Tan Zhongyi, a former Women’s World Champion and the current challenger, emerged as the winner of the Cairns Cup 2024.

The Chinese GM took the lead as early as after Round 4 and preserved her top position to the very end. She landed the $50,000 first prize for her effort.

Going into the final round with 5.5/8, a full point ahead of five of her closest competitors, Tan made a quick draw on the white side of the Slav Defense with Alexandra Kosteniuk and clinched her maiden super-tournament title.

After Harika Dronavalli, Mariya Muzychuk, and Nana Dzagnidze drew their games, Anna Muzychuk seized the opportunity and climbed to second place by defeating Alice Lee and finished on 5.5/9. She took home the $40,000 prize.

Kosteniuk, Dronavalli, Dzagnidze, and Mariya Muzychuk tied for third place with 5/9 and will each receive $19,000.

Photos: Saint Louis Chess Club / Lennart Ootes

Official website: uschesschamps.com/2024-cairns-cup/

The San Francisco company emerged as victors after defeating the Delaware-based ChessMood team in the finals. Third place went to another U.S. company – the global quantitative trading firm SIG, while the European team UBS ended up in fourth place

The last day of the World Corporate Championship, organized by FIDE and presented by Freedom Holding, opened with a surprising announcement by FIDE that the 2024 World Rapid and Blitz Championship will be held in New York at the end of December. The Cipriani Hall on 25 Broadway rang with cheers and applause as FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky broke the news.

“I am very happy we had the World Corporate here in New York, and I am excited about one of the most popular chess tournaments in the world coming to this place in December. The World Corporate Chess Championship has shown there is a great appetite for chess in the city and the U.S. We have also seen a lot of great people from great companies come and network. We hope to see more of this in the future and are very much looking forward to the World Rapid and Blitz in December,” said Timur Turlov, CEO of Freedom Holding.

The Finals and the Smartest Company in the World

The atmosphere was vibrant on the final day as teams and spectators gathered for the finals. Even members of other teams who had participated but did not qualify came to watch the games, enjoy chess, and mingle.

In the first semi-final, Chessify defeated UBS in a tough match. The UBS team faced additional challenges as some members were under pressure to catch a flight back to Europe. “We did not expect to get this far,” said Andrik Starke, who runs the UBS Bank Chess Club in Zurich and attended the event. Both rounds ended with a 3:1 victory for ChessMood.

In the second semi-final duel, ChessMod triumphed over SIG, despite the financial company boasting Sam Shankland – the 2018 U.S. champion and one of the top grandmasters in the world. Chessify won both rounds by a score of 2.5:1.5.

In the duel for third place, UBS suffered a defeat in both rounds at the hands of SIG, losing 3:1. The match was tight until the end of the second round when both of UBS’s last boards collapsed in quick succession, handing victory to SIG.

The match for the title saw fierce competition between two U.S. chess companies – Chessify and ChessMood. The first round ended in a tough draw – 2:2, but in the second and final round, Chessify scored victories on the top two boards and secured a draw on the third, clinching first place.

“It’s a great feeling that we won the title of the world’s smartest company on the day the great World Champion Tigran Petrosian was born. It has been an amazing event – we had a great time, met many interesting people, and it was a wonderful networking opportunity for us to talk about what we do and build connections with other teams and companies here. I would like to thank all the teams that took part – it was wonderful,” said Zaven Andriasian, the top player for Chessify (and the Junior World Chess Champion in 2006).

Andriasian also mentioned that he had a bet with the company’s CEO, Gor Vardanyan, that if they won, both would shave their heads! Vardanyan confirmed the deal, but whether this will happen remains to be seen.

A Jazzy Night at Cipriani: Awards, Music, and Dancers

The closing ceremony at Cipriani on Broadway was a dazzling event, perfectly capturing the classy style and vibrant energy of New York. The venue, known for its elegance and historical charm, provided a fitting backdrop for a night of celebration and music.

As the final day drew to a close, the top three teams were invited to the stage to receive their awards. It was an all-American triumph, with the top three teams hailing from the U.S.

The ceremony featured a live music performance and a spectacular show inspired by the 1920s, reminiscent of the famous Rockettes.

The winners didn’t just walk away with a trophy and the title of the Smartest Company in the World; they were also presented with exquisite designer watches from the Norwegian watchmaker Von Doren, aptly named the Grandmaster II. These prestigious timepieces were handed out by FIDE Vice President Joran Aulin-Jansson, adding an extra touch of class to the proceedings.

Cipriani’s grand and sophisticated ambiance made it the perfect setting for such a momentous occasion, reflecting the spirit of New York and the world of chess in perfect harmony.

Chess Streamers Join the Final Day of the Event

Two major chess streamers attended the final day of the event: Anna Cramling and Levy Rozman (who came straight from his spectacular performance at a tournament in Spain). Both streamers mingled with the audience and players and expressed their support for more events of this type, bringing people from diverse backgrounds together.

The announcement that the World Rapid and Blitz Championships would be held in New York was particularly thrilling for them. “As a New Yorker, it’s great to have this event come here. Compared to other events and places, I think we can do better here in New York. The potential is massive, but it has to be done right,” said Levy Rozman, who is also known as GothamChess on social media.

This is not the end, but the beginning…

FIDE Secretary General Lukas Turley, who was also the director of the World Corporate Chess Championship, said that the tournament proved to be a great success as “several large international corporations, who have been following the event, reached out and asked to take part in this competition next year.”

These sentiments were echoed by FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky, who in his closing remarks noted that the World Corporate Championship, along with the World Rapid and Blitz Championship coming to New York this December, will mark “the beginning of a new era for chess, where it will get the spotlight it deserves.”

Event Details:

• Dates: June 15, 16, and 17
• Venue: Cipriani, 25 Broadway, New York, NY 10004
• Official website: worldcorporate.fide.com/

Written by Milan Dinic

Photos: Rafał Oleksiewicz

New York – June 17, 2024 – Chess enthusiasts should get ready for an unforgettable experience as the most intensive global chess event – FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships – are coming to the Big Apple in the last week of December for the first time in history! This globally renowned tournament celebrated as one of the most eagerly anticipated, most exciting and most followed in the chess world, promises a week-long extravaganza of unparalleled intensity

Featuring top players from across the globe, the event will provide five days of non-stop chess excitement and spectacular matchups. This prestigious tournament, renowned as the most globally followed chess event – along with the World Championship Match – last year had over 250 million views globally, with the expectation for the record to be broken this year.

The official announcement of the event was made at the closing ceremony of the World Corporate Chess Championship – Presented by Freedom Holding Corp., which took place in the business heart of New York from June 15 to 17.

The world’s best players, including great champions such as Magnus Carlsen, top U.S. grandmasters Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, as well as Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun and U.S. top woman player Irina Krush are expected to take part.

Photo: Lennart Ootes

Followed by millions of people worldwide, the World Rapid and Blitz are the most dynamic and most streamed chess events globally. The audience—whether online or in person—will have the chance to witness, up close, how risk analysis, tactics, and decision-making unfold at lightning speed.

“It has long been a dream of FIDE to have such a chess spectacle in New York. Not only will this championship be an absolutely top-notch sporting event, but also a great festival of mind, art, brilliance, and a celebration of the beauty of chess. We invite everyone interested in chess—no matter their level—to join us as we start the journey to make this event one of the most memorable chess events ever to take place in New York,” said Emil Sutovsky, CEO of FIDE.

The World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships is expected to be backed in part by Freedom Holding Corp., a multi-national diversified financial services company that has been working with FIDE to promote the game of chess on a global basis.

Photo: Rafał Oleksiewicz

“Chess is an integral part of the culture of our company, and we are looking forward to the prospect of supporting the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in New York City, home of the Nasdaq Stock Market, where Freedom Holding Corp. common shares have been traded for the past five years. Our experience with the World Corporate Chess Championship this past weekend has been excellent and we witnessed firsthand the immense potential and interest in chess from the world of U.S. finance and the general public. This furthered our interest in helping to bring the fast-paced game of speed chess to one of the most fast-paced cities in the world,” stated Timur Turlov, CEO of Freedom Holding Corp.

The venue for the event will be announced in the coming weeks. The World Rapid and Blitz will be open to the public and tickets will go on sale soon. Make sure you’re following us for updates so you don’t miss out on securing your spot!

About the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships

Established in 2012 as an official competition in the FIDE annual calendar, the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships have become a premier event in the chess world.

This year’s event coincides with two major chess celebrations—the centenary of the founding of FIDE and 100 years since the famous New York Chess Tournament, which saw the greatest names in chess of the time gather for a legendary tournament in chess and world history.

About FIDE

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) is the governing body of the sport of chess, and it regulates all international chess competitions. FIDE is constituted as a non-governmental institution, and it was recognized by the International Olympic Committee as a Global Sporting Organization in 1999.

FIDE currently has its headquarters in Lausanne (Switzerland), but it was initially founded in 1924 in Paris under the motto “Gens Una Sumus” (Latin for “We Are One Family”). It was one of the very first International Sports Federations, alongside the governing bodies of the sports of Football, Cricket, Swimming, and Auto Racing.

It is now one of the largest, encompassing more than 200 countries as affiliate members in the form of National Chess Federations. Chess is a truly global sport nowadays, with dozens of millions of players on all continents and tens of millions of chess games played every day.

To learn more about FIDE, visit fide.com

About Freedom Holding Corp.

Freedom Holding Corp., a Nevada corporation, is a diversified financial services holding company conducting retail securities brokerage, securities trading, investment research, investment counseling, investment banking and underwriting services, mortgages, insurance, and commercial banking, as well as several ancillary businesses which complement its core financial services businesses, all through its subsidiaries, operating under the name Freedom24 in Europe and Central Asia, and Freedom Capital Markets in the United States. Through its subsidiaries, Freedom Holding Corp. employs more than 6,000 people and is a professional participant in the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange, the Astana International Exchange, the Republican Stock Exchange of Tashkent, the Uzbek Republican Currency Exchange, and is a member of the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Exchange.

Freedom Holding Corp. is headquartered in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and has operations and subsidiaries in 20 countries, including Kazakhstan, the United States, Cyprus, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and others.

Freedom Holding Corp.’s common shares are registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and are traded under the symbol FRHC on the Nasdaq Capital Market, operated by Nasdaq, Inc.

To learn more about Freedom Holding Corp., visit freedomholdingcorp.com.

Following an intense day of matches between top companies from around the world, four teams have qualified for the finals. On Monday, June 17, they will compete in the final matches for the title of the Smartest Company on the planet

Fifth Women’s World Champion, legendary Nona Gaprindashvili made the first ceremonial move on the second day of the competition in the match between BlackRock and Google.

The teams of ChessMood  and UBS Group AG (from Group A) and Chessify and SIG and (from Group B) successfully navigated five turbulent rounds on day two to reach the finals.

The squad of Goldman Sachs, which traditionally performs well in the New York corporate league, struggled despite playing on home turf and ultimately failed to qualify for the finals. This fate was shared by the New York-Kazakh team of Freedom Holding, Kazakhstan’s Tengizchevroil, and China’s Nanjing Spark Chess Technology Co., Ltd.

In Pool A, UBS Group AG reached the finals after securing a crucial victory in the final round against Deutsche Bank. UBS took second place, while the first spot in the group went to ChessMood. Unfortunately, this meant that the teams of LLC “LC “GRECO,” Deutsche Bank, and Google were eliminated.

Despite eight teams going home, the atmosphere at the event remained friendly and relaxed throughout. After the rounds ended, players and guests were invited to a cocktail event where they could mingle, discuss games and chess, and network professionally. In the evening, the teams and organizing officials got together for a dinner at a restaurant just next to the New York Stock Exchange – bringing the chess atmosphere to the heart of Wall Street.

“This was a great event for us. Despite not qualifying for the finals, we really enjoyed this tournament. At BlackRock, we have 400 registered chess players in the company, and we are sure there are many more. This event will help boost our profile and the profile of chess in the company, and we hope there will be more opportunities like this one,” said Alex Krol from the BlackRock team.

Similar sentiments were echoed by other teams participating in the tournament.

The final day of the World Corporate Chess Championship will feature a double-round-robin in the semifinals, from which two teams will qualify for the finals to determine who will carry the title of the Smartest Company on the planet.

The rounds start at 2 PM. However, there will be a special announcement by FIDE and Freedom Holding at 1 PM at the playing venue, and players, guests, and the general public are invited to attend.

About the World Corporate Chess Championship:

The 12 finalists competing in New York are:

• Goldman Sachs (USA)
• BlackRock (USA)
• Nanjing Spark Chess Technology Co., Ltd. (China)
• ChessMood Inc. (USA)
• LLC “LC” “GRECO” (Ukraine)
• UBS Group AG (Switzerland)
• Chessify (USA)
• Freedom Holding Corp. (Kazakhstan)
• Google (USA)
• Tengizchevroil (Kazakhstan)
• Deutsche Bank (USA)
• SIG (USA)

The finals are the culmination of two online qualifying stages with entrants from around the world. The competition features group stage matches and intense playoff rounds, culminating in the crowning of the World Corporate Chess Champion. Teams are split into two groups, each with four knockout qualifiers and two wild-card teams. The competition unfolds in two stages: a 10-round group stage over June 15 and 16, followed by the semi-finals and finals on June 17.

The games will be broadcast live on Lichess.

Event Details:

• Dates: June 15, 16, and 17
• Venue: Cipriani, 25 Broadway, New York, NY 10004
• Official website: worldcorporate.fide.com/

Written by Milan Dinic

Photos: Rafał Oleksiewicz

New York – The World Corporate Chess Championship kicked off on Friday at Cipriani on 25 Broadway, a renowned New York landmark known for its monumental interior design and exterior appeal

The tournament, presented by Freedom Holding Corporation, features 12 corporate teams from around the world competing for the title of the “smartest company” in the world.

“This event highlights the parallels between the chess board and the boardroom, celebrating strategic thinking which drives success in both fields. We want this event to become a marker for mutual respect and friendship between countries and corporations as well as a platform for networking,” said Timur Turlov, CEO of Freedom Holding.

The 12 participating teams, split into two groups, played five rounds on the first day. In Group A, the team from ChessMood—a company dedicated to helping aspiring players improve their game—came out on top, winning all five matches. The team from UBS Bank is in second place with two wins, two draws, and one defeat.

In Group B, Chessify, another company with a chess background, leads the group, followed by SIG, a quantitative trading firm.

Despite the fact that the players are not chess professionals, the competing teams were required to comply with the same regulations and standards as top professional chess events. This includes the scanning of players before the games, strict rules of behavior in the playing area, and random fair play checkups.

For more than four hours, the grand hall of Cipriani echoed with the sounds of pressing chess clocks and pieces moving on the board.

The first day of the World Corporate Championship was not only about the first five rounds of the event.

The day started with a “Move and Go Game,” where visitors had a chance to make one move on the board in a game against one of the world’s leading chess grandmasters, Hikaru Nakamura.

Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, Global CEO of SIGA, gave a speech highlighting the challenges for integrity and transparency in sports.

One of the highlights of the day was a fireside chat where GM Hikaru Nakamura, Timur Turlov (CEO of Freedom Holding Corp.), and Emil Sutovsky (CEO of FIDE) discussed the relationship between business and chess. They talked about concrete issues in business where chess can be useful—from time management and making decisions under pressure to utilizing advantageous positions and strategic planning. The full video of the conversation can be found HERE. 

The official events of the day concluded with Nakamura analyzing one of the best games of the first day, providing the audience with insight into how a grandmaster thinks, assesses and makes decisions.

An Evening with Nona Gaprindashvili at the Marshall Chess Club

Participants of the World Corporate Championship were treated to an evening with the renowned chess player Nona Gaprindashvili—five-time women’s world champion, the first woman to receive a grandmaster title, and the winner of 11 gold medals in Chess Olympiads.

The event took place at the historic Marshall Chess Club, named after its founder, the famous U.S. master Frank J. Marshall. The guests gathered in the very same room where chess legends such as Emanuel Lasker, Alexander Alekhine, and Richard Reti played.

Over exceptional Georgian wine and food, the guests listened to Nona Gaprindashvili talk about her life and struggles in chess—from her early days in the USSR to Georgian independence and beyond. Like many women in business today, Nona faced many uphill battles to make her name and earn respect in a male-dominated field.

“Chess is my universe. Chess is my world. It has helped me extend my life, so make sure you continue playing chess, as it will make your life longer,” Nona said to the audience.

In the true spirit of chess, the evening concluded with a blitz tournament, which was won by IM Mykola Bortnyk of the Marshall Chess Club.

A rare chess treat for the visitors on the second day of the event

Day two of the World Corporate Championship will start with a special chess experience for the guests: Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura will play blindfolded on two chessboards against visitors, who will each have the opportunity to make one move.

About the World Corporate Chess Championship:

The 12 finalists competing in New York are:

• Goldman Sachs (USA)
• BlackRock (USA)
• Nanjing Spark Chess Technology Co., Ltd. (China)
• ChessMood Inc. (USA)
• LLC “LC” “GRECO” (Ukraine)
• UBS Group AG (Switzerland)
• Chessify (USA)
• Freedom Holding Corp. (Kazakhstan)
• Google (USA)
• Tengizchevroil (Kazakhstan)
• Deutsche Bank (USA)
• SIG (USA)

The finals are the culmination of two online qualifying stages with entrants from around the world. The competition features group stage matches and intense playoff rounds, culminating in the crowning of the World Corporate Chess Champion. Teams are split into two groups, each with four knockout qualifiers and two wild-card teams. The competition unfolds in two stages: a 10-round group stage over June 15 and 16, followed by the semi-finals and finals on June 17.

The games will be broadcast live on Lichess.

Event Details:

• Dates: June 15, 16, and 17
• Venue: Cipriani, 25 Broadway, New York, NY 10004
• Official website: worldcorporate.fide.com/

Written by Milan Dinic

Photos: Rafał Oleksiewicz

New York –The World Corporate Chess Championship was officially launched with a spectacular ceremony at the Nasdaq Stock Exchange in Times Square, marking a significant milestone for chess in the business world

The World Corporate Chess Championship aims to celebrate strategic excellence in business and chess by uniting 12 strong chess teams composed of employees from major companies across the globe. The championship will help build a lasting connection between chess and the business community on an international scale.

Guided by the idea of bringing together some of the smartest companies across the glove, the event – hosted by Nasdaq and presented by Freedom Holding – saw history being made as the logo of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) appeared on the giant screen of the world renown financial institution.

Dating back to the 1870s, ringing the closing bell at the Nasdaq Stock Market is a significant event, symbolizing the official end of the trading day. As a company registered at the Nasdaq, Freedom Holding got the honor to ring the closing bell in a ceremony broadcast live worldwide. Thanks to Freedom – FIDE was a part of this ceremony broadcast across the U.S. and the world.

“The universal language of chess knows no borders and requires no special translators and brings together the most unlikely sports people across the board… Competing in this event will give participants tremendous networking opportunities, and we hope that many arrangements will be reached and for this event to be a win-win for everyone, where chess serves an important role as an intermediator,” said Timur Turlov, CEO of Freedom Holding, which presents the World Corporate Chess Championship.

The ceremony also celebrated the fifth anniversary of Freedom’s listing on the Nasdaq stock exchange. Since going public, Freedom Holding’s shares have surged by an impressive 600%. With 6,000 employees across 20 countries, the company recently reported record revenue of $1.6 billion.

“Competing in this event offers tremendous networking opportunities, fostering valuable connections and collaborations. We hope this event will be a win-win for everyone, with chess serving as an important intermediary,” Turlov said.

FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky noted that, “for FIDE, it is crucial to maintain global connections across various fields, including finance. Our relationship with Freedom is very reliable and goes from strength to strength. Freedom has shown a genuine appreciation for chess, and we extend our gratitude to Timur. This event marks the beginning of a long journey, with plans for many more major events, potentially even here in New York.”

During his speech, Turlov announced Freedom’s intention to support more social initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable development and business practices. One such initiative is the Chess in Schools project in New York, which supports the intellectual and social development of low-income youth through chess education. Stating that “chess teaches critical thinking, which is crucial in an age of short attention spans”, Turlov announced a $50,000 donation to this project adding that “this is not just a donation, but an investment in the future.”

The ceremony featured fifth Women’s World Champion Nona Gaprindashvili and U.S. Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura. Hikaru mingled with players and VIP guests, including economist and Harvard professor GM Ken Rogoff, journalist and author Frank Brady, and several high-profile figures from New York’s chess and business scenes. Nakamura also participated in an exhibition game against Turlov and Sutovsky, each supported by three non-professional guest players.

About the Event:

The 12 finalists competing in New York are:

• Goldman Sachs (USA)
• BlackRock (USA)
• Nanjing Spark Chess Technology Co., Ltd. (China)
• ChessMood Inc. (USA)
• LLC “LC” “GRECO” (Ukraine)
• UBS Group AG (Switzerland)
• Chessify (USA)
• Freedom Holding Corp. (Kazakhstan)
• Google (USA)
• Tengizchevroil (Kazakhstan)
• Deutsche Bank (USA)
• SIG (USA)

The finals are the culmination of two online qualifying stages with entrants from around the world. The competition features group stage matches and intense playoff rounds, culminating in the crowning of the World Corporate Chess Champion.

Teams are split into two groups, each with four knockout qualifiers and two wild-card teams. The competition unfolds in two stages: a 10-round group stage over June 15 and 16, followed by the semi-finals and finals on June 17.

The games will be broadcast live on Lichess.

Event Details:

• Dates: June 15, 16, and 17
• Venue: Cipriani, 25 Broadway, New York, NY 10004
• Official website: worldcorporate.fide.com

Written by Milan Dinic

Photos: Rafał Oleksiewicz

The fourth edition of Cairns Cup hosted by the Saint Louis Chess Club began on Thursday, June 13. The ten-player Round Robin features seven players in the top 25 of FIDE’s June top players list as well as eight-time U.S. Champion GM Irina Krush, reigning American Cup winner IM Alice Lee, and the reigning Cairns Cup champ IM Anna Zatonskih.

The returning champion: Anna Zatonskih looks to defend her 2023 Cairns Cup title
(Photo:  Lennart Ootes/SLCC)

The highest rated player in the field is Chinese GM Tan Zhongyi. Tan is coming off her victory in the 2024 FIDE Women’s Candidates in Toronto two months ago, and should be the favorite once again. Of course, Zatonskih won the tournament last year as the lowest rated player in the field, so ratings are not all that matter. 

Tan Zhongyi is treated to a jaw-dropping move from Nona Gaprindashvili
(Photo: Crystal Fuller/SLCC)

Interestingly, only one other player from Toronto is in this year’s field: Ukrainian GM Anna Muzychuk. Muzychuk had a difficult event in Toronto, finishing tied for seventh (out of players) with a 5½/14 score, failing to convert and hold several promising positions. Anna will be joined by her sister Mariya in St. Louis.

In addition to Tan, the Ukrainian sisters, and the three Americans, players from four other federations will be represented in this year’s Cairns Cup. GM Harika Dronavalli will be the lone Indian player in the field, while GM Elisabeth Paehtz will represent Germany, GM Nana Dzagnidze hails from Georgia, and GM Alexandra Kosteniuk now plays under the Swiss flag. 

The field at the opening ceremony (Photo: Lennart Ootes/SLCC)

This star-studded line-up promises to produce another year of fighting, decisive chess. The ten players will be competing for their share of the $200,000 prize fund, with the winner earning $50,000. 

Before the official start of the tournament, the players competed in an “Ultimate Moves” battle of team chess, with players rotating in and out of blitz games. It took just seven games for “Team A” to win the ten-game match 5½-1½, with the team of Tan, Anna Muzychuk, Harika, Kosteniuk, Lee, and Zatonskih enjoying the victory. 

Photo: Lennart Ootes/SLCC

For those wondering why a ten-player tournament featured six of its participants in one group, that would be because special guest Georgian GM Nona Gaprindashvili was in attendance for the opening ceremony, and joined Team B along with commentator and former U.S. Women’s Champion IM Nazi Paikidze. 

Dr. Jeanne Cairns Sinquefield, our co-founder, announced the Cairns Chess Queens Award, a $100k award for up to 5 American women who achieve the title of Grandmaster within the next five years. Congratulations to GM Irina Krush, who is honored to be the first American woman to receive this award!

Photo: Lennart Ootes/SLCC

The award came as a complete surprise to Krush — who is the only woman to have earned the GM title while playing for the United States — at least in part because Krush earned the title 11 years ago!

As far as who the next recipients of this award might be, of course the 14-year-old Lee comes to mind. But, remember, Zatonskih earned her first GM norm last year at this very tournament, and a repeat victory would net a second. 

Elisabeth Paehtz celebrates with Krush during the award announcement
(Photo: Lennart Ootes/SLCC)

Stay tuned for coverage on Chess Life Online, featuring updates after every third round from WGMs Tatev Abrahamyan, Begim Tohirjonova, and more.

Games are available with live commentary courtesy of SLCC from GM Yasser Seirawan and IMs Nazi Paikidze and Jovanka Houska.

Written by JJ Lang / uschess.org

Photos: Saint Louis Chess Club / Austin Fuller, Lennart Ootes and Crystal Fuller

Official website: uschesschamps.com/2024-cairns-cup/

Bringing the Brightest Stars in Chess from the Global Business Community Together for an Ultimate Chess Challenge

Freedom Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: FRHC), a multi-national diversified financial services holding company, today announced its participation as a competitor and as the title sponsor of the landmark chess event, the 2024 FIDE World Corporate Chess Championship.

Hosted by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), this three-day championship event will showcase the brightest stars in business and some of the biggest names in chess. Since the beginning of March, registered corporate teams have been competing online to qualify to participate in this elite battle for the title of Smartest Company in the World. And for the first time since the pandemic, the tournament will be an in-person, over-the-board experience, held from June 15 -17, 2024, in the heart of New York City’s financial district in the historic Cunard building.

The Smartest Companies Know…

“The game of chess knows no borders and sets aside all politics,” said Timur Turlov, Freedom Holding Corp.’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Success in chess, like business, comes from thoughtful deliberation and strategic positioning. This partnership is a true reflection of Freedom and our approach to business – well-researched, collaborative, and intentional. We are delighted to be competing in, as well as being the presenting sponsor of, the FIDE World Corporate Chess Championship. We’ve invited leaders in business from across the globe to join the challenge,” the CEO noted.

100 Years of Making Chess History…

Arkady Dvorkovich, president of FIDE, commented, “This year marks the 100th anniversary of FIDE; our organization has a longstanding, rich history of building community and fostering growth and camaraderie among players and across continents. Hosting this event in partnership with the Freedom Holding Corp. team is the perfect way to mark this momentous celebration. A world-class event, presented by a world-class leader in business, at a world-class location, to continue supporting global unity through a common language and passion for chess.”

Sponsorship: Make the Right Move for Your Organization…

Registration to compete has now closed. However, sponsorship opportunities remain available. VIP packages will include global brand awareness campaigns, meet and greet opportunities with the elite of chess and business, and so much more. For more information about sponsorships please contact, Ekaterina.Mashina@FIDE.com.

Get Your Tickets Now…

The countdown is on, and space is limited. Tickets go on sale May 20, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. ET, at freedomcapmkts.com/chess  

About Freedom Holding Corp.

Freedom Holding Corp. is a diversified financial services holding company conducting retail securities brokerage, securities dealing, market making, investment research, investment counseling, investment banking and underwriting services, consumer banking, insurance and several ancillary businesses which complement its core financial services businesses, through its subsidiaries, under the name Freedom Finance in Europe and Central Asia, and Freedom Capital Markets in the United States. Through its subsidiaries, Freedom Holding Corp. employs more than 6,000 people and is a professional participant in the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange, the Astana International Exchange, the Republican Stock Exchange of Tashkent, and the Uzbek Republican Currency Exchange and is a member of the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Exchange.

Freedom Holding Corp. is headquartered in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and has operations and subsidiaries in 19 countries, including Kazakhstan, the United States, Cyprus, Poland, Spain, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan, among others.

Freedom Holding Corp.’s common shares are registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and are traded under the symbol FRHC on the Nasdaq Capital Market, operated by Nasdaq, Inc.

To learn more about Freedom Holding Corp., visit freedomholdingcorp.com

About FIDE

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) is the governing body of the sport of chess, and it regulates all international chess competitions. Constituted as a non-governmental institution, it was recognized by the International Olympic Committee as a Global Sporting Organization in 1999.

FIDE currently has its headquarters in Lausanne, but it was initially founded in 1924 in Paris under the motto “Gens una Sumus” (Latin for “We are one Family”). It was one of the very first International Sports Federations, alongside the governing bodies of the sports of football, cricket, swimming, and auto racing. It is now one of the largest, encompassing 201 countries as affiliate members, in the form of National Chess Federations. Chess is nowadays a truly global sport, with dozens of millions of players in all the continents, and more than 60 million games on average played every day.

The second World Corporate Chess Championships have concluded their qualification stage, and eight successful teams are now gearing up for the highly anticipated over-the-board finals in New York

The online qualification stage witnessed fierce competition among 64 teams representing 46 companies from 26 countries across four continents. Among the participants were renowned global corporations, including Morgan Stanley, Microsoft, UBS, Von Doren Watch Company, J.P. Morgan, Airbus, Freedom Holding, Bosch, Maruti Suzuki, and Deutsche Bank.

While most teams comprised amateur players and enthusiasts, each team had the right to include one player with a FIDE rating exceeding 2400 points. Some squads even recruited top-class Grandmasters, such as Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Andrew Tang, reigning European Women’s Chess Champion WGM Ulviyya Fataliyeva, WGM Jolanta Zawadzka, and the remarkable eight-year-old chess prodigy from the UK, Bodhana Sivanandan.

To secure their spot in the finals, teams engaged in online tournaments in two formats: rapid and blitz. The intense competition culminated in an online knockout stage, ultimately determining the final eight contenders.

The following companies have successfully qualified for the World Corporate Chess Championship finals:

From June 15 to 17, these eight elite teams will converge in New York for a series of over-the-board matches. The tournament will feature both a group stage and an intense playoff stage.

Finalists will enjoy fully covered travel and accommodation expenses in New York. Additionally, each qualifying team will secure four seats for an online simultaneous chess match against a participant from the recently concluded FIDE Candidates Tournament, with more prizes to come.

For comprehensive event details, including results and regulations, visit the official website of the World Corporate Chess Championship.