13th INTERNATIONAL BLITZ CHESS FESTIVAL (25/10)

ORGANIZERS:                                                                                                                                      Pro Chess Academy of Thessaloniki in collaboration with Chess Club Union of Thessaloniki Halkidiki. 

 PLAYING HALL:                                                                                                                              Philippion Hotel, Thessaloniki

 THINKING TIME:                                                                                                                             3'+2''. The tournament is valid for FIDE Blitz rating. 

TIEBREAKS:                                                                                                                                               1. Direct encounter (assuming everyone has played each other) 2. Buchholz -1 3. Buchholz 4. Sonneborn-Berger 5. Average rating of opponents. 

COMPETITION SYSTEM:                                                                                                                  11-round Swiss. 

ENTRY FEE:                                                                                                                                    General fee 10 euros. For those who also participate in Rapid, the total fee for both events is 25 euros. Chess players with FIDE Blitz rating over 2300 free of charge. Holders of GM, IM, WGM, WIM titles do not pay an entry fee. 

REGISTRATION:                                                                                                                                      By completing the following participation form: https://forms.gle/rq6L1ZcNmmnHH5KP9.               The deadline for registration is Wednesday 23/10 at 22:00. Entries beyond this deadline will not be accepted as the form will be closed. The maximum number of players allowed is 200. Confirmation of participation from 15:00 to 16:00 at the playing hall. Those who do not confirm their participation in time will enter the tournament from the 2nd round. Please inform us in time in case of cancellation of your participation by mail proacademy2023@gmail.com. 

PLAYING SCHEDULE:                                                                                                               

FRIDAY 25/10 1st ROUND: 16:30,                                                                                                        

2nd ROUND: 17:00,                                                                                                                                

3rd ROUND: 17:20,                                                                                                                                

4th ROUND: 17:40,                                                                                                                                 

5th ROUND: 18:00,                                                                                                                                 

6th ROUND: 18:20,                                                                                                                                 

7th ROUND: 18:40,                                                                                                                                 

8th ROUND: 19:00,                                                                                                                                 

9th ROUND: 19:20,                                                                                                                               

10th ROUND: 19:40,                                                                                                                             

11th ROUND: 20:00,                                                                                                                   

CLOSING CEREMONY 20:45

PRIZES (€500): 1st €200 2nd €100 3rd €80 1st woman €70 1st <2000 elo €50.                                  Prize money is not shared in the event of a tie. In case a player is eligible for multiple prizes they only get the higher one. Cup for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the final standings and the 1st female. Medals for the first three in general standings and the first girl in the age categories U16, U14, U12 and U10. 

ACCOMMODATION AT PHILIPPION HOTEL:                                                                      Double room: €46 Triple room: €43,                                                                                                 Single room: €66,                                                                                                                              Children up to 12 years old in their parents' room: €28,

The above prices are per person and include full board. The climate change tax (7 euros per room per night) is not included. Staying at the tournament hotel is not mandatory. Hotel reservations through the e-mail oustampasidoulena@gmail.com 

TERMS FOR TITLED PLAYERS:                                                                                                   After contacting the organizer through e-mail: proacademy2023@gmail.com. 

GMs and WGMs are offered free accommodation with full board in double rooms while IMs and WIMs are offered 50% discount in the above prices (for a limited number of players). 

TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR: Georgios Diamantopoulos 

CHIEF ARBITER: Iskos Alexandros 

 For anything not mentioned in the announcement, the tournament director is responsible.