Always I liked to have a wooden chess board...

Christmas is coming :) Make present a wooden chess board!

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Topalov is waiting for Kamsky

Veselin was looking forward to learn who would be his opponent. I think that he would be happy that Kamsky won the world cup

technorati tags:Topalov, world cup, Kamsky

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New Greek Champion:Ioannis Papadopoulos

Maybe it looks like unbelievable but Greece that has 10 GMs but her champion is not titled and only 19 years old!
Ioannis Papdopoulos is the new greek champion. Congratulations Yanni! You proved one more time your talent!
I am very happy that this young man is our champion because now I hope he will have more chances to play with our national team over other not so talented or not hungry for wins Grand Masters.

The photo is from Kavala's chess tournament as I was not at the greek chess championship to take new one.

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I became FIDE Arbiter

I post this photo just to announce that finally I became Fide Arbiter. Actually the first one in Greece :) You can see the list that I am the only one because before there wasn't requirement to qualify for International Arbiter to become Fide. I will apply at January and for the Arbiter's title and then as far as I know will be approved another one for Fide Arbiter. Hypothetically now I can be arbiter in any tournament in the world and not only at Greece. Practically someone have to invite me ...

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Greek Dances by GM Baadur Jobava

At closing ceremony of Euroteams 2007 organiser had decided to entertain the chess players with traditional Greek dances. BUT some of the them begun to dance as more entertaining than sit and just listen. GM Baadur Jobava just begun and after some minutes was dancing with girls from Spain and Lithuania.Sad that I don't know to dance Greek traditional dances

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An Armenian dancing with an Azeri

This photo made me feel so happy.When I saw an Armenian dancing with an Azeri I felt so happy that two people that their countries chose to be enemies are good friends.That ignore that their countries chose to poison people with hate and hunger for blood and racist feelings.Aronian and Mamedjarov show that people are all the same. Please no more blood for money!

technorati tags:chess, azeri, armenian, Nagorno-Karabah, Euroteams07

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Hatziavatis with Carlsen

Carlsen between Sultan, Hatziavatis and other figures of greek theatre of shadows plays pool.

Unlucky Arbiter

This beautiful girl is the first board of Switzerland and unfortunately I have been her arbiter for 2 times and 2 times destroyed her better position and the first time she lost and second made draw...
I think that she is going to think that I am her black cat.

Chess player Manga

This girl wear every long socks and colourful shorts dresses. Amazing! I think lovers of Manga would fall in love with her. (and they are not the only)

Shirov losing

Alexei Shirov
Originally uploaded by karpidis

This portrait shows how difficult was Alexei's position at second round after the 14th move!

Beautiful chess player from Hungary

Many know that I am a internet geek. But a friend when he met me at internet hall of the tournament (Actually is another conference hall with 3 wifi hotspots) and saw also the beautiful girl of the photo told me :
"Now I undestand why you are sitting so many hours in internet hall"
Actually one of the reasons :)

Impressive woman

Impressive woman
Originally uploaded by karpidis

Always impressive this woman! I remember the first time that I met Anastasia at 2001 and I said this is the most beautiful woman I have ever met... Difficult to change my mind

Chess presents.... ELIA

Χαμόγελο όλα τα λεφτά!
Originally uploaded by karpidis

This beautiful girl is chess player! Unbelievable but it is true. So I am happy vidcaster that she presents allsports vidcast
Thank you Elia

Black Queen

A Game of Chess
Originally uploaded by The Crimson Ribbon

I think this is the most beautiful black queen I have seen. I hope at next move she will not be exchanged for the white one!

Champions wear PUMA

Champions wear PUMA
Originally uploaded by karpidis

Does Puma sponsors this young chess champion?

Au Montie!

Ωχ τι θέση είναι αυτή;
Originally uploaded by karpidis

This talented greek young player tries to find the best first move...

Fivitika 2007

KIF_4201
Originally uploaded by karpidis

A panoramic view that I had from the office. I think the place is perfect for organizing a tournament of very good players with attenders on the 1st floor...

Who are these beautiful women?

These beautiful women were watching for many hours the games... As arbiter I could attend only on games with 4 blue eyes behind me so I photographed them

15th tournament "Honour to national Resistance

The photos from chess tournament "Honour to national Resistance". This year was the 15th tournament in memory of the victims of nazi killed at 17 of August 1944 in Nikea. A city of workers that most of the victims were killed only because they were communists.The old name of Nikea is "Kokkinia" that in greek means reddish. The name was taken from the lake of blood of these victims. It is good to know and to not forget.

Closing ceremony of Acropolis

This year I wasn't arbiter at the best Greek tournament(I think they chose the very best of Greek arbiters,kidding of course ) so I went only at the closing ceremony to take pictures.
My pictures are not copyrighted but under Creative Commons License. That means you can use it but you MUST say your source. At the official page of Greek Chess Federation used some of them and made them copyrighted because they didn't want to give the source so they had my ugly name on the photos.

Goliath vs David

Nobody believe that small boy won the game... But it was just chess...Not a real fight...

Wait a minute to pose

KIF_1589, originally uploaded by andreaskontokanis.

Yes sure I will take you a picture without glasses but here you are much better :)

Black Kostouros

Difficult to be arbiter in greek summer tournaments.... Sun burns

Oh, I think I saw a checkmate!

Oh, I think I saw a checkmate!, originally uploaded by andreaskontokanis.

Or maybe not...

Weisser's joke

Weisser's joke, originally uploaded by andreaskontokanis.

When you just want to take a picture to remember something good from a bad tournament and the second better player on your team has the humour to do like that :)

Can your dog play chess?

Chess Pooch, originally uploaded by meganpru.

-Can your dog play chess?
-Noooo, it is pantzer, it is losing 4-1...

Chess is fun

Chess is fun, originally uploaded by andreaskontokanis.

I like this photo.It has motion and smiles on my favourite sport.

Hey! We are not going to play basketball!

Hey this is a chess hall not a basketball court.

Ernesto Gue Vara with Ernesto Inarkiev

Ernesto Gue Vara with Ernesto Inarkiev, originally uploaded by andreaskontokanis.

A real fighter until the end...

Heavy Head

Heavy_head, originally uploaded by andreaskontokanis.

As I was exploring my photos, I saw this picture. Is funny that all players stand their heads on their hands. Heavy heads on difficult positions.

Balkan Federation

KIF_2608, originally uploaded by andreaskontokanis.

This photograph was taken at the first meeting for the balkan chess federation. Except chess.gr nobody asked to use it. But I saw many chess sites used it. From now on I will give photos only to my blog. and flickr. If someone wants it have to ask for.

A real winner

KIF_2590, originally uploaded by andreaskontokanis.

Let's smile but I could be first...

Rozentalis and Me

A great chess player that has sense of humor.I was really amazed because even in his very little losses was smiling....

Am I in a bad position?

Oh my god...! What position? After so many hours to have a lost position? What to do?If I resign now everybody will understand that I played badly.Let's pretend that I am thinking to lost some time.