6/19/2023 – Richard Rapport emerged victorious in the Armageddon Championship Series, dominating the world’s top players and winning the Europe & Africa qualifier. This victory secured his spot in the Grand Finale in September, where he will be joined by the tournament’s runner-up, GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda, alongside a formidable lineup of finalists including Wesley So, Sam Shankland, Gukesh D, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Bibisara Assaubayeva, and Humpy Koneru. | Photos: World Chess
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Grand Finale to take place in September
Press release by World Chess
GM Richard Rapport emerged victorious in the Armageddon Championship Series, dominating the world’s top players and winning the Europe & Africa qualifier. This victory secured his spot in the Grand Finale in September, where he will be joined by the tournament’s runner-up, GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda, alongside a formidable lineup of finalists including Wesley So, Sam Shankland, Gukesh D, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Bibisara Assaubayeva, and Humpy Koneru. They will compete for the coveted prize of €200,000.
Meanwhile, 1.b3 has also found its way into the practice of today's world elite, and now finally a modern top ten player has taken on the subject for ChessBase: none other than Grandmaster Wesley So!
The Armageddon Championship Series is not a typical chess tournament with its awe-inspiring visuals, intense time pressure, nerve-wracking drama, and soaring heart rates. With esteemed players, such as Michael Adams (England), Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France), Richard Rapport (Romania), Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Poland), Jorden van Foreest (Netherlands), Vincent Keymer (Germany), Matthias Bluebaum, and Alexander Donchenko, this competition has captivated chess enthusiasts worldwide, embarking on an exhilarating journey.
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave was knocked out by Jan-Krzysztof Duda in the lower bracket’s final match
As one of the most spectacular and widely broadcasted chess events of the year, the Armageddon Championship Series is live-streamed on over 18 online and TV platforms. Exciting moments from the tournament will be featured globally on networks like CNBC, BeIN Sports, and FOX Australia.
The integration of technological advancements, such as real-time heart rate monitoring, has sparked significant interest in the chess community over the past week.
World Chess, an innovative chess company, has taken a unique approach to showcasing the Armageddon Championship Series. The stunning bespoke studio set places the players at the heart of the action, deviating from traditional presentations and revealing chess as a dynamic, modern, and thrilling sport. The Armageddon Championship Series is redefining the visuals for the next generation of chess.
The Grand Finale of the tournament will be held from September 14th to 20th, following the same dramatic format and intense time pressure as the previous events. Chess enthusiasts can catch all the exciting action and highlights on World Chess’s official YouTube channel.
Let us learn together how to find the best spot for the queen in the early middlegame, how to navigate this piece around the board, how to time the queen attack, how to decide whether to exchange it or not, and much more!
Jan-Krzysztof Duda made it to the Grand Finale
Interesting facts about the highest heart rates:
Richard Rapport recorded a heart rate of 175 bpm.
Michael Adams recorded a heart rate of 118 bpm.
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave recorded a heart rate of 139 bpm.
Jan-Krzysztof Duda recorded a heart rate of 152 bpm.
Jorden van Foreest recorded a heart rate of 172 bpm.
Vincent Keymer recorded a heart rate of 165 bpm.
Matthias Bluebaum recorded a heart rate of 149 bpm.
Alexander Donchenko recorded a heart rate of 133 bpm.
YOUR PERSONAL CHESS COACH - Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.
Most players don’t lack the urge to attack, they just strike at the wrong moment, and GM Sipke Ernst shows you which signals tell you to go for the king and which tell you to choose another plan.
How grandmasters win without fireworks: GM Jan Markos shows you 11 very practical tips from "How to play in a lost position" to "Be patient like Carlsen" that will improve your tournament chess.
The Nimzo-Indian has stood the test of time for over a century: Still a top choice for elite players today, from Magnus Carlsen to Praggnanandhaa, it remains one of Black's most reliable ways to fight for real chances against 1.d4 2.c4 3.Nc3.
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4!? is an opening idea well worth considering. Black immediately threatens to double the pawns on c3 in the style of the Trompowski or Sicilian Grand Prix attack.
Italian Game Powerbase 2026 is a database and contains 8571 top class games from Mega 2026 and the Correspondence Database 2026, of which 479 are annotated.
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