When they hear ‘Reykjavik Open’, many chess players spontaneously express the wish to be there. Our author Gerd Densing belongs to this group: he is currently in the Icelandic capital, playing in the tournament, writing and taking photographs. In the first three rounds, he has met not only the rating favourite, Vasyl Ivanchuk (photo), but also many other interesting personalities.
Easter Saturday (16 April) sees the start of the Swiss Young Masters tournament in Basel, a 10-player round robin event designed to give young Swiss players the opportunity to fight for rating points and norms. The traditional tournament will take place in Basel for the first time. The games will be broadcast live.