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.
A number of World Cup participants travelled from Baku to Düsseldorf to play in the inaugural edition of the World Rapid Team Championship. One of them is Vidit Gujrathi, who fell just short of getting a spot in the 2024 Candidates Tournament, as he was defeated by Nijat Abasov in the quarterfinals.
Coming from such a tension-filled competition — which has the potential to change a player’s career — the rather relaxed environment in the team competition is a welcomed change of pace. Vidit explained:
Master advanced Tactics and Calculations like a super Grandmaster
The Indian chess grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi with an ELO of over 2700 (June 2023) is one of the best 20 players in the world. For the first time, the sympathetic top player presents himself in a video course. Let a world-class player show you tactical moti
Here it is much more relaxed. It is nice to play more freely and try out a couple of things. I am happy about that.
The tournament features 36 teams, with a total of 286 players registered to participate. The presence of elite grandmasters is one of the main attractions, as some of the strongest players in the world were lured to the event by the excellent playing conditions. Their decision was likely influenced by the successful first edition of the WR Chess Masters, which took place in February, also in Düsseldorf.
Wadim Rosenstein, founder and CEO of WR Group, is the man who made these two events possible. Besides helping the tournament come to life, the businessman is playing on the ‘amateur’ board for WR Chess, the second-strongest team in the event.
After four rounds, the organizer’s squad is leading the standings with a perfect 8/8. Rosenstein scored 3/4 on day 1, while Ian Nepomniachtchi excelled with his perfect 4/4, albeit after facing players with ratings spanning from 2369 to 2627.
The value of Nepo’s performance should not be underestimated, though, as some of his super strong colleagues suffered upsets on the first day of play — most shockingly both his teammate Wesley So and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave lost to Aravindh Chithambaram, while Richard Rapport was defeated by Raunak Sadhwani.
With eight rounds to go, it is still all to play for in Düsseldorf!
Well-known commentator Keti Tsatsalashvili is playing for Kompetenzakademie Allstars | Photo: Mark Livshitz
Former world champion Vishy Anand is representing Freedom, the team with the highest average rating | Photo: Mark Livshitz
Master Class Vol. 12: Viswanathan Anand
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 how to successfully organise your games strategically, and how to keep your opponent permanently under pressure.
Ukrainian WFM Marianna Grineva | Photo: Niki Riga
Mitropa Chess Association, a team made up of German and Italian players | Photo: Niki Riga
by Klaus Besenthal
Peter Svidler | Photo: Mark Livshitz
Attack like a Super Grandmaster
In this Fritztrainer: “Attack like a Super GM†with Gukesh we touch upon all aspects of his play, with special emphasis on how you can become a better attacking player.
Nihal Sarin | Photo: Mark Livshitz
| Rk. | Team | Games | + | = | - | TB1 | TB2 |
| 1 | WR Chess | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 75,5 |
| 2 | Team MGD1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 64,5 |
| 3 | Freedom | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 62 |
| 4 | Armenia | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 62 |
| 5 | ASV AlphaEchecs Linz | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 53 |
| 6 | Columbus Energy KingsOfChess Kraków | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 45,5 |
| 7 | Germany and Friends | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 44 |
| 8 | Chess Pensioners | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 48 |
| 9 | Chessbrah OFM | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 47 |
| 10 | Ashdod Elit Chess Club | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 43 |
| 11 | Berlin Chess Federation | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 39 |
| 12 | Düsseldorfer Schachklub 1914/25 e.V. | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 37,5 |
| 13 | Rishon LeZion Chess Club | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 35 |
| 14 | Schachverein Hemer | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 34 |
| 15 | Kompetenzakademie Allstars | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 49 |
