I'd like to add the Berkeley International to the list. ;)
PoB 9/15: 2. Best chess event
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Sep 16, 2010
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#4
I enjoyed Corus this year, the US Open (Womens and Juniors), the London Chess Classic (last December) and the Copper State International.
Sep 16, 2010
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#5
To be honest here, I really enjoyed the WCC coverage of Topalov/Anand. That was the event that brought be back to this wonderful game and I haven't looked back since. I never really had a good internet connection at home to watch the other events like Corus or any of the U.S. Opens. But I'm looking forward to the Olympiad and the London Chess Classic.
Sep 16, 2010
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#6
I'd have to say the US Women's Championship, by far. Sam's win at the Juniors was exciting for sure also. Plus the CCSCSL is just an awesome venue and has such great coverage. It totally advances chess cred.
I do love to follow the US Chess League because I personally know some of the players and (one of) the managers. (I hang out at the stage door.
) Sadly, my team, the Vibe, aren't doing so well (although .500 chess isn't bad I suppose), so I may have to switch allegiance to the Mechanics. Of course my favorite chess player, Amanda Mateer, is on the Scorpions, and they are in first place in the West (and Amanda won her game) so I'm pretty happy about that.
Sep 17, 2010
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#9
Maybe we need to create a far more popular event with live coverage, then we all unanimouly vote for it. Anyone got a handle on the cost? We'll get Paul Allen or Bill Gates or Abramovich to sponsor it.
you can run a nice, professional event for 30-40 players in the US for about 10-15k. we have one planned for january in Berkeley, but could use some sponsorship to cover the budget! we'll make good live coverage.
Sep 19, 2010
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#11
I have to go with the Wijk Aan Zee tournament as the best annual event, with the olympiad often beating it out bi-annually, and, of course, World Championships sometimes jumping in the fray. Of late, the CCSCStL (I hope I've abbreviated that correctly) tournaments seem to have been excellent, and the coverage (apart from horrible website problems in round one of the US Champs this year) of them has been exquisite. I also really love the US Chess League, largely because I know several of the players personally, and it's great to watch live; rapid(ish) team chess = exciting chess.
I didn't get a chance to see the Copper State coverage but you guys are definitely making me want to check it out On Demand.
Other big annual tournaments are Linares, Dortmund, and Bilbao (also slightly lesser tournaments like Mainz, Gibraltar, and Aeroflot), but somehow they are less exciting. The Pearl Spring tournament in Nanjing and Tal Memorial in Nanjing have been exciting recently, but they've really only had 1- or maybe 2-year appeal. The London Chess Classic is similar, but I'm hopeful that it will continue to ascend and become another good yearly tournament. Finally, you've got to give at least an honorable mention to the Melody Amber tournament. Rapid and Blindfold play ensures that the moves come in quickly and anything can happen (Carlsen-Ivanchuk saw Carlsen get punished for unorthodox play with 1.a3?!), and the best players in the world ensure that the quality of play is still high. This is probably my second-favourite annual event.
What is the most fun chess event of the year, to follow as a fan?
4 suggestions Danny and David agreed on, in no particular order:
US Chess League (bc Danny and I know the players), Olympiad (sheer quantity of terrific games by amazing players), Corus (now Tata) Chess (exciting fields, good quality of players, more games than other round robins), Copper State Intl (for the best chess coverage of the year) ...