Games Without Losers

The drawing of lots for the inaugural Online Nations Cup, a six-team tournament held May 5–10, just went live at https://www.chess.com/. The pairings for round one are as follows: Europe vs. Russia China vs. Rest of the World India vs. United States Among the many features of interest are the royal comeback on the worldwide broadcast of four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and world woman No. 1 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), and the behind-the scenes rivalry between FIDE President Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich and 13th World Chess Champion Garry Kimovich Kasparov as captains of two “meta-nations”, Rest of the World and Europe, respectively. Furthermore, the plot includes a family subrivalry between Anna Olehivna Muzychuk and Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk, whose hearts beat for the Old Europe and the Whole rest of the World, respectively. Last but not least, three-time Women’s World Champion 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) (China’s reserve team), and two-time Russian Women’s Chess Champion Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina (Russia’s fourth board) can finally give free vent to their pride and prejudice as they enjoy the spotlight of such a gender quota success story.