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Legends of ChessMagnus Carlsen TourThe 4th event of the Magnus Carlsen Tour - Legendsof Chess has launched on 21st of July and takesplace till 5th of August.The event is played as 10-PlayerRound-Robin in 9 rounds, and eachround consists of four 15 10 rapidgames.Semifinals were played between SvidlerPeter and Magnus Carlsen and AnishGiri against Nepomniachtchi Ian.In the first match, Carlsen defeatedSvidler with score 2.5-1.5, whileNepomniachtchi won against Giri withthe same score 2.5-1.5.The participants of the Preliminariesphase were: Magnus Carlsen, VladimirKramnik, Anish Giri, IanNepomniachtchi, Anand Viswanathan,Boris Gelfand, Leko Peter, IvanchukVasyl and Ding Liren.In the second match, Magnus Carlsenoutplayed Peter Svidler again with thescore 2.5-1.5, while Giri Anish wonagainst Nepomniachtchi Ian 4-3.With score 1-1, Nepomniachtchi and Giriplayed a decisive match to determinewho goes to the finals.In the trhird match Nepomniachtchi wonin the Blitz 6th game with white, and finalscore was 3.5-2.5.Top four players proceeded to the SemiFinals: Magnus Carlsen, Anish Giri,Nepomniachtchi Ian and Peter Svidler.Finalists of the Legends of Chess eventare: Magnus Carlsen andNepomniachtchi Ian.The event was played withing twophases, Preliminaries and Knock out.More details about the event, as well asthe LIVE transmission of the game areavailable through chess.24.com.Newsletter July 202010

European Online Youth Chess Championship 2020European Chess Union organisesEuropean Online Youth Individualand Team Chess Championship infour age categories: U12, U14,U16 and U18 (open and girlsseparately) in period from18th-20th September 2020.European National federations have theright to nominate players and teams.Each Federation has the right tonominate up to 3 players per category:Open U18, U16, U14, U12 and GirlsU18, U16, U14, U12, one team in openand one team in girls’ section.Each Open and Girls Team consist of atleast 4 players and maximum 12,competing in all the 4 age Categories inopen or girls’ section. In case afederation cannot consist a team in theOpen or Girls section the players canstill compete individually and winindividual titles and prizes.ECU has the right to accept and directentries in case a National federationdoes not register players or in specialcases.The event will be played in SwissSystem 9 rounds, with time control:25min 5 sec per player. Each of the 8categories will be played individuallywith category winners. The best 4collective results (one player percategory with the highest score) decidethe team winners in open seand girls’section. Players from the samefederation and age group shall not bepaired together the last round.Each National federation will appointone captain/representative for thetechnical meeting and anycommunication during the event.All the players compete from theapproved tournament halls percountry.Tournament halls are selected andinstalled by federations and localorganisers. Each National federationmay select up to 3 venues in 3 differentcities which will be approved by theEuropean Chess Union. The venuesshall be camera monitored andconnected with local Arbiters’ Pc/laptopand central Arbiters Panel and thevenues shall be observed by locallicensed FIDE arbiters who shall be ableto communicate in English language.The playing server of the event will beannounced by the end of July.Schedule of theEuropean OnlineYouth Team andIndividiaualChessChampionship2020EOYCC2020- RegistrationsEuropean Online YouthChess ChampionshipRegistrations are made by theNational Federation filling thespecial registration form andsent it toeocc@europechess.org.The players who register for theevent will be ranked by theFIDE rapid rating and in casethey don’t have then the FIDEClassic or Blitz Rating.Registration deadline is 4thof September 2020.Newsletter July 202011

European Online Corporate Chess ChampionshipEuropean OnlineCorporate ChessChampionship 2020 willtake place from 3rd-4thOctober 2020.The event is open to all business,entities & organisations – regardless oftheir size. Each entity registers one teamand has the right to nominate unlimitednumber of players: Companies,organisations, clubs involved with chessare excluded.The participants shall have a validrelation with the Company at least since1st June 2020 (stakeholders, membersof the Board, managers, employees).Each Team, consists of at least 3players, competing individually, and thebest 3 individual results of the teammembers count for the Team score.In case a company cannot consist ateam, players can still competeindividually and win individual medalsand prizes. Each Team will appoint onecaptain/representative for the technicalmeeting and communication during theevent.Team entry fee is 300 euros for a teamwith 3 to 6 players and 500 euros formore than 6 players. Entry fee for theplayers competing only individually is 50euros. Registrations are made by thecompanies through an online entry form.Registration opens on 1st August andwill close on 25th September.The registered players will be ranked onthe starting list according to their FIDErapid rating, and if they don’t have FIDErapid rating, FIDE Classical and thenFIDE blitz rating will be considered.EOCCC2020.The best 3 players, of each entity,cumulative results will decide the Teamstandings for each day. According thestandings of each day, the first 20 teamsreceive the Team following points.The 1st team 20 points, the 2nd team 19points and respectively the 20th team 1point. The points of Teams from 1st and2nd Day are added and decide the TeamWinners (f.e 18 points (1st day) 10points (2nd day) 28 total Team points).The individual winners are decidedadding the final results of each player forboth days. (f.e 5 points (1st day) 6points (2nd day) 11 points.Registration for the event are availableon the ECU Website.Prizes:System of play and scheduleEuropean Online CorporateChess Championship 2020The event will be played with thefollowing schedule and system ofplay:- 1st Day (Saturday, 3rd October):Swiss System 7 rounds, 10min 2sec per player.- 2nd Day (Sunday, 4th October):Swiss System 9 rounds, 5min 2sec per player.Detailed information about the eventcan be found in the Officialregulations of the event.Prizes for the Team Winners:–1st Winner Company– 3 Full packagesInvitations for Golden Pawn Ceremony–2nd Winner Company– 2 Full packagesInvitations for Golden Pawn Ceremony–3rd Winner Company– 1 Full packageInvitation Golden Pawn CeremonyThe Chess for Life Grand Award ispresented to the Organisation enteringthe most participants. It recognizes theachievement of a very specialOrganisation whose management andstaff have responded to the challenge ofteam spirit and morale in the workplace.Newsletter July 2020- The first 8 Companies in the finalranking qualify for the Online InvitationalGrand Team event that will be organisedby ECU in November 2020.- The first 20 companies in thestandings can nominate one player foran online simultaneous exhibition gamewith a Top Grandmaster.Individual Medals are won by 1st, 2nd,and 3rd place in three sections: over2000 ELO rating, less than 2000 ratingand no rated/no FIDE id participants, torecognize personal achievement.The first 3 individual players in theoverall standings win money prizes: 1st700EUR, 2nd 500 EUR & 3rd 300 EUR.12

UPCOMINGECU Online Training Series – V227th August - 28th SeptemberECU and European Chess Academy organise the second volumeof the Lectures program “Improve Your Chess” with leadingChess Trainers worldwide from 27th of August to 28th ofSeptember.The lectures will be held twice a week every Monday and Thursday.You can follow from min 5 lecturers (entry fee 50 euros), 6, 7 or all 10lecturers (entry fee 90 euros- 10% discount) selecting your preferredlecturers/dates. The lectures are open for all but recommended forplayers over 1500 rating. All the program and the registration form aswell as the entry fee payment details are available on the ECUWebsite.Newsletter July 202013

UPCOMING EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIESONLINE CHESS CAMPChess Plus the ECU EDU partner organises Online ChessCamp for children aged from 9-16 years within two groups.The first group is for children rated below 1600- The ChessChallenge, and the second group is for children who are ratedabove 1800.The Camps will take place on 8th and 9th of August with GMJudit Polgar, IM Jesper Hall and IM Jop Delemarre as thelecturers of the lessons.Registrations and details are available here.ECU101 SEMINAR- SMARTMETHOD TO TEACH CHESSOnline ECU101 Seminar for the School ChessTeachers will take place on 24th and 25th of August.The participants will learn about methods to teachchess in Schools and by the end of the course willneed to pass the Online test to achieve the ECUSchool Chess Teacher Certificate.Registrations for the event are available on thefollowing link: 62750Online Seminar Improveyour chess teaching skillsOnline Seminar on the theme ofthe Instructive methods for chessteaching will be held in 5 differentlanguages within 5 different dates.Dates for the Webinars which willbe held in German, French, Dutchand Spanish language will beannounced soon.Registrations and pre-registrationsare available through the followinglink, as well as details of theevents.Newsletter July 202014

UPCOMINGSummer PragueFestival 20204th International IrenaWarakomska MemorialAs the part of the Czech Tour 2020/2021 Summper Prague ChessFestival will take place from 8th-15thof August in the capital of CzechRepublic.The 4th edition of the InternationalIrena Warakomska Memorial willtake place from 6th 13th of Augustin Suwalki, Poland.The event will be played in 9 rounds,Swiss System, with a total prize fundof 50.000 CZK.The event will be played in 9 rounds,Swiss System with time control: 90min/40 moves 30 min/rest of thegame 30 sec increment.Details about the event can be foundon the official website of the event.Details about the event can be foundon Official Website.MAGNUS CARLSENTOUR GRAND FINALThe Magnus Carlsen TourGrand Final event will take placefrom 9th-20th August 2020 as thelast event of the Magnus CarlsenTour played on chess24.com.The Tour comprised 4 events playedfrom April to August and willconclude with the Grand Final.More details and results of theevents can be found on the chess24Website, as the playground of theevent.Slovak Chess Championship- Saris OpenThe Slovak Chess Championship2020, Saris Open, will take place from7th-15th of August, as the OpenTournament, in Drienica, Slovakia.The event will be played in 9 rounds,Swiss System, with rate of play: 90minutes per 40 moves 30 secondsper move 30 minutes for a rest ofgame 30 seconds per move.Details about the event can be foundon the Official Website of the event.Newsletter July 202015

ARBITERS CORNEROriginal text by IA Tania KaraliEdited by IA Geert Bailleul, secretary of the ECU Arbiters’ CouncilA few thoughts on how to implementthe health protocolWith the over-the-board activitiesgradually resuming organisers andarbiters are taking on new duties andresponsibilities.Cleaning, sanitising, keeping distancesare just a few of them.We would like to share some thoughtsfrom our recent experiences: Before the start of the tournament itis necessary to make a safety andhealth protocol based on the FIDE- andECU Protocols, as well as on the localhealth legislation. You can send a copyof this health protocol to each participantof the tournament before the start of thefirst round. One person should beresponsible for everything which has todo with this protocol. The contact detailsof a medical doctor must be available. The first thing to remember is thatplayers don’t only need to be safe butalso to feel safe. If necessary you canpost the health protocol in a place whereeveryone can see it, for example, nearthe entrance or next to the results' table.However try to prevent that too muchplayers gather together around thisplace to read the protocol! The temperature of each player hasto be checked before entering theplaying venue.A player with fever cannot enter theplaying venue. A thermal camera can beused.Ask them to write down their names incase this is required by local authorities. Before the start of the first round,announce the most important measuresyou are going to follow.Newsletter July 2020 Before and after each round thechessboards, pieces, clocks, tables andchairs should be cleaned and sanitized.Choose carefully the product you aregoing to use based on the material thatthey are made from. Take special care ifthere are electronic boards. Urge the players to wear their masksat all time, also covering their noses.Remind them constantly to create agood habit. Needless to say that arbitersshould pose as an example! Askeveryone to bring their own masks butalso have some extra in case they areneeded. Cloth masks can be used. Additionalbenefit of a cloth mask is that it can bewashed and used repetitively.If players are using disposable masks,advice them to use another one everyday. Place antiseptics solutions in everyplaying hall preferably near theentrance/exit. Encourage the players touse them as often as possible. Makesure that there is hand soap anddisposable towels in the toilets. Gloves should be avoided becausethey are not washed and can transferbacteria. They can also give a falsesense of security. However, if a playerhas an allergy or intolerance in thecleaning products and would prefer tonot touch the pieces directly you shouldallow him to do so. Should a player complain of a healthissue, try to persuade him/her to see adoctor. Players, especially young ones,may underestimate the symptoms andthe situation. If they are not feeling wellor have a fever, they cannot be allowedto play and should seek medical help.16

The ECUreport on howto restartchess can befound on theECU Website. No visitors should be allowed in theplaying halls in order to avoid crowding.Politely ask the players to leave whenthey finish their games. If there are morethan one playing halls you shouldexplain to them that they are not allowedto move from one hall to another. Walking between the tables duringthe rounds is not allowed. Onlynecessary displacements are allowed:going to the toilet, fetch drinks. Providingclear direction guides and signs to andfrom the toilet, exits, bar etc. An analysing room cannot be used.Analysing should not be allowed. Regarding food and beverages youcan provide packed snacks and bottledwater or soda for the players. The use ofdisposable materials is highlyrecommended. When preparing the playing hallremember that the tables should be at acertain distance from each other(minimum one and a half meter). Theplaying halls should be very wellventilated preferably with windows inopposite sides. In case there are airconditions make sure that their filtershave been cleaned.Once again this articlereflects our personalrecommendations onimplementing theprotocol in a practicalway. Also make sure toread carefully the FIDEmedical security policyand protocol which canbe found on the FIDEWebsite. The players should be remindedbefore each round to not shake hands. Itis counter-intuitive so chances are thatthey will forget and you need to remindthem often. After a few rounds players will mostprobably get tired of the masks and willwant to take them off. Make sure tothank them for cooperating andcongratulate them for understanding theseverity of the matter. It will make themfeel good and willing to continue on thesame track!Newsletter July 2020The competition forArbiters riddle isextended till 31st ofAugust. All the detailson ECU ArbitersCouncil page.17

LEGENDS QUESTIONSMEET GM UWE BOENSCH10 Questions by GM Adrian Mikhalchishin1 What are You doing in life in thecurrent moment?I am still recovering from a seriousillness. I also take part in the trainingof chess coaches and play chessonline.I spend most of my time with myfamily.2 Your recollections withmeetings with WorldChampions?I especially remember the gameswith Tal, Petrosjan, Smyslov andKarpov.After a very exciting game, MichaelTal once told me: you played anexcellent knight sacrifice, only youshouldn't have thought about it for45 minutes but only 10 minutes.Michael Tal visited us at homeseveral times. He greatly inspiredme in my youth.3 Your best game .(ChessInformant).Just name.Boensch vs Chekhov, Halle 19874 Which Your achievement Youconsider to be most important.Happily married for 32 years5 Best &most important chessbooksHans Kmoch,„Die Kunst der Bauernführung“,Berlin 1956 andKoblenz / Tal, „Der Weg zum Erfolg“Sportverlag Berlin, 19826 How did You start Your career.My father taught me how to playchess when I was 5 and when I was10 I started playing actively in a club7 Your favorite openings.Queens gambit and Sicilian8 Who was the most difficult andeasiest opponent during Yourcareer. There are no easyopponents and as Sunzi said in the"Art of War" over 2500 years ago "Analyze your opponent to find outhis plans, his successful as well ashis failed ones." The disease wasthe most difficult to defeat.9 Non chess –best ,book, film andsinger for You.Book: Theodore Dreiser - "TheTitan", Film: Especially now after thedeath of Ennio Morricone - "OnceUpon a Time in the West" Song:Bruce Springsteen - "The River"GM UWE BOENSCH"My father taughtme how to playchess when I was5 and when I was10 I startedplaying actively ina club"10 Favourite city, food and drinkBerlin, Japanese, good wineNewsletter July 202018

FUN ZONE I have always had a slight feelingof pity for man who has noknowledge of chess. Before the endgame, the Godshave placed the middle game.SiegbertTarraschsaid aboutchess: Chess is a terrible game. If youhave no center, your opponenthas a freer position. If you dohave a center, then you reallyhave something to worry about! Intellectual activity is perhapsthe greatest pleasure of life;chess is one of the forms ofintellectual activity. Chess is a form of intellectualproductiveness, therein lies itspeculiar charm. Chess, like love,like music, has the power to makemen happy.Newsletter July 2020For this edition of theECU monthly magazine,we prepared 4 positionswith mate in 3!White is on the move!Solutions from June#Puzzle 11.Qxf7 ! Rxf7 2.Re8##Puzzle 21.Qxd8 ! Nxd8 2/Re8##Puzzle 31.Qxh6 ! gxh6 2.Be5##Puzzle 41.Rxg6 !hxg6 2.Qh6#19

E-MAGAZINE JULY 2020 European Online Corporate Championships announced for 3 & 4 of October European Online Youth Chess Championhsip announced for 18-20 September. . into the abilities and life lessons that chess taught them. Anand dived into the history of chess, while Hou Yifan concentrat