The 2024 World Senior Championship have come to an end in Porto Santo, the Golden Island of the Atlantic Ocean. After 11 thrilling rounds, four champions were crowned. They were Alerxander Shabalov (United States) in the +50s, Rainer Knaak (Germany) in the +65s, Masha Klinova (Israel) in the +50s and Brigitte Buerchardt in the +65s.
In the absolute +50 category, after a very close championship that brought together 15 grandmasters, Shabalov won the final sprint against Poland’s Michal Krasenkow. The two grandmasters finished tied on 8.5 points, but the American benefited from a better tie-break to take home the crown.
Interestingly, in the match between the two, played in the fifth round, Shabalov missed the chance to win a rook ending, but had to settle for a draw.
In the 11th round, Shabalov beat compatriot and fellow grandmaster Gregory Kaidanov, while Krasenkow, who led the tournament for many rounds, was held to a draw by German grandmaster Frank Holzke.
Third place on the podium went to Israeli grandmaster Victor Mikhalevski, who finished on his own with 8 points and was one of the great entertainers of the tournament.
The best Portuguese in the +50 was international master Sérgio Rocha, in 29th with 6 points.
Dominating the 65+ category was German grandmaster Rainer Kaak, who finished in sole lead with 8.5 points. Number 2 at the start of the competition, Knaak moved into the lead in the ninth round after beating Lubomir Ftacnik and never let go of first place.
Israeli international master Alexander Mikhalevski (Victor’s brother, in the +50 category) was second with 7 points, the same as third-placed Slovak grandmaster Lubomir Ftacnik.
Of particular note was the great performance of Portuguese FIDE master António Pereira dos Santos, who finished in a brilliant fifth place, as he was only number 23 at the start. The Portuguese player closed the tournament on a high note by beating Brazilian grandmaster Jaime Sunye Neto.
The women’s tournament brought together the +50 and +65 age categories and the best of the 36 players was Israeli international master Masha Klinova, who totalled 8 points, the same as another international master, Frenchwoman Silvia Alexieva.
In third place was women’s grandmaster Tatyana Grabuzova (Spain), rounding off a podium made up entirely of +50s.
Finishing 10th, women’s international master Brigitte Burchardt (Germany) won the +65 title ahead of the renowned Nona Gaprindashvili (Georgia), a living legend of world chess who, at 83, still moves the pieces brilliantly.
Third in the 65+ category was Tatyana Bogumil, playing under the FIDE flag.
The Seniors World Championships, organised by the Portuguese Chess Federation with the support of FIDE, brought together two hundred players and were a success, combining the technical quality of the tournaments and their members with the unique atmosphere of the island of Porto Santo, known as the Golden Island, a paradise in the Atlantic Ocean.
Results and full rankings at:
+ 50 years: +50 classification
+65 years: +65 classification
Women’s tournament: Women’s Tournament Classification
