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Chess: China Wins 1st Internet Chess International

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  • Chess: China Wins 1st Internet Chess International

    St Petersburg Times, Russia
    Dec 29 2004

    China Wins 1st Internet Chess International


    THE ST. PETERSBURG TIMES

    The world's first international chess tournament played over the
    Internet ended Thursday with China clinching an unexpected victory
    ahead of France, Russia and Armenia.

    The Tigran Petrosian Internet Memorial tournament was held in
    commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the birth of the late world
    chess champion Tigran Petrosian, an Armenian. Each four-player team
    played six rounds.

    China was the lowest-ranked team, but finished with 14 points to
    Russia's and France's 13, but France beat Russia on tiebreaks to take
    second place. Armenia finished with 8 points.

    The St. Petersburg Chess Federation with the support of the city
    government and the Armenian community in St. Petersburg were among
    the organizers of the competition, which took place Dec. 18 to 23.

    The teams of the four competing countries fought it out for $55,000
    in prize money without leaving their home countries.

    The Russian team of Pyotr Shvidler, Alexander Khalifman, Alexei
    Dreyev and Vadim Zvyagintsev played in St. Petersburg under
    supervision of French referee Jean-Claude Templeur.

    "Apart from the handshake, the playing conditions resembled the
    conditions of any high-level tournament," Templeur said. "Whether you
    are playing on the Internet under official supervision or meeting
    your opponent face-to-face seems not to matter much."

    "This tournament has shown that from now on it will be possible to
    play chess under realistic sporting conditions from any part of the
    planet, where you live," he said. "Why don't we dream of huge opens
    played at 50 or 100 sites around the world. After my experience here
    in St. Petersburg, I know that this is already possible."

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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