International Chess Open Thessaloniki

27 April – 3 May 2009, Thessaloniki, Greece

General Information

The Chess Club "A.M.O. Galaxias" announces the International Open Chess Tournament Thessaloniki 2009, which will be held with open participation and nine (9) rounds Swiss system. The tournament will be held in the Grand Hotel Palace, Thessaloniki, from April 27th to May 3rd, 2008. The tournament will be held with time control of 90 minutes for 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move one. The games will be FIDE rated. The tournament is open for the players rated over 2000 FIDE-elo, as the second event in the festival is the "World Amateur Championship" for players rated under 2000 FIDE.

Playing Schedule

Sunday April 26th - Arrival of Participants
Monday April 27th - 12:00 Technical Meeting - Pairings
Monday April 27th - 16:00 Round 1
Tuesday April 28th - 10:00 Round 2
Tuesday April 28th - 17:00 Round 3
Wednesday April 29th - 16:00 Round 4
Thursday April 30th - 16:00 Round 5
Friday May 1st - 10:00 Round 6
Friday May 1st - 17:00 Round 7
Saturday May 2nd - 16:00 Round 8
Sunday May 3rd - 10:00 Round 9
Sunday May 3rd - 16:00 Closing Ceremony
Sunday May 3rd - 18:00 Blitz tournament
Monday May 4th - Departure of Participants

Participant's fees

General participant's fee - 40 €
Participants with FIDE Rating over 2400 - free of charge

Money Prizes

Prize Fund – minimum. 3000 euros
1. 1100 €
2. 600 €
3. 400 €
4. 300 €
5. 200 €
6. 100 €
1st Women - 300 €

Money prizes may increases with a later announcement. The tournament is eligible for acquiring FIDE title norms.

Official Hotels - Rates

Accommodation and board will be provided at Grand Hotel Palace***** and Capsis Hotel****. Playing Hall is Conference Center at the Grand Hotel Palace*****. Capsis Hotel is 1.5 km distance from Grand Hotel Palace in the same street.

Lodging for players, coaches and accompanying persons will cost per person, for 7 nights (26/4 to 3/5 or 27/4 – 4/5 2009) HB (includes breakfast and one meal in buffet): For 8 nights (26/4 to 4/5 2009) add the charge of one night. More nights at the same prices are possible on request. For the second meal, participants will have plenty of choices.

Venue: Grand Hotel Palace (5 stars) – Monastiriou str. 305 -307

Prices per person H/B (Grand Hotel Palace)

Single Room Package - 700 € per person
Double Room Package - 420 € per person
Triple Room Package - 364 € per person
Triple Room Package (One person 6 - 12 years) - 330 € per person
Kids (0 – 5 years) - Free of charge

All the packages include:
• Breakfast and Dinner in 5 stars Restaurant
• Free use of Gymnastirium
• Free use of Sauna
• Free use of Internal Heating Swimming Pool
• Free transfers to Thessaloniki center with Hotel Shuttle buses (scheduled times)

Connected rooms are available – max rooms 150

Rooms to Grand Hotel Palace (playing venue) will be booked and confirmed by priority

Capsis Hotel (4stars) – Monastiriou str. 18

Prices per person H/B

Single Room Package - 595 € per person
Double Room Package - 350 € per person
Triple Room Package - 325 € per person
Triple Room Package (One person 6 - 12 years) - 290 € per person
Executive Room for 7 days, 2 adults and 2 kids U12 (only for families) - 1150 € per room
Kids (0 – 5 years) - Free of charge

Connected rooms are available

All the packages include:
• Breakfast and Dinner in 4 stars Restaurant
• Free use of Gymnastirium

Registration Bookings

At the time of registration till Friday March 27th 2009 the amount of 40 EUR (registration) + 50% of the total accommodation cost + 30 EUR transportation cost (if required) must be transferred , free of bank charges, to the following bank account of the Organizing Committee for each participant or accompanying person.

The participation is valid with the payment of the participation fee in the bank account:

Bank Account:
BANK: EFG EUROBANK ERASERS S.A
SWIFT: EFGBGRAA
IBAN: GR5102601380000900100029381
BANK CODE: 026
BRANCH CODE: 0138
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 0026-0138-90-0100029381
BANK ADDRESS: SALAMINOS STREET - THESSALONIKI GREECE
ACCOUNT HOLDER: THEODOROS TSORBATZOGLOU

Once the transfer has been confirmed, the Organising Committee will confirm the assigned booking confirmation for all the hotel reservations. More information could be given in to the site www.gamesfestival.com or by the e-mails info@gamesfestival.com, teotsorb@otenet.gr . Tel. +30 2310 865 778.

Online Bookings for Chess: www.eventravel.net

The hotel bookings and transfers can be made with online credit card payment through the only authorized site: www.eventravel.net . From the menu choose Games Festival then Chess and the package of your choice.

Once the transfer has been confirmed, the Organising Committee will confirm the assigned booking confirmation for all the hotel reservations.

The cost of bus transportation from Thessaloniki airport (25 km) to the Tournament hotels (Grand Hotel Palace and Capsis Hotel) with return on the departure day is 30 EUR per person.

Chess Program - Games Festival, www.gamesfestival.com

• International Open Chess Tournament for players rated over 2000 FIDE

• World Amateur Chess Championship, 9 rounds Swiss system – same schedule (date and time)

• International Open School Cup – World or European Individual Championship, 9 rounds Swiss system – same schedule (date and time)

• International Open Blitz Tournament, 7 rounds Swiss system - Sunday 3rd May 18:00 – Money Prizes

• School City teams matches (4-5 May 2009)

• International Arbiter Seminar, According the FIDE rules – Arbiter norms and titles, 29th April – 2nd May (exams). Information: Takis Nikolopoulos IA, Chairman of FIDE Arbiter Council

• School Teacher Seminar, 3rd May – 4th May. Information: Alexander Kostyev President of International School Chess Union

• Excursions Program, The O.C. will propose excursions in ancient and famous Greek places (Vergina, Mountain Athos)

Contact the Organising Committee - www.gamesfestival.com

Tournament Manager
Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou
Tel.- Fax.: +30 2310865778 - E-mail: teotsorb@otenet.gr

Chief Arbiter
Panagiotis Nikolopoulos - E-mail: takisnik@yahoo.com

Technical Tournament Director
Viron Tsorbatzoglou
Tel. 0030 697 473 50 72 - Email: virele@otenet.gr

Visa Information

Teams or players needing visas are requested to contact the Organizing Committee before March 1st 2009 and apply on time to Greek Authorities. The Organizing Committee will provide invitations for visas only after the necessary payments.

Official website

World Amateur Chess Championship