Celebrate 40th anniversary of Fischer-Spassky 'Chess Match of the Century'
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
The super-strong Reykjavik Chess Open is about to start - on March 6, to be specific. However, there are some great side events that include an exhibition on the 40th anniversary of the Fischer-Spassky 'Match of the Century'. It is being held at the Reykjavik Museum which is within a 5-minute walking distance from the playing venue. The exhibition will feature, among others, the board and chess sets from the match, and of course much more.

The playing venue
The City of Reykjavík has sponsored the tournament since its inception in 1964, When Mikhail Tal won it with a record 12 ½ points out of 13th The tournament was initially held every two years, but since 2008 has taken place every year. It was closed in its early years, but has been an open event since the 1980s. Throughout its history the City Open has featured many of the strongest chess players in the world at the time, Including Mikhail Tal, Nona Gaprindashvili, David Bronstein, Valery Smyslov, Bent Larsen, Fridrik Olafsson, Mark Taimanov, Lev Polugaevsky, Ulf Andersson, Jan Timmins, Victor Korchnoi, Samuel Reshevsky, Anthony Miles, Nigel Short, Hikaru Nakamura, Magnus Carlsen and Alexander Grischuk.
There will be a record number of players at the Reykjavik Open in 2012. Already 175 players have registered from 33 countries, compared to 166 from 30 countries last year, the prior record. Among these 175 players, there are 27 GMs, 3 WGMs and 19 IMs. They already have a spectacular venue. Stay tuned at www.chessblog.com for tournament updates and access the official website here.
Labels: Bobby Fischer, Boris Spassky, fischer spassky match of the century, reykjavik chess festival 2012
Reykjavik Chess Festival in spectacular city music hall in March!
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012Hello everyone,Here is the press release about the spectacular venue at the forthcoming Reykjavik Chess Festival. The Icelandic Chess Federation, in co-operation with the Reykjavik Chess Academy, welcomes you to theReykjavik Chess Festival on March 6 to March 13 2012. Possibly the festival is being held at a most spectacular venue for an open chess tournament EVER!
The tournament will be held in Harpa, Reykjavik’s new music hall on the harbour. Only 5 minutes walk to downtown Reykjavik, Harpa features several restaurants and concerts during evenings and weekends. More information about the playing venue can be found here.
In co-operation with Icelandair, the organisers have arranged special packages, which include flights and hotels. 25% discount of the entrance fee will be provided when package-receipt is shown. More information here.
* Total prizes of €15000 * World-class playing conditions * Extraordinary depth and width of chess talent * Many side events: sightseeing, Fischer-Spassky exhibit, soccer and pub quiz
Interested players can mail to: reykjavikopen2012@gmail.com but very limited conditions can be offered here after. The 2012 tournament is expected to be very strong. It includes at least 2 players with rating above 2700. Players list bellow. In 2011, 166 players from 30 countries participated, including 27 grandmasters, 11 of which with an ELO rating of 2600 and higher.
Total prizes in 2012 will be €15,000, including many special prizes for various ages and rating categories, in addition to the traditional top women prize.
The 2011 Reykjavik Open saw six joint winners, Yuriy Kuzubov (2627), Vladimir Baklan (2602) and Illya Nyzhnyk (2563), all of Ukraine, Kamil Miton (2600) of Poland, Jon Ludwig Hammer (2606) of Norway and tournament regular Ivan Sokolov (2643) of Netherlands. Join the Legends and Be Part of Chess History The City of Reykjavík has sponsored the tournament since its inception in 1964, when Mikhail Tal won it with a record 12½ points out of 13. The tournament was initially held every two years, but has since 2008 taken place every year. It was closed in its early years, but has been an open event since the 1980s.
Throughout its history the Reykjavik Open has featured many of the strongest chess players in the world at the time, including Mikhail Tal, Nona Gaprindashvili, David Bronstein, Vassily Smyslov, Bent Larsen, Friðrik Ólafsson, Mark Taimanov, Lev Polugaevsky, Ulf Andersson, Jan Timman, Victor Korchnoi, Samuel Reshevsky, Anthony Miles, Nigel Short, Magnus Carlsen and Alexander Grischuk.
Much More than a Chess Tournament
As in earlier years, several chess-related events will take place at the same time as the tournament, including the now famous the Reykjavík Open Chess Pub Quiz and the Golden Circle sightseeing tour that includes stops at Geysir and Bobby Fischer’s final resting place in the southern part of Iceland.
Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Fischer-Spassky “Match of the Century” During the Reykjavik Open in 2012, there will be an exhibition in the National Museum of Iceland commemorating the 40th anniversary of “The Match of the Century” between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky. The museum is within a 15-minute walking distance from Harpa. The exhibition will feature, among others, the board and chess sets from the match, and of course much more. Preliminary list of players:
1. GM Navara David CZE 2712 2. GM Kryvoruchko Yuriy UKR 2666 3. GM Jones Gawain C B ENG 2653 4. GM Sokolov Ivan NED 2641 5. GM Hess Robert L USA 2625 6. GM Kuzubov Yuriy UKR 2616 7. GM Baklan Vladimir UKR 2612 8. GM Smeets Jan NED 2607 9. GM Avrukh Boris ISR 2605 10. GM Shulman Yuri USA 2598 11. GM LAmi Erwin NED 2596 12. GM Maze Sebastien FRA 2577 13. GM Papin Vasily RUS 2570 14. GM Danielsen Henrik ISL 2536 15. GM Harika Dronavalli IND 2516 16. GM Kveinys Aloyzas LTU 2512 17. GM Williams Simon K ENG 2504 18. Kristjansson Stefan ISL 2500 19. IM Gretarsson Hjorvar Steinn ISL 2470 20. IM Ziska Helgi Dam FAI 2460 21. GM Ashley Maurice USA 2452 22. IM Gunnarsson Arnar Erwin ISL 2441 23. IM Thorfinnsson Bragi ISL 2426 24. IM Gunnarsson Jon Viktor IM ISL 2424 25. IM Lund Silas DEN 2414 26. FM Trella Thomas GER 2414 27. IM Thorfinnsson Bjorn ISL 2406 28. GM Thorhallsson Throstur ISL 2400 29. IM Mikkelsen Nikolaj DEN 2397 30. IM Kore Akshayraj IND 2386 31. IM Bromann Thorbjorn DEN 2385 32. WGM LAmi Alina ROU 2360 33. IM Vuilleumier Alexandre SUI 2359 34. FM Agüera Naredo Javier ESP 2358 35. IM Karavade Eesha IND 2354 36. IM Cummings David CAN 2342 37. FM Johannesson Ingvar Thor ISL 2337 38. FM Sigfusson Sigurdur ISL 2336 39. Gudmundur Gislason ISL 2332 40. IM Kjartansson Guðmundur ISL 2326 41. FM Michalczak Thomas GER 2320 42. FM Lagerman Róbert ISL 2315 43. Henriksson Johan SWE 2308 44. WGM Ptacnikova Lenka ISL 2289 45. Friedrichs Klaus GER 2283 46. FM Einarsson Halldór Grétar ISL 2248 47. FM Thorsteinsson Thorsteinn ISL 2245 48. Jensson Einar Hjalti ISL 2241 49. WGM Nadig Kruttika IND 2234 50. CM Dunn Andrew ENG 2233 51. Halldorsson Jon Arni ISL 2210 52. Vanheirzeele Daniel BEL 2161 53. Eriksson Christian DEN 2151 54. Ólafsson Þorvarður Fannar ISL 2142 55. Þorsteinsson Erlingur ISL 2129 56. CM Huizer Mark NED 2122 57. IM Bjarnason Saevar ISL 2118 58. Ragnarsson Jóhann H ISL 2103 59. Hjartarson Bjarni ISL 2093 60. Costa Paulo César BRA 2060 61. Stam Bart NED 2048 62. Mass Elvira GER 2025 63. Miettinen Teemu FIN 2023 64. Kristinsson Bjarni Jens ISL 2019 65. Björnsson Eirikur K MA ISL 2000 66. Thorvaldsson Arni ISL 1985 67. Valtýsson Þór ISL 1984 68. Thorsteinsdottir Hallgerdur Helga ISL 1969 69. Calder Dennis GER 1967 70. Roberts Lynda WLS 1960 71. Sigurdarson Tómas Veigar Stud. Jur. ISL 1941 72. Benediktsson Frimann ISL 1905 73. Fivelstad Jon Olav NOR 1879 74. Ingason Sigurður ISL 1878 75. Jonsson Olafur Gisli ISL 1870 76. Mozelius Peter SWE 1869 77. karlsson Mikal Jóhann ISL 1867 78. Antonsson Atli ISL 1849 79. Rajkumar S. Singha IND 1848 80. CIROVIC ZELJKO SRB 1790 81. Arnljótsson Jón ISL 1781 82. CM Yazdani Naser AZE 1766 83. Andrason Pall ISL 1741 84. sigurðarson emil ISL 1736 85. Einarsson Oskar Long ISL 1618 86. Petersson Baldur Teodor ISL 1575 87. Heimisson Hilmir Freyr ISL 1409 88. Smith Chris P ENG 1194 89. Ragnarsson Heimir Páll ISL 1106 90. MK SAQANYAN EMIL ARM 1 91. NM Bagirli Rufat AZE 0
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Labels: reykjavik chess festival 2012
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