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Budapest will host the Chess Olympiad in 2024. Its spirit will be summoned during the festival by "The Inspiration Cup - Hand & Brain" tournament with 4 teams of mixed doubles. This form of game is organized for the 2nd time at Judit Polgar’s Global Chess Festival. Just like in the Chess Olympiads, success is based on teamwork and team spirit in Hand & Brain. In the game, one member of the pair calls out a piece, and the other moves it. The format will be knock-out with two single-game semifinals and a two-game final. In case of a draw, Armageddon will decide. Chess Olympic Champion Judit Polgár will also join the program. Commentator: Anna Rudolf (International Master, Woman Grandmaster, streamer).
The Hand & Brain champion team from 2019. Will they defend their title? Sofia Polgár, sister of Judit and Susan, is a chess legend in her own right. She is two times Olympic Champion, International Master, Woman Grandmaster and scored one of the finest individual results of all time winning the ‘Magistrale di Roma’ tournament in 1989 with an astounding 8.5/9! After finishing her professional career, she turned her attention to art and education. Sofia will be teaming up with her husband Grandmaster Yona Kosashvili. Today, Yona is a committed orthopedic surgeon specialist and although he never turned professional, in 1995 he was ranked among top 100 chess players in the world. Yona was crowned Israeli Champion and represented his country in numerous chess Olympiads.
They are the strongest pair by rating but can they show that they are the best? Sopiko Guramishvili is a Georgian-Dutch chess player and commentator, who holds the titles of International Master and Woman Grandmaster. Beyond competing in chess, the former under-16 girls' World Youth Champion has developed online courses and instructional videos. Her partner will be her husband Grandmaster Anish Giri. He is stably the no.1 Dutch player and a top 10 on the world ranking list. He is a unique personality, he is considered the most active on social media among the top players. He not only competes on the highest level but also shares his wisdom and knowledge by creating Chessable Masterclasses on his repertoire.
They are both great fighters and dedicated to winning. Dana Reizneice-Ozola is the current managing director of the International Chess Federation. The Woman Grandmaster, who served as Minister of Economics (2014–2016) and Minister of Finance (2016–2019) of the Republic of Latvia, had several famous victories at the Olympiads. She defeated reigning world champion Hou Yifan at the 42nd Chess Olympiad, at that time Dana was the Minister of Finance of her country. She believes that chess gives exceptional opportunities for social projects and power in education. Her partner will be the president of the European Chess Union, Grandmaster Zurab Azmaiparashvili. He was the coach of former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov between 1987 and 1993, later he trained Judit Polgár as well.
Will they be the strongest team by being the Mindreaders? Time will tell us. Talented 15-year-old Zsóka Gaál started to play chess at age of 3,5 years. She is home-schooled and dedicated to becoming a strong grandmaster. This summer she represented Hungary for the first time at the Chess Olympiad in Chennai, where she has been the best player on the team with 8 victories and 2 losses. Her partner will be her chief coach Grandmaster Gábor Papp, coach and captain of the Hungarian Women's Olympic Team for several years.
