Chess days and nights in Antalya and Bangkok

On our Tournament Calendar page we have a large number of events for regular players, all over the world. But if you are an IM or GM you may want to take a look at the following three, which we describe in summary, with the full announcements attached. The European Individual Championship will, we predict, cause concern amongst some players, who as the past has shown, do not like to be forced to stay in one particular hotel. And the Asean Masters in Thailand, to be held three times a month, would seem to offer titled players no prizes. In fact they must pay substantial amounts ($350–900) for the privilege of playing. The Biel event seems fine. You figure it out, here's the data:

Fifth European Individual Chess Championship

The Turkish Chess Federation, under the auspices of the European Chess Union and with the support of the General Directorate of Youth and Sport of the Turkish Republic, has announced the venue, dates and schedule of the 5th European Individual Chess Championship 2004. Here's a summary, the full announcement is attached as a PDF file.

• The Championship will be held from May 14 (day of arrival) until May 31 (day of departure) 2004 in Antalya, Kemer-Beldibi.

• The European Individual Championship is open to all players representing ECU Chess Federation (zones 1.1 - 1.9) regardless of their title or rating. Applications have to be sent by national federations.

• The European Individual Championship 2004 is a preliminary qualification event for the 2005/2006 World Chess Championship. According to the decision passed by the ECU Board twelve players will qualify for the WCC.

• The championship is a 13 round Swiss. The rate of play is 1.30 hours for the whole game with an increment of 30 seconds per move from move 1.

• The prize money is €8.000 for first place, €5.000 for second, €4000 for third, etc. with numbers 18-20 getting €600 each. The total prize fund is €45,000. All prizes are tax-free.

• The tournament official hotel will be declared on 15 April. The organizers will offer 5-star accommodation all inclusive in the hotel that is hosting the event. The announcement states that "According to the ECU Tournament Rules 2003 all the participants have to accommodate at the hotel offered by the organizers." The rate per person per night in a single room is €79, in a double room €59. These prices include accommodation, VAT, insurance and service tax. The cost for transportation from and to the airport is €60.

• The entry fee for the European Individual Championship is €65 per player. Every national federation has to pay this fee to ECU before start of the tournament.

• All payments for accommodation have to be done by bank transfer to the bank account or in cash upon arrival. A player may be excluded from the players list without paying for accommodation.

  Full announcement in PDF

Asean Masters Chess Congress 2004

The Asean Masters Chess Congress is being organised by the Asean Chess Academy as a continuous series of tournaments throughout a calendar year. Tournaments (IM or GM) will be held over a duration of ten days. The first tournaments will be held from 4 to 11 June, 13 to 20 June and 22 to 29 June 2004. Subsequently, from July onwards, all new tournaments will commence on every 1st, 11th and 21st days of the month.

• The venue is the Nice Palace Hotel, Soi 1/1 Inthermara, Suthisarn Road, Saphan Khwai, Bangkok, Thailand.

• The minimum category of these titled tournaments is 2251 for the IM tournaments and 2401 for the GM tournaments.

• The time control is 90 minutes per game with a 30 seconds increment per move.

• No prize money or prizes shall be awarded.

• Registration fee inclusive of entry fee, board and lodging (twin-sharing basis) range from $350 (for IMs over 2400) to $900 (for GMs below 2401).

  Full details in PDF

37th Biel International Chess Festival

Press release
Dear Chess friends, journalists and visitors from the Biel Chess Festival,

It’s a tradition for the 37th summer in the row, the Biel International Chess Festival will be held in the Congress hall of our city. Champions, tradition, competition and air conditioned will be on the schedule of our event.

Have a look on our website (see link below) that has been completely renovated, through the “New Access” enterprise. It is accessible in english, german, french and even russian.

NEW:

• opportunity to subscribe online for the main competitions
• reductions for subscriptions before April 30th and then before Mai 31th
• two free stay in hotels to win during the Festival in Biel: one stay at 3*** hotel in city center, another at a 2** hotel in city center (all nights and breakfasts included, for one person). All participants that will have subscribed and made their payment till April 30th will be automatically take part in the draw.

AGAIN...

• online booking of hotels and other rooms
• special rates for accomodation through the Biel Tourist Office

AND STILL...

• ten tournaments at your disposal, for all the tastes, strenghts and timetables
• a very strong Grandmaster tournament (category 17)
• an “Accentus” Grandmaster tournament, with six of the best juniors of the world.

Links

For information: www.bielchessfestival.ch
Email: media@bielchessfestival.ch