VII Internet Chess Tournament “Ciudad de Dos Hermanas”

(Internet Chess Club (ICC), March 17th-25th 2006)
IM Michael Rahal (EDAMI, Barcelona)
 

For the seventh year running the VII internet Chess Tournament "Ciudad de Dos Hermanas" is being held on the Internet Chess Club playing zone (www.chessclub.com). This event is clearly one of the most important Internet chess tournaments in the world, regarding both the number and the level of the participants. Up to the moment, 1.696 participants have registered, and each day more players are coming in. Already qualified for the finals are the GM's Hikaru Nakamura (USA) and Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine), and the more than probable qualification of the young star GM Magnus Carlsen as best second.

The total prize fund is 6.100 euros, with a first prize of 1.800 euros. In addition, the first six non GM-IM players classified will receive a free 6-months subscription to ICC, and twelve free 6 month free membership prizes will be raffled between all participants in the event who finish at least one qualifier.

As in previous editions, the playing system is as follows: twelve 12-round Swiss qualifiers using the Fischer System playing rate: 4 minutes + 1 seconds. Qualifiers are held twice a day from March 17th to 22nd. March 23rd is a rest day and the finals are held on March 24th and 25th. 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 file, PGN game files and other interesting information can be found at the Dos Hermanas web site www.doshermanas.net

Standings of the first six qualifiers