Award winners of 7th International Chess Tournament "Vardaris" 2024

The 7th Vardaris International Tournament returned after a 4-year absence due to the "Covid" pandemic

It was held at the City Hall of Thessaloniki in the Manolis Anagnostakis Hall during the period 14-18 March 2024.

The tournament was the twinning of the Chess Club SAX Thessaloniki with the team of the Chess Club of West Lesvos "Aristotle".

The tournament was part of the European program Thessaloniki European City of Sport and the opening ceremony was attended by the Deputy Mayor of Sports, Youth and Volunteerism Mrs. Kyriaki Giannakidou.

The winners were the following:

Α' Group

Final standings

1st Tsaknakis Zisis

2nd Dogias Christos

3rd Rahmanidis Petros

4th Krallis Christos

5th Markidis Konstantinos

6th Loukopoulos Panagiotis Athanasios

1st Female

Gkoutzouki Aikaterini Argyro

Veteran S50

1st Madebrink Lars

U1800

1st Balafoutis Ilias

U2000

1st Kalogridis Themistoklis

Boys U16

1st Boutikos Eleftherios

Girls U16

1st Nenova Andzhelika

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Β΄ Group

Final standings

1st Petridis Dimitrios Panagiotis

2nd Keramaros Vasileios

3rd Balafoutas Alexandros

1st Female 

Maniati Konstantina

Veteran S50

1st Avgitidis Isaak

Boys U16

1st Mitsopoulos Ioannis

Girls U16

1st Giakoustidou Evgenia

Boys U14

1st Papakyriakou Petros

Girls U14

1st Pehlivanova Aleksandra

Boys U12

1st Xouplidis Filippos

Girls U12

1st Marinova Mihaela

Boys U10

1st Skodras Dionysios Eleftherios

Girls U10

1st Kalyva Ioanna

We believe that every "Vardaris" is unique, however the 6th Vardaris was definitely very special, since one day before the start of the tournament, the first incident of coronavirus in Greece was announced, in fact in Thessaloniki. Panic prevailed for two days! All the phones, even the mobile ones of the organizing committee wouldn't stop ringing. There were many participants who canceled, even more who called to ask if the tournament would eventually take place and many who rebroadcast the news from television and radio.

On Tuesday morning we arrived at the Holiday Inn hotel, the playing venue and started the preparations. Late at night everything was ready. Our organization and satisfaction was unimaginable. Of course, no one could imagine the sequel... A day later, we felt that everything was falling apart!

On Thursday the situation had become even more pressing... The pairings were published with a slight delay (at 16.30 instead of 16.00), we had the pleasure to announce the brotherhood with the Chess Club of Xanthi and by announcing the start of the games, we did not really know what we will face after all.

And yet, people were there!!! It is indeed a small organizing miracle, the games started on time and the majority of participants were there!

The 6th Vardaris had started!

In A Group, all participants played on brand new wooden chessboards and 20 electronic chessboards broadcast live the most important games of each round. In all groups, each chess player had a printed card with his/her name, his/her ELO and the flag of his/her country.

 

2nd day of the tournament (Friday 28 February 2020)

On Friday morning, we had organized a guided tour for foreign chess players in the city of Thessaloniki. The White Tower, Thessaloniki seaside, the Castles and Agios Dimitrios Church were our stops...

The impressions of the participants were excellent. A really beautiful 3-hours tour for all the chess players and the attendants who registered.