Chess - Press Release of 22 July

Chess - Press Release of 22 July
The 6
th
From 24 July to 2 August 2015:
IBCA European Chess Championship for blind and visually impaired
players will take place in France for the first time.
Indeed, no International individual tournament has never been held in France for blind and
visually impaired players. The AEPA (the French Chess Organisation for Blind and Visually
Impaired Chess Players), driven by Bernard DUTHOIT, Adrien HERVAIS, Olivier DEVILLE
and Bertrand CATHERINE, gave the impetus to succeed in finding passionnate and dynamic
support.
62 players from 20 nations (Germany, England, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Scotland,
Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Monaco, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia,
Slovenia and Ukraine) will thus compete in Lyon to win the European Championship title.
Among them, 1 International Grandmaster, 4 International Masters and 7 FIDE Masters. 10
French competitors will participate, 3 of them coming from the Rhône-Alpes Region.
Quite unexpectedly, in this sport blind and visually impaired people can make the most of a game,
playing along with full sighted people.
We invite everyone, chess players and non chess players, to join us at the Mercure hotel, located
29 rue de Bonnel in the 3rd Arrondissement of Lyon. Come and see those breathtaking matches
featuring genuine intellectual prowesses. Free entrance.
In addition to the Championship, there will be a chess workshop from Sunday 26 th July to
Saturday 1st August - 15 p.m. to 20 p.m. - for our blind and visually impaired friends, near the
competition room. In the meantime, full sighted players will try to play blindfold chess, a difficult
and exciting challenge.
Please take note that, as a celebration for this European Chess Championship, many events
(simultaneous display, tournaments, introductory course, etc.) are organised all along the summer.
You will find the complete list there: http://lc.cx/AnimationsChptEurope
List of players
Press contacts:
Sylvain RAVOT - 06 87 43 57 32 - [email protected]
Julien DUBREUIL - 06 61 55 81 44
Web sites:
http://www.aepa64.asso.fr/
http://lyon-olympique-echecs.com/
Playing venue:
Hôtel Mercure, 29 rue de Bonnel, 69003 Lyon, France
Hold under the auspices of the International Braille Chess Association (IBCA)