The Ultimate Battle for Chess Supremacy
45th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest 2024
10 – 23 September 2024
Contents
Uniting Chess Nations: The FIDE Chess Olympiad Experience ........ 1
South Africa's Chess Teams Ready to Take on the Olympiad Stage ........ 2
Regulations and Rewards. What to Expect at the Olympiad ........ 2
Individual Brilliance and Team Triumphs ........ 3
Unforgettable Upsets That Shaped Chess Olympiad History ........ 3
Make your move! Will you attend or compete in the next FIDE Olympiad? ........ 4
Uniting Chess Nations: The FIDE Chess Olympiad Experience
Every two years, the world's top chess players unite for the eagerly awaited FIDE Chess Olympiad. As the event's governing body, FIDE oversees the organisation and selects the host country for each edition. It's the 'Olympics' of the chess world, although not officially part of the Olympic Games.
It is an exciting and hugely anticipated event by the global chess community. In Budapest, rising stars will compete for recognition while old rivalries renew their epic struggles. This prestigious tournament runs for two weeks and brings together teams from almost 200 countries, all competing for the highest honours in world chess.
All FIDE member federations and affiliate members (as outlined in the FIDE Handbook on Regulations) can send their national teams to compete in the tournament.
South Africa's Chess Teams Ready to Take on the Olympiad Stage
South Africa will be proudly represented both by an Open and a Women's team at the 45th FIDE Olympiad. Impressively, half of the players on these teams are still in school, showcasing the country's emerging talent.
In the Open Section, Team South Africa is seeded 79th. Board 1 is held by Daniel Barrish, accompanied by Jan Karsten (16), Caleb Levi Levitan (14), Banele Mhango, and Daniel Cawdery. The captain is Grandmaster Mikhail Bryakin.
In the Women's Section, Team South Africa is ranked 85th and board 1 is Jesse February. The team includes Chloe Badenhorst (17), Davida Strong (16), Robyn Julian Klaasen, and Hayley Nel (18). The captain is Anzel Laubscher.
Their inspiring journey proves that with the right mindset and perseverance, you could one day stand among South Africa's best at the FIDE Chess Olympiad.
Regulations and Rewards. What to Expect at the Olympiad
The rules and regulations for play, outlined below, are for the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest. 193 teams will compete in the Open section and 181 in the Women's sections. The teams comprise one captain, four players, and one reserve player in both sections.
The event follows the Swiss Format rules. There are 11 rounds, and the pairing system is described in 'Olympiad Pairing Rules'.
Click here to learn more about the rules and regulations for the FIDE Chess Olympiads.
Although prizes include trophies, team medals, individual board medals, certificates and monetary awards, every team is battling to win one of these highly regarded trophies:
The Hamilton-Russel Cup: Since 1927, this trophy has been awarded to the winning team in the Open section and symbolises global chess dominance.
Vera Menchik Cup: This prestigious trophy is awarded to the winning team in the Women's section. Vera Menchik was the first Women's World Chess Champion who held the title from 1927 until 1944.
The Nona Gaprindashvili Trophy: The winning Federation in the combined classification receives this trophy. Nona Gaprindashvili was the first woman to be awarded the Grandmaster title by FIDE in 1978.
Individual Brilliance and Team Triumphs
Unlike other sports, age and size don't matter in chess. It is a sport for everyone, where anyone can become a chess player, regardless of physical ability.
In fact, the youngest player ever to compete in the FIDE Chess Olympiad was Randa Sedar, an 8-year-old from Palestine who participated in the 2022 Olympiad.
In the current 2024 Olympiad, Bodhana Sivanandan, a 9-year-old prodigy from England, will also make history as one of the youngest participants.
Caleb Levitan, at 14 years old, will become the youngest player to represent South Africa at an Olympiad.
The oldest player to ever compete in the FIDE Chess Olympiad is Julia Lebel-Arias, who represented Monaco at the 2022 Olympiad at the age of 77.
Smaller chess-playing nations have often defied expectations and achieved surprising results, adding to the excitement and unpredictability of the Olympiad. In 2022, Uzbekistan unpredictably won gold by outperforming chess giants like India, Russia and USA. Under Vassily Ivanchuk's leadership, Ukraine stunned the chess community by unexpectedly winning gold medals at the Olympiad in 2004 and 2010.
Unforgettable Upsets That Shaped Chess Olympiad History
The FIDE Chess Olympiad has been full of memorable moments, featuring thrilling matches and unexpected victories. Here are a few upsets that shook the chess world.
The Miracle on the Volga (1972)
Event: 20th Chess Olympiad in Skopje, Yugoslavia
Moment: The Soviet Union, considered the dominant force in chess at the time, was trailing the United States by half a point going into the final round. In a dramatic twist, the Soviet team won three of the four matches, securing the gold medal by a narrow margin.
The USA's Historic Victory (1976)
Event: 22nd Chess Olympiad in Haifa, Israel
Moment: The United States, led by Bobby Fischer, defeated the Soviet Union for the first time in the Olympiad, ending their decades-long dominance. Fischer's performance in the tournament was nothing short of legendary. The Chinese Breakthrough (2008) Event: 38th Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany Moment: The Chinese team, steadily improving in recent years, finally broke through and won the gold medal, marking a significant milestone for Chinese chess.
Make your move! Will you attend or compete in the next FIDE Olympiad?
In addition to the chess matches, the event is packed with educational and social activities. Attendees can enjoy side events such as conferences, exhibitions, and artistic performances that showcase chess's cultural and social significance. Whether you're a player, spectator, or enthusiast, the FIDE Olympiad delivers an unforgettable blend of chess, culture, and camaraderie. Don't miss the opportunity—decide today which FIDE Olympiad you'll be part of!
Thank you for reading our blog.
House of Chess Team.