Chess News and Other Updates | October 2022

Hikaru Nakamura Won the Fischer Random World Championship

Hikaru Nakamura, the five-time U.S Champion, won the Fischer World Championship 2022 on 30th October at Reykjavik, Iceland.

The 2-2 tie in the four mini-matches, with Nakamura playing Black and Nepomniachtchi White, shows the competitiveness between these two Grandmasters.

And what a game it was! The entire chess world was on its toe, holding its breath and awaiting the winner of this anticipated match.

Hikaru Nakamura clinches victory in the first game for the #FischerRandom title against Ian Nepomniachtchi.

📷: David Llada pic.twitter.com/D7WxTKcx0m

— Fischer Random Chess (@fischer_random) October 30, 2022

An Armageddon game sealed Nakamura’s faith and made him the new Fischer World Champion. He played White against Ian Nepomniachtchi in the finals.

Let’s have a look at the other runner-ups:

Caruana and Yu Won the U.S Championship

Italy’s youngest Grandmaster, GM Fabiano Caruana, won the title of U.S Champion on 20th October after closing with a draw from GM Levon Aronian in the finals. Being undefeated with a score of 8.5/13, I can confidently say he is among the top American chess players.

GM Fabiano Caruana is the 2022 U.S. Champion, clinching his second title with a draw in the 13th and final round of the tournament against GM Levon Aronian, a first-time competitor in the U.S. Championship. Congratulations! 👏👏

📷: Lennart Ootes for Saint Louis Chess Club pic.twitter.com/0VmAxZV3wA

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) October 20, 2022

Caruana and Aronian are seasoned players and have gained a reputation in chess. It was interesting to see such influential players playing an even more decisive game.

Congratulations to WGM Jennifer Yu for winning the 2022 US Women's Championship! Jennifer beat GM Irina Krush in the playoffs and clinched her second national title. 👏👏

📷: Lennart Ootes for Saint Louis Chess Club pic.twitter.com/qrpsenw3SI

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) October 20, 2022

On the other hand, GM Irina Krush and GM Jennifer Yu were the joint winners of the Women’s U.S Championship. Yu came out unscathed during the tie-breaker game on 20th October. She defeated Krush in a rapid and blitz match, winning this title for the second time in a row.

Azerbaijan Rocks the World Junior Chess Championship

Thanks to IM Abdulla Gadimbayli and WGM Govhar Beydullayeva, Azerbaijan won double gold at the World Junior Chess Championship in Sardinia.

Gadimbayli defeated four players, GM Adam Kozak, IM Nikoloz Kacaharava, and IM Leon Luke Mendonca, on a tie-break. Therefore, this winning branded him as the undefeated champion, scoring 8/11.

🇦🇿 IM Abdulla Gadimbayli is the 2022 World Junior Champion!
Abdulla was trailing 🇭🇺 GM Adam Kozak by half a point before the last round but managed to catch him, along with three others, and won first place by only half a point in the third tiebreak criterion.

📷: Przemek Nikiel pic.twitter.com/iVXaarKSPp

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) October 22, 2022

Beydullayeva’s win was very dramatic. Someone else’s loss turned out to be his profit.

🇦🇿 WGM Govhar Beydullayeva is the 2022 World Girls U20 Champion! 👏

"It was my childhood dream", says the 19-year-old Azeri player, who learned chess at the age of 4 and gradually progressed to represent her country in many youth events, winning several medals. #YouthChess
<1/2> pic.twitter.com/BAr40UBo3R

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) October 22, 2022

Priyanka Nutakki, an Indian WGM, was expelled from the championship for keeping a pair of earbuds in her jacket pocket. The FIDE reported, “While there is no indication of foul play on her part, earbuds are strictly forbidden at the playing hall.”

In the wake of this violation of the fair-play policy, Nutakki’s points were awarded to her opponent. None other than the champion, WGM Govhar Beydullayeva.

Even though it was a sad turn of events for Nuttaki, it proved profitable for Beydullayeva.

FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament

In this 2022-23 match in Monaco, 8 women candidates from 4 nations will play against each other in two knock-out pools. Let’s walk through the participants briefly:

Did you know that the total cash prize for winning this tournament is 250,000 Euros?

The last one to stand will also be able to compete with the Women’s World Champion, Ju Wenjun, for the title.

In the opening match on 25th October, Anna Mazychuk played against Humpy Koneru and Lei Tingjie against Mariya Mazychuk.

Anna Muzychuk beats Humpy Koneru, wins the match and takes the coveted spot in the Pool A semifinal, after Humpy blundered a piece on move 16. #FIDEWomenCandidates

📷: Michal Walusza pic.twitter.com/iUlOXIkjsg

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) October 30, 2022

GM Anna Mazychuk won her match against GM Humpy Koneru on 30th October and reached the semi-finals when Koneru decided to resign. On the other hand, GM Lei Tingjie started strong with the Petrov Defence and won her ticket to the semi-finals.

On 1st November, I expect a fierce face-off between GM Mazychuk and GM Lei Tingjie.

FIDE World Amateur Chess Championship

You only need to be an amateur chess enthusiast to participate in this exciting championship.

This list of winners will help you to acquaint yourselves with the up-and-coming chess players:

Men’s World Team Chess Championship to Take place on 20th November

Chess teams from 12 top chess-playing countries have been selected to compete in the Men’s World Team Chess Championship on 20th November in Jerusalem.

The Israel Chess Federation (ICF) has reported that the teams will be divided into two pools, each equating in strength, competence, and caliber. The International Chess Federation (FIDE) organizing body will sort out the players by their average rating.

After competing in the first five rounds, the first four teams from each pool will move to the quarterfinals. The final match is scheduled to take place on 25th November.

Signing Off

October has been a whirlwind of winnings and losings.

Nevertheless, the EnthuZiastic family congratulates all the winners of the chess championships. They not only persevered under such challenging circumstances but also proved to be torch-bearers for the young chess players aspiring to be Grandmasters in the future.

Are you curious to know which team will win the Men’s World Team Chess Championship next month?

Stay tuned.