VIII Internet Chess Tournament “Ciudad de Dos Hermanas”

(Internet Chess Club (ICC), March 16th-24th 2007)
IM Michael Rahal (EDAMI, Barcelona)
 

For the eighth 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 the most important Internet chess tournaments in the world, taking into account both the number and the level of the participants. Up to now, 1.658 participants have registered, and every day more players are coming in.

The total prize fund is 7.700 euros, with a first prize of 1.800 euros. As a novelty this year, 16 new cash prizes have been added, increasing the prize fund in 1600 euros, so that now the 32 finalists all win a cash prize. In addition, the first six non GM-IM players classified will receive a free 6-months subscription to ICC, twelve free 6 month free membership prizes will be raffled between all participants in the event who finish at least one qualifier, and also the novelty that the three players who accumulate most points during all the qualifying events will win a 6-month free subscription to ICC.   

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 16th to 21st. March 22nd is a rest day and the finals are held on March 23rdth and 24th. The 12 qualifier winners plus the 20 best scores go on to the 32 KO final. Registration for the last six qualifiers is still open.

After the first 6 qualifiers, some very strong players have already qualified to the finals, including the Azerbaijan GM Sharidyar Mamedyarov, who is currently number 4 on the world best player list, with a 2754 Fide Rating. Also qualified is the American GM Hikaru Nakamura (2651 Fide Rating ), number 55 on the list. With excellent qualifying chances by best scores we find FIDE Vice-President, GM Zurab Azmaiparashvili (2632 Fide Rating), number 83 in the world's list, and Bulgarian GM Kiril Georgiev (2661 Fide Rating), world number 43. The list of qualified players and best scores can be found on the page http://www.chessclub.com/resources/event/doshermanas2007/contenders.html.

Complete standings, game file, PGN game files and other interesting information can be found at the Dos Hermanas web site www.doshermanas.net