The chess part of the 19th Asian Games is in the books. After Wei Yi and Zhu Jiner won the individual competitions a ten days ago, Iran and China clinched the titles in men’s and women’s team events, respectively.  

The men’s team competition, a 9-round Swiss event with classical time control, turned into a very close race of the rating favourites Iran, India, Uzbekistan, China and Vietnam. 

The Iranian players put in an excellent performance, conceding their rivals just two match draws (with India and Vietnam) and winning seven matches, including a crucial battle with Uzbekistan. Coming into the final round one point ahead of India, team Iran whitewashed South Korea (4-0) and secured the title. 

India made three match draws and finished a point behind the champions. Despite losing to Iran, the winners of the 44th Chess Olympiad, Uzbekistan, made it to the podium, winning bronze. 

Final standings men

After drawing their first-round encounter vs Uzbekistan in the women’s tournament, Сhina steamrolled the competition, winning eight straight matches and deservedly taking gold. India gave the Chinese powerhouse a good run for their money, but after losing the crucial match to the main rival in Round 4, they could not catch up and had to settle for silver, scoring 15/18. Team Kazakhstan finished third on 13/18.

Final standings women

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich attended the award ceremony and presented the medals to the champions and top finishers. He stressed the importance of chess’ returning to a great multi-sport event. 

“It’s an immense honour to see chess take its place among the elite sports at the Asian Games, standing tall alongside other Olympic disciplines. As we approach FIDE’s centenary next year, we can’t help but marvel at chess’s incredible journey. From a niche pursuit to a global sensation, chess now captures the hearts and minds of millions worldwide. Notably, its resurgence is most pronounced in Asia,” he said.

FIDE President also thanked the organizers of the 19th Asian Games and expressed hope that chess would join the Olympics family someday: 

“While chess has been recognized by the International Olympic Committee, it has yet to feature in the Olympic Games. However, it’s encouraging to see chess as an exhibition sport in various events, including the European Games and the African Games, as well as part of the official program in some Central American and Caribbean Games. Today, we celebrate chess’s return to a grand stage here at the Asian Games, one of the world’s largest sporting events, second only to the Olympics itself. Chess deserves its place among Olympic sports, and we are deeply grateful to Hangzhou for embracing us.”

After a 13-year hiatus, chess came back to the program of the 19th Asian Games, which took part from September 23 to October 8, 2023, in Hangzhou, China. This return gave our game broad exposure to one of the world’s most dynamically developing parts.

Photos: Xinhua News Agency and Konstantin Kiselyov

Official website: hangzhou2022.cn/

Wei Yi and Zhu Jiner emerged as the winners of the 19th Asian Games chess individual competitions on home turf in Hangzhou, China

Both events, 9-round Swiss tournaments with rapid time control, took place from September 24-27, 2023. 

The men’s tournament was a close race, with top-seeded GMs taking turns at the top of the standings. Suffice it to say that neither of the top finishers completed the event unbeaten. 

Wei Yi started with a draw but then caught up with the leaders, Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov (both of Uzbekistan) after Round 4. However, after Wei’s loss to Abdusattorov in Round 5, his gold medal prospects looked bleak. 

Unfazed by this setback, the Chinese GM reeled off four straight victories (including a very important one over the leader, Vidit Gujarathi, in Round 6) to clinch the title with an excellent score of 7.5/9. 

Nodirbek Abdusattorov (7/9) and Javokhir Sindarov (6.5/9) pulled off crucial wins in the final ninth round to secure silver and bronze, respectively. 

Final standings men

The women’s individual event saw the triumph of Zhu Jiner, who netted 7/9 and took gold.

Low-rated WIM Umida Omova made a real splash in the event by finishing second. The 17-year-old from Uzbekistan confidently navigated through a very strong field, scored 6.5/9 and tied for second place with none other than Hou Yifan. 

The silver went to Omonova thanks to better tiebreaks, while the four-time Women’s World Champion Hou Yifan had to settle for bronze. 

Final standings women

Photos: Han Chuanhao, Xinhua News Agency 

Official website: hangzhou2022.cn/

After a 13-year hiatus, chess is back to the 2023 Asian Games, which officially started on September 23, in Hangzhou, China, with a glittering opening ceremony. This return will give our game broad exposure in one of the world’s most dynamically developing parts.

“Chess belongs to the family of mind sports that have a special place in the Olympic family. Currently, the International Olympic Committee doesn’t foresee chess to be included in the 2024 and 2028 Olympic games. But the development that we saw during the last few years with FIDE’s active participation gives us real hope that we will be able to include chess in Continental Games. Asian Games is one of such examples. Chess was an exhibition sport in the European Games and African Games. It is a part of the official program in some American Games, including the Central American and Caribbean Games, this year. It is a very good development. I hope that at some point a chess player will become an Olympic champion,” said FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich in his exclusive interview with CGTN’s Liu Xin.

The chess program of the 19th Asian Games features four competitions: men’s individual, women’s individual, and men’s and women’s team tournaments. The individual events with rapid time control run from September 24-27, while team competitions with classical time control will stretch from September 29 to October 7.

The list of the countries-participants includes Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Rep of Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, UAE, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. 

Many countries fielded their top players for this prestigious sports forum. We will see in action such strong and popular players as Hou Yifan, Tan Zhongyi, Zhu Jiner, Bu Xiangzhi, Wei Yi, Harika Dronavalli, Humpy Koneru, Gukesh D, Arjun Erigiasi, Vidit Gujarathi, Praggnanandhaa R, Pentala Harikrishna, Parham Maghsoudloo, Amin M. Tabatabaei, Zhansaya Abdumalik, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Dinara Saduakassova, and the winners of the 44th Chess Olympiad Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Javokhir Sindarov, Jakhongir Vakhidov, Shamsiddin Vokhidov and Nodirbek Yakkuboev. 

Photo: official website

Official website: hangzhou2022.cn/

Thanks to technologies and the idChess platform, for the first time in chess, an assistant system for arbiters has appeared that allows you to track controversial moments in the game and make the right decisions.

What is VAR

VAR (Video assistant referee) is a set of technological solutions to help referees at sports competitions. In many sports, various technologies are already used to help referees make decisions. For example, there is a line-calling system (Hawk-Eye) in tennis that shows the projection of the ball on the line at controversial moments. A similar system is used in volleyball. In recent years, the VAR system has become widely accepted in football: VAR in football is a video surveillance system from different points of the football pitch. During the match, the video assistant referee team constantly checks for errors related to certain actions.

Video assistants pay attention to goals and situations leading to goals, penalties, and situations leading to penalties, mistaken identity, and red cards. The VAR team contacts the referee only in case of clear and obvious errors or serious missed incidents. At the same time, the match referee has the right to watch the video recording of the moment and make a decision.

In the English Premier League, the technology appeared in the 2019/2020 season, and the percentage of correct decisions in key game episodes increased to 94%. A year earlier, the figure was 82%; that is, almost every fifth decision of the referee in important moments was wrong. In all sports listed above, the final decision remains with the human referee. In other words, VAR systems provide additional information but do not make decisions for referees.

How VAR works in chess based on the idChess technology

The use of VAR in chess can be divided into three stages:

1) Controversial moments

One of the players called the arbiter to note the violation

A controversial situation has arisen; for example, the first payer claims that the second one touched a chess piece but did not move it, and the second player denies it.

The arbiter missed the moment and can only be guided by the presumption of innocence.

2) VAR review and recommendations

If there is a broadcast using the idChess platform, the arbiter can pause the game broadcast in the mobile application and watch the recording of the game using VAR, which shows the behaviour of the players.

3) Decision making

The arbiter watches the game and makes a decision.

The VAR technology allows you to increase the number of correct decisions made by chess arbiters and make the decision-making process simpler and more transparent for both arbiters and players.

The winners of the Championships qualify for the FIDE World Cup 2023 in Baku

The Asian Continental Chess Championships (the Open Championship and the Women’s Championship) will be held from June 3-12, 2023 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The prize fund for the event is $100,000. Even most importantly, the four top finishers in the Open Championship and the top two in the Women’s Championship will qualify for the tournament that chess players of all countries dream of competing in, the FIDE World Cup. One of the most prestigious chess competitions will take place in Baku (Azerbaijan) from July 29 to August 26, 2023.

Registration for the Continental Championship is open until May 25. In order to register please fill out the entry form.

Who can take part in the Asian Continental Championships?

The Open Championship and the Women’s Championship are open to one official player from all federations-members of the Asian Chess Federation. Additional players are allowed if they have a rating of 2300 or higher for the Open Championship and 2000 or higher for the Women’s Championship, based on the FIDE Rating List as of May 1, 2023. Exceptions to the minimum rating level may be made by the Continental President at the request of the national federations. Meals and accommodation for official participants are paid for by the organizers, meals and accommodation for additional players are covered for by the participants or their sponsors.

Chess players from 20 countries, including Kazakhstan, China, India, Iran, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and Singapore, have confirmed their participation in the event.
Among them are winners of national and international tournaments, world chess stars and famous grandmasters such as Sethuraman Panayappan and Vijay Pranav from India, Rustam Kasimdzhanov and Shamsiddin Vokhidov from Uzbekistan, Xu Jun from China, Murtas Kazhgaleyev from Kazakhstan and many others. 
The list of WGM participating includes Pallathur Venkatachalam Nandhidhaa (India), Batkhuyag Munguntuul (Mongolia), Irine Kharisma Sukandar (Indonesia) and others.

Tournament rules:

The competitions, 9-round Swiss tournaments will be held in accordance with the International Chess Federation’s (FIDE) Rules.

Attending the opening and closing ceremonies is mandatory.

According to the Regulations, the Blitz Chess Championship will take place on June 3, with the opening ceremony of the Asian Continental Championships scheduled for June 4. The final ninth round, the award ceremony and the closing ceremony will take place on June 11.

Organized by: the Asian Chess Federation, the Kazakhstan Chess Federation with the support of the Almaty Akimat

Dates: June 3–12, 2023

Venue: the Baluan Sholak Sports Palace, Abai Ave. 44, corner of Baitursynov St., the city of Almaty, the Republic of Kazakhstan

Event Regulations:
https://doc.fide.com/docs/CALENDAR/2023/ASIAN_CONTINENTAL_2023_REGULATIONS.pdf

Entry Form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdSYtNCMLZyxPgLWRjF5D9r57y1Gj0FuTUinARGR2be-rvhjA/viewform

Official e-mail: play@kazchess.kz

UAE Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence, International Chess Federation, and Asian Chess Federation are pleased to announce the Tolerance Games – Asian Chess Women’s Contest that will take place from February 06-07, 2023, in Abu-Dhabi, UAE. The event will be held as a part of the Global Tolerance and Human Fraternity Summit in Etihad Towers.

Girls and ladies from Asia and all around the world are welcome to participate in various activities, from playing chess to learning about the empowerment chess gives to women and society.

Program of the Tolerance Games:

February 06, 2023

10:30 – 11:30 – Opening ceremony

11:30 – 12:30 – “Little Chess Star” Chess Tournament (8 invited girls play two qualification tournaments, followed by the final match for the first and second place.)

11:30 – 13:30 – Session with a coach “Learn to play in one hour” for all the guests.

13:00 – 13:45 – Grand Final of “Little Chess Star” Chess Tournament (Two finalists will play the mini-match for the first and second place).

17:00 – 20:30 – Open Asian Women Blitz Chess Tournament (7 rounds blitz tournament (time control: 5min + 3sec) for up to 100 female chess players).

17:30 – 19:30 – Leadership workshop “Women and Chess – Promoting Tolerance & Women Empowerment” featuring  Anastasia Sorokina, Chair of FIDE Commission for Women in Chess; Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Women chess grandmaster, politician, FIDE Deputy Chair of Management Board; Anastasia Karlovich, WIM, Ukrainian chess journalist and photographer.

February 07, 2023

10:00 – 11:00 – Simultaneous Game Exhibition with invited Women Chess Grandmaster

12:00 – 12:30 – Closing ceremony of “Little Chess Stars Tournament” and Open Asian Women Blitz Chess Tournament

All Asian female players are welcome to participate in the Open Asian Women Blitz Chess Tournament.

Players may register online at chess-results.com/anmeldung.aspx?lan=1&ggid=719754

The playing venue of the event is Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi. The tournament will be held on 6 February 2023 as follows:

Technical Meeting  16:00

Round 1  17:00
Round 2  17:30
Round 3   18:00
Round 4   18:30
Round 5   19:00
Round 6   19:30
Round 7   20:00

Time control for each player per game is 5 minutes + 3 seconds for each move, starting with the first one. 

The winner is determined by the highest number of points scored.

In case of equality of points, the winner is determined by application of the tie-breaking criteria:

◦ Direct encounter
◦ Number of games won
◦ Number of Games won with the Black Pieces
◦ Buchholz System

The winners will receive trophies and share AED 21,000 in cash prizes, with AED 7,000 going to the winner.