London Chess Classic, 8-15 December 2009

Last Edited: Sunday November 8, 2009 9:16 AM

Malcolm Pein reports: The London Chess Classic takes place from 8-15 December 2009 at the Olympia Conference Centre. It will be the highest level tournament in London for 25 years and will be the first in a series of events designed to increase enthusiasm for chess in the UK and promote the game and its undoubted educational benefits in schools and communities. It is also our objective to bring the world championship to London in the Olympic year 2012. Olympia will provide excellent facilities including a 400 seat soundproof auditorium, two commentary rooms and multimedia presentation. There will be ample space for Open, weekend and speed chess tournaments plus junior training which will run alongside the main event from 8-15 December inclusive.

England's four leading grandmasters; Michael Adams, Nigel Short, Luke McShane and David Howell will be pitched against a world-class field that comprises: former world champion Vladimir Kramnik; 18-year-old Magnus Carlsen ranked world number three, now coached by Garry Kasparov and widely seen as a future holder of the world crown; one of China's finest players, Ni Hua; and the US Champion Hikaru Nakamura.

Adult tickets are £10 per day or £50 for all seven rounds. There is free admission to children for the duration of the event. Adult and junior ticket holders receive admission to the tournament plus a guaranteed seat in the auditorium and access to the Commentary Room where some of the UK’s leading grandmasters will give insights into the play and answer questions. For those who cannot attend there be will live coverage and commentary on the games on the internet. Tickets are now on sale at http://www.londonchessclassic.com/ or call the London Chess Centre on 020 7388 2404.

Korchnoi Guest of Honour at London Chess Classic [08/11/09] • return to top of page

The London Chess Classic is delighted to announce that Viktor Korchnoi, one of the all time greats of world chess has agreed to be the tournament’s Guest of Honour.  Korchnoi still plays high level chess at the age of 78 and recently played on board one for Switzerland at the European Team Championship.

Korchnoi  fought two world title matches against Anatoly Karpov in 1978 and 1981 which captured the imagination of the world. A man who had defected from the USSR and made into a non-person took on the might of the Soviet chess machine while his son was imprisoned.

Even in defeat Korchnoi has shaped the future of chess. It should not be forgotten that he sportingly agreed to play Garry Kasparov in a Candidates semi final after the Soviets had refused to allow Kasparov to take part in the match after it had been scheduled to take place at Pasadena in 1984. Although he had already won by default,  Korchnoi agreed to play in London and Kasparov eventually won and went on to challenge Anatoly Karpov.

Korchnoi’s longevity at the top level, nearly 50 years, is unparalleled. Visitors to the London Chess Classic which takes place at Olympia from December 8-15 will be able to hear him comment on the games  or take on the great man in a simultaneous display at Olympia on Monday 14th December 2009 at 7pm. Buy tickets for Korchnoi Simul

Women's Invitational [08/11/09] • return to top of page

Lawrence Cooper reports: I have at least one spare place in the London Chess Classic Womens Invitational which takes place from 8th to 15th December at London Olympia Conference Centre in Kensington. It is a ten player, nine round all-play-all and WIM norms will be available. Please apply to Lawrence Cooper (lozcooper@hotmail.com) for further details. Entry fee is £100 and includes access to the The Classic which includes world number two Magnus Carlsen, former world champion Vladimir Kramnik as well as England's top four players. Lawrence Cooper, Director of International Chess, English Chess Federation.

FURTHER NEWS ABOUT THE SUBSIDIARY EVENTS [25/09/09] • return to top of page

A week long chess festival including a FIDE Rated Open with a guaranteed  £8000 prize fund will run alongside the London Chess Classic 2009 which takes place at the Olympia Conference Centre from December 8-15 2009. The tournament has been scheduled to allow players to watch the opening moves of the Classic before their games in the Open begin. A minimum of six Grandmasters will be invited to the Open Classic  and title  norm opportunities will be available.

There will also be a weekend tournament, a one day Rapidplay and every evening, Blitz in the foyer. Anyone entering the Open, Rapidplay or Weekend Classic will receive free entry to the auditorium to watch the main event and they will also be able to access the Grandmaster Commentary Room. In addition the games will be relayed on screens throughout the Olympia Conference Centre.

Details on how to enter and the tournament regulations are at www.Londonchessclassic.com I am delighted to announce that there will be no entry fees to any Classic tournament for children under the age of 16.

For those who would rather just watch, tickets are now on sale and again, admission for children under 16 will be free throughout the event.

Adult tickets are just £10 per day or just £50 for all seven rounds. Adult and junior ticket holders receive admission to the tournament plus a guaranteed seat in the auditorium and access to the Commentary Room where some of the UK's leading Grandmasters will give insights into the play and answer questions. Tickets can be purchased from the London Chess Centre on 0207 388 2404 or online at www.londonchessclassic.com

The London Chess Classic is the strongest all play all tournament to be held in Britain for 25 years with four of the world's finest players and England's leading quartet of Grandmasters. Heading the field is the fourteenth world champion Vladimir Kramnik and 18 year old Norwegian Magnus Carlsen already hailed as a future champion by Garry Kasparov who has recently agreed to train the chess genius.

Home Page: www.bcmchess.co.uk