Head Office 44 Baker Street, London W1U 7RT Tel: 020 7935 3445 Email: [email protected] www.chessinschools.co.uk CSC on Breakfast TV! www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-13343943

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, 27 September 2013

ONLINE ENTRY FOR FESTIVAL EVENTS NOW OPEN

Chess in Schools and Communities is delighted to announce that online entries are now open for the UK's largest festival. The 5th will run Saturday 7th - Sunday 15th December 2013. The marquee event is the ‘Super Sixteen’ Rapidplay featuring the World’s Elite and the Best of British. The festival also has events for all abilities and ages, with over £18,000 in prize money.

In addition, there are blitz tournaments and simultaneous displays with former British Champions , and .

FIDE Open (9 round Swiss event) Saturday 7th - Sunday 15th December (with a guaranteed £10,500 prize fund and the top two after 4 rounds going into the Super Sixteen)

Ten Grandmasters and six International Masters have already entered the FIDE Open, including the following five super-GMs:

Matuesz Bartel: 2635 Sabino Brunello: 2617 Viorel Iordachescu: 2609 Robin Van Kampen: 2606 Jon Ludvig Hammer: 2605

Weekday Tournaments (5 round Swiss events) Weekday Classic FIDE U2000: Monday 9th - Friday 13th December Weekday Classic ECF U135: Monday 9th - Friday 13th December

Weekend Tournaments (5 round Swiss events) Weekend Classic A (Open, U170, U145, U120): Saturday 7th - Sunday 8th December Weekend Classic B (Open, U2000, U1800, U120): Friday 13th - Sunday 15th December

Rapidplay Tournaments (6 round Swiss events) English Junior Rapidplay: Saturday 7th December Classic Rapidplay A: Sunday 8th December (FIDE Rated) Classic Rapidplay B: Saturday 14th December (FIDE Rated) Classic Rapidplay C: Sunday 15th December (FIDE Rated)

All events will be held at the Olympia Conference Centre, Hammersmith Rd, London, W14 8UX.

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Company Number: 7017640 | UK Charity Number: 1133120 Head Office 44 Baker Street, London W1U 7RT Tel: 020 7935 3445 Email: [email protected] www.chessinschools.co.uk CSC on Breakfast TV! www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-13343943

Official tournament website: www.londonchessclassic.com All tournament related enquiries: [email protected]

Chess in Schools and Communities is a charity established four years ago with the aim of introducing chess into primary schools, with particular emphasis on areas of economic disadvantage. The charity already delivers chess to over 200 schools in 38 boroughs across England and Wales, teaching chess as a classroom subject. Participating schools receive chess sets, software, training for teachers and weekly lessons from a CSC tutor. This innovative approach was recognised with an award from the Sport and Recreation Alliance.

The charity has also been commissioned by the Education Endowment Foundation, in a joint project with the Institute of Education, to research the effect of teaching chess to Y5 pupils in 100 primary schools for the 2013-14 academic year.

Company Number: 7017640 | UK Charity Number: 1133120