European Individual Chess Championships 2006
The Turkish Chess Federation (TCF) is organising the European Individual Championships
for Men and Women. It will take place from 2 to 17 April in Kusadasi, on the
west coast of Turkey. The TCF invites all chess players to Kusadasi in April.
Idea is to select European King and Queen of 2006. 16 Men and 12 women will
qualify for the next stage of the World Cup.

"We want to test the highest quality of an organisation," said the
very active president of the Turkish Chess Federation, Ali Nihat Yazici. "We
want to break the upper limits for the quality! We have organised many tournaments
in the past. These European Champipnships willl be the best, we hope, with the
highest organisation quality, venue and prize fund for this level."
The total prize fund is €78,000, including amateurs category and professionals.
Accommodation is provided at the five-star Korumar Hotel, which is located on
one of the best beaches of Kusadasi, surrounded by forest.

Where is Kusadasi?
Kusadasi is in the western part of Turkey, on the Aegean Sea side. It is located
very close to Ephesus, the best-preserved classical city on the Mediterranean,
and the best place in the world to get the feeling for what life was like in
Greek times. Ephesus is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Ephesus, one of the wonders of the Ancient World
Kusadasi
This seaside resort town has grown immensely in the last 30 years, and is
especially popular with package holiday-makers from Europe. From a population
of 6000 in the 1970s, it is now closer to 50,000, although a high proportion
of this are part of the tourist industry and here only for the summer. Many
cruising ships travelling around the Aegean Islands stop here, especially because
of its close proximity (20km) to Selcuk. Kusadasi is a good base to explore
this and other ancient cities like Priene and Didyma.
Although there is little of historical interest in Kusadasi itself, the town
is popular predominantly because of its many hotels, restaurants, souvenir and
carpet shops, and lively nightlife. The Kale district has some old traditional
houses and narrow streets, and gives some indication of what the town used to
be like. The most famous beach is Kadinlar Plaji, 2.5 km south of the town,
dominated by huge hotels. It can get very crowded in summer. There are several
small beaches further south, and closer to town is Yilanci Burnu, the peninsular.
How to get to Kusadasi
First you make registration, all details are given in attached PDF files:
Then book a ticket to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport. This is just one
hour on the highway from Kusadasi. If you fly to Istanbul with Turkish Airlines,
then the extension to Izmir will be very cheap. You can combine a beach and
history holiday with the great sport of chess.
Hotel Korumar
The Hotel Korumar is located on the beach and surrounded by forests. The hotel
web site gives you full information on its location and facilities. All
players and guests will stay in the hotel, at a rate of €49 per person
in a double room and €69 in a single room. This is for accommodation and
full board plus, which means that during lunch and dinner drinks are included.
The Korumar Hotel, with its superb location, commands the most beautiful sea
view and presents a combination of style, high-standard accommodation and a
wide range of modern facilities to offer unforgettable holidays to its guest
of all ages. Here are a few photos from Korumar!







The organiser
The
European Individual Championships are being staged by the Turkish Chess Federation
(Türkiye Satranc Federasyonu) under the directions of its President Ali
Nihat Yazici, who is known for staging numerous international chess tournaments
– for instance the European individual, team and youth championships in
the last few years.
Ali Nihat attended the Technical University of Istanbul to study electronic
and communication engineering. In 1994 he did an MBA degree at the Middle East
Technical University, and in 1996 completed the highest honour degree of IAB
(International Academy of Broadcasting) in Montreux, Switzerland. He has worked
as an engineer in the Turkish Radio Television Corporation, becoming Chief Engineer
of the TRT in 1992, and Head of the TV department of TRT in 1999.
In 2000 Ali, who speaks English and French (and of course occasionally Turkish),
was elected President of the Turkish Chess Federation. He is a board member of the
ECU (European Chess Union), Deputy President of the MCA (Mediterrenean Chess
Association), Chairman of FIDE's Chess in Schools Commission, FIDE Rules and
Tournaments Regulations Committee Member, a FIDE International Arbiter and FIDE
international Chess Organiser. Currently he is running
for Deputy President of FIDE in next year's elections (together with chess
organiser and business tycoon Bessel Kok). The official campaign web site is
locaced at http://www.rightmove06.org.