Six Continents Converge on the South Pole for Extreme Chess Tournament

The field features a diverse group of federation officials and competitors, including English Grandmaster Nigel Short, who famously challenged Garry Kasparov for the World Championship in 1993. Short is joined by Candidate Master Aung Kyaw Moe (Myanmar), Woman FIDE Master Damaris Abarca González (Chile), Woman International Master Jesse February (South Africa), FIDE Master Shaun Press (Papua New Guinea), and Woman Candidate Master Tris-Ann Richards (Saint Lucia).

The project originated from a casual observation by Short regarding his missing Antarctic victory. Aung Kyaw Moe transformed the concept into a logistical reality by coordinating with federations across six continents. While the tournament will feature rapid time controls and live broadcasts, the players acknowledge that the extreme environment presents a unique hurdle. Shaun Press, representing Oceania, noted that the weather itself may prove a more formidable opponent than the players sitting across the board. The expedition serves as both a sporting endeavor and a symbolic milestone for the participants, with Tris-Ann Richards highlighting that the event aims to demonstrate that chess knows no geographic ceilings.