Grand Slam 2008 in Bilbao with 400,000 Euro prize fund

by ChessBase
8/14/2007 – It has been discussed for a year now, with periodic meetings between potential participating organisers. Now apparently things have come to fruition. The Grand Slam tournament, with the winners of Linares, Mtel Sofia, Corus Wijk Aan Zee and Ciudad de Mexico (plus two invitees) will be staged in the Spanish city of Bilbao in September 2008. Put it in your planner.

ChessBase 18 - Mega package ChessBase 18 - Mega package

Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

More...

Grand Slam in Bilbao – 15th to 27th September 2008

Total Prize Fund 400,000 Euros

Press release

Six participants are taking part: the winners of the tournaments of Linares, Mtel Sofia, Corus Wijk Aan Zee and Ciudad de Mexico, to these four winners will join two invited players.

The Grand Slam Chess Festival “Bilbao Final Masters Tournament 2008” will be held in Bilbao, capital city of Vizcaya. The dates and prizes of the tournament have already been confirmed, it will take place from the 15th of September to 27th of September 2008 and it will probably be among the world best tournaments in chess history. The total prize fund for the Tournament is 400,000 Euros, 150,000€ for the first prize, being the highest prize in world chess tournaments, excluding the one from Fide world chess championship.

The players who will take part in the Masters Final will be the winners of the following tournaments: Corus-Wijk Aan Zee (Holland, January 11-27), Linares (Spain, February 15 to March 9), MTEL-Sofia (Bulgaria, May 6-18) and Ciudad de México (Mexico, June 21 to July 6), to these four winners will join two more players, who will earn a place by winning a world top tournament or by special invitation made by the organization.

The primary objective of the Grand Slam Tournaments is to dignify and modernize chess, all of this together with the task of turning elite chess into a magnificent sport spectacle. We are working with this aim in taking special care of the good image of chess and players (establishing rules to cut down or eliminate short draws.); developing a strong collaboration with the FIDE; improving relationships with the media; incorporating Information Society tools in terms of implement new ways to allow fans to follow and participate in the tournaments, whether it be by attending them or through internet portals, and finally, promoting initiatives that enhance the social and educational role of chess.

Bilbao, 9th August, 2007


Comunicado de prensa

La final del Grand Slam de Ajedrez repartirá 400.000 euros en premios

Se celebrará en Bilbao del 15 al 27 de septiembre de 2008. Participarán los ganadores de los torneos de Linares, Mtel-Sofía, Corus- Wijk Aan Zee y Ciudad de México y dos jugadores invitados.

El torneo Bilbao Final Masters del Grand Slam de Ajedrez 2008 tiene ya fecha y premios definidos. Se celebrará en la capital vizcaína del 15 al 27 de septiembre de 2008 y será probablemente uno de los mejores torneos de la historia. Estará dotado con 400.000 € en premios, de los que 150.000 serán para el ganador, pasando a ser el mayor premio de todos los torneos del mundo, si exceptuamos el campeonato mundial oficial de la FIDE.

Esta Final Master la jugarán los vencedores de los torneos de Corus-Wijk Aan Zee (Holanda - 11 al 27 de enero), Linares (España - 15 de febrero al 9 de marzo), MTEL-Sofía (Bulgaria - 6 al 18 de mayo) y Ciudad de México (México, del 21 de junio al 6 de julio), a los que se unirán dos jugadores más, bien por haber ganado otro torneo de primera línea mundial o por invitación especial de la organización.

El objetivo fundamental que persiguen todos los torneos del Grand Slam es modernizar y dignificar el ajedrez, así como convertir el ajedrez de élite en un extraordinario espectáculo deportivo. En este sentido, se trabajará para cuidar al máximo la buena imagen del ajedrez y de los jugadores (estableciendo normas para acabar con las tablas sin lucha real), desarrollar unas estrecha colaboración con la FIDE, mejorar las relaciones con los medios de comunicación, integrar las herramientas de la Sociedad de la Información a fin de implementar nuevos modelos de seguimiento y participación de los aficionados en los torneos tanto de forma presencial como a través de internet, e impulsar iniciativas que resalten la faceta educativa y social del ajedrez.

Bilbao, 13 de agosto de 2007


Reports about chess: tournaments, championships, portraits, interviews, World Championships, product launches and more.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register