1st World Chess Games for Disabled

The 1st World Chess Games for Disabled
Friday, 28 October 2011 14:32

On the 25th of October the first World Chess Games for Disabled (WCGD) began with their official opening ceremony in Dresden, Germany.

With 35 players from 6 nations, some traveled from India and Spain, the WCGD gains international interest and experts call this world championship of all disabilities a forerunner that will influence the history of chess immensely.

Participating in this tournament is a well known chess player: GM Thomas Luther. He is already seen as one of the top players of this tournament and holds a very special position: Luther was appointed as the official "FIDE Adviser Chess for Disabled" at the last FIDE Congress.

5 Round Report

The participants have now played 5 rounds for the title "World Champion of Chess Games for Disabled" and they give each other very little. Draws are given little and the chess players all do their very best. No wonder, as some have taken a long journey and many hardships upon themselves to take part in this tournament. Players from India (Amarnath Inaganti) and Uzbekistan (Amrillo Abdullayev and Ziyoda Kuchkarova), and a large Russian delegation and many players from Europe, like Italy (Michele Visco, and Marco Grudina Ottavi Fini) and Spain (Andres Rey Taboada), gathered in Dresden.

Not always everything goes without problems. For example, when Thomas Rudolph a Dresdner and wheelchair users had to adjust to the unusual game against the blind Hans Jagdhuber. His opponent had a time problem because a helper had to announce all the moves Rudolph made yet the time was running down and this brought Jagdhuber in distress for the entire game. But the problem has been fixed for future games and up to now there have not been any greater conflicts. On first place is still the Grand Master Thomas Luther from Germany andcontinues to defend his rank against chess friends from the German Deaf Association, with Sergei Salov, and the Russian delegation, with Andrei Obodchuk, who are with him in the top group.

Now there are only 2 rounds until the end of the tournament and to the final decision. It continues to be an exciting tournament.

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