Multiverse

Teams from 163 countries will take part in the first ever Online Chess Olympiad to be held online at chess.com from July 25 to August 30, 2020 under the auspices of the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) in partnership with Gazprom. Most of the world’s chess stars are due to represent their countries, but there will be two notable absentees in Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana. The Olympic Tournament is composed by a group stage followed by a knockout stage. Each team consists of six mixed players, with a minimum quota of three females and two juniors. Teams may have up to six reserves, plus a captain. Time control is 15 minutes + 5 seconds increment per move. Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s début will be in a few weeks — namely, from August 21, when the Top Division group stage takes off.