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April 19, 2020 Chess in the era of the coronavirus. All live tournaments stopped (a case of death from the virus), not only the great champions but all the fans poured into the online challenges. Thousands of tournaments are organized on platforms and websites all over the world. Only in Italy has it been calculated, according to Adnkronos, looking at the rankings that around 10,000 chess players are busy playing (although obviously many could play in more tournaments). There are many clubs and organizers who give the opportunity to play (tournaments for everyone, tournaments for Under 18, women's tournaments, team tournaments, etc.) on 'lichess' daily lists.

There are 357 chess clubs in Italy, with around 20,000 members
There are 357 chess clubs in Italy, with around 20,000 members, of which around 1,500 women who are agonists, that is, those who regularly play competitions and tournaments, but then there are at least as many who are members of the Clubs but are not members of the Federation because do not do competitive activity.

In addition, today in Italy chess can also be taught in curricular hours based on the agreements between Miur and Coni, in which Federscacchi falls as officially recognized by Coni as "sports discipline" and about 140 thousand boys have completed this quest. activities. The Chess Federation also turns 100 this year but in all likelihood it will have to postpone the celebrations until next year.

The 'Magnus Carlsen Invitational' stands out worldwide The 'Magnus Carlsen Invitational'
stands out, a tournament organized and sponsored by Magnus Carlsen, the Norwegian reigning world champion, who took 250,000 dollars out of his pocket (70 thousand will go to the first place, 15,000 at the bottom) and invited 7 'friends': Caruana, Ding Liren, Vachier-Lagrave, Giri, Nakamura, Nepomnjaščij and Firouzja, young Iranian '' escaped '' to France (lives in Paris), 17 years in June, new star on the chessboard. Start from 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move. Challenges over 4 games, in case of 2 to 2 playoff with the so-called 'armageddon', in which white has 5 minutes and black 4 for the whole game, but the equal is equal to victory of black. The tournament will continue until May 3.

Match times
The main problem is to find an agreement for match times. For example, the meeting between the Chinese Ding Liren and the American Nakamura will see the Chinese play at 10 in the morning and the American at 10 in the evening. Same thing when the Chinese play Caruana. In his first game Carlsen barely beat Nakamura, prevailing only in 'armageddon'. Note that there is special software that checks that players do not perform too many 'computer' moves, to prevent someone from playing a game program while playing. This software is also used by many other platforms, especially those where there are significant prizes to be won.

'Email'
tournaments organized by Asigc.it There are also 'email' tournaments organized by the Association of Italian Chess Players Correspondence Game (www.asigc.it), unlike what happened once when playing with postcards sent by post, today you play via the internet but with email. The ASIGC also organizes international tournaments and is recognized by the World Correspondence Federation (Iccf) and therefore can assign merit scores and titles (categories) with official value.