IV Calvia Chess Festival in Magaluf

IV Calvia Chess Festival in Magaluf, Majorca

The 4th Calvia Chess Festival is taking place in Polideportivo Municipal de Magaluf (Calvia, Mallorca, Spain) from October 6 till 24. The International Open will be held from October 15th-23th, 2007. Format: nine round Swiss; time control: 90 minutes for the game plus 30 seconds increment from move one; schedule: the rounds will begin each day at 20:30 (8.30 p.m.). Players who wish take one half point bye may do so once till the 7 round. Prize fund: 17.000 €: first 4.000 €; second 2.000 €, third 1.500 €, fourth 1.200 €, etc. up to 20th 200 €.

Magaluf is a holiday resort on the island of Majorca (Spanish: Mallorca), primarily catering for the British package holiday market. It is located in the municipality of Calvià and is situated within a group of towns, primarily Torrenova and Palma Nova. Magaluf was the venue of the World Chess Olympiad in 2004. Majorca (Spanish: Mallorca) is the largest island of Spain, located in the Mediterranean Sea and part of the Balearic Islands archipelago.

Events at the IV Calvia Chess Festival in Magaluf:

In the morning of each day there are blitz tournaments: during the Amateur open for the participants of the Amateur open, and during the International and Senior Open for the participants of the Veteran and Open tournaments. Besides there opens for the children U-16.

Photo impressions from Magaluf

By GM Sergey Tiviakov

Calvia is an excellent place for chess and rest. In the morning you can play blitz, in the afternoon you can sunbath and swim in the warm Mediterranean Sea, and in the evening (from 20:30) play in the open tournament. The hotel, where all participants are staying, is nice and the food is simply fantastic. After dinner you can hardly move.

I am submitting a photo report from the Amateur Open which taking place right now and lasts until October 14. Amateur opens are very popular in Spain, and a lot are organised. The most famous is in Benidorm. But the Calvia Amateur open is not too fall behind.

Capdepera, viewed from the old fortifications on top of the hill

Capdepera, a historical village near the top of Mallorca's east coast. In 1300 King Jaume II ordered the construction of a fortification that would control the uninhabited land below and the maritime routes with Mallorca.

An ideal protection to control the sea routes and the surrounding area

The village has now migrated to the area surrounding the fortification

For centuries the town survived behind its walls protected from pirate attacks. As the danger of such attacks disappeared residents of the walled town started to relocate themselves at the bottom of the hill which lead to the development of modern day Capdepera.

A WIM poses on the walls of Capdepera Fortress: Eugenia Chasovnikova of Russia

GM Sergey Tiviakov admires a banana tree blossom

Eugenia Chasovnikova is fascinated by the wild dates that grow everywhere

... as well as the bird-of-paradise flowers (Strelitzia reginae) all over the island

The modern part of Magaluf where the tournament is being held

The amateur tournament (for players below 2300) is under way

Joachim Iglesias, who is leading with 6 out of 6 points

Sergey Fokin, vs Joachim Iglesias. The former won most of the amateur blitz tournament

Top participants in the International Open (which starts today)

• Official web site