ChessKid Partners With FIDE For InterContinental ChessKid FIDE Challenge

Update: More than 1900 kids played from 86 countries! The event was a smashing success and ChessKid is currently doing all of its fair play checks. Check back on January 28 to see who won the raffle for all of the great prizes. THANK YOU to all of the players, parents, coaches and FIDE officials who helped make this event a success.

Here's the preliminary final crosstables before fair-play review (must be logged in to view):

Announcing the first-ever global ChessKid tournament that's recognized by the International Chess Federation! The first-ever Intercontinental ChessKid FIDE Challenge will take place January 23, 2021 and is open to any child aged 12 and below on Earth or in any place in the Milky Way galaxy!

This will be the largest ChessKid event in history and the first time that FIDE, the International Chess Federation, has partnered with ChessKid. We're expecting more than 1000 kids from dozens of countries to compete.

 

To register, click here for the earlier "Eastern Edition" (beginning at 9am UK) or click here for the later "Western Edition" (beginning at 9am Pacific U.S.).

 

Intercontinental ChessKid FIDE Challenge

The event will take place entirely on the ChessKid live server with fantastic prizes, including group lessons with former world champions Vishy Anand and Alexandra Kosteniuk, and current world rapid champion Humpy Koneru. (ChessKid reserves the right to change teachers based on languages of the winners, time zones, and other factors.)

To best accommodate as many time zones as possible, there will be two distinct tournaments, both taking place on January 23, 2021. Children are eligible to play in either one, or both, whichever is more convenient for you.

Both will have fun and insightful commentary on Chess.com/TV with FunMasterMike and other famous chess commentators and guests.

FIDE

Every single kid aged 12 and under on all seven continents is eligible to join. Although we don't know if there are any 10-year-old scientists living at the South Pole for winter, if your internet connection is decent, you can play, too! For those living on Mars by then, please add about 15 minutes to each time for radio signals to get back and forth. For Pluto, add 4.5 hours 

The time control will be 10+2 (10 minutes starting time plus 2 seconds added per move) and each of the two editions will be 7 rounds. The expected length for each tournament is three hours.

Each of the two editions will be played in two sections: Ages 9-12 and 8 & Under. Ages are as of January 1, 2021. ChessKid and FIDE reserve the right to ask for proof of age upon qualification for any prize.

The Intercontinental ChessKid FIDE Challenge will be focused mostly on participation and fun, but of course who doesn't like prizes? As such, the top prizes will be awarded in a unique way to take pressure off of kids.

Prizes!

In the spirit of participation, every child will have a chance to win prizes!

For every half point earned, a player receives one "raffle ticket" into a drawing. For every win, a ChessKid receives two "raffle tickets" into the drawing. In addition, any player finishing the tournament receives a bonus raffle ticket.

For example, a player finishing with 4.5/7 receives 9+1=10 raffle tickets. A player with 6.0/7 receives 12+1=13 raffle tickets. 

Upon the conclusion of each tournament, raffle tickets will be drawn for these prizes:

The drawings for both events will take place on January 28, 2021 and winners will be informed via their email address on file. You may only win one prize, so once you win any prize, you are not eligible for a second prize. 

Registration

Warm Up Event

There will be an Eastern edition and a Western edition warm up event on Saturday, January 16, 2021. The Eastern edition warm up event begins at 9am UK/10am CET/2:30pm India/8:00pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (Sydney). Note: This is 4:00am EST on the registration form. The Western edition warm up event begins at 9am Pacific/12pm Eastern/5pm UK/6pm CET. 

It is highly encouraged for kids to play and practice using the site. This tournament will be 5 rounds of 5+1 and will only take one hour. (There are no prizes -- the intention is to test your computer, internet, and get used to registering and playing in an event.)

Registration on or before January 10, 2021 is highly encouraged so that you are eligible to play in the warm up event on January 16.

Fair Play

ChessKid and FIDE expect that all children and their families will abide by the rules governing fair play. Both the child and the parent/guardian will have to agree to our fair play policies when registering for the event.

This is what will be agreed to upon registering for the event:

 

Good luck to everyone and we hope kids from all over the world enjoy the challenge. Let's try to get 50+ countries participating!

To register, click here for the earlier "Eastern Edition" (beginning at 9am UK) or click here for the later "Western Edition" (beginning at 9am Pacific U.S.).