From: "Stouten, Pieter [R&D/0467]" PHARMACIA COM> Date: 18 nov 2002 Subject: European Shogi Grand Prix 2002-2003 Hello Shogi fans, In 1987 FESA started a Grand Prix (GP) circuit. The idea behind it is that it stimulates Shogi players to travel abroad, because one can score points in the race to yet another major title, in importance second only to the European Championship. The system is quite simple: throughout the year players who live in Europe can score points in selected tournaments (currently 10) and the GP winner is the player who has accumulated most points by the end of the year. First place in a GP tournament is worth 16 GP points, second 11, third 7, fourth 4, fifth 2 and sixth place 1 GP point. FESA hopes to find a sponsor for the GP circuit, but that is not easy in these dire economic times, so for now the GP winner gets a trophy that he may keep for one year, but which remains FESA property. Please find below the list of 2002-2003 Grand Prix tournaments. Unfortunately, some of them are close together in time, but we have every intention to spread them more in the coming years. In fact, the French association has already selected the International Alsace Tournament in Colmar (September 2003) as their GP for the next (2003-2004) GP series. 1. Sweden: Göteborg Open, 30 November-1 December 2002 2. Italy: Italian Open, Milano, 7-8 December 2002 3. France: Paris Open, 14-15 December 2002 4. Netherlands: Nijmegen Tournament, 28-30 December 2002 5. Russia: Moscow Open, 4-7 January 2003 6. Austria: Austrian Open, March or April 2003 7. UK: British Open, tentatively 3-4 May 2003 8. Germany: Munich Tournament, Pullach, around 10 May 9. Czech Republic: Prague MSO Shogi tournament, early July 2003 10. Sweden: European Championship, Öckerö, 7-10 August 2003 If you want take a shot at winning this prestigeous GP title, mark your calendars now with the above tournaments and participate in as many of them as possible. Some of them take place in major tourist areas, so you can combine playing Shogi with sightseeing. The first GP tournament of the 2002-2003 series will take place in Göteborg, Sweden and is only two weeks away. So register now, to enjoy Shogi, Swedish hospitality and their famous Glögg! Pieter Stouten, FESA secretary