Chess, often perceived as a battle of wits waged over hours of quiet contemplation, occasionally presents formats that demand speed, stamina, and split-second decision-making across a multitude of boards simultaneously. One such test is the “clock simul,” a variant far more taxing on the single player than its traditional counterpart. Unlike standard simultaneous exhibitions where the central player controls the pace by moving from board to board, in a clock simul, each opponent has their own clock and makes moves independently. The grandmaster, therefore, faces a constant, ticking time pressure from dozens of concurrent games.
Recently, Belgian Grandmaster Daniel Dardha successfully navigated this unique challenge with remarkable efficiency, setting what appears to be a new world record. Dardha faced a formidable field of 50 opponents in this demanding format. His performance was a striking demonstration of rapid tactical acumen and consistent positional judgment under duress.
The final tally of his marathon effort stands at an impressive 43.5 points out of a possible 50. This score was achieved through 40 wins and 7 draws, with only 3 losses. This calculates to an exceptional 87% success rate – a figure that speaks volumes about the level of precision maintained despite the frenetic pace required.
This achievement significantly surpasses the previous benchmark for this specific type of exhibition. The former record holder was Dutch Grandmaster Sipke Ernst, who in November 2022, played against 47 opponents. Ernst`s score was 35 points, equating to a 74% performance. Dardha`s result improves upon both the number of opponents faced and, more importantly, the overall percentage score, raising the bar considerably for future attempts. One might observe that simply adding opponents doesn`t guarantee a higher score; maintaining such a high winning percentage against more players is the true measure of this feat.
The record-breaking event unfolded in the suitably spacious setting of the De Brielpoort concert hall in Deinze. The opponents presented a solid challenge, holding an average Elo rating of 1834. This rating level represents competent club players, capable of exploiting even minor slips – slips that become far more likely when managing fifty clocks simultaneously.
While the chess community acknowledges this extraordinary performance, the record is currently pending official validation. The Belgian Chess Federation has reportedly submitted the necessary documentation to the relevant authorities for confirmation. Should it be ratified, Daniel Dardha`s exhibition will be etched into the record books as a prime example of human capacity for processing complex information and executing under extreme time pressure in the strategic landscape of chess. It serves as a reminder that even in a game of infinite possibilities, records are still there to be broken by those with exceptional skill, speed, and endurance.
