Moscow's Chess Metro Train!

Moscow, Dec 28: A new branded train Chess joins the Sokolnicheskaya (red) line of the Moscow metro. Starting from the depot Severnoe on 28 December, the train has opened a new page in Russian chess history. The Chess train's start was witnessed by the many-time world champion Anatoly Karpov, general producer of the Chess musical and Artistic Director of the MDM Theater Dmitry Bogachev, Deputy CEO on Client Services and Passenger Work of the Moscow Metro Yulia Temnikova, General Director of MTS Entertainment Mikhail Minin, and the CFR Chess Museum's curator, Candidate of Historical Sciences Dmitry Oleinikov.

Photos by Eteri Kublashvili

 

The new themed train's addition to the Moscow Metro is a joint effort of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), the Chess Federation of Russia, the Broadway Moscow Theater Company, and MTS Entertainment.

Each of the five cars of this unique train with no counterparts in the world is dedicated to different chess-related themes — game history, chess development in the Soviet Union and in Russia, VIP names in the world of chess, and, of course, the elegant chess pieces on easily identifiable black-and-white squared that keep inspiring representatives of creative professions. In addition, the train displays noteworthy facts about chess in cinema, visual arts, theatre, literature, and in the life of celebrities.

What about Madonna being an avid chess player and hiring the Scotland champion as her coach? And what about Marilyn Monroe's possessing a hefty collection of chess, which included sets made of precious metals? Or that the role of Svetlana from the legendary musical "Chess" was composed by ABBA with Alla Pugacheva in mind?

As for the game itself, everyone will definitely find something of interest here. Thus, as we know it today, classical chess is far from the only representative of this ancient art. What else is to know, after all? Something for the passengers to find in this new train, which is essentially a chess encyclopedia on rails. That said, it's high time we visit the metro, the Sokolnicheskaya line, get on the chess train and watch, read, wonder, and admire! And, needless to say, be proud of how crucial chess has been for the history of our country and that our grandmasters are world stars! The Chess train is a real mobile gallery gifted to the tourists and natives of Moscow: to get in touch with the chess history, you no longer need to buy a ticket to the museum — a metro ticket will do!

The chess train will circulate along the Sokolnicheskaya Line of the Moscow Metro for six months for everyone to have ample time to enjoy the stylish mobile chess gallery.

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You Must Enjoy What You Do: WC

Magnus Carlsen (right) of Norway and Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia at the press conference in Dubai on Wednesday. (International Chess Federation Twitter)

DUBAI, 24 November 2021 – Reigning world chess champion Magnus Carlsen and his Russian rival Ian Nepomniachtchi revealed some of their motivations during a press conference at Expo 2020 Dubai today, before they go head to head for the crown at the FIDE World Chess Championship (24-16 December).

The Norwegian has held the title since 2013 and is considered one of the greatest chess talents of all time. Carlsen became a grandmaster at the age of 13, and has been the world's number one player continuously since 2011.

Two-time Russian champion Nepomniachtchi is the winner of the 2020/21 Candidates Tournament and finished second in the 2019 FIDE Grand Prix, which qualified him for the Candidates Tournament.

Who is going to win this championship?

Ian Nepomniachtchi: “Normally, I think the best player wins.”

Magnus Carlsen: “I predict that the person who scores the most points over the next three weeks is going to be the winner and hopefully that’s going to be me and if I do win, it will probably be because I made some good moves and good decisions.”

Magnus, as you have held the World Champion title since 2013, does the pressure get easier?

Magnus Carlsen: “I think some parts of it may get easier as you get more experienced but it come comes down to how you perform over the board. It’s so intense and you also have lots of people in the team who have World Championship experience. But you’re probably a little bit less nervous than you are the first time.”

Women are a minority in the world of chess. Why do you think that is?

Ian Nepomniachtchi: “I think the general issues are that girls are less amazed [than boys] in chess skills classes, and they also have other hobbies. But I think there will be a time when we see some really strong female players.”

Magnus Carlsen: “I think this question is way too complicated to answer in a few sentences. There are a number of factors, especially cultural that have led to the situation we have today. I encourage everybody to play chess. And what I’ve found around the world is that young girls find as much joy as boys in the game of chess. And if that could be communicated more, I think that would be very helpful.”

As you know, Expo 2020 Dubai is focusing on inspiring our youth – the leaders of tomorrow. What’s your advice for young generation, who want to become champions like you?

Ian Nepomniachtchi: “You have got to enjoy what you’re doing, whether it’s chess or science or sports.”

Magnus Carlsen: “That what I would say – you have to enjoy what you do to excel in your field.”

Moderated by Maurice Ashley, the FIDE World Chess Championship Press Conference also featured Andrey Gureyev, CEO, Phosagro; Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President; and Dara Maher, Regional Head of Marketing, Kaspersky.

Magnus Carlsen also visited the Spain Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, host of the World School Chess Tournament from the 25-29 November. Carlsen joined the world’s best female player in history, Judith Polgar, to take a group picture with the young participants. In total, 108 teenagers and children from 10 different countries have been grouped in 12 teams to play the finals at the event. -- Expo2020

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Seven Indians in Top 100 of World Chess

New Delhi, Nov. 1: For the first time in the history of Indian chess, as many as seven players have made it into the Top 100 of world chess.
 K Sasikiran made this feat possible by beating Vladimir Fedoseev (Russia) in the fifth round of the FIDE Grand Swiss Chess 2021 on Sunday. It lifted his rating to 2649 and helped him re-enter the elite list.

V Anand (2751), Vidit Gujrathi (2727), P. Harikrishna (2718), Nihal Sarin (2659), SL Narayanan (2658) and B Adhiban (2653) are the other six players in the Top 100.

“This is a very proud moment for India,” AICF president Dr. Sanjay Kapoor said. “We have steadily been cementing our position as one of the top nations in the world of chess,” he added.

“A big thank you to 2700chess and @fide_chess for maintaining the statistics,” AICF secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan said.

Russia has 23 players in the Top 100, USA 10, China 9, Ukraine and India have 7 each. 

The average rating of Top 10 players of Russia is 2731, USA 2712, China 2699 and India 2671.

Ten Indian players are currently in action in the Open category of the FIDE Grand Swiss 2021 while five women are in fray in their class. -- AICF

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Harikrishna scores second straight win in FIDE Grand Swiss chess

Riga (Latvia), October 31: India’s P Harikrishna defeated Armenia’s Sergey Movsesian for his second straight victory in the FIDE Grand Swiss chess tournament late on Saturday evening here. (Photo: video grab)

Playing white, Harikrishna needed 56 moves in a Ruy Lopez game to take his tally to 2.5 points after four rounds. It put him in the company of dozens of players, including D Gukesh and K Sasikiran returned with half a point each.

France’s Alireza Firouzja (3.5) is the sole leader at this stage. Young Nihal Sarin is just half a point behind along with 10 other players after settling for a draw. S P Sethuraman (1.5) also split the point with veteran Boris Gelfand.

Young R Praggnanandhaa (2) lost his first game in the tournament, going down to Samuel Sevian. E Arjun (1.5), Surya Sekhar Ganguly (1.0) and B Adhiban (0.5) too suffered defeats.

In the women’s category, R Vaishali was the only Indian to register a victory on Day 4. She beat Meruert Kamalidenova (Kazakhstan) to move to two points.

D Harika held China’s Jiner Zhu to have three points in her kitty along with eight others behind the leader.

Tingjie Lei (3.5) wrested that honour after her win over Russia’s Valentina Gunina.

Padmini Rout lost to Russia’s Alina Kahslinskaya while Vantika Agrwal and Divya Deshmukh drew their games.

The Grand Swiss Tournament and Women’s Grand Swiss 2021 are part of the qualifications for the 2021-23 World Championship cycle. The top two finishers will qualify for the Candidates Tournament 2022.

Ten Indian men and five women are in the fray. -- AICF

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