Learn with Leela!
The Leela Chess Zero team has started a new training run (T60) with a bigger network and other changes. You can find more info on the Leela blog post about the specific changes.
Young Blood
Yesterday's Titled Arena got off to a quick start, and to no-one's great surprise Magnus Carlsen (@DrNykterstein) took an early lead, stringing together 13 wins - maybe this is what happens when you forsake 1. g4? Also with a strong start was GM Daniel Naroditsky (@RebeccaHarris), with 11/11. The anticipated meeting of the two leaders was a very surprising King's Gambit - a theme to continue throughout the tournament for this pairing. The second of their pairings lead to the impressive victory including 14. Kxe4. However, their first result was a draw, extinguishing both leaders' fire and giving the rest of the field a chance to catch up. After the first 30 minutes, Carlsen was out in front, followed by Naroditsky and the 16 year old Iranian GM Alireza Firouzja (@alireza2003).
Titled Arena Announcement
Another instalment of the Lichess Titled Arena! Come and watch some high-octane chess on Saturday the 13th July at 19:00UTC.
Lichess Montréal Meetup Recap
This past Saturday, Lichess held its second Montréal meetup in the beautiful Mount Royal Park. The sun was shining and the chess fans were out in force, playing some casual blitz, rapid and even bughouse, as well as a 3+2 tournament organised by @Toscani (who also kindly provided most of the boards and clocks). Over the course of the afternoon, around 60 people stopped by, until eventually the forecast rain drove us inside towards the end of the schedule.
2019 Summer Marathon
The largest blitz chess tournament on earth is starting soon!
Don't Try This At Home
Now that we're past the longest day of the year, we needed something to help us survive as the nights are drawing in. Fortunately, there was a Titled Arena to occupy our attention as 325 titled players gathered to duke it out in 1+0. The usual suspects were there in force such as: GMs Magnus Carlsen (@DrNykterstein), Andrew Tang (@penguingim1) and Oleksandr Bortnyk (@Night-King96); as well as a scattering of very strong mystery masters and some less frequent participants like GM Eric Hansen (@chessbrahs) and new participant GM Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa (@Praggnanandhaachess).
Speculation was rampant as there was no Magnus when things kicked off, but he was just being fashionably late - allowing GM @msb2 to take an early lead with three quick wins. A lead not fated to last however, and 30 minutes in Eric Hansen was out in front, closely followed by IM Saveliy Golubov (@Boss1005), the anonymous GMs @LyinTed and @Watneg, and speed-master GM Andrew Tang. Just a few minutes later though, the standings were completely rearranged - needless to say things were close at the top. Magnus was closing in now though, with some masterclasses in having an active king.
Lichess Meetup: Montreal, June 29th
[EDIT: There is some chance of rain on Saturday. The plan is still to meet outside near Smith House in case of clear skies. If there is rain we will head down the hill to the Café des Amis in the Pavillon du Lac-aux-Castor. ]
Norway Chess – Armageddon Master Carlsen Moves Ahead
Six classical games, five draws, five Armageddon wins, tournament domination.
Titled Arena Announcement
It's back again, the Lichess Titled Arena! Join us for some world class bullet fun on Saturday the 22nd June at 19:00UTC.
Anand Retains Norway Chess title – at cooking
The seventh edition of the Norway Chess tournament in Stavanger is no ordinary super-tournament.