Press releases

Blitz winners will be named on the first competition day, 18 December. A total of 679 chess players in the competitions played according to the Swiss 11-round system, with the time control of 3 minutes per move starting from the first move. The European champion will get €2,000 in prize money. The silver medalist will receive €1,000, with €800 going to the bronze holder. The competitions will feature representatives of more than 30 countries.

Partaking in the Rapid Chess Championship scheduled for Saturday, 19 December, will be 800 athletes. Many of them will perform in the blitz part on Friday. This championship will be also played according to the Swiss system, in 11 rounds, with the time control of 15 minutes per move starting from the first move. Prize money will include €4,000 for the winner, €2,000 for the vice champion and €1,000 for the bronze medalist.

Special prizes will be awarded to the best veteran players and young athletes. The total money pot of the FIDE European Rapid and Blitz Championships in Minsk will exceed €30,000.

It will be the biggest chess tournament in Belarus in the past 15 years. Belarus hosted the previous similar tournament among women in the Palace of the Republic in 2001. All foreign participants of the current competitions have been provided free entry to the country.

50 games of every round will be broadcast online.

Among the organizers of the FIDE European Rapid and Blitz Championships 2015 is the Sports and Tourism Ministry, the National Olympic Committee, the Minsk City Hall, and the Belarusian Chess Federation.