Alexander Grischuk says that freestyle chess removes this “this idiotic 6 hours preparation for the game.” He adds, “Classical is my least preferred format, it is either blitz, rapid of freestyle”.

Alexander Grischuk about Grenke and Freestyle

More LIVE events: 48th Guernsey International Chess Festival 2024 LIVE / Weissenhaus Young Masters Chess 2024 LIVE / Saint Charbel Chess Cup II LIVE

Full list of participants

The championship, first scheduled for December 2020, had to be postponed twice due to Covid19, but the final dates were not chosen at random: in fact, it was March 20 that the International Francophonie Day is celebrated around the world.

Recently, the sanctions taken against Russia following the invasion of Ukraine and the outbreak of war, deprived the organizers of the presence of the six-time world champion Anatoly Karpov who had agreed to sponsor the event.

The direction of the tournament was provided by Christophe Leroy and the refereeing by Laurent Freyd and his team.

It all started on Friday March 18 at 5 p.m. with a press conference attended by MM. Philippe Meunier, Vice-President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, Patrick Van Hoolandt, President of AIDEF, Bachar Kouatly, FIDE Deputy President, Xavier Popeler, President of Lyon Olympique Echecs, Christophe Leroy, Director from Lyon Olympique Echecs and Guy Tisserant, paralympic world No. 1 champion table tennis player from 1992 to 1998.

Then, a session of giant simultaneous champions was given by Marc Andria Maurizzi, the youngest French Grand Master, Philéas Mathieu, Champion of France Minimes 2021, Elise Tomasi, Champion of France University 2022, Florence Rollot, Champion of France junior 2021 and Sarah Djidjeli Vice-champion of France 2018.

A cocktail offered by the partners and then a dinner bringing together the officials and the organizers closed the day.

The following 2 days were devoted to the competition: 13 rounds Swiss system – Cadence 15 minutes + 10 seconds awaited the participants, but according to a different formula this year: After the first 10 rounds, the players who finished in the first 8 competed between them quarter-finals, then semi-finals with direct elimination and then a final for the title, the others continuing to play the last 3 rounds for the allocation of places from the 9th.

This final was played between Pierre Laurent-Paoli and Maxime Lagarde in the hemicycle of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, and it is finally the latter who wins for the second time, after Cannes in 2018, the title of Francophone Rapid Chess Champion.

The overall ranking is therefore as follows:

1. IGM Maxime Lagarde (France)
2. IM Pierre Laurent-Paoli (France)
3. IGM Christian Bauer (France)
4. IGM Alexandre Dgebuadze (Belgium)
5. IM Yohan Benitah (France)
6. IM Nderim Saraci (Kosovo)
7. IGM Gabriel Flom (France)
8. IM Anatole Vlachos (Greece)
9. IGM Marc Andria Maurizzi (France)
10. IM Mahel Boyer (France)
11. FM Samuel Malka (France)
12. IM Fred Berend (Luxembourg)

Special prices:

1st -2200 ELO – IGM Marc Andria Maurizzi (France)
1st -2000 ELO – Tristan Bregnac (France)
1st -1800 ELO – Luca Ernst (France)
1st Women – WIM Ekaterini Pavlidou (Greece)
1st -20 years old – IM Anatole Vlachos (Greece)
1st Senior +50 – IGM Alexandre Dgebuadze (Belgium)
1st Veteran +65 – Alain Wauters (France)

This was followed by the award ceremony and a cocktail reception for all! Ranking list can be found here.

AIDEF would like to thank the entire Lyon Olympique Echecs team, the volunteers, the arbiters, the private and institutional sponsors, especially the Confederation of small and medium-sized enterprises (CPME) and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, without whom nothing would have been possible.

The 22-years old, seeded only 25th before the start of the event, completed the race undefeated with 7 wins and 8 draws. The key game was his victory against Wang Hao in the penultimate round which lifted him above the competition. With top seven games of the final round being drawn, the standings did not change and Dubov was set to celebrate a huge success.

Daniil Dubov (photo by Lennart Ootes)

Four players shared the second place with 10,5/15 points each – Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan), Hikaru Nakamura (USA), Vladislav Artemiev (Russia) and Magnus Carlsen (Norway). Mamedyarov boasted the best tie-break score and took the silver medal. Nakamura followed to win the bronze medal.

The reigning World Classical Champion Magnus Carlsen, who actually clinched the last two Classical titles in rapid tie-break games, was unable to secure the podium in the King Salman World Rapid Championship, just like in the previous event in Riyadh. Carlsen paid the heavy price to the shocking losses in the first two rounds, which also ruined his additional criteria in the tie. Carlsen lost 34 elo points, but he can still improve the impression if he does well in the upcoming King Salman World Blitz Championship, where he will defend the title.

The best placed Arab player is GM Salem A.R.Saleh with 9/15 points. Saleh was actually in superb shape, having defeated Ian Nepomniachtchi in the 13th round to share the 3rd place, but the losses in the last two rounds deprived him of better finish.

Ju Wenjun’s gold medal in the Women’s Rapid Championship was never in doubt as she assumed the lead from the very start of the event and cruised to convincing victory with 10/12 points, leaving the nearest followers a full point behind.

This is her second title in the King Salman Women’s World Rapid Championship as she had also won the previous event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Being also the reigning World Classical Champion, the Chinese has the chance to unite the titles in all three formats if she wins the King Salman Women’s World Blitz Championship.

Ju Wenjun

On the shared second place are Sarasadat Khademalsharieh from Iran and Aleksandra Goryachkina from Russia with 9 points each. Khademalsharieh claimed the silver medal on better tie-break, while Goryachkina took the bronze.

Khademalsharieh suffered a setback in the second round by losing to the talented Bibisara Assaubayeva, but a great start of the final day of the Championship, when she defeated former World Champions Antoaneta Stefanova and Mariya Muzychuk, secured a strong finish.

Goryachkina was close to the top throughout the competition, however a loss to the eventual winner Ju Wenjun in the 10th round meant that she had to go all-in in the final two rounds. Goryachkina succeeded and with two wins finally captured the medal.

The King Salman World Blitz Championship starts tomorrow.

The 18th European Youth Rapid&Blitz Championships are open to all players from European Chess Federations. Each ECU member federation can register an unlimited number of players that meet the age requirements of respective sections.

The entry form should be filled in by the national federation on the official website of the championship before the registration deadline – 4th June 2018.

The playing venue of the events will be Continental Hotel, one of the official hotels of the event, together with Ramada Hotel and Impero Hotel. All the players and any kind of accompanying persons are invited to stay in the official hotels of the Championship.

The event consist of 4 separate competitions:

(1) INDIVIDUAL EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP – RAPID

– 9 rounds according to the Swiss System, 15 minutes + 10 sec per player

– Categories: boys and girls U8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18

(2) TEAM EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP – RAPID

– Two categories: U12 and U18

– Teams are composed of 4 players of the same federation

– 7 rounds played according to the Swiss System, 10 minutes + 5 sec per player

(3) INDIVIDUAL EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP – BLITZ

– Three categories: under 10, under 14 and under 18, separately for boys and girls

– 9 rounds played according to the Swiss System, 3 minutes + 2 sec per player

(4) EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP IN SOLVING CHESS PROBLEMS  

– Three categories: U10, U14 and U18, separately for boys and girls

If some of the categories lack the needed number of participants, the organizer has the right to merge two categories or change the competition system.

Top 3 ranked players of each category will be awarded with cups and medals, together with special chess prizes and gifts.

The event will be played according to the ECU Tournament regulations published on 1st of January 2018, which includes Anti-Cheating rules.

Besides the chess activities, ECU and FIDE seminars for trainers and for chess in schools will be organized during the championship.

Official Website of the Championship

Official regulations of the European Youth Rapid&Blitz Championships 2018 can be downloaded bellow or here.

Official Regulations European Youth Rapid&Blitz Chess Championships 2018

Contact Information:
Tournament office
e-mail: ecuoradea2018@yahoo.com

Tournament Director:
IO Elena Cristian +40 723 309 101

Romanian Chess Federation/Constantin Ionescu, General Secretary:
romanianchessfederation@yahoo.com

There is no limit of participants per federation in each of the categories ‐ U8, U10, and U12 (boys and girls). A player must not reach his/her 8th, 10th, 12th birthday, respectively, before 1 January 2018.

The tournaments are based on Swiss System with nine rounds. If a player does not have an existing FIDE rapid or blitz rating, then his/her standard rating will be used, if applicable.

The playing time for the Rapid Championships is 10 minutes with an increment of 5 seconds per move starting with white’s first move.
The playing time for the Blitz Championships is 5 minutes with an increment of 2 seconds per move starting with white’s first move.

The registration deadline is extended to 15 May 2018. A player may apply for the Championships individually or via a National Federation.

The Entrance Fee for both Championships is 70 EUR according to FIDE Financial Regulations. The Entrance Fee for each Championship is 35 EUR.

Each player and each accompanying official/person shall pay the Registration Fee (30 EUR) at the moment of their registration. This Registration Fee is compulsory and confirms the player’s participation in the Championship. This payment includes official accreditation, identification, badges and organization costs.

The Champions of the previous World Rapid and Blitz Cadet Championships (2017) shall have the personal right to participate in the World Rapid and Blitz Cadet Championships of the corresponding age category or a higher age category, if the above age requirements are met. These players are subject to free accommodation (lodging and breakfast) and waiver of the Registration Fee. Such players shall also be treated as invited players and have to be registered by their National Federations.
Invited players shall pay the Entrance Fee according to FIDE Financial Regulations.

Vivid video at the closing ceremony of the 2017 World Cadets Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships

Commission-free payments by credit cards VISA, MASTERCARD, Maestro are also accepted.
For more information about the payments, please visit http://openchess.by/eurominsk2017/kadetyoplata/

Prizes:
Each participant will receive the Certificate of Participation. Special prizes may be awarded.
Prizes for Players of each of the 12 Groups (Open and Girls)
I Title of World Champion (for respective event) + Cup + Medal
II Title of Vice World Champion (for respective event) + Cup + Medal
III Cup + Bronze Medal

Contact:
General Secretary:
Maria Tamkovich
Mobile: (+ 375) 29 2391088
Email: infofide@tut.by

On 23 June 2018 at 15.30, there will be a guided city tour for players and accompanying persons. The price is 20 EUR for adults / 10 EUR for children.

Chess stars Vladimir Kramnik, Alexander Grischuk, Peter Svidler, Sergey Karjakin, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Daniil Dubov (all from Russia), Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan), Hikaru Nakamura (USA), Viswanathan Anand (India), and Boris Gelfand (Israel) took part in the rapid competition.

Viswanathan Anand won the rapid part of the super tournament with 6 points out of 9. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Sergey Karjakin, and Hikaru Nakamura are half a point behind. Thanks to the superior tie-break, Mamedyarov took the second place, while Karjakin is the third.

Final standings:

1. Viswanathan Anand – 6, 2-4. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Sergey Karjakin, Hikaru Nakamura – 5, 5-6. Boris Gelfand, Alexander Grischuk – 4.5, 7-8. Vladimir Kramnik, Daniil Dubov – 4, 9-10. Peter Svidler, Ian Nepomniachtchi – 3.5.

Viswanathan Anand: “It was a pleasure to play in the Museum of the Russian Impressionism. Chess lovers had an opportunity to watch us playing from outside. Museum is a spectacular venue, it is nice to look out and see a portrait, a landscape, and other artistic works around you, when you are thinking about chess. This idea that the Russian Chess Federation has been implementing for a while already is just great. By the way, the programme Chess in Museum started with my match with Boris Gelfand in the Tretyakov Gallery in 2012”.

***

Alexander Morozevich, Dmitry Andreikin, Vladimir Fedoseev, and Vladislav Artemiev joined Tal Memorial participants in the blitz tournament.

Sergey Karjakin won the tournament win one round to spare. The Russian grandmaster scored 10 points out of 13. Hikaru Nakamura is second with 8.5 points. Ian Nepomniachtchi took the third place with 7.5 points.

Final standings:

1. Sergey Karjakin – 10, 2. Hikaru Nakamura – 8.5, 3. Ian Nepomniachtchi – 7.5, 4-6. Vladislav Artemiev, Alexander Grischuk, Vladimir Kramnik – 7, 7-8. Daniil Dubov, Dmitry Andreikin – 6.5, 9-10. Viswanathan Anand, Peter Svidler – 6, 11-13. Alexander Morozevich, Vladimir Fedoseev, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov – 5, 14. Boris Gelfand – 4.

Sergey Karjakin: «Of course, I am happy with my result. In fact, I played good chess. I lost to Kramnik only, but the game happened to be a very fighting and interesting one. Vladimir was luckier in the end. But I was in a good shape and I was struggling in every game, so my rivals stopped stranding the strain at some point. But you never can tell in blitz: some days ago, I have been playing in the Cup of the Group of Companies “Region” and took the 15th place”.

Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Arkady Dvorkovich congratulated and rewarded the winners and prize-winners at the closing ceremony. He thanked the organizers, partners, and all participants of Tal Memorial and wished good luck to the participants of the forthcoming Candidates Tournament.

The super tournament was organized with support of the Avtodor Group of Companies, the Charitable Foundation of Elena and Gennady Timchenko, JSC Russian Railways, PhosAgro, Art Russe, and Building and Construction Group of Companies “Don”.

The total prize fund was $ 150,000.

The European Women’s Rapid and Blitz Championships are open to all players representing the Chess Federations, members of the European Chess Union regardless of their title or rating. There is also no limit of participants per federation.

However, applications should be sent by the national federations only. Registration deadline is 1st of February.

The first on schedule will be the Rapid competition which will be played on 30th and 31st of March. The European ACP Women Rapid Championship will be played according to the Swiss system in 11 rounds, with time control 15 minutes+10 seconds per move starting from the move one.

The event will continue with European ACP Women Blitz Championship which will be played on 1st of April in 13 rounds according to the Swiss system, with the time control 3 minutes+2 seconds per move starting from the first move.

Both events will be held in “Chess Palace” as the official venue of the Championships.

The total prize fund of the event will be 20.500 EUR, with 14.500 EUR reserved for the Rapid Championship and 6.000 EUR reserved for the Blitz Championship.

Besides the regular prizes, the best Junior player, the best Senior players will be rewarded, as well as the  best players who are members of the Association of Chess Professionals (ACP).

All players and any kind of accompanying persons, including coaches are invited to stay in the 4 stars hotel “Coste” as the official hotel of the European Women’s Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships.

The European Chess Union and Georgian Chess Federation will provide free rooms with breakfast to the 8 highest Rapid ELO rating holders by 1st of January 2018 while ACP and Georgian Chess Federation will provide the same for 8 players nominated by the ACP.

European Women Rapid & Blitz Chess Championship 2018- Regulations

The event is organized by government of Georgia, the Tbilisi City Hall, the Georgian chess federation and the Association of Chess Professionals (ACP) under the auspices of the European Chess Union.

Contact information

Tournament director
Giorgi Giorgadze (President of GCF)
Mobile: (+995)599 56 17 67

Contact person
Akaki Iashvili
Mobile: (+995) 577 414121
E-mail: iashviliakaki@gmail.com

FIDE has been working very hard and in a discreet manner to organise and safeguard the process of entry visas for all participants of the event. For the first time, ground-breaking special arrangements have been made to issue visas upon arrival for over 200 persons, including the players of Iran and Qatar. Although the visa process lies exclusively with the national immigration authorities of every country, FIDE has actively supported and proposed measures to make the process as smooth as ever, especially taking into account the very short time available for preparing the championships.

As stated above, after combined efforts of FIDE officials and Saudi Arabian authorities, visas for players from Iran and Qatar were secured. Any publication on the internet stating that visas for players from Iran and Qatar have been “refused” is completely wrong. The fact that players from Iran and Qatar may decide not to participate, after consulting their own authorities, is clearly their own individual decision.

To put facts into perspective, the Saudi authorities informed FIDE that the visas for Qatari players will be issued and they also proposed that for security reasons the Qatari players should play under the FIDE flag. This issue was resolved the next day by FIDE, and the Qatar Chess Association was informed that their players would play under their own flag. FIDE, additionally, had accepted the registration of two Qatari players as FIDE nominees, although they had not met the minimum rating requirements. FIDE took this extra responsibility knowing that it would create additional organisational burden.

As everybody clearly understands from the above, FIDE and the Saudi organisers are always ready to welcome any participant.

FIDE’s principle is that its World Chess Championships are a vehicle for promoting peace and development of friendship amongst all nations. FIDE will adhere to this principle and will continue to work in this direction.

“Spodek” Sport and Entertainment Centre, as the official playing venue, hosted both Championships. The blitz event gathered 1086 players, while rapid championship brought together nearly 1200 competitors coming from 41 European federations.

Participants of different ages, professionals, amateurs, around 80 Grandmasters and 70 International masters marked the Championship one of the strongest and most numerous ever.

After 22 games played on 15th of December in 11 paired rounds, filled with exhausting fights and tough struggles, the title of European Blitz Chess Champion went to Sergei Zhigalko (BLR, 2586 Blitz rtg) who scored 18 points.

McShane Luke (ENG, 2702 Blitz rtg) and Michalic Peter (CZE, 2598 Blitz rtg) tied for the second place each with a score of 17.5 points, but according to the better tiebreaks McShane Luke finished second and Michalic Peter took bronze.

At the Closing Ceremony, where the European Chess Union was represented by the President Mr. Zurab Azmaiparashvili and the Treasurer Mr. Martin Huba, among the rewarded players were also best Juniors, Seniors and the best female player – Olga Zimina (ITA, 2299 Blitz rtg) who achieved 15 points and 82nd place.

Final Standings European Blitz Chess Championship

European Rapid Championship took place on 16th and 17th December at the same place. IM Vavulin Maksim (RUS, 2485 Rapid rtg) made a big surprise by coming on the top with 6 victories in a row in the last 6 rounds!

In the closing round, Russian player defeated Duda Jan-Krzystof (POL, 2678 Rapid rtg) to take over the throne and to be crowned as the European Rapid Chess Champion for 2017! 5 players tied for the second place, all with the same score of 9.5 points, but according to additional criteria, silver went to Duda Jan Krzystof, while Ponkratov Pavel finished third.

Zimina Olga (ITA, 2376 Rapid rtg) was crowned as the best female player also in the Rapid competition, where she scored 8 points and took 75th place.

Final Standings European Rapid Chess Championship

The President of European Chess Union, Mr. Zurab Azmaiparashvili visited the event, greeted the players and guests at the Opening Ceremony of European Rapid Chess Championship and attended the Closing Ceremony of the event.

The president of the Polish Chess Federation, Mr. Adam Dzwonkowski addressed all the present at the Closing Ceremony and the Championship was declared closed.

The event was organized by Silesian Chess Federation, the Polish Chess Federation and City of Katowice, a city of chess, where authorities strongly supports chess in many fields and such a great European chess festival as well. The event was organized under the auspices of the European Chess Union.

Photos by Walusza Fotografia / Official Website