Vezérképző – The norm factory

Vezérképző is a chess tournament series, organized every month by GM Czebe Attila, that is held in Budapest, Hungary. The system of the tournament is a round-robin, so each player competes against every other player. It is a popular event among chess players, and it attracts many talented players from around the world. The tournament offers a unique opportunity to fight for norms. The first Vezérképző tournament was in January 2021, the series gained in popularity and there are months when it is organized twice now. Three tournaments are running simultaneously, a GM, an IM and an FM group. During the competitions, the players achieved a lot of norms, but one still stands out from the rest. Mishra Abhimanyu, the youngest grandmaster in the world, got his final GM norm on the Vezérképző series at age 12 years and 4 months.

The playing hall is in the Danubius Budapest Hotel, where the closed round-robin tournaments are running through the month, as it is the home of the First Saturday and SixDays Budapest series as well. The city offers stunning architecture, delicious food, and a rich cultural heritage. You can visit some of the must-see attractions, including the Buda Castle, the Széchenyi Thermal Bath, and the Great Market Hall. Budapest also has a vibrant nightlife scene, with a variety of bars, clubs, and restaurants to choose from.

WIM Tea Gueci from Italy took part in the IM tournament in November. She gave us an interview:

Hello Tea! When you started playing chess and what are your biggest successes?

I started playing chess when I was six and I become the youngest to win the Italian Women’s Championship in 2012. I’m in the National Team since 2013 and number 3 in the Italian ranking.

You took part in the Vezérképző IM tournament in November. How was Budapest? Which place did you like the most?

It was my first time in Budapest, and I enjoyed it! The place I liked the most is the Fisherman’s Bastion because you can see the entire city from there. I also had a Danube cruise that I’d suggest seeing the Parliament and the Castle.

What was your goal in the tournament? Are you satisfied with the result?

My goal in the tournament was to achieve a WGM norm, but unfortunately, I didn’t score 7 points. I finished third and I’m thrilled with my performance, also because I won for the first time against a GM (Pacher) on the day of my dad’s birthday.

You had some interesting games in the tournament. Which one was the most exciting? Would you like to share a position or game analysis with our readers?

As I mentioned before, my victory against Pacher was a significant result, but for sure, not my best game. I had a losing position, but I created a beautiful attack in a crazy position! The “most correct” game was the one against Jinan Jomon, a lower-rated Indian player that now has more ratings than me. I’m pretty satisfied with that game but my best one is for sure the game against IM Szeberényi. All of my games were interesting, and I learned a lot.

How was the organization of the event? How would you rate it? Were there any problems (playing room, hotel, etc)?

The organizer is a nice person, and the arbiter is great. The hotel is not in the center of the city but a big shopping center is within walking distance or you can use public transport from there, so I’d say it is well located and it has good value for money. I liked the relaxed atmosphere in the playing hall. They also offered water and coffee during the rounds and everyone was helpful. I didn’t love the breakfast buffet, but as an Italian, I’m hard to please with food.

Will you be returning to Budapest and to the Vezérképző tournaments?

I stayed in Budapest for one week more after this tournament because I liked it and I’ll play Vezérképző Christmas IM. During my visit, I went to Vörösmarty Christmas Market and I can’t wait to be back.

What are your future goals? Which tournaments will you attend in the next couple of months?

My biggest goal is to become the first woman to achieve the GM title in Italy, but it’s not that easy, of course. I want to be number one in my country and a more achievable goal is to become an IM. After Vezérképző, I will play in the Austrian Frauen Bundesliga in March and later a tournament in Oslo. I also hope to take part in the European Women’s Individual Championship.

I am sure that our readers want to follow you. On which social media are you active?

I’m very active on Instagram.

And I also have a Twitch channel.

Thank you, Tea! Wishing you good luck in the Christmas Vezérképző!