Antonis Pavlidis is the new Greek Chess Champion. Antonis is one of the most talented young greek players. He is only 18 years old but he already won his first Greek championship. He was the winner of the qualifying Greek chess championship in Kavala 2011 (from there is the photos) and finally finished managed to accomplish this good start with 6.5/9 in Greek chess championship in Chania over Nikos Galopoulos and GM Ioannis Nikolaidis. Antonis is already International master but I think soon he will become and Grandmaster

Greek chess team in European chess team championship had some very good moments, winning England but finally finished at 20th position. On this photo we see that before the games Greek national team trainer, Vasilis Kotronias encourages players before the game. The smiles on their faces show that at least they enjoyed it.

When you support a team in any game you are anxious about win. It is the same feeling in chess as in other sport, when your team wins you feel relief for the win. I am member of E.E.S.Korydallou. In the Greek championship we played against strong team OS Triandrias. The score is 6-5 and we have still a game that is not so clear who is winning

And I captured the moment that we see the opponent of Maria Ikonomopoulou gave her hand to resign. In smiles you can see the relief of my teammates.

Who said that chess is not fun and a team sport?

Tasos Pavlidis one more time became Greek champion in his category. He is a real talented player that I think soon will be in our national team

In ancient Greece death in honour meant to be death on a combat. All kings and princes tried not to die on a bed but on combat. Nowadays we would say that for a death on honour for a chess player would be death on winning position over a “stronger” opponent. And this way Nikos Karapanos left us. He was only 42 years old when he left over the board on Acropolis chess tournament. Died on honour. My friend we’re not going to forget you. We will not forget that you played for the art of the game and not only for win! Goodbye!

At Mediterranean championship in Turkey we had 2 medals. It wasn’t only Yannis’ gold medal but also Marina Makropoulou won Bronze medal. Congratulation Marina and hope that you will continue to be at the top greek chess players for many years more!
^{photo is from Euroteams 2007}

The new Mediterranean Champion is the Greek International Master Ioannis Georgiadis. He achieved the second GM norm so very soon we will have a new Greek Grandmaster. Congratulation Yanni!
^{photo is from the tournament that he achieved his first GM norm Acropolis 2006}

One thing that I teach all my students is the handshake. I think is fundamental for a game like chess. If you don’t give your hand to your opponent is like you don’t respect him. I see some players that when they lose, they don’t give their hand. It is like they believe that they lost unfairly. And this like to offend their opponent. What you would do if your opponent didn’t not give you his hand?

_{This photo is one more blurry one that I liked it because shows the movement in their hands}

2-8 January in Greece we had the final section of Greek championship for young men, women and boys girls <=18. So I present you our four new champions. Filippas Sebastien,Katerina Pavlidou,Zoi Iordanidou (difficult to capture not laughing) and Yorgos Kanakaris.