Teymur Rajabov joins World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships 2012

World Blitz and Rapid Chess Championships have begun in the capital city of Kazakhstan, Astana. It is worth noting that the Rapid Chess Championship is held for the first time in the history of the FIDE.

The organizers of the event are: Kazakhstan Sport and Physical Education Agency, Kazakhstan`s Chess Federation, International Chess Federation (FIDE), Kazakhstan`s Ministries of Culture and Information.

The top ten players of the current FIDE rating list were invited to take part in the event including: Teymur Rajabov, Magnus Carlsen, Sergey Karjakin, Boris Gelfand, Vladimir Kramnik, Veselin Topalov, Peter Svidler, Vassily Ivanchuk, Alexander Grischuk, Hikaru Nakamura, Murtas Kazhgaleyev and Anuar Ismagambetov.

Qualifiers are planned to be held prior to the finals till July 5 in "Duman" hotel. Chess players from all over the world will have a chance to advance to the main event. The only requirement for participants is their international ratings should be not less than 2300. Three winners of every qualifier will take part in the finals and be able to win prizes.

Famous sportsmen, world champions are among 16 participants of the finals of the World Championships, scheduled for 6-10 July in Radisson Hotel. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev will attend the championship and start the contest.
The total prize pool of the competition is $ 480 000.


/AzerTAc/