Karpov opens chess school in Morocco

November 17, 2009

Dramatic finale for Africa.

If it was drama you wanted, African World Cup qualifying was the place to be this weekend. Nigeria and Cameroon became the latest teams through to the finals - joining Ghana, Ivory Coast and hosts South Africa - but in very different circumstances.

November 16, 2009

BORDEAUX WAIT ON CHAMAKH.

Bordeaux president Jean-Louis Triaud admits he remains in the dark about whether Marouane Chamakh will sign a new contract.

November 15, 2009

HM the King inaugurates craft training center.

King Mohammed VI inaugurated, here Saturday, a craft training center, marking the launch of the 12th national campaign for solidarity that runs from November 15 through November 25.

November 15, 2009

Authenticity and Modernity Party strongly denounces comments of Aminatou Haidar.

Rabat - Secretary General of the Authenticity and Modernity Party Mohamed Cheikh Biadillah strongly denounced, on Sunday, the statements of Aminatou Haidar, describing her "provocative act" as "treason against the Nation."

November 15, 2009

IMF: Morocco's growth remains solid despite global recession.

Economic growth in the North African state of Morocco remains solid even in the face the global economic downturn, the international Monetary Fund (IMF) has disclosed. In 2009 Morocco is expected to register an almost equal real GDP growth with what it achieved in the preceding fiscal year.

November 14, 2009

Cameroon Qualifies for World Cup.

FES, Morocco, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Cameroon completed a fine recovery after a stuttering start to their World Cup qualifying campaign to reach the finals in South Africa with a 2-0 away win over Morocco on Saturday.

November 15, 2009

Marrakech Festival a boon for local cinema.

The Marrakech Film Festival, to begin its ninth edition on December 4, has been a boon not just for the fledgling Moroccan/African cinema industry, offering an effective platform for their directors, but also for the city’s tourism. Funded entirely by the country’s ruling monarchy with Prince Moulay Rachid (King’s brother) presiding over the nine-day run (though the management is with a French public relations firm, Le Public Systeme.), the Festival pumps excitement into the city’s innumerable hotels and wayside eateries.

November 15, 2009

Six Senses Spa to open at The Baglioni Marrakech, Morocco by 2011.

Morocco’s first Six Senses Spa is scheduled to open by late 2011. The spa having an area of 1,500 sq mt will be a centrepiece of The Baglioni Marrakech — a boutique five-star hotel set within 34-acre parkland resort and residential development.

30 October 2010

Football-CAF Cup: FUS of Morocco beats Al-Ittihad of Libya.

Fath Union Sport (FUS) of Morocco on Friday beat Al-Itti had of Libya 2-1 at 11 June Stadium of Tripoli in the first leg of the semi-finals for the Confederation Cup.

prev next

Saturday, 14 November 2009

Karpov opens chess school in Morocco

Posted on 18:14 by google

Walking through the Fez Medina it is common to see men of all ages playing a variety of board games. Chess players are relatively rare, but they can be seen. Those who play chess will sometimes do so in conditions that would bemuse a western player. Today a View from Fez writer spotted a couple of young men standing in a doorway on a busy street, the chess board balanced on their hands for lack of a table.

Yet despite it being a rarity, those who play in chess clubs in Rabat, Tetouan, Fes and Casablanca have included many champions. In Rabat the Fath club is renowned for the skill of its members. These include the amazing Leyla Elamri who is currently the all Moroccan champion in all categories for women. She has won every title since she was 12 years of age. Last year, as a seventeen year old, she even managed to draw with the Russian grand master Anatoly Karpov in a speed game when he faced many players at the same time.

Now the chess players of Morocco are set to get a fantastic boost as Karpov has agreed to a partnership with the Fath club and set up a chess school in Rabat.

According to a Reuter's report, this will be the first Anatoly Karpov Chess School in Africa. Karpov, one of the living legends of chess, came to Morocco and supervised a three day training course for 24 young Moroccans. At the end of this course, he presented the winners with certificates and trophies.

Anatoly Karpov, a living legend of chess, was world champion between 1975 and 1984. Anatoly Karpov has 17 chess schools outside Russia, mainly in Europe and the United States. The only Arab country, apart from Morocco to have a similar school, is Syria where Karpov is proud to have an institution bearing his name in the Damascus Sports Palace. When asked by Reuters why he chose Morocco for his first school in Africa, Anatoly Karpov said: "This is the third time I am in Morocco. The last time I was here was in December last year. We discussed then how we could help young Moroccans in Rabat-Sale to develop their chess and how we could help them".

From riadzany