World Team Amateur Rapid Chess Cup

Alongside the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Championships there was a side event in the mornings: the World Amateurs Rapid Chess Cup. The rules are simple: teams of six people will fight it out in two pools over nine rounds. The top three of both pools play the finals. All players, no matter the board, cannot have had a FIDE rating of more than 2000 in any time control at any point in time before registration.

© Michal_Walusza / FIDE - Team A in Action

This served as a great opportunity for Hong Kong players - students, coaches and chess enthusiasts alike - to be part of a proper World Championship and play on the same stage as some of the world's best players. The entire event was invaluable experience for everyone who was part of it.

We joined this event with two teams. Captains Coach Astrid and Coach Eduard were joined by a couple of our top students. For the many promising Caissa students who couldn't join this time: your time will come!

Both teams were put in the same pool. The highly competitive environment took its toll in the very first round when both teams started the tournament with a loss. They immediately bounced back with good wins in the second round. Team A found connection with the top spots with a third round win, while the Team B suffered a second loss.

© Michal_Walusza / FIDE - Team B in action

In the afternoon, many of the players stuck around to watch our Open Team competing with the world's strongest players. For many students, it even turned into a autograph gathering contest!

On the second day Caissa B started with a good statement win to set the mood for the rest of the day. Caissa A lost a very close match. While they scored 2.5/3 on the first three boards against high rated opponents, the last three boards lost against unrated players who turned out to be much stronger than anticipated. Caissa B continued on their good flow winning their second match in a row. Caissa A faced another top team and had to admit defeat once again. In round 6 Caissa A joined Caissa B at three wins and three losses apiece.

© Michal_Walusza / FIDE - Coach David on arbiter duties encouraing Clement and Charles before their game

The last day started really promising with both Caissa Teams adding two victories to their total. In the final test, they faced two of the top teams. They fell just short but still finished on a very respectably 8th (Caissa A) and 10th (Caissa B) place to wrap up the tournament.

We're very happy with the results, the team spirit and the general atmosphere. We hope to be part of many more team events in the future!