Zurich Chess Challenge begins today

Press Release

World Champion Viswanathan Anand and Three Challengers

In one of the Sixty years after the epic Candidates’ Tournament, Zurich is again hosting a clash among the world’s leading chess masters.

The elegant Savoy Baur en Ville hotel in Zurich, Switzerland

For Kramnik and Gelfand this will be their last trial of strength before the Candidates’ Tournament in London, where both are hoping to qualify for another World Championship match against Anand. The World Champion has been struggling a little of late, but he returned to good form earlier this year in Wijk aan Zee and in Baden-Baden. The 21-year-old Fabiano Caruana was the rising star of 2012, temporarily shooting up to fifth place in the world rankings. Based in Lugano, the Miami-born Italian will no doubt be a favourite among thestrongest tournaments of the year the World Champion Viswanathan Anand (India) will be facing the former title-holder Vladimir Kramnik (Russia), last year’s World Championship challenger Boris Gelfand (Israel) and the rising star Fabiano Caruana (Italy). At the Savoy Hotel, Paradeplatz, Zurich, the four masters will play a double round-robin tournament from 23 February to 1 March 2013. local spectators.

All the games will be broadcast with live commentary on the Internet. Spectators are very welcome to come to the Savoy Hotel, where admission is free of charge. In case of a draw before move 40, an additional exhibition game will be played (result not counting).

Participants

• Player portraits and data statistics here

Schedule: Play daily from 23 February to 1 March 2013 (free day: 26 February).
The rounds start at 15.00 local time (CET), except for the last round, which begins at 13.00 CET.

Main sponsor: IGC International Gemological Laboratories is a Russian institute providing gemological services, such as diamond grading reports, enhanced diamonds identification, man-made/synthetic diamonds and imitation detection, as well as certification of diamonds, gemstones and jewelry in the Russian Federation. IGC is the Russian branch of "GCI", a group of gemological laboratories located worldwide.

Co-sponsor: HVK International Private Limited, Mumbai; Sur Jewel, Antwerp, and the Savoy Chess Corner, Zurich.

Organization: Zurich Chess Club

Opening ceremony

The participants Gelfand, Anand, Kramnik and Caruana at the opening ceremony

Dr Christian Issler of the organisation speaks to players and guests

Spotted in the audience: the convalescing Viktor Korchnoi, right in a wheel chair

Report on the Opening Ceremony and Blitz by Vijay Kumar

Opening Blitz – Caruana ahead of Kramnik

The time control was of the blitz was four minutes per game with a two second increment for each move. The tournament was broadcast with live video.

Fabiano Caruana finished the Blitz tournament with +4, =2, a full point ahead of...

Viadimir Kramnik, who scored +3, =2 and –1 (to winner Caruana)

Last year's World Championship challenger Boris Gelfand with 1.5/6 points, same as...

World Champion Vishy Anand, who is normally one of the best rapid players in the
world, but who scored a dismal +1, =1, –4 at the Opening Blitz

Replay all the blitz games on our JavaScript player

• More video reports to be found on this Livestream page

Round 1 starts on Saturday at 3 p.m. European time with Kramnik-Gelfand and Caruana-Anand.

Photos provided by Kurt Pauli, SGZ und Webmaster of the event

Links Official tournament site All games in PGN The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 12 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.

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