After a very successful first edition, the Etna Chess Festival comes back again to Hotel Biancaneve in Nicolosi, on the slopes of the volcano, for its second edition.
The organizer of two chess clubs from the island, the “Chess Centre Aci Castello, Nicolosi and Acireale” (Centro Scacchi Aci Castello, Nicolosi e Acireale) and “Friends of the Chess Board” of Erice (Amici della Scacchiera di Erice) are collaboratively organising the Etna chess tournament.
No doubt the players and guests will be treated to a memorable chess and tourist experience knowing that the organiser of the highly acclaimed first edition, Mr Alessandro Monaco, is also taking care of this new tournament in co-operation with Mrs. Agata Campisi Marzaduri from the local chess club of Nicolosi.
Three Opens, A for players>1900, B for players with <2000 rating and C for <1600 players, will be played over 7 rounds of Swiss system, from 4-8 December, 2015.
Invited titled players are: GM Peter Prohaszka (HUN), GM Oleg Romanishin (UKR), GM Tornike Sanikidze (GEO), GM Gundavaa Bayarsaikhan (MGL), GM Jan Werle (NED), FM Artem Gilevich (ITA), WGM Keti Tsatsalashvili (GEO) and WGM Iozefina Paulet (NED).
Mount Etna is found on the east coast of Sicily, Italy, in the Province of Catania, between Messina and Catania. It is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. The summit has about five craters that show a constant volcanic activity. Eruptions can be highly explosive and spectacular, but rarely threaten the inhabited areas around the volcano.
Organised excursions are programmed in order to experience the volcano from close as well as the Natural Park where the vegetation is influenced by the geologic, volcanic properties.
However, for the players and guests interested in prolonging their stay and enjoying the area in a relaxed manner, the organizer has arranged for the special hotel prices to be valid from 2-10 December.
The official hotel Biancaneve (4*), in the town of Nicolosi, is overlooking the Mount Etna and is found within the Park of Etna, which is a natural reserve and a UNESCO patrimonial.
Several low-cost airlines fly to Sicily and the airport of Catania, which is the nearest to the venue at about 30 km. If booked well in advance, tickets can be purchased for around 60 euro.
For accommodation, special prices for groups, and for any further information, please contact Alessandro Monaco: info@etnascacchi.com
Official website: http://www.etnascacchi.com/
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/etnachess