Igor Yarmonov is the IPCA World Champion 2019

19th World Champs for Physically Disabled

The 19th IPCA World Individual Chess Championship 2019 took place from June 28th to July 6th, in Ruzomberok, Slovakia. It was a nine-round Swiss event with players receiving 90 minutes for the entire game plus 30 seconds per move from move one. The tournament was organized by the International Physically Disabled Chess Association (IPCA) which is the international federation uniting all physically disabled players who have a congenital or an acquired reduced efficiency of the musculoskeletal system and therefore difficulty walking.

No adversity is too great for these brave chess players who win hearts with their love for the sixty-four squares | Photo: Chessfest 2019

Founded in 1992, the IPCA is affiliated with FIDE on equal terms with the national chess federations and its primary goal is to organize chess tournaments for physically disabled players (men, women and youth) around the world who are IPCA members. In the last 26 years since its creation, the federation has organized many high-ranking events like the IPCA World Chess Olympiads, the IPCA Europe Individual Chess Championships and the IPCA World Individual Chess Championships. In addition, it has also facilitated the participation of disabled players in the FIDE World Chess Olympiads. The IPCA teams of men and women have taken part in the FIDE Chess Olympiads since 2002.

Svetlana Gerasimova (RUS) is the current and the fifth president of the IPCA | Photo: Chessfest 2019

Yarmonov is the champion once again!

Igor Yarmonov, an International Master from Ukraine, has been the IPCA World Champion among people with limited physical mobility four times — 2002, 2013, 2016, 2018. Rated 2389 and a member of the Olympic team of IPCA for 16 years, he was the clear favourite of this year's edition of the event as well. After scoring 7.0/9 along with Andrei Gurbanov and Mikha Nikolay he was declared champion based on a better tie-break.

IM Igor Yarmonov (UKR, 2389) is an FM in chess composition | Photo: Chessfest 2019

Igor's grit and spirit to fight it out till the very end is evident from the following game against Valenta Vit which went for a staggering 118 moves and was the longest game of the event.

King's Indian: A modern approach

Bologan: "If you study this DVD carefully and solve the interactive exercises you will also enrich your chess vocabulary, your King's Indian vocabulary, build up confidence in the King's Indian and your chess and win more games."

2nd: IM Andrei Gurbanov (ISR, 2300) 7.0/9 | Photo: Chessfest 2019

3rd: FM Nikolay Mukha (UKR, 2159) 7.0/9 | Photo: Chessfest 2019

Due to a lower tie-break score, Nikolay Mukha had to settle for 3rd position. His win against much higher-rated Andrei Obodchuk and Andrei Gurbanov in the fifth and sixth rounds of the event are notable.

Click or tap the second game in the game list to switch

Modern Benoni for Advanced Players

The Modern Benoni is perhaps the most dynamic approach to meeting 1.d4 without sacrificing a pawn. A lot of legendary players have had a sincere love affair with this opening. The most imaginative world champion of all time, Michail Tal is perhaps the player who has done most to popularise the opening. In this DVD International Master Ari Ziegler is giving you a fighting repertoire against all White systems in the Modern Benoni.

4th: FM Valenta Vit (CZE, 2147) — 6.5/9 | Photo: Chessfest 2019

5th: IM Milan Babula (CZE, 2220) 6.0/9 | Photo: Chessfest 2019

69-year-old Babula subjected Igor Yarmonov to his only defeat in round 6:

The Fashionable Caro-Kann Vol.1 and 2

The Caro Kann is a very tricky opening. Black’s play is based on controlling and fighting for key light squares. It is a line which was very fashionable in late 90s and early 2000s due to the successes of greats like Karpov, Anand, Dreev etc. Recently due to strong engines lot of key developments have been made and some new lines have been introduced, while others have been refuted altogether. I have analyzed the new trends carefully and found some new ideas for Black.

6th: FM Lukasz Nowak (POL, 2267) — 6.0/9 | Photo: Chessfest 2019

At 21 years old, Polish FM Lukasz Nowak suffers from muscular dystrophy. He made his last round comeback against Andrey Tersinsev. This victory is a testimony to this young lad's indomitable will, after losing to Yarmonov in the previous round.

A lifetime repertoire: Play the Nimzo Indian

This DVD provides everything you need to know to be able to play one of the most classical openings with Black, the Nimzo-Indian, arising after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4. Nearly every World Championship and top tournament features the Nimzo-Indian.

7th: Former IPCA World Champion Shashikant Kutwal 6.0/9 | Photo: Chessfest 2019

Jennitha becomes IPCA World Women's Champion for the sixth time

Jennitha Anto, Svetlana Gerasimova (below right) and Marina Kaydanovich were the top three women finishers. Jennitha, from India scored 5.0/9 to become the highest scoring female player in the tournament. Thus, she clinched the IPCA Women's World title for a record sixth time.

Jennitha Anto K (gold), Svetlana Gerasimova (silver), and Marina Kaydanovich (bronze) | Photo: Chessfest 2019

With this victory, Jennitha has surpassed Vishy Anand in the maximum number of World titles won by an Indian | Photo: Chessfest 2019

The Dutch Stonewall - A fighting repertoire against 1.d4

In the Dutch Stonewall Black from the very first move fights for the initiative. Let Erwin l'Ami take you on a fascinating journey to the depth and attractions of this unique opening. At the end you will be rewarded with a new repertoire against 1.d4!

Jennitha and Angappan Sri welcomed in India after their exploits in Slovakia

Final Standings

Complete standings 

Links

• IPCA site
• Tournament official site