WASKO Hetman GKS wins Polish Extraleague 2019
The strongest ever edition of Polish Team Championship – Extraleague finished in Katowice. The local team “WASKO Hetman GKS”, with Radoslaw Wojtaszek, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, David Navara, Bartosz Socko, and other stars of Polish and European chess mounted to the very top. They drew only in one match against the eventual bronze-medalists “Wieża Pęgów” and won all other encounters, including the key one against the runner-up “VOTUM SA Polonia Wrocław”. Red carpet and gala opening had preceded the team championship. The Cesar Hall of Hotel Arsenal Palace Chorzow, the venue of the first half of the championship, hosted all participants, city officials, local artists, and other notable guests. The second part of the competition took place at the Silesian Voivodship Office with the Mayor (President) of Katowice city Marcin Krupa attending both the opening gala and one of the rounds. Extraleague became the second chess competition to receive the support of Coca-Cola under the cooperation agreement between FIDE and the global brand. The first one was Mikhail Tal Blitz and Rapid Chess Memorial held in Riga at the end of July. The broadcast in English was provided on FIDE Youtube Channel by European Chess TV, with IM Piotr An Nguyen and WGM Keti Tsatsalashvili as commentators. Official website: https://ekstraliga2019.pzszach.pl
Nenad Sulava dies at 56
With deep sadness, we have learned that Croatian GM Nenad Sulava passed away on September 5 following a terminal illness at the age of 56. Nenad was born on December 25 1962 in Osijek, Yugoslavia and in 1981 became the Junior Champion of his home country a year after winning the Croatian championship. As a member of the Croatian national team Sulava participated in two Chess Olympiads (2000 and 2002) and the European Team Championship (2003). Nenad Sulava loved chess passionately; it was his life. He spoke six languages and had very broad interests: museums, concerts, good cuisine, and cooking, especially for his friends. In late 1990s the winner of numerous international tournaments (Madrid 1987, Montecatini 1995 and 2007, Pacs 2000 Tournoi fermé GM, Hyères 2001, Cannes 2001, Monaco 2003, Lugano 2007, Menton 2008, Genève 2008, Bol 2010), Nenad settled in Nice where happily lived with his wife WIM Martine Dubois for more than 21 years until his untimely death. Later he joined Monaco Chess Federation and took part in his last Chess Olympiad (Batumi 2018) under a new banner. In 2017 as a playing captain of the Nice Alekhine team, he won the French Cup. During the European Women’s Rapid & Blitz Championship 2019 in Monte Carlo a special 9-round blitz tournament in honor of GM Nenad Sulava will be held (November 29, 9:30 PM local time). The event is open for all participation is free of charge. Our sincere condolences to the family, relatives and friends.