Raunak and Pranav Venkatesh set to play on Carlsen's team Offerspill Sjakklubb at European Club Cup 2023
Raunak Sadhwani and Pranav Venkatesh will play in Magnus Carlsen's team - Offerspill Sjakklubb at 38th European Chess Club Cup 2023. Last year it was mostly Norwegian players with only player from Canada. However, this year, two Indian teenagers and strong GMs will get a huge opportunity to play side-by-side with the World no.1 and FIDE World Cup 2023 winner. It goes without saying that it will be a lifetime experience for them. Nihal Sarin will be seen in action for Tajfun ŠK Ljubljana. Aditya Mittal will play Gambit Asseco-SEE. Our very own maestro, Vishy Anand will return to his team Superchess which was formerly known as CSU ASE Superbet. Round 1 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. Photo: ECCC 2023
Vishy Anand, Nihal Sarin and Aditya Mittal will also be seen in action
GM Raunak Sadhwani, GM Pranav Venkatesh and GM Aditya Mittal will make their debut at 38th European Chess Club Cup 2023. This year only five Indians are taking part as most of India's top players are competing at 19th Asian Games 2022 currently. GM Vishy Anand and GM Nihal Sarin will return to their respective teams Superchess (formerly known as CSU ASE Superbet) and Tajfun ŠK Ljubljana. The Women's event is still lacking the participation of an Indian player. One can hope, it will change from the next edition.
GM FST IO Zurab Azmaparaishvili expressed his hope that participants of the European Chess Club Cup will enjoy their stay in Albania. “European Club Cup is growing up and reaching the new heights. Now we have 110 clubs playing and we could have even more! Great job was done by the Albanian Chess Federation. Every time I am visiting Albania, I am discovering country, its culture and nature, but I also see how chess develops. This is the country you want to return to.”
GM Erald Dervishi greeted all the guests and expressed gratitude to ECU for giving the Albanian Chess Federation an opportunity to host this prestigious event. “We will do our best to organize it in the best possible way. I hope all of you will enjoy Albanian hospitality, culture, nature and cuisine!”
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Everyday round starts at 3 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST from 1st to 7th October 2023. The final round on 7th October starts 2 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. The seven-round Swiss system tournament has a time control of 90 minutes for 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move, starting from move one. The tournament will be taking place at Grand Blue FAFA Conference Hall in Durrës, Albania.
Round 1 Open pairings
No. | Team | Team | Res. | : | Res. |
1 | Superchess | Rishon Lezion B | : | ||
2 | Bloemendaalse SV | Offerspill Sjakklubb *) | : | ||
3 | Zuid-Limburg | Novy Bor | : | ||
4 | Asnieres - Le Grand Echiquier | Slough Sharks | : | ||
5 | Schachclub Viernheim 1934 e.V. | Blackthorne | : | ||
6 | Asker Schakklubb | Turkish Airlines Sports Club | : | ||
7 | TAJFUN SK Ljubljana | Chess Club Dardania | : | ||
8 | LSG Leiden | CE Le Cavalier Differdange *) | : | ||
9 | Koninklijke Brugse Schaakkring | Sentimento Ajka BSK | : | ||
10 | C' Chartres Echecs | TSM Schifflange | : | ||