A hitchhiker's guide to the European Championship

6th European Individual Chess Championship

June 17 – July 3, 2005, Warsaw, Poland

The event is being organised by the Warsaw Foundation for Chess Development and Sport Club Polonia Warsaw under the auspices of the European Chess Union. The Championship will be held from June 17th (day of arrival) until July 3rd (day of departure), 2005 in Warsaw – Zegrze Poludniowe (about 35 km from the Warsaw Airport and 30km from the Warsaw Central Railway Station).

The championship will be a 13 round Swiss. Rate of play: 90 minutes for 40 moves plus 15 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per a move, starting from move 1.

The European Championship is open to all players representing the Chess Federations which comprise the European Chess Union (FIDE zones 1.1 to 1.9) regardless of their title or rating. There is also no limit of participants per federation, however applications have to be sent by the national federations, only. The national federations are kindly requested to fill in and return the Application Forms to the organizers as soon as possible but not later than April 25th, 2005.

The Guaranteed total prize fund (after the deduction of required payments of around 25,000 Euros to the ECU and to FIDE) is €120,000 (US $154,320). Moreover, the top ten players with highest ratings will receive all inclusive accommodation in a single room, at the expense of the organizers. All players must take part in the opening and closing ceremony. If one of the prize-winners is absent during the closing ceremony, his money prize will be reduced by 20% with a minimum deduction of 100 Euros. An amount of 10% will be deducted from all prize fund for Polish tax purposes.

The entry fee for the European Individual Championship is 65 Euros per player. Every national federation has to pay this fee to the ECU upon invoice sent by the ECU Treasurer. All participants and accompanying persons have to be insured for health and accident risk.

Accommodation is offered by the organizers in the following hotels:

1. Hotel 500 (picturesquely situated on Zegrzynski Lake, features a private beach; all rooms have bathrooms, satellite TV and telephone). The Championship will be played in this hotel. Address: Hotel 500, Warszawska 31A, Zegrze Poludniowe.
   • Double room – board (3 meals; Swedish table) and lodging 50 Euros per day/per person (16 days x 50 Euros = 800 Euros)
   • Single room – board (3 meals; Swedish table) and lodging 59 Euros per day/ per person (16 days x 59 Euros = 944 Euros)
     
2. Hotel Geovita (picturesquely situated on Zegrzynski Lake, all rooms have bathrooms, satellite TV and telephone). The hotel is located 10-15 minutes by bus from the playing hall. Free transportation will be provided. Address: Hotel Geovita, Ogrodowa 31, Jadwisin.
   • Double room – board (3 meals; Swedish table) and lodging 44 Euros per day/per person (16 days x 44 Euros = 704 Euros)
   • Single room – board (3 meals; Swedish table) and lodging 52 Euros per day/ per person (16 days x 52 Euros = 832 Euros)

Reservations made in the official hotels are valid only if the payments are made not later than April 25th, 2005. Players who choose another hotel than the official ones are obliged to pay 65 Euros to cover a part of the organizing expenses [hiring additional playing halls, additional arbiters (fee + expenses), free buffet etc.]. Players and accompanying persons who choose another hotel than the official ones will take the risk of their transportation to the playing venue, security, and all official tournament information. The organizers will provide bus transportation from Warsaw Airport and Railway Station Warszawa Centralna to the official hotels on June 17th and back on July 3rd at the price of 30 Euros per person.

Entry visas for Poland will promptly be granted by the embassies of the Poland in the respective country. The organizers will not be responsible for the participants’ visas, if necessary information (last name, first name, passport number, date of issue and validity) will be sent after April 25th, 2005. Players and accompanying persons wishing to receive an invitation for a visa from the organizers, have to stay in one of the official hotels, as according to the Polish law, by sending such an invitation, the organizers take responsibility of guarantee security, accommodation and full board. Therefore, an invitation for a visa will be sent only for the players who paid for their stay at one of the official hotels. Players and accompanying persons who prefer to stay in other hotel than the official ones, need to take care about their visa on their own.

During the tournament the weather is expected to be sunny, with temperature between 20° and 25° Celsius. The standard voltage in Poland is 220 Volts. The currency unit is the Polish Zloty (PLN). Convertible foreign currency may be exchanged at the airport, railway station, in all banks and exchange offices. All major credit cards are welcomed in the most of hotels, big shops and restaurants. The exchange rate (as of April 2nd, 2005) is approximately: 1 USD = 3,15 PLN, 1 Euro = 4,10 PLN.

Further information

Dr. Agnieszka Fornal-Urban, Tournament Director
Tel.: + 48 (22) 8876705
Fax: + 48 (22) 8876706
Cell: + 48 663020356
Email: fundacja-szachy (at) o2.pl
Maria Macieja, Deputy Director
Cell: +48 603391318
Email: maria.macieja (at) neostrada.pl

• Official web site (under construction)
• Full information in PDF
• European Chess Union home page
• 2004 European Chess Championship in Antalya