The city of Rethymnon, Crete is preparing to host the 2003 European Clubs Cup, scheduled to begin on 28 September.

Organised by the national chess champion Club of Kydon (from the neighbouring city of Chania), the competition is part of the "Venizeleia" multi-sport event held annually on Greece's largest island.

The venue is the Creta Star Hotel in the city of Rethymnon.
   

Here is the schedule:

The official web site gives a record number of 52 men's and 18 women's teams that have been entered in the 2003 European Chess Clubs Cup. A late addition to the field is Garry Kasparov, who will spend two weeks in Rethymnon as a guest of Kydon S.C. Chania, the club that has won the last four Greek national championships, and the Municipality of Geropotamos.

Kasparov will take part in the European Clubs Cup as a member of the Russian team of Ladia-Kazan-1000, which is also fielding Sergei Rublevsky (2672), Ilia Smirin (2656), Viktor Bologan (2650) and Alisa Galliamova (2502). The French NAO Chess Club of Paris is also fielding an exceptionally strong team, comprising of Alexander Grischuk (2732), Peter Svidler (2723), Michael Adams (2719), Joel Lautler (2677), Vallejo Pons Francisco (2662), Etienne Bacrot (2645), Laurent Fressinet (2640) and Igor-Alexandre Nataf (2549).

A view of Rethymnon (photo from www.rethymnon.gr)

Other favourites are the defending champion of Bosna Sarajevo, Polonia Plus of Warsaw and the 2001 European champion, Norilsky Nikel. With several clubs still to announce their team lists, there are now more that 150 Grand Masters, 80 International Masters, 35 FIDE Masters and 3 Women's Grand Masters entered in the competition. The full list of participating teams may be found here.

Here are the top 16 players at the European Clubs Cup:

Links
• Official web site
• Travel Information – getting there
• The Crete city of Rethymnon

Kasparov vs Azmaiparashvili

In addition to the European Clubs Cup, Kasparov will play four rapid and four blitz matches against Zurab Azmaiparashvili on 22nd September to 25th September in Geropotamos, Crete. Azmaiparashvili was crowned the European Champion in Turkey in June this year.

The Kasparov vs. Azmaiparashvili games will be played at the Panormos, located on the coastal road, 20 kilometres east of Rethymnon and 55 kilometres west of Herakleion. The modern-day village of Panormos, which boasts a 10th-century Byzantine basilica, is built on the site where, according to Homer, lay the ancient city of Panormos.

The playing site. No, not really. This is the 10th-century Byzantine basilica

Links
• Kasparov- Azmaiparashvili clash in Crete
• Travel information on Panormos