FIDE Candidates chess tourney to resume on November 1

Candidates chess tournament to identify challenger for world champion Magnus Carlsen will resume on November 1, International Chess Federation (FIDE) announced on Tuesday. " International Chess Federation is pleased to announce resumption of Candidates Tournament, event that decides who will be challenger to Magnus Carlsen's reign. " 8th round has been scheduled for November 1, 2020,"  FIDE said in a statement on its website.

FIDE Candidates chess tourney to resume

Yekatrinburg in Russia, which hosted tournament in March when it was halted due to COVID-19 outbreak, would still be considered host city with Tbilisi in Georgia as an alternative.

"According to contract, Yekaterinburg, city that organised first round at highest level in March 2020, is still considered as hosting city.

"However, considering epidemiological situation, FIDE has designated a reserve venue: city of Tbilisi, in Georgia, has been officially approved as an alternative, and it is rey to host tournament in same time frame," it said.

tournament, played under a double round-robin format, was suspended after 7th round when Grandmasters Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France) and Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia) were leing with 4.5 points. Since half of games h alrey been played, regulations establish that results stand, rar than having tournament re-started from scratch, FIDE said. Candidates tournament kicked off on March 15 in Yekaterinburg at a very early stage of coronavirus outbreak. 

With only eight participants, event was deemed safe to go ahe under condition that it was played behind closed doors, with no public present at auditorium, and reducing staff to very minimum.  Players, arbiters, and officials were tested for COVID-19 twice a day, statement said. " health and safety measures were very similar to ones currently being applied at US Tennis Open and or sporting events, but at time, all this was uncharted territory," FIDE president Arky Dvorkovich said.

However, event came to an abrupt end as health crisis worsened and forced Russian government to close its borders.

"Today's announcement about resumption of Candidates is anor positive step for chess fans and players. 

" World Championship cycle is one of oldest sports tritions in world, and it is FIDE's duty to protect it and ensure its continuity. 

"This is also a crucial event in order to increase popularity of chess around world," FIDE chief ded.

global governing body's director general Emil Sutovsky said, "Apart from Tbilisi, we are also in touch with or potential host cities from several countries where event could be moved to, in case ditional restrictions reappear in Russia and Georgia."  participants at Candidates tournament are Fabiano Caruana (USA), Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Hao Wang (China), Ding Liren (China), Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia), Anish Giri ( Nerlands), Alekseenko Kirill (Russia) and Alexander Grischuk (Russia). title match has been postponed to 2021. 

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