Strong participation in Bansko Grand Chess Open
The tournament will be the biggest winter open event
Bansko Grand Chess Open, one of the biggest winter open tournament of 2010, will take place 11th-19th of December in the ski resort Bansko, Bulgaria. Only a few weeks after the official announcement of the tournament there are over 50 participants, of which 10 Grandmasters, 5 International Masters, 2 Women Grandmasters, and 1 Woman International Master.
Among the participants are two Olympic team members of the host country (GM Kiril Georgiev and WIM Iva Videnova), the two national champions for 2009 and 2010 (GM Vasil Spasov and GM Boris Chatalbashev), the Serbian champion (GM Ivan Ivanisevic) and the silver medalist (GM Milos Perunovic), the strongest U18 player in Spain (IM Alexander Ipatov), and the Olympic team of Greece players (GM Ioannis Papaioannou and GM Halkias).
So far there are confirmed participants from Russia, Spain, France, Poland, Israel, Bulgaria, Serbia, Ukraine, Greece, and interest from over 20 countries more.
Download: Regulations / Brochure
15 000 eur prize fund
The total prize fund of Bansko Grand Chess Open is 15 000 eur. The first players in the main group will receive a total of 9000 eur, as there are special prizes dedicated to rating groups
A. International Rating Category 2201 – 2400 1st 500 € 2nd 300 € 3rd 100 €
B. International Rating Category 2001 – 2200 1st 500 € 2nd 300 € 3rd 100 €
C. International Rating Category 1801 – 2001 1st 500 € 2nd 300 € 3rd 100 €
D. International Rating Category up to 1801 1st 500 € 2nd 300 € 3rd 100 €
As the future of chess depends on the young players enthusiasm and development of technology, the organizers will award 8 laptop computers to Boys and Girls U14, U12, U10, and U8 categories.
A total of 24 medals and 8 cups will be given.
The tournament is valid for GM/IM/FM /WFM/WIM/WGM norms and the youth section is application to the ECU Grand Prix.
Official website: http://banskochess.chessdom.com/
Blitz tournament and parallel program
On the 11th of December, together with the opening of Bansko Grand Chess Open, a blitz tournament will be played. It will be a 7 rounds Swiss event with featured prize fund of 1000 eur.
Bansko Grand Chess Open will also have simul with 2500+ player and many more surprises!
Top 10 seeds: Participants (until 16.09.2010)
GM Georgiev, Kiril 2685 Bulgaria
GM Papaioannou, Ioannis 2622 Greece
GM Spasov,Vasil 2621 Bulgaria
GM Ivanisevic, Ivan 2613 Serbia
GM Chaltabasev, Boris 2606 Bulgaria
GM Rakhmanov, Aleksandr 2605 Russia
GM Halkias,Stelios 2577 Greece
GM Perunovic, Milos 2558 Serbia
IM Nabaty, Tamir 2526 Israel
IM Ipatov, Alexander 2521 Spain
Georgiev is 2700+ now.