Chess On The Net
Showpiece Event Of The Chess Elite
http://www.amberchess.com
By R.R.Vasudevan
For more than a decade the month of March has been associated with the Amber Blindfold & Rapid event. This unique event was the brainchild of Dutch multi-billionaire Joop Van Oosterom. After retiring from fulltime business in 1989, van Oosterom has been a major chess philanthropist. A correspondence Grandmaster, van Oosterom is better known as 18th World Correspondence Champion.
Named after his eldest daughter Melody Amber, who celebrated her first birthday during the inaugural year 1992, the event caught up the imagination of the chess world. (Few know that van Oosterom also organises a billiards tournament every year, named after his other daughter Chrystal Kelly).
And running into its second decade of existence, has become a showpiece event of the chess elite. Normally held in the opulent Monte Carlo, the event once returned to Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, a French village east of Monaco, where the first edition was held.
An invitation to this event is considered a privilege, normally bestowed on Super Grandmasters. India's sporting icon Vishy Anand is a five time winner and a
regular in the event. Classical world champion Vladimir Kramnik piped Anand this year winning his sixth Amber title.
The event organized by the Association Max Euwe has a daily schedule of four playing sessions; two blindfold sessions (three encounters each) and two rapid sessions.
The official tournament website holds a simple interface and one can reach the live games as well the Archives in double quick time. Followed by the game
link is the one that takes you to the blindfold, rapid and combined standings.
Next comes the info link, where the short listed details of the players along with their achievements can be viewed. Then comes the link of PGN games which is listed round by round for both the categories. The combined games file of both the categories, is also available and the same can be used for future preparation.
Right below the games link is the daily reports of all the completed rounds. Then comes the link, which gives the tournament schedule right from inauguration to closing ceremony.
The pairing and results follows right behind, and here the complete pairing is provided and is updated as and when the games are completed. Here one can keep
abreast of the daily results, and can make note interesting later rounds pairing which can make good viewing.
Then comes the link that takes one to the previous edition of the Amber event, which carries the final round results along with the final day report. The
captivating photo page link comes right in the end. Here the photos move about in a horizontal scroll and the browser can click and view the enlarged photo
without much ado. The home bar carries an exchange link with the New in Chess in addition to a commercial link.
Chess as a dazzling spectacle is something that Van Oosterom had visualised and is making it come true every year in the best possible way. His novelty
of blindfold and rapid together with the top masters in the world of chess, has caught up with the imagination of chess enthusiasts. For sure Melody Amber event has come to stay and delight chess lovers every year.