Małoposka international chess championship 2025

In the second half of June, I participated in the 35th edition of the International Chess Championship of Małopolska. It was held once again at the Galaxy Hotel in Kraków. This marked my third appearance at the tournament, following my previous participations in 2022 and 2024. The organization was excellent, just like in past editions, … Continue reading Małoposka international chess championship 2025 →

A Personal Duathlon: Running and Chess in Bucharest

A traditional duathlon typically combines running and cycling. It’s less well-known than the triathlon, which includes swimming, cycling, and running—in that order. In both formats, the winner is the person who crosses the finish line first. While I was in Bucharest this May, I experienced a rare coincidence. Two major sporting events were scheduled for … Continue reading A Personal Duathlon: Running and Chess in Bucharest →

Grenke chess tournament 2024

Five years after playing in the Grenke chess tournament, it finally resumed after being canceled due to COVID-19. With around 2600 participants, it became the largest chess tournament globally, thanks to the rising popularity of chess. The festival featured four tournaments catering to players of different skill levels. The event's unique atmosphere was highlighted as players from various backgrounds gathered to compete. Notably, the tournament had outstanding playing conditions but suffered from noise issues. Although the author felt satisfied with their performance, they offered constructive criticism to the organizers. Ultimately, they expressed a desire to return due to the tournament's positive energy and atmosphere.

European Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship 2022

This year’s edition of the European Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship was a great success. The event was hosted in the same location as in 2021, the Spodek Arena in Katowice. What makes this tournament special is the combination of a big arena, band music, and over 900 competitors playing each other for a weekend. … Continue reading European Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship 2022 →

European Rapid and Blitz Chess Tournament 2021

The European Rapid and Blitz Chess Tournament venue, Katowice, is a Polish city with modern urban architecture. It looks more like an American city, and it has tall buildings in the center and wide streets and boulevards. It also has a vast sports arena called Spodek, which translates to "saucer". The Spodek Arena was the … Continue reading European Rapid and Blitz Chess Tournament 2021 →