27 July 2010
Hi Everyone!
The X Chess Classic Mainz is going to run from August 6-8. The three-day festival is going to include some fantastic events and you can join the fun. Chess Tigers had to cut down the event to three days but the Chess Classic is still the main rapid chess event in the world with world’s top grandmasters attending it.
The winner of the Open Grenke Rapid World Championship will receive € 6000 and the title of the ‘Rapid Chess World Champion’.
The main sponsor of the event is Wolfgang Grenke, chairman of the GRENKELEASING AG. He started sponsoring the Chess Classic in 2005 and has increased his involvement every year.
The format of the open tournament will not be changed. Eleven hard-fought rounds will be played and the tempo will be 20 minutes + 5 seconds per move. The tournament will take place in the fully air-conditioned Rheingoldhalle of the Congress Center Mainz. During the world championship the very popular ‘Kids Club’ will be opened again during the tournament. Chess loving parents can fully concentrate on their games, knowing that their kids are in good hands.
Levon Aronian, who won the title in a match against Anand last year, will try to defend his title in Mainz. He will have to take on top Top 2700+ players like Alexei Shirov, Alexander Grischuk, Sergei Movsesian, Gata Kamsky and Vugar Gashimov who have already confirmed their participation! Some of the world’s top women chess players will be attending the festival also.
Chess Classic Mainz 2010 consists of the following events:
Grenke Rapid World Championship Open
World’s biggest and highest ranked rapid chess Open in traditional chess an also world championship in rapid chess. Elo average of top 10: 2737. Combined price funds 30,000 EUR.
Simul on 40 boards
World Champion Viswanathan Anand plays a simul in traditional chess.
Chess960 simul at 20 boards
Chess960 world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk stands a Chess960 simul.
Children’s Club
Children will be taken care of by competent personnel. They can play, do handicrafts, paint, together with other children. Alternatively, they play a round of “Fritz und Fertig”.
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
Also see her personal blog at
