Dortmund Sparkassen Chess Meeting 2003

Interesting mix in Dortmund 2003

Below is the official press release sent out by the organizers for release on March 17

Clockwise from top left: Kramnik, Anand, Leko, Naiditsch, Radjabov, Bologan

Participants at the Sparkassen Chess-Meeting 2003 are definite: Top players meet extraordinary talents

(Dortmund, 17th March 2003). The players of the Dortmunder Sparkassen Chess-Meeting 2003 are definite. The event promises to get highly interesting this year: Both top Grandmasters and talented players meet in one group to win at Dortmund. Among the six players are Classical World Chess Champion Vladimir Kramnik, his challenger for the World Title Peter Leko, and Viswanathan Anand, the winner of Wijk aan Zee. Arkadi Naiditsch, Germany's big hope, will take part at the main tournament for the first time. With his win at the Aeroflot Open at Moscow, Viorel Bologan from Moldavia qualified for the Chess-Meeting. The Dortmund Organizing Committee also invited Teimour Radjabov from Azerbaijan. The only 15 year old top talent surprised in Linares: he won against Garry Kasparov with the black pieces.

After the very successful Candidates Tournament last year the Sparkassen Chess-Meeting 2003 will have a new character: "We look forward to present the chessfriends top players, but also great talents", says Gerd Kolbe, Event Director of the Sparkassen Chess-Meeting. The event takes place at the Dortmund Theatre from 31 July to 10 August 2003. A double round robin system will be played.

The players of the GM-Tournament: (Rating dated 1st March 2003)

Vladimir Kraminik, Russia; date of birth: 25th June 1975, Rating: 2809
World Chess Champion Classical Chess since October 2000. At Dortmund he has already won 6 times (1995-1998, 2000, 2001).

Viswanathan Anand, India; 11th Dec. 1969, Rating: 2753
Won the top tournament in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands, in December.

Peter Leko, Hungary; 8th Sept. 1979, Rating: 2736
Winner of the Candidates Tournament 2002 at Dortmund and challenger of Vladimir Kramnik. In March he won the tournament at Linares.

Viorel Bologan, Moldavia; 14th Dec. 1971, Rating: 2630
Winner of the Aeroflot Open at Moscow in February. A very experienced player with a lot of international wins.

Teimour Radjabov, Azerbaijan; 12th March 1987, Rating: 2624
Comes from Baku like Garry Kasparov. Youngest player to enter the Top 100 in history. In Linares, he won against Kasparov with the black pieces.

Arkadi Naiditsch, Germany; 25th Oct. 1985, Rating: 2585
Second place at the Grandmaster B Tournament at Wijk aan Zee. For a long time, he is now Germany's greatest talent and big hope.

Sparkassen Open at the Town Hall of Dortmund

The Sparkassen Open will take place at the Town Hall of Dortmund, Friedensplatz, from 1st to 10th August. For more information and registration please contact Schachfreunde Brackel. Phone: 0049-231/2009265 or 0049-231/2000560. www.schachfreunde-brackel.de