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After their first record-breaking event, BlockChamps, the star duo WFM Alexandra and Andrea Botez are back with another groundbreaking event: the Botez Bullet Invitational. Fan-favorite streamers and content creators will go head-to-head to compete for a piece of the $10,000 prize fund starting on May 5, 12 p.m. PT/21:00 CEST. Viewers will be able to watch the event live on BotezLive and Chess.com/TV.

For this event, the Botez sisters will bring back notorious participants from past events like BlockChamps and PogChamps. Fans will enjoy the presence of behemoth content creators like Ludwig, QTCinderella, MoistCr1tikal, Tubbo, and more! Previous PogChamps champions Voyboy and Sardoche will also return for the new challenge, along with many others!

We want to create more fun chess events for streamers who picked up the game over the last year. Hopefully, this will be the first on the menu!

-Alexandra Botez

The event will consist of a one-hour pre-show hype session followed by a one-hour 1|0 bullet arena. As this will be the first time these stars will officially compete in such a fast time control, it's hard to predict what will happen. However, one thing is for sure: viewers can expect a festival of excitement, drama, and prime entertainment.

Below you can see the confirmed players:

With a field full of heavyweight content creators, expectations for the Botez Bullet Invitational are high. Make sure you tune in to Twitch.tv/BotezLive or Chess.com/TV on May 5 at 12 p.m. PT/21:00 CEST to enjoy the show!

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Announcing The Botez Bullet Invitational On May 5 - Chess.com

Is Italy taking chess to the next level?

Press Release by QLASH

The Mitropa Cup Hybrid 2021 has started and although the games have shown how players havent lost their habits playing standard chess, lets focus for a moment on the venues. As this edition is still influenced by the global pandemic, federations have been asked to find a suitable location for the event. This means having all players together in a single room equipped with computers, a high-efficiency internet connection, and any other facility that can make players comfortable.

As the first round started, people began to share pictures of the venues and the Italian teams seemed to be playing in some kind of spaceship or futuristic space. They all shared the same room with individual stations and bright colors that popped from every perspective.

The cockpits, still without players

So were they playing from some kind of NASA station? No, they were in the QLASH House. As chess is getting closer to the e-sports field, the Italian Chess Federation has signed a partnership with the national leading e-sports company. After all, were talking about e-chess!

The QLASH House is one of the largest gaming houses in Europe. Equipped for any activity, not only for the training of gamers but also for the needs of the staff: digital whiteboards, screens, projectors, the ability to record games, view them, observe every move of individual players. On this occasion, gamers have left the floor to chess players allowing them to play in the best location theyve ever had.

There is also a proper stage, with lights, desks and cameras, for a full broadcast experience for events and tournaments, as it is happening for the Mitropa Cup as theres a livestreaming for the Italian audience.

Sneak peek: In the QLASH House, you can also find a gym! Its very similar to an amusement park for every computer/e-sport geek!

QLASH was founded in 2017 by Luca Pagano and Eugene Katchalov. It is a 360 media company, in a few years more than 100 esport pro players and influencers have joined QLASH, competing in international tournaments and producing engaging content for millions of followers.

In 2020 as QLASH has grown and has enlarged its limits, it got more and more interested in chess. Shortly after, at the beginning of this year, QLASH announced the QLASH_Chessteam: a group of top-level Italian chess players who will play, comment and promote chess among the internet communities. So far, QLASH has spread in several countries such as Spain, Egypt, Ukraine, and Malta.

The QLASH_Chess team is composed of players who are or have been playing in the Italian team and as they were so passionate about this e-chess project, it didnt take long for the news to get to the newly elected President Mr. Luigi Maggis ears.

Arranging the Italian section of the Mitropa Cup in the QLASH_House was the best choice: large spaces, high-efficiency computers, and a team of people working at their best to ease the players hard duty.

We can all agree by saying that so far Italy has won the prize for the best location, at some points, it could be also suggested to host all the hybrid chess events in the QLASH_House!

More here:
Chess in the QLASH house - Chessbase News

Quizon, Concio on top in Zonal chess

By Marlon BernardinoPhilBoxing.comSat, 08 May 2021

Standings after Round 75.5 points---IM Daniel Quizon (Philippines), IM Michael Concio Jr. (Philippines), IM Mohamad Ervan (Indonesia)5 points---GM Novendra Priasmoro (Indonesia), IM Sean Winshand Cuhendi (Indonesia), IM Tin Jingyao (Singapore)4.5 points---IM Yoseph Theolifus Taher (Indonesia), Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo (Philippines), FM Jagadeesh Siddharth (Singapore), GM Susanto Megaranto (Indonesia), FM Lik Zhang Lye (Malaysia), IM John Marvin Miciano (Philippines), NM Merben Roque (Philippines), Ellan Asuela (Philippines)

MANILA, Philippines---International Master Daniel Quizon of the Philippines continued his fiery showing Friday, May 7, 2021 even as two other players managed to keep pace after seven rounds in the Hybrid Online Zone 3.3 Zonal Chess Championships 2021 on Tornelo.

Playing white, Quizon defeated International Master Yoseph Theolifus Taher of Indonesia after 42 moves of Ruy Lopez Opening, Schliemann variation to raise his total 5.5 points, the same output of countryman International Master Michael Concio Jr. and International Master Mohamad Ervan of Indonesia.

"I hope to continue my good fortune all the way towards the last 2 rounds," said Quizon, one of the top players of the star-studded Dasmarinas Chess Academy put up by Rep. Elpidio "Pidi" Barzaga Jr. and national coach Fide Master Roel Abelgas.

Concio split the point with International Master Sean Winshand Cuhendi of Indonesia after 61 moves of English Opening while Ervan agreed to a draw with International Master Tin Jingyao of Singapore after 70 moves of Queens Gambit Declined, Cambridge variation.

Tin Jingyao and Cuhendi trail with 5 points each together with second seed Grandmaster Novendra Piasmoro of Indonesia, who settled a truce with Fide Master Jagadeesh Siddharth of Singapore after 68 moves of King's Indian defense.

Taher and seven others followed with 4.5 points each, namely Siddharth, International Master John Marvin Miciano, National Master Merben Roque, Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo and Ellan Asuela of the Philippines, Fide Master Lik Zhang Lye of Malaysia and top seed Grandmaster Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia.

Lone Filipino Grandmaster entry Darwin Laylo halved the point with Fide Master Zhuo Ren Lim of Malaysia after 66 moves of English Opening to lead the huge group of 4 pointers along with seven others.

According to International Arbiter Casto "Toti" Abundo of the World Chess Federation that the top two players will advance to the World Cup set in August in Minsk, Russia.

Fifty-two players from six nations are taking part in the event that has a prize fund of $1,500 (about P75,000) according to National Chess Federation of the Philippines Chairman/President Senior Deputy Speaker Prospero "Butch" Arreza Pichay Jr. who watched the game live streaming through chess24.com.-Marlon Bernardino-

Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.

Read more here:
Quizon, Concio on top in Zonal chess - PhilBoxing.com

Source: Dallas Morning News

Chess has continued to take over chess thanks to all of the popular streamers that have decided to learn and broadcast the ancient strategy game.

Now over 20 content creators will compete in the Botez Bullet Invitational. The chess tournament will be hosted by Alexandra and Andrea Botez and broadcast on their Twitch channelon Wednesday, May 5 from 2 PM to 4 PM CT.

The Botez sisters have become popular personalities in the chess community. Alexandra is a talented chess player and commentator. She holds the title of Woman FIDE Master. Her younger sister Andrea hosts the BotezLive Twitch and YouTube channels, where the two create chess content.

At the end of 2020, the sisters signed with Envy Gaming, launching a creator network and ambassador program. They are also exclusive Twitch partners thanks to their growing popularity.

While the sisters hosting the tournament is already a major draw, the chess tournament is sure to be a hit thanks to the 20 streamers participating in the competition. Some of the most popular participants include:

SypherPK,Ludwig,QTCinderella,Moistcr1tical,Benjyfishy,5uppp,Mizkif,KaceyTron,Amouranth,Voyboy,Neeko, andSweetAnita.

The chess competition will be bullet chess, a fast-paced chess style that allocates only one minute for each player total. That means the games are only two minutes long each. That means the tournament will only run for an hour total. The points will be tallied and a winner will be announced.

Chess has continued to grow popular on Twitch at an astronomical rate. It's grown 700% since the beginning of 2020. This is thanks to personalities like the Botez sisters and Chessbrah. Traditional chess players have also fought for the game to become more approachable to beginners by celebrating the streamers who have made chess mainstream.

The Botez Bullet Invitational is on May 5, bringing the epic personalities from across gaming together to show off the chess strategies they've been practicing.

Continued here:
SypherPK, Ludwig, Amouranth, Voyboy, and more to compete in Twitch chess tournament - InvenGlobal

TheFIDE Candidates, thelongest-ever chess tournament, came toanend, with Ian Nepomniachtchi being thenext challenger ofMagnus Carlsen. Although Nepo secured anearly tournament win inRound 13, thefinal round had many surprises.

Photo byLennart Ootes/FIDE

Ian Nepomniachtchi is already thenext challenger fortheWorld Title, butinRound 13 he was found inavery unpleasant situation against Ding Liren. After apoor opening reaction, it was clear that thegame wasnt going togo Ians way. Hecouldnt resolve any ofhis problems andended up resigning on move 35.

Afterwards, Ian said: Yesterday I was very motivated, buttoday when I woke up I felt like my motivation significantly went down. I wasnt very happy that I had yet one more game toplay. On theother hand, Ding Liren wished thetournament wasnt over andhe seemed very satisfied with his three consecutive wins.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave had arough second-half, butatthelast rounds he showed skills, like theaccuracy that he handled theBerlin endgame against Wang Hao. TheChinese Grandmaster didnt defend theposition theway he should, which caused him lots oftrouble andabitterness after his defeat.

This win andGiris defeat against Alekseenko, gave MVL thesecond game ofthetournament. Unfortunately, Wangs performance wasnt asimpressive andhe finished thetournament last. Right after that, he announced his retirement from professional competitive chess. Is it adisappointment oris he really retiring?

Dana Reizniece-Ozola, FIDE Executive Director, making theceremonial first move atthelast round oftheCandidates Photo byLennart Ootes/FIDE

Anish Giri was very close tothetop after R12, butthelast 2 rounds didnt go asplanned. After his R13 defeat from Grischuk, Anish had lost his chance tobe thechallenger, butR14 cost him thesecond place aswell.

Anish seemed very optimistic inanotso clear position, sacrificed up apawn without clear compensation, andeventually lost. Alekseenkos win though didnt give him thewild result he hoped forandhe finished 7th with 5 points.

Atthelast game, Grischuk fought impressively against Caruanas constant pressure, andmanaged towin half apoint. Thetwo grandmasters were thelast tofinish andtheir game was one ofthose games which we are going toremember andanalyze foralong time!

WGM Dina Belenkaya andGM Ernesto Inarkiev, asevery day at5 pm GMT, hosted theLive Breakdown LShow, andcommented on thefinal games ofR14 with GM Susan Polgar. Watch thebroadcast below.

Caruana - GrischukGiri 0-1 AlekseenkoDing 1-0 NepomniachtchiMaxime Vachier-Lagrave 1-0 Wang

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Time to say Dubai - World Chess