Donchenko playing in Wijk!

by ChessBase
1/15/2021 – Despite the corona pandemic, the Tata Steel Tournament 2021 in Wijk aan Zee is an over-the-board tournament, where the top players face each other live. But the safety measures are strict, and corona stopped Daniil Dubov from taking part. The Russian Grandmaster who is famous for his creative attacking chess, had to cancel after someone close to him was tested positive for Covid-19. But the organisers found a last-minute-replacement: the young German Grandmaster Alexander Donchenko (pictured). The tournament will begin tomorrow, Saturday, January 16, and last till January 31. | Photo: Amruta Mokal

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Fully COVID-19 proof chess arena

Press release, Tata Steel Chess Tournament, 15 January 2021

Tata Steel Chess Tournament about to begin

The 14 grandmasters of the Tata Steel Masters are ready to play the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2021, which will kick off in Wijk aan Zee on Saturday 16 January. The participants and chess players all over the world have been looking forward to the top tournament during which players will finally engage in over the board chess again, after many online rapid games. The 83rd edition of the ‘Wimbledon of chess’ will take place in a playing hall that has been made fully COVID-19 proof. In previous editions the venue was crowded with hundreds of amateur players and visitors, but this time only the top chess players and the organisers of the tournament will be present. Players and organisers will undergo COVID-19 tests four times during the tournament, there will be one way traffic in the building and chess players will be strictly separated from others present. The grandmasters will have a dedicated entrance to the venue. The Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2021 will take place in De Moriaan in Wijk aan Zee and will finish on 31 January.

Dream come true for German chess player

22-year-old Alexander Donchenko will see a dream come true, making his debut in the Tata Steel Masters. The talented German chess player (71st on the world ranking) was at home when he was caught by surprise by a phone call from tournament director Jeroen van den Berg on Thursday. The latter had just heard that Dubov had cancelled, due to someone close to him testing positive for COVID-19, and was frantically looking for a replacement. Donchenko immediately accepted and (after having undergone a COVID-19 test) was picked up at home to be driven to Wijk aan Zee. Quite recently the young German managed to win a classical chess tournament with a score of 8 out of 9.

Steel and chess: creativity and innovation

The Tata Steel Chess Tournament has a long tradition. Starting as an employee tournament, it has grown into an international tournament of world class renown, for which grand masters and amateurs alike will clear their diaries. Tata Steel has chosen for chess, because chess entails strategic thinking and focuses on finding creative solutions for complex issues. Tata Steel has that very same focus. Steelmaking is a high-tech process with a crucial role for innovation. Tata Steel employees are continuously and relentlessly working on finding clever solutions to improve processes and products. Apart from that the sport of chess connects people from all over the world, which seems more important than ever before at the moment. Through #ChessConnects Tata Steel and its partners arrange ways to connect people through chess, with a special focus on young people.

For more info about the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, go to:  www.tatasteelchess.com.


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