Invitation to the Lasker Festival in Barlinek

by ChessBase
5/14/2025 – The city of Barlinek ("Berlinchen") and the LASKER Chess Club in Barlinek invite all chess enthusiasts to the birthplace of Emanuel Lasker, Barlinek. For the sixth time, a rapid chess festival will be held in memory of Emanuel Lasker. Date: August 23, 2025. Here's the invitation...
The name Emanuel Lasker will always be linked with his incredible 27 years reign on the throne of world chess. In 1894, at the age of 25, he had already won the world title from Wilhelm Steinitz and his record number of years on the throne did not end till 1921 when Lasker had to accept the superiority of Jose Raul Capablanca. But not only had the only German world champion so far seen off all challengers for many years, he had also won the greatest tournaments of his age, sometimes with an enormous lead. The fascinating question is, how did he manage that?

Emanuel Lasker – Chess King from Barlinek

6th International E. LASKER Chess Festival in Rapid Chess
August 23, 2025

Patron: Mayor of the City of Barlinek
Organizers: Barlinek Cultural Center, City Administration of Barlinek, Chess Club LASKER Barlinek
Tournament Director: Krzysztof Wolski
Media Coverage: Internet – Portal Barlinek 24

Goal of the Tournament:
To honor the memory of World Champion Emanuel Lasker, who was born in Barlinek

VENUE:
Europejskie Centrum Spotkań
74-320 Barlinek, ul. Leśna No. 1


TOURNAMENT SYSTEM
Type of Tournament:
9 Rounds, Swiss System. The Chess Festival will be played as two separate tournaments:

  • Tournament A: Open – only for players with a FIDE ID, FIDE Rapid-rated

  • Tournament B: Youth U18 (separate rankings for U18 and U14)
    The number of participants is limited to 80 players.

Time Control:

  • Tournament A: 12 + 3 (12 minutes per game plus 3 seconds increment per move)

  • Tournament B: 15 minutes per game per player

Schedule: August 23, 2025

  • 8:30–9:45 AM: Registration in the tournament hall

  • 10:00 AM: Opening ceremony

  • 10:20 AM: Start of Round 1

  • 11:00 AM: Rounds 2–4

  • 12:45 PM: Round 5, followed by lunch break

  • 2:00 PM: Rounds 6–9

  • 5:00 PM: Award Ceremony

Entry Fee: €15 (or 60 PLN)
German participants should transfer the entry fee to the (Euro) account of the Barlinek Cultural Center at:
GBS Bank
IBAN: PL80 8355 0009 0000 0420 2000
BIC: POLUPLPRXXX
Purpose: Last Name, First Name + Lasker Tournament Barlinek
Note: If paid in cash on the day of the tournament, the fee is €20 (or 80 PLN).

Catering:
The organizer offers a lunch snack and a coffee buffet (included in the entry fee).

RULES AND SCORING
Game Rules: Played according to current FIDE rules.
Arbiter: FA Arkadiusz Korbal
Ranking will be determined by the total number of points scored. In case of a tie, the following tiebreaks apply: Buchholz, Cut-1 (worst opponent removed), etc., as determined by the arbiter.

Prizes:
Tournament A
1st Prize: Trophy + cash prize [500 PLN]
2nd Prize: Trophy + cash prize [400 PLN]
3rd Prize: Trophy + cash prize [300 PLN]
4th & 5th Prize: Certificate + cash prize [100 PLN]

Tournament B
Trophies, certificates, and material prizes for U18 and U12 categories
Additional special prizes (material prizes) depending on number of participants;
No double prizes.

Registration:
By August 20, 2025 via email to:
Hans-Juergen.Hochgraefe@hs-wismar.de
or to Krzysztof Wolski:
Mobile: 0048-662635134
Email: wolski36@wp.pl
or via ChessManager:

The tournament is supported by the German Chess Federation, the company ChessBase, and the Emanuel Lasker Society Berlin.

The organizers warmly invite you to participate.

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