Australian Masters 2013

The Box Hill Chess Club in Canterbury, Victoria, Australia hosted two round robin tournaments on 14-22nd December. Both Grandmaster Norm tournament and International Norm tournament were round robins with ten players.

In the GM event Grandmasters Vasily Papin and Normunds Miezis shared the first place with 6 points each.

Karl Zelesco entered the IM event as the lowest rated player but

Pavlodar Open 2013

The Pavlodar Open 2013 took place from 10-19th December at the Estaya St. 83 in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan.

The tournament was devoted to the Republic of Kazakhstan Independence Day and organized by the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, Management of tourism, physical training and sports of the Pavlodar area, and Pavlodar Chess Federation.

104 players competed in the 10-rounds Swiss event.

37th San Sebastian Open

The 37th San Sebastian City International Chess Open is set to take place on 12-19th April, 2014, at the Gros Xake Taldea, Anoeta passeig, 20in Donostia-San Sebastián.

The tournament will be played over nine rounds of Swiss system

37th Zurich Christmas Open

The 37th Zurich Weihnachtsopen is taking place from 26th to 30th December at the Crowne Plaza Zürich in Zurich, Switzerland.
The Master Tournament (for players rated over 2000) and General Tournament (U2050) will each be played over 7 rounds of Swiss system.
Top rated players: Wojtaszek Radoslaw POL 2711, Alekseev Evgeny RUS 2698, Grachev Boris RUS 2669, Gharamian Tigran FRA 2656, Bartel Mateusz POL 2649, Balogh Csaba HUN 2648, Popov Ivan RUS 2644, Kovalenko Igor LAT 2643, Bauer Christian FRA 2630, Van Kampen Robin NED 2601, Mareco Sandro ARG 2581, Pelletier Yannick SUI 2576, Fier Alexandr BRA 2572, Sengupta Deep IND 2570, Bogner Sebastian SUI 2558, Cvitan Ognjen CRO 2558, Miezis Normunds LAT 2554, Sethuraman S.P. IND 2553 and Viktor Korchnoi SUI 2499.
Last year winner was GM Levente Vajda

Prizes in Master Tournament: CHF 5000, 4000, 3000, 2000, 1500, 1000, etc. (20 prizes)
Special prizes CHF 200 each: for best woman, best senior over 60, best U20 and best U16. Top U2200 player will earn CHF 500.
Prizes in General Tournament: CHF 1000, 800, 600, 500, 400, 300, etc. (20 prizes)
Special prizes CHF 200: for best woman, best senior over 60, best U20, U16, best U1800 Elo and best U1600 Elo.
Total prize money of both tournaments is exceeding CHF 30,000.
Hilton Basel Chess Festival is scheduled for 1-5th January, 2014, in Basel, Switzerland.
Tournament website

3rd Dhrubatara Cup Int'l Open Chess Tournament

3rd Dhrubatara Cup Int'l Open Chess Tournament - Dec, 25 - Dec, 30 2013
City:	Damak, Jhapa
Country:	NEP
Organizer:	Dhrubatara Sporting Club
Tel:	+977-98426-30849
Email:	nirazbro@gmail.com
Type:	Standard
Time control:	90 minute plus 30 seconds
Number of rounds:	9
System:	Swiss
Chief Arbiter:	IA Umesh KC
Prize fund:	NRs. 2,12,000/-
Remarks:	For more details: Bhupendra Niraula(Niraj):Mob +977-98426-22755, 98060-50666 E-mail: nirazbro@gmail.com, Kamal Katuwal, President, DTSC, Mob: +977-98426-30849

2 way tie for the lead at Hyderabad Open after 5

Full results here: http://www.chess-results.com/tnr117263.aspx

40. Alpenpokal

40. Alpenpokal - Jan, 10 - Jan, 18 2014
City:	Fischen-Langenwang
Country:	GER
Organizer:	ChessOrg
Tel:	+49 4403 1636
Email:	wempe@chessorg.de
Fax:	+49 4403 1628
Url:	www.chessorg.de
Type:	Standard
Time control:	40moves/2h, rest/30min
Number of rounds:	9
System:	Swiss
Chief Arbiter:	Max Wolfgang Schmitt
Prize fund:	1500

International Open Championship of Belgrade

XXVII INTERNATIONAL OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP OF BELGRADE

24 November – 02 December 2013

Contact information:
BELGRADE CHESS FEDERATION
11000 Belgrade, Deligradska 27/III, Serbia
Tel/Fax; +381-11 -26-56-846
Web: www.beochess.rs
E-mail: beochess@yahoo.com

The Championship will be played in 9 rounds according to the FIDE Swiss System (computer pairing). The rate of play is 2 hours for 40 moves plus 30 minutes till the end of the game.

The organizer has provided participation of minimum 20 foreign players to make possible achievement of international norms for FIDE titles.

Entry Fees: 30 EUR
Grandmasters: FREE OF CHARGE
Tournament protector is Parliament of Belgrade City
Organizers: Belgrade Chess Federation and Obrenovac City
Regular prizes: EUR 6000/gross

1. 1500 EUR
2. 1000 EUR
3. 700 EUR
4. 500 EUR
5. 400 EUR
6. 300 EUR
7. 250 EUR
8-9. 200 EUR
10-12. 150 EUR
13-17. 100 EUR

1 EUR= 114 RSD
Tax for foreigners(prizes) = 11,1%

13th PRAGUE OPEN

13th PRAGUE OPEN - Jan, 10 - Jan, 17 2014
City:	Prague, the Olympik hotel
Country:	CZE
Organizer:	AVE-KONTAKT s.r.o., Strossova 239, 530 03 Pardubice, Czech Republic
Tel:	Tel./fax + 420 - 466 535 200, mobile phone +420 –
Email:	j.mazuch@avekont.cz
Url:	http://www.czechtour.net
Type:	Standard
System:	Swiss
Remarks:	The tournament is a part of 13th International Chess Festivals Series CZECH TOUR 2013/2014. The Czech capital Prague is one of the most beautiful European cities with a large historical centre (UNESCO sights). 10.-17.1. A FIDE open (IM norm, prize fund 50

Boston Chess Congress

Boston Chess Congress - Jan, 10 - Jan, 12 2014
City:	Boston, MA
Country:	USA
Organizer:	Bill Goichberg
Email:	director@chess.us
Type:	Standard
Time control:	40/110, SD/30, d10
Number of rounds:	5
System:	Swiss
Prize fund:	$12,000 projected, $8000 minimum

12th Delhi Open International Grandmasters Open

12th Delhi Open International Grandmasters Open - 2014 - Jan, 09 - Jan, 16 2014
City:	Delhi
Country:	IND
Organizer:	Delhi Chess Association
Tel:	009810000007
Email:	delhichess64@gmail.com
Type:	Standard
Time control:	Standard
Number of rounds:	11
System:	Swiss
Prize fund:	Rs.12 Lakhs

Bay Area International

Bay Area International - Jan, 02 - Jan, 08 2014
City:	Santa Clara, California
Country:	USA
Organizer:	Salman Azhar and Arun Sharma
Tel:	4088063500, 5102304118
Email:	salman@bayareachess.com, asharma@math.berkeley.edu
Url:	http://sfinternationalchess.org/
Type:	Standard
Time control:	40/90, SD/30, 30 second increment
Number of rounds:	9
System:	Swiss
Chief Arbiter:	Tom Langland (2054744)
Deputy Arbiter:	Payam Afkham-Ebrahimi (2028310)
Prize fund:	$7500+
Remarks:	Provides opportunities for players to earn GM/IM norms

XXVII International Open Championship of Belgrade

Thursday, 21 November 2013 12:11

XXVII INTERNATIONAL OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP OF BELGRADE

24 November  – 02 December 2013

Contact information:
BELGRADE CHESS FEDERATION
11000 Belgrade, Deligradska 27/III, Serbia
Tel/Fax; +381-11 -26-56-846
Web: www.beochess.rs
E-mail: beochess@yahoo.com

The Championship will be played in 9 rounds according to the FIDE Swiss System (computer pairing). The rate of play is 2 hours for 40 moves plus 30 minutes till the end of the game.

The organizer has provided participation of minimum 20 foreign players to make possible achievement of international norms for FIDE titles.

Entry Fees: 30 EUR
Grandmasters: FREE OF CHARGE
Tournament protector is Parliament of Belgrade City
Organizers: Belgrade Chess Federation and Obrenovac City.
Regular prizes: EUR 6000/gross

1.	1500 EUR
2.	1000 EUR
3.	700 EUR
4.	500 EUR
5.	400 EUR
6.	300 EUR
7.	250 EUR
8-9.	200 EUR
10-12.	150 EUR
13-17.	100 EUR

1 EUR= 114 RSD
Tax for foreigners(prizes) = 11,1%

XVII. Neujahrs – Open in Guben

XVII. Neujahrs – Open in Guben - Jan, 02 - Jan, 06 2014
City:	Guben
Country:	GER
Organizer:	Harry Thiel
Tel:	03561 – 540585
Email:	svchemieguben.fzs.i@gmail.com
Url:	www.schach-guben.de
Type:	Standard
Time control:	120 min for 40 moves + 30 min for the rest of the moves
System:	Swiss

Antwerpen Winter Open 2013

Detailed Information
Event code	84887
Tournament Name	Antwerpen Winter Open 2013
City	Burcht
Country	BEL
Number of players	40
System	s
Category	0
Start Date	2013-12-26
End Date	2013-12-30
Date received	Not submitted
Date registered	2013-08-15
Type
Time Control	Standard 40m in 2h fb 30min QPF
Zone
Chief Arbiter	Pots, Johannes H (NED) IA
Deputy Arbiter	Cools, Wim (BEL)
Chief Organizer	Van Landeghem, Gunther (BEL)

Free Houdini 3 Is Coming Soon....

2° International Winter Sea Deluxe

2° International Winter Sea Deluxe - Jan, 02 - Feb, 06 2013
City:	GABICCE MARE
Country:	ITA
Organizer:	Circolo Scacchi Fano 1988
Tel:	+39-335-224916
Email:	scacchifano@yahoo.it
Url:	http://www.fano2013.com/
Type:	Standard
Time control:	90' x 40 moves + 15'+30''
Number of rounds:	7
System:	Swiss
Prize fund:	5.000 € (4.000 € + 1000 prize)
Remarks:	10 GM and IM invited Playing Venue in wonderful Hotel Michelacci **** Superior, nice convention at 59 FB (double room) in awesome hotel.

2nd Gurgaon International Open

2nd Gurgaon International Open - Jan, 01 - Jan, 08 2014
City:	Haryana
Country:	IND
Organizer:	The Haryana Chess Association
Tel:	009810205181
Email:	gurgaonopen@gmail.com
Type:	Standard
Time control:	Standard
Number of rounds:	11
System:	Swiss
Prize fund:	Rs.10,00,000
Remarks:	Maximum entry Fee INR Rs.5000/-

Source:Web Site

A unique documentary – ALGORITHMS Four Moves In, We Are All Blind

Four years in the making, a unique documentary on young blind chess players from India made by British filmmaker Ian McDonald and an Indian team to screen at the World Chess Championship in Chennai.
A film by Ian McDonald
India | 2012 | HDV | B&W | 96 mins
English, Hindi, Tamil, Odiya with English subtitles
produced by Geetha J.
The award-winning documentary Algorithms, directed by sports sociologist and documentarian Ian McDonald will be screened at the FIDE World Chess Championship 2013.
This one-off special screening presented by FIDE, AICF and TNSCA will be held at 4 pm on 21 Nov, 2013 at the Abbotsbury Ballroom (next to Media Centre), Hotel Hyatt Regency, the venue of the championship. Director Ian McDonald and Geetha J, the producer of the film will be present for the screening.
Algorithms (2012 / 96mins) is a feature documentary on young blind chess players from India. Filmed over three years from just before the World Junior Blind Chess Championship in Sweden in 2009 to just after the next championship in Greece in 2011, it follows three talented boys from different parts of India and a totally blind player turned pioneer who not only aims to situate India on a global stage but also wants all blind children to play chess.
The film, which has received critical acclaim and picked up awards at film festivals all over the world, is Ian’s first feature documentary and the first ever feature documentary on blind chess. Ian, who recently joined Newcastle University, UK, as a Lecturer in Film Practice, commented:
“The response to Algorithms has been amazing wherever it has screened. Audiences have been really taken with the subject matter, but most of all, it is the compelling characters in the film that seem to have captivated people. I am really looking forward to seeing what the audience in this chess championship make of the extraordinary young blind chess players of India!”
Screening is free to all but donations are welcome as all proceeds will go towards creating a high spec “Audio Narration” to make the film accessible to the blind and visually impaired community.

Contact:
TNSCA – Press Officer R.R.Vasudevan 919840251675
AICF – Press Officer Arvind Aaron 919840053063
Algorithms – Producer Geetha J 919447744864
Information:
About the film:
In India, a group of boys dream of becoming Chess Masters, driven by a man with a vision. But this is no ordinary chess and these are no ordinary players. Algorithms is a documentary on the thriving but little known world of Blind Chess in India.
Filmed over three years from just before the World Junior Blind Chess Championship in Sweden in 2009 to just after the next championship in Greece in 2011, it follows three talented boys from different parts of India and a totally blind player turned pioneer who not only aims to situate India on a global stage but also wants all blind children to play chess.
Algorithms travels with the chess players to competitive tournaments and visits them in their home milieu where they reveal their struggles, anxieties and hopes. It moves through the algorithms of the blind chess world reminding the sighted of what it means to see. Going beyond sight and story, this observational sport doc with a difference elicits hidden realms of subjectivity. It allows for the tactile and thoughtful journey that explores foresight, sight and vision to continue long after the moving image ends.
Algorithms is the first ever feature documentary on Blind Chess.
Awards for Algorithms:
• Won the Prix du Patrimoine Culturel Immateriel at the Jean Rouch International Film Festival in Paris, Nov 2013.
• Won the prestigious Ram Bahadur Trophy for Best Film at Film South Asia 2013, Kathmandu, Nepal in Oct 2013.
The citation for the Ram Bahadur Tamang Trophy for Best Film that Algorithms received at Film South Asia:
Once in a while, a film comes along that can surprise with the elegance it evokes through simplicity. For telling a simple, moving story that delivers us, right from the outset, into the thick of the extraordinary universe of a handful of blind boys dreaming of becoming International Grand Masters in chess; for its fluid narration of the practical barriers they need to overcome and the enabling human bonds that mitigate their disability; for taking us close to a demonstration that fingers can ‘see’; for its dispassionate humour in noting the tensions of the sighted as against the restraint of the sightless players; and for magically and incrementally evoking deep emotions out of singularly non-narrative material rendered in the fluent abstraction of B&W, the Jury picked Algorithms, from India, by Ian McDonald. The Jury also felt compelled to remark on the grace and near balletic finesse of the camera-work that, throughout, hardly seemed intrusive and the seamless editing that gave the film a poetic quality.
Jury Chairman Sadanand Menon, distinguished art and film critic, India
Shahidul Alam, internationally renowned photographer and curator from Dhaka
Sapana Sakya, Public Media Director at the Center for Asian American Media, Kathmandu
• Received Special Mention in Best Documentary Category at Durban International Film Festival, S.Africa in July 2013.
• Won the Audience Prize at the RAI International Festival of Ethnographic Films, Edinburgh, UK in June 2013.
Screening History:
International Film Festival of India, Goa, India – Nov 2012
Sydney Film Festival, Australia – June 2013
International Short and Documentary Film Festival, Kerala, India – June 2013
RAI International Festival of Ethnographic Films, Edinburgh, UK – June 2013
Durban International Film Festival, S.Africa – July 2013
Film South Asia 2013, Kathmandu, Nepal – Oct 2013
International Festival of Ethnographic Films, Belgrade, Serbia – Oct 2013
NAFA Film Festival, Bilbao, Spain – Oct 2013
Asiatica Film Mediale, Rome, Italy – Oct 2013
Jean Rouch International Film Festival, Paris, France – Nov 2013
International Children’s Film Festival of India, Hyderabad, India – Nov 2013
Cinecity, the Brighton Film Festival, UK – Nov 2013
About the Director:
Dr Ian McDonald is a documentary filmmaker and sociologist based in the UK. His seemingly effortless ‘way of seeing’ has resulted in beautifully shot and carefully observed documentaries with a difference. Previous films include Inside the Kalari on martial art kalarippayattu, Brighton Bandits on a gay football team, Melancholic Constellations on the art of William Kentridge and Justin on a forgotten man and a campaign in his name.
About the Producer:
Dr Geetha J began her career as a journalist, critic and media professional based in India. Keen on yoking theory and practice, Geetha turned to filmmaking with her first film Woman With A Video Camera from Kerala. She received the G?teborg International Film Festival’s Development Fund for her first feature script that is now complete. Her experience as a producer includes several documentaries in the UK and India.
Contact for film:
Ian McDonald
0044 7828637358
ian.interventions@gmail.com, info@algorithmsthedocumentary.com
Geetha J / AkamPuram:
0091 9447744864
geetha@akampuram.net, info@akampuram.net
Website:
www.algorithmsthedocumentary.com

Schachfestival Basel

Schachfestival Basel - Jan, 01 - Jan, 05 2014
City:	Basel
Country:	SUI
Organizer:	Bruno Zanetti
Tel:	+41 (0)79 783 80 70
Email:	bruno.zanetti@skbirseck.ch
Url:	www.schachfestivalbasel.ch
Type:	Standard
Time control:	100 min 40 move add 30 min + 30 sec
Number of rounds:	7
System:	Swiss
Chief Arbiter:	Timotej Rosebrock
Deputy Arbiter:	Bruno Zanetti
Prize fund:	CHF 14000
Remarks:	Master, Amateur and Youth Tournament. Some conditions only for GM 2550 and more.

IV JAHV McGregor ITT chess tournament 2013

IV JAHV McGregor ITT - Dec, 04 - Dec, 08 2013

City:	Bogota
Country:	COL
Organizer:	Liga Ajedrez Bogota
Tel:	0057-3144139193
Email:	torneosajedrez@hotmail.com
Url:	http://www.torneosajedrez.com/ajedrez47/Paginas/ver_torneos.php?&pagin
Type:	Standard
Time control:	1:30H +30 Seg
Number of rounds:	9
System:	Swiss
Chief Arbiter:	AI Hernandez Eduardo
Deputy Arbiter:	AN Otoniel Trujillo
Prize fund:	U$16,000