The European Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship 2015 will start in two days in Minsk, the capital of Belarus.
The Championship kicks off with a Blitz event, which is scheduled for 18th at 11 am. The strong field of 679 participants is led by GM Stanislav Bogdanovich (UKR 2815), defending champion GM David Navara (CZE 2806), GM Rauf Mamedov (AZE 2777), etc.
Blitz LIVE games with analysis
The tournament continues with Rapid championship which is scheduled for 19th and 20th December, starting from 10 am. Amazing number of 800 players will try their luck in the Rapid event, and the best chances have the top seeds GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE 2784), GM Dmitry Andreikin (RUS 2773), GM Ernesto Inarkiev (RUS 2742), GM Sergey Movsesian (ARM 2724), GM Jobava Baadur (GEO 2727), etc.
Rapid LIVE games with analysis
Both Championships will be played according to the Swiss System in 11 rounds. Time control for Blitz event will be 3 minutes + 2 seconds, and 15 minutes + 10 seconds for Rapid tournament.
The organizers of the Championships are the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus, the Ministry of Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Belarus, Minsk City Executive Committee and Belarus Chess Federation under the auspices of ECU.
The tournament venue will be the Sports Palace, Pr. Pobeditelei, 4, Minsk, Belarus. The Chief Arbiter is IA Andrzej Filipowicz from Poland.
The Championship will be opened by the ECU President Zurab Azmaiparashvili.