Registration boom for Vienna Chess Open

Organisers of the Vienna Chess Open have announced there has been a real boom in the number of people applying to take part.

The event takes place for the 18th time at Vienna City Hall from August 17th to August 25th.

Johann Pöcksteiner, from the Vienna Chess Association said: “Players will not only find optimal conditions in Vienna, they will also be able to get to know our city better.

In total over 700 players from more than 50 countries have registered to take part.

Favourite to win the championship is grand master Ivan Sokolov. Alongside Ivan Sokolov there are a further twenty grand champions taking part. Eva Moser is representing Austria.

The matches can be followed live on the internet.