The ACO World Senior Championship 2021

Press release

ACO World Senior Championship 2021 on Crete, with GM Vlastimil Hort and GM Daniel King

The ACO has been organising world championships for amateur players since 2012, and since 2018 it has also organised its own world championship for seniors. This year, the record number of participants was almost broken, which in times of Corona is even more remarkable.

The organisers invited two special guests to the Championship – new to the ACO coaching team was the English Grandmaster and ChessBase author Daniel King, who analysed the  games with the players – in English and in German(!).

GM Daniel King also hosted the prize-giving ceremony

A simul with Daniel King

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Guest of honour was Grandmaster Vlastimil Hort, who gave a lecture, played a simul and took part in the blitz events.

Vlastimil Hort with the organisers GM Falko Bindrich (left) and IM Tobias Hirneise

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The venue was once again the 5* all-inclusive Fodele Beach Resort on the island of Crete. The family-run hotel once again offered great conditions for all participants and their accompanying persons.

Not the playing hall, but the venue

Especially the food left nothing to be desired, and the chef was honoured with thundering raving applause at the prize-giving ceremony. The owners of the hotel live in the complex and eat in the same restaurant as their guests. The hotel's employees all come from the region, as does the food for the meal.

In addition to the main tournament, there was, as with all ACO tournaments, a huge numer of side events.

The playing hall

Every afternoon Grandmasters gave lectures and in the evening there were blitz tournaments. The simul, in which the participants had the opportunity to play against the Grandmasters Vlastimil Hort, Daniel King, Falko Bindrich and Zigurds Lanka, also attracted a big crowd. The organisers had also invited the Chilean chess singer Juga di Prima for the world premiere of her latest chess songs.

The analysis room where the participants could analyse, e.g. with Daniel King

On two days, a double round was scheduled, but in ACO tournaments there is always the possibility to take a "bye" on these days: you sit out a round but you still get half a point. The second double round was followed by a well-deserved day off, which the participants either spent on the beach weather or by joining one of two bus tours with a guide to Heraklion or Rethymno.

The winners

After 9 exciting rounds, the seven new ACO World Senior Chess Champions 2021 could be crowned.

ACO World Senior Champion 2021

Group A (2200+):           Sandor Biro (ROU)                   

Group B (2001-2200):     Rolf Bergström (SWE)

Group C (1801-2000):     Andre Matzat (GER)      

Group D (1601-1800):     Joachim Krisin (GER)

Group E (1401-1600):     Christoph Kandler (GER)       

Group F (1201-1400):     Ben Mulder (NED)

Group G (0-1200):          Christian Hindermann (SUI)

The organisers also offered a large number of special prizes. All women players and the oldest participant won prizes, but players were also awarded for their fifth and tenth ACO participation respectively.

Since the first ACO tournament in 2012, more than 2,500 players from more than 60 nations have taken part in the tournaments, and traditionally, players, who took part five times or more, receive a special trophy.

80 players have already received such a trophy, and four players have taken part in ten of these tournaments since 2012! The tournament ended with a big party that ended with an impressive display of fireworks.

All's well...

For 2022, the ACO has already planned tournaments, including a new World Senior Championship for players 65+, and tournaments for teams of two.

ACO Tournaments 2022:

ACO Super Seniors (65+) World Championship
27 April – 6 May 2022 on Kos 
5* All-Inclusive Atlantica Belvedere (formerly Helona Resort)

Directly after that:
ACO Amateur World Championship
6 – 15 May 2022 on Kos 
5* All-Inclusive Atlantica Belvedere (formerly Helona Resort)

ACO Team – World Championship (teams of two) 
1 – 10 June 2022 on Crete
5* All-Inclusive Fodele Beach Resort

ACO Senior (50+) – World Championship
1 – 10 October 2022 on Crete
5* All-Inclusive Fodele Beach Resort

ACO Senior (50+) – Team – World Championship (teams of two) 
22 – 31 October 2022 on Kos
5* All-Inclusive Atlantica Belvedere (formerly Helona Resort)

Results and link to the organiser...