Chess Variants News

This www-page contains various short items of news on chess variants. For old news items, see our old news page.

THE 2002 WORLD CIRCULAR CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

The World Circular Chess Championship, hosted by the Circular Chess Society is an open competition where players from around the globe are invited to Lincoln UK to pit their wits and chess expertise against the best in the Circular code, and maybe walk away with the £200 bounty or a minor prize. The Swiss format, familiar to normal board competitors, ensures that everyone plays a number of games against people of similar ability. The free refreshments and relaxed off the board atmosphere ensures that everyone gets the most from the day. We expect a complete mix of age and ability, from seasoned veterans to novices in every sense.

Again the man to beat is Francis Bowers, who last year regained his title from Dutch representative Herman Kok. Somehow he has a knack of escaping from impossible positions and has developed an awesome reputation in this competition. We anticipate that a very high calibre field will be competing for the chance to knock him off his pedestal, and good luck to them.

The competition will again be held in the heart of the historic city, at the prestigious Edward King House adjacent to the Old Bishops Palace, in the shadow of Lincoln Cathedral.

I enclose an application form for entry to the competition which should be returned to us before the end of April 2002. There will be a limited number of places and so we would be grateful for early applications. As a guide, the competition is due to run from 10:30 am to 6:30 pm. Limited parking for players etc is free, within the grounds, and we may be able to assist with arrangements for overnighters. Folk interested in staying at the Edward King House should contact them direct (01522 528 778). Confirmation, maps etc. and any amended details will be sent to applicants nearer the date.

Please photocopy the form if you know anyone else who wishes to enter. If you do not receive confirmation before w/c13 May please get in touch. There may be a chance for limited entries on the day, and we will put details of how to get to there at the Tap and Spile, Hungate, Lincoln. Even if you do not wish to enter the competition there will be many Chessnuts in attendance, so feel free to pop in, grab a beer, and see what's going on.

Source: Rob Stevens.

United States Chess Federation now sells Omega Chess Sets

Omega Chess is now being sold by the US Chess federation!

Source: David Short and the US Chess Federation web site shopping area.

United States Chess Federation now sells Millennium Chess boards

   a   b   c   d   e   f   g   h   i   j   k   l   m   n   o  (BLACK)
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
|*R*|*N*|*B*|*Q*|*K*|*B*|*N*|*R*|*N*|*B*|*K*|*Q*|*B*|*N*|*R*|  8
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
|*P*|*P*|*P*|*P*|*P*|*P*|*P*|*P*|*P*|*P*|*P*|*P*|*P*|*P*|*P*|  7
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |  6
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
|:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|  5
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |  4
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
|:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|  3
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| P |:P:| P |:P:| P |:P:| P |:P:| P |:P:| P |:P:| P |:P:| P |  2
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
|:R:| N |:B:| Q |:K:| B |:N:| R |:N:| B |:K:| Q |:B:| N |:R:|  1
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
   a   b   c   d   e   f   g   h   i   j   k   l   m   n   o  (WHITE)

Source: David Short and the US Chess Federation web site shopping area. (Note: David Short is not the inventor of this game)

Kramnik v Deep Fritz

EVENT TITLE	Kramnik v Deep Fritz: The Man v Machine Brains in Bahrain
VENUE	The Royal Meridiene, Manama, Bahrain
HOST	The Emir of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaleifa
DATE	12^th October 1^stNovember 2001 Opening Press Conference: 10^th October? Opening Ceremony: 12^th October 1^st Match photocall: 14^th October, 15:00 Match Days: 14^th, 16^th, 18^th, 20^th, 24^th, 26^th, 28^th, 30^th October Closing Ceremony: 3^rd November
NO OF MATCHES	Eight matches
TIME CONTROLS	TBA
PURSE	$1,000,000
WEBSITE	www.brainsinbahrain.com

Peter Leko wins a match of Fischer Random Chess against Michael Adams.

In the first match of Fischer Random Chess between two of the strongest chess players in the world, Peter Leko has won an eight game match against Michael Adams with 4.5 - 3.5. The match was played June 26 - June 28, 2001 in Mainz, as part of the Chess Classic Mainz 2001. You can read more on the website of the event: http://www.chesstigers.de/ChessClassic2001e/default.htm.

A match of eight games of Fischer Random Chess will be played by Michael Adams from England and Peter Leko from Hungary. Adams is the 4th highest ranked chess player in the world nowadays, and Leko the 6th highest. The match will be played June 26 - June 28, 2001, as part of the Chess Classic Mainz, where also the Anand and Kramnik will meet for a match with 25 minute chess games, and other chess events will take place.

The website of the Chess Classic Mainz 2001 is at http://www.chesstigers.de/. (Link. In German.)

MSO 5 CONFIRMED FOR PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC, JULY 1 - 8

Mind Sports Olympiad 5 will take place in the Zofin Palace complex, a wonderful riverside location in the centre of Prague. The first four Olympiads were in London - for the first time, the single most important MSO event of the year goes overseas. The event is fully confirmed as taking place and we look forward to adding much more information about it to our site over the coming weeks.

Introduction to MSO 5 at http://www.msoworld.com/prague

Source: Chris Dickson of Mind Sports Organization Worldwide.

Zillions Development announces a new upgrade to Zillions of Games: Zillions of Games v1.3. Those who already have purchased this product can download the upgrade for free! Just go to this link!

Source: Zillions Development.

There's an upcoming Circular Chess Championship on Sunday, May 20, 2001, planned to be held in the Bishop's Palace adjacent to the Lincoln Cathedral. Entry forms can be requested from the Circular Chess society, 11 North Parade, Lincoln, LN1 1LB, ENGLAND, or via email at (email removed contact us for address) .com.

Source: Variant Chess (spring 2001).

A rapid-play, mixed variant tournament will be held on Saturday, June 30, 2001. This tournament is only open to members of the British Chess Variants Society and will be held after their Annual General Meeting.

Source: Variant Chess (spring 2001).

There will be a Bughouse event over the weekend of Saturday, July 14, 2001 through Monday, July 16, 2001, in Geneva Switzerland. Various types of Bughouse will be played in an informal setting. Contact Fabrice Liadet (email: (email removed contact us for address) ldcom.ch) if interested.

Source: Variant Chess (spring 2001).

Webpage: The European Bughouse Gathering 2001 (Link.)

There will be a Losing Chess tournament running from Thursday, July 26, 2001 through Sunday, July 29, 2001 in Utrecht, Netherlands. If interested, contact Lenny Taelman (email: (email removed contact us for address) .ac.be). Hans may actually attend this one!

Source: Variant Chess (spring 2001).

Website: http://studwww.rug.ac.be/~ltaelman/lc/index.html.

Collected and maintained by Hans Bodlaender and David Howe.

WWW page created: April 13, 2001. Last update: see last news item added.