Greece to host first international chess cultural festival in June

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011

Hi everyone,

Here is a video of the beautiful island of Corfu in Greece.

That's where they are going to hold the 1st International Chess Cultural Festival 18-27th June!

The special festival - planned both for professionals and amateurs - would include matches with substantial prizes, entertainment, cultural events and a high quality vacation experience on the cosmopolitan island of Corfu. The Festival includes 4 different basic types of tournament: rapid chess, pairs, Chinese chess and bridge. Simultaneous and blind exhibition games will also be held, as well as matches between specially invited internationally-ranked players. Lectures followed by discussion, seminars, summer open-air movie nights, a full day tour of the island, concerts, theme nights at the pool and beach bar, special themed dinners, including Chinese, Ancient Greek and Chess, will all make up an exciting and innovative event. The closing ceremony will involve a special chess dress code, and many more wonderful surprises await you!

Special care has been given to parallel events for accompanying persons, including local cuisine and pastry making workshops, dance lessons, bridge lessons and many other activities which promise to make this vacation a rich and unforgettable experience for everyone!

You can find more details here: http://www.chessculturalfestival.com/

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com

Strong rapid, blitz chess tournament in Nancy, France on March 12, 13

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011

Hi everyone,

Here is some news of the 9th International Chess Festival Meurthe et Moselle. This 9th International Chess Festival will take place in Nancy (France) on 12 and 13 of March 2011. The field for the big rapid and blitz tournaments is incredibly strong, with the 2004 world champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov, two of the three best French players, Etienne Bacrot and Laurent Fressinet, and the three top German players, Arkadij Naiditsch, Georg Meier and Daniel Fridman.

The Blitz tournament is taking place on Saturday, over 13 rounds of Swiss system and with time control 4 min + 2 sec. 500 EUR is reserved for the winner.

The Rapid will be played on Sunday, over 9 rounds of Swiss system and with time control of 15 min (+3 sec per move) per player. Top prize is 1000 EUR.

The playing venue is in the building of the "Conseil Général de Meurthe et Moselle", number 48 in the street of "Sergent Blandan", 54000 Nancy (Quarter Nancy Thermal, 15 minutes on foot from the railway station, or take the tram). Organisers are IM Christophe Philippe and Stéphane Dupré.

You can keep track of more details at chess news site www.chessdom.com.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com