Katowice, Poland (December 17, 2020) – European Online Blitz Chess Championship 2020 with a prize fund of €12,000, organized European Chess Union and Silesian Chess Federation, will be held on Tornelo.com, from 18-20 of December. The event’s host city is Katowice.

In the era of pandemic lockdowns, the popularity of chess has exploded. The year 2020 showed that chess events can be easily transferred to the Internet. “Thanks to the new technologies, chess has this alternative that other sports cannot benefit from,” says Łukasz Turlej, Vice-President of the International Chess Federation.

An amazing number of 134 Grandmasters and 100 International Masters will take part in the event. Most of them are from Poland (42), Russia (40), and Germany (30). “Although online chess is less respected in the world than traditional chess, its importance is growing,” says Jan-Krzysztof Duda, the top-ranked player of the tournament.

The Mayor of Katowice, Mr. Marcin Krupa is proud that the city is hosting such an important chess event: “Chess is experiencing a renaissance. When it turned out that the traditional OTB tournament couldn’t be played, there was a feeling of regret, but we immediately rolled up our sleeves and thought about holding an online tournament.”

Players will play under the arbiter’s observation in Zoom. “Fair play and honesty of this tournament are very important for us” – explains Mr. Turlej. 

The organization of the championship is supported by the city of Katowice, the Ministry of Sport of the Republic of Poland, and Mokate.

About the Silesian Chess Federation:

The Silesian Chess Federation was founded in 1924. The main mission is to develop and popularize the royal game and to coordinate the activities of chess clubs and sections, with particular emphasis on sports performance.

For more information please contact office@katowice2020.eu 

Official website:  https://www.katowice2020.eu/
Social media : Facebook / Twitch #katowice2020