Helsinki Chess Festival Girls Tournament (U20)
PAIRINGS & RESULTS
elsinki Chess Festival Girls tournament is one of the three international invitational tournaments, which is also a part of FIDE strategic goal to support chess in Nordic countries. All three tournaments – seniors, U20 Open and U20 Girls – share the playing venue, schedule and price fund. The players have been invited from each Nordic and Baltic country, and from St Petersburg area from Russia, so we can talk about a nice Nordic-Baltic coverage.
This is the first international girls’ tournament in Finland and one of the first ladies’, as in 1952 Chess Olympics held in Helsinki there was not yet ladies Olympics yet – the first ladies Olympics were held in 1957 so some Ladies Nordic Championships will be the only predecessors.
The playing venue is Hotel Crowne Plaza Hesperia, address Mannerheimintie 50, Helsinki.
Tournament schedule is:
- Tue 13.8. arrival, at 20.00 drawing of lots
- Wed 14.8. 10-15 round 1, 17-22 round 2
- Thu 15.8. 10-15 round 3, 17-22 round 4
- Fri 16.8. 10-15 round 5, 17-22 round 6
- Sat 17.8. 10-15 round 7, 17-22 round 8
- Sun 18.8. 10-15 round 9, after which prize-giving ceremony
The playing time is classical 90 min/40 moves + 30 minutes for the rest of the game. Increment 30 sec/move from move 1.
The total prize fund for the Helsinki Chess festival is 10 000 eur, which is split by 3000 eur for each invitational tournament and 1000 eur for the blitz tournament to be held on 18.8. at 17-22 in Finnish Chess Arena, Hiomotie 10. The blitz tournament is open for all FIDE rated players.
Participants of the girls group, in rating order by FIDE Aug 2019 list are:
| IM Mai Narva | 2358 | born 1999 | Estonia | Fide profile | |
| WFM Anastasia Nazarova | 2261 | born 2001 | Finland | Fide profile | |
| Ekaterina Diakonova | 2209 | born 1999 | Russia | Fide profile | |
| WFM Elizabete Limanovska | 2169 | born 2000 | Latvia | Fide profile | |
| Ellen Fredericia Nilssen | 2146 | born 2001 | Denmark | Fide profile | |
| WFM Margareth Olde | 2122 | born 2000 | Estonia | Fide profile | |
| Sarabella Norlamo | 1998 | born 2003 | Finland | Fide profile | |
| Gabija Simkunaite | 1978 | born 2002 | Lithuania | Fide profile | |
| Heljä Lehtinen | 1818 | born 2003 | Finland | Fide profile | |
| Ariza Hina | 1737 | born 2005 | Norway | Fide profile |
Unfortunately we didn’t get a player from all countries to Girls tournament, so there is substitutes from Estonia and Finland. On the other hand, WIM Mai Narva from Estonia is currently 15thstrongest player in the world in girls under 20.
The drawing of lots will be held on arrival day on 13.8. at 20.00.
The festival is organized by Finnish Chess Historic Association, sponsored and supported by Rosatom and World Chess Federation FIDE and organized in close co-operation with Finnish Chess Federation (SSL).
