The World Cup chess tournament will start tomorrow and all of the world’s biggest stars will assemble in Baku, Azerbaijan for the massive knockout tournament. Just about everyone will be there including representatives nominated by smaller federations. There are a lot of headliners including Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura (wildcard), Fabiano Caruana, and many of the top 20 players in both the open and women. Ju Wenjun will also join the action after defending her crown! Federations performing in the top rankings of the Olympiad tournament had a chance to select one player to represent the country in the tournament… 71 in open and 36 in women.
2023 World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan Photo by Stev Bonhage
Amidst the expected victories of the favourites, the World Cup’s opening showcased a hint of unpredictability, as a handful of upsets set the stage for potential surprises in the games ahead.
At 3 PM sharp local time in Baku (Azerbaijan), the first round of the World Cup began, where altogether 228 players in the Open and the Women’s tournament are fighting for the top three places in each group leading to the Candidates tournament, the final qualifying stage to select the next challenger for the title of World Champion.
Not all of the players are taking part in the first round. As per regulation, the top 50 players in the Open and the top 25 in the Women’s section will join the event from the second round. (full report)
Interesting moment #FIDEWorldCup for African chess. Namibia's Dante Beukes ?? Uganda's Haruna Nsubuga ??were better in their games but were ultimately held by more experienced GMs. @AfricaChessConf@thechessdrum
The opening move on the second day of the World Cup was made by the former World Champion, Viswanathan Anand. With just two more days before the top-world players play their first games, many have started arriving in Baku and were seen inspecting the playing hall and getting ready for the matches.
Viswanathan Anand making ceremonial move on second day of World Cup in Baku, 31 July 2023. Photo by Stev Bonhage
The top favourites in this early stage of the World Cup secured the pass to the next round, but there were some upsets: Chile’s Pablo Salinas Herrera (rated 2468) proved that it was no surprise as he defeated the significantly higher-rated Montenegrin GM Denis Kadric (rated 2601) in the first game, and repeated it in the second, this time with black pieces. Herrera will now go up against Iran’s Amin M. Tabatabaei in the second round. Also, after a draw in game one, Moldova’s Schitco defeated the higher-rated Azeri Grandmaster Nidjat Mamedov in the second game and will now be playing against the 2018 US Champion, Sam Shankland, in the second round. (full report)
Meanwhile, his sister won an improbable game. Down a rook and with a pawn on c2 about to convert into a queen, Vaishali swindles the French player. How did she manage to win after hanging a rook a couple of moves earlier? Click on diagram to view the game. Unbelievable!
Zhu Jiner “shutting the door” on Candela Francisco
The moment Ulviyya Fataliyeva blundered and went on to lose a game where she looked sure to beat the Women's World Champion Ju Wenjun! #FIDEWorldCuppic.twitter.com/1ttLfbVJpO
Opening Press Conference
Opening Performance
Videos by ChessBase India
Round #1, Game #1
Sunday 30 July 2023
Video by FIDE Chess
View of Playing Venue
2023 World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan
Photo by Stev Bonhage
Round #1, Game #2
Monday 31 July 2023
The opening move on the second day of the World Cup was made by the former World Champion, Viswanathan Anand. With just two more days before the top-world players play their first games, many have started arriving in Baku and were seen inspecting the playing hall and getting ready for the matches.
Viswanathan Anand making ceremonial move on second day of World Cup in Baku, 31 July 2023.
Photo by Stev Bonhage
The top favourites in this early stage of the World Cup secured the pass to the next round, but there were some upsets: Chile’s Pablo Salinas Herrera (rated 2468) proved that it was no surprise as he defeated the significantly higher-rated Montenegrin GM Denis Kadric (rated 2601) in the first game, and repeated it in the second, this time with black pieces. Herrera will now go up against Iran’s Amin M. Tabatabaei in the second round. Also, after a draw in game one, Moldova’s Schitco defeated the higher-rated Azeri Grandmaster Nidjat Mamedov in the second game and will now be playing against the 2018 US Champion, Sam Shankland, in the second round. (full report)
~Milan Dinic, FIDE
Video by FIDE Chess
Faces in the Crowd
Cypriano Rehan Deng (South Sudan)
Wafia Darwish Al-Maamari (UAE)
Photo by Stev Bonhage
IM Chitumbo Mwali (Zambia)
Photo by Stev Bonhage
Video by FIDE Chess
REPORT: 2023 FIDE World Cup: Round 1
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2023/08/02/2023-fide-world-cup-round-1/
Round 2, Game 1
Wednesday, 2 August 2023
Praggnanandhaa produces a brilliancy, but many blunders as heavyweights meet
Comeback of the Round!
Meanwhile, his sister won an improbable game. Down a rook and with a pawn on c2 about to convert into a queen, Vaishali swindles the French player. How did she manage to win after hanging a rook a couple of moves earlier? Click on diagram to view the game. Unbelievable!
Zhu Jiner “shutting the door” on Candela Francisco
WHITE TO MOVE
Full Broadcast (Round 2, Game 1)
Videos by FIDE Chess
Round 2, Game 2
Thursday, 3 August 2023
Carlsen scores knockout punch… Ju Wenjun has to go to tiebreaks
Besides Praggnanadhaa’s game yesterday, there were some nice finishes today including Magnus Carlsen’s rook sack
Videos by FIDE Chess
Video by chess24
REPORT: 2023 FIDE World Cup: Round 2
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2023/08/05/2023-fide-world-cup-round-2/
Round 3, Game 1
Saturday, 5 August 2023
Lots of draws in the opening game… tension ratcheting up
Carlsen wins interesting ending against compatriot
Caruana misses win
Round 4 begins!
Photo by Stev Bonhage
David Navara (Czech Republic)
Photo by Anna Shtourman
Video by FIDE Chess
Video by FIDE Chess
Round 3, Game 2
Sunday, 66 August 2023
Carlsen, Nakamura advance… 39 tiebreaks on tap!
Ju Wenjun wins incredible R+N vs. R ending
Video by FIDE Chess
REPORT: 2023 FIDE World Cup: Round 3
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2023/08/09/2023-fide-world-cup-round-3/
REPORT: 2023 FIDE World Cup: Round 4
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2023/08/14/2023-fide-world-cup-round-4/
REPORT: 2023 FIDE World Cup: Round 5
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2023/08/15/2023-fide-world-cup-round-5/
REPORT: 2023 FIDE World Cup: Quarterfinals
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2023/08/18/2023-fide-world-cup-quarterfinals/
Interview with Magnus Carlsen
Video by FIDE Chess
REPORT: 2023 FIDE World Cup: Semifinals/Finals
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2023/08/22/2023-fide-world-cup-semifinals/
Interview with Nijat Abasov after win over Caruana
Video by FIDE Chess
REPORT: 2023 FIDE World Cup: Finals
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2023/08/25/2023-fide-world-cup-finals/
After World Cup, Where is African Chess?
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2023/09/23/after-world-cup-where-is-african-chess/