AlphaZero to analyse “no-castling” match of the champions

For the first time, the internationally-renowned chess tournament Dortmund Chess Days will host a special match between legends Vladimir Kramnik and Viswanathan Anand playing the "No-Castling" chess format. The rich, creative possibilities of this chess variant were recently explored by the ground-breaking artificial intelligence system AlphaZero, created by world-leading AI company DeepMind. Online audiences will now get to experience novel AlphaZero insights first hand in the post match-commentary of the no-castling tournament, as part of DeepMind’s support for Dortmund Chess Days. Demis Hassabis, DeepMind Founder and CEO, says: "It’s been incredibly exciting to see world-class players like Vladimir Kramnik use AlphaZero to explore new possibilities for the game of chess. I’m looking forward to seeing two former world champions play the no castling variant in Dortmund and hope the games - and AlphaZero’s insights - inspire chess players everywhere”.

German grandmaster completes the field of 10 participants

He is 21 years old, already has a number of successes to his name and has passed the magic 2600 mark with his FIDE rating: Dmitrij Kollars, who is looking forward to his first appearance at the Sparkassen Chess Trophy in July. He was already awarded the grandmaster title in 2017 and has also been active in the German Bundesliga for several years. Last year, the professional chess player was able to play only few tournaments at the board, but won the strong Claus Dieter Meyer Memorial Tournament in Bremen in October. His last appearance at the "DSB-Kader-Challenge" was also successful, so Kollars will go into the Dortmund tournament quite optimistic. 

So the ten participants are fixed: Deutschland Grand Prix - Sparkassen Chess Trophy 2021 (sparkassen-chess-trophy.de)

The draw of the lots for the rounds will also take place shortly so that the players can prepare specifically for the tournament.

Chess world looks forward to exciting games in Dortmund 2021

The fields of participants for the three events of the Sparkassen Chess Trophy 2021 are fixed and we reported. The draw of the lots has now taken place, this year only as an online draw due to the pandemic. This has the advantage that the draw was completely recorded and can be found here: 

YouTube

In the first No Castling Match, Vishy Anand will start the first game with White and it is of particular suspense how both sides will open this match on 14 July. 
Furthermore, the complete pairings for the NC World Masters, the Deutschland Grand Prix and the Sportland NRW Cup can now be found on the respective tournament page.

Exciting field of participants and norm chances in the 9-round tournament

As already announced, there will be a second top-class round robin tournament in addition to the Deutschland Grand Prix, which opens up opportunities for young German talents in particular to fight for coveted norms for the title of International Master. For this, one Grandmaster, two International Masters and 7 aspiring youngsters are at the start.

1. GM Mihael Saltaev, UZB, 2480, three Olympiads for Uzbekistan, Bundesliga player
2. IM Dennes Abel, GER, 2462, Bundesliga player
3. IM Thomas Beerdsen, NED, 2453, Bundesliga player
4. FM Ruben Gideon Köllner, GER, 2407, German Champion U16 2020
5. FM Oliver, Stork, GER, 2394, German Champion U18 2020
6. FM Alexander Krastev, GER, 2340, German Champion U14 2019, Team European Champion U18 2019
7. FM Marius Deuer, GER, 2283, 3rd place German Championship U16 2020
8. Sreyas Payyappat, IND, 2215, German Champion U12 2020
9. WFM Alessia Ciolacu, ROU, 2154, European Team Champion U18w 2018, Romanian Women's Champion 2021
10. Moritz Runte, GER, 2133, NRW Champion U18 2019, Winner German country Championship 2020

Picture: Alessia Ciolacu at the award ceremony for the Romanian Women's Championship