Coming next week: 1st Geneva Chess Masters

6/19/2013 – Vladimir Kramnik, Hikaru Nakamura, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Judit Polgar – these are some of the stars that will participate in an eight-player rapid chess knock-out event from the 26th to the 30th of June 2013 in the Théâtre Pitoëff in Geneva, Switzerland. Two 25 min + 10 sec games, then two blitz and an armageddon decide who will proceed to the next round. There will be live coverage and commentary.

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Press release

From the 26th to the 30th of June 2013, the City Council of Geneva is proud to present the 1st Geneva Chess Masters, organized by the Geneva Chess Federation (Fédération Genevoise d’Echecs). Three World champions and a legendary woman grandmaster in Geneva!

The participants: Polgar, Nakamura, Kramnik, Kosteniuk, Mamedyarov, Pelletier, Edouard, Bacrot

Two four player groups challenging each other to qualify for the semi-finals and eventually the Grand Final. The concept is like the tennis masters tournaments – uncompromising games between the best players in the world. In the end, only one remains!

Eight elite players will appear on the stage of Théâtre Pitoëff:

  • Vladimir Kramnik, World N°3, World Champion from 2000 to 2007 and conqueror of the great Garry Kasparov
  • Judit Polgar, the greatest female player of all time, who has defeated nine male world champions
  • Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, newly crowned World Rapid Play Champion
  • Hikaru Nakamura, World Number 5, and fastest player in the world, undisputed king of Bullet chess
  • Alexandra Kosteniuk, Women’s World Champion from 2008 to 2010.
  • Étienne Bacrot, well-known members of the French Olympic team
  • Romain Edouard, well-known members of the French Olympic team
  • Yannick Pelletier, best Swiss player

Each match starts with two rapid games (25 minutes + 10 seconds increment per move). If the score is still equal, the match proceeds with two blitz games (4 minutes + 2 seconds increment per move). Finally, if necessary, a "Sudden Death" blitz game is played (Black has one minute less but can afford a draw to qualify, whereas White must win).

Lots will be drawn for the pairings during the Opening Ceremony on Tuesday 25 June at 6:00pm. The first round starts on Wednesday 26 June at 3:30 pm. The qualifying phase takes place from the 26th to the 28th of June. Semi-finals are to be played on Saturday 29 June and the Final on Sunday 30 June. All games will be broadcasted live on the Internet and spectators will have the possibility to follow the games with French and English commentary.

The venue

The first Geneva Chess Masters will take placein the Pitoeff Theater, Rue Jean-Violette / Rue de Carouge, Geneva, Switzerland. The A and B Opens will take place beneath in the Salle Communale of Plainpalais. Here is the full schedule.


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Links

The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 12 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.