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 via a sequence of tournaments held solely on Lichess. They’ll have their flights, full board, and lodging in Aktobe coated for them – in addition to a share of a $2,000 prize fund for the web qualifier.

The Lichess qualifier can have three levels. The primary will comprise three open-entry enviornment tournaments, aimed particularly in the 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 might be joined by as much as 5 wildcard gamers.

Lastly, the highest seven finishers from the Swiss match will probably be joined by a wildcard participant, and the qualifier will probably 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 the direction of the web prize fund, a share of which will probably 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 rules

Three first-stage arenas will probably be held on-line. Every enviornment will probably be two hours lengthy, with a time management of three+2. Berserk will probably 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 probably be held for at the very least 45 gamers. This will probably 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 Could, 14:00 UTC

A single-elimination knockout match will probably be held for the highest seven gamers from the Swiss match, plus a Lichess wildcard. The format will probably be two 15+10 fast video games (one with White, one with Black), with two 5+3 blitz video games as tie breaks if crucial, and a closing tie break of a 5 / 4 Armageddon recreation.

• Knockout Stage: Sunday 28 Could, 14:00 UTC

All gamers within the knockout stage will probably be required to affix an internet name with FIDE arbiters. Lichess additionally reserves the best to ask for this at earlier levels.
gamers ought to learn the complete rules fastidiously. All qualifier individuals will probably be assumed to have consented to the rules, which might be discovered right here. 

If you need to be thought of for a wildcard spot for both the Swiss or knockout levels, please full this on-line type. Wildcards will probably be determined based mostly on a mixture of things, together with age, ranking, and present taking part in alternatives. All wildcard selections are closing and made solely on the discretion of Lichess.

In regards to the Kazakhstan Cup

The Kazakhstan Cup is a sequence of tournaments held in Kazakhstan and organised by the Kazakhstan Chess Federation. These qualifier occasions are attainable due to the generosity of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation.

The match held in Aktobe will probably be a nine-round occasion with a time management of 90+30. The complete rules for that occasion can be found in Russian right here.

(Title picture – The Astana Instances)