Experimental Open mobile-chess tournament – Volga Cup is being held from July 1 till September 30, 2004.
The aim of the tournament is the popularization of Mobile chess, testing the technology of organizing big tournaments and preparation of the chess players for the 1st official tournament – Mobile-chess Open Russian Championship (November 2004 – February 2005) and another international tournaments, under authority of FIDE.

Users of all mobile operators, supporting SMS service of mobile chess (Mchess-club) can participate in the tournament.

At the moment the users of Megafon-Povolzh`ye can participate, then the users of other mobile operators. (Current list of mobile operators can be found at www.mchess-club.com)

The organizer of the tournament – Runix technologies Ltd (in Russia support by OOO “Runix”)

The aim of the tournament is the popularization of Mobile chess, testing the technology of organizing big tournaments and preparation of the chess players for the 1st official tournament – Mobile-chess Open Russian Championship (November 2004 – February 2005) and another international tournaments, under authority of FIDE.

The tournament will be held from July 1 till September 30 in 2 parts.

Qualification: July 1 – September 15.

Final: 10:00, September 18 – 20:00, September 30 (GMT+3)

Time control in qualification round – 3 hours 30 minutes for the game. (In a game against computer – 3 hours for the game)

In qualification participants play against each other or/and against computer server of Mchess system.

20 top-rated Mchess players on 23:59, September 15, 2004 will participate in the Finals.

To participate in the Finals the player must be fully registered in Mchess-club system before 23:59, September 10, 2004.

The finals will be played in a Swiss system.

Intermediate Finals will be held for 4 top-rated players on 23:59, August 27.

Prizes:
1 – A trip to the World Chess Olympiad (Spain, Majorca, October 14-30) for 2 persons
2-4 – Computer laptops
5-6 – GSM Communicators (big electronic device with mobile phone & PC)
7-8 – Smartphones
9-15 – Mobile phones
16-20 – 3000 roubles to mobile phone account.


The intermediate finals’ participants will receive GSM Communicators and smartphones.

All participants, who gained Mchess-rating over 5000 by 23:59, September 30 will be provided with 1000 roubles for mobile phone account. (this rule doesn’t apply for the participants, whose rating was awarded by Administration by recounting FIDE ELO points)

All participants, who gained Mchess-rating over 10000 by 23:59, September 30 will be provided with 10000 roubles for mobile phone account. (this rule doesn’t apply for the participants, whose rating was awarded by Administration by recounting FIDE ELO points)

Additional prizes from the tournament sponsors may be announced during the tournament.

All details and current news can be found on the official site of the tournament – www.mchess-club.com.