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☆ Gukesh Dommaraju: Indian teenager becomes youngest challenger for world chess title, will face reigning champion from China
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Andrew Mcnicol | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Teenage Indian chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju, better known as Gukesh D, became the youngest player to claim the men’s Candidates Tournament in Toronto, Canada Sunday. The 17-year-old grandmaster’s win sets up an opportunity to dethrone reigning world champion Ding Liren of China at the 2024 World Chess Championship later this year. Gukesh is set to become the youngest player ever to challenge for a world chess title. China’s Tan Zhongyi won the women’s Challenger category to qualify for a world title match against compatriot and reigning world champion Ju Wenjun – date also unknown. Gukesh is the second Indian to play in a world championship after legendary Indian player Viswanathan “Vishy” Anand.

Persons: Gukesh Dommaraju, Ding Liren, Ding, Garry Kasparov’s, Gukesh, Hikaru Nakamura, “, ” Gukesh, ”, Kasparov, ” Kasparov, Narendra Modi, Gukesh’s, Magnus Carlsen, China’s Tan Zhongyi, Ju, Rameshbabu, Carlsen, “ Pragg, Viswanathan “ Vishy ” Anand, Anand, “ I’m, ” Anand Organizations: CNN, International Chess Federation, FIDE, Indian Locations: Toronto, Canada, China, Russian, Asia, Britain, India, Vaishali

☆ Inside $9 billion WorldQuant's 15-year anniversary celebration in the Bahamas, with talks from Arnold Schwarzenegger, performances by David Blaine, and a $100,000 chess tournament
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Bradley Saacks | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Baha Mar resort in Nassau was full of quants, engineers, and data scientists the week before Christmas. One session featured Boston Dynamics founder Marc Raibert speaking on robotics and artificial intelligence with the firm's robot dog, Spot, next to him. Chess champion Magnus Carlsen came to play with teams from 12 different countries playing to win a $100,000 grand prize. But for those at WorldQuant looking forward to relaxing, the resort has plenty of options. Entertainment during the week also included a performance from David Blaine, the well-known illusionist.

Persons: Izzy Englander's, Igor Tulchinsky, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Malcolm Gladwell, Stan McChrystal, Marc Raibert, Magnus Carlsen, Baha, David Blaine Organizations: Baha, Business, US Army, Boston Dynamics, Hyatt, Entertainment Locations: Nassau, Bahamas, Connecticut

☆ Inside $9 billion WorldQuant's 15-year anniversary celebration in the Bahamas, with talks from Arnold Schwarzenegger and Malcolm Gladwell, plus performances from David Blaine
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Bradley Saacks | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Baha Mar resort in Nassau was full of quants, engineers, and data scientists the week before Christmas. Attendees heard speakers such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, author Malcolm Gladwell, and retired US Army Gen. Stan McChrystal speak on different topics, including the future of technology and history. One session featured Boston Dynamics founder Marc Raibert speaking on robotics and artificial intelligence with the firm's robot dog, Spot, next to him. But for those at WorldQuant looking forward to relaxing, the resort has plenty of options. Entertainment during the week also included a performance from David Blaine, the well-known illusionist.

☆ Magnus Carlsen defeated twice in same tournament by French grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —French grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave defeated world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in two matches as he won the 2023 AI Cup and qualified for the upcoming Champions Chess Tour Finals. By winning the first match, Vachier-Lagrave forced a Grand Final “Reset” and he took victory in both games of the second match too. Carlsen went for a queen sacrifice in the first game of the second match but his gamble ultimately failed as Vachier-Lagrave took victory. In the second game of the second match, however, it seemed as if Carlsen was regaining his form and salvaging his position before Vachier-Lagrave went for a bishop sacrifice that turned the game on its head.

Persons: CNN —, Maxime Vachier, Lagrave, Magnus Carlsen, Carlsen, “ I’m, ” Carlsen, “, Maxime, ” Maxime Vachier, Waleed Zein, victoires, ”, that’s Organizations: CNN, Frenchman, Anadolu Agency Locations: Toronto

☆ Hans Niemann: Chess grandmaster ‘categorically’ denies using vibrating sex toys to cheat in the sport
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

When he was pressed by Morgan if he had used such toys “while playing chess,” Niemann replied: “Well, your curiosity is a bit concerning, you know - maybe you’re personally interested, but I can tell you, no. The accusations of cheating aimed at Niemann evolved into a scandal which gripped the world of chess over the last year. Niemann then filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit against Chess.com, Carlsen and popular streamer and player Hikaru Nakamura. As a result, online chess sites, like Chess.com, have developed anti-cheating technology to detect when players are using outside computer software during games in an attempt to curb foul play. While FIDE is battling to combat online cheating, there has been a level of purity to over-the-board chess with cheating proving to be much more difficult.

Persons: Hans Niemann, Piers Morgan, Niemann, ”, it’s, Morgan, ” Niemann, you’re, Magnus Carlsen, “, Carlsen, St . Louis, Chess.com, Hikaru Nakamura, Magnus, Niemann –, –, they’ve, Andy Howie, haven’t Organizations: CNN, New York Times, Louis Chess Club, Chess.com, ” CNN, FIDE Locations: Norwegian, St ., Chess.com, Stockfish

☆ Hans Niemann reinstated by Chess.com, vows to become ‘best chess player in the world’ after alleged cheating scandal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —American chess grandmaster Hans Niemann has been reinstated by Chess.com following the conclusion of a legal dispute between Niemann, Magnus Carlsen and the online platform, among others. In June, a US judge dismissed a $100 million defamation lawsuit filed by Niemann against Chess.com, five-time world champion Carlsen, and popular streamer and player Hikaru Nakamura. This followed an alleged cheating scandal surrounding Niemann which rocked the sport last year. “I am pleased that my lawsuit against Magnus Carlsen and Chess.com has been resolved in a mutually acceptable manner, and that I am returning to Chess.com,” Niemann said in a video posted on X, formerly Twitter. According to Niemann’s dismissed lawsuit, the dispute began in September 2022 when then world champion Carlsen accused Niemann of cheating at the Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis, Missouri.

Persons: Hans Niemann, Niemann, Magnus Carlsen, Chess.com, Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, ”, Hans, ” Chess.com, “, ” Niemann, Magnus, Niemann’s, José Mourinho, ” Carlsen, Pavel Mikheyev, Julius Baer, Nakamura Organizations: CNN, Chess.com, Niemann, Louis Chess Club, YouTube Locations: American, Chess.com, St, Louis , Missouri, Kazakhstan

☆ Chess-Carlsen and Niemann settle dispute over cheating claims
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Magnus Carlsen of Norway sits in front of a chess board during a game. Chess.com banned Niemann and later published a report saying he had likely cheated more than 100 times in online games. Niemann has admitted to cheating online when he was 12 and 16-years-old, but denied any wrongdoing while contesting over-the-board games. Weeks after the Sinquefield Cup, Carlsen refused to play in an online game against Niemann, opting instead to resign after just one move. "I am willing to play Niemann in future events, should we be paired together."

Persons: Magnus Carlsen of Norway, Pavel Mikheyev, Norway's Magnus Carlsen, Hans Niemann, Niemann, Carlsen, Chess.com, Hikaru Nakamura, Magnus, Weeks, Hritika Sharma, Peter Rutherford Organizations: FIDE, REUTERS, Sinquefield, American, Thomson Locations: Almaty, Kazakhstan, U.S, St, Louis , Missouri, Hyderabad

☆ Magnus Carlsen defeats Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa to become Chess World Cup champion
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Magnus Carlsen defeated Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa in a tiebreak to become Chess World Cup champion on Thursday. The Norwegian grandmaster has now won every major individual classical chess tournament and, as Chess.com puts it, “completes chess” with his victory in Baku, Azerbaijan. In said tiebreak – which took the format of a two-game rapid match – Carlsen showed why he is the reigning World Rapid Champion and world No. For Pragg, the World Cup was somewhat of a breakthrough onto the top table of the sport. Ding’s victory ended the reign of five-time champion Carlsen, who had decided not to defend his title earlier this year.

Persons: CNN — Magnus Carlsen, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, Carlsen, “, ” It’s, – Carlsen, outmaneuvering, Pavel Mikheyev, Pragg –, –, Ding Liren Organizations: CNN, Rapid, Reuters Locations: Norwegian, Baku, Azerbaijan, China

CNN —Millions in India will be cheering on the teen chess prodigy known as Pragg as he takes on Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen for the title of World Chess Champion on Tuesday. Born and raised in Chennai in southern India, Praggnanandhaa took an interest in the game after his older sister, Vaishali, started playing at age 6. Then, in 2016, he created history after winning his ninth round game at the KIIT International Chess Festival in Bhubaneswar, India. Arun Sankar/AFP/Getty Images/FilePraggnanandhaa earned his third international master norm, an achievement handed out for high level of performance in a tournament. Having earned two previous norms already, at the age of 10 years, 10 months and 19 days, he became an international chess master – the youngest ever.

Persons: Magnus Carlsen, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, Fabiano Caruana, Praggnanandhaa, Carlsen, Narendra Modi, Sachin Tendulkar, ” Praggnanandhaa, Vaishali, Andrzej Iwanczuk, “, Arun Sankar, ” Organizations: CNN, CNN Sport, Bloom, KIIT, Getty Locations: India, Baku, Azerbaijan, Chennai, Vaishali, Warsaw, Poland, Bhubaneswar, Indian, “

☆ Magnus Carlsen headlines new chess tournament ‘to scale the game to a billion fans’
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Ben Church | Coy Wire | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The inaugural Global Chess League (GCL), which got underway in Dubai on June 22, is the latest event to offer a new format for the game. The franchise-style format allows fans to follow teams, as well as players, and some of the game’s biggest stars are getting involved. “I think this is definitely something quite special,” grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, who is participating in the tournament, told CNN. Carlsen hopes the new league format will succeed in opening the game up to a new audience, an ambition matched by the GCL chairperson Jagdish Mitra. “I think it’s an opportunity for the sport of chess and its 600 million fans,” Mitra told CNN Sport.

Persons: it’s, Magnus Carlsen, Carlsen, Viswanathan Anand, Ian Nepomniachtchi, ” Carlsen, ” Magnus Carlsen, Ali Haider, Chess.com, Jagdish Mitra, “, ” Mitra, It’s, Mitra Organizations: CNN, Global Chess League, “, FIDE, Tech Mahindra, SG Alpine Warriors, Global, GCL, CNN Sport Locations: Dubai, Indian, Russian

☆ Hans Niemann: Judge dismisses chess grandmaster’s $100 million lawsuit against Magnus Carlsen, among others, in cheating scandal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A US judge on Tuesday dismissed the $100 million defamation lawsuit filed by American chess grandmaster Hans Niemann against Magnus Carlsen, among others, in an alleged cheating scandal which has rocked the sport, according to court documents. Niemann’s lawsuit, which was filed in October last year, came after an alleged cheating scandal which sent shockwaves through the sport. 1 Carlsen accused Niemann of cheating at the $350,000 Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis, Missouri. In his second amendment, Niemann alleged that Carlsen paid a friend $328 (€300) to shout “Cheater Hans” from the stands at the closing ceremony of a tournament. Fewer than 0.14% of players ever cheat on the site, according to the company’s report on Niemann’s alleged behavior.

Persons: Hans Niemann, Magnus Carlsen, Audrey Fleissig, Niemann’s, Carlsen, Daniel Rensch, Nakamura, ” Niemann, “, Fleissig, Niemann, Hans Niemann’s, ” Craig Reiser, ” Nima H, Mohebbi, Jamie Wine, Magnus, Rensch –, Jose Mourinho, ”, Chess.com, –, Niemann “, Hans, Hans ”, “ We’re, Erik Allebest, Rensch, ” Chess.com Organizations: CNN, Chess.com, Louis Chess Club Locations: Missouri, St, Louis , Missouri, Warsaw, Poland, American

U.S. District Court Judge Audrey Fleissig rejected Niemann's claims that Carlsen and Chess.com broke antitrust laws by colluding to exclude him from lucrative tournaments. Fleissig also found she did not have jurisdiction over Niemann's state law claims for defamation and breach of contract, among others. Chess.com, the largest online chess platform in the world, appeared to back up Carlsen's claims when it said it had uncovered evidence of repeated cheating in Niemann's online playing history. Chess.com merged with Carlsen's online chess company in December 2022. Carlsen and Chess.com denied those allegations, saying Niemann has still been able to compete in major tournaments.

Persons: Magnus Carlsen, Hans Niemann's, Chess.com, Audrey Fleissig, Niemann's, Carlsen, colluding, Fleissig, Niemann, Jack Queen, Sandra Maler Organizations: Ninth, Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, REUTERS, U.S, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Missouri, St, Louis , Missouri, New York

☆ Chess photography: Body language, knowledge of the game and luck
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

“That’s always a very difficult question,” Emelianova told CNN Sport when asked how she would describe the art of chess photography. So like people who know very little of chess and of the personalities can kind of get very close to the game and feel like they are right next to this chess game. She went on to become a professional chess player before taking a break from competitive chess. Lennart Ootes“My mother was doing some photography stuff when she was younger in university, but it was analog photography,” Emelianova explained. But I already know enough to even, like – to catch a really, really subtle head shake or sitting like too straight or pretending to be very relaxed,” she said.

Persons: Maria Emelianova, Emelianova, “ That’s, ” Emelianova, “, ” Ian Nepomniatchtchi, Ding Liren, –, Carlsen, Lennart Ootes “, ”, Mobina, gazes, it’s, she’s, Emelianova –, don’t, Jennifer Shahade, Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi Organizations: CNN, CNN Sport, British, “, Moscow State University Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Khanty, Mansiysk, Moscow, Uzbekistan, India

☆ Dommaraju Gukesh beats Nodirbek Abdusattorov in battle of the teenaged chess prodigies
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Dommaraju Gukesh beat Nodirbek Abdusattorov in the battle of the teenaged chess prodigies at the Norway Chess tournament on Sunday. Seventeen-year-old Gukesh and 18-year-old Abdusattorov could not be separated during the classical portion of the match with it ending in a draw. Gukesh faces Dutch grandmaster Anish Giri in round six on Monday, while Abdusattorov faces the US’ Fabiano Caruana. Gukesh surveys the board during his round nine game against the Azerbaijan team at the 44th Chess Olympiad on August 7, 2022. “It was very similar to the Gukesh game [Nakamura won 3-0],” he said afterwards.

Persons: Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Gukesh, Magnus Carlsen, –, ” “, ”, chess.com, White, Abdusattorov, Anish Giri, ’ Fabiano Caruana, Arun Sankar, Hikaru Nakamura, Nakamura, Caruana, “, he’d, Tari, Wesley So, ” Carlsen, Giri, Carlsen, Tarjei J Organizations: CNN, Norway, Azerbaijan, Getty, Tari Locations: Catalan, Stavanger, Norway, American

☆ Dommaraju Gukesh: Indian chess sensation defeats Magnus Carlsen on his 17th birthday
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

1 and five-time world champion must rank up there among the best for chess grandmaster Dommaraju Gukesh. On his 17th birthday, the young Indian chess star beat Magnus Carlsen in the blitz event ahead of the Norway Chess tournament. After three games of the official tournament, Gukesh sits fourth in the standings with one win, one loss and one draw. Last week, Carlsen won his first tournament since he relinquished the world championship title he had held for a decade. Since then, Abhimanyu Mishra broke the record and became the youngest chess grandmaster at the age of 12 years, four months and 25 days.

Persons: Dommaraju Gukesh, Magnus Carlsen, Gukesh, he’d, Carlsen, Alireza Firouzja, Anish Giri, Wesley So, Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, Caruana, ”, Russian Sergey Karjakin, Abhimanyu Mishra Organizations: CNN, Norway Chess Locations: Indian, Stavanger, Norway, Poland, Russian

☆ Chess’ Governing Body Delays Report on Cheating Scandal
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( David Segal | Dylan Loeb Mcclain | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The internet was soon awash with theories about how Niemann might have secreted a radio device on his body. In a postgame interview at the Cup, Niemann offered to play naked, in a radio signal-proofed room, to prove he was playing clean. He also said emphatically that he had never cheated during an over-the-board game, as in-person chess is known. Many in the chess world did not believe him. Viswanathan Anand, a five-time world champion, put it this way: “I thought Carlsen literally cracked at the end.”

☆ China’s Ding Liren Wins Dramatic World Chess Championship, Replacing Magnus Carlsen
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Joshua Robinson | Andrew Beaton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Ding Liren beat Ian Nepomniachtchi at the chess world championship. Photo: VLADISLAV VODNEV/REUTERSAfter three weeks and 18 contests, the chess world championship came down to the final minute of the tiebreaker on Sunday as China’s Ding Liren defeated Ian Nepomniachtchi in a wild conclusion in Astana, Kazakhstan. The pair played a speed-chess tiebreaker on Sunday to break a deadlock in their competition to replace Magnus Carlsen, who announced last year that he wouldn’t defend the crown he had won on five successive occasions. Ding, 30, had less than 60 seconds remaining on the clock as he pounced all over Nepomniachtchi in the fourth game of the tiebreaker, despite playing with the disadvantage of the black pieces.

☆ Chess-China's Ding Liren defies odds to become world champion
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Alessandro Parodi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 30 (Reuters) - China's Ding Liren was crowned on Sunday as the 17th world chess champion in a tense match against Russian-born Ian Nepomniachtchi in Astana, Kazakhstan, in the last chapter of an odds-defying sequence of events. "One Ding to rule em all," fellow grandmaster Anish Giri wrote on Twitter in honour of the new champion. Ding's triumph means China holds both the men's and women's world titles, with current women's champion Ju Wenjun set to defend her title against compatriot Lei Tingjie in July. "The moment Ian resigned the game was a very emotional moment, I cannot control my feelings," the new world champion said in a press conference. Carlsen said he was not motivated to play shortly after Nepomniachtchi won the Candidates tournament, the prestigious qualifier to the match.

☆ The Grandmaster Plan to Turn Hordes of Kids Into Chess Fanatics
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Matt Richtel | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Stella Schwartz, 16, hopped on the chess bandwagon earlier this year after hearing about the game from her older brother, Hugh, a high school senior in San Francisco. Alex Post, a freshman at Colorado University, started playing in February, after some chess-related videos appeared in his Tik Tok feed; then he got his whole fraternity playing. Many other teenagers and young adults said that they too had recently developed a regular chess habit, although they could not recall how it started. But by all accounts — from players, parents, teachers, website metrics — the game’s popularity has exploded. (In December Chess.com also purchased the Play Magnus Group, a company started by chess world champion Magnus Carlsen that includes a mobile chess app.)

☆ Chess-World championship contender faces purported leak of his preparation
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 20 (Reuters) - Chess grandmasters and other players said a secret online account has been found of world championship contender Ding Liren's preparation as he trails by a point in his match in Astana, Kazakhstan, against Russian-born Ian Nepomniachtchi. The first player to gain 7.5 points will win the match and a prize of 2 million euros ($2.19 million). Ding would have used a burner account on the website Lichess.org to prepare for the match with his trainers, several players said. The account, created on Feb. 14, features new opening ideas which Ding unveiled in the match. "Ding has to deal with the fallout of his 'anonymous' pre-match training games being discovered online," chess publication Chess24 reported.

☆ Chess-In Carlsen's shadow, chess awaits a new world champion
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Hritika Sharma | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

April 8 (Reuters) - Chess will crown a new world champion when Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren begin their battle on Sunday in the shadow of incumbent Magnus Carlsen, who voluntarily relinquished the title he held since 2013. Neither has held the world title before - a first for the championship. "I can write my name in history," Ding, the first Chinese player to contest the men's world title, told reporters on Saturday. "For me, this world championship match should include the strongest player on the planet, and this match doesn't. Current women's champion Ju Wenjun is scheduled to play a title match against compatriot Lei Tingjie in July.

☆ Magnus Carlsen’s Reign Over Chess Ends With a Slip of the Mouse
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Andrew Beaton | Joshua Robinson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Magnus Carlsen had mere seconds left on the clock of the final game he would play as World Chess Champion. He was near the end of the tie-breaking game in a format so dramatic it’s called Armageddon. Then he made a technological chess blunder for the ages.

☆ Magnus Carlsen’s Reign Over Chess Ends with a Slip of the Mouse
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Andrew Beaton | Joshua Robinson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Anna Cramling: Being a woman in chess can feel 'lonely' says popular streamer
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Popular online chess streamer Anna Cramling says she’s also had uncomfortable experiences during her career in the game. “I’ve had weird experiences in the chess world ever since I was a kid,” Cramling told CNN Sport. “From adult men complimenting me at chess tournaments, to receiving DMs from my chess opponents saying things such as ‘I couldn’t stop looking at you’ during our chess game. “One of the main issues has been that there are so many more guys than girls that play chess, and being a woman at a chess tournament can sometimes feel lonely. “I know that chess tournaments will not forever look this way, we just need to get more women to play.

☆ FTX t-shirts and swag were stashed away in trash bags during Miami's Art Basel, and some crypto diehards took them home as souvenirs
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Solana Embassy, once backed by Sam Bankman-Fried, gave away free FTX t-shirts at Art Basel. Among the stash were close to 1,000 FTX Miami t-shirts, FTX bean bags, a framed Miami Heat jersey that featured an FTX logo, and a signed poster of chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen who took part in an FTX-sponsored tournament. Solana tweeted about its events in Miami and said it had "about 1,000 FTX Miami shirts to get rid of." The t-shirts were originally only supposed to be free for those who opened FTX accounts at the Solana Embassy. The Solana Embassy previously housed an FTX Lounge, and the exchange was its biggest financial sponsor, according to Norby.

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