2010 WUC Chess Update: Competition, Art & Culture

 Illustration from the booklet “International Chess” (2009) illustrating the chess collection of Dr. Mario Gmür

ZURICH – In less than a week from now the 11th World University Chess Championship will start on the premises of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. Among the participants are twenty strong grandmasters. A number of attractive side events will provide further entertainment throughout the week.

The 11th World University Chess Championship in Zurich will not only see a top level contest with many grandmasters, but will also present chess as an art and culture.

A first highlight will be the Opening Ceremony on Sunday, September 5^th at 10 a.m. in the Lichthof of the University of Zurich. A musical chess-piece for Accordion and Violoncello, especially composed for this event (‘Rules of the Game’ by Clinton Haycraft), will be performed and additionally illustrated by two dancers. The Quintetto ‘Inflagranti’ will play and demonstrate the Swiss Alphorn in action. Following the opening ceremony, at 12 a.m., grandmaster Vadim Milov will give a simultaneous exhibition.

Chess objects by Jürg Hassler: “Stoppelfeld (2008)”

In the Lichthof the exhibition ‘Senso’ by Jürg Hassler will also be shown. The well-known filmmaker and sculptor has occupied himself with chess for many years and has artistically developed the game in many different directions. In 2008/2009 the unusual chess objects resulting from these fantasies were shown in the famous art gallery ‘Fondation Beyeler’. During the tournament they are shown to the public for a second time.

The tournament hall itself will be adorned by the international collection of chess sets of the Zurich collector Dr. Mario Gmür, with exhibits from over 60 nations. A tour through his treasures illustrates both the universality of the Royal game and its manifold local interpretations.

Finally, the cultural part is rounded off by the ‘Filmstelle SOSeth’ which will show three chess-related films during the tournament week: Revolver by Guy Ritchie (Tuesday, 7 September), Schachnovelle (Engl. Brainwashed; Thursday, 9 September) and the recent film La Joueuse (Friday, 10 September).

Guests and spectators also have plenty of occasions to engage in a game of their own:

– Simultaneous exhibition against grandmaster Vadim Milov on September 5^th, 12 a.m. (e-mail applications to georg@kradolfer.info);

 – Simultaneous exhibition for juniors against grandmaster Florian Jenni on September 8^th, 2 p.m. (e-mail applications to georg@kradolfer.info);

 – General Blitz Tournament on September 9^th, 7.30 p.m.;

– Open Air Chess tournament on 5 September, 2 p.m. (5 rounds rapid chess; entry until 1.30 p.m. on the “Polyterrasse” of the Federal Institute of Technology; open to all comers).

The games of the 11^th WUCC can be followed at the ‘Ehemalige Chemiegebäude’ (Universitätsstrasse 16) or live in the Internet. Admission is free.

For further information on the 11^th World University Chess Championship, please see www.wucc2010.ch.

(Source: Richard Forster, 2010 WUCC Media Services)

Chess objects by Jürg Hassler: “Stein und Bein (2004)”

Chess objects by Jürg Hassler: “Chlotzchäschtli (2004)”