Biel Chess Festival Sees Major Player Change Ahead of Start

The highly anticipated Biel Chess Festival is just around the corner, promising fierce competition. However, the upcoming event will see a significant alteration to its top playing roster, as organizers have announced a major change.

Unfortunately, Le Quang Liem, the dominant force who claimed victory in the last three editions of the Masters tournament, has had to withdraw. Citing family reasons, his absence leaves a notable gap at the top table. Losing a three-time champion is never ideal, but as festival organizers are keen to remind us, “each edition brings its share of surprises and unforeseen events that require quick solutions.” Indeed.

Stepping up to fill those formidable shoes is none other than Russian Grandmaster Vladimir Fedoseev. Ranked 16th in the world with an impressive 2739 Elo rating, Fedoseev is a formidable player in his own right. His addition ensures that the competitive level of the Masters tournament will remain exceptionally high, perhaps even “raised further,” as the organizers optimistically state. His presence guarantees exciting battles.

Meanwhile, preparations for the festival are in full swing. Registrations are reportedly pouring in, and the organizational team is working diligently to ensure excellent playing conditions for participants and a welcoming atmosphere for spectators in Biel. The live broadcast of the Masters and Challengers tournaments will be handled by the familiar commentary team of GM Arturs Neiksans, assisted by Angelika Valkova.

Adding another layer of excitement to the schedule is a brand-new event: the Biel Hospital Center Blitz (SZB). Set for the morning of Friday, July 18, this innovative tournament is a knockout blitz competition designed for local youth and U20 players already participating in the MTO or ATO events. The format sounds intriguing: 64 players, 6 rounds, each round a two-game match followed by an Armageddon tie-breaker if needed, all played at a swift 3 minutes plus 2 seconds increment per move. It`s free to enter and promises plenty of rapid-fire drama culminating in a single champion.

For those who can`t commit to the full festival duration, the Freestyle Chess (FSC) and weekly tournaments (WT1 & WT2) offer shorter, focused opportunities to compete.

Despite the last-minute change at the top, the Biel Chess Festival appears set to deliver another exciting and action-packed event for players and fans alike.