The Bulgarian city of Belogradchik is hosting the third edition of its amateur chess tournament for players with a rating of at least 2250 or more. The total prize fund is 7500 EUR.
Belogradchik municipality, Chess club "Naiden Voinov" Vidin, Bulgarian Chess Federation, GM Alexandar Delchev are organizing the 2012 Balkan Amateur Chess Festival on 20-26th August.
Belogradchik is famous for its rocks and fortress. Millions of years ago it used to be the bottom of a sea and due to certain sediment processes now over a surface of 30 sq.km you can see rocks in amazing forms and shapes, that people gave different names: the Schoolgirl, the Monk, the Bear, etc.
The four-star venue spa hotel "Skalite" offers perfect conditions for play and stay – top quality at reasonable prices. It is placed right in the center of the town with magnificent view towards the Belogradchik rocks.
The top Bulgarian Grandmaster Aleksander Delchev will give free evening lectures during the festival and will be available to train and prepare participants during the whole tournament for a small fee.
Along with the main tournament you can try your chess power at two blitz tournaments: blitz for teams with total rating up to 4100 and individual blitz for players up to 2250 elo points.
Friday night will be the Queen of the Festival night at the disco of the venue hotel.
You can also sign up for one of the 3 daily excursions around Belogradchik. The Magura cave, the Baba Vida fortress, mountain biking around the cliffs.