sign in sign up
<<
Home , 31st Chess Olympiad, Alexander Beliavsky, Anish Giri, Chess Olympiad, David Navara, Efstratios Grivas

E-MAGAZINE JUNE 2020

0101

FIDE Online FIDE announced Online Olympiad to be held from 22nd July to 30th August

TRAINING LECTURES Training Lectures by ECU # Academy!

SIMULTANEOUS EXHIBITIONS BY DAVID NAVARA, JUDIT POLGAR, AND #EOCC2020 #EOCC

The European Chess Union 3rd Board meeting for 2020, took place on the 27th of June through teleconference.

The main areas under discussion were: European Championships 2020 & 2021, European Online Chess Championships and activities, Chess and Education.

All the information and decisions in pages, 3 & 4.

A number of ECU Online activities concluded in June:

A .Simultaneous Exhbitions with Top Gms B. Series of Lectures with Legend players and Top trainers European Chess Union has its seat in , C. Webinar: Women in Leadrship roles Address: Rainweidstrasse 2, CH-6333, Hunenberg See, Switzerland D. ECU Chess Teachers Cources in 7 langauges.

European Chess Union is an independent association founded in 1985 in Graz, ; ECU works on the porgram for the 2nd half of 2020 aiminng European Chess Union has 54 National Federation Members; Every year ECU organizes more than 20 to organise over the board events related with professional chess prestigious events and championships. depeninding on the health conditions in Europe and if will be further www.europechess.org improved. [email protected] contents

ECU Board Meeting SIMULS Legends questions 03 Communique, main decisions 08 Simultaneous exhiitions for 15 Meet GM Vladimir Chuchelov and information from the ECU the Winners of European Board Meeting Online Chess Championship ECU Webinar FIDE ONLINE OLYMPIAD Arbiters corner 05 Women in 13 Invitation for the FIDE 18 -ECU Online Arbiter Leadership Roles Online Olympiad - Arbiters Riddle Training Lectures ECU FIDE IO Seminar Fun zone 06 Training Lectures by ECU 14 Invitation for the ECU FIDE 19 Online Academy International Organizers Seminar (online)

Newsletter June 2020 EUROPEAN CHESS UNION BOARD MEETING

The European Chess Union 3rd Board meeting for 2020, took place on the 27th of June through teleconference. The main areas under discussion were: Championships 2020 & 2021, European Online Chess Championships and Activities, Chess and Education.

he main decision and information: 2. The European Youth Chess Championship 2020 scheduled for European Championships 2020&2021 Antalya in November is a mass event involving hundreds of young 1. European Chess Union will not hold players and their parents. Such T any official over the board European competitions need good preparation, Championship till September 2020. early travel arrangements by National Affiliated events are full responsibility of federations and participants. That is not respective organisers. For the remaining even possible today for many counties. program (October-December 2020) ECU Moreover, ECU Board considers that will make anything possible, including such events should not taking place special protocols, travel disclaimers, under stressing and special conditions special conditions to be arranged by the for kids’ participants. Thus, the ECU hosting countries to organise as priority Board decided to propose to Turkish events concern professional chess Chess federation to postpone the players: Championship for 2021. A. The European Club Cup B. The European Women Individual 3. The rights of the organisers/hosting Championship and federations of the European Communique of the C. The European Open Championship. Championships that will not take place in ECU Board Meeting D. Additionally, decisions for the 2020, will be transferred to 2021 or European Rapid Championships will be 2022. Communique of the ECU taken in September. Board Meeting can be found 4. ECU Board confirmed as the venue and downloaded from the However, the final conduct of any event for the European Individual Chess ECU Website. depends on the health conditions in Championship 2021 the city of Europe the next 3 months and the Reykjavik, . The event will take remaining restrictions in borders. place in mid April (between 7-21 of April, Especially for the European Club Cup exact dates to be defined) when the decision will be made the next days traditionally taking place the annual as ECU evaluating all feasible options. International .

Newsletter June 2020 3 European Online Championships & Chess & Education Activities European Chess Union come into a The Board unanimously approved the memorandum with FIDE for the following online events in September development of Chess in Education 2020. worldwide. For the purposes of the implementation of this agreement a 1. European Online Corporate Chess Supervisor Panel and working group will Championship. be created with Chairperson the ECU 2. European Youth Team Chess Vice President Mrs. Dana Rezience Championship. Ozola and Supervisor the FIDE The detailed invitations will be President Mr. Arkadij Dvorkovich. published in due time. The European SEPTEMBER Youth team Championship shall be Official invitation for the ECU/FIDE played from common playing venues for International Organizers seminar can be Feature Online events each team by the observations of found on ECU Website. by European Chess arbiters appointed by the National Chess Union: federations. European Online 3.Webinars for School Chess Teachers Corporate Chess and Arbiters Championship 4.Training lecturers 5. Webinars in co-operation with ECU European Youth Team and FIDE Women’s Commissions. Chess Championship

Newsletter June 2020 4 ECU WEBINAR: WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP ROLES

European Chess Union organised a webinar on women in leadership roles on the 12th of June.

The event was a follow on from the previous webinar on .

The Webinar was organised by Mrs. Eva Repkova, ECU Vice- President and Chair of Fide Women’s Commission and Alice O’Gorman, secretary of ECU Women’s Commission who was and the main host of the event. The event was followed live from hundreds people registered for the zoom call and the live The second speaker was FIDE coverage through facebook. officer Polina Tsedenova. She presented statistics on women in ECU President Mr. Zurab leadership roles within FIDE. Azmaiparashvili opened the event and greeted all the Next was Sonja Johnson, chair of participants. the FIDE development commission, she focused on her The first speaker was Anastasia career and what helped her to Sorokina, FIDE Vice President. succeed including the family She spoke on her experiences obligations. and what motivated her chess career. Lastly Dana Reizniece Ozola spoke about how chess has helped her politics – a typically male dominated field.

LIVE Broadcast ECU President Mr. Zurab Azmaiparashvili The webinar was live opened the streamed through event and greeted all the Facebook, and was participants. followod live by all interested parties. The video of the event is available for viewing in ECU channel.

Newsletter June 2020 5 ECU TRAINING LECTURES BY EUROPEAN CHESS ACADEMY European Chess Academy organised a complete Lectures program “Improve Your Chess” with leading Chess Trainers worldwide.

The Lectures took place from 9th-30th June and the lecturers were famous chess trainers and chess legends: -GM Mikhail Gurevich -GM -GM Arshak Petrosian -GM Iossif Dorfman -GM Alexander Beliavsky -GM Adrian Mikhalchishin -GM -GM Vladimir Grabinsky -GM Georg Mohr -GM Oleksandr Sulypa

65 players took part in the whole program, among them 10 of the strongest European GirlsU18 supported by the FIDE Development fund and more women players invited by ECU, as three-times European Women's Champion and Polina Shuvalova World Girls Champion. ECU President Zurab Azmaiparashvili welcomed all participants on the start.

GM Vladimir Tukmakov during the Training Lesson. ECU President Mr. Zurab Azmaiparashvili opened the event and welcomed all participants.

Newsletter June 2020 6

ONLINE CHESS SIMULTANEOUS EXHIBITIONS WITH TOP GMs

The Winners of the recently played European Online Chess Championship 2020 among the prizes won the participation in simultanous exhibition with Top European Grandmasters: GM David Navara, GM Judit Polgar, GM Anish Giri and GM Sergey Karjakin.

Newsletter June 2020 8 The Winners of the A rating group (for players rated 1000-1400) of European Online WITH GM DAVID NAVARA Chess Championship participated in the simultaneous GM David Navara simultanously played 16 games through exhibition with GM David Navara, the Online platform and after more than 2 hours played through the Lichess of the Online Chess fights, the final score was 13-3 in Online Platform. favour for Czech .

The simul took place on 6th of Six of the participants managed to against one of the June, with participation of 16 Top European Grandmasters. players. After the end of the Simul, David Navara joined the LIVE Studio and commented his games and Online Simul experience.

LIVE Broadcast

The Simultaneous exhibition was LIVE Broadcasted through ECU Facebook page, with LIVE Commentaries of the games by Maria-Anna Stefanidi and GM Adrian Mikhalchishin.

Newsletter June 2020 9 SIMULTANEOUS EXHIBITION WITH GM JUDIT POLGAR

The best female chess player in the , GM Judit Polgar, played a simultaneous exhibition against European Online Chess Championship winners of group B (rated 1400-1700).

he event took place on 7th of The idea of revealing her plans to June through Lichess Online the players during the games platfom with participation of 16 while commenting for the LIVE players. broadcast observes, came as the T educative program for the young After two hours of play, the final players. score of the simul was 12-4 in favour for Judit, with 11 victories, WFM Maria Anna Stefanidis was 2 draws and 3 losses. the host of the event through the ECU Facebook page. During the simultaneous exhibition, the participants were The video of the event is altogether with Judit Polgar in the available on the ECU Youtube zoom meeting call, and while channel. playing the games, Judit Polgar was also commenting her games in the LIVE Broadcast.

Newsletter June 2020 10 SIMULTANEOUS EXHIBITION WITH GM ANISH GIRI

The simultaneous exhibition with GM Anish Giri for the winners of the C group (rated 1700-2000) of European Online Chess Champinonship, took place on 10th of June 2020 with participation of 15 players.

The event was broadcasted LIVE and commented by ECU President, GM Zurab Azmaiparashvili, altogether with LIVE comments of GM Anish Giri, while playing and participating the same ZOOM call as his opponents.

Educative interesting and unique show was followed LIVE by many chess fans, and after 2 hours of play, the final score of the simul was 11.5-3.5 in favour for Anish, with 9 victories, 5 draws and 1 loss.

Newsletter June 2020 11 Simultanous exhibition with GM Sergey Karjakin took place SIMULTANEOUS EXHIBITION on 12th of June trhough Lichess WITH GM SERGEY KARJAKIN online platform. During the simul, Sergey Karjakin and his The simul participated 8 players, opponents participated in the ZOOM meeting call. winners of D group of European Online Chess Championship (for Challenger of 2016, players rated 2000-2300). GM Karjakin was commenting his games LIVE for Among the participants of the the live broadcast of the event, and at the same time simul were FIDE masters and revealed his plans and thoughts about positions to even International Masters! his opponents in the ZOOM meeting.

LIVE Broadcast

The simultaneous exhibition with Sergey Karjakin was also commented LIVE by ECU Global Strategy Directior, Mr. Sharkhan Gashimov.

Newsletter June 2020 12 FIDE ONLINE OLYMPIAD

International Chess Federation FIDE organises the Online Olympiad in period from 22nd July to 30th August 2020.

National teams of all federations According to regulations and the affiliated to FIDE have the right to standings of Gaprindashvili Cup that is participate in FIDE Online Olympiad. used as criterion for the whole event The event will be separated in 5 structure, European Chess Union divisions ranked from “BASE DIVISION” decided to nominate 5 Teams for the Top N to “TOP DIVISION” in accordance with Division of FIDE Online Olympiad: the final standings of the Gaprindashvili , , , Cup of the 2018. and .

Each team consists of six main players Top 12 teams from the stage 1 will play and possible six reserve players. The the Knock-out final tournament which main players must includ at least 2 will determine the FIDE Online Olympiad women players, at least one player U-20 Winner. of the event will be: (born in 2000 or later) and at least one 15 minutes + 5 seconds increment per girl U-20 (born in 2000 or later): A (open) move, starting from move 1 . – boards 1 and 2, B (women) – boards 3 and 4, C (open U-20) – board 5, D (girl Each federation intending to participate FIDE ONLINE OLYMPIAD U-20) – board 6. in FIDE Online Olympiad confirms its participation providing the list of players Divisions A team that did not participate in the with the exact main boards and reserves 2018 Chess Olympiad is placed in the order in all categories to the FIDE The FIDE Online Olympiad will BASE DIVISION, unless the FIDE Secretariat on the following e-mail be played in 5 divisions: President decides to take into address: office@.com. consideration that team’s results in the BASE division- for teams which Gaprindashvili Cup of the Chess Registration deadline is July 13th didn't participate in FIDE Chess Olympiad 2016 and place the team 2020. Olympiad 2018. accordingly. Division 4, Division 3, Division 2 Official invitation of the event can be according to final rankings of TOP DIVISION is composed of 5 downloaded here. FIDE Chess Olympiad 2018. TOP division: 20 teams seeded registered teams placed on the nominated by Continents, 5 top top of Gaprindashvili Cup, 5 teams seeds from FIDE Chess nominated by each of the four Continent Olympiad 2018, 15 quaifiers and 15 teams qualified from DIVISION from Division 2. 2.

Newsletter June 2020 13 UPCOMING

European Chess Union organise the ECU FIDE International Organizers Webinar, in period from 27th-30th July, in cooperation with FIDE Events Commission, FIDE Women’s Commission.

FIDE ECU ONLINE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZERS SEMINAR

The Webinar is co-funded by FIDE Registrations can be done online Development Fund. through ECU Website and the registration deadline is 24th of July The Webinar features up to 60 2020. T participants seats: The event will be held in English 20 female participants from European language and the lecturers will be: federations member supported by FIDE IO Ozgur Solakoglou DEV fund IO Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou 10 participants from European Small Chairperson of FIDE Women’s Nations (Zone 1.10) member supported Commission Eva Repkova by FIDE DEV fund. 20 female participants from European The Technical organizer: IO Mikhail federations member supported by FIDE Prevenios: [email protected] DEV fund 10 participants from European Small Successful Seminar attendees will grant Nations (Zone 1.10) member supported a FIDE IO necessary for the FIDE by FIDE DEV fund. IO title application. IO Titles Regulations 30 particants from each FIDE Chess can be found in FIDE Handbook: Federation member with 50 euros entry https://www.fide.com/fide/handbook . fee.

Newsletter June 2020 14 LEGENDS QUESTIONS

MEET CHESS LEGEND GM VLADIMIR CHUCHELOV 10 Questions by GM Adrian Mikhalchishin

1 What are You doing in life in the current moment? Coaching , full time.. Those unusual times it is important for players to stay in shape, keep motivation.. So I do my best around the clock..

2 Your recollections with meetings with World Champions? It is always very interesting experience, I remember playing in the simultaneous exhibition. I was 10-11 years old It was close Sicilian. I did fairly well and managed to play one on one the 7th World Champion .. The moment I went to resign he offered draw and.. presented his book signed to “the future Grandmaster”.. Some years later I was showing my games to during sessions of his school. I remember he priced my “active positional style”? There were many more personal encounters with World Champions of Modern times, but also unforgettable talks to Victor Korchnoi and ..

3 Your best game .().Just name. Chernin-Chuchelov 1994 Endgame.. loved this idea Rb7!!

4 Which Your achievement You consider to be most important. GM Vladimir Chuchelov One of the Best ever tournament performance by in Photo by: Chess-News.ru St.Louis 2014 7 Your favorite openings. There is no 5 Best &most important chess books. such a preference, but working on Difficult question as there are many different openings became my daily interesting books out there.. Personally routine for already 20 years. I find it very always liked Mark Dvoretsky books. inspiring and enjoy every moment of this highly creative process. 6 How did You start Your career. 8 Who was the most difficult and In 2002 I was invited aa a second of at easiest opponent during Your career. that time leading Dutch Grandmaster It’s been a while ago.. I mostly 10 Favourite city, food and drink Jeroen Piket to assist him in Wijk an remember those of my trainees. Zee. One year later very successful My Students would name Eupen debut as a Coach of another Dutch star 9 Non chess –best ,book, film and for me and smile.. That is a small Loek Van Wely. Working for Dutch singer for You. Belgian city I live in near German Federation, encounter with Anish Giri in I loved and was impressed my many border. It is quite famous in chess 2010 that went on for 4 years, and a authors, movie creators, actor’s world?. But jokes apart.. I love year later Fabiano Caruana for another travel and sightseeing. Any food, performances and musicians. Would be but not spicy! And .. drinks.. It 5 years, Teymur Radjabov, .. rather difficult task to make choices. is easy.. Glass of good wine.. Could be a long list, many memorable moments..

Newsletter June 2020 15 ARBITERS CORNER

Text by: Marco Biagioli IA Attorney at Law – ITA Arbiters’ Commission, ECU Arbiters’ Council THE ECU ONLINE ARBITER (OA)

Corona-virus times have shown us that - Personal computer use skills: online chess can still be played also in chess is played through a computer, so unfortunate times of closed borders and to solve issues or even understand what restrictions to travellers. Several events is going on or it is possibly going on, the have been run online since the arbiter need to know how to use a beginning of the pandemic and all of personal computer and a basic user them required the presence of arbiters. level is not enough. He/she will, in fact, However, as we arbiters have learned need to be familiar with several tools like along the tournaments, being an arbiter live conferences platforms, online chess in one online competition is by far platforms, arbiters’ software, emails, different from being an arbiter in one social medias… In some cases he/she over the board event. will need to learn quickly how to use something very new, hence, it is In one online event, many of the important that he has an informatics possible occurrences of a classical background knowledge. game are just impossible. No touch- move complaint will take place or even - Online chess platform: they are the illegal moves: the normal working of the environment for online tournaments and platforms, in fact, makes those issues any of them offers different features and simply irrelevant. Illegal moves cannot functionalities. The arbiter has to know be made, nor the touch-move rule what the platform offers, how it offers it, makes any sense. what possible issues he/she has to On the other hand, anti-cheating and fair face… The panorama is quite big and play skills get more and more important several platforms are available, so in online chess, for the clear reason the having a good knowledge of at least one players are using electronic devices is mandatory to make the job possible. hence the opportunity and the possibility of cheating are more than over the - Anti-cheating: this is for sure the board. biggest issue. In general, cheating is our biggest challenge, as arbiters. In case of Since the beginning, we realized that online chess, it takes another what we ask to an online arbiter is not perspective: the traditional prohibition of what we need from a standard the use of electronic devices as first anti- arbiter. Being more specific, the Arbiters’ cheating measure, in fact, obviously Council had discussed what skills any drops and several other actions have to online arbiter should have and we be taken. focused on the following topics: In case of online chess, in fact, the most - Languages: communication skills are important tool are the available game extremely important in online chess as a screening tools, either the ones provided quick intervention of the arbiter may by the platform, either the ones provided prevent many problems to arise, and as as external resources. The online arbiter for any possible issue the players will has to know the principles of these tools, have, they will ask the arbiter. Therefore, how they works and how to read their we considered as mandatory for an reports. online arbiter at least a satisfactory level in English.

Newsletter June 2020 16 ARBITERS CORNER

Starting from the awareness the field is new, but also that online chess will develop more and more at the highest level, the ECU board has decided to establish the title of Online Arbiter (OA) as a special certification, which will be mandatory to serve as arbiters in European Online Championships and, for other bodies, will certify that particular arbiter has some special skills for online tournaments and confirm the ability of an arbiter to work in online events and do his/her job remotely, by the internet.

The requirements for this certification, set by the Arbiters’ Council basing on the abovementioned considerations, are:

- Valid arbiters license (FA or IA). - Sufficient knowledge of English (conversational level). - Sufficient skills to work on a personal computer (advanced user level). - Sufficient knowledge of at least one platform for online chess. - Deep understanding of fair play principles for online chess. - Attendance one OA Seminar. - Successful passing an exam set up by the ECU Arbiter’s Council.

To start the issuance of such a certificate, the Arbiters’ Council already IA MARCO BIAGIOLI began organizing the first OA Seminar, which will be on the following topics: - online regulations for arbiters in ECU We believe that this step goes in the and fair play protection. - managing the platform for online direction of setting up some quality events. - zoom call management (or standards for the arbiters in Europe other platform). and it will also be one important - results conversion and calculations. formative opportunity which proceeds in the same path started After the Seminar, the Arbiters’ Council with the ECU/FIDE workshop for will set up a special exam which will online arbiters which will give some consist in two parts: a written, theoretical homogeneous capability to the test, with five open questions from the arbiters to act in this new events. above mentioned regulations, and one oral test where the arbiter will receive practical tasks to do, connected with a particular platform or tool. For more details about ECU Arbiters Council Activities visit the Arbiters Council Website.

Newsletter June 2020 17

FUN ZONE

>If it is true that a player’s style is his person, then everyone plays For this edition of the as he is intended to by nature. I ECU monthly magazine, am naturally cautious, and I altogether dislike situations we prepared 4 positions which involve risk. with mate in 2! White is on the move! Tigran >In almost any position the boundless possibilities of chess enable a new or at least a little- Solutions from May Petrosian studied continuation to be found. >Chess is a game by its form, an said about art by its content and a science #Puzzle 1 by the difficulty of gaining 1.Bh6+ Kg8 2.Rxe8# mastery in it. Chess can convey chess: as much happiness as a good #Puzzle 2 book or work of music can. 1.Nf6+ gxf6 2.Bxf7#

>Some consider that when I play I #Puzzle 3 am excessively cautious, but it 1.Ra8+ Bxa8 2.Qc8# seems to me that the question may be a different one. I try to #Puzzle 4 avoid chance. Those who rely on 1.Qg8+ Qxg8 2.Rxg8# chance should play cards or roulette. Chess is quite different.

Newsletter June 2020 19