The tournament 24 Cappelle La Grande International Chess Open was organised by ``L`Echiquier Cappellois`` chess club and took place at the Palais des Arts in Cappelle la Grande, France from 16 to 23 of February.
Cappelle la Grande 2008 is one of the Europe's top chess tournaments. It is featuring more than 70 GMs and 240 titled players in a 9 round Swiss tournament. In total there were 520 players, out of which 250 invited 150 pre-registered, and more than a hundred local players. The total prize fund of the competition was 30 000 eur. The winner became GM Vugar Gashimov (AZE) who scored 7/9 and had the best tie-break ahead of 7 others on 7/9 (Arutinian (GEO), Fedorchuk (UKR), Kryvoruchko (UKR), Chernyshov (RUS), Deviatkin (RUS), Kotronias (GRE) and L’Ami (NED)). Gashimov received 3000 Euro.