WRBCC 2018 Registration, Visa, Accommodation and Venue
The King Salman World Rapid and Blitz Championships-2018 will be held in Saint Petersburg on December 25-31.
The venue is Manege, the largest exhibition space in central Saint Petersburg. Address: 1, St. Isaac’s Square.
A classical building of Manege was constructed by Giacomo Quarenghi in the beginning of the 19th century for the Imperial Horse Guards. Then it was used for various purposes depending on the epoch. In 1970s, the Saint Petersburg Manege housed the Central exhibition hall. Now Manege is a modern platform which is capable to host all kinds of projects. 
Real chess stars are going to take part in the events. Thus, the open starting lists are headed by the reigning World Champion Magnus Carlsen (Norway), world strongest grandmasters Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan), Anish Giri (Netherlands), Viswanathan Anand (India), Levon Aronian (Armenia), Alexander Grischuk, Sergey Karjakin, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Peter Svidler (all from Russia), and other top players.
In the women’s events, the reigning Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun (China), Anna and Mariya Muzychuk (both from Ukraine), Kateryna Lagno, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Aleksandra Goryachkina, Valentina Gunina, Olga Girya (all from Russia), Humpy Koneru (India), Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia), Tan Zhongyi (China), and other well-known players will fight for the titles.
An extensive additional programme, which will include tournaments for children and adults, solving contests, simultaneous exhibitions and master classes, acquaintance with the RCF Chess Museum's exhibits and many other activities, will be organized during the Championships. The entrance is free for guests.
SCHEDULE
December 25 – Pre-start press conference, Opening Ceremony, Technical meeting
December 26-28 – World Rapid Championships
December 29-30 – World Blitz Championships and Closing Ceremony
ACCOMMODATION
Accredited players, accompanying persons and press are now able to submit their accommodation requests and travel details online at the registration system https://wrbc2018registration.fide.com.
Note that the above apply only if the above mentioned accredited participants participants would like to be accommodated in one of the two official hotels of the event, with the agreed pricelists. Transfers will be only provided from the airport or the railway stations to the official hotels and vice versa.
AZIMUT HOTEL SAINT-PETERSBURG 4* and ANGLETERRE HOTEL 5* are the official hotels of the WRBCC.
AZIMUT HOTEL SAINT-PETERSBURG 4*
Special prices are available for the participants:
SMART standard single — RUR 3900 per night. The price includes full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner – buffet) and transfer to and from the venue.
SMART standard double — RUR 5000 per night (RUR 2500 per night for each person). The price includes full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner – buffet) and transfer to and from the venue.
AZIMUT Hotel Saint-Petersburg is located in the very center of the city. The address is: bld. 43/1, Lermontovsky ave. (2,5 km to the venue)
The hotel’s website: https://en.azimuthotels.com/Russia/azimut-hotel-saint.
ANGLETERRE HOTEL 5*
Special prices are available for the participants:
Executive room (single) — RUR 10500 per night. The price includes full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner – buffet).
Executive room (double) — RUR 15200 per night. (RUR 7600 per night for each person). The price includes full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner – buffet).
The number of available hotel rooms: 20.
Angleterre Hotel is located in the very center of the city. The address is: bld. 24, Malaya Morskaya str. (around 500 m to the venue).
The hotel’s website: http://www.angleterrehotel.com/
BOARDING FEE:
The boarding fee if paid to the Organizers upon arrival. Volunteers will be meeting the participants in the lobby.
TRANSFERS:
The Organizers provide transfers from the Pulkovo airport / Moskovsky Railway Station / Vitebsky Railway Station to the official hotels and back on the days of arrival and departure. The total cost of the transfers is RUR 2300. The amount shall be paid upon arrival.
Volunteers will meet the participants in the airport and at the railway stations, and will accompany them to the busses.
To book transfers email us at: hello.wrbcc@gmail.com
Contact person: Marina Nepochatykh
ADDITIONAL HOTELS
For your convenience the Organizers made a list of the hotels close to the venue (maximum 10-12 minutes walk). You are welcome to make reservations there as well on your own. Check the list.
AEROFLOT TICKETS ANNOUNCEMENT
All the participants are welcome to book air tickets in “Aeroflot” sales offices around the world. In case there is a difficulty with flights availability for the period of WRBC, a participant should name the object of the flight: “FIDE2018”. Then the company representatives will contact “Aeroflot” Headquarters to confirm the flight availability and will provide maximum support in finding the best possible option to arrange the flights.
VISA SUPPORT
Please be informed that the invitation letter for Russian Embassies will be available for download at the online registration system https://wrbc2018registration.fide.com, under section B. Registrations. Please note that the download option will be available only for accredited participants that based on the submitted country of passport, they are required to have a visa to enter Russia.
You will be able to proceed with the visa procedure from December, the 10th.
• A participant may apply for visa either in his home country or abroad.
• The main condition is to apply for a Russian visa only in official institutions, such as the Consular Section of the Russian Embassy, Consulate-General or an official Visa Application Center.
• Other institutions and travel agencies offering their services will have no access to the information regarding the World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships.
• When applying for a Russian visa, alongside with a complete set of documents requested by the Embassy, participants must provide the official invitation from the Russian Chess Federation. This invitation was approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. It is the main basis for issuing a visa that substitutes for a telex/ reference number.
Please note, that each Reigning National Champions 2018 should provide a proof of the title via National Federations.
The official letter from your National Federation need to be sent to RCF official representative Artem Pugachev pugachev@ruchess.ru in order to be accredited.
