London Chess Classic: Pro-Biz Cup, 9 December 2014

Pro-Biz Cup, London Chess Classic, 9 December 2014 (from 10.45)

A unique chance to play chess alongside world champions!

Web link: http://www.londonchessclassic.com/probizcup.htm

The 2014 London Chess Classic features a doubles chess rapidplay knock-out tournament in which eight super-GMs – the Super Six, Fabiano Caruana, Vishy Anand, Vlad Kramnik, Anish Giri, Hikaru Nakamura and Mickey Adams, plus leading English grandmasters Nigel Short and Gawain Jones – partner top business leaders in competition for the prestigious Pro-Biz Cup currently held by Barclays Bank.

The first partnership which will compete in this competition was settled a while back: Rugby World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward will partner English grandmaster Gawain Jones.

STOP PRESS... Two further partnerships have been formed: IM Ali Mortazavi will play alongside Mickey Adams, and Jeremy Hodgson (brother of GM Julian) will partner Hikaru Nakamura.

The bidding process is still in progress for the remaining five partners needed for the rest of the super-GMs. For anyone interested in taking part, they can apply via a form on the website, which also shows the current state of the bidding.

Pro-Biz Cup Bid Form: http://www.londonchessclassic.com/probizcupform.htm

There is a field in the form which allows you to state your preferred partner – so bid quickly and generously to secure the super-grandmaster of your choice! All proceeds from this fun mini-tournament go to the Chess in School and Communities charity.

Doubles Chess Competition format: knock-out rapidplay with 25 minutes for each two-player team. In doubles chess, the four players each make a move in turn on the same board, hence the two players of a team play alternate moves without conferring. A new rule this year allows teams to take two one-minute time-outs in order to confer during a game. Play takes place in the auditorium. The three rounds are webcast at 10.45, 12.00 and 14.00.