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Press release Text: Gabriel Grecescu

GM Shant Sargsyan (ARM) won the first leg in Bucharest on 24th March. There are still four more legs left. The second leg will be held at Cluj-Napoca on 13th and 14th June. A total of 290 players including 20 GMs, 11 IMs and 3 WGMs have registered from 16 countries across the world. That's not all, you will get to play in the same arena as Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi. The VIP guest will be Vishy Anand. So register now if you have not yet.

The Romania Grand Prix began in 2022 as a need to provide to young Romanian chess players the opportunity to compete in a strong tournament in their home country. Additionally, the Romanian Chess Federation initiated efforts to establish a new European "Chess Capital."

Cluj Grand Prix Rapid (13-14 June 2024) - sneak peek | Video: Federaia Romn de ah

Bucharest Grand Prix Rapid 2024 - festivitatea de premiere | Video: Federaia Romn de ah

Bucharest GP Rapid 2024 Top 3 (L to R): 3rd GM Anton Korobov(UKR) 8.5/9, 1st GM Shant Sargsyan (ARM) 8.5/9 and 2nd GM Ruslan Ponomariov(UKR) 8.5/9 | Photo: Federaia Romn de ah

The beautiful trophies for the prize winners | Photo: Federaia Romn de ah

For more photos of Bucharest Grand Prix Rapid 2024, please click here.

In 2023, the RGP saw significant growth compared to 2022:

1,775 players participated (+72%)

37 countries were represented (+30%)

Total prize fund reached 175,000 EUR (+25%), with Romanian chess players winning 67,000 EUR (41,000 EUR by juniors and 26,000 EUR by adults).

The goal for 2024 is to attract over 2000 players from more than 40 countries. The first leg in Bucharest set a new record with 442 players from 20 countries.

Bucharest Grand Prix Rapid 2024 - the biggest chess tournament in Romania | Video: Federaia Romn de ah

Also, starting this year, during each event we will host a tournament for the kids that are learning chess in schools, on the national program Education thru Chess.

The next leg will take place in Cluj Napoca on June 13-14, during the Sports Festival. You can register here. This event will feature chess among other popular sports and will be held in the same arena where Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf will play a demonstrative tennis match. The VIP guest will be Mr. Viswanathan Anand.

The one and only Vishy Anand will be the VIP guest at Cluj Napoca leg of the GP to be held on 13th and 14rh June 2024 | Photo: Federaia Romn de ah

Tennis legends - Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi willplay a demonstrative tennis match at the same arena as Vishy Anand | Photo: Coadic Guirec / Bestimage

The chess summer in Romania will continue with the following events:

Braov - 15-21 July - total prize 30.000 EUR - prizes for each rating category

Timioara - 3-4 August - total prize 30.000 EUR - prizes for each rating category

Arad - 5-11 August - (60km from Timioara) - total prize 30.000 EUR - prizes for each rating category

Additional inputs by Shahid Ahmed

Excerpt from:
The Romanian Chess Federation invites you to play at the Romania Grand Prix 2024 - Chess News | ChessBase