Nigel Short, the British grandmaster and 1993 World Chess Championship contender, is set to participate in a chess tournament at the South Pole, aiming to become the first player to win events on all seven continents. At 61 years old and living in Greece after originally hailing from Bolton, Short will face opponents representing the other inhabited continents in the unique competition.

The event will present notable logistical challenges. Participants must fly from Cape Town, South Africa, on a flight of more than 2,500 miles across the Southern Ocean to reach Antarctica’s interior. From there, competitors will undertake a further seven-hour journey to the South Pole by a small aircraft specially designed for remote polar operations. The tournament is funded by anonymous sponsors.

While some critics have questioned the environmental impact of the expedition and suggested the event may not pose a significant competitive challenge for a player of Short’s caliber, supporters emphasize the physical and mental demands involved in competing under such extreme conditions.

Short, who currently serves as FIDE’s director for chess development, maintains a FIDE rating of 2,594—holding a position close behind top English players Michael Adams and Luke McShane. Despite a drop of about 100 rating points in 2020 and reduced tournament activity since, his rating has remained relatively stable over the past six years.

Recently, Short was considered for the England team at the ongoing Chess Olympiad in Samarkand but was not selected. The No. 2 ranked English player, David Howell, opted to focus on a career in media commentary, while 30-year-old Daniel Fernandez, who has seen a rise in form following a strong international tournament win in the Netherlands, was chosen instead. Fernandez’s current FIDE rating places him 52 points behind Short.

Short’s attempt to complete his record-breaking achievement highlights his ongoing commitment to competitive chess despite the challenges posed by age and reduced regular play. The South Pole tournament is expected to draw attention both for its rarity and the formidable demands it places on the participants.