In Szeged chess has respect for its traditions. The one who actually made the people of Szeged take to playing chess was Géza Maróczy, International Chess Grandmaster. He was born in Szeged in 1870, and he was the captain of the national chess team, winning the gold medal at the London Chess Olympic Games in 1927. And he was the captain of the undefeated winner Hungarian chess team at the Berlin Olympic games in 1936. The successes, oeuvre and precious works of Geza Maroczy, create an excellent basis for thousands of young people in Szeged to be enthusiastic about this sport, and to learn the finesse of the game in different associations. Those who come to Szeged will always be easy to find a partner for a good chess game.

The Géza Maróczy Square. On the plaque it says: Géza Maróczy (1870-1951). More than half a century long a leading chess player, two times Olympiad Champion (1927 London and 1936 München).

The grandmaster Péter Lékó – in Szeged we elected him as the Honorary Freeman of the City – belonging to the top-notch players in the world, makes thousands of fans filled with enthusiasm any time he takes part in an international tournament. Every year we organise some international chess event. In 2004 the Hungary-Poland International Women Chess Match was held in Szeged. In 2005 the City organised the 53rd National Chess Women’s Championship. On the other hand, Péter Lékó has given 100-board simultaneous displays both in 2004 and in 2005 in the main square of Szeged. Apart from all these, Szeged is the place for youth rapid championships every year.

The 3rd Szeged Cup is:

• The Internation Women's Open Hungarian Chess Championship 2006
• The Hungarian Women's Team Chess Championship 2006
• The Hungarian Women's U20 Chess Championship 2006

From September 9th until 17th, in the Novotel Hotel, 36 participants are playing from six countries, including ten WGMs (four IMs) and four WIM. The event is a nine rounds swiss, with time controls 90 min. for the game + 30 sec. increments per move.

The Hungarian Women's Championship in progress, with GM Almasi Zoltan, who is present as a guest, watching the fifth round game Shadrina-Pokorna

In round five 19-year-old Veronika Schneider beat Ticia Gara with the black pieces

The Vice-Mayor of the city, watching the game Muzychuk-Olarasuis, a big chess fan.

The fifth round game Muzychuk-Madl, which ended in a draw

Standings after six rounds

Szeged – the city of sunshine

By Tibor Papp

There are 160 thousand inhabitants living in the city, so Szeged is the fourth biggest city in Hungary. But the daily population is about 190 thousand. Our city is the economic, scientific and cultural centre of the South Great Plain Region. Szeged is 170 kilometres from Budapest, along important national and international transport corridors. By the fact that both the Romanian and Serbian borders are very near, Szeged has a key role. As Hungary joined the European Union, the southern border line became strategically important for Europe and for Hungary as well.

After Budapest, Szeged is the second biggest centre for education, research and culture. After the capital, there is the widest research institution network in Szeged. With important research in biotechnology and information technology, we develop knowledge society, and it makes our city competitive.

The conquering Hungarians settled down in this area in the 9th and 10th century. It was in 1183 that Szeged was first mentioned in written document, a royal diploma. After the Turkish Ottoman invasion, in 1719 Szeged obtained the status of a free royal city. The 18th century boom was crowned in the reform age, in the middle of the 19th century, when the railway reached Szeged, steamboats appeared on river Tisza and new factories were established. And then came the Great Flood, in 12 March 1879, which destroyed almost the whole city.

At the turn of the century, as the reconstruction was completed, the centre of Szeged gained its present look. As Franz Josef, the Habsburg Emperor and King of Hungary said: “Szeged has become more beautiful than it was.” In the second half of the 20th century industries of Szeged developed rapidly, mainly due to the crude oil that was found near the city. Since 1962, Szeged is the administrative centre of Csongrád County. And in 2005, as the M5 Motorway reached the city, Szeged was integrated in the European circulation.

The Ferenc Móra Museum

Szeged has some characteristics that make the city popular. The number of students is just like a population of a middle sized city. Szeged is traditionally the city of young people. We name the year of 2005 the “Year of Young People”. We have a vivid cultural life, and Szeged becomes a city of festivals during summer. The Open Air Festival, first organised in 1931, is one of the most attractive cultural event in Hungary. The “Szeged Youth Days” is the oldest pop-rock festival in Hungary, where several thousand young people come together. Not only cultural events attract visitors, but also the fact that Szeged is the city of sunshine. In Hungary, the highest number of sunny hours is measured here. Therefore, is now becoming more and more important in the developing economy of the city.

We celebrate the Day of Szeged on the 21st of May every year. This time at the Bridge Fair, which actually takes place on the bridge, the ethnic minorities as well as the sister-cities present themselves.

We, in Szeged, believe that our home is a gate to Europe. That is also a reason why we pay attention to improving the sister-city relations. The sister-cities show how much Szeged is Europe oriented. Out of 17 sister-cities 15 can be found in Europe. Szeged always wanted to learn more about the rich cultures in Europe, and we always wanted others to know us. It was in 2003 that we first organised the Festival of Sister-Cities. Several times we took part in Hungarian cultural weeks in Turku, Pula, Darmstadt, Liege, and Szeged is regularly appears in the festivals of our sister-cities. The University of Szeged has carried out successful exchanges with many European universities.

The Dom Square with the University of Szeged

Szeged can be proud of many achievements. The city centre originally was built after the Great Flood, by the end of the 19th century. The total reconstruction of the city centre was carried out between 1997 and 2003. It was a total reconstruction including all houses, statues, covering of streets and squares. In 2004 the Europa Nostra Alliance recognised what we did for preserving the cultural heritage with a very respectable award. In Szeged, we try to use modern solutions during the investments. At the reconstruction of the city hospital solar energy collectors were installed, covering 800 square metres on the roof of the hospital. With this about half of the traditional heating is no longer necessary. For this Szeged was given the “Climate Star” award by the international Climate Alliance.

The famous pedestrian street Karasz

Szeged, the first city in Hungary that won the Europe Prize 2006. This is the highest award of the Council of Europe, created in 1955 to recognize outstanding efforts in promoting European unity.