Event management is already looking forward to 2022
The Sparkassen Chess Trophy 2021 - 48th International Dortmund Chess Days - came to a worthy conclusion on 18 July with the award ceremony in Dortmund's Atelier Oecking.
In addition to the many highlights in the congress centre of the Westfalenhallen, this evening formed a symbiosis between chess, culture and art: a combination that is so important to us alongside the aspects of sport, technology and education.
For me personally, it was an outstanding feeling to finally organise a top event again after a long dry spell: to feel the adrenaline, to look into people's faces and to see not only masks but emotions!
My thanks go first and foremost to our sponsors Sparkasse and the City of Dortmund, Sportland NRW, DeepMind, Dokom21 and Mercedes-Benz. Likewise, I would like to thank our partners Kongress Westfalenhallen Dortmund, the World Federation FIDE, the German Chess Federation and the German Chess Youth. The representatives of the aforementioned institutions always stayed by our side during the last two years of the pandemic.
With few exceptions, the participating chess players fought and gave their best in the various competitions. This compliment goes not only to our grandmasters, but especially to the youngsters.
It was a pleasure to be there and to see them play. In the future, we will continue our efforts not only to present top chess, but also to keep an eye on hopefuls among boys and girls in order to give these talents opportunities within the framework of the Chess Days.
Last but not least, I would like to thank my team very much. It would not have been possible without you! The challenges were great: a new team, a new venue, a complete relaunch of our brand, a new sports concept, up-to-date communication and the successfully started digitalisation.
Now a highlight video has been released that leaves a lasting impression of the 48th International Dortmund Chess Days. A conclusion to this event that whets the appetite for more!
In this sense I am already looking forward to the next Sparkassen Chess Trophy from 16 to 24 July 2022, then hopefully again with an open tournament in the Westfalenhallen and an audience on site.
Dortmund, August 2021
Carsten Hensel
Event Director
Check out the highlight video of the 48th International Dortmund Chess Days: