15 April 2008
To everyone's surprise, Slovakian Stefan Macak (2342 elo) has won Calvi's fifth open international chess competition this year, challenging renowned chess masters David Alberto (2562 elo) and Mohamed Al-Modiahki (2554 elo).
Macak, 23, qualified for the €15,000 prize after seven intense days of competition in the island.
Macak, who is not yet a classified international chess master, assured Corse Matin that he knew he would win, but admitted that he had not played chess for about three years.
Leo Battesti, president of the Corsican Chess League predicted: "We'll hear about him very soon".
In parallel to the main competition was also organised a chess tournament between no less than 80 young islanders, and Francois-Marie Franceschini, 12, has won this year's title.
Calvi's tournament has become increasingly popular over the years and is now recognised across the world.
France's next major tournament will be held at La Roche-sur-Yon later this month for the 46th edition of France's Chess Championship.
