Thousands of curious spectators in Zurich Main Station and countless Internet users around the world were riveted to jubilee events that marked the 200-year anniversary of the Schachgesellschaft Zürich. No fewer than eleven chess champions participated in the events on 22 and 23 August 2009. Vladimir Kramnik won the champions' rapid tournament ahead of the reigning World Champion Anand. The world's oldest chess club takes great satisfaction in having staged a first-class event, whose principal sponsor was Credit Suisse.

In the champions' simultaneous exhibition on Saturday, 22 August, 2009, 200 amateur chess players battled against eight chess grandmasters: Viswanathan Anand, Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov, Viktor Korchnoi, Vladimir Kramnik, Boris Spassky, Ruslan Ponomariov and Veselin Topalov showed brilliant skill in their games. Of the 200 games played, the champions conceded only four wins to their tough challengers; 35 other games ended in a draw. The simultaneous event was expected to run through around 6 pm, but Kasparov und Karpov and their opponents duelled through 9 pm. Even that late – seven hours after the start – both champions were still surrounded by many chess enthusiats. At the beginning of the event thousands of curious onlookers were watching the champions' moves.

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Start is this coming weekend, 22/23 August 2009, when no less than eleven chess champions will play at the jubilee festivities of the Schachgesellschaft Zürich. At 200 years, it is the oldest chess club in the world. Legends of the past 50 years such as the current World Champion Anand will be joining both a simultaneous exhibition and a rapid tournament at Zurich Main Station. Main sponsor of the jubilee Credit Suisse once again helps the Schachgesellschaft Zürich realise a first-class chess event.
 
On Saturday, 22 August 2009, 200 amateurs will play against eight champions who have left indelible marks on chess in the past 50 years: Viswanathan Anand, Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov, Viktor Korchnoi, Vladimir Kramnik, Boris Spassky, Ruslan Ponomariov and Veselin Topalov. Each of them will play against 25 amateurs, 200 games altogether, one for every year of the club's history. The event begins at 2 p.m. and is expected to finish around 6.30 p.m.

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Alexander Areshchenko took the Grand Prize at the Jubilee-Open, which ran 9-15 August at the Kongresshaus in Zurich. Nino Wilkins won the General Tournament. Festivities around the 200-year anniversary of the Schachgesellschaft Zürich will climax on the weekend of 22-23 August 2009; Champions such as Garry Kasparov and the reigning World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand will play at Zurich Main Station.

At the Alois Nagler Memorial, the Jubilee-Open’s Master Tournament, after beating Yuryi Kuzubov with the black pieces in style, Alexander Areshchenko received the winner’s check offered by the Alois Nagler Foundation. In a riveting last round, a true tribute to the game of chess, top-favoured Alexander Morozevich lost his round by a hair, thereby forfeiting his chances to win the tournament. Yannick Pelletier was the best Swiss player, and took one of the prizes offered by the clock manufacturer, Beyer. Pelletier was also among those 16 players who won one of the main prizes. The Chinese Hou Yifan took the "Best Female Player" distinction, and the prize for the "Best Under 16" was pulled in by Anish Giri. Both young grandmasters convincingly showed in Zurich that brilliant chess careers lie ahead. Additional special prizes were awarded to Old Master Lajos Portisch (Best Seniors), Yuryi Kuzubov (Best Under 20) and to Michael Hochstrasser and Miguel Angel Garcia Lopez (Rating prizes). The entire Jubilee-Open not only showed chess a good spirited and highly competitive sport, but also was marked by superb and friendly rapport among the 536 participants. Tens of thousands of chess enthusiasts watched the top players’ games live on the internet.

At the Accentus (Swiss Chess) Open, the Jubilee-Open’s General Tournament, Nino Wilkins was the proud winner of the first prize. 17 additional players took the remaining main prizes sponsored by Accentus (Swiss Chess). Wilkins was able to stop Einora Juciute, who retained her points over the long term and was ultimately named the Tournament’s best female player. Further prizes went to Kurt Meier (Best Seniors), Fabian Matt (Best Under 16), Salim Turki (Best Elo 1600-1799), Ati Falossi (Best Elo 800-1599), Alexander Greve (Best Unrated) and to Nino Wilkins, who also was the best player "Under 20".

The high point of the jubilee festivities is to follow next weekend, 22/23 August 2009: The world’s best chess players of the last 50 years will assemble at Zurich Main Station for a simultaneous exhibition and a rapid tournament.

Jubilee Events Begin ...

Sunday, 9 August 2009, heralds the start of the events around the 200-year anniversary of the Schachgesellschaft Zürich. The events begin with the Jubilee-Open at the Kongresshaus Zürich. For seven days, some 600 chess enthusiasts – worldclass players among them – will compete in the Open for CHF 100,000 in prize money. The celebration will reach its climax on 22/23 August 2009, when the world’s most renowned chess champions will launch a simultaneous exhibition and a rapid chess tournament at Zurich Main Station. Credit Suisse is the jubilee events’ main sponsor.

The Jubilee-Open, slated for 9 –15 August 2009 at the Kongresshaus Zürich, will bring almost 600 participants from 43 countries together, chess enthusiasts who range from occasional players through to worldclass champions such as Alexander Morozevich. In the Alois Nagler Memorial (Master Tournament) 44 grandmasters und 46 international masters will compete for the CHF 75,000 prize money offered by the Alois Nagler Foundation. In the Accentus (Swiss Chess) Open, the General Tournament, players will vie for the CHF 25,000 Accentus (Swiss Chess) has sponsored as a prize. The event is open to the public, and the top games will be broadcast live over the internet at www.sgzurich2009-live.ch. Chess enthusiasts can register through 8 August 2009 via the designated website at www.sgzurich2009.ch or on the day of the event on site. More...