Greek Championship: Mastrovasilis and Markantonaki win titles
Athanasios Mastrovasilis and Charitomeni Markantonaki came as the winners of the 70th National Chess Individual Championship and the 43rd Panhellenic Women’s Individual Championship. Coincidentally, both champions took their third national title. Both tournaments were 10-player round-robins (the open section turned into a 9-player event due to an unexpected withdrawal of Vasilios Kotronias) with classical time control held in Lamia from December 4-12. The open event was a close affair as neither player (including the champion) completed the tournament unbeaten. Athanasios Mastrovasilis netted 5½/8 (+3), to clinch the title a full point ahead of the closest competitor. There was a three-way tie for second place, with Stamatis Kourkoulos-Arditis, and Dimitrios Alexakis taking silver and bronze respectively as the winners of the direct encounters. Final standings open: 1 GM Mastrovasilis, Athanasios 2531 5½ 2 IM Kourkoulos-Arditis, Stamatis 2538 4½ 3 FM Alexakis, Dimitrios 2475 4½ 4 IM Ioannidis, Evgenios 2454 4½ 5 IM Kanakaris, Georgios 2372 4 6 GM Nikolaidis, Ioannis 2545 4 7 Mitsis, Georgios 2355 3½ 8 FM Trimitzios, Petros 2359 3 9 GM Kapnisis, Spyridon 2466 2½ Despite losing her first-round game against Ioulina Makka, Charitomeni Markantonaki scored an impressive 7/9 and came out on top in the women’s event. Ekaterini Pavlidou finished second, a full point behind the champion; Evanthia Makka is third (5½/9) Final standings women: 1 WFM Markantonaki, Charitomeni 2133 7 2 WIM Pavlidou, Ekaterini 2203 6 3 Makka, Evanthia 2046 5½ 4 WGM Makropoulou, Marina 2182 5 5 WFM Grapsa, Georgia 1946 4½ 6 Drakaki, Anna-Maria 1942 4 7 Androni, Konstantina-Eleni 1970 3½ 8 Michailidou, Magdalini 1728 3½ 9 Skaraki, Antigone 1979 3½ 10 WIM Makka, Ioulia 2023 2½ Photos courtesy of mag24.gr/
FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships 2021: Registration is open
The FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championship will take place in Warsaw, Poland, from December 25-31 at PGE Narodowy, the most modern and largest of its kind football arena in Poland. Eligible players, accompanying persons, FIDE Principals, arbiters and media are invited to register via the following link: https://worldrapidandblitz.fide.com/registration/. Please select the event from the menu you would like to participate. If you want to participate in both Rapid and Blitz, please tick both events. Tournament schedule: December 25 — Opening CeremonyDecember 26-28 — Rapid competitionsDecember 29-30 — Blitz competitions and Closing Ceremony The registration deadline is 12:00 PM Lausanne time on December 20 2021. Players are expected to read the tournament regulations before starting the registration process. Regulations for FIDE Open Rapid & Blitz World Championship (pdf) Regulations for FIDE Women’s Rapid & Blitz World Championship (pdf) Open tournaments eligibility: – Players rated at least 2550 in any FIDE rating lists (Standard, Rapid or Blitz) from January to December 2021. – The reigning National Champions representing their National Federation regardless of their title or rating. – The Organiser is entitled to invite up to 15 additional players of his/her own choice. Women’s tournaments eligibility: – Players rated at least 2250 in any FIDE rating lists (Standard, Rapid or Blitz) from January to December 2021. – The reigning National Champions representing their National Federation regardless of their title or rating – The Organiser is entitled to invite up to 15 additional players of his/her own choice. The Reigning National Champions should send a proof of their titles via their National Federations to worldrapidandblitz@fide.com in order to be accepted. Official hotel Due to the ongoing pandemic and related safety measures, all the participants are required to stay in the official hotel Marriott Warszawa (al. Jerozolimskie 65/79, Warsaw, Poland). Room rates: The rate for a single accommodation (One person per room): Bed and breakfast – EUR 65 The rate for double accommodation (Two persons per room): Bed and breakfast – EUR 70 Payment Upon completing registration, each player will receive an invoice to be paid by December 22. Registration will be automatically validated upon receiving the payment. Covid 19 safety promotion – PCR testing – Proof of vaccination is not required for players, accompanying persons and officials. – Mandatory PCR testing for all travellers to Poland Passengers travelling to Poland shall have a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate for a test taken no more than 48 hours prior to arrival. – Mandatory PCR testing for participants upon arrival The Organisers will arrange, free of charge, PCR testing upon arrival to Poland on December 25 for all the participants and officials. – Optional PCR testing before departure For all travellers departing from Poland who need a PCR test, testing may be arranged by the Organisers on December 29. Results shall be provided within 24 hours after receiving a sample. For more information, visit the official website of the event: worldrapidandblitz.fide.com If you have any questions regarding the registration, feel free to contact the Organiser via email: worldrapidandblitz@fide.com