XXVIII. XXVIII. Reykjavik Open 2013 Reykjavik Open 2013 The most spectacular playing venue for open tournament EVER! The most spectacular playing venue for open tournament EVER! Packages from Icelandair which include flight and hotel with breakfast from only € 687 Packages from Icelandair which include flight and hotel with breakfast from only € 687

The tournament will be Still Thinking The tournament will be Still Thinking held in Harpa, Reykjavik´s held in Harpa, Reykjavik´s spectacular new music hall About Your Next spectacular new music hall About Your Next on the harbour. Only 5 Move? This is on the harbour. Only 5 Move? This is minutes walk to down- What Last Year´s minutes walk to down- What Last Year´s town Reykjavik, Harpa Guests Said town Reykjavik, Harpa Guests Said features several restau- features several restau- rants and concerts during GM Maurice Ashley rants and concerts during GM Maurice Ashley evenings and weekends. (USA) evenings and weekends. (USA) More information about Back home from an amazing More information about Back home from an amazing the playing venue can be trip to Iceland! Reconnected the playing venue can be trip to Iceland! Reconnected found at: www.harpa.is with old friends and made a found at: www.harpa.is with old friends and made a few new ones. The organiza- few new ones. The organiza- tion of the tournament was tion of the tournament was Icelandair is offering fabulous; they do everything Icelandair is offering fabulous; they do everything packages, which include a to make you feel right at packages, which include a to make you feel right at flight from their destina- home. And the food! Some flight from their destina- home. And the food! Some tions, from only €687, and of the best soups and freshly tions, from only €687, and of the best soups and freshly stay in the brand new, made fish I’ve had in years. stay in the brand new, made fish I’ve had in years. Icelandair Hotel Marina Iceland’s simply one of the Icelandair Hotel Marina Iceland’s simply one of the best places in the world. I best places in the world. I which is only 5 minutes can’t wait to return! which is only 5 minutes can’t wait to return! walk from Harpa. walk from Harpa. Icelandair is offering Icelandair is offering The fabulous playing hall. GM Hou Yifan The fabulous playing hall. GM Hou Yifan packages (flight and hotel Woman World Champion (China) packages (flight and hotel Woman World Champion (China) including breakfast) from – from New In Chess including breakfast) from – from New In Chess following cities: This was my first time in following cities: This was my first time in Great Playing Venue Iceland, to take part in one of Great Playing Venue Iceland, to take part in one of l Denmark (Copenhagen) world´s great tradition open l Denmark (Copenhagen) world´s great tradition open – from only DKK 6.071 tournaments – the Reykjavik – from only DKK 6.071 tournaments – the Reykjavik Open. I really liked the play- Open. I really liked the play- for the 28th Edition ing venue. The view from the for the 28th Edition ing venue. The view from the l France (Paris) playing table was the ocean, l France (Paris) playing table was the ocean, – from only €687 he Reykjavik Open 2013 will the tournament. which always put me in a – from only €687 he Reykjavik Open 2013 will the tournament. which always put me in a be held for the 28th time from In the 2012 edition 198 players good mood ! be held for the 28th time from In the 2012 edition 198 players good mood ! l Germany (Frankfurt and TFebruary 19th to February from 33 countries participated, l Germany (Frankfurt and TFebruary 19th to February from 33 countries participated, Munich) 27, 2013 in Harpa, the 28.000 sqm. including 26 grandmasters, 11 of GM Robert Hess Munich) 27, 2013 in Harpa, the 28.000 sqm. including 26 grandmasters, 11 of GM Robert Hess - from only €687 concert hall. The 2013 tournament which with a ELO rating of 2600 (USA) - from only €687 concert hall. The 2013 tournament which with a ELO rating of 2600 (USA) is expected to be very strong. and higher. Total prizes in 2013 will Thanks again for the fantastic is expected to be very strong. and higher. Total prizes in 2013 will Thanks again for the fantastic l Holland (Amsterdam) The 2012 edition included for ex- be €15.000, including many special tournament. I plan on return- l Holland (Amsterdam) The 2012 edition included for ex- be €15.000, including many special tournament. I plan on return- ing to Reykjavik many more ing to Reykjavik many more - from only €737 ample the Women World Champion, prizes for various ages and rating - from only €737 ample the Women World Champion, prizes for various ages and rating Hou Yifan, and world no. 7 at that categories, in addition to the tradi- times. Hou Yifan, and world no. 7 at that categories, in addition to the tradi- times. l time, Fabiano Caruana, who won tional top women prize. l time, Fabiano Caruana, who won tional top women prize. Norway (Oslo) IM John Bartholomew Norway (Oslo) IM John Bartholomew - from only NOK 5.937 (USA) - from only NOK 5.937 (USA) Thanks for a very enjoyable Thanks for a very enjoyable l Sweden (Stockholm) and professionally-run event! l Sweden (Stockholm) and professionally-run event! - from only SEK 7.238 I will definitely be returning - from only SEK 7.238 I will definitely be returning to Iceland. to Iceland. l UK (London, Man- l UK (London, Man- chester and Glasgow) FM Michael Langer chester and Glasgow) FM Michael Langer - from only £654 (USA) - from only £654 (USA) I want to express my thanks I want to express my thanks l again for the wonderful l again for the wonderful USA (Boston, Denver, tournament. USA (Boston, Denver, tournament. New York and Seattle) New York and Seattle) - from only $1.139 GM Alexander Ipatov - from only $1.139 GM Alexander Ipatov Hilmir Freyr Heimisson Hou Yifan and Caruana. Hilmir Freyr Heimisson Hou Yifan and Caruana. Junior World Champion (Turkey) Junior World Champion (Turkey) - one of the promising - one of the promising All information about The tournament in Reykjavik All information about The tournament in Reykjavik Icelandic youngsters. Icelandic youngsters. the packages can be is finished. I met so many the packages can be is finished. I met so many found at the website: great people here and spent found at the website: great people here and spent www.reykjavikopen.com. the time really great. Iceland www.reykjavikopen.com. the time really great. Iceland is an amazing country! I’m is an amazing country! I’m very grateful to Gunnar very grateful to Gunnar Players using Players using Bjornsson and all other people Bjornsson and all other people Icelandair-packages who took participation in the Icelandair-packages who took participation in the get 25% discount of organization of this great get 25% discount of organization of this great the entrance fee. festival the entrance fee. festival Still Thinking Still Thinking The Foreign minister of Iceland (middle) with the ambassadors Maurice Ashley. The Foreign minister of Iceland (middle) with the ambassadors Maurice Ashley. of China and Italy at the closing ceremony. About Your Next of China and Italy at the closing ceremony. About Your Next Move? This is Move? This is What Last Year´s What Last Year´s Guests Said Guests Said Peter Doggers Peter Doggers (Holland) – www.chessvibes.com. (Holland) – www.chessvibes.com. And so an end has come to And so an end has come to a wonderful tournament, a wonderful tournament, or rather, festival, in “chess or rather, festival, in “chess city” Reykjavik. The closing city” Reykjavik. The closing ceremony was organized in a ceremony was organized in a way that one normally only way that one normally only sees at super tournaments: sees at super tournaments: in the reception area of the in the reception area of the town hall, with free cham- town hall, with free cham- pagne and hors d’oeuvres. pagne and hors d’oeuvres. The organizers are ambitious: The organizers are ambitious: they are planning to grow they are planning to grow further for the 49th and 50th further for the 49th and 50th How to register? edition which will also take How to register? edition which will also take Limited numbers of GMs place in Harpa and for which Limited numbers of GMs place in Harpa and for which more private sponsorship has more private sponsorship has and WGMs will be offered already been secured. Besides, and WGMs will be offered already been secured. Besides, conditions (flight with Ice- for 2015 they hope to get the conditions (flight with Ice- for 2015 they hope to get the landair + accommodation European Team Championship landair + accommodation European Team Championship + half board). Please con- to Reykjavik. + half board). Please con- to Reykjavik. tact reykjavikopen2013@ tact reykjavikopen2013@ gmail.com. Alina L´ami gmail.com. Alina L´ami (Romania) – www.chessbase.com. (Romania) – www.chessbase.com. For other interested play- Being able to watch such high For other interested play- Being able to watch such high ers. Information about class chess in a very beautiful ers. Information about class chess in a very beautiful entrance fee and registra- location is not the only reason entrance fee and registra- location is not the only reason tion from can be found for the increasing popularity tion from can be found for the increasing popularity of this special tournament. Its of this special tournament. Its at the website: www. at the website: www. organizers simply refuse to organizers simply refuse to reykjavikopen.com. rest before things are solved, reykjavikopen.com. rest before things are solved, before they know you are before they know you are happy. And they always learn happy. And they always learn Much More from the previous edition, Much More from the previous edition, making the next one even making the next one even than a Chess better. To me, it looks like than a Chess better. To me, it looks like the entire nation, the local the entire nation, the local Tournament authorities, the sponsors, the Tournament authorities, the sponsors, the As in earlier years, several politicians, they are all weav- As in earlier years, several politicians, they are all weav- chess-related events will chess-related events will Caruana and Sokolov shaking hands. ing an atmosphere which is Caruana and Sokolov shaking hands. ing an atmosphere which is take place at the same difficult to describe. take place at the same difficult to describe. time as the tournament, time as the tournament, including the now famous Daniel Vanheirzeele including the now famous Daniel Vanheirzeele the Reykjavík Open Join the Legends and (Belgium) the Reykjavík Open Join the Legends and (Belgium) Chess Pub Quiz and the I’m coming back and not Chess Pub Quiz and the I’m coming back and not Golden Circle sightsee- alone:)-... Golden Circle sightsee- alone:)-... Be Part of Chess History I’ve played around the world Be Part of Chess History I’ve played around the world ing tour that includes and seen many places, but you ing tour that includes and seen many places, but you stops at Geysir and Bobby he City of Reykjavík has spon- Reshevsky, Anthony Miles, Nigel stops at Geysir and Bobby he City of Reykjavík has spon- Reshevsky, Anthony Miles, Nigel sored the tournament since its Short, Hikaru Nakamura, Judit Polgar, really are in my Top 3 of all! sored the tournament since its Short, Hikaru Nakamura, Judit Polgar, really are in my Top 3 of all! Fischer’s final resting place The combination of nice Fischer’s final resting place The combination of nice inception in 1964, when Mikhail Magnus Carlsen, Ivan Sokolov, Alex- inception in 1964, when Mikhail Magnus Carlsen, Ivan Sokolov, Alex- in the southern part of T people, venue, soccer (yes in the southern part of T people, venue, soccer (yes Iceland. And given the Tal won it with a record 12½ points ander Grischuk, Fabiano Caruana and indeed!), good food and Iceland. And given the Tal won it with a record 12½ points ander Grischuk, Fabiano Caruana and indeed!), good food and favourable exchange rate out of 13. The tournament was Hou Yifan. great chess culture, is simply a favourable exchange rate out of 13. The tournament was Hou Yifan. great chess culture, is simply a of the Icelandic króna, initially held every two years, but has The Reykjavík Open has enjoyed perfect reason to return! of the Icelandic króna, initially held every two years, but has The Reykjavík Open has enjoyed perfect reason to return! Iceland is one of the most since 2008 taken place every year. It such an enviable reputation that Iceland is one of the most since 2008 taken place every year. It such an enviable reputation that Macauley Peterson Macauley Peterson attractive places in the was closed in its early years, but has more than 200 chess masters regis- attractive places in the was closed in its early years, but has more than 200 chess masters regis- (USA) US Chess Life (USA) US Chess Life world to visit and play in been an open event since the 1980s. tered interest in participating last world to visit and play in been an open event since the 1980s. tered interest in participating last The Reykjavik Open survived The Reykjavik Open survived chess tournaments. Throughout its history the Reykja- year and we expect a similar number chess tournaments. Throughout its history the Reykja- year and we expect a similar number vik Open has featured many of the of GMs in the 2013 tournament. As in the financial crisis and now vik Open has featured many of the of GMs in the 2013 tournament. As in the financial crisis and now has stable financial and, has stable financial and, strongest chess players in the world at previous years, the goal of organizers strongest chess players in the world at previous years, the goal of organizers equally important, political equally important, political the time, including Mikhail Tal, Nona is to invite many of the youngest and backing for the next three the time, including Mikhail Tal, Nona is to invite many of the youngest and backing for the next three Gaprindashvili, David Bronstein, Vasili most promising chess players in the years. This year the tourna- Gaprindashvili, David Bronstein, Vasili most promising chess players in the years. This year the tourna- Smyslov, Bent Larsen, Friðrik Ólafs- world, as well as the strongest women ment moved to a world-class Smyslov, Bent Larsen, Friðrik Ólafs- world, as well as the strongest women ment moved to a world-class son, Mark Taimanov, Lev Polugaevsky, players around. concert hall called Harpa, son, Mark Taimanov, Lev Polugaevsky, players around. concert hall called Harpa, Jan Timman, Victor Korchnoi, Samuel which was completed last Jan Timman, Victor Korchnoi, Samuel which was completed last Spring. It is surely one of Spring. It is surely one of the most spectacular venues the most spectacular venues for an open tournament for an open tournament anywhere. anywhere. The tournament is being The tournament is being Hou Yifan at Fischer’s final positioned as a showcase Hou Yifan at Fischer’s final positioned as a showcase resting place. event in the nation’s capital, resting place. event in the nation’s capital, but part and parcel of a but part and parcel of a larger chess development larger chess development initiative. Icelanders see their initiative. Icelanders see their country as a bridge between country as a bridge between the Americas and Europe, the Americas and Europe, and Reykjavik with its relaxed and Reykjavik with its relaxed cosmopolitan flair is at the cosmopolitan flair is at the center. Just pack your boots, center. Just pack your boots, and keep an eye out for elves! and keep an eye out for elves!