GM CHESS FEST:
Two Simuls and a Pairs Tournament
World class Grandmasters don't come to town every day. On July 7, 2004, you
will have an opportunity to take part in a day of chess with four famous
chess Grandmasters.
There will be three separate events:
1:00 pm: GM Cramling simultaneous exhibition (girls only).
GM Cramling will simultaneously play all challengers. This event is
restricted to female opponents, and will be followed by a brief lecture on
"How to Beat Boys."
3:30 pm: GM Bellon simultaneous exhibition (open to all).
GM Bellon will simultaneously play all challengers. This event is open to
all players.
7:00 pm: Pairs Exhibition tournament (spectators welcome).
GMs Cramling, Bellon, Seirawan and Suttles will play three 30-minute Pairs
exhibition games, rotating partners each game. In each game, one player
makes the first move for White, then the players alternate, each making two
moves in a row. Partners may not talk about the game while playing or
otherwise give hints or advice to their partner. They may tell their
partner to move ("It's your move.") and tell them to move quickly ("Hurry
up, we have 20 seconds left!!"). Profanity and physical violence is not
allowed except under extreme circumstances.
Date: July 7, 2004 (Wednesday)
Location: To be announced (Vancouver, B.C.)
Information and pre-registration:
Bruce Harper (604) 263-8264
bruce54321@shaw.ca,
Ben Daswani (604) 596-1606
devil1331@hotmail.com
Registration Deadline: 15 minutes before each event.
Pre-registration is encouraged, as the number of players in the simultaneous
exhibitions is limited.
Entry fee: $30 for all events; otherwise $20 per event. Participants
in the Western Canadian Open and juniors receive a 50% discount. These
discounts are cumulative, for a maximum discount of 75%.
Equipment Boards and sets will be provided.
Who are the grandmasters?
Pia Cramling
Swedish Grandmaster Pia Cramling took part in the Vancouver Chess Congress
in 1981 when she was 18, and all those who met her have been fans of hers ever
since. Pia has been one of the top women players in the world for many years,
and has frequently competed successfully against (male) Grandmasters. Her
most recent accomplishment was winning the 2003 European Women’s Championship
in a dramatic, come-from-behind victory. Married to Spanish Grandmaster Juan
Bellon, Pia has an adorable daughter Anna, who will also be in Vancouver.
Juan Manuel Bellon Lopez
Spanish Grandmaster Juan Bellon has been active
since 1969, and has played virtually all those famous players we’ve read
about – getting his fair share of wins against them. He’s never visited
Vancouver, but will be playing in the Western Canadian Open this July in
Vancover. Married to Swedish Grandmaster Pia Cramling, he is the recent
father of Anna, who will be joining her parents at the Western Canadian
Open.
Seattle Grandmaster Yasser Seirawan is a frequent and
delightful visitor to Vancouver – except if you have to play him. Not only
has Yasser won the World Junior Championship, the U.S. Championship (a
number of times), and defeated World Champions past and present, he is a
formidable blitz and bughouse opponent - the true mark of a great player.
Vancouver Grandmaster Duncan Suttles is famous both in
British Columbia and throughout the world for his unique and creative
approach to the game. He has won the Canadian Championship and competed
against the world’s top players on many occasions. He can always be counted
on to have new insights into even the most standard positions.
