Tata Steel Challengers 2024 (ENG)
Calling it the “B tournament” might not be entirely out of place, given that the Masters’ level is usually incomparable. Nevertheless, the Challengers always present intriguing elements, encapsulated in the usual mix of ambitious youngsters, seasoned veterans, and competitive female players. The tournament runs from January 13 to 28, concurrently with the Masters, in the renowned (for chess enthusiasts) Dutch town of Wijk aan Zee, situated on the North Sea.
Challengers Participants
Hans Niemann (foto David Llada)
Mustafa Yilmaz
Anton Korobov
Leon Luke Mendonca (foto Shahid Ahmed)
Marc’Andria Maurizzi
Divya Deshmukh (foto Lana Afandiyeva)
Eline Robers
In his first year no longer classified as a “junior,” Hans Niemann continues to attract attention in chess news for some outstanding performances. Somewhat surprisingly, Turkish player Mustafa Yilmaz holds the second spot by rating, reaching his peak Elo at the end of 2023, thanks to an impressive Grand Swiss FIDE performance. Anton Korobov brings experience and creativity, with the consistency of his form yet to be confirmed. Among the younger participants, Marc’Andria Maurizzi (16 years old) claimed the Junior World Championship in 2023 and is consistently progressing, while Leon Luke Mendonca stands out as the highly rated youngest player. In the female category, Divya Deshmukh and Eline Roebers have clear intentions not to be overshadowed, as evidenced by their performances in 2023 tournaments.
Rules
The thirteen rounds of the round-robin format are scheduled from January 13 to 28, with games starting at 14:00, except for the last round commencing at 12:00. Three rest days are scheduled on January 17, 22, and 25. The time control is 100 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 50 minutes for the next 20 moves, and a final 15 minutes to complete the game, with a 30-second increment per move starting from the first move. In case of a tie for the top position, the winner will be determined by the following tiebreak criteria: 1) direct encounter, 2) Sonneborn-Berger, 3) more games played with the black pieces, 4) drawing of lots.
The tournament winner, in accordance with tradition, earns a spot in next year’s Masters.
A Bit of History
The Tata Steel Chess Tournament, as it is known today (having had other names previously), has been held in Wijk aan Zee since 1968. Despite the official website stating this as the 86th edition, it has been the Tata Steel since 2011. Until 2013, three prestigious tournaments (A, B, and C) were held, with Sabino Brunello’s remarkable victory in the C tournament in 2013. From 2014 onward, the tournaments were reduced to two, namely the Masters and the Challengers. The latter was temporarily suspended in 2021 due to the pandemic but resumed in subsequent years. Notable Challengers winners include Wei Yi in 2015 (with a performance rating exceeding 2800 at just 15 and a half years old), Vidit in 2018, Erigaisi in 2022, and Alexander Donchenko in 2023, who has now advanced to the Masters.
Results
