Hastings Chess Congress Starts December 28

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

 

Final preparations are underway for the Hastings International Chess Congress which opens on Friday 28th December 2012 and continues until 6th January 2013. Players signed up for the Masters Tournament already include 13 grandmasters and 22 countries are represented from as far afield as New Zealand and Indonesia, Iceland and the USA. Local and regional players are also well represented.

The world-famous chess event will again be sponsored by Hastings Borough Council and their continued support is much appreciated by both organisers and competitors. The opening ceremony and first move will be made by Cllr. Jeremy Birch, Leader of Hastings Borough Council.

There are tournaments for all playing strengths and players are able to register until play begins – if you have never played competitive chess, this could be an ideal place to start. For those who do not wish to play but have an interest in chess there is a daily commentary on the Masters Tournament given by English grandmaster Chris Ward. Entry for spectators is free and full details of playing times are available on the official website.

As well as the serious chess there are evening events at the White Rock Hotel on 29th December and 2nd January when there will be a FIDE-rated Blitz competition and a Pairs Tournament providing some lighthearted games.

This Congress provides an entertaining feast of chess and should not be missed. Hastings also provides a wide variety of galleries, museums and quirky shops to interest non-chess playing accompanying family or friends.

Additional and much valued support for the event is provided by The White Rock Hotel, The Lansdowne Hotel, KC Computers, Orion Energy and Deutsch UK.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

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87th Hastings International Chess Congress begins December 28

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

The world’s first ever FIDE-rated Blitz 

chess tournament will take place at the White Rock Hotel, 

Hastings on Monday 2nd January. 

Hello everyone,

The 87th Hastings International Chess Congress - one of the most popular traditional chess events of all time - will take place from December 28 to January 5. Top seed in the Masters Tournament is Chinese grandmaster Wang Yue. Aged 24, Wang is the highest rated player from China to date. He reached No 11 in world rankings at his peak but is currently ranked 49th in the world. English grandmaster, David Howell, is the second highest rated entry, and he played in the prestigious London Classic at Olympia which ended last week.

Along with the Masters Tournament, there are Christmas and New Year events for more casual players running concurrently and a Weekend Tournament midway through the Congress. It is not to late to enter and entries can be taken on the first day of play.

English grandmaster, Chris Ward, will be giving a daily commentary on the leading Masters games which will also be broadcast on the congress website.As in previous years, evening events are a part of the Congress programme. This year there will be a new addition when the World’s first FIDE-rated Blitz takes place at the White Rock Hotel on Monday 2nd January. The familiar Pairs Competition at the Pig in Paradise is on 29th December.

The organisers thank Hastings Borough Council for their continuing generous support. Thanks also to the White Rock Hotel, the Lansdowne Hotel, Deutsch, KC Computers, Orion Energy and the Pig in Paradise. You can find more details at the official website.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com