E-MAGAZINE

MARCH 2019

01

ECU meetings in Skopje

ECU BOARD MEETING AND
ECU EXTRAORDINARY
GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ANDORRA WINS
ARTEMIEV VLADISLAV IS
EUROPEAN SMALL
NATIONS TEAM CHESS
THE EUROPEAN CHESS
CHAMPIONSHIP 2019
CHAMPION 2019
 Editorial
WHY SPORTING BODIES SHOULD MAINTAIN AN EQUAL
OPPORTUNITIES POLICY AND DISCRIMINATORY FREE ENVIRONMENT

The latest ECU General Assembly discuss a case of racial discrimination

occurred in a tournament in Sweden and took a unanimous resolution.

Unfortunately, the denial of a player to play a game was not the only negative
in the story. The action was promoted at the highest level, the player becomes
an example who fulfilled his dream to meet the country leader and the
message of hate was sent through chess is clear enough.

There is a view till now with many supporters, even in official positions, that
tolerating these actions, we protect and give the chance to more people to
play chess as also more states to support financially our sport.
ECU Secretary General
Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou
But is this our role in chess? When we adjust in silence our rules, we do
not the same time justify and these policies? We do not encourage, political
leaders or chief priests of any religion or extreme groups to apply more rules
for us and promote their hate policies through sports?
European Chess Union has its seat in Switzerland,
Address: Rainweidstrasse 2, CH-6333, Hunenberg If we wish a "fair play" in chess, is not enough to strengthen our anti-
See, Switzerland
cheating measures. We should maintain an equal opportunities policy and
European Chess Union is an independent discriminatory free environment, adopting related policies.
association founded in 1985 in Graz, Austria;
European Chess Union has 54 National Federation
Members; Every year ECU organizes more than 20
prestigious events and championships.

www.europechess.org
[email protected]

contents

02 EICC 2019
Final report of European
Individual Chess
07 ECU MEETINGS
ECU Board meeting and ECU
Extraordinary General
15 Upcoming events
Upcoming events in April
2019
Championship 2019 Assembly

05 FIDE World Team

Report of FIDE World Team
Chess Championship 2019
11 Invitation for bids
ECU invitation for bids for
European Championships
19 Reykjavik Open 2019
Preview of Reykjavik Open
2019
held in Astana, Kazakhstan 2021&2022
ESNA Team 2019 Shamkir Chess 2019 FUN ZONE
06 European Small Nations Team 14 Brief preview of the Shamkir 22
Chess Championship 2019 Chess tournament 2019 in
memory of Vugar Gashimov

Newsletter March 2019

.

Vladislav Artemiev is the

European Chess Champion 2019
Artemiev Vladislav (RUS, 2736) became the Winner of
European Individual Chess Championship 2019 with a
score of 8.5 points.

Artemiev tied for the first place with Nils Grandelius (SWE,
2694), who had the same score, but the average rating of
the opponents decided that Artemiev is the new European
Individual Chess Champion

Newsletter March 2019 2

Artemiev Vladislav held a draw in the
last round in a slightly worse position,
with black pieces, against Rodshtein
Maxim (ISR, 2673). The draw was
enough for Artemiev to become the
European Individual Chess Champion
2019.

In the last, 11th round, Grandelius took a

victory against Gledura Benjamin (HUN,
2630) with black pieces, after Gledura
made an unsound sacrifice of an
exchange. With this victory, Grandelius
took the silver medal.

Nine players tied for the third place:

Piorun Kacper (POL, 2631), Rodshtein
Maxim (ISR, 2673), Berkes Ferenc
(HUN, 2666), Anton Guijarro David
(ESP, 2643), Nisipeanu Liviu-Dieter
(GER, 2670), Movsesian Sergei (ARM,
2627), Huschenbeth Niclas (GER, Légende Nemo enim ipsam tatem quia
2594), Oparin Grigoriy (RUS, 2613) and voluptas sit aspernatur.
Safarli Eltaj (AZE, 2662), each with 8
points. The best Senior player was Gelfand
Boris (ISR, 2655) with 7.5 points, while
According to the tiebreak criteria, Piorun the second place came to Georgiev Kiril
Kacper (POL, 2631) took the bronze (MKD, 2595) with a score of 7 points.
medal.
Besides the special prizes for the best-
The best-ranked women player was ranked Women player, Junior, and
Goryachkina Aleksandra (RUS, 2504) Senior, the best ranked six players,
with 6.5 points, while Protopopova members of the Association of Chess
Anastasiya (RUS, 2263) and Osmak Professionals took the special ACP
Iulija (UKR, 2399) tied for the second prizes: Rakhmanov Aleksandr (RUS,
place, each with 5.5 points. According to 2629), Bartel Mateusz (POL, 2600),
the average rating of the opponents, Lupulescu Constantin (ROU, 2611),
Protopopova took the silver, while Dreev Aleksey (RUS, 2662), Fridman
Osmak Iulija took the third place. Daniel (GER, 2633) and Vallejo Pons
Francisco (ESP, 2698).

EICC 2019
Closing ceremony of the event
22 players qualified for The Closing ceremony of the event Total prize fund of the event was100.000
took place on 29th March in the EUR with 20.000 EUR reserved for the
the next FIDE World Cup Winner of the event.
official hotel -Double Tree by Hilton.
The European Individual Chess The ceremony has started with the
Championship 2019 was a For the throne of the most prestigious
qualification event for the FIDE speech of the President of the
event in the ECU calendar, fought 359
World Cup 2019. Chess Federation of North
players coming from 43 European
Macedonia, Mr. Blagoja Bogoevski, federations.
According to FIDE regulations and who greeted the attendees and
the decision of the ECU Board, 22 thanked the European Chess Union A very strong line-up of the event was
best ranked players, excluding them for the organization of the event.
qualified in 2018 or from ratings, completed with 305 titled players, among
qualified for the next FIDE World whom 144 Grandmasters and 79
Cup. After the awarding ceremony, the International masters, including 6
President of European Chess Union, players rated over 2700 and 67 players
Mr. Zurab Azmaiparashvili, officially rated over 2600.
declared the event closed.

Newsletter March 2019 3

 PORTFOLIO

The President of
ECU, Mr. Zurab
Azmaiparashvili
officially declared
the European
Individual Chess
Championship
2019 closed.

The European Individual Chess

Championship 2019 tookplace
from 17th March - 30th March
in newly constructed 5* hotel
“DoubleTree by HILTON” in
Skopje, FYR of Macedonia.

Newsletter n°0 - Septembre 2011

 photos by: David Llada

Russia and China won FIDE World

Team Chess Championship 2019

After 10 played rounds at the Open

section, which gathered the strong
national teams of Azerbaijan, China,
Egypt, England, India, Iran, Kazakhstan,
Russia, Sweden and United States of
America, the team of Russia won the
event scoring 16 match points, without
losing a match. The second place went
to England with 13 match points, and
bronze went to China with 12 match
points.

In Women’s section, team of China

dominated the event with all victories
and 18 match points. Second place won
by the Russian team who scored 14
match points, while third place came to
Georgia with 12 match points.

The prizes for the best individual

performance of each board came to:
Adhiban B. (India, 1st board-Open
section), Mcshane Luke J (England, 2nd
board-Open section), Ganguly Surya
Shekhar (India, 3rd board- Open
section), Firouzja Alireza (Iran, 4th
board- Open section), Artemiev
Vladislav (Russia, 5th board- Open
section), Tan Zhongyi (China, 1st board-
Women’s section), Kosteniuk Alexandra FIDE World Team
(Russia, 2nd board- Women’s section), Chess Championship
Huang Qian (China, 3rd board- took place from
Women’s section), Goryachkina March 4th -15th,
Aleksandra (Russia, 4th board- 2019 in Astana,
Women’s section) and Melia Salome Kazakhstan.
(Georgia, 5th board- Women’s section).

Newsletter March 2019 5

Andorra wins European Small Nations Team Chess
Championship 2019
The team of Andorra
convincingly won the 6th edition
of European Small Nations Team
Chess Championship, with a
perfect score of 18 match points,
and 9 victories out of 9 games!

The Closing ceremony of the

Championship took place on 30th of
March in the evening, with attendance of
ECU Secretary-General, Mr. Theodoros
Tsorbatzoglou the Vice President of the
Italian Chess Federation Mr. Roberto
Rivello, the FIDE Zone 1.10 President
Mr. Paris Klerides and the San Marino
Chess Federation President Mr. Ivan
Tabarini. Mr. Tsorbatzoglou underlined
the ECU satisfaction for the well-
organized event and the ECU intention
to continue supporting the Small Nations
chess program.

Team composition of the team of The bronze medal came to Faroe

Andorra, the Winner of the event, was: Islands with 14 match points:
GM De la Riva Aguado (AND, 2459) GM Ziska Helgi Dam (FAI, 2538)
IM Fluvia Poyatos Jordi (AND, 2463) IM Rodgaard John (FAI, 2281)
IM Aloma Vidal Robert (AND, 2427) Thorsteinsson Sjurdur (FAI, 2222)
FM Gomez Anadon Daniel (AND, 2271) FM Simonsen Hans Kristian (FAI, 2147)
FM Garcia Paolicchi Raul (AND, 2144) Apol Luitjen Akselsson (FAI, 1906)

The second place came to Monaco, with The 6th European Small Nations Team
a score of 16 match points: Championship took place from 23rd
Ribbegren Karl Johan (MNC, 2248) March to 31st March in the Republic of
GM Efimov Igor (MNC, 2427) San Marino.
FM Van Hoolandt Patrick (MNC, 2061)
WGM Dornbusch Tatiana (MNC, 2282)
WCM Jose Polanco Kenia (MNC, 1865)

ECU Secretary
General, Mr.
Theodoros About the event
Tsorbatzoglou
attended the
Closing The event participated 10
Ceremony of the teams (Andorra, Cyprus, Faroe
event. Islands, Guernsey, Jersey,
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
Malta, Monaco and San
Marino), who were playing a 9
rounds Robin round event, with
time control 90 minutes for 40
moves plus 30 minutes for the
rest of the game, plus 30
seconds increment for every
move played starting from the
first move.

Newsletter March 2019 6

 ECU NEWS

Communique of the ECU Board

meeting in Skopje, March 2019
The European Chess Union Board meeting took place on the 22nd of
March in Skopje, North Macedonia. The meeting was held under excellent
conditions in the hotel Hilton during the European Individual Chess
Championship 2019. The President of the National Chess Federation, Mr.
Blagoja Bogoevski, opened the meeting and welcomed the ECU Board in
Skopje.
he main areas under discussion and decisions Standardization & Information Technology

T
made were the following:
>The first pieces of the ECU branded clothing were
Funding – Sponsorship presented and gifted to the organisers of the EICC
2019
>ECU Board approved an annual sponsorship from
the company “Chess Evolution”. >The new project “Chess Google Maps”, which is
>The agreement and annexes for the FIDE under construction, was presented to the Board and
development fund were approved and so were the to the General Assembly.
first pilot projects. >The ECU Board confirmed the “European Chess
>ECU Board was informed about the new and the TV” as a strategical partner in live-transmissions.
already running Erasmus projects submitted to EU >The “ECU Brand book” was approved and is in the
with the ECU partnership. final stage of the process to be published and
distributed.
European Championships-Tournaments >The draft version of the “Chess in Schools
Promotion Video”, produced by the ECU EDU
>After the request of the Estonian Chess Commission was approved and was decided to be
Federation, the European Youth Rapid & Blitz translated in as many languages as possible.
Championship 2019 will be organized in Tallinn from >An adviser was hired for the implementation of the
30th November to 4th December and will follow the (GDPR) within the organisation.
European Rapid & Blitz Championship 2019 from
4th to 8th December 2019. >ECU Board approved Appointments-Awards
ECU Board meeting the new dates. A special resolution was decided for
the players competing in the 3rd leg of FIDE Grand >The ECU Vice President Johann Poecksteiner
Prix in Hamburg, which partly coincides with the was appointed as the ECU Data Protection officer.
European Club Cup 2019. The resolution will be >Ashot Vardapetyan (ARM) was appointed in the
included in the tournament invitation. ECU Board of Trustees as an appreciation to the
The European Chess Union >The option to organise the European Open Club Armenian Chess Federation and his valuable
Cup 2021 was awarded to North Macedonia Chess experience.
Board meeting took place on
Federation and the proposal shall be submitted till >FIDE Trainer Valeri Gaprindashvilli (GEO) was
the 22nd of March in Skopje, the 1st of July 2019 to the ECU Board. appointed as the European representative in the
North Macedonia. The meeting >European Chess Union will be a supporter of the FIDE Trainers Commission. Jop Delamarre (NED)
was held under excellent Global Chess Festival 2019 (Budapest, Hungary) is proposed additionally for the FIDE TRG.
conditions in the hotel Hilton and of the Tournament of Peace 2019 (Zagreb, >The ECU Board decided to award Alexander
Croatia). Kostyev, President of the International School
during the European Individual
>The proposal and regulations for the European Chess Union (ISCU) with the ECU Honorary Award
Chess Championship 2019. Women Rapid & Blitz Championship 2019 in for the 20 years of the Union establishment and
Monaco were approved. their high contribution to the development of the
Chess in School programs and championships.
>The ECU Board decided to propose the city of
Vienna as the European Chess Capital for the year
2020, on the occasion of the 100 years of the
Austrian Chess Federation.

Newsletter March 2019 7

 PORTFOLIO

The first pieces of the ECU

branded clothing were
presented and gifted to the
organisers of the European
Individual Chess
Championship 2019.

The new project “Chess Google Maps”,

which is under construction, was
presented to the Board and to the
General Assembly.

Newsletter n°0 - Septembre 2011

 ECU NEWS

Communique of the ECU

Extraordinary General Assembly
The European Chess Union Extra Ordinary Assembly
meeting took place on the 23rd of March in Skopje, North
Macedonia with the representation of 42 federations
members.

he decisions of the meeting: European Championships –

T
Meetings
>The ECU budget of 2019 was
amended and reallocated. The total >The European Club Cup Open &
budget voted is 510,000 euros. This Women 2020 is awarded as to
amount is not including possible Mayrhofen, Austria.
income from the FIDE Development
Fund and EU Programs. >The European Individual Senior
Chess Championship 2020 is
>The proposed amendments in the awarded to Jastrzębia Góra, Poland
ECU regulations were accepted with
main changes in the pairing system >The European Individual Women
for the team events and the adoption Chess Championship 2020 is
of the ECU brand dress code for awarded to Mamaia, Romania.
Arbiters.
>The European Youth Chess
>A resolution against individual Championship 2021 is awarded as a
ECU Extraordinary boycotts from players was adopted combined bid to Mamaia, Romania.
General Assembly unanimously. Additionally, ECU
General Assembly is asking FIDE to >The European School Chess
ban the practice of “special pairings” Championship 2020 is awarded to
The European Chess Union at the Chess Olympiads, FIDE Halkidiki, Greece.
Extra Ordinary Assembly tournaments and all FIDE rated
meeting took place on the 23rd >The European Youth Chess Rapid
events, when players from certain
of March in Skopje,
simultaneously with European countries are discreetly kept apart & Blitz Championship 2020 is
Individual Chess Championship by adjusting the pairing software. awarded as to Novisad, Serbia.
2019, in hotel Double Tree by
Hilton, under the excellent >The option of the European
conditions. Women Rapid & Blitz Championship
2020 is awarded to Lviv, Ukraine till
the 30th of May 2019.

Newsletter March 2019 9

 PORTFOLIO

European Chess Union

Extraordinary General
Assembly took place on
23rd March in Skopje,
North Macedonia.

Newsletter n°0 - Septembre 2011

 ECU NEWS

INVITATION FOR BIDS

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2021 & 2022
The European Chess Union invites the National
federations members to submit bids for the organization of
the official European Chess Championships in 2021 &
2022.

he bids must be submitted exclusively in A. The bidding procedure is open for

T
the Bid form regulated by the ECU (in the following ECU chess
the attachment). For any additional championships in 2021:
documents delivered separately from the >European Individual Open
bid form, it must be stated in the bid Championship (estimated number of
form what they relate to. Any document players: 350)
that reaches the ECU office after the >European Individual Women
official deadline will not be taken into Championship (estimated number of
consideration. players: 150)
>European Club Cup for Women
The deadline for bids to reach the (estimated number of players: 80 – 20
European Chess Union office is the teams)
Friday 31st of May 2019. by 4 PM CET. >European Senior Individual
All the bids must reach the European Championship Championship (estimated
Chess Union office in one of the number of players: 200)
following ways: >European Senior Team Championship
>By e-mail (estimated number of players: 200 – 50
Deadline [email protected] teams)
>Personally, in a sealed envelope, in the >European Youth Team Championship
ECU office in Tbilisi. (estimated number of players: 200 – 50
>By postal service or express postal teams)
service (DHL, Fedex, TNT…) to the >European Rapid & Blitz Championship
The deadline for address: European Chess Union, (estimated number of players: 700)
bids to reach the Kostava Str. 37a, Chess Palace, 0179 >European Women’s Rapid & Blitz
Tbilisi, Georgia. Championship (estimated number of
European Chess players: 100)
Union office is the > European School Championship
Visit the ECU Website for detalied (estimated number of players: 400)
Friday 31st of May information about the bidding procedure; >European Youth Rapid and Blitz
2019. by 4 PM CET. http://www.europechess.org/events/ Championships (estimated number of
bidding-procedure/bids-2021-2022/ players: 300)
>European Amateur Championship
(estimated number of players: 200)
>European Corporate Championship
(estimated number of players 200)

Newsletter March 2019 11

 ECU NEWS

ECU, FIDE AND FFE EDU

MEETING IN PARIS.
On the 8th of March 2019, the European Chess Union and FIDE
representatives had a meeting at the headquarters of the French
Chess Federation.

The agenda included items about the co-operation of FIDE and ECU
in Chess in Schools programs and Educational matters. FIDE
represented by its Deputy President Bachar Kouatly, the Chairman of
FIDE EDU Commission Mr. Liputijan and Secretary Kevin O'Connell.
ECU represented by its Treasurer Ion Dobronauteanu, the Chairman
of the EDU Commission Mr. Jesper Hall and Secretary John Foley.

Newsletter March 2019 12

 ECU ARBITERS CORNER

ECU ARBITERS REFRESHING

COURSE, SKOPJE 2019
ECU Arbiters The course was held simultaneously Participants discussed and were informed
with European Individual Chess about the activities of ECU Arbiters Council,
refreshing course took Tie-break system of the events, General
Championship 2019 and the lecturer
place on 26th and Regulations for Competitions 2019. They
was the chairman of the ECU have also watched case studies from chess
27th of March in Arbiters Council, Mr. Tomasz tournaments and spoke about anti-cheating
Skopje. Delega. measures which are being applied and
developed.

Newsletter March 2019 13

The event features participation
of World top grandmasters:
World Chess Champion, Magnus
Shamkir Chess 2019
Carlsen (NOR, 2843), world #3
Ding Liren (CHN, 2809), #4 Giri The 6th edition of Shamkir Chess tournament, in memory of Vugar
Anish (NED, 2797), #5 Gashimov, launched yesterday and takes place from 30th March-9th
April in Shamkir, Azerbaijan.
Mamedyarov Shakhriyar (AZE,
2793), #6 Anand Viswanathan The Gala Opening Ceremony of the event took place on Saturday, 30th
(IND, 2774), #9 Grischuk of March, with attendance of the executive chief of Shamkir region,
Alexander (RUS, 2771), #12 Alimpasha Mammadov, the Minister of the Youth and Sports, Azad
Radjabov Teimour (AZE, 2756), Rahimov, the vice-president of FIDE and SOCAR, the sponsor of the
event, Mahir Mammadov, the father of Vugar Gashimov, Gasim
#17 Karjakin Sergey (RUS, Gashimov, and Azerbaijan Chess Federation representatives. After the
2743), #18 Topalov Veselin (BUL, ceremony, the drawing of lots took place in the same venue.
2740) and #21 Navara David
(CZE, 2733).

Shamkir chess 2019

The event is as 9 rounds in

Robin round system, with time
control 120 minutes for the first
40 moves, 60 minutes for the
next 20 moves and then each
player shall be allotted 15
minutes after the second time
control; an increment of 30
seconds per move shall be
allowed from move 61 onwards.
The total prize fund of the event
is 100.000 EUR with 30.000
EUR reserved for the Winner of
the event.

Newsletter March 2019 14

 UPCOMING EVENTS IN APRIL 2019

European Senior European Amateur

Chess Championship Chess Championship
2019 2019
European Senior Chess European Amateur Chess
Championship 2019, will take Championship 2019 will take
place from 5th-15th April 2019 place from 5th-15th April 2019
in Rhodes, Greece. in Rhodes, Greece.
The event will be played in two The event will be played in
age categories 50+ and 65+, three rating categories,
open and women's section U2300, U2000 and U1700
separately, with total prize fund with a total prize fund of
of 10.000 EUR.

European Women's
Chess Championship
European Women’s Individual
Chess Championship 2019
will be held in Antalya, Turkey
from 10 th-23rd of April 2019.

The event is a qualification

event for the next FIDE
Women's World Cup and 14
players will qualify.

The total prize fund of the

event is

FIDE Senior World Team

Chess Championship

FIDE Senior World Team Chess

Championship 2019 will take
place from 15th-25th April 2019, in
Rhodes, Greece.

Total prize fund of the event is

10.000 EUR.

Newsletter March 2019 15

 Upcoming

European Amateur Chess Championship 2019

The European Amateur Chess

Championship 2019 will be held in the
island of Rhodes, Greece, from 5th-15th
April, simultaneously with European
Senior Chess Championship 2019.The
events will be held in the Conference
center of Olympic Palace Hotel, as the
official hotel of the Championship.

The Championship is open tournament

for players registered or approved by
their federation. ECU member
federations shall have the right to send
as many players as they wish. All
players must not hold any title above CM
(or WCM for women) in the sections
Under-1700 and Under-2000. All players
must not hold any title above FM (or
WFM for women) in the section
Under-2300.

There will be separate championships

for categories Under-2300, Under-2000
and Under-1700. In each rating section,
a separate championship for women
shall be organized only if there are at
least 10 women entries otherwise the
women’s event will be merged with men
(open).The championship is organized in
a 9-round Swiss system, in accordance
with FIDE Laws of Chess and the ECU
Tournament Rules. The rate of play will
be 90 minutes for 40 moves plus
30minutes for the rest of the game, with The Rhodes Chess Festival which
an increment of 30 seconds per move, contains three events: European
starting from move one. Amateur Chess Championship 2019,
European Senior Chess Championship
The total prize fund of the event is 4.000 2019 and World Senior Team Chess
EUR and the winners of each category Championship 2019 will be held in the
receive the relevant title: European five star Hotel Olympic Palace, from
Amateur Chess Champion under 1700
under 2000 and 2300.
April 5th – April 25th 2019. Rhodes Chess
80 players representing 14 European
The live transmission of the top boards
of each round will be available through
Festival 2019
federations (Austria, Belgium, France, the official website of the organizer;
Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, https://rodoschess2019.com/
Netherlands, Poland, Roumania, Russia,
Slovenia, Slovakia and Turkey)
registered for the event in all three rating
categories.

Newsletter March 2019 16

 Upcoming

European Senior Chess Championship 2019

The European Senior Chess

Championship 2019 will be held in the
island of Rhodes, Greece, from 5th-15th
April, simultaneously with European
Amateur Chess Championship 2019.
The events will be held in the
Conference center of Olympic Palace
Hotel, as the official hotel of the
Championship.

The European Senior Chess

Championship is open to all players
representing ECU Chess Federations
who have been born in the year 1969 or
earlier, regardless of their title or rating.
There is also no limit in the number of
participants per federation.

In accordance with the ECU tournament

rule the Championship will be played in
two categories: one for those who shall
have reached the age of 50 (category
SENIOR 50+), and one for those who
shall have reached the age of 65
(category SENIOR 65+) by the end of
the year 2019. Players who have
reached the age of 65 by the 31st
December 2019 are allowed to
participate in the category SENIOR 50+
if they request it. In each age category
an Open and a Women’s competition is
organized.

The Championship is based on Swiss

system in accordance with the ECU The Rhodes Chess Festival which
Tournament Rules and FIDE Rules of contains three events: European
Chess. The playing time will be 90 Amateur Chess Championship 2019,
minutes for 40 moves plus 30 minutes European Senior Chess Championship
for the rest of the game with an 2019 and World Senior Team Chess
increment of 30 seconds per move, Championship 2019 will be held in the
starting from move one. five star Hotel Olympic Palace, from

Women tournament will be played

April 5th – April 25th 2019. Rhodes Chess
separately. If in total the women
participants are less than nine they will
130 players registered in all categories.
68 players coming from 22 European
Festival 2019
play in the Open tournaments with federations registered for the 65+
separate prizes. European Senior Chess Championship
2019. There are 10 women players
The total prize fund of the event will be registered for the women's section of the
10.000 EUR. same age category.

The live transmission of the top boards In 50+ Open category, 41 players from
of each round will be available through 17 federations will participate, while
the official website of the organizer; there are 8 women players whose
https://rodoschess2019.com/ category will be merged with Open
section.

Newsletter March 2019 17

 Upcoming

European Individual Women's Chess Championship

The European Women Individual Chess

Championship 2019 will take place from
10th April- 23rd April in Antalya, Turkey.
The official venue and Hotel of the 20th
edition of European Women Individual
Chess Championship will be 5* Aska
Lara Resort&Spa Hotel, located in
Antalya.

The Championship will be played in 11

rounds, Swiss system, in accordance
with ECU Tournament Rules and FIDE
Rules of Chess, with time control 90
minutes for 40 moves + 30 minutes for
the rest of the game, with an increment
of 30 seconds per move, starting from
move one.

The European Women Individual Chess

Championship 2018 is qualification
event for the next FIDE Women World
Chess Cup. According to the current
FIDE regulations and the decision of the
ECU Board, 14 players will qualify.

The total prize fund of event will be

60.000 EUR, together with 6.000 EUR
reserved for the best Junior players, the
best Turkish players and Turkish Junior
players, while the Association of Chess
Professionals (ACP) reserved 4.000
EUR for the best ranked ACP players
who did not received the regular prize.

128 players coming from 30 different The opening ceremony of the event will
European federations registered for the take place on the 11th of April, 45
event. minutes before the start of the first
round, in the playing venue of the
The top seeders are: GM Goryachkina Championship.
Aleksandra (RUS, 2504), former World The live transmission of the top boards
Chess Champion, GM Antoaneta can be followed through the official
Stefanova (ECU, 2493), WIM Shuvalova
Polina (RUS, 2471), IM Kashlinskaya
website of the Championship
http://eiwcc2019.tsf.org.tr/
128 players
Alina (RUS, 2470), GM Sebag Marie
(FRA, 2461), GM Cramlin Pia (SWE,
coming from
2460), IM Cornette Deimante (LTU,
2457), WGM Girya Olga (RUS,2456),
Along with the event, the FIDE Seminar
for International organizers will take
30 European
WGM Pogonina Natalija (RUS, 2455),
GM Hoang Thanh Trang (HUN,2454)
place simultaneously, from 19th-21st
April 2019,
federations
etc, registered for
the event

Newsletter March 2019 18

 .

Reykjavik Open 2019

The annual Reykjavik Open is set to start on April 8th. This will
be the 34th edition of the Reykjavik Open sponsored by
GAMMA. This tournament is always the flagship of Icelandic
chess and attracts close to 300 players every year.

s usual, there will be plenty of special The playing field is shaping up to be

A
events that have become traditional in interesting and strong just like in recent
recent years. These events include the years. The players' list is still being filled
Golden circle tour, Harpa blitz, Reykjavik with GM’s and chess players of all
Open pub quiz and now for the second levels. Gawain Jones from England and
time there will be a Fischer Random Nils Grandelius from Sweden are both
tournamnent on the free day! The ECU tournament regulars and they come into
has generously sponsored this event! the tournament with their ratings closing
The 2019 GAMMA Reykjavik Open will in on the magical 2700-barrier. The
be dedicated to the memory of Icelandic players' list also includes several former
Grandmaster Stefan Kristjansson who winners such as Erwin l'Ami, Abhijeet
sadly passed away last year at the age Gupta and Hannes Stefansson.
of 35. The new FIDE president, Arkady The 2019 edition is very glad to keep up
Dvorkovich, will visit the tournament. with the tradition of previous editions
The new leadership of FIDE is already which have always featured young and
looking good and surely the possibility of talented players. In 2018 we had the
a World Championship match in Iceland Indians Praggnanandhaa and Nihal
in 2022 to commemorate the 50 year Sarin and also Nodirbek Abdusattorov
anniversary of the match of the century from Uzbekistan. In the past top players
in 1972 will be discussed! In any case, such as Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano
the organisers of the Reykjavik Open Caruana, Levon Aronian and Hikaru
are honored to welcome the president to Nakamura have also played in
GAMMA the tournament. Smbat Lputian the Reykjavik. In 2019 we are very happy to
Reykjavik Open chairman of the FIDE Education
commission will also be visiting during
welcome the 2018 World Junior
Champion Parham Maghsoodloo from
2019 takes the tournament.
As in recent years, the playing venue is
Iran and also his countryman Alireza
Firouzja. Both have been turning eyes
place from a spectacular one as the open will once recently. Parham had a fantastic
again be in Harpa which is a big performance when he won the World
8th-16th April conference center and concert hall with Junior Championship and played board
glass windows with a nice harbor view. 1 at the 2018 Batumi Olympiad. Alireza
in Reykjavik, made a strong showing at the recent
Iceland. World Rapid & Blitz championship in St.
Petersburg and has been increasing his
rating with stellar performances in 2019.

Newsletter March 2019 19

The youth movement doesn’t end there On the free day just like last year, there
and D Gukesh the young prodigy from will be a Fischer Random tournament.
India will be playing in the Reykjavik The tournament was very well received
Open as well. Gukesh made headlines last year and hopefully this is will
in January 2019 when he became the become a traditional event. The total
2nd youngest GM in history (after prize fund of the Fischer Random
Sergey Karjakin) and of course current tournament will be 3.000 EUR and is
youngest GM in the world. The young sponsored by the ECU. The winner of
Indian will officially get his GM title at the this Fischer Random tournament will be
first quarter PB meeting of FIDE but until invited to one of the biggest chess
then he is a GM elect. Fellow Indian tournaments of 2019 the details of which Reykjavik Open 2019
Praggnanandhaa is also back for will be revealed later. As every year
another outing in the Reykjavik Open. there will be plenty of special events. Pub Quiz competition
The Golden Circle tour is always
Despite the Reykjavik Open dates popular. The tour goes to the south of
clashing with some strong women’s Iceland to look at waterfalls and geysers
Past winner of the Pub
tournaments, there is still a strong field as well as going to Bobby Fischer’s final Quiz competition include
of female players. The German #1 resting place. Saturday will have a blitz Magnus Carlsen!
Elisabeth Paehtz leads the field and is tournament as usual and on the free day
followed closely by Dinara there will be a big Fischer Random The opening party will still
Saduakassova. Tania Sachdev is also tournament. The tournament was very be before the tournament
back to the Reykjavik Open having well received last year and we even
already played in Reykjavik several have some players coming over just for
and you will get a chance
times and is one of a number of the Fischer Random! to play football in one of
returning familiar faces. R Vaishali the Other special events that are always Iceland’s indoor football
sister of Indian prodigy Praggnanandhaa included are the ever popular Pub Quiz halls.
is also back. where 30 questions about chess and
chess history are asked.

Newsletter March 2019 20

"Current state and development trends of
chess education" conference in Armenia

FIDE Chess in education commission (EDU), Chess In the section of Guidelines you can find
all the requirements that your articles
academy of Armenia and ”Chess” Scientific Research must meet. All presenters should submit
Institute of Armenia are organizing an International the article together with the filled in
registration form.
Conference.
The articles must be sent by 15th of
he conference is entitled “Current state April 2019. The authors will be informed

T
and development trends of chess about the decision of the Academic
education”, and will be held at “Multi rest Board by 30th of April 2019.
house” hotel in Tsaghkadzor, Republic of
Armenia, from 6th of May (arrival day) to All attendees, except the authors of
9th of May (departure day) 2019. approved articles, should pay the entry
fee in the amount of €50 which includes
Working language of the conference is transportation in the following directions:
English. Zvartnots Airport-Yerevan-Tsaghkadzor
and back and coffee breaks during
All attendees are required to register for sessions.
the conference online through the
Conference website. On the Official
website of the conference you can find
detailed information about the
Conference and its directions, venue
and accommodation, as well as get
acquainted with the members of
Academic Board.

Newsletter March 2019 21

 FUN ZONE

>In chess the most unbelievable

For this edition of the
thing for me is that it's a game for ECU monthly magazine,
everybody: rich, poor, girl, boy,
old, young. It's a fantastic game
we prepared 4 mate in 3
which can unite people and positions! White is on
generations! It's a language which
the move!
JUDIT you'll find people "speak" in every
country. If you reach a certain
level you find a very rich world!
POLGAR Art, sport, logic, psychology, a
battlefield, imagination, creativity
Solutions from February

SAID ABOUT not only in practical games but

don't forget either how amazing a
feeling it is to compose a study,
> Puzzle #1:
1.Nf8 Bxd3 (1...Ndxc3 2.Nf5

CHESS: for example (unfortunately that's

not appreciated these days but
it's a fantastic part of chess!).
Nd1 3.Ne7#) 2.Rd4+ Kxc5
3.Nxd7#
>Puzzle #2:
1. Nd4 Nc3 (1...Nc5 2. Nc2 Nb3
3.Ne3#) 2. Nc6 Nxd1 3. Nxe5#
>Playing chess has many aspects >Puzzle #3:
that can be useful in everyday 1.hxg5 Be3 (1...g1=Q 2. Qh4+
situations like planning, 2. Qh4+ Kf3 3. Qe5#) Ke5 3.
concentration and combinations. Qe4#
>Puzzle #4:
You learn to win but also to lose
1. Qf7 exf3 (1...Bg8 2. Qf6+
and to be creative. Kh7 3. Ng5#) 2. Kf6 f2 3. Qg7#

22