
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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