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Press release
The 50th Anniversary edition of the Biel Chess Festival, the second oldest chess event in Europe (Hastings is the oldest active tournament, dating from 1895, but Wijk aan Zee, and others are also older than Biel —Ed.), starts with the ACCENTUS Rapid Tournament. Former world champion Anatoly Karpov (RUS) is among the prestigious guests. In the ten-participant Grandmaster Tournament, experience faces youth. In addition to the top-ranked Pentala Harikrishna (IND) and 2016 women world champion Hou Yifan (CHN), the new Swiss Grandmaster Noël Studer is taking part. This year's 50th edition will feature ten different tournaments during twelve days. Over 600 participants from all over the world are expected.
The Biel Chess Festival took place for the first time In July 1968. The organizers staged the «International Open of the Chess Club Biel» and 34 participants from nine nations responded to the invitation. In the following five decades, the festival attracted many chess stars, and Biel was even entrusted to organize the Interzonal Tournament at three occasions (1976, 1985 and 1993).
The first highlight of the 50th anniversary edition can be enjoyed on the second day of the festival. The ACCENTUS Rapid Tournament will gather, besides some players of the Grandmaster Tournament, former world champion Anatoly Karpov (RUS) and Vlastimil Hort (GER). The latter won the Grandmaster Tournament twice in the eighties and has been a long-time member of the Biel chess club, while Karpov won the tournament three times (1990, 1992 and 1996). The field also includes native Biel grandmaster Yannick Pelletier. With eleven participations in the Grandmaster Tournament, Pelletier is an important part of the recent festival history. Since 2013, he has been working as Director of the closed tournament himself.
In the Grandmaster Tournament (July 24 to August 2), experience is opposed to youth. The Russian Alexander Morozevich returns to Biel many years after his third victory. However, he is not the only tough opponent for top seed Pentala Harikrishna from India. World’s best female player Hou Yifan (CHN) as well as FIDE World Champion from 2002 Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR) will also fight for the top places. Back to Biel is also David Navara (CZE). He stunned the chess world in 2015 when he won one of the most spectacular games of the festival’s history with a sensational king march in his opponent’s camp.
Besides familiar faces, there are also newcomers in the Grandmaster Tournament. 20-year-old Noël Studer from Bern has just been awarded the Grandmaster title, while Nico Georgiadis (21, SUI) is also on his way there. With their strong play over the last few years, they have earned their right to participate in the prestigious Grandmaster Tournament. It also underlines the philosophy of the Biel Chess Festival, which is to promote young talents by giving them the chance to meet the elite. With this spectacular field, exciting and competitive games are guaranteed.
| Player |
Nat |
Born |
w-rank |
Rating |
| Pentala Harikrishna |
IND |
1986 |
16 |
2750 |
| David Navara |
CZE |
1985 |
21 |
2739 |
| Ruslan Ponomariov |
UKR |
1983 |
37 |
2712 |
| Peter Leko |
HUN |
1979 |
41 |
2703 |
| Etienne Bacrot |
FRA |
1983 |
48 |
2696 |
| Alexander Morozevich |
RUS |
1977 |
74 |
2675 |
| Hou Yifan |
CHN |
1994 |
1* |
2652 |
| Rafael Vaganian |
ARM |
1951 |
396 |
2560 |
| Noël Studer |
SUI |
1996 |
|
2498 |
| Nico Georgiadis |
SUI |
1996 |
|
2472 |
* World women's rankings
| Player |
Nat |
Born |
rapid rating |
| David Navara |
CZE |
1985 |
2716 |
| Pentala Harikrishna |
IND |
1986 |
2706 |
| Alexander Morozevich |
RUS |
1977 |
2662 |
| Yannick Pelletier |
SUI |
1976 |
2644 |
| Anatoly Karpov |
RUS |
1951 |
2611 |
| Hou Yifan |
CHN |
1994 |
2611 |
| Rafael Vaganian |
ARM |
1951 |
2560* |
| Vlastimil Hort |
DEU |
1944 |
2455 |
* classic FIDE rating, no rapid rating available
| Date/Time | July 24-August 2, 2017; 2 p.m. (Aug. 2: 11 a.m.) Rest day on July 29. |
| Mode | nine round Swiss system. |
| Time control | 90 minutes for the first 40 moves + 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an addition of 30 seconds per move starting from move one. |
| Prizes | CHF 6'000, 4'500, 3'500, 3'000, 2'500, 2'000, 1'500, 1'200, 1'000, 800, 700, 600, 2x500, 3x300, 3x200. Best women players: CHF 500, 300. Best senior (1957-), best junior (1997+), best child (2001+): each CHF 500. Best players with Elo <2200 and <2100: CHF 500, 400, 300, 200, 100. Best Swiss players (with CH-passport): CHF 1'000, 600, 300. Total prize fund: CHF 37'000. |
| Admission | Players with FIDE-rating (list May, June or July 2017) or national rating (e.g. Swiss Elo list 2/2017 or 3/2017) ELO 2000 and more. Participants without international rating must show proof of playing strength. Applications must be received no later than May 31, 2017 (they should include all tournaments results from the past two years and be signed by the club president). |
Entries will be accepted on July 24, 2017 until 12.00 p.m. latest at the Festival office (reception). The final standings will be created according to point number, Buchholz and progressive score. The worst score in each case will be deleted. Prizes will be shared upon the final ranking (and not the “Hort System”).
For more information about the 50th International Chess Festival Biel, please visit our official redesigned website.
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