The first International Chess Festival will take place in Jerusalem.  More than 500 contestants from countries like Poland, Russia, the Ukraine, France, Monaco, Belgium, England, Turkey and the United States of America, will take part in the Festival.

The event is being organized in partnership with the Jerusalem Sports’ Authority, the Israeli Chess Association, the King David Hotel, the Mamilla Mall and Jeruchess – The Jerusalem Chess Club.

Program:

Tuesday, 29 July, 2008:

Between 11:00 – 13:00 - Event for the general public in the Rose Garden opposite the Knesset, inauguration of open-air chess board near the pool, the possibility of free games.  Similarly, simultaneous blindfold play will take place against the 2006 Jerusalem Champion, Peter Gochbat.

 From 17:00 – the Mayor’s Cup tournaments for Adults and Youths will take place.  The finest chess players from various cities will compete:

On 25 boards in the Mayor’s Cup for youths of under-14 years of age.

On 12 boards in the Mayor’s Cup for adults.

Free organized transport from all the participating clubs.

Adults:     Ashdod, Beersheba, Tel-Aviv, Herzliya, Jerusalem, Rishon LeZion, Netanya, Kfar Saba, Petah Tikvah.

Youth:     Ashdod, Beersheba, Tel-Aviv, Modi’in, Beit Shemesh, Kfar Saba, Judea and Samaria, Kiryat Ono,

Giv’at Shmuel, Rishon LeZion, Haifa and Jerusalem.

From 19:00 – Joint creative chess workshops in the Square (Chessmen from clay).

Wednesday, July 30,2008:

From 16:00 – Israel Championship for Bezeq Foundation Prizes 10,000 NIS at Safra Square.

From 10:00 to 15:30 – IDF (Israel Defense Force) 2008 Championship at the King David Hotel.

From 16:00 – The Youngsters on the map against the general public:  Judah Meirowitz, Israel’s under-12 Champion, Omer Reshef, Runner Up to Israel’s under-12 Champion and Michael Kenan, Jerusalem under-3rd Grade Champion in a simultaneous game.

From 18:00 – in the City Council Hall – a simultaneous game will take place between Grand Master Maxim Rodstein, Israel’s 2007-8 Champion against 31 invited celebrities and players.

From 19:00 – Alrov-Mamilla avenue – creative chess workshops (Plasticine).

Thursday, July 31, 2008:

At 10:00 – at the Mamilla Mall – a simultaneous match – a meeting of East and West.

From 17:00 –  at Alrov-Mamilla avenue – 2008 Jerusalem Rapid Chess Championship :  Foundation prizes of 20,000 NIS.

From 19:00 – Creative chess workshop to construct chess kites.