
Bucharest Kings: children first
During the top-notch tournament held in the city of Bucharest, with Caruana, Topalov, Ivanchuk, and local hero Nisipeanu, the Bucharest Individual School championship was also held in the hotel where the players stayed. For the children, it meant being able to not only play a fun chess tournament, but be inspired by the presence of the world's best.

An age where standing up is still necessary to comfortably reach some of the pieces

The playing hall where the Bucharest Individual School tournament was held

"I've got you now" - "I protest!"

The parents gather around as the tournament starts

Best buddies forever
They had an added incentive for doing well though: the best players from the event would have the priviliege of playing in a joint simul aganst all four of the chess giants.

Ivanchuk greets one of his very diminutive opponents

Topalov in line, facing a sea of boards

The focus of a warrior

Something wicked this way comes... notably an unstoppable white pawn on c7
After the simul ended, the prize ceremony of Bucharest Kings was held, celebrating an excellent tournament organized in embattled conditions.

Dan Gabor yields the microphone to Elisabeta Polirohinade, one of the key figures in
making the event happen.

A group shot of the organizers, important supporters of the tournament, and players

Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu (4th), Fabiano Caruana (3rd), Veselin Topalov (2nd), and
Vassily Ivanchuk, the tournament winner.
A short interview with Vassily Ivanchuk, the winner of the 2012 Kings Tournament
Final standings

All photos by Pascal Simon
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