Breaking Barriers and Celebrating Diversity: 27 Countries Compete in Orillas de Mar International Chess Tournament for 6 FIDE Norms.
All the 26 GMs/WGM at the kick off ceremony
Playing in a 16th century site: Casa Fuerte of Adeje
Step into the world of Orillas de Mar International Chess Tournament, where extraordinary achievements and female prowess take center stage! This captivating event, inspired by the popular Queen’s Gambit, delivered an unforgettable display of talent and determination.
The Chinese friends
Within the thrilling battles of Orillas de Mar, six FIDE norms were earned, representing crucial milestones in the chess world. For the uninitiated, a FIDE norm is a prestigious accomplishment that recognizes players for their exceptional performance and brings them closer to coveted titles such as International Master or Grandmaster. These norms exemplify the unwavering dedication and strategic brilliance demonstrated by the participants.
Xiao Tong(Qd), from China: norm to GM
Nie Xinyang, from China: norm to IM
Zhang Lanlin, from China: norm to WGM
Huang Renjie, from China: norm to GM
Emil Risteski, from Macedonia: norm to IM
Peng Xiongjian, from China: norm to IM
While the tournament boasted an impressive lineup of 23 Grandmasters and 3 WGM, 34 IM/WIM/FM/WFM it was the remarkable presence of 26 talented women that truly stole the show. These fierce competitors showcased their skills, challenging gender stereotypes and proving that chess knows no boundaries. Their remarkable performances, alongside their male counterparts, made Orillas de Maran inspiring celebration of inclusivity and gender equality in the chess community.
Beyond the intense battles on the board, the tournament offered more than just fierce competition. Participants and children were treated to an array of prizes, gifts, and delectable sweets, adding an extra touch of joy and celebration to the event.
Join us in celebrating the triumph of the Orillas de Mar International Chess Tournament, a spectacle that embraced the power of female players and highlighted the significance of earning FIDE norms. This exceptional journey showcased the best of chess, inspiring players of all backgrounds to pursue their dreams and embrace the strategic beauty of the game.
Firstly we have to say that the pandemic has taken away or transformed almost all the chess manifestations that we were used to (i.e:Aeroflot of Moscow, the London Chess Classics, the Grenke of Karlsruhe, the Biel tournament, the Dortmund tournament, the Open of Gibraltar, the Bilbao tournament, the Leon tournament, the Linares tournament, the Memorial Tal, the Gashimov Memorial…).
Secondly, pandemia has also accelerated the creation of online tournaments. Playable from anywhere in the world and at any time without the need to travel and go to the hotel. It is understandable that the very young believe this is the way you play chess.
In addition, the disappearance, we hope temporary, of Russia and China with the world organizational scenario. The one ban on the demonstrations for the war he triggered. The other grappling with the re-establishment of the pandemic outbreak. They had to leave the scene to India, to the USA (especially for online chess) and to a fragmented Europe. Moreover, open large spaces to the new Asian realities, from the rich Arab countries to the ex-Soviet Asian republics.
But then the experience teaches us that the desire to try their hand against a human in the long run convinces everyone, or almost all, to enroll in a circle like the ARONA CHESS CLUB one or a tournament. And then a new era begins, the real one, made of tension, psychology, …
and now we want to show you the 4 best sites to play chess
The first site to play chess online is definitely chess.com. In reality, this option is also the most populated, considering that the portal has more than twenty million registered users. Well yes, in this case the registration is a must, but you can also authenticate you using Facebook or Google. Once access, you can challenge other players around the world. Chess.com is also available as an app for Android and iOS, both on mobile phones and on tablets.
The second site is Lichess.org. It is certainly not populated as Chess.com, but it still has more than one million games per day. Moreover, it does not require any form of recording if you want to do only one game. Instead, it will be necessary to access the site in the event that you want to record your progress, scores and all the games you have carried out against other users. In this case, however, everything will always be free.
is very similar, in its management, to Chess.com It is the most suitable site for all those who simply want to play a random game, without too many complications. In fact, it always allows you to play against other online players, completely free of charge and does not require any kind of registration. The portal is quite immediate: connect, click on “Play Now” and play against other online players.
is in fourth place in terms of gaming experience. But it is certainly the first for direct streaming, commented by GMs, of the best known international tournaments. The chess website is available in different languages (English, Spanish, German, ..) It is not possible to play correspondence games. The longest time control available is 60 minutes with an increase of 30 seconds per move. However, Chess24 offers various fantastic tournaments to participate in. Especially themed tournaments opening are extremely useful for improving your chess opening skills.
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Try them and decide what you like best and, if you want, leave me your comment below. Good fun!!!
The FIRST RAPID tourney (15’-7 rounds) is starting on October, 7th 2022 at 17.00 – The first 4 rounds will be played. All players will be present at least 15 minutes before.
VENUE: Hotel Andorra 10, Av. Antonio Dominguez – 38650 – Playa de Las Americas – Tenerife
14 October 2022 – The remaining 3 rounds will be played from 17.00 and immediately after the final cerimony will immediately take place.
Wanna have a look at pairings and results? ok, you can, clicking here
The tournament is free for all ARONA CHESS CLUBmembers, and it is also free for GM, WGM, IM and WIM FIDE title holders. 10,00€ for non-members
Sign up now!! Simply sending an e-mail to: arona_chess_club@gmx.com with your data: name, surname, date of birth (in order to definy eligibility to awards) and nationality.
Payments are accepted at the club headquarters until Friday, October 7 (and October 14th) from 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
And what about the AWARDS ? … obviously they are are fully aligned to our club goals.
T-shirt (front)T-shirt (back)Siam ParkSiam Park
FIRST PLACE:Cup + the exclusive ARONA CHESS CLUB t-shirt + moreover a special paid dinner (drinks not included) for two at the “Linares” restaurant in Los Cristianos (or, in conclusion, €60 in cash).
Furthermore, the exclusive ARONA CHESS CLUB t-shirt is created just for this tournament by Argelia Bello H., one of the best Canarian creative graphic designer.
SECOND PLACE: Medal + the exclusive ARONA CHESS CLUB t-shirt + moreover a special paid dinner (drinks not included) for two at the “Linares” restaurant in Los Cristianos (or €30 in cash).
3RD PLACE – Medal + the exclusive ARONA CHESS CLUB t-shirt 4TH PLACE – Medal + the exclusive ARONA CHESS CLUB t-shirt 5TH PLACE – Medal + the exclusive ARONA CHESS CLUB t-shirt 6TH PLACE – Medal + the exclusive ARONA CHESS CLUB t-shirt
FIRST PLACE UNDER 12 – Medal + a free entrance to Siam Park, the first water park in the world + moreover the exclusive ARONA CHESS CLUB t-shirt
2ND UNDER12 – Medal + exclusive ARONA CHESS CLUB t-shirt 3RD UNDER12 – Medal + exclusive ARONA CHESS CLUB t-shirt
FIRST PLACE OVER 60 –Medal + a special dinner (drinks not included) at the “Linares” restaurant in Los Cristianos (or €30.00) + finally the exclusive ARONA CHESS CLUB t-shirt
Those born in 2010 and later are considered in the under 12 category. While veterans (over 60 years old) will be those born in 1962 and before.
Obviously, awards cannot be combined with each other.
Finally and most importantly, surprise awards will be there for all participants!!
After Queen’s Gambit became one of the most watched series on Netflix, viewed by around 62 million people, chess is known to have benefited from a great deal of publicity and a new surge of interest. Perhaps even greater than that achieved by the exploits of famous Grand Masters and chess world champions. ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ tells the battle of women for equality starting from the world of chess. But in reality female champions – like Judit Polgar – are rare and sexism in this discipline is maximum. Some time ago even the great champion Garry Kasparov even declared that chess “would not be in the female nature“. But is it really true?
There are those who have made a historical reflection recalling that women played chess as much as men until the beginning of the seventeenth century. At that time, the rules of chess changed as the Queen and Bishop acquired much more meaning and power. Chess went from a pleasant game between gentlemen and women to a competitive and ruthless sport practiced mainly in pubs and cafes, and therefore considered an unseemly activity for women. For the next 300 years, society continually sent the message “Chess is not for women“.
We are convinced that today the reason there are no women among the top players is because there are hardly any girls who sign up to start playing chess.So, in order to change this, we invite all girls and women to join our club. Fun, happiness and good training for everyone! It would be nice to be able to discover over time a local champion able to compete with everyone on a world level.
And now let us see how the question of Beth Harmon’s existence has also emerged online.
Beth may be a fictional character, but there is a lot of speculation as to who Beth Harmon might be in real life. Talking about Beth’s character, the novelist Walter Tevis who wrote the book The Queen’s Gambit, stated that Beth was a tribute to brainy women like his daughter, Julie, and aunt (who gave him his first chess as a present when he was seven).
It seems that the author was inspired by Vera Menchik. But who was Vera?
Vera plays chess
She was born in 1906 in Moscow into a wealthy family of mill owners. However, during the Russian Revolution (1917-23), her family’s mill was confiscated and her family had to share the house with other people. Eventually, her family was forced to give up ownership of their home. Vera had to change schools against her will. In times of turmoil, she found solace in chess, a game that her father had taught her when she was nine years old. To top that, her parents divorced that left her shaken as she immigrated with her mother and with her sister, Olga, to England. She joined a local chess club in England, where she challenged the best men players of that time. Soon, she gained fame by winning in local and regional matches at national and international matches. In 1927 she won the Women’s World Chess Championship, a tournament that had taken place for the first time. She also defeated many of the best males of her era, including world champion Max Euwe (twice!), As well as Sammy Reshevsky, Jacques Mieses and Lajos Steiner. Hastings 1930-1, Euwe lost only one game in the entire event – to Menchik. At the height of the Second World War, and a year after her husband’s death, she died at the hands of war while playing in a chess tournament.
Who are the 3 best female players actually in the world ?
Grand Master Hou Yfan – ChinaGrand Master Goryachkina, Aleksandra – RussiaGrand Master Ju Wenjun – China
Our dream? that our club can develop a champion like him!
GM Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa
Quintuple world chess champion, 31-year-old Norwegian Magnus Carlsen, who has held the title since 2013, was defeated at the Aithings Masters by Indian prodigy, 16-year-old Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa. The other element of novelty contained in this news concerns the growing practice of online chess tournaments, one of the direct consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. A practice, that of chess on the Internet, which Carlsen himself called a “revolution”.
It is no coincidence that the exploit of the one who has been nicknamed ‘Pragg’ was made right online, in one of the most followed fast tournaments in the world, making him the youngest player to have defeated the almost invincible Norwegian. The great Indian chess master, born on 10 August 2005 in Chennai (South), took home the victory with a queen’s gambit in the Tarrasch variant after 39 moves.
His greatest ambition is to take the place of the one who inspired him: 52-year-old Viswanathan Anand – 16th in the world rankings – called the Lucky Luke of chess at the time of his heyday for the speed with which he calculated the moves, still considered a living god of over a billion Indians. In reality ” Pragg ‘, a teenager with a fragile and shy appearance, is not new to this type of exploit: in 2016, at just 10 years old, he became the youngest International Master in the history of the game. Two years later he was awarded the then-second youngest chess master in the world.
Praggnanandhaa belongs to a generation of young Indians who embody India’s growing influence in the world of chess, a sport that has its origins in a sixth-century Indian board game for two. Three of Praggnanandhaa’s peers are among the most promising players of his generation: Nihal Sarin, 18, fast chess master and 2019 Asian blitz champion, Arjun Erigaisi, 18, who five-time world champion Anand calls one of the “best. hopes “of India, and Dommaraju Gukesh, 15.
India currently has 73 great masters, up from 20 in 2007. Two of them are women, including 34-year-old Koneru Humpy, world champion in rapid chess who won the title in December 2019 after a two-month maternity break. years. Pragg is one of the most ambitious chess players of his generation. He knew that chess would be his life when he was eight.
“He always thinks about chess,” Ramesh, his coach since he was 7, told the BBC. The son of a bank manager and a housewife, ‘Pragg’ particularly enjoys playing cricket and table tennis with his Chennai friends, as well as watching Tamil-language comedies.
Before Covid, the talented teenager spent 15 days a month traveling around the world to participate in tournaments, always accompanied by his mother and a rice cooker to prepare his favorite dishes for him as he does not like other cuisines. His sister, Vaishali, is also in the game as a member of the Indian women’s team. Precisely in Chennai in 2008 Ramesh, former Commonwealth chess champion, opened a training school today attended by a thousand students between 7 and 18 years old, both Indian and coming from the four corners of the planet.
“Indian children are very motivated, diligent and hardworking. The main reason the game is progressing in India is that we have more qualified instructors as the great masters and good players are becoming teachers themselves. There are so many players at this. point there are no teachers “explained his coach. A third of the students get free lessons because he can’t afford them.
India still has a long way to go before it can offer equal opportunities to all its deserving talents and realize its full chess potential. Many of its great masters do not yet have an employer and a sponsor. Oil companies and state railways have hired ranked chess players, but the prize pool in tournaments is usually still below their modest salaries.
In India, the historic home of cricket, “chess fever” has now infected 50,000 Indians officially registered in clubs, but in all at least one million participate in tournaments. In 2022, in addition to hosting 12 international tournaments, Gandhi’s homeland will launch its own chess championship. In the ranking of the 100 best players in the world, the Asian giant is represented by seven champions, while the noble Russia has 23.
Empowering the Queen’s Gambit: “Orillas de Mar” Chess Tournament shines with FIDE Norms and strong female presence!
Step into the world of “Orillas de Mar” Chess Tournament, where extraordinary achievements and female prowess take center stage! This captivating event, inspired by the popular Queen’s Gambit, delivered an unforgettable display of talent and determination.
The opening ceremony took place in the picturesque patio of Casa Fuerte di Adeje, an ancient castle dating back to the 16th century, providing the perfect setting to kick off this unique competition. Surrounded by Moorish arches, participants could appreciate the unique atmosphere that only a historic location can offer.
The Grand Masters (GM) and Women Grand Masters (WGM), true pillars of the chess world, made the ceremony even more special. We welcomed these champions with pride, giving them the opportunity to meet and share their experiences with enthusiasts.
After warm greetings and thanks to the chess federations and our valuable partners such as Solucion Grafica and Rita for their collaboration in organizing the event, we finally immersed ourselves in the challenges. Participants demonstrated extraordinary determination, putting their strategic skills and creativity into play to surprise opponents and the audience. Every move was carefully evaluated, as if the players were writing a new chapter in the history of chess.
The games took place on elegant wooden chessboards, adding a touch of class that made the matches even more fascinating, reminiscent of the charm of the past.
In the patio, participants could enjoy refreshing beverages and complimentary bananas provided by Societa Fast, a welcome relief on the warm day. Victories were greeted with enthusiasm, while moments of tension kept everyone on the edge of their seats. Our goal as organizers is to create a memorable experience for participants and provide an engaging spectacle for spectators. The first day has already shown that we are on the right track.
We are excited to discover what the upcoming days of competition have in store for us. Tomorrow, both the second and third rounds will be played, already outlining the race for the top positions in the rankings. The Orillas de Mar Chess Tournament is destined to become the most prestigious annual event in the Canary Islands and one of the most fascinating in Europe. We are ready to continue this thrilling adventure and discover which champion will emerge from the competition.
The well-known Artificial Intelligence site https://chat.openai.com reports some inaccuracies but also some of our secret projects!! But how will it know? Frankly it is impossible to understand this!
A.I. site image
Here’s what it says about us: “… Arona Chess Club is a chess club located in the municipality of Arona, on the island of Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, Spain. The club was founded in 1987 (????) and offers opportunities to play amateur and professional chess.
Arona Chess Club regularly organizes chess tournaments, both locally and nationally as well as internationally, with the participation of players of different skill levels. The club also promotes chess practice at local schools and runs chess classes for youth and adults interested in learning and improving their game.
The club also has a chess team that participates in regional and national championships, representing the city of Arona. Furthermore, Arona Chess Club has developed an international collaboration with other chess clubs in Europe and Latin America, offering opportunities for cultural exchange and chess practice….”
What do you think about that? Please send us your comments
Just one word! a SUCCESS. Happy everyone and two days of “friendly” chess challenges to celebrate next Christmas together! and with lots of prizes and gifts for everyone, young and old!
And you know how we built this extraordinary event? Here are some facts (not all, believe me!):
Weeks of preparation together with Rita of the Casa Fuerte of Adeje, to get and prepare everything necessary i.e: chairs and tables donated by the South Tenerife Language Center of Adeje, look, etc.
and in addition, the kind support of the Tenerife Chess Federation and the preparation and competence of the referee Franklin Diaz Barrios.
We got players from 14 different countries and of all ages; and more than 12,000 visits on our webpage and social networks worldwide!
International Rapid Tournament: sport and tourism!
a pack of very nice handmade soaps made here in Tenerife by Las Jalapeñas
Moreover, hundreds of free bottles of water offered at a very good prize by Fuentealta and decades of homemade cookies of Casa Fuerte in the shape of chess pieces, as well as many Casa Fuerte Christmas gadgets and gifts for everyone present.
The book of the IM Aldo Haïk, signed and with his dedication, raffled among all those present
another book on chess strategy to the best player of ARONA CHESS CLUB
the magnificent trophies and the engraved medals for the winners
And the blouses could not be missing, yes!, the wonderful tournament t-shirts with the exclusive design of the creative graphics Argelia Bello Hernandez Do you want to buy one? Please contact usand in few days you will get yours.
You know? we also organized to have a lemonade and a coffee service on the stage of the entrance square.
And last but not least! the very welcome presence and speech of GM Miodrag_Todorcevic, who enchanted everyone about the four factors described to become a GM.
Finally, let us see you again next year for the 2nd Christmas Rapid Tourney at Casa Fuerte of Adeje
Firstly, we are really pleased to confirm the presence of both the GM (Grand Master) Miodrag Todorcevic and the French IM (International Master) Aldo Haïk!
SPECIAL GUEST GM MINDRAGTODORCEVIC ANTICSPECIAL GUEST: IM ALDO HAIK
Miodrag Todorcevic, GM Fide since 1989 was French Chess Championship winner and got many awards; now he lives in Gran Canaria. He will be having a chat – sunday 18th dec. at about 1.30 pm – a very interesting chat, about his career which, we are sure, will truly enchant everyone. Have a look to his best games at the following link: https://www.chess.com/games/miodrag-todorcevic-antic,
Aldo Haïk IM Fide since 1985, won many tournaments and was two-times French Chess Championship winner (1972, 1983), He also has decided to accept our invitation and to come to Tenerife from France, where he currently lives, to celebrate Christmas with all of us at Casa Fuerte in Adeje. He worked as a chess journalist for the newspaper Le Figaro. Aldo Haïk has wrote several books on chess and he will sign and offer one of them to participants drawn by raffle.
Secondly, other two special guests, but not players, will also be present at the XMas Int’l Rapid tournament: the local painter Cande Alonso Hernández and the graphic designer Argelia Bello Hernandez
SPECIAL GUEST CANDE ALONSO HERNANDEZPECIALL GUEST: ARGELIA BELLO HERNANDEZ
Cande Alonso Hernández will paint throughout the tournamenT. For our event she has created tiles with the effigy of each chess piece. They will be available to anyone who wants to buy at the very low price of 50,00 euros each. Cande has also decided to pay homage to the winner of a painting by her. This occasion allows us to thank you sincerely for her kind thoughts!
Argelia Bello Hernandez will deliver the T-shirts she created to the winners. All the designs, logos and images of our club and our events, since the inauguration last May, have been created thanks to her creativity and imagination. Therefore, also this occasion allows us to thank you sincerely for her kind support!
Thirdly, we remind you that there will be an artisanal lemonade and coffee service, with charge, on the premises.
Last but not least, authorities and journalists will be present for a final toast with all those present, as well as some representatives of the Tenerife Chess Federation.
All Fridays from 5 to 7 p.m. you can play and there are no classes. The monthly price is 20,00 € and there are novelties: awards and discounts!
a 3-month bonus for only 50,00€ and a 4-month bonus for only 60,00€
Classes will be every Tuesdays and Thursdays. From 5-6 p.m. for intermediate level players. And from 6 to 7 p.m. for beginners. The price of the classes is 20,00€/month for year 2022.
If someone wants individual private lessons the price is only 10,00 euros/hour.
Many players thinkingWFM Adhara against allchidren+ mummy commenting a position many generations at worksunset is comingPablo and Hector The OA Beach Club venue
