With the Biel Chess Festival set to begin in less than two weeks, preparations are well underway. Registrations continue to flow in, and the organizing team is working diligently to guarantee the best possible playing environment for participants, a warm reception for on-site visitors, and a high-quality live stream of the Masters and Challengers tournaments, featuring commentary by GM Arturs Neiksans, assisted by Angelika Valkova.
As with any large event, each edition often brings unexpected developments requiring swift responses. Regrettably, we must announce that Le Quang Liem, the champion of the past three festivals, has withdrawn from the event due to family reasons.
However, the Tournament Director has successfully secured an impressive replacement: Vladimir Fedoseev. Ranked 16th in the world with an Elo rating of 2739, Fedoseev`s inclusion is expected to further enhance the competitive level of the tournament.
On a more positive note, the organizers are excited to unveil a new event: the Biel Hospital Center Blitz (SZB), scheduled for the morning of Friday, July 18. This free tournament, open to local youth and U20 players participating in the MTO or ATO sections, will feature an innovative knockout format. Sixty-four selected players will compete across six rounds, with each match consisting of two games followed by an Armageddon tie-breaker if needed. The time control of 3 minutes plus a 2-second increment per move promises fast-paced and exciting games, culminating in a single winner after six rounds.
For those with limited time this summer, perhaps only a week or five days, opportunities are still available. Consider joining the Freestyle Chess (FSC) or the weekly tournaments (WT1 & WT2).
Further details about the festival, schedules, and how to participate can be found on the official website.
Elton Marrow