The strong International Open German Women's Individual Championship (IODFEM) took place in Augsburg this year. Thanks to the new cooperation with the organisers of the event, the Jussupow Chess School, and the increased focus of the Sparkassen Chess Trophy on promoting women's and youth chess, there was a special incentive for the winner. She will be invited to the 51st International Dortmund Chess Days.
After a fierce 9 rounds, IM Klaudia Kulon from Poland narrowly beat IM Nataliya Buksa (Ukraine) in the final round to win the tournament with 7 points from 9 games. She has therefore earned a starting place, including an invitation, in the A-Open of the Sparkassen Chess Trophy 2024.
She will take part here in August. The International Dortmund Chess Days have a long-standing friendship with the organisers of the IODFEM from Augsburg. In recent years, GM Artur Jusspov has been the live commentator in the online broadcasts of the Dortmund tournaments. This year, he will be available on site to provide analyses, anecdotes and commentaries on the top games, especially from the B-Open.
The invitation of the IODFEM winner fits in perfectly with the organisation of the Sparkassen Chess Trophy. With the direct match for the German number 1 in women's chess between GM Elisabeth Pähtz and IM Dinara Wagner, the main duel of this year's Chess Days is a high-calibre event for women's chess.
The two open tournaments are each limited to 200 starting places. Early registration is therefore recommended, especially for the very strong A-Open from 1900 TWZ, in order to secure a starting place.
Photos: Augsburg 2024, from Jussupov Chess School