Tuesday 21 March 2017

2018 Millennium Hotels NZ Open Championship
 
For the first time in 71 years, the Manawatu Knights Chess Club will be hosting the 125th chess congress, in Palmerston North. This event is to be held from January 1st till January 12th at the Millennium Copthorne Hotel. Manawatu Knights are proud to announce our first two international chess Grandmasters, Adrien Demuth (France) and Fabien Libiszewski (France). Other high profile players that have expressed interest in attending are: 20 year old German International Master, Thorben Koop, four time NZ Champion, International Master Russell Dive, two time Asian Woman Senior Champion, Candidate Master Helen Miligan and two additional, anonymous (at this stage) International Grand Masters. Manawatu Knights President, Mark Noble says "It's a great opportunity with such a high caliber of international competitors. This is a huge financial commitment for our club, but an excellent venture for our young players. Our club is currently seeking financing support with various sponsorship deals available."
The presence of three International Grand Masters will make world titles/norms a possibility for our local young stars. Examples of our stars are: 5 time under 10 NZ junior champion, Isabella Malton (now 11), 2015 NZ junior female champion Hananke Calitz, newly crowned Candidate Master Jack James who is also the current North Island Champion, current National Junior Champion and the current Oceania Junior Champion.
As part of the NZ Chess congress, we will be running an International Trans-Tasman match to be held at the Millennium Copthorne Lounge on the 5th of January, starting at 7.30pm. This match is to be 8 games (roughly 10 minutes long per game) and will be live streamed online as well.
We will also be running a Simultaneous Exhibition in the Square on the 12th of January, 12pm to 3pm, with one of our attending International Grand Masters. A Simultaneous Exhibition is where a strong player goes around and plays approximately 20 people at the same time.
For every event, members of the public are encouraged to observe the action.





Adrien Demuth  GM 2527 France
 
 
 
 
 
Fabien Libiszewski GM 2543 France

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