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International Chess Federation
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Sunday, 17 Oct 2021 19:22
FIDE World Amateur Chess Championship kicks off in Rhodes

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically affected many areas of life, including chess. Some tournaments were either cancelled or postponed; other ones were held in the online format. The 2021 Rhodes Chess Festival, featuring one of the first over-the-board World Championship in nearly two years, is a big step towards returning to joyful normal life after the pandemic.

The Rhodes Chess Festival organized by IO Nikos Kalesis (GRE) includes several events: the 2021 FIDE World Amateur Championship, the 16th IBCA Olympiad, the 2021 IBCA Congress, the 44th World Chess Solving Competition, and the 63rd World Congress of Chess Composition. The festival was only made possible due to FIDE's strategic vision and imitative, its affiliated member IBCA (the International Braille Chess Association), local organizers, and Greek regional and municipal authorities that made sure players could meet face-to-face adhering to the strictest health protocol.

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich sent the letter to the FIDE World Amateur Championship participants and expressed his gratitude to the Greek authorities for their support and contribution.

Moscow, October 15, 2021

To the Participants of the 2021 FIDE World Amateur Chess Championship Rhodes, Greece

Dear chess friends!

It is my pleasure and honour to send greetings on behalf of the International Chess Federation to all the participants and organizers of the 2021 FIDE World Amateur Chess Championship, which is going to take place in Rhodes, Greece, from October 16-26, 2021.

We are delighted that this event stipulates the return of the official FIDE competitions to the over-the-board format after nearly two years of mostly online tournaments due to the Covid-19 pandemics and restrictions.

I thank the city of Rhodes, its municipality and the hotel "Rodos Palace" for their support and contribution to the organization of this important FIDE event.

This World Championship once again proves that chess is an excellent educational tool for everyone and can be played not only by professionals but by all those who love this wonderful sport. I am confident that all the participants and spectators will enjoy the exciting games and let the strongest player win!

Best regards,

Arkady Dvorkovich

FIDE President

The opening ceremony on October 16 featured Mr Nikos Nikolis, Vice Governor of the Region of South Aegean, responsible for sports; Mr Antonis Kambourakis, Mayor of the Rhodes municipality; Mr Manos Konsoulas and Mr Ioannis Papas, Members of the Parliament of Greece; Dr Charudatta Jadhav (IND), the IBCA President and Ms Natasha Dalle, the IBCA Treasurer.

Declaring the festival open, Mayor Kambourakis welcomed the participants to the island of Rhodes and emphasized an excellent collaboration between FIDE, the organizers and local authorities that made it possible for over three hundred participants from more than fifty countries to meet in person and enjoy chess.

FIDE representative Mr Ozgur Solakoglu (TUR) read the letter from FIDE President, Mr Arkady Dvorkovich, which was met by applause from the audience.

Chief Arbiter Mr Vadim Tsypin (CAN) guided the dignitaries to make the first symbolic moves on the first boards in two top sections.

Six separate championships titles are at stake in the categories Open U-2300, Open U-2000, Open U-1700, Women U-2300, Women U-2000, Women U-1700. The total prize fund of the championship, raised with the generous help of local sponsors, is €10,000. Every round, the games on top boards in each category are broadcast live on the official website of the organizer: http://rodos2021.com. All the results and pairings can be found there as well.

Information and photos by the Rhodes 2021 Chess Festival press service