27.07.2010 - The tenth edition of the Chess Classic Mainz is just days away. From 06-08 August 2010, Mainz will be the centre of the rapid chess world. As we have announced earlier, the organizing Chess Tigers had to cut down the event to three days, but the Chess Classic is still the main rapid chess event in the world, with many top grandmasters in the entry list. The winner of the Open Grenke Rapid World Championship will not only be amply rewarded with €6000 prize money, but will also receive the prestigious title “Rapid Chess World Champion”.

The main sponsor of the event is Wolfgang Grenke, chairman of the GRENKELEASING AG. He started sponsoring the Chess Classic in 2005 and has increased his involvement every year. On 13 June, Grenke was honored with the European Culture Initiative Award for his abundant merits for cultural projects in Baden-Baden and his dedication to promote and support chess in Germany. Together with the many paying participants, he is responsible for the fact, that the showpiece of the Chess Classic, the gigantic Open will be played again and is upgraded to a world championship.

Wolfgang Grenke and Weltmeister Viswanathan Anand

However, we should not forget to mention the other sponsors and partners of the Chess Classic Mainz. Without FiNet AG, Stadtwerke Mainz AG, Livingston, Hilton Mainz, the Congress Center Mainz and our prime partner ChessBase and Schach Niggemann, organizing such an event would be impossible. The city of Mainz and its Lord Mayor Jens Beutel is proud to host the Chess Classic for the tenth year in a row. Beutel is an excellent chess player and this year he is not only the patron of the event, he is eager to play the open rapid world championship as well.

Jens Beutel versus Top GM Vugar Gashimov Hans-Walter Schmitt is watching

The format of the open tournament will not be changed. Eleven hard-fought rounds will be played and the tempo will be 20 minutes + 5 seconds per move. The tournament will take place in the fully air-conditioned Rheingoldhalle of the Congress Center Mainz. During the world championship the very popular “Kids Club” will be opened again during the tournament. Chess loving parents can fully concentrate on their games, knowing that their kids are in good hands.

Rheingoldhalle

Levon Aronian, who won the title in a match against Anand last year, will try to defend his title in Mainz. This task will not be easy, since the Armenian star will face strong opposition this year. Top 2700+ players like Alexei Shirov, Alexander Grischuk, Sergei Movsesian, Gata Kamsky and Vugar Gashimov have already confirmed their participation! We are also happy to welcome some of the best female chess players in the world to Mainz, like Alexandra Kosteniuk, Inna Gaponenko, Almira Skripchenko and Natalia Zhukova to name just a few.

Rapid World Champion Levon Aronian

The Chess Classic will be opened on Friday 06 August with the traditional opening press conference with three world champions: Viswanathan Anand, Alexandra Kosteniuk and Levon Aronian. At 16.00h, Anand will start his simul on 40 boards and Kosteniuk will play a Chess960 simul on 20 boards. Due to very high demand, there are no seats available anymore for the simuls, but you are kindly invited to visit the event on Friday.

World Champion Viswanathan Anand

It is still possible to register online for the Open Grenke Rapid World Championship. You can save €5, if you register before 31.07.2010! Note: GM, IM, WGM and WIM are free!

Top participants (GM & WGM) so far:

Chess Classic Mainz 2010

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