Bethune_International_Open

Every year since 1980 the Bethune International Open has been organised from the 26th to the 30th December. Henri KUC, founding president of our club the A.E.B. created this tournament between Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. Since his death, the tournament has been bearing his name: Henri KUC's challenge.

The 24th tournament in December 2003 was again very succesful welcoming 246 players from the whole France and from 13 different countries.

In Tournament A (ELO > or =1600) Russian Andrei SHCHEKACHEV (GM - 2522) won the tournament and the 1st prize in the tie with 6 points over 7 only conceding 2 draws ahead of Karel VAN DER WEIDE (IM - 2427), Geert VAN DER STRICHT (IM - 2468), Jean-Marc DEGRAEVE (GM - 2562), Jan SPRENGER (IM - 2493), Mihail GOLUBEV (GM - 2536), etc...
HERE you can find the general standing of 2003 Tournament A
HERE you can find the American grid of 2003 Tournament A

In Tournament B (ELO <1800) Surprising unrated player Jeremy Lesot (1499) won the 1st prize ahead of Herve DEVOS (1760), Guy BENOIT (1730), etc...
HERE you can find the general standing of 2003 Tournament B
HERE you can find the American grid of 2003 Tournament B

The following photos have been reduced on purpose so as to speed up their downloads but if you would like to see them in their original sizes just click on them.

Here are the photos of some of the greatest players taking part to the previous Bethune Open: (to see their names just let your mouse point on their pictures without moving)

Playing conditions during the Bethune International Open are renowned to be perfect for the players mainly thanks to the Olof Palme room which welcomes the Bethune Open every year. You can judge by yourself with these photos :

The Bethune Chess club is already preparing the
25th Bethune International Open from the 26th to the 30th December 2004
Salle Olof Palme, Commercial center La Rotonde, 62400 Bethune, FRANCE
7 rounds within 5 days
Accelerated appariements, possibility to obtain a FIDE rating.

As last year Open was so succesful we decided to keep the 2 tounaments by ELO categories formula so that everyone can play interesting games :

- tournament A only for players whose ELO rating is above or equals 1600 (> or =1600), playing rhythm : 1h40+30s/move then 40m+30s to finish the game.

- tournament B only for players whose ELO rating is strictly under 1800 (<1800), playing rhythm : 40 moves in 2h + 1h to finish the game.

Only the players whose ELO rating is between 1600 and 1799 can choose between tournament A or B

Both tournaments will take place in the same room and in the same conditions !

At least 5500 € prize (8300 € given in 2003)
1st prize tournament A : 1500 €
1st prize tournament B : 300 €
General standing and ELO-category prizes for both tournaments
Inscription cost : 40 € (adults) 20 € (youngsters under 20)
GM, IM and FIDE Masters : Free

A Blitz tournament (rhythm 5 min for each player) will be organised on Tuesday 28th December from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm (free morning) in the tournament's room. All players can take part to it (inscription cost 5€).
Prizes : 100 % of the inscriptions.

(for information 1 $ (US dollar) = 0.90 € (euros))