Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.
The Svetozar Gligoric Trophy is an award given by FIDE to the individual who displays exemplary behaviour promoting the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship in chess. Candidates to win the Svetozar Gligoric Trophy 2024 shall have demonstrated the following accomplishments during the period 10 August 2022 to 10 August 2024:
The Svetozar Gligoric Trophy is a recognition of sportsmen who exercise the fundamental values of Fair Play both during and beyond the game. It is a way of thinking rather than a mere behaviour, and is based on the concepts of:
The winner of the Svetozar Gligoric Trophy is selected annually by the FIDE Award Commission, comprised of Mr Mahir Mammedov (chairman) and members of the Commission, GM Mrs Judit Polgar and GM Mr Eugenio Torre.
Proposals for Nominations (Nomination Letter) from Continental Federations, National Federations, and FIDE Commissions shall be submitted to the Gligoric Trophy Award Commission of FIDE (gligorictrophy@fide.com) no later than 10 August 2024.
Nominations from individuals, including self-nominations, are also allowed, but they should be channelled through the Federation associated with the nominee.
Please note that this award is for the nominee’s accomplishments during the preceding year, NOT a recognition of a lifelong career.
The Commission’s decision is final and not open to discussion. The members of the Commission shall not give justification unless they wish so. The Award Ceremony will be held during the 45th FIDE Olympiad in Budapest in September 2024.
Master Class Vol.8 - Magnus Carlsen 2nd Edition
Let our authors show you how Carlsen tailored his openings to be able to outplay his opponents strategically in the middlegame or to obtain an enduring advantage into the endgame.
The Fair Play Award, named after Svetozar Gligoric, was established by FIDE in 2019.
It honors the figure of Svetozar Gligoric, one of the top players in the world in the 1950s and 1960s and also one of the most prominent, owing to his particularly engaging personality. At the chessboard, Gligoric was an uncompromising fighter and, at the same time, a symbol of gentlemanhood and correctness. His impeccable reputation has been a deserved result of his success in chess games and fair-play manners. Gligoric’s trademark was high respect for his chess opponents. His main principle was: “It's chess pieces, not a man I play against!” It is no coincidence that the book of Gligoric’s selected games is titled “I play against pieces!”
Magnus Carlsen
The first recipient of the Svetozar Gligorich Award was the former world champion Magnus Carlsen, who received the trophy just minutes before his debut game at the FIDE World Cup 2021 in Sochi.
In 2020, when all chess activities and competitions were moved to the online arena, Magnus Carlsen reached the semi-finals in the $150,000 online Chessable Masters against Ding Liren. Ding, playing from China, struggled with connection problems throughout the whole event, and in the final moments of his first game against Carlsen, he suffered an unfortunate disconnection at a vital moment. Unable to reconnect on time, the Chinese Grandmaster lost the game.
Minutes later, in the second game between them, the then world champion gave up his queen and resigned after just four moves to restore parity in the match. Despite the high stakes and being a ruthless competitor, Magnus Carlsen demonstrated that winning fairly was far more important to him than winning at any cost.
Jerguš Pecháč
Next year, 2021, the Svetozar Gligoric Trophy went to GM Jerguš Pecháč for his exemplary behaviour and fair play spirit.
The 21-year-old Slovak GM made headlines in the second round of the European Qualification Tournament when his over-the-board rival Boris Gelfand from Israel blundered the queen due to a mouse slip. That game was a qualifier for the FIDE World Cup in Sochi. Despite the high risk of failing to reach the next round, Pecháč graciously offered a draw to his opponent, not taking advantage of Gelfand’s unfortunate mistake. With his action, Jerguš risked not reaching the third round, but luckily for him, he advanced anyway by winning the Armageddon.
The Slovak GM again demonstrated that winning at all costs is not a priority — a noble gesture that Svetozar Gligoric himself would have undoubtedly applauded.
Jerguš Pecháč was awarded Gligoric Prize during the 44th World Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India, in 2022, and, symbolically enough, the award was handed out right before his game against the first winner of the Trophy, Magnus Carlsen.
Jaden Shaw
The third awardee of the Gligoric Trophy was Jaden Shaw, 15, Jamaica’s Absolute Junior Champion (U20), and FIDE Candidate Master (CM). Jaden received the prize during the closing ceremony of the 44th World Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India, 2022. His opponent, GM Meelis Kanep from Estonia, got sick during the Jamaica - Estonia match and thus could not finish the game.
Jaden, who debuted at the Chess Olympiad, could have rightfully insisted on such a landmark victory but agreed to a draw. This act of true sportsmanship, lauded by many, including the President of FIDE and the Chief Minister of Chennai, compelled the FIDE Award Commission to make an exception to the rules and to hand out the second, off-the-schedule award in the same year.
Master Class Vol.11: Vladimir Kramnik
This DVD allows you to learn from the example of one of the best players in the history of chess and from the explanations of the authors (Pelletier, Marin, Müller and Reeh) how to successfully organise your games strategically, consequently how to keep y
