Phew, 2022 was a lot! Especially the Neimann-Carlsen cheating controversy!
However, with new beginnings, we can only hope to look forward! And why should we not?
The chess world is one such place which has innumerable championships and tournaments to keep our Chess EnthuZiasts entertained.
So, without delaying and keeping you on your toes, let’s start with everything that has happened in the Chess world in 2022.
Carlsen Wins the Title of World Rapid Championship 2022
GM Magnus Carlsen secured the position of the World Rapid Championship 2022 on December 28. Carlsen bashed his opponent, GM Vladislav Artemiev, with a commanding score of 10/13. Fans were still determining if Carlsen won the tournament due to his hiccup match with Vladislav Artimiev. But, the way he destroyed his next opponent GM Parham Maghsoodloo straightened out the baffled.
The 2022 FIDE World Blitz Championships have concluded! #RapidBlitz
Congratulations to the winners! ?FIDE World Blitz Championship
? Magnus Carlsen @MagnusCarlsen (NOR)
? Hikaru Nakamura @GMHikaru (USA)
? Haik Martirosyan (ARM)?: Anna Shtourman & @LennartOotes pic.twitter.com/YNQr8YLIxg
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) December 30, 2022
And, I was salivating at the idea of a Carlsen-Caruana stand-off. But unfortunately, Caruana did not get the opportunity to play the podium matches and definitely could not play the anticipated semi-final match with Carlsen.
Tan Zhongyi Secures the First Position in World Rapid Women’s Championship 2022
Do you remember Tan Zhongyi from the FIDE Women’s Candidate 2022? Hint: I have already talked about her in our November 2022 issue.
Both WGM Tan Zhongyi and WIM Dinara Saduakassova finished with a score of 8.5/11. It was only a scintillating tie-breaker that made Zhongyi the ultimate winner, and I am glad to announce that she bagged the title of World Rapid Women’s Championship 2022. Now, she can add this championship title to her already glowing resume.
Zhongyi’s first match with opponent WGM Aleksandra Goryachkina was rather mundane, I would say. The local Kazakh hero GM Zhansaya Abdumalik and GM Humpy Koneru soared high in the initial stages of the tournament.
Titled Tuesday Chess Tournament
I am sure you think, “I have heard of the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship. I know about the FIDE World Chess Championship. But what is this Titled Tuesday Chess Tournament?”
Don’t worry, folks! I am here to answer every chess question you have.
Titles Tuesday is chess.com’s weekly 11-round Swiss tournament for titled players.
But GMs Alireza Firouzja and Jose Martinez won the Titled Tuesday Championship on December 27, Firouzja winning the earlier tournament and Martinez the latter. Also, both chess players went on to win a cash prize of $1000.
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Tata Steel Chess India 2022: Blitz
18-year old Indian GM Arjun Erigaisi wins the #tatasteelchessindia rapid event with 6.5/9 points. He defeated GMs Maghsoodloo, Praggnanandhaa, Karthikeyan, Le Quang Liem, Shankland, & drew with Levon Aronian in the final round to secure 1st place in the rapid event.
?L. Ootes pic.twitter.com/T3PHmn0mUo
— Chessify (@ChessifyMe) November 19, 2021
GM Arjun Erigaisi made India proud by winning the Tata Steel Chess India 2022 Blitz tournament with 12.5/18. Erigaisi had won this title three times in a row, the other two being:
- Tata Steel Chess India 2021: Rapid
- Tata Steel Chess India 2022: Challengers
Erigaisi displayed his prowess and showed what champions are made of, especially in his match with GM Parham Maghsoodloo. He had also won two crucial wins on the final day, one against GM Shakhriyar and the other against the World Fischer Random Champion, Hikaru Nakamura.
Rilton Cup 2022
The Rilton Cup 2022 is scheduled to take place from December 27, 2022, and will continue till January 5, 2023, in Stockholm, Sweden. The format of the Rilton Cup Championship is a simple nine-round Swiss. The time control is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game.
In this 50th edition of the Rilton Cup tournament,
Sweden’s biggest championship has included renowned Swedish chess players such as:
- Krishnan Sasikiran
- Ilia Smirin
- Leon Livaic
- Nikita Meshkovs
- Brandon Jacobson
- Erik Blomqvist
- Michal Krasenkow
- Frode Olav Olsen Urkedal
- Platon Galperin
- Tiger Hillarp Persson
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Wrapping It Up
December has been a whirlwind of chess activities, especially in India and Sweden with their Tata Steel Chess India and Rilton Cup, respectively.
In our next issue, I will bring you the news of the Rilton Cup Champion.
Till then, a very happy new year to you!
Keep playing chess, learning chess, and living chess!