15-2 to end the half. Knecht went 1-of-5 in the stretch, scoring only on a runout dunk. Its hard to score when suffering from claustrophobia, and Lance Jones put him in a crowded elevator.

Knecht was incredible, but Painters switch made a world of difference. The soon-to-be NBA lottery pick finished with 37 points on 31 shots. He went 2-of-8 on 2s after being introduced to Jones.

He was cooking, the fifth-year transfer from Southern Illinois said. So I wanted to do anything I could to shut his water off.

Lets set aside how incredible that quote is to point out that no other Tennessee player finished in double figures and the Vols scored only 14 points at the rim. All game, from behind the microphone, Hummel wondered aloud if Knecht could actually take down Purdue by himself.

Because thats what it wouldve taken.

Purdue was, as it so often is, inconceivably well-prepared. Every question had an answer, and on the offensive end, it was typically born from a middle ball screen. Guards Smith and Fletcher Loyer played off relentless screens from Edey, leaving Tennessee constantly calculating between guarding Edey on the roll, attacking the ballhandler and sending a help-defender. The game of Choose Your Own Adventure typically ended badly because Purdue so enjoys taking your decision and using it against you.

With under four minutes to go and Purdue leading 61-60, and Edey having scored 12 straight points, the Boilers got into their offense for a crucial possession. With Loyer and Edey stacked as screeners atop the lane, Smith drove hard down the right side of the lane. On an island, Tennessee center J.P. Estrella was stuck picking between giving Smith a clear layup or leaving Edey. Jumping to block Smiths shot, Estrella could only watch as the ball passed in front of him to the open, waiting hands of Edey. The dunk gave Purdue a three-point lead with 3:22 to go.

Following a missed Knecht 3 on the other end, Smith again went to work. This time, after some sequencing, Edey stepped out to the perimeter for a ball screen, springing Smith down the right side, again. This time, as Tennessees Zakai Zeigler sagged, Smith kicked the ball to the man he left, Jones, who stepped into a dagger 3-pointer. Purdue up, 66-60, 2:40 to go.

Do they want to stay with us when we drive, and well shoot the layup, or stay with (Edey)? Smith said of the Boilers confounding attack. Pick your poison there.

Considering Edey as a poison is an interesting thought exercise. Theres no rapid result in poisoning. A proper poisoning is schemed, meticulously administered and mercilessly effective. In Edey, the uninformed see a monster and assume his production is based only on size and power. In reality, his every movement is created and calculated from Painters beautiful mind.

Against Tennessee, according to an unofficial tabulation, Purdue created 40 post touches for Edey out of offensive sets. This is despite Tennessee doing all things imaginable to prevent such entry passes. Those 40 touches produced all 13 of Edeys made field goals, a bulk of his 15(!) fouls drawn and six missed shots, while he passed out of the rest (often getting the ball back).

The way he moves Zach, the pick-and-roll stuff, the fake-dribble handoff play, Hummel said of Painter after the game, thats high-level stuff. Hes just playing chess out there.

The rest of Edeys damage came on the glass. This, to be clear, was absolutely a product of size and power. Five offensive rebounds, countless tip-outs. Purdue rebounded nearly 45 percent of its misses. That this game ended as the Boilers worst 3-pointing performance of the season 3-of-15, 20 percent went almost unnoticed thanks to 13 offensive rebounds in a 67-possession game.

Edey, in the end, lived up to his legend. In his 136th game at Purdue, and the biggest game the program has played since 1980, he set a new career-high with 40 points. He made 13 field goals He made 14 free throws. He grabbed 16 rebounds. He played 39 minutes and 27 seconds.

He also, appropriately, delivered the eulogy. After air-balling a foul shot with Purdue leading late and Tennessee looking to extend the game, Edey walked down the floor with his head slung. Teammate Mason Gillis approached from his left and gave a nudge. Edey looked at him, shook his head, and said, only, Im good.

The next play, with the Vols looking to cut Purdues lead to two or three with under 40 seconds left, Edey met Knecht star v. star, alpha v. alpha and swatted away the shot and sealed the game.

As the final horn sounded, unsure what else to do, Edey cut the line, stepping in front of Tennessee coach Rick Barnes to hug his head coach. He held tight. Painter might have a collapsed lung from such a squeeze, but it was worth it.

I get to pay him back, said Edey, whose scholarship list out of high school was fairly light for a player currently awaiting his second shipment of national player of the year awards. There were so many coaches that overlooked me. Name a program, I can name a coach that looked over me.

Tennessee fans will likely bemoan the officiating. Understandably. The Vols were called for 25 fouls, compared to Purdues 12, while Edey drew 16 and was called for one. His 22 free-throw attempts were double what Tennessee shot as a team (11). It was a very similar story when the two teams met earlier this year when Purdue notched a win in the Maui Invitational.

Barnes, though, stressed afterward that he did not blame the officiating. Edey, he said, is both unique and exceedingly difficult to officiate, and what was done, was done.

And now Purdue is off the Final Four in Phoenix. There isnt enough time here to account for all the rings in the tree that preceded this, but Hummel is among them and could speak for everyone. All the former Boilers. All the greats over the last 44 years himself, Glenn Robinson, ETwaun Moore, Caleb Swanigan, Carsen Edwards, Jaden Ivey who didnt reach the Final Four. Painter, himself, played from 1990-93, reaching three NCAA Tournaments, before later replacing his old coach, Keady, as head coach 19 years ago.

Ive talked to so many former guys that say, man, when I watch this team, they make me so proud because they do it the right way, Hummel said.

GO DEEPER

Voice of reason: Why Robbie Hummel is the next big thing in college basketball (if he wants to be)

In another universe, it mightve been some of those former players who took Purdue to the Final Four. Surely theyve all thought about it. Hummel surely had. Hes lived most of his adult life resenting the fact that those diabolical injuries not only curbed his career but maybe kept Purdue from reaching this promised land years ago.

I know what theyve been through, Hummel said. Theyve been through hell and come out the other side.

The view is different there.

It looks an awful lot like Phoenix.

(Top photo of Zach Edey hugging Matt Painter: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)

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Matt Painter's chess moves and Zach Edey's relentlessness lead Purdue to Final Four - The Athletic

The opening ceremony for the 2024 FIDE Candidates Tournament and 2024 FIDE Womens Candidates Tournament take place today in Toronto, Canada. This marks the first time that the two Candidates tournaments are held concurrently, and promises plenty of exciting chess over the next three weeks.

Round one begins tomorrow, April 4, at 1:30 p.m. CDT. Subsequent rounds take place at the same time, with one round per day, except on the rest days of April 8, 12, 16, and 19. Note that no rest day takes place over a weekend, allowing fans the chance to catch a round outside of working hours.

Chess Life Onlinewill feature in-depth reports from each round. A schedule of rounds and annotators is available here.

In the Open, Russian GM Ian Nepomniachtchi will seek a third consecutive win trip to the world championship, after falling short in 2021 against GM Magnus Carlsen and just short again in 2023 against GM Ding Liren. But the two odds-on favorites, who happen to be the two highest-rated competitors, are the two Americans.

With both coming off of great years, GM Fabiano Caruana qualified based on his third-place finish in the 2023 FIDE World Cup, while GM Hikaru Nakamura qualified based on his second-place finish in the 2023 FIDE Grand Swiss. This is Caruanas fifth consecutive Candidates tournament, having won once in 2018. This is Nakamuras third trip to the Candidates, and second consecutive after falling just short of a second-place finish in 2022.

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Caruana capped off a strong 2023 with a victory in the Sinquefield Cup last winter (courtesy Lennart Ootes/SLCC)

The other front-runner is French GM Alireza Firouzja, a 20-year-old phenomenon who still holds the record for youngest player to achieve a FIDE classical rating over 2800. Firouzja indeed qualified via the ratings spot, but enters with a 2760 rating after a lackluster set of performances in 2023 before a flurry of late games to clinch the rating spot. He enters as the third highest-rated player, two points ahead of Nepomniachtchi (2758) but still 43 points behind Caruana (2803) and 29 points behind Nakamura (2789). This is also his second consecutive Candidates appearance.

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Nakamura after qualifying for the Candidates in the 2023 FIDE Grand Swiss (courtesy Anna Shtourman/FIDE)

Of the four remaining players in the Open, three hail from India, and all are participating in their first Candidates tournament. GM Vidit Santosh Gujrathi, age 29, enters as the lowest-rated of the trio (2727), after winning the 2023 FIDE Grand Swiss ahead of Nakamura and Caruana. The youngest, GM Gukesh D (age 17, 2743), qualified via amassing the most points on the 2023 FIDE Circuit. Finally, GM Praggnanandhaa R (age 18, 2747) qualified after a strong second-place finish (behind Carlsen, ahead of Caruana) in the 2023 FIDE World Cup.

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Vidit (R) qualified for the Candidates by winning the 2023 FIDE Grand Swiss alongside his countrywoman, Vaishali Rameshbabu (more on her below) (courtesy Anna Shtourman/FIDE)

Finally, Azerbaijani GM Nijat Abasov enters as the dark horse of the event, as the only player outside the current top 100 world rankings. Rated 2632 (with a peak of 2679 and a top 60 world ranking as recently as last November), Abasov finished fourth in the World Cup after an impressive string of upsets. When Carlsen declined his qualifying spot from winning the World Cup, the rules stipulated that the fourth-place finisher in the World Cup would qualify instead.

In the Womens tournament, six of the eight participants are currently ranked in the world top eight, with only top-rated GM Hou Yifan (inactive) and second-rated GM Ju Wenjun (reigning world champion) missing from the line-up. Of the participants, third-ranked GM Aleksandra Goryachkina (2553, Russia), is the highest rated.

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Goryachkina won her first FIDE Women's World Cup in 2023, and looks to follow it up with another Candidates victory (behind GM Ju Wenjun) and adds a World Cup title to her list of accolades (courtesy Stev Bonhage/FIDE)

Goryachkina qualified via her second-place finish in the 2022-23 FIDE Womens Grand Prix series (but also won the 2023 FIDE Womens World Cup), and she looks to repeat her 2019 Womens Candidates victory to earn a rematch with Ju. She should be considered a favorite due to her rating, strong results at the World Cup, and successful history in this event, but the next group of three players are certainly right up there with her.

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The challenger Lei Tingjie after her 2022 Candidates victory (courtesy FIDE)

Fourth-ranked GM Lei Tingjie (2550, China) won the previous Womens Candidates cycle of matches, losing in the last game of the 2023 Womens World Championship to Ju. Fifth-ranked GM Humpy Koneru (2546, India) earned the ratings spot, as Tingjie qualified in virtue of winning the previous Candidates cycle. Sixth-ranked GM Kateryna Lagno (2542, Russia) qualified via her victory in the 2022-23 FIDE Womens Grand Prix cycle. Lagno previously competed for the world championship in 2018, losing the knock-out finals to Ju.

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Anna Muzychuk (L)'s Women's World Cup Semi-Final against Salimova resulted in both players qualifying for the Candidates (courtesy Anna Shtourman/FIDE)

Next up is seventh-ranked GM Tan Zhongyi (2521, China), who qualified via her second-place finish in the 2023 FIDE Womens Grand Swiss. Tan was a finalist in the previous Candidates cycle, losing to Lei in their head-to-head finals match. Eighth-ranked GM Anna Muzychuk (2520, Ukraine) qualified via her third-place finish in the 2023 FIDE Womens World Cup. Like Abasov in the Open, she earned a spot in virtue of a higher-placing finisher not accepting their spot, although in this case it was because Goryachkina had already qualified for the Candidates.

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Salimova revealed she has been training with none other than Abasov (second from right). Both players earned unexpected Candidates slots from their strong World Cup performances. (courtesy Maria Emelianova/Chess.com)

The only two players outside of the world top ten, then, are Indian GM-Elect Vaishali Rameshbabu* (2475, world number 15) and Bulgarian IM Nurgyul Salimova (2432, world number 36). Vaishali earned her spot with a number of sharp wins resulting in a first-place finish in the 2023 FIDE Womens Grand Swiss, and Salimova earned hers via a second-place finish in the 2023 FIDE Womens World Cup after a string of upsets. At ages 22 and 20, respectively, both have seen substantial improvements in their games (and ratings) over the past year, and neither should be counted out.

*Vaishali is registered with FIDE as Vaishali Rameshbabu, while her brother*, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, is registered as Praggnanandhaa R. We will follow these conventions when referring to the two players.

**Yes, there is a brother-sister duo competing in Toronto!

The time control is slightly different for the two tournaments, with each time control corresponding to the time control used in the corresponding world championship event. In the Open, the players will have 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, with a 30-minute bonus on move 41 and a 30-second increment only beginning on move 41. In the Womens, the players will have 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, with a 30-minute bonus on move 41 but a 30-second increment beginning on move one.

Both tournaments follow a Double Round Robin format, with all pairings determined in advance. Players representing the same federation are slated to play each other in the first rounds of each half of the tournament.

The prize fund for the Open is double that of the Womens. For the Open: 48,000 euros for first, 36,000 for second, and 24,000 for third. For the Womens: 24,000 euros for first, 18,000 for second and 12,000 for third. Interestingly, rather than promise pre-determined prize amounts for all finishers, the remaining prizes are awarded based on score, with 3,500 euros awarded for each half-point scored for players in the Open and 1,750 for players in the Womens. These score prizes are awarded for all eight players in each event.

If two players tie for first, second, or third, the prizes are divided equally and not based on tiebreaks. For instance, if two players tie for second place, they split the second- and third-place prizes equally. If there is a tie for first place, then in addition to splitting the prizes equally, a tiebreak match will be played to determine who earns the right to challenge the current world champion. Full regulations are available for the Open here and the Womens here.

Quick Links

Official Website (Schedule|Pairings|Crosstables)

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Stream Today in Chess, courtesy of Saint Louis Chess Club, with commentary from GM Yasser Seirawan, GM Evegeny Miroshnichenko, and IM Nazi Paikidze. This broadcast will focus on the games of the two American players. (YouTube|Twitch)

Link:

FIDE Candidates and Women's Candidates 2024: What To Expect | US Chess.org - uschess.org

Photo by James Biernat | The Triangle

In Camden, New Jersey, the 76ers went from the basketball court to the chess boards for the second annual Meltons Make Your Move chess event. 76ers players DeAnthony Melton and Paul Reed, as well as President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey and chess influencer, Levy Rozman, were in attendance for a unique community event.

Over a dozen local chess students came to the facility and had the opportunity to face off against all four celebrity participants, with a few students even defeating the 76ers players in their matches.

A chess tournament might seem like an unusual event for the 76ers to participate in, but switching up the nerdy mindset regarding chess is one thing DeAnthony Melton hopes to do.

For me, chess has been a safe haven, Melton said, I play on my phone almost every day and I love how it brings people together.

This was Meltons second year hosting the event, and many believe it was not just a success once again, but an improvement.

I think its important for kids to see that hes a basketball player on the court who has high basketball IQ and high chess IQ, Morey mentioned. We leveled up the event a little bit this year by having Levy (Rosman) whos obviously a big personality. We feel its important for us to keep the kids interested.

A chess influencer is a title that did not exist a decade ago, but Rozman is helping take charge in changing that. The content creator gained popularity on Youtube and Twitch during the pandemic, and has been labeled The Internets Chess Teacher.

Growing up, playing chess got you labeled a weirdo and subject to bullying, Rozman said. So now, its really special that we have so many cool athletes that kids look up to playing chess.

As the chess matches continued, DeAnthony Melton was able to share some special moments with his young chess opponents. Between the playful banter and light trash talk, one thing remained apparent, and that was the care for the communitys youth that Melton promotes.

Melton has been recovering from a back injury that has sidelined him since Feb. 27, and has plagued him since December. The 62 guard was averaging 11.5 points per game prior to his injury, and his along with teammate Joel Embiids absence has been a contributing factor for 76ers fall from fifth to seventh in the eastern conference standings.

As an athlete, taking time away from your recovery is a noble thing, and hosting a community event should earn Melton recognition.

I think its important to realize that anybody can play chess, DeAnthony commented. Some kids might not even watch basketball, but its cool connecting with them on the chess table.

Read the original here:

DeAnthony Melton: From the basketball court to the chess board - The Triangle - Drexel University The Triangle Online

Candidates chess 2024: In 2013, right after Magnus Carlsen won the Candidates tournament in London, a frame captured by Norwegian photographer Morten Rakke went viral. In it, the grandmaster is captured behind a door, slumped on the handrail of a staircase, shirt untucked, his face buried into his arm. An ominous sign on the wall behind Carlsen read: Beware of the steps.

Barely had the world championship challenger caught his breath after qualifying for the world championship, he was interviewed by International Master Lawrence Trent, who asked him how he planned to celebrate his victory. Carlsens answer was revealing. My thoughts have not gone further than getting back to my hotel and lying down. Thats whats next for me.

Trent prodded him further, asking if he was more exhausted physically or emotionally. Its a lethal combination right now, offered Carlsen.

In the decade that has followed, Carlsen scythed his way through the world of chess, racking up five crowns after battling through five World Championship jousts, before eventually abdicating his throne.

A case can be made that the World Championship battle is more forgiving than the Candidates. If you err, you come back with redrawn battle plans and take on the same opponent once more. At the Candidates, though, one loss can suddenly become a slippery slope.

It is into this tournament of suffering that R Praggnanandhaa, D Gukesh, Vidit Santosh Gujrathi. Koneru Humpy and R Vaishali head for the next three weeks. Each player in the eight-man open event and the eight-women corresponding tournament will play the other opponents twice and the winner after 14 rounds will earn the right to challenge the world champions next year.

The missing Magnus effect

Srinath points out that Magnuss decision to forsake his crown and not compete at the current Candidates cycle in the open event means that players, even first-timers, will want to win this time, knowing an easier battle awaits them at the World Championship against Ding Liren. There is also a possibility that the world no.1 Carlsen could decide to compete in the next Candidates, thus making that one more difficult to win.

Defeating anyone else in the World Championship is definitely relatively easier than trying to beat Magnus in a match. This makes winning the 2024 Candidates more lucrative. Ding has not been in his best shape at all in the past one year. He has a year more and even a weakened Ding is by no means easy. But if he plays at his current form at the World Championship, then the challenger will be the favourite against Ding, points out Srinath.

However, Srinath warns against trying to floor the pedal in a desperate bid to come out flying from the start of the tournament.

For any player competing for the first time, ideally its important to not get overawed by the occasion. Throwing the kitchen sink might actually backfire. This is not the kind of event where you can blitzkrieg your opponent. Its really important to wait for your chances, says Srinath.

Experience matters

Some of the greatest last names in the world of chess Petrosian, Najdorf, Euwe, Spassky, Tal, Fischer, Korchnoi, Karpov, Anand, Topalov, Kramnik, Carlsen and Liren have fought their way out of the trenches of the Candidates tournament before they were deemed worthy of taking a crack at the kings throne.

For all three Indian contenders in the open category (and Vaishali in the womens event), the Candidates will be their first brush with an event with the stakes so high.

There are two ways of neatly dividing the eight-man open category. The 30 somethings Ian Nepomniachtchi, Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura who have been around for a while at the elite level, and have considerable experience of how to tackle such events. Then come the players in their late 20s: Vidit Gujrathi and Nijat Abasov. And the final group is the one that has made the world sit up and take notice since the pandemic, 20-year-old Alireza Firouzja, 18-year-old Praggnanandhaa and 17-year-old Gukesh, who is the second youngest player ever at the Candidates after Bobby Fischer.

In many senses its a battle of generations. Its a good platform for youngsters to make their mark at the highest level, says RB Ramesh, who is Praggs coach and has also been instrumental in the development of Vaishali.

The other way of separating the eight-man pack is prior Candidates experience. On one side are the haves: Nepomniachtchi (playing at his third consecutive Candidates tournament and chasing his third win), Caruana (fifth Candidates appearance), Nakamura and Firouzja. And the have nots: Vidit, Gukesh, Pragg and Abasov.

In the womens category too, Viashali steps into her first Candidates event, while Humpy has been there last time.

Over the next three weeks, Pragg, Gukesh, Vaishali, Vidit and Humpy will try and climb the staircase, one treacherous step at a time through a haze of opponents, to be able to take on Liren and Ju Wenjun in the World Championship battle.

But they must be wary. As the sign behind Carlsen warned, Beware of the steps.

Read this article:

Candidates chess tournament: Why playing at the Candidates and winning it is as tough as the World Championships - The Indian Express

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Breaking barriers in the world of chess, Maurice Ashley became the first Black chess grandmaster in 1999. He fell in love with the game after immigrating to the U.S. from Jamaica. Now, he has a new book that gives life advice drawn from the wisdom of chess.

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How the first Black chess grandmaster fell in love with the game, talks its impact in life - CBS News

The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024 is set to take place in Toronto, Canada, on April 3-23. This event marks a historic occasion as it is the first time the Candidates Tournament will be held in North America (as a round-robin). Another first for the 2024 edition: the Candidates and the Womens Candidates are organized together under one roof on the same dates.

Eight players in each category have gone through the excruciating qualification process to earn a chance at becoming a challenger for the World Championship title and facing Ding Liren (open) and Ju Wenjun (womens) at the end of this year.

The lineups pique curiosity as several young talents enter the late stages of the World Championship cycle for the first time.

More information

Attack like a Super Grandmaster

In this Fritztrainer: Attack like a Super GM with Gukesh we touch upon all aspects of his play, with special emphasis on how you can become a better attacking player.

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The Candidates are ready - First impressions from Toronto! - Chess News | ChessBase