Master Class Vol. 12: Viswanathan Anand
This DVD allows you to learn from the example of one of the best players in the history of chess and from the explanations of the authors how to successfully organise your games strategically, and how to keep your opponent permanently under pressure.
The highly colourful Chess Houseboat tournament is once again scheduled to be held at the tourist-friendly ‘God’s own country’, the state of Kerala, India from November 23 - 30, 2024. The new attractions this year are the three different places of stay: at the floating houseboat itself in the Vembanadu lake, a beachfront resort at Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala, and a majestic Dutch fort at Cochin. The participants will also have the pleasure of travelling by the new-age Indian luxury train, the ‘Vande Bharat’ express (‘Praise India’ express) on their journey to Trivandrum and back to Cochin.
Chess Houseboat logo
The chess houseboat is aimed at showcasing the natural beauty of the state, its rich cultural heritage and the traditional cuisine, and is once again supported by the Kerala Tourism, the official department of the state government.
Kerala Tourism and KTDC logos
In its new avatar this year, the event will be held for eight days, thus extended by a day compared to its previous editions. There will be an event with a Rapid time control of 20 minutes + 5 seconds per game, carrying a total prize fund of 2300 Euros with a first prize of 500 Euros, and a Blitz event with a time control of 3 minutes + 2 seconds per game with trophies as prizes. Both will be unrated events with a total of eight rounds, and follow Swiss system rules.
The first two rounds of the rapid event will be played at a floating houseboat in the Vembanadu Lake, the main attraction of the event. Just like the previous editions, the participants will be enthralled by the sights and sounds of the beautiful ambience of the houseboat, as it takes the participants around the vast expanse of the waterscape deep inside the state of Kerala, along the town of Alappuzha.
A floating houseboat at the Vembanadu backwaters, the tournament venue for the first two days | Photo: Orient Chess Moves
The tournament hall | Photo: Orient Chess Moves
The drawing room of the luxury Chess Houseboat
A bedroom in the Chess Houseboat
From Alappuzha, the participants will be taken to Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala, by the premier Vande Bharat trains which have become the norm for luxury travel on wheels of the country in the last few years. The journey covers a distance of 182 kilometres in just about 2.25 hours, in luxurious settings.
A Vande Bharat Train of Kerala
The interiors of the Vande Bharat Train
The remaining six rounds of the tournament will take place at KTDC Samudra, the luxury beach resort set on the beautiful beach of Kovalam on the outskirts of Trivandrum city, a popular destination for holidaymakers.
All the rooms of the KTDC Samudra resort have a view of the ocean and the beach
A view of the beach resort
The final part of the event moves to the city of Cochin once again, as the participants will get to stay at the luxurious Bolgatty Palace, built by the Dutch in the 18th century and has been converted into a heritage hotel resort. The blitz event and the prize distribution ceremony will be held here.
The majestic Bolgatty Palace resort
The interiors of the Bolgatty Palace
The event is not about visiting some of the beautiful sights of Kerala, but also about tasting its rich heritage and culture, as the organizers arrange showcase traditional art forms of the state during relaxed evenings.
A performance of the ‘Bharatanatyam’ dance
‘Kalaripayattu’ is a rich ancient martial art form of Kerala
Kerala has its own great cuisine, which was a great hit during the previous editions of the houseboat events, and it promises to be its own attraction during the event.
Participants of the 2023 event enjoying the lunch offered at the houseboat itself
Pavel Matocha, the organiser of the Chess Train event of Europe and one of the inspirations of the Houseboat event, enjoying the taste of Kerala food along with his family
The all-inclusive packages for playing the entire event, are pegged at 1200 Euros for each participant, with different discounts and subsidised rates for accompanying persons, participants above 60 years, women participants, and juniors who confirm their entries before June 1, 2024.
Participants of the 2023 event
|
23 November |
Reception at Kochi Airport Transportation to Houseboat Stay at Houseboat in Vembanad Lake with dinner |
|
24 November |
Stay in Houseboat with breakfast, lunch, tea, snacks, and dinner Rounds 1 & 2 in the floating Houseboat Houseboat cruise Cultural Performance in the evening |
|
25 November |
Breakfast at Houseboat, and checkout Board Vande Bharat express at Cochin 12.40 Reach Trivandrum at 3.05 PM. Transport to Kovalam KTDC Samudra, and Dinner |
|
26 November |
Breakfast, Lunchy and dinner and stay at Samudra Inauguration Ceremony Rounds 3 - 4 at Samudra Cultural performance in the evening |
|
27 November |
Breakfast, Lunch and dinner and stay at Samudra Rounds 5 - 6 at Samudra Cultural performance in the evening |
|
28 November |
Blitz Tournament at Samudra Lunch Board Vande Bharat Express at 4.05 pm Arrival at Cochin at 6.35 PM Transfer to Bolghatty Palace Hotel and Dinner |
|
29 November |
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner and stay at Bolgatty Palace Rounds 7-8 and Prize Distribution ceremony at Bolgatty Palace |
|
30 November |
Breakfast Departure |
Package cost
|
All-inclusive package |
1200 Euros |
|
Discounts (if paid before 1 June) | |
|
Participants |
1050 Euros |
|
For previous participants of Chess Houseboat |
1000 Euros |
|
For accompanying persons |
1000 Euros |
|
For participants above 60 years |
1000 Euros |
|
For juniors below 15 years |
1000 Euros |
|
For women participants |
1000 Euros |
Package includes:
• Airport pick up and drop off
• Rapid & Blitz Chess tournaments entry fees
• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea, Snacks & unlimited drinking water from 23/11 evening to 30/11 morning
• Accommodation from 23/11 evening to 30/11 morning
• Houseboat cruises & transportation, Tourism tickets & Cultural performances
|
I |
500 euros + Trophy |
Best Woman |
150 euros+ Trophy |
|
II |
400 euros + Trophy |
Best Veteran+60 |
150 euros+ Trophy |
|
III |
300 euros + Trophy |
Best Veteran+65 |
150 euros+ Trophy |
|
IV |
200 euros + Trophy |
Best Unrated |
150 euros+ Trophy |
|
V |
150 euros + Trophy |
Best Indian |
150 euros+ Trophy |
|
VI – X Trophies + Prizes in kind | |||
|
I - VI |
Trophy + Prize in kind |
|
Best Woman |
Trophy + Prize in kind |
|
Best Veteran +60 |
Trophy + Prize in kind |
|
Best Junior |
Trophy + Prize in kind |
Further details of the tournament can be had from:
Prof. N R Anilkumar
passedpawn@gmail.com
Whatsapp +919446230888/ +918281263524
