Lichess declares world entry paths to the FIDE World Fischer Random Finals, with anybody eligible for entry, totally totally free

The 2022 version of the FIDE World Fischer Random Championship will happen this October in Reykjavik, Iceland. Three years in the past, Wesley So beat Magnus Carlsen to turn into the primary ever official Fischer Random World Champion; each gamers will likely be competing once more for the crown this autumn, alongside six different contenders…and one in all them may very well be you! 

Beginning this Friday (19 August), Lichess and its co-organisers Charlotte Chess Middle, the North American Company Chess League, and Offerspill Sjakklubb are internet hosting two official qualifier occasions, with the winner of every incomes an invite to Reykjavik. Anybody can enter. All it is advisable do is win!

Format

The qualifiers will comply with the multi-stage format outlined within the graphic beneath:

Stage 1 (19 August – 4 September) entails two phases. First, a number of open-entry 3+2 arenas will likely be held over the following two weeks. These are the place anybody – titled or untitled, rated or unrated, skilled or beginner – can begin their journey to Reykjavik. The highest 50 finishers in every area will qualify for the second part: a single 3+2 area per qualifier, from which 500 gamers will advance to the following stage, per qualifier.

Stage 2 (10-11 September) may also comprise two phases. First, the gamers will likely be divided into teams to play an 11-round, 5+2, Swiss event. The highest 18 finishers in every group will be a part of one another and 10 wildcard gamers – be careful for some massive names! – to play a 9-round, 10+2, Swiss, from which the highest 15 will advance to the ultimate stage.

Within the ultimate stage (17-25 September), the gamers will duel one another in knockout matches to find out who will likely be invited to play within the over-the-board finals in Reykjavik (and a share of the $400,000 prize fund). Those that progress to this stage may also obtain a share of a $2,500 prize fund, per qualifier.

The complete qualifier rules may be discovered right here. You should comply with adjust to them to take part, so please take the time to assessment them (and word particularly the necessities for identification verification and truthful play). Entry right into a qualifier assumes you might have learn them and agreed with them.

Be aware that as a consequence of FIDE / IOC restrictions, Russian and Belarusian gamers is not going to be eligible to qualify if their Lichess profile shows a Russian or Belarusian flag. Flags may be modified in person settings (we suggest the Lichess flag!)

Chess.com may also be internet hosting two qualifiers, solely for titled gamers on the finish of August. Keep in mind that our event rules have some variations to theirs, so in the event you compete in each remember to learn each units of rules with care.

Though it’s not required for participation within the qualifiers, those that need the newest official event updates ought to be a part of FIDE’s official group web page on Lichess.

Area Calendar

The complete occasion calendar is on FIDE’s official group web page on Lichess. A number of the subsequent few days’ occasions are listed beneath:

nineteenth August 1600 – 1800 UTC: https://lichess.org/event/2uxfAuV1
nineteenth August 1900 – 2100 UTC: https://lichess.org/event/qF84vQWm

twentieth August 0100 – 0300 UTC: https://lichess.org/event/nE8sEgZU
twentieth August 0500 – 0700 UTC: https://lichess.org/event/bneCBdZ9
twentieth August 1600 – 1800 UTC: https://lichess.org/event/6DfPQlEe
twentieth August 1900 – 2100 UTC: https://lichess.org/event/xcIBrZbv

twenty first August 0100 – 0300 UTC: https://lichess.org/event/6nTKRwoN
twenty first August 0500 – 0700 UTC: https://lichess.org/event/SiuqPsSi
twenty first August 1600 – 1800 UTC: https://lichess.org/event/Wz9ObpES
twenty first August 1900 – 2100 UTC: https://lichess.org/event/BA0Byus4

twenty second August 0100 – 0300 UTC: https://lichess.org/event/hRWyCvd9
twenty second August 0500 – 0700 UTC: https://lichess.org/event/GNQyCg0J
twenty second August 1600 – 1800 UTC: https://lichess.org/event/aslHRVp0
twenty second August 1900 – 2100 UTC: https://lichess.org/event/YGPCw4xa

What’s Fischer Random Chess?

Developed and refined by the eleventh World Champion GM Bobby Fischer, Fischer Random – aka Chess960 (as on Lichess) or shuffle chess (initially) – is the one chess variant recognised and ruled by FIDE. It follows the identical guidelines and has the identical items as commonplace chess, besides the beginning positions of the backrank items for each colors are symmetrically randomised.

An instance Chess960 beginning place
A couple of commonalities with commonplace chess are retained, such because the requirement for either side to have reverse color bishops and the appropriate to citadel on both aspect of the board. Consequently, there are 960 distinctive and legitimate beginning positions for a Chess960 recreation. 

Thus opening principle, pc evaluation and memorisation play a far much less necessary position in Chess960 in comparison with commonplace chess, and Chess960 video games are sometimes good exams of chess instinct and creativity. 

Many Chess960 tournaments have been held internationally, however the first FIDE-recognised World Championship for the variant solely occurred three years in the past. Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Ian Nepomniachtchi and Wesley So all performed – with Wesley So defeating all opposition to turn into the primary (and reigning) Fischer Random World Champion. 

For extra info on Chess960, try the sources compiled by the official Lichess Chess960 group to assist gamers enhance their expertise. As you’ll count on, they’re free to entry, so there’s actually no excuse not to take part! 

About our co-organisers

These qualifiers wouldn’t be attainable with out the assist and experience supplied by our co-organisers, all of whom share with us a philosophy of creating chess accessible, inclusive, and out there to all.

Charlotte Chess Middle / charlottechesscenter.org

Primarily based in Charlotte, North Carolina, with roots relationship again to 2007, Charlotte Chess Middle goals to supply chess lovers a spot to play the sport (casually and in tournaments), develop chess friendships, and develop the chess group – each regionally and globally. In recent times, CCC has gone from energy to energy. With years of expertise, the CCC has expanded to a workers of greater than 20 chess professionals, and now runs huge college enrichment programmes, academy lessons, and in addition the most important OTB tournaments within the Southeast U.S.. With a wealth of expertise organising on-line and OTB championship tournaments, the Middle is dedicated to the success of the Lichess CCC & NACCL FIDE World Fischer Random Qualifiers. 

Contact: [email protected]

North American Company Chess League / nacorporatechess.com

Based in 2020, the North American Company Chess League is a web based leisure chess league for corporations headquartered within the USA, Canada, and Mexico. It’s the largest company chess league on the planet, with over 40 groups and 450 gamers competing every season. An inclusive and interesting on-line chess league, the NACCL options pleasant competitors and group constructing amongst professionals from dozens of industries throughout the continent.

Contact: [email protected]

Offerspill Sjakklubb / offerspill.com

A non-profit, Offerspill Sjakklubb (Offerspill interprets as “sacrificial play”) was based in 2019 by World Champion Magnus Carlsen, who nonetheless chairs the membership. Norway’s largest chess membership by membership, Offerspill goals to make chess a low threshold exercise, accessible to all –  particularly web gamers – whereas additionally encouraging the event of gifted gamers and permitting them to pursue their chess desires. Offerspill presents numerous coaching camps, academic supplies, tournaments and different content material to each its members and the broader chess group, usually that includes a few of the world’s finest gamers. Offerspill additionally presents its members the prospect to play in a web based league to win prizes and digital awards.

Contact: [email protected]