General Information
Closing Ceremony & Prize awards

At the closing ceremony of the 3rd World School Chess Championship, the President of ECU Boris Kutin, the President of ISCU Alexander Kostyev, FIDE Marketing Director Peter Rajcsanyi, the President of the Turkish Chess Federation Ali Nihat Yazici, ECU Deputy President Gerry Walsh, were present to give prizes and congratulate young champions and medal holders. Everybody spoke with the most flattering words about the organizing of the event in Greece. All participants left Halkidiki with the best impressions of the hostess country and the tournament as a whole.   

 


 (from left to right): Ali N. Yazici with Girls U17 winners, P. Rajcsanyi with Girls U15 winners, G. Walsh with Boys U15 winners
 
Chess Marketing Seminar

The 1st International Chess Marketing Seminar began today, May 3rd 2007, at Pallini Beach Hotel, in Halkidiki. The Seminar was warmly addressed in his welcome speech by Boris Kutin, President of the ECU. The topics of today's sessions were about chess projects and chess top and mass events. The seminar will be completed tomorrow, May 4th 2007, and the topics that will be discussed are the development of chess marketing and chess sponsors and media.

The speakers of the seminar are: Gerry Walsh, ECU Deputy President, Igor Glek, Economist & Top GM, Dr. Phil Thomas, Spokesperson (Scottish Junior Chess), Zurab Azmaiparashvili, FIDE Vice President & Top GM, Vladimir Sacotic, Member of ECU Board & Organizer, Sava Kizova, ECU Grand Prix Director, Albert Vasse, CEO DGT Projects, Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou, Event & Marketing Manager, Dr. Peter Rajcsanyi, FIDE Marketing Director, Ali Nihat Yazici, President of the Turkish Chess Federation, Alisa Maric, Top GM & Professor of Marketing, Stratos Grivas, GM, Author & Trainer.


 (from left to right): Boris Kutin, Zurab Azmaiparashvili, Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou
 
A colourful meddling of cultures

The 3rd World School Championship continues successfully at the G-Hotels Complex in Kallithea, Halkidiki, and will be completed on Sunday, May 6th 2007. All the 400 young chess players that participate in the Championship along with their escorts (parents, trainers) make a colourful mosaic of different cultures and nations. They come from 40 countries from all over the world and many of them even wear the traditional uniform of their country.

Two typical examples are Sweety Patel (Girls U9) from India and Konstantin Nikologorskiy (FM, Open U13) from Russia. Little Sweety is 9 years old, already champion in previous events and very fond of Greece and Halkidiki. She shows great enthusiasm about this event and dreams of becoming world chess champion. Little Konstantin, who always wears the national uniform of his country and has already won the champion's title in his category, aims to become a very strong player, among the best in the world, like many other Russian players.

In this meddling of civilizations Greece has a leading part since it is represented by numerous young chess players.
Lecture of Nicholas Sphicas
Lecture of Nicholas Sphicas on Friday May 4th 2007 at 17:30, Hotel Athos, Kallithea, Halkidiki.
 "Chess players in Orientalism"

Financial and commercial interests that drove Europeans, especially British and French, towards the Orient, made historians eager to discover the origin of chess and painters to create works of art with chess players as their theme.

This lecture which will also have a projection of slides, will present Orientalism as a source of inspiration of original chess depictions.
Opening ceremony

At the opening ceremony of the 3rd World School Chess Championship, the commencement of the games was warmly greeted by Zurab Azmaiparashvili, FIDE Vice President, who wished the very best of success to all participants and congratulated the organizing committee for their excellent work, and Alexander Kostyev, President of the International School Chess Union, who encouraged young chess players to promote chess in their schools.

Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou, Head of the Organizing Committee of Games Festival, welcomed all participants and underlined the fact that this year's participations have been doubled and reached the remarkable number of 400 players.

In both tournaments, the 3rd World School Championship and the International Open "Halkidiki 2007", 500 players from 40 countries compete among which 100 from Greece, 50 from South Africa, 33 from Russia, 15 from India, 20 from Colombia, 20 from Turkey, 14 from Romania, 12 from the Virgin Islands.


(from left to right): Z. Azmaiparashvili, FIDE Vice President, A. Kostyev, President of I.S.C.U.,
T. Tsorbatzoglou, Head of the Organizing Committee of Games Festival

Participants Lists and PGN Files
Last Updated: 06.05.2007
 
Message of the FIDE President

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov

Dear participants and guests of the World School Championships 2007! Dear Chess Friends!
On behalf of the leadership of the World Chess Federation and its Presidential Board I would like to express our sincere greetings to the participants & guests of World School Championship 2007. We are very happy that this event is organized in Greece and especially Halkidiki a traditional chess area with a lot of successful events in the previous years.

FIDE in co-operation with national federations and school associations is systematically developing Scholastic chess which is very important for our sport popularity and the same time chess is one of the most useful tools for the young students.

We learn the most important things in our life ‘‘not studying, but playing‘‘. Chess is the utmost game – sport, from the viewpoint of its strategic nature and its educational and pedagogic value.
It is always been exciting watching so many young chess players competing for titles and medals. I am sure a lot of these boys and girls will become Grandmasters, some of them maybe World Champions.
On behalf of FIDE, I would like to thank, ISCU, Greek Chess Federation, Galaxias Chess Club and all sponsors for their efforts in order to hold these Championships successfully.

Wishing all players and guests an enjoyable stay in Kallithea, I hope all participants will produce tremendous games and will contribute a lot to make these World School Championship an unforgettable event.

Greeting of the President of the G.C.F.


Georgios Makropoulos

Dear participants and guests of the World School Championships 2007!
Dear Chess Friends!

The organization of the World School Championship 2007 in Kallithea, Halkidiki constitutes a very important event, since it contributes to the institution and further spread of our superb sport.

Greek Chess Federation is running a long term chess school program which has resulted a wide popularization of chess all over the country.


Chess as a sport, expresses the gentle emulation and competition between the players. It transforms the violence of the war on the battleground, to a peaceful planning of strategies in front of the chessboard, a mental fight that results to a gentle acceptance of both the victory and the defeat from the two opponents.

The Greek Chess Federation welcomes in Greece the hundreds of chess players that are going to participate at the tournament. I wish you a nice staying and good luck to this organization for which I know very well that the organizers did a great job and put a lot of effort.

 
Chess Marketing Seminar

Event Consulting under the auspices of European Chess Union is organizing the 1st International Marketing Seminar. In the seminar will be presented very important studies from Chess experts, sports and media Leaders. All the first details about speakers and presentations here.

 

International Arbiter Seminar

An official FIDE Arbiter Seminar with main lecturer IA Mr. Panagiotis Nikolopoulos Chairman of FIDE Arbiters' Council. Attendees of the seminars after exams can be awarded with FIDE Arbiters Norms and Titles.


School Teachers' Seminar

A Special Seminar for school chess teachers. Main lecturer Alexander Kostyev, Professor of Moscow University (chess studies) and President of International School Chess Union.


 
Excursions - Meet the Greek Ancient History!

We suggest three different excursions. A. Mount Athos , the Holy mountain with 20 historical monasteries (Sunday- 29/4) B. Thessaloniki tour and shopping (Monday -30/4) C.Vergina,the ancient city lying on the north slopes of the Pierian mountains is securely identified as Aigai, the capital of the kingdom of ancient Macedonia. In 1977, M. Andronicos brought to light the royal tombs in the Great Tumulus of Vergina (Megale Toumba).
The most remarkable of these was the tomb of Philip II (359-336 B.C.) and its discovery is considered to be one of the most important archaeological events of the century. The Royal Tomb II at Vergina Reveals Alexander the Great!... (Wednesday 2/5). Bookings through the Organizing Committee.


Greek Night! Live the unique entertainment!

G-Hotels are organizing a special Greek Night on Sunday 29/04/07 (21:30) for the Games Festival Participants. Enjoy a BBQ Dinner with: a beautifully decorated mouth watering buffet of different Greek specialities, including a rich variety of grilled meat and meat on the spit. A large buffet with Greek sweets and fruit of the season. An orchestra will be playing Greek music accompanied by folklore dancers.