One of the biggest chess events in Poland ended. On the weekend of 20-21 May in the International Congress Center in Katowice took place the 5th Polish-Hungarian Friendship Chess Tournament.
The tournament was opened and closed by the initiator of the tournament and promoter of the Polish-Hungarian friendship, and former vice-president of the City of Katowice Michał Luty. At the end, he handed the cup winners together with the member of the Board of European Chess Union Martin Huba and the Vice President of Polish Chess Federation Adam Dzwonkowski.
There were 638 competitors. In the strongest OPEN group have been 251 players including nine grandmasters and the Olympic Vice-Champions – GM Monika Soćko and WGM Jolanta Zawadzka. Number 1st at the starting list is GM Sergei Azarov and in the addition to the top 10 there was one another foreigner – GM Dimitrios Mastrovasilis from Greece. In youth groups the biggest was the B group, with 107 children aged 12 or younger.
The winner became GM Aleksander Miśta (8,5 points), the runner-up was GM Bartłomiej Heberla (7,5 points) and the second runner-up was GM Sergei Azarov from Belarus (7,5 points). The best female player became WGM Jolanta Zawadzka (7,5 points), ahead of GM Monika Soćko (6,5 points) and Andżelika Dziodzio (6 points).
During all tournament, there was a live broadcast from 40 chessboards with live commentary made by GM Marcin Tazbir and WCM Maria Leks. Broadcast was transmitted through YouTube channel KochamSzachy and chess24.com website.
5th Polish-Hungarian Friendship Chess Tournament will remain in participants memory for a long time and this is also due to a special event. On the first day of the competition was held an exceptional meeting of the participants in the competition with two Silver Medalists of Women’s Chess Olympiad in Baku and the coach of the Women’s National Team – IM Marek Matlak. It was an opportunity to get to know the Polish Women’s Team, to ask a lot of questions and to get autographs.
The Polish-Hungarian Friendship Chess Tournament was already the fifth tournament organized jointly by the City of Katowice, City of Miskolc and Silesian Chess Federation. Every year it enjoys very high attendance. We hope that in 2018 this event will raise a similar interest among chess players, but before that, we invite you the European Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship, which will take place on 14-17 December in Katowice Sports Hall Spodek.
Please visit the official event website: http://chesscup.com.pl/en/