Beginning 17 June, the riverside metropolis of Aktobe in western Kazakhstan will host a nine-round classical open match with a whopping $50,000 prize fund up for grabs.
One fortunate participant can qualify by way of a collection of tournaments held solely on Lichess. They are going to have their flights, full board, and lodging in Aktobe lined for them – in addition to a share of a $2,000 prize fund for the net qualifier.
The Lichess qualifier can have three phases. The primary will comprise three open-entry enviornment tournaments, aimed particularly in direction of the timezones of North and South America, Europe, and Central Asia / India.
The highest 15 gamers from every enviornment will then play a single 11-round Swiss match, the place they could be joined by as much as 5 wildcard gamers.
Lastly, the highest seven finishers from the Swiss match will likely be joined by a wildcard participant, and the qualifier will likely be decided by single-elimination knockout fast matches.
Everybody who makes it to the knockout stage will obtain a share of a $2,000 prize fund.
Prize fund
The Kazakhstan Chess Federation has contributed $2,000 in direction of the net prize fund, a share of which will likely be awarded to everybody who qualifies to the knockout stage of the qualifier, damaged down as follows:
- 1st – $500 and flights, full board and lodging to the Aktobe Open, with a ~$50,000 whole prize fund on provide (round $10,000 to first place).
- 2nd – $500
- third and 4th – $250 every
- fifth to eighth – $125 every
Schedule and laws
Three first-stage arenas will likely be held on-line. Every enviornment will likely be two hours lengthy, with a time management of three+2. Berserk will likely be allowed. The highest 15 gamers from every enviornment will qualify to the second stage. Gamers might enter a number of arenas so long as they haven’t already certified.
Within the second stage, a single Swiss match will likely be held for at the very least 45 gamers. This will likely be an 11-round match with a time management of 5+3. The highest seven gamers from the match will qualify for the third (knockout) stage.
- Swiss Qualifier: Saturday 27 Might, 14:00 UTC
A single-elimination knockout match will likely be held for the highest seven gamers from the Swiss match, plus a Lichess wildcard. The format will likely be two 15+10 fast video games (one with White, one with Black), with two 5+3 blitz video games as tie breaks if obligatory, and a closing tie break of a 5 / 4 Armageddon recreation.
- Knockout Stage: Sunday 28 Might, 14:00 UTC
All gamers within the knockout stage will likely be required to hitch a web-based name with FIDE arbiters. Lichess additionally reserves the proper to ask for this at earlier phases.
gamers ought to learn the total laws rigorously. All qualifier contributors will likely be assumed to have consented to the laws, which may be discovered right here.
If you need to be thought of for a wildcard spot for both the Swiss or knockout phases, please full this on-line type. Wildcards will likely be determined based mostly on a mix of things, together with age, ranking, and present enjoying alternatives. All wildcard choices are closing and made solely on the discretion of Lichess.
Concerning the Kazakhstan Cup
The Kazakhstan Cup is a collection of tournaments held in Kazakhstan and organised by the Kazakhstan Chess Federation. These qualifier occasions are doable due to the generosity of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation.
The match held in Aktobe will likely be a nine-round occasion with a time management of 90+30. The total laws for that occasion can be found in Russian right here.
(Title picture – The Astana Occasions)