The norm takers from Kallithea

IM Damir Levacic, ECU Board Member,
awarding the players

The European Chess Club Cup in Kallithea (Greece) finished with a beautiful closing ceremony on October 24. Besides the 12 sets of medals given to the winners of each individual and club category, many participants were able to achieve norms during the event.

IM Anna Muzychuk managed to grab gold medal on board 1 for her team T-Com Podgorica and a GM norm as well. Her good score gave T-Com the third place in the final standings in the strongest ECC in history.

IM Jon Ludvig Hammer gave the proof that the Norwegian chess is growing by taking a GM norm as well. He shared his thoughts in a video interview, which will be available later today on Chessdom.com.

Here is the full list of norm takers.

GM norm

IM Muzychuk Anna (Slovenia)
Nabaty Tamir (Israel)
IM Shavtvaladze Nikoloz (Georgia)
IM Sorensen Jan (Denmark)
IM Hammer Jon Ludvig (Norway)

IM norms

WGM Motoc Alina (Romania) Kanakaris Georgios (Greece)
Blomqvist Erik (Sweden)
Heimann Andreas (Germany)
Fiebig Thomas (Germany)
FM Cabezas Ayala Ivan (Spain)
Sodoma Jan (Czech)
FM Eames Robert S (England)
Gislason Gudmundur (Iceland)

WGM norm

WIM Cherenkova Kristina (Russia)

WIM norms

WFM Fakhretdinova Margarita (Russia)
WFM Congiu Mathilde (France)
WFM Botvinnik Irina (Israel)

Two new airport displays focus on the importance of chess in Lubbock

Wednesday, 22 October 2008 14:51

Written by Cory Chandler
spice chess poster
In the past year, Lubbock and Texas Tech University have embraced chess like no other community in the U.S.

The Texas Tech Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE), Visit Lubbock and the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting to introduce two new displays at the Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport, showing visitors why the Hub City has the best “Knight” life in Texas.

Two large-scale chess sets located on the east and west wings of the terminal, now provide entertainment for travelers while a plaque, posters and other information promote SPICE and chess activities in Lubbock.

Lubbock and Texas Tech were named co-city and co-university of the year, respectively, by the U.S. Chess Federation.

Seminar for Coaches in Bali, Indonesia

Monday, 20 October 2008 10:48
GUNADARMA University with the endorsement and support of PERCASI (Indonesian Chess Federation) will organise a FIDE Seminar for Coaches from 30 November to 5 December 2008 in Bali, Indonesia. To be conducted by the ASEAN Chess Academy, this seminar is intended to give coaches the opportunity to gain international qualifications while improving their training skills and knowledge. For early birds, the course fee including full board and lodging and seminar materials, is USD 850. To register, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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Meeting with the Peruvian Authorities

Monday, 20 October 2008 07:08
On October 17-19 Mr. Jorge Vega, Continental President for America met the Peru Sport General Director, Eng A Woodman, the Miraflores District Major, Dr. I Macias and the President of the Peru Chess Federation, Dr. Milton Iturry. In the visit, hold in a friendly atmosphere, it was noted the progress the chess has achieved in Peru specially in Youth and Junior Categories and was spoken the bid of the Peru Chess Federation to organize the 2010 Pan - American Youth Championship and also the Pan – American Schools Chess Championship. A Press Conference was held on October 17th in which a forecast of future events were explained by the Peruvian Authorities. The Continental President congratulated both Dr. Iturry as well the Peruvian High Authorities for the work done.
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Dress Code is a Very Big Hit at the ECC!

Saturday, 18 October 2008 07:00

This year’s European Club Cup (ECC) marks the beginning of a wonderful new development – teams now have a dress code - matching shirts with logos, names and sponsors listed. The new dress code is as pleasant to the eye as useful in increasing the team’s name recognition and integrity.

Some uniforms can rival the sport shirts of football teams (Werder Bremen), others are as if taken out of a fashion magazine (Linex Magic, TammerShakki, Mendrisio), but most bet on a clean outline shirt with names and logos.

The preferred colors by the chess teams are black, light blue, green and yellow. The only ones in red are Cwmbran and that of the organizing committee.

Go to http://ecc2008.chessdom.com/ for live coverage of the European Club Cup.

Seminar for Coaches at World Youth Championship

Friday, 17 October 2008 11:47

SFT & GM Efstratios Grivas

International Trainers’ Course for FIDE-Instructor / FIDE-Trainer

held in conjuction with the World Youth Championship 2008 in Vung Tau, Vietnam

1. Objectives: To enable participants to teach young and gifted players in schools and chess-clubs and to educate Trainers and Chess-Teachers not only in their own countries but also on an international basis. This International Course for FIDE-Instructor / FIDE-Trainer Diploma is approved by FIDE.