Gran Casino de Barcelona 2011 starts today!
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
I have not been as active chess-wise in recent years as before (‘normal’ for me is about 80 games a year-I think I played about 50 last year) but I hope to change that in coming months. At the ripe old age of 56 I am Canada’s strongest GM and still dangerously close to the 2600 FIDE level. I feel that I have another 10 good years left in me. Anyway, I will be participating in a great tournament in Barcelona that begins today. My readers will be able to follow it live! Information follows below.
Magistral d’Escacs Ciutat de Barcelona – Casino de Barcelona
The 14th edition of Barcelona’s most prestigious international tournament begins today at the city’s Gran Casino and will continue until the 20th. This year’s event boasts a category xiv ranking, with the average rating just below 2600, everyone of the participants an experienced GM.
The players include Smirin (ISR), Seirawan (USA), Peralta (ARG), Iturrizaga (VEN),Salgado (Spain), Spraggett (CAN), Narciso (Spain), Alsina (Spain) Oms (Spain) and De la Riva (AND).
The time control is the classic FIDE model: 90 minutes for 40 moves followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game (with 30′ per move starting at move 1) The rounds start at 4:30p.m (11:30 a.m. in central Canada) The games can be followed live here.
The tournament sponsors include the Gran Casino (group Peralada), Barcelona City Hall and the Autonomous Government of Catalonia. The Catalan Chess Federation is the tournament’s main organizer and Sr. Jordi Parayre is the chief organizer.
I will provide a daily report here on this blog.
Follow on FACEBOOK!
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
The players include Smirin (ISR), Seirawan (USA), Peralta (ARG), Iturrizaga (VEN),Salgado (Spain), Spraggett (CAN), Narciso (Spain), Alsina (Spain) Oms (Spain) and De la Riva (AND).
The time control is the classic FIDE model: 90 minutes for 40 moves followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game (with 30′ per move starting at move 1) The rounds start at 4:30p.m (11:30 a.m. in central Canada) The games can be followed live here.
The tournament sponsors include the Gran Casino (group Peralada), Barcelona City Hall and the Autonomous Government of Catalonia. The Catalan Chess Federation is the tournament’s main organizer and Sr. Jordi Parayre is the chief organizer.
I will provide a daily report here on this blog.
Follow on FACEBOOK!
BREAKING NEWS!
From the FACEBOOK page for the tournament just one hour ago : GM Eduardo Iturrizaga has had a car accident on his way to the airport. Fortunately he has no serious injuries! Nontheless, the car was crushed and Gran Maestro Eduardo Iturrizaga was not able to make it to Barcelona. We are happy he is well and wish him a quick recovery! The Magistral Casino Barcelona Organising Committee is working to solve the inconvenient and as soon as the new player is confirmed, it will be announced.
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS