III Internet Chess Tournament “Ciudad de Dos Hermanas”

 

Internet Chess Club (ICC), March 15-23,  2002

 

5.346 registered players, including 42 GM and 89 IM,

after the first six qualifiers.

 

MI Michael Rahal (EDAMI, Barcelona)

 

For the third year running Internet Chess Club (www.chessclub.com) holds the third annual Internet Chess Tournament “Ciudad de Dos Hermanas” (Spain). This event has consolidated itself as the most important Internet tournament in the world, both in the number and strength of the participants.

 

Last years statistics are being smashed to bits. There are six qualifiers still left to play, and the number of participants and titled players are already above those of the 2001 edition. The Dos Hermanas web counter (www.doshermanas.net) will soon not have enough digits to count up the number of hits on the page: more than 110.000 during the last two weeks!

 

The following table summarizes the statistics of this years event, compared to the last two editions. The column 2002 gives data after the first six rounds.

 

 

2000

2001

2002

Registered players

1.374

4.424

5.346

Participants

783

2.145

1.733

Countries

72

62

86

GM

21

48

42

MI

36

85

89

 

 

As last year the playing system is as follows: 12 9-round Swiss qualifiers using the Fischer System playing rate: 8 minutes + 2 seconds. Qualifiers are held twice a day (from March 15th to 20th). March 21st is a rest day, and the finals are held on March 22-23. The 12 qualifier winners plus the 20 best scores qualify to the 32 KO final. Registration for the last six qualifiers is still open. Complete standings, game files and other interesting information can be found at the Dos Hermanas web site www.doshermanas.net