Biel Chess In Memoriam Hans Suri with MVL, Giri, Wojtaszek, Harikrishna, Motylev, Hou July 16-25

Hello chess blog friends, Biel Chess has announced a very special Grandmaster Chess Tournament 'In Memoriam Hans Suri' from July 16-25 with six participants 

• Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, FRA, 24 years, Elo 2766, FIDE #10

• Anish Giri, NED, 20 years, Elo 2750, FIDE #14, Junior #1

• Radoslaw Wojtaszek, POL, 27 years, Elo 2733, FIDE #22

• Pentala Harikrishna, IND, 28 years, Elo 2726, FIDE #27

• Alexander Motylev, RUS, 35 years, Elo 2698, FIDE #48, European champion

• Yifan Hou, CHN, 20 years, Elo 2629, FIDE Women #2, World champion

The tournament has an average of 2717 Elo points (category 19) and will be held according to the Double Round Robin System.

June 14, 2013 was a sad day for the chess world. Two leading figures of the Swiss chess world have left us. Hans Suri, Studen, has died at the age of 85. Lucio Barvas, living in Uster, has passed away at the age of 78.

The name of Hans Suri is inseparable from the Biel Chess Festival. He organised the event for the first time in the summer of 1968 in a small hotel. There was no looking back. Hans Suri remained the festival's director for three decades as the chess festival grew in stature and reputation. Today, the festival as an important part of the international calendar. 

Read the Chess Blog Tribute Post for Hans Suri and Lucio Barvas.

Unforgettable Friends: 12th Women's World Chess Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk flanked by Hans Suri (Left) and Lucio Barvas.

In 1976, 1985 and 1993, Hans Suri even brought the Interzonal tournament to Biel. To his great commitment, the Swiss Chess Federation of the time and his club SG Biel had elected him as a honorary member. After retiring from the tournament, Hans Suri has regularly played the tournament. He participated in the 45 th edition in July 2012.

Find more details at the official website.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

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