The date from 10 - 18 August 2024 has been set, the announcement for the tournaments has been published and registration is open. Tournament director Andreas Jagodzinsky answers the first questions about the 51st International Dortmund Chess Days.
What tournaments can we expect in 2024 and where are the boundaries between the Open?
After the great success of the open tournaments in the anniversary year, we want to continue along the same path and give as many participants as possible the opportunity to be part of the event with two large open tournaments.
The boundary between the tournaments is fluid. Between 1900 and 2000 there is a right to choose between A and B Open, which gives talented young players in particular the opportunity to play in a tournament with the grandmasters.
We are also taking the opportunity to have a real battle for the No. 1 ranking in German women's chess for the first time in many years, which fortunately is not due to a drop in the playing strength of long-time No. 1 Elisabeth Pähtz, but to the upswing of Dinara Wagner 2023, which is proving to be sustainable. The two will meet in a six-game match.
What characterises the new venue?
After three years in the Goldsaal at the Westfalenhallen, we will be at the Alte Schmiede cultural centre for the first time this year. There we have space for 200 participants per tournament, a separate stage for the top games and a large foyer where the players can hang out after the game.
We are therefore more centrally located in Dortmund and have good public transport connections.
What are the other changes compared to last year?
By reducing the number of participants and adjusting the rating limit, we assume that we will no longer need the accelerated Swiss system to ensure norm chances in the A-Open.
In the B-Open, we are taking into account the wish of many participants that the tournament should end on Saturday and have shortened it by two rounds. There will be a special event with the players of the match on the day off, which we will inform you about separately.
It is no secret that the financial possibilities for organising top-class chess events have not improved in recent years. Although there are always spectacular events, they sometimes remain one-off affairs. We want to continue to preserve the tradition, which is now over 50 years old, and have consciously decided that Dortmund should remain a tournament for as many players as possible.
Grandmasters and amateurs play together in a tournament. Artur Yusupov will be available for analyses. The top players will commentate on their games after their matches. And there will also be catering on site at good prices.
Where can chess fans from outside Dortmund stay overnight?
The IntercityHotel Dortmund is our new partner. From there you can quickly reach the tournament venue, but you can also quickly get into the city before or after the games. A ticket for local transport is included in the hotel offer when booking with the keyword "IPS".