Chess Classic Mainz – End of an Era

Press release

Chess Classic Mainz – End of an Era

Cost-benefit analysis requires clear statement for Mainz

Fischer made the distinction between the Chess Classic and other classical tournaments. Speed and entertainment, service and amenities for the spectators and participants were the ingredients of a unique merger that took place once a year between the 2000-year old royal game and the ancient city of Mainz. The main goal of the organizers back in 1994 was to connect the small world of chess with everyday society. Explaining the complex game of chess to a bigger audience, for chess amateurs and laymen with the use of modern technology was the next step, which was thoroughly and systematically implemented in the event.

The full 2010 Mainz Chess Classic team, with organisers, helpers and some participants (click picture to enlarge)

This yearly meeting place for chess players was highly appreciated by professionals and amateurs and the Chess Classic became a nationally and internationally renowned event, without a doubt one of the highlights on the international chess calendar. The clarity and reliability of the annual world championships in rapid chess and Chess960 and the clear qualification rules in the open tournaments was appreciated by everyone – over the years the organizers had created their own brand. The Chess Classic atmosphere with the spacious Rheingoldhalle, Congress Centre and Hilton Mainz, on the banks of the river Rhine, but still in the centre of the city Mainz was perfect and unparalleled for a top-class and mass sports event.

Over 700 participants in the Grenke Rapid Chess Open

If all the conditions in Mainz are perfect: why on earth will there be no next tournament, numerous friends of the Chess Classic are bound to ask? And it is a justified question. Maybe the answer of Vladimir Kramnik back in 2001, who was chess world champion at that time after his heroic win over Gary Kasparov, comes closest to the truth. During the Champions Dinner, one of the main sponsors of the event asked him: “How important is this first and unique match with the FIDE World Champion Viswanathan Anand from India, here in Mainz?” The answer was: “Not so important, this is just a rapid chess match”.

The first Chess Classic in Mainz 2001: Lord Mayor of Mainz Jens Beutel, Vladimir Kramnik, Vishy Anand, organizer of the Chess Tigers e.V. Hans-Walter Schmitt & Jürgen Wienecke

The city of Mainz, its Lord Mayor Jens Beutel and the Chess Tigers e.V. with its chairman Hans-Walter Schmitt would like to thank the long-time sponsors, players and spectators, the international journalists and many volunteers in this seventeen breathtakingly years that rushed past. We have shaped and organized the event seven years in Frankfurt, followed up by ten years in Mainz with inspiration and expertise. We have put our heart and passion into the Chess Classic. There is a quote by the Austrian dramatist and novelist Arthur Schnitzler, which says it all: “Am Ende gilt doch nur, was wir getan und gelebt – und nicht, was wir ersehnt haben.“ (“In the End, all that matters is what we have done and lived – not what we have longed for”).

We would like to apologize to our Chess960 world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk, Chess960 world champion Hikaru Nakamura and his challenger Alexander Grishuk, the current GrenkeLeasing world champion Gata Kamsky, the eleven-time winner Viswanathan Anand and the numerous friends of the Chess Classic, because there will be no title matches in 2011. However, should a “white knight” show up, who wants to grant the Chess Classic a secure financial future, the Chess Tigers are ready to go!

Chess Tigers e.V
Chairman Hans-Walter Schmitt

Chess Classic Mainz winners

Chess Classic Championship

Rapid Chess Open           

 Simuls (40 Players)                 

Matches Man vs. Machine

Chess960 Rapid Chess World Championship

Chess960 Rapid Chess World Championship Women

Chess960 Senior + Junior Rapid Chess World Championship

Open Chess960

Chess960 Simuls (20 Players)          

Chess960 Matches Man vs. Machine

Chess960 Computer World Championship

The final Classic: last year's ChessBase reports

ChessBase reports on previous Chess Classics

• Chess Classic 2002, 2003
• Chess Classic 2004
• Chess Classic 2005
• Chess Classic 2006
• Chess Classic 2007
• Chess Classic 2008
• Chess Classic 2009