This is world championship season.
Not the overall world championship, the one held by Vishy Anand of India. I’m talking about the other world championships, based on age and gender.
Twelve new champions were crowned last month at the World Youth tournament in Maribor, Slovenia, where they competed in open and girls-only sections in six age categories.
The US was most impressive in the Under-12-year-old open division. Samuel Sevian took the gold and fellow American Cameron Wheeler garnered the silver medals. Also in Maribor, Kayden Troff of the US won the Under-14 open.
Meanwhile, in Kamena Vourla, Greece, 106 players from more than 20 countries fought in the World Senior (over 60) Championship.
Jens Kristiansen of Denmark took first place, with a 9-2 score, and earned the international grandmaster title that goes with it. Jude Acers, a 68-year-old player from New Orleans, tied for 37th place.
And this weekend in Khanty Mansiysk, Russia, the Women’s World Championship, a 64-player knockout, winds up. The winner will defend her title in a match next year against Hou Yifan. Americans Irina Krush and Anna Zatonskih were knocked out in the third and second round, respectively.