London Chess Classic: Why you shouldn't miss it

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011


Hello everyone,


The World Chess Cup has ended. Are you spending sleepless nights feeling an emptiness but cannot define what it is? It's a chess lull. But something is actually making us get excited all over again - The Chess Masters and London Chess Classic 2011 of course! 


But let's talk about London first. Here are some top reasons why you just cannot afford to miss The LCC 2011! 

• The timetable for the third London Chess Classic has been announced. The strongest tournament in the history of British chess will be complemented by a chess festival with tournaments for all levels and of course free chess coaching for schools.

• The tournament runs from 3-12 December 2011 and falls on two weekends as amateur players will only have to take one full week off work. It also means there will be two sets of weekend tournaments and blitz tournaments every evening.
• Viktor Korchnoi has agreed to come back again as guest of honour and will give two simultaneous displays. 
• There will be at least one women’s all-play-all chess event. (Yes, yes, read that twice!)
• There will be training courses for chess teachers and for those who would like to become chess teachers, both organised by the charity Chess in Schools and Communities (CSC). Since the last London Chess Classic, CSC has expanded and works in 70 schools in 13 towns and cities in England and Wales. See www.chessinschools.co.uk

Each day, schools can bring children to learn from top coaches and play in a tournament or a simultaneous display. There will also be a chess arbiter’s training course, and on the rest day, Wednesday 7 December, a chess cultural day with film screenings, lectures and more simultaneous displays. Timetable, course details and tickets are available here: www.londonchessclassic.com

YOU CAN PLAY TOO!


If all this talk of chess rivalries is only making you thirst for some chess action yourself... you can play
chess at the London Chess Classic, under the same roof as the super-stars! There are all sorts of
events and prizes for all chess standards and tastes, from the humblest beginner, and tournaments
which last days at a time, or over the weekend – or for just part of a day (e.g. evening blitz events
lasting no longer than 2½ hours). Entry forms are available for download NOW from the tournament
website at www.londonchessclassic.com.


The main stars will be the following: Magnus Carlsen, Viswanathan Anand, Levon Aronian, Vladimir Kramnik, Hikaru Nakamura, Michael Adams, Nigel Short, Luke McShane and David Howell.


(More about them later.)

Tweet

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com