The 37th Biel International Chess Festival takes place from July 17 to 30, 2004, in Biel (or Bienne, as it is locally called), Switzerland. The main event includes six top GMs: the winner of the 2003 tournament, world number seven Alexander Morozevich (Elo 2732) will be back to defend his title. The category is 17 with five other players, among them Etienne Bacrot (France) and Yannick Pelletier (Switzerland).
To kick things off and promote the event the organisers staged a simultaneous exhibition for children in the Hotel Elite in Biel. The masters were the top Swiss GM Yannick Pelletier and the freshly crowned European Women's Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk. Both did it without requiring a fee, with Alexandra in fact bringing along a lot of prizes and presents for the children. Most of the following pictures are from her web site, where you will find plenty more
Alexandra Kosteniuk with the Bieler kids
During the simul
Yannick at work
I know I can win this thing...
An opponent with the cool Kosteniuk cap
Lots and lots of pictures, including all opponents, on the Kosteniuk
web site
Yannick gets a gift for his efforts
Organisers Hans Suri and Photius Lucio Barvas with their simul star
What, you thought they would be of the world's most famous chess model? Well, nobody can say we have haven't published enough pictures of Alexandra Kosteniuk on our news pages. This time instead of the perennial babes we bring you for a change a chess hunk. After all we do not want to neglect any minority groups (women) who may visit our site.
Yannick Pelletier, 5 foot 7, 143 pounds, 36-31-39 (yes, we measured)
Top-ranked Swiss GM, 27 years old, Elo 2581
Yannick at work, playing in the German Bundesliga
Further information: www.bielchessfestival.ch
Email: www.bielchessfestival.ch
| 'I
decided to end my professional career' 09.08.2003 Alexander Morozevich has a 2679 rating and is currently number 23 in the world. This enigmatic and innovative player has decided to give up serious professional chess. The reason: there are no real prospects left in the chess world. "That’s why I study chess no more than four or five hours a week." Alex explains it all in this interview given after a stunning victory in Biel. |
| Morozevich
leads in Biel 30.07.2003 Alexander Morozevich, Super-GM from Moscow, is in the lead at the Super-GM tournament at the 36th International Chess Festival in Biel (Switzerland). He is closely followed by the young French player Etienne Bacrot and Israeli Ilia Smirin. We bring you games, results and an illustrated report. |
| Ridiculous,
cheeky, brilliant 30.07.2002 The Swiss national team had already lost the battle, and it was up to Werner Hug to make the final result look a little more graceful. The former world junior champion went to work with circumspection and soon had a commanding advantage. Then came the shock: a "ridiculous, cheeky and brilliant" move (Hug), which took the Swiss veteran to the brink of defeat. You can replay the game here. |
| 'Blitzky'
succumbs to Shredder 29.07.2002 The Swiss national team is not doing so well. In the third game against our program Shredder the Internet chess specialist Florian Jenni (22, Elo 2525, handle: "Blitzky") played a few inaccurate moves and was defeated. The final game (against 1971 world junior champion Werner Hug) can be viewed at 20:15h (19:15 London, 18:15 GMT, 12:15 p.m. NY) on the Playchess server, with live commentary by GM Miso Cebalo. |
| Shredder
digs into the Swiss National team 28.07.2002 Our program Shredder has scored 1.5 points out of two games so far against the Swiss national team. The second encounter against Yannick Pelletier was a close call for the computer. The games start at 20:15 European time and are carried live on the Playchess server. Read all about this match and on the Biel Chess Festival in our illustrated report. |
| Shredder
vs the Swiss National Team 26.07.2002 Starting from Friday, July 26, our programm Shredder is playing an interesting match as part of the Chess Festival in Biel. Shredder, operated by its author Stefan Meyer-Kahlen, is taking on the Swiss national team. The games will start at 20:15 European time and be carried live on the Playchess server, with live analysis after the games are over. More |
| Kortchnoï
frappe d'entrée 23.07.2002 Korchnoi starts with a bang. The 71-year-old veteran is once again show his opponents that he is not yet finished with chess – not by a long shot. With a win and a draw he leads the field at the Biel Chess Festival, which is being covered live (from 14:00 MET) on the Playchess server. In the evening at 20:00 MET the best games of the day are discussed there by GM Miso Cebalo. More |
