Exhibition Chess Match - GM Suat Atalik Beats Better Half Ekaterina

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

Hi everyone,

The latest chess news via Chessdom is that Chalkida Chess Academy “Palamedes of Evia” hosted a friendly chess match between Turkish Grandmaster Suat Atalik and his wife IM/WGM Ekaterina Atalik in Halkida, Greece between August 7 and 9.

This special event is the first-ever chess match between husband and wife, who also happen to be the winners (overall and women’s category respectively) of the previous edition of Negroponte Open in 2010. GM Suat Atalik was, in 1994, the first ever Turkish sportsman to play in the Greek League for a local team in any sport.

The match consisted of two classical games, four rapid games and eight blitz games. Suat Atalik won both games with the classical time control 90′+30”. There followed rapid games with 15′+10” where Suat Atalik achieved another victory 3,5-0,5. However, in the blitz match Ekaterina Atalik kept the balance and this section ended up 4-4. The overall result is Suat Atalik 9,5 – Ekaterina Atalik 4,5.

The match is organised by the Chalkida Chess Academy and Giorgios Tsounis, the arbiter was IA Anestis Mihailidis, the games were not rated. Full scores can be found on www.negroponte.net.

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Turkish Chess Fed vs GM Suat Atalik: ACP Open Letter To Fide and Chess Community

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

Hi everyone,

Open letter to FIDE and the chess community

The ACP Board recently received a letter from GM Suat Atalik, from Turkey, requesting a reaction concerning his recent case with the Turkish Chess Federation (“TCF”) and the Greek Chess Federation (“GCF”)

The Facts
Mr. Atalik informed us that his national chess federation, the TCF, has inflicted him a 15-month ban from national and international events following his infringement of applicable Turkish regulations. Reportedly, the reason behind the ban was Mr. Atalik’s denial to ask for permission to play abroad and his refusal to sign an undertaking. The TCF’s decision was supported by the Turkish Judiciary. 

Mr. Atalik also reported that, upon request of the TCF based solely on its internal ruling, the GCF contacted tournament organizers in Greece asking them to deny the participation of Mr. Atalik in their events.

ACP’s Understanding of the Case
It is the understanding of the ACP Board that this is a very sensitive case that demands the utmost attention by the whole chess community, especially FIDE, as it may become a dangerous precedent. We are already witnessing a vicious attempt at introducing a new rule, that aims at enabling an automatic ban of a player from all FIDE events based on the decision of his national chess federation (the proposal is included into the Agenda of the FIDE Congress in Istanbul).

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Negroponte Chess Tournament from August 9 in Greece

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


Hi everyone,

The latest chess news about tournaments is that the Chess Academy of Chalkida “Palamedes of Evia” is holding the “Negroponte 2012″ International Tournament from August 9 to 17 in the beautiful city of Chalkida in Greece.The tournament will be an Open 9-round Swiss event with a total prize fund of 10.000 Euros. First prize is 3.000 EUR, with special prizes for women, juniors, best performance minus rating, etc. to be awarded. Chalkida (named as Negroponte (i.e. Black Bridge) in the Venetian era) is situated in Evia (70 kms from Athens) and is worldwide famous for the tidal phenomenon of the Evripos Channel with the flow direction of the sea currents in the channel changing every six hours!

The tidal phenomenon has provoked the admiration and interest of humans from ancient times, not only from an astronomical and geophysical perspective but also from a philosophical one. The mystery and beauty of this phenomenon captivates the visitor, as its combination with the imprint of the channel creates a remarkable panorama.

The city of Chalkida is an ideal place to combine chess with quality vacations. The official website of the tournament at: http://www.negroponte.net. Top seed at th tournament is GM Suat Atalik. T0p rated woman chess player at the event is GM Antoaneta Stefanova.

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