Exciting Start to 2024 Norway Chess: Ding Liren vs. Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura vs. Fabiano Caruana, and Women’s Tournament Begins
World Champion Ding Liren is set to face former champion Magnus Carlsen in their first classical game at the 2024 Norway Chess tournament starting on Monday in Stavanger. The tournament will also feature defending champion Hikaru Nakamura and 2023 runner-up Fabiano Caruana battling it out for the title and the close to $70,000 first prize.
In a new twist, there will also be a Women’s Norway Chess event with identical prizes, where Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun will take on Vaishali Rameshbabu in round one. Another player to watch in the women’s event is 61-year-old legend Pia Cramling.
The tournament kicks off on Monday, May 27, at 11 a.m. ET / 17:00 CEST / 8:30 p.m. IST. The event will feature some of the world’s best players competing in classical chess with armageddon games after any draws.
Some of the key storylines to watch out for include whether Magnus Carlsen can remember how to play classical chess after a six-month break, if Hikaru Nakamura can defend his title while also streaming from the confessional, and if Ding Liren can avoid finishing in last place after recent struggles.
Additionally, the tournament will explore the concept of equal prize money for both the Open and Women’s events, with the winners of both tournaments taking home around $66,000 each. This move aims to promote women’s chess and encourage more organizations to offer equal prize funds for women’s events.
Other intriguing storylines include Vaishali Rameshbabu’s impressive winning streak coming into the tournament, Pia Cramling’s continued success at 61 years old, and the attempt by Askild Bryn and Odin Blikra Vea to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon during the event.
Overall, the 2024 Norway Chess promises to be an exciting and competitive event with top players from around the world vying for the title and substantial prize money. Fans can expect thrilling games, intense competition, and possibly even a new world record to be set during the tournament.