The 5th Mindsports Chess Festival is Next Month!

Just over one month to go until the festival commences, and we are already 60% full. 40 places left!

Confirmed players include 6 GMs, 17 IMs, 1 WGM and a whole host of high rated chess players. 17 players rated above 2400, great title norm opportunities!

The minimum FIDE Standard rating required to enter has been lowered from 1900 to 1800. Places are first come first served.

£4,000 in prizes!

1st. £1.500, 2nd. £750, 3rd. £500, 4th. £250, 5th. £150

Best Woman: 1st. £250 , 2nd. £100

1st U18: £100, 1st 50+: £100, & 3x Rating Prizes of £100 TBD.

Many thanks to the sponsors: XTX Markets & The Chess Trust

Three night blitz tournaments on the 13th/15th/18th August each with a £300 prize fund!

Entry form link for all tournaments: https://form.jotform.com/250984116760359

Player lists

International Open: https://chess-results.com/tnr1151321.aspx?lan=1&art=0&turdet=YES&flag=30

Night Blitz 1: https://chess-results.com/tnr1154580.aspx?lan=1&art=0&turdet=YES&flag=30

Night Blitz 2: https://chess-results.com/tnr1154581.aspx?lan=1&art=0&turdet=YES&flag=30

Night Blitz 3: https://chess-results.com/tnr1154582.aspx?lan=1&art=0&turdet=YES&flag=30

Conditions have closed, but feel free to inquire.

Email: lancelesliesmith2002@gmail.com

WhatsApp (messaging only): +44 7554924477

Lance Leslie-Smith

(FIDE International Arbiter, & Organiser)

NEXT EVENT - JULY 12TH

https://eu.jotform.com/form/243094045258962

July 12, August 9, September 6 (all Saturdays).

The MCCA FIDE Blitz

Middlesex County Chess Association with Chess England presents an 18 round tournament at All Saints Church, Childs Hill, Church Walk, London NW2 2TJ on 30th November 2024

The tournament is 9 double rounds of 3 minutes each plus 2 seconds a move added time (=18 games), 1.00pm to 5pm and is FIDE and ECF rated.

📰 My Top 10 Chess News Stories

1. Magnus Carlsen triumphs at Norway Chess 2025
   Carlsen clinched his seventh Norway Chess title thanks to a final‑round draw with Arjun Erigaisi, allowing him to hold off challengers by the slimmest of margins (en.chessbase.com).

2. SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia: Carlsen, Caruana & “Pragg” in action
   The third Grand Chess Tour event is in full swing in Zagreb (July 2–6), featuring the elite of speed chess in rapid and blitz formats (en.chessbase.com).

3. Praggnanandhaa wins UzChess Cup Masters in Tashkent
   “Pragg” claimed victory over Abdusattorov via tiebreaks and leapfrogged to World No. 4 and India No. 1 (en.chessbase.com).

4. Firouzja edges Nakamura in Bullet Brawl showdown
   In an epic new format, Alireza Firouzja outpaced Hikaru Nakamura in tiebreak blitz at Chess.com’s Bullet Brawl (chess.com).

5. FIDE World Rapid Teams: MGD1 wins in London
   Team MGD1 swept the final day to claim gold in the London-based rapid teams championship (en.chessbase.com). All your favourite players were there!

6. Biel Chess Festival lineup revealed: Masters & Challengers
   The 58th edition takes place 12–25 July, headlined by top seeds Aravindh Chithambaram and Le Quang Liem (en.chessbase.com).

7. Vladimir Fedoseev replaces Le Quang Liem in Biel Masters
   Recently confirmed substitution and a new Under‑20 blitz tournament added to the schedule (en.chessbase.com).

8. Leon Masters tournament returns with Anand, Le & Santos
   38th edition runs 4–6 July in Spain and features Vishy Anand, Le Quang Liem, Jaime Santos and Faustino Oro (en.chessbase.com).

9. Checkmate Rating Open 2025 launches in Bengal
   From 9–13 July, total prizes ₹1.1 million in India’s strongest non‑GM classical event to date (chessbase.in).

10. International Chess Day scheduled for 20 July
    FIDE’s “Every Move Counts” initiative promotes inclusion with 24‑hour online blitz and events worldwide (en.chessbase.com).

🎥 Tournament Highlight (Video)

Intense Chess Battle | UzChess Cup 2025 Highlights♟️ (Praggnanandhaa vs Vokhidov)

A thrilling classic clash in Tashkent

📰 Chess in the Mainstream

North vs South: England’s County Final Revives a Century‑Old Rivalry
England’s inter‑county championship (since 1908) once dominated by Middlesex and Lancashire now sees Greater Manchester vs Surrey. Also features ChessFest family events in Trafalgar Square on 13 July (ft.com).

Russians drop out of FIDE Top 10 for first time since 1971
With Nepomniachtchi at 14th, no Russian in classical top 10 — a historic shift. In contrast, “Pragg” keeps ascending. ChessFest spotlight and strong UK participation also noted (theguardian.com).

📚 Chess History 🗞️ From the Archives: The Chess News That Shaped the World

📰 "STEINITZ CROWNED KING OF CHESS IN AMERICAN MATCH TRIUMPH!"

New Orleans, March 1886
Wilhelm Steinitz has officially claimed the title of World Chess Champion, defeating Johannes Zukertort in a fiercely contested 20-game match across three American cities. The final score: 10 wins to 5, with 5 draws.

“The chessboard is no longer a battlefield of sheer tactics,” Steinitz declared. “It is a science of position.”

📰 "INTERNATIONAL BODY FOR CHESS FOUNDED IN PARIS!"

Paris, July 20, 1924
In a landmark move toward unifying the chess world, 15 national delegates have formed FIDE, the Fédération Internationale des Échecs, coinciding with the closing of the 8th Summer Olympics. The new body will govern world championships, set standards, and promote peace through the game.

"Gens una sumus – we are one family,” reads the new federation’s motto.

📰 "FISCHER TOPPLES SPASSKY IN WORLD CHESS COLD WAR SHOWDOWN!"

Reykjavik, September 1972
In a battle that gripped global headlines, Bobby Fischer has defeated Boris Spassky to become the first American World Champion. With brilliant psychological tactics and unmatched preparation, Fischer broke the USSR’s 24-year domination of chess.

“I like the moment when I break a man’s ego,” Fischer famously quipped.

📰 "MACHINE BEATS MAN: KASPAROV FALLS TO DEEP BLUE!"

New York, May 1997
In an astonishing technological feat, IBM’s Deep Blue supercomputer has beaten World Champion Garry Kasparov, winning their rematch 3.5–2.5. After defeating Kasparov in Game 6, the AI marked a turning point in chess history — proving that silicon may now outthink flesh.

Kasparov: “I lost to a machine, yes. But not to understanding.”

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