By: Lebohang Maluke
MASERU
-The chess pieces have been set, and the journey to global chess supremacy awaits Lesotho. A resilient team of five men and five women, representing the pride and passion of Lesotho, is poised to embark on a historic mission to the 2024 World Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary.
The breadth and depth of the competition reflect the global scope and universal appeal of this cerebral sport, as nations from every corner of the globe unite in a quest for chess excellence.
The Chess Olympiad 2024 unfolds with a thrilling line-up, pitting the world’s foremost chess powers against each other. Chess Olympiad 2024 emerges as a symphony of the world’s finest chess players, with a staggering 196 teams battling for supremacy in the open section and a mighty 184 teams striving for victory in the women’s section.
Lesotho Officials: Phera Moseli, Mphetole Mona, Tšeliso Motloheloa, Tlhoriso Morienyane
Athletes: Karabo Mokete, Mphane Thabang, Lintle Molise, Lieketseng Ngatane, Sechaba Khalema, Motlomelo Lihloela, Tšephe Lebajoa, Boitumelo Sethabathaba, Bonolo Ntsielo, Thetsane Nteboheleng
In the open section, the United States of America, India, China, and Uzbekistan reign supreme as the top seeds, each boasting a list of challenging chess masters.
The respected halls of Budapest, Hungary’s charming capital, reverberate with the sound of seasoned chess masters strategizing their next move. The 45th Chess Olympiad, the brainchild of FIDE, is underway, drawing India’s most accomplished players to the board to contend for the revered gold medals.
Both the Indian men’s and women’s chess teams are dignified to showcase their ability and tactics, striving to secure victory in their respective categories and cement their place in the annals of international chess history.
It is worth repeating that India’s Koneru Humpy, a powerhouse in the women’s chess circuit, will also be absent from the Olympiad. Her absence, coupled with that of Anand, underscores the rising generation of chess players’ eager to claim their place in the sun.
Yet, these titans of the game leave a rich legacy, with their techniques and strategies absorbed by the younger generation. In a development that rings throughout the chess world, India’s Viswanathan Anand, the undisputed titan of the game, has chosen not to represent the nation in the Olympiad’s open category.
The covering has been passed to the youthful prodigy D. Gukesh, fresh from his triumph in the FIDE Candidates 2024 in Canada. Gukesh’s stellar talent and bold style of play, enhanced under the wing of the great Anand himself, make him a formidable leader for India’s open team.
The departure of Viswanathan Anand from India’s open team for the Chess Olympiad is a seismic shift in the world of chess, a tectonic shift that heralds a new era of youthful brilliance.
The heir apparent, D. Gukesh, emerges from the tutelage of Anand himself, a prodigy brimming with potential and a strategic mind that has already won him laurels at the FIDE Candidates 2024 in Canada.
In the women’s section, India leads the charge as the top seed, followed closely by the chess powerhouses of Georgia, Poland, China, and Ukraine. Each team is poised to showcase their tactical acumen and strategic brilliance on the global stage.
The Chess Olympiad 2024 promises to be a grand spectacle, where the world’s finest minds vie for supremacy in a tournament of unparalleled prestige.
The United States of America, a veritable powerhouse in global chess, enters the fray as the top seed in the open section. India, an ever-rising force, follows suit with its array of prodigious talent, led by the brilliant D. Gukesh.
China, a traditional chess powerhouse, sets its sights on the podium with its disciplined and methodical approach to the game.
The Chess Olympiad 2024 will employ the Swiss System format, a method of competition as intricately designed as the game itself.
The tournament will span 11 rounds in both the open and women’s sections, with each team and player facing 11 matches. The merciless pursuit of victory will reward winning teams with two match points, while a draw will yield one point. After 11 gruelling rounds, the team with the most match points will hoist the coveted gold medal. Each game will abide by a rigorous time control, ensuring a frenetic pace and a razor-sharp focus.
The epicenter of global chess competition in 2024 will be the BOK Csarnok events venue in Budapest, Hungary. Surrounded by a rich tapestry of history and culture, the BOK Csarnok events venue will host the 45th Chess Olympiad from September 11 to 22. In this bastion of intellectual prowess, the greatest chess masters of our time will clash in a battle of wits, their every move watched with bated breath by a global audience.