8th Amplico AIG Life International Chess Tournament

27th Chess Memorial of Stanisław Gawlikowski
Under the auspices
of Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz – the President of the city of Warsaw

General Information

of the 8th Amplico AIG Life International Chess Tournament –
European Rapid Chess Championship

1. General Sponsor:

Amplico Life S.A.

2. Organizer:

Warsaw Foundation for Chess Development under the auspices of the European Chess Union.

3. Co-Organizers:

Polish Chess Federation, Torwar Sports Centre, Polonia Warsaw Chess Club.

4. Patronage:

Ministry of Sports and Tourism, City Office of Warsaw, Marshall Office of the Mazovian Voivodeship, Central District of Warsaw.

5. Technological Partners:

Polkomtel S.A., ATM S.A.

6. Co-operating hotels:

Ibis Stare Miasto Hotel, Etap Hotel

7. Tournament Director:

Maria Macieja
mobile: (+48) 603391318
e-mail:

Deputy Tournament Director:
Agnieszka Fornal-Urban
e-mail:

8. Chief Arbiter:

IA Tomasz Delega

9. Website:

www.poloniachess.pl
There will be an on-line transmission of the games.

10. Date and venue:

20th - 21st of December 2008, Torwar Show Hall, 6a Łazienkowska street, Warsaw.

11. Participation:

For Polish players:

Applications should be sent by e-mail to no later than on the 1st of December 2008. The application must contain the players name, rating, birth date, club, phone number, and the entry fee payment receipt.

For foreign players (FIDE zones 1.1 - 1.9):

Applications should be sent by e-mail to no later than on the 1st of December 2008. The application must contain the players name, rating, birth date. Entry fees can be paid at the playing hall on the 19th of December from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. or on the 20th December from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. (just before the start of the tournament).

The organizer reserves the right to verify the data given in the application by unrated players.

Applications received after the deadline may be accepted as vacancies appear, provided that the player pays a double entry fee at the playing hall on the 19th of December between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. or directly before the tournament on the 20th of December between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. The organizer reserves the right to admit such a player from Round 2.

12. Entry fee:

Players born 1994 or later: 50 PLN or 15 €
Players born 1948 or earlier: 50 PLN or 15 €
Other players: 70 PLN or 20 €

Attention: entry fees are non-refundable!

13. Payments can be made:

by a bank transfer (in euros) to the Warsaw Foundation for Chess Development account (please state correctly all names of players concerned)
Holder: FUNDACJA NA RZECZ WSPIERANIA SZACHÓW W WARSZAWIE
Account no: 32124028871978001005636803
Bank: Bank Polska Kasa Opieki S.A. XV O/Warszawa
SWIFT code: PKO PPL PW
IBAN code: PL 32
Bank commissions are to be paid by senders.
directly at the Foundation (6 Konwiktorska street) on workdays from 3.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.,
on the day before the competition (19th of December 2008) from 3.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. in the playing hall (foreign players and double fees for late applications),
on the day of the competition (20th of December 2008) from 8.00 a.m. to 9.00 a.m. in the playing hall (foreign players and double fees for late applications),
Free entry: medalists of the European Rapid Chess Championship2007, players with ELO rating 2600+, female players with ELO rating 2400+, if registered no later than on the 1st of December 2008.

14. Verification of participation:

The list of participants will be published on the website www.poloniachess.pl . Participation of any player present on the list is thereby confirmed. Such a player may arrive directly for Round 1, provided that she/he has paid an entry fee.

15. System of play:

All players play a 13-round Swiss Tournament with the rate of play G-15'+10" (15 minutes for a game for a player, with an increment of 10 seconds per move). The system has been precisely described in the Tournament Regulations.

16. Schedule:

Saturday - 20th of December 2008
9.30 - first round
11.00 - second round
12.15 - third round
13.30 - fourth round
14.30-15.30 - lunch break
15.30 - fifth round
16.45 - sixth round
18.00 - seventh round
19.15 - eighth round
Sunday - 21st of December 2008
9.30 - ninth round
10.45 - tenth round
12.00 - eleventh round
13.15 - twelfth round
14:30 - thirteenth round
15:45 - possible tie-breaks for medals.

17. Total prize fund: 20000 € (before tax) + item prizes worth 2000 €

1st place 4000 €
2nd place 2000 €
3rd place 1000 €
4th place 900 €
5th place 850 €
6th place 800 €
7th place 750 €
8th place 700 €
9th place 650 €
10th place 600 €
11th place 550 €
12th place 500 €
13th place 450 €
14th place 400 €
15th place 350 €
16th place 300 €
17th place 250 €
18th - 25th places 200 € each

Special prizes - 4000 €
the best woman I - 400 €, II - 200 €, III - 100 €
the best player born 1948 or earlier I - 200 €, II - 100 €
the best boy born 1990 or later I - 150 €, II - 100 €
the best girl born 1990 or later I - 150 €, II - 100 €
the best boy born 1992 or later I - 150 €
the best girl born 1992 or later I - 150 €
the best boy born 1994 or later I - 150 €
the best girl born 1994 or later I - 150 €
the best boy born 1996 or later I - 100 €
the best girl born 1996 or later I - 100 €
the best boy born 1998 or later I - 100 €
the best girl born 1998 or later I - 100 €
the best player with rating ? 1000 I - 100 €
the best player with rating ? 1200 I - 100 €
the best player with rating ? 1400 I - 100 €
the best player with rating ? 1600 I - 100 €
the best player with rating ? 1800 I - 100 €
the best player with rating ? 2000 I - 150 €
the best player with rating ? 2100 I - 150 €
the best player with rating ? 2200 I - 150 €
the best player with rating ? 2300 I - 150 €
the best player with rating ? 2400 I - 150 €
the best player with rating ? 2500 I - 150 €

Remarks:

a. Prizes (both main and special) are not shared.

b. Only one special prize can be given to a player. If she/he wins more prizes, she/he receives the highest one. If the value of prizes is equal, a player receives (if applicable) prizes in the following order:

for the best girl (in a group as young as possible)
for the best boy (in a group as young as possible)
for the best player born in 1948 or earlier
for the best woman
for the best place in rating groups (in as low rating group as possible).

c. All prizes are shown before taxes. According to the Polish law, all prizes below 760 PLN (ca. 225 €) are free of taxation; from higher prizes the income tax of 10% is deducted.

A consolation prize will be drawn during the closing ceremony among players who havent won any prize - 100 €. Extra prizes - souvenirs for all players U-14 worth 2000 € (altogether). The souvenirs have been founded by the Warsaw Central District.

18. Special conditions:

a. Free accommodation (from the 19th of December 2008 till 22nd of December 2008) in a single room in the Ibis Stare Miasto Hotel for 10 highest rated players if registered no later than on the 1st of December 2008.

b. Free accommodation (from the 19th of December 2008 till 22nd of December 2008) in a double room in the Ibis Stare Miasto Hotel for 10 players seeded 11th-20th if registered no later than on the 1st of December 2008.

c. Free accommodation (from the 19th of December 2008 till 22nd of December 2008) in a single room in the Ibis Stare Miasto Hotel for the highest rated woman if registered no later than on the 1st of December 2008.

d. Free accommodation (from the 19th of December 2008 till 22nd of December 2008) in a double room in the Ibis Stare Miasto Hotel for women seeded 2nd and 3rd if registered no later than on the 1st of December 2008.

e. The organizer will cover travel expenses (up to 200 € according to the tickets) for 10 highest rated players if registered no later than on the 1st of December 2008.

f. Appearance fee for players with ELO rating 2650+, negotiable with Deputy Tournament Director Dr. Agnieszka Fornal-Urban; e-mail:

19. Hotels:

a. The official tournament hotel is IBIS Stare Miasto Hotel, Warsaw (2 Muranowska street) - 3 km from the playing hall.

Single room with a bathroom: 130 PLN (about 39 €) per day (including breakfast and tax);
Double room with a bathroom: 65 PLN (about 19 €) per person per day (including breakfast and tax);
Payment for accommodation in cash just after arrival. The hotel issues VAT invoices.

The organizer will provide free bus transfer from the IBIS Stare Miasto Hotel to the playing hall and back.

b. The second tournament hotel is Etap Hotel (1 Zagórna street) - 500 m from the playing hall.

Single room with a bathroom: 140 PLN (about 42 €) per day (including breakfast and tax);
Double room with a bathroom: 70 PLN (about 21 €) per person per day (including breakfast and tax);
Payment for accommodation in cash just after arrival. The hotel issues VAT invoices.

Hotel reservations will be accepted only after the payment of an entry fee (except foreigners).

Trainers and other accompanying persons who use the hotel offer of the organizer, are requested to pay additional 20 PLN (6 €) to cover costs of task service.

20. Insurance:

All players and accompanying persons have to insure themselves for health and accident risk.

21. Visas:

Players and accompanying persons wishing to receive invitations for visa purpose from the organizer, in accordance with the Polish law, have to stay in one of the official hotels.
Players and accompanying persons who prefer to stay elsewhere, need to take care of their visas on their own.
The organizer will not be responsible for issuing an invitation for visa purpose if necessary information (last name, first name, home address, passport number, date of issue and validity and the name of chosen official Hotel) is submitted after December 1st, 2008
Players and accompanying persons requiring visas are requested to contact Deputy Tournament Director, Dr. Agnieszka Fornal-Urban, at

22. Final interpretation of the General Information belongs to the Tournament Director.

Tournament Director
Maria Macieja

27th Chess Memorial of Stanisław Gawlikowski Under the auspices of Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz – the President of the city of Warsaw