The FIDE World Senior Team Chess Championship 2024 is in the books. This year, Polish Krakow, known for its iconic Market Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, hosted the event. The championship brought together 65 teams and 307 players (including 32 GMs) from all over the world, boasting the highest number of Grandmasters playing in a chess competition on Polish soil this year.

The event was held in 50+ and 65+ categories, with women’s teams competing in the 9-round Swiss open tournaments with classical time control.

In the 50+ competition, the USA (Jaan Ehlvest, Alexander Shabalov, Melikset Khachiyan, Igor Novikov, and Alex Yermolinsky) retained their title won last year in North Macedonia. The team’s only hiccup occurred in Round 5 when they narrowly lost to Italy.

Going into Round 7, one point behind the leaders Iceland, team USA scored a convincing victory 3-1 and forged ahead. USA finished strong, whitewashing Israel (4-0) and defeating Slovakia (2.5-1.5) and capturing the title (16/18).

Italy (pictured above), the only team to beat the champions, finished just a point behind (15/18) and took silver. England 1, led by Michael Adams, scored 14/18 and claimed bronze.

Final standings 50+:

Complete final standings 50+

The top seed England 1 (John Nunn, Anthony Kosten, Jonathan Mestel, Paul Littlewood, and Terry Chapman) emerged victorious in the fiercely competitive 65+ section, scoring an impressive 16/18. The team drew with their main rivals France and Israel 1 and won seven matches.

Israel came second netting 15/18, while France, leading with three rounds to go had to settle for bronze after losing to England 2 in Round 7 and drawing with Italy in Round 9.

Final standings 65+:

Complete final standings 65+

Photos: Mark Livshitz and Michal Walusza

Official website: worldseniorteam2024.fide.com

The FIDE World Senior Team Chess Championship has crossed the half-way mark. After six rounds of exciting battles the players have a rest day on Monday. It is a great chance to go sightseeing in this beautiful city, which offers wonderful architecture and cultural monuments.

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich attended Round 6 and made the first ceremonial move on board 1 in the match Canada vs Iceland in the 50+ section.

“We are very happy that the World Senior Team Championship is here in Krakow, Poland this time. The organizers do everything to make it a high quality event and they succeeded,” he said.

“It is very important to make our senior players happy. They made great chess careers, they made many good friends and they are happy to come back, playing over the board with each other, having join memories and also visiting new places. It is very important for FIDE the make chess accessible to all ages and World Senior Team Championship is a part of this great tradition,” FIDE President added.   

The standings in the tournament after Round 6 are as follows:

In the 50+ competition, Iceland leads with 11 team points, closely followed by Italy, Israel, England 2, Canada, and the USA, all sitting on 8 points. The leaders scored five wins and drew their match with England 1, led by Michael Adams.

Standings after six rounds 50+

In the 65+ section, France Cercle D’Echecs de Strasbourg seized the top position (11/12) after defeating Slovakia, while their main rivals England 1 and Israel drew their match. As a result, England 1 goes to the rest day in second place; Israel is third.

Standings after six rounds 65+

The race for the titles is still very close in both sections, with three rounds remaining.

In other news, FIDE “Capture” photo exhibition by Stev Bonhage was opened here in Krakow, following the one in Morocco just a week earlier.

Official website: worldseniorteam2024.fide.com

Photos: Mark Livshitz

A record-breaking 32 Grandmasters gather in Krakow, Poland, as the FIDE World Senior Team Chess Championship 2024 kicks off in this beautiful European city, with its iconic Market Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The championship opening ceremony took place at the renowned Słowacki Theatre, one of Poland’s distinguished playhouses operating since 1893.

The event brought together 65 teams and 307 players from all over the world, boasting the highest number of Grandmasters playing in a chess competition on Polish soil this year.

The ceremony attracted prominent chess figures, local officials, and celebrities, including Gunnar Björnsson (FIDE delegate), Radoslaw Jedynak (President of the Polish Chess Federation), Kamila Kałużna-Turcza (chair of the organizing committee), and Hanna Ereńska-Barlo (the first Polish WGM).

City officials expressed their pride in hosting the event during FIDE’s centenary year. “We are very proud and pleased that Krakow was chosen to host this tournament during the FIDE 100 anniversary year,” said Janusz Kozioł, plenipotentiary of the Mayor of Krakow.

Lukasz Turlej, FIDE Secretary General, said a few beautiful words about Krakow: “Krakow is known as a City of Kings. We are proud to see the World Team Senior Chess Championship coming here in this special year of FIDE’s 100th anniversary.”

The ceremony continued with the Polish national anthem followed by the FIDE anthem. Guests were treated to a performance by a Historical Krakowian Dancing Group and a special FIDE 100th Anniversary Movie.

Lukasz Turlej closed the ceremony by presenting FIDE 100 medals to Kamila Kałużna-Turcza and Janusz Kozioł. After the official part, everyone went for refreshments in the Juliusz Słowacki Theatre.

A few words should be said about the tournament’s investors and partners. The event is played with the honorable support of the Ministry of Sport and several partners: the City of Krakow, Mokate, Chess Grow, Sunrise, Galaxy Hotel, and the Polish Chess Federation. 

Photos: Michal Walusza and Mark Livshitz