On June 9, 2025, 19-year-old Belgian Grandmaster Daniel Dardha set a potential new world record for a clock simultaneous exhibition in Deinze, Belgium. Facing 50 opponents, Dardha achieved a dominant score of 40 wins, 7 draws, and only 3 losses, for a total of 43.5/50 points and an 87% success rate. The Belgian Chess Federation has submitted the performance for official ratification by Guinness World Records.
This was no ordinary simul. The "clock simul" is a grueling format that organizers have called "pure madness". Unlike traditional exhibitions where the master controls the pace, a clock simul features a chess clock on every board. Opponents can make a move and press their clock at any time, forcing the master to divide a single two-hour time allocation across all 50 games while his opponents each enjoy two hours for their single game. This creates immense, compounding time pressure and a severe physical and mental test. Dardha described the event as an "extremely intense effort," a high-stakes athletic contest requiring him to walk for hours between boards. He surpassed the previous record of 35.5 points with 11 games still in play, showcasing his complete command of the event.
The man behind the record, Daniel Dardha, is a chess prodigy. Born into a chess family, his ascent has been meteoric: he became the youngest-ever Belgian Champion at 13 and a Grandmaster at 15, winning the national title four times. His playing style, characterized by precise defense and timely counter-attacks, is complemented by a strategic opening repertoire. His use of less-common openings like the Trompowsky Attack is a powerful tool in a simul, forcing opponents out of prepared lines and onto their own resources from the start.
ardha's achievement is magnified by the strength of his opposition. He faced an army of 50 seasoned club players with an average Elo rating of around 1834-1850. An 1800-rated player is a serious opponent, meaning there were no "easy" games where Dardha could conserve energy. This sustained high-level pressure makes his 87% score all the more remarkable.
ardha shattered the previous record set in 2022 by Dutch GM Sipke Ernst, who scored 35 points against 47 opponents. Ernst's attempt was the first widely recognized world record for a lock simul, a modern format that emphasizes quantifiable metrics like win percentage and opponent rating over the sheer number of boards seen in historical, non-clocked exhibitions.
The chess world reacted with immediate praise, with FIDE and the European Chess Union broadcasting the news and fellow grandmasters lauding the "fantastic result". While awaiting official verification, the feat has cemented the clock simul as a new and exciting competitive arena. For Dardha, who has spoken of needing to raise his level to make a living from chess, this historic, media-friendly record is a powerful branding tool that could open doors to sponsorships and a larger public profile. Despite his exhaustion, he has already hinted at future attempts, throwing down the gauntlet to the world's elite and signaling a spectacular new chapter in his career.
Photo: Daniel Dardha, chess grandmaster from Belgium by Stefan64 licensed under CC BY 2.0
