King Salman FIDE World Rapid Championships 2018

The King Salman FIDE World Rapid Championship - Open and Women will be held in St. Petersburg, Russia from 26-28 December. They are 15 round swiss tournaments with a prize fund of $150,000.
The time control is 15+10. In a case of a tie there will be a blitz playoff between the 1st two players.

The Open features top players as Magnus Carlsen, Nakamura Hikaru, Artemiev Vladislav, Fedoseev Vladimir, Aronian Levon, Mamedyarov Shakhriyar, Wang Hao, Karjakin Sergey, Nepomniachtchi Ian, Harikrishna Pentala etc.

In the Womens' competition take part Anna Muzychuk, Wenjun Ju , Tingjie Lei, Alexandra Kosteniuk,  Kateryna Lagno, Nana Dzagnidze, Elisabeth Paehtz, Tatiana Kosintseva,  Mariya Muzychuk, Dronavalli Harika etc.

Official site

Schedule in UTC:
Round 1    Dec 26, 2018    12:00 
Round 2    Dec 26, 2018    13:15 
Round 3    Dec 26, 2018    14:30 
Round 4    Dec 26, 2018    15:45 
Round 5    Dec 26, 2018    17:00 
Round 6    Dec 27, 2018    12:00 
Round 7    Dec 27, 2018    13:15 
Round 8    Dec 27, 2017    14:30 
Round 9    Dec 27, 2018    15:45 
Round 10    Dec 27, 2018    17:00 
Round 11    Dec 28, 2018    12:00 
Round 12    Dec 28, 2018    13:15 
Round 13    Dec 28, 2018    14:30 
Round 14    Dec 28, 2018    15:45 
Round 15    Dec 28, 2018    17:00

Daniil Dubov with an undefeated score of 11/15,  won the World Rapid Championship in St. Petersburg.  Ju Wenjun with 10/12  retained her world rapid title and earned $40,000. Congratulations!

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Watch the games of the King Salman FIDE World Rapid Championship - Open and Women with computer analysis on ChessBomb.

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Read PeterDoggers's article at Chess.com
Daniil Dubov, Ju Wenjun Win World Rapid Chess Championships
World Rapid Chess Championship Day 2: 7-Way Tie; Anand, Carlsen Close Behind
Carlsen Loses 2 Games On World Rapid Chess Championship Day 1
World Rapid, Blitz Championships Officially Opened; Carlsen To Start With Black

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You can see games from previous issues of the tournament with computer analysis at ChessBomb:
King Salman FIDE World Rapid Championships 2017

Shamkir Chess - Gashimov Memorial 2018

The Shamkir Chess 2018 is a 10-player single round-robin held in memory of Vugar Gashimov. The 5th edition of the tournament in Shamkir, Azerbaijan runs from 19-28 April 2018 and features World Champion Magnus Carlsen and the winner for the last two years, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. The total prize fund is €100,000, with €25,000 for first place. Players receive 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, 60 minutes for the next 20 moves and then 15 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30 seconds per move increment starting from move 61. A rapid playoff will take place in case of a tie for first place.

Official site

Schedule: (UTC)

Round 1    Apr 19, 2018    11:00 
Round 2    Apr 20, 2018    11:00 
Round 3    Apr 21, 2018    11:00 
Round 4    Apr 22, 2018    11:00 
Round 5    Apr 23, 2018    11:00 
Round 6    Apr 25, 2018    11:00 
Round 7    Apr 26, 2018    11:00 
Round 8    Apr 27, 2018    11:00 
Round 9    Apr 28, 2018    10:00   

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Watch the games of the Shamkir Chess 2018 with computer analysis LIVE on ChessBomb.

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You can see games from previous issues of the tournament with computer analysis at ChessBomb:
Shamkir Chess  2017
Shamkir Chess  2016
Shamkir Chess  2015 
Shamkir Chess  2014 

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Previous blog post on Shamkir Chess.

51st Iranian Men Chess Championship-Final, 2018

The 51st Iranian Men Chess Championship-Final is held from 9th to 18th of March in Bushehr, Iran.

Time control: 40moves in 90 min. then 30 min. till the end plus 30 sec. increments from move 1

the first players in the start list are: Maghsoodloo Parham (Golestan),  Tabatabaei M. Amin (Tehran) and  Firouzja Alireza (Mazandaran).

Official site

Schedule: (UTC)
Round 1     2018/03/09    13:30
Round 2     2018/03/10    13:30
Round 3     2018/03/11    13:30
Round 4     2018/03/12    13:30
Round 5     2018/03/13    06:00
Round 6     2018/03/13    13:30
Round 7     2018/03/14    13:30
Round 8     2018/03/15    13:30
Round 9     2018/03/16    13:30
Round 10    2018/03/17   13:30
Round 11    2018/03/18    06:00

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Watch the games of the Iranian Championship Final 2018  with computer analysis LIVE on ChessBomb.

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U.S. and U.S. Women’s Chess Championships to be Held at the Saint Louis Chess Club

Tenth consecutive year for Saint Louis to host U.S. and U.S. Women’s Championships   SAINT LOUIS (January 8, 2018) — For the tenth consecutive year, the Saint Louis Chess Club will host the U.S. Chess Championship and U.S. Women’s Chess Championship. Since the 2009 Championships, the Chess Club has awarded more than two million dollars in prize money, with an additional $294,000 on the line for this year’s 24 competitors. When: April 18-30, 2018 Who: The 2018 U.S. Chess Championship will include the defending 2017 U.S. Champion — Grandmaster Wesley So, 2017 U.S. Junior Champion — International Master Awonder Liang, and 2017 U.S. Open Champion — Grandmaster Alex Lenderman, along with one wildcard and 8 players who qualify based on their United States Chess Federation (USCF) rating. The 2018 U.S. Women’s Chess Championship will include defending 2017 U.S Women’s Champion — Woman Grandmaster Sabina Foisor, 2017 U.S. Girls’ Champion — Women’s International Master Akshita Gorti, two wildcards, and 8 players who qualify by USCF rating. Where: Saint Louis Chess Club, 4657 Maryland Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63108 Event Details: Information will be available at uschesschamps.com. Spectators will be able to enjoy world class commentary live at uschesschamps.com or by visiting the Saint Louis Chess Club located in the heart of the historic Central West End. Tickets will be $10/day and include access to watch games live in the tournament hall, as well as live commentary provided at Kingside Diner. Complimentary valet parking also provided for spectators and media. About the Saint Louis Chess Club  The Saint Louis Chess Club is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to making chess an important part of our community. In addition to providing a forum for the community to play tournaments and casual games, the club also offers chess improvement classes, beginner lessons and special lectures. Recognizing the cognitive and behavioral benefits of chess, the Saint Louis Chess Club is committed to supporting those chess programs that already exist in area schools while encouraging the development of new in-school and after-school programs. For more information, visit www.saintlouischessclub.org.  Saint Louis Chess Club | Building Champions 4657 Maryland Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63108 | (314) 361-CHESS (2437) The Saint Louis Chess Club acknowledges Dr. Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield, whose generous support makes our tournaments possible. The CCSCSL and WCHOF admit students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational & admissions policies, scholarship & loan programs, and athletic & other school-administered programs. © 2018 Saint Louis Chess Campus. All rights reserved.