The Casablanca Chess Variant Rapid Tournament: All you need to know
From May 18-19, 2024, GMs Magnus Carlsen, Viswanathan Anand, Hikaru Nakamura, and Bassem Amin will gather to compete in a rapid tournament showcasing the innovative Casablanca Chess Variant.
Chess has journeyed through centuries, evolving from the classic games of yesteryear to today’s high-tech, meticulously prepared matches. In our digital era, where opening moves are often pre-planned and engines dominate analysis, the room for on-the-spot creativity has shrunk. To revive the spirit of inventive play and in conjunction with the FIDE 100 celebrations, the Casablanca Stock Exchange in partnership with Casa Events & Animation and the Royal Moroccan Chess Federation present the Casablanca Chess Variant.
In this new format, games begin from positions inspired by notable historical matches—some famous, others less so. This setup invites today’s top players to either follow historical strategies or forge new paths. The Casablanca Chess Tournament will feature these intriguing starting positions, with GMs Laurent Fressinet and Hicham Hamdouchi selecting and revealing them before each game.
The tournament will see elite players from across the globe compete in rapid games. Representing Europe is World No.1 and a former World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen. North America will be represented by World No.3 and professional streamer Hikaru Nakamura. From Asia, the five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand will take part. Africa’s strongest Grandmaster, Bassem Amin, will also compete, bringing his extensive experience and numerous titles.
The Casablanca Chess Variant aims to inspire both players and fans by blending the strategic depth of historical chess with the excitement of modern innovations.
