The "World Chess Cup" was until now the official FIDE Knockout World
Championship, which was staged in Las Vegas (1999), Delhi/Teheran (2000), Moscow
(2002) and Libya (2004), producing the world champions Khalifman, Anand, Ponomariov
and Kasimdzhanov. A few months ago FIDE announced a new
World Championship cycle, which went back to the classical chess format,
which starts with the eight-player double round robin in San Luis at the end
of this month.
With that the 128-player knockout event became the "World Chess Cup",
and serves as a qualifier for the Candidates stage of the world championship
(the first five qualify). Naturally the tournament will also produce a "Knockout"
or World Cup Champion, who will be distinct from the FIDE or general world
champion.
The next World Cup, as announced in the announcement below, will be staged
in the autonomous region of Yugra in the town of Khanty-Mansiysk, from December
3rd to 24, 2005. It is remarkable that the organisation has managed to secure
a total prize fund of over US $1.5 million, with President Ilyumzhinov chipping
in with $300,000 towards this and organisational costs.
The only question left open is: where on earth (literally in this case) is
Yugra and Khanty-Mansiysk. We have done some research and come up with some
important information. First of all, in order to remember it and be able to
drop the name in casual conversation you should note that it is roughly "kanty-mansisk",
with the first part rhyming with "hunty", the second with "fun-sick". If you are up to it, pronounce the initial "k" like the guttural "ch" in the German "Dach" or the Spanish "rojo". The Russian original is Ха́нты-Манси́йск.
The town is located about 1400 miles (2250 km) east of Moscow, just north
of Kazakhstan. It is the Khantia-Mansia and is located on the Irtysh River,
15 km from its confluence with the Ob.
Khanty-Mansiysk – map by Google
Earth
We learn, from a web site given below, that in 1637 Samarovsky Yam was founded
on the right bank of the Irtysh River, at the foot of steep mountains, with
the thick cedar forest growing on them. From it the settlement of Samarovo
and then the town of Khanty-Mansiysk originated. The first residents of Samarovo
were 50 horse-drivers with their families. The population of Samarovo increased
rapidly, and by 1748 there were already 487 horse-drivers in the settlement.
Today the town of Khanty-Mansiysk is the center of business life in the region,
with all amenities, hotels, sports objects, motorways, a medical center, a
center of Arts for gifted children, a skiing center, and many other things.
Modern communication facilities are available to connect with foreign and CIS
countries. The population is currently 55,700. More information and a lot of
pictures are available at this Khanty-Mansiysk
web site.
Pictures of Khanty-Mansiysk
WORLD CHESS CUP 2005 IN KHANTY-MANSIYSK OF RUSSIA
The World Chess Federation has reached an agreement with the leadership of
the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Region-Yugra in respect of the organisation
of the 2005 World Chess Cup. The tournament will be taking place from 3 to
24 December 2005 with the total prize fund of USD 1,572,000.
The respective document was signed today between FIDE and the Executive Direction
of "Yugra-Intersport". According to the Agreement, the first tranche
of 200, 000 USD has been transferred to FIDE today. The balance of the agreed
prize fund should reach the FIDE Bank account by 15 October 2005.
The Organiser covers the organizing costs and USD 1,300,000 of the prize fund.
The FIDE President H.E. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has also contributed with a sponsorship
to the tune of USD 300,000.
The World Cup venue shall be the Arts Centre for the Talented Children of
the North. The participants, guests and principals shall be accommodated in
the hotel "Yugra
Valley".
In the World Cup Tournament 128 players shall be participating according to
the knockout format: World Champion + four (4) semi-finalists from the Libya
World Championship, Women's World Champion, two (2) World Junior U-20 Champions
(2004 & 2005), ninety (90) players from Continental Championships, twenty
(20) rated players, seven (7) FIDE President nominees, three (3) Organiser
nominees.
The names of the Asian qualifiers will be known on 16 October 2005, of the
African qualifiers – on 15 November 2005 and the name of the World Junior
Champion U-20 will be known on 22 November 2005. The full list with the pairings
will be announced on 23 November 2005.
FIDE is pleased to inform the world chess community that since 2004 it has
raised over five million USD for the World Chess Championships.
Schedule for the World Cup Tournament:
Opening Ceremony
Players' meeting |
Dec. 3 |
| Round 1 |
Dec. 4-5 |
| Tie breaks |
Dec. 6 |
| Round 2 |
Dec. 7-8 |
| Tie breaks |
Dec. 9 |
| Round 3 |
Dec. 10-11 |
| Tie breaks |
Dec. 12 |
| Round 4 |
Dec. 13-14 |
| Tie breaks |
Dec. 15 |
| Round 5 |
Dec. 16-17 |
| Tie breaks |
Dec. 18 |
| Round 6 |
Dec. 19-20 |
| Tie breaks |
Dec. 21 |
| Round 7 |
Dec. 22-23 |
Tie breaks/
Closing ceremony |
Dec. 24 |
Source: www.fide.com
