Pakistan National Chess Round 3: Lodhi, Asif, Raees Lead

The Pakistan National Chess Championship is currently on in Karachi. Reigning national chess champion Mahmood Ahmed Lodhi, national master Raees Ansari and Asif-ur-Rehman are leading with three points each after the second day of the 28th National Chess Championship at Hotel Beach Luxury Hall. International Master Mahmood Lodhi of Punjab bidding for his 13th title got a walkover against Muhammad Shafiq Senior. Asif-ur-Rehman of Hyderabad also maintained his winning sequence when he beat Nawaz Zehri of Baluchistan. Raees Ansari beat Sajid Moosa of Balochistan.

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Benasque Chess Open Begins in Spain July 5

The 32nd Benasque International Chess Open will be played over 10 rounds of swiss system from 5th to 14th July at the Benasque Sport Pavilion. The tournament is valid for FIDE and FEDA rankings and provides the opportunity of winning title norms. The total prize fund is 20.000 EUR. 1º- 4.000€ // 2º- 3.000€ // 3º-2.000€ // 4º-1.000€…etc. The 2011 edition had 471 players from 42 countries: 35 GM, 7 WGM, 31 IM, 8 WIM and 390 players with Elo FIDE. 11 title norms were obtained. There will be lots of parallel activities at the event including football, tennis, conference, etc. There will also be two chess simuls:

July 8 (Sunday), 2012
40 boards: 2/3 Grand Masters / as International.
Hours: 11 hours.
Location: Plaza Mayor Benasque

July 8th (Sunday) 2012
40 boards - 2/3 International Grand Masters.
Time: 11:00 hours.
Place: Major Square of Benasque

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World Senior Chess Championship in Greece at Galini Wellness Spa from Nov 12

22nd World Senior Chess Championships
12 - 25 November 2012 @ Kamena Vourla, GREECE
GALINI Wellness Spa and Resort Hotel*****
The World Senior Chess Championships 2012 will be held in the 5-star GALINI Wellness Spa & Resort Hotel in Kamena Vourla, Greece from 12 November (arrivals) to 25 November (departures). The opening ceremony, the games and the closing ceremony will take place in the Congress Center of GALINI Wellness Spa & Resort Hotel.

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Anand, Carlsen Sign Up for Most Exciting Chess Event of 2012 - London Chess Classic from Dec 1

Photo © Ray Morris-Hill

Is the London Chess Classic going to be the most exciting chess event of 2012? World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand and World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen have both confirmed their entry for the fantastic event already.

World Champion 1st to sign-up for London Chess Classic
Fresh from yet another successful title defence, World Champion Viswanathan Anand, of India, became the first player to sign-up to play in the 4th London Chess Classic, at Kensington Olympia, 1-10 December, 2012. It is no secret that London is one of Anand’s favourite cities, and this will be his third successive appearance in the tournament.

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World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships 2012 Begin in Astana - Magnus Carlsen Top Seed; Gelfand is Playing

The qualifiers to the World Rapid Chess Championship 2012 and World Blitz Chess Championship have begun in Astana Kazakhstan. In fact, the championships of this format of chess tournament are being held for the first time in the history of chess. The championships will be held in Astana from July 1-11. The top ten players of the current FIDE rating list were invited to take part in the event. Kazakhstan had nominated Murtas Kazhgaleyev and Anuar Ismagambetov in rapid chess and Pavel Kotsur and Rinat Dzhumabayev in blitz. Three winners of the blitz and rapid qualifiers would receive an entry into the finals. World Chess Champion India's Viswanathan Anand qualifies according to rating, but is not playing. However, his challenger, Israel's Boris Gelfand is playing.

Qualifiers by rating for finals (6-10 July)

01. Magnus Carlsen 2835
02. Teimour Radjabov 2784
03. Sergey Karjakin 2779
04. Alexander Morozevich 2769
05. Vassily Ivanchuk 2764
06. Alexander Grischuk 2761
07. Veselin Topalov 2752
08. Peter Svidler 2741
09. Boris Gelfand 2727
10. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov 2726

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Macau - From Casinos to Chess!

The Las Vegas of Asia is Macau. Gambling and casinos have been legal in the very beautiful Macau since the 1850s during the tenure of the Portuguese Government. Macau is known as the 'Monte Carlo of the Orient'! Gambling tourism is also Macau's biggest source of revenue making up about 50% of the economy. Western-style casinos came to Macau in the 20th century. It is delightful that chess is now coming to Macau as well!

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