French Chess Rapid Grand-Prix in Nancy: March 9-10

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Hi everyone,

The strongest rapid tournament of the year in France will take place this weekend, 9-10th March, at Conseil Général de Meurthe et Moselle in Nancy. A total of 232 players from 20 different countries are registered, among them being 23 Grandmasters and 33 Masters. The tournament is the first stage of the French Rapid Grand-Prix 2013. Last year overall winner of the Grand-Prix was GM Etienne Bacrot who defeated GM Laurent Fressinet in the final match in Corsica.

Four Super-GMs rated over 2700 elo will participate: German number 1 Arkadij Naiditsch (2716) and the three top French players Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2715, last year's winner), Laurent Fressinet (2706) and Etienne Bacrot (2704). The first part of the event will be held on Saturday as a 9-round Swiss with the time control 15 min + 3 sec per player. Top 16 finishers qualify for the finals which will be completed on Sunday. The 16-finals will be played according to knockout system. Each match will consist of two rapid games 15′+3”, and then if necessary two blitz games 3′+2”. The overall winner will earn 4000 EUR, while the second placed player will earn 2000 EUR. Total prize fund is 15,000 EUR. (--Chessdom)/Official website

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