FIDE Grand Swiss Open 2023

• 08 Nov 2023

Source: PIB

Why in News?

India celebrates as Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (FIDE Grand Swiss) and Vaishali Ramesh Babu (FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss) secure victories in the FIDE Grand Swiss Open, earning coveted spots in the 2024 Candidates Tournament for a chance to challenge the World Chess Champion.

• The World Chess Championship 2024 is scheduled to take place in Toronto, Canada in April 2024.

What is the FIDE Grand Swiss Open?

• The FIDE Grand Swiss Open is a chess tournament that is part of the qualification for the World Championship cycle.
• The FIDE Grand Swiss and FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss 2023 was held at the Villa Marina, Douglas, Isle of Man.
• The top two players in the open event will qualify for the 2024 Candidates Tournament, which will determine the challenger for the World Champion.
  • The total prize fund is USD 600,000, with USD 460,000 for the Grand Swiss and USD 140,000 for the Women’s Grand Swiss.
• The first Grand Swiss was held in 2019 in the Isle of Man.

International Chess Federation (FIDE)

• It is the governing body of the sport of chess, and it regulates all international chess competitions.
  • It's constituted as a non-governmental institution. It organizes the World Chess Championship.
• It was recognized by the International Olympic Committee as a Global Sporting Organization in 1999.
• FIDE currently has its headquarters in Lausanne (Switzerland), but it was initially founded in 1924 in Paris under the motto “Gens Una Sumus” (Latin for “We are one Family”).
• It was one of the very first International Sports Federations, alongside the governing bodies of the sports of Football, Cricket, Swimming, and Auto Racing. It is now one of the largest, encompassing 199 countries as affiliate members, in the form of National Chess Federations.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims

Q. Consider the following statements in respect of the 44th Chess Olympiad, 2022:(2023)

1. It was the first time that Chess Olympiad was held in India.
2. The official mascot was named Thambi'.
3. The trophy for the winning team in the open section is the Vera Menchik Cup.
4. The trophy for the winning team in the women's section is the Hamilton-Russell Cup.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four

Ans: b

Exp:

• The first official Olympiad held in London in 1927 at Westminster Central Hall was then known as the ‘Tournament of Nations’. This is the first time the Chess Olympiad was held in the place of origin of chess, India. It is coming to Asia for the first time in 3 decades. It has the highest ever number of countries participating. It has the highest ever number of teams participating. It has the highest number of entries in the women’s section. Hence, statement 1 is Correct.
• The Official Mascot of 44^th Chess Olympiad is 'Thambi'. The word 'Thambi' in Tamil language means - little or younger brother. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• The trophy for the winning team in the open section is the Hamilton-Russell Cup, which was offered by the English magnate Frederick Hamilton-Russell as a prize for the 1st Olympiad (London 1927). Hence, statement 3 is NOT correct.
• The trophy for the winning women's team is known as the Vera Menchik Cup in honour of the first Women's World Chess Champion. Hence, statement 4 is NOT correct.