Chess Scotland is pleased to announce that Chessbase will continue their sponsorship of the Scottish Grand Prix. Chessbase, the world leading chess software company will provide database and playing programs to the winners of the year long Grand Prix competition.

We are pleased to add two new sponsors to our longstanding partnership with Chessbase:

Everyman Books, one of the most prolific chess publishing firms, will supply a book prize to all Grand Prix prizewinners (a potential maximum of 28 players). Everyman published the Garry Kasparov My Predecessors series and are now developing E-Books. Visit the Everyman website.

New in Chess will supply a copy of the latest edition of the world's highest quality chess magazine to all Grand Prix prizewinners. Visit the NIC website.

Chessbase is based in Germany but has a strong Scottish connection. Matthias Wullenweber of Chessbase first had the idea to develop software to store his own games while a student at Edinburgh University in the early 1980s.

Chessbase has now reached version No.10 and can sort, retrieve and catalogue millions of games at the touch of a button. Most of the world's leading grandmasters log in to Chessbase to prepare their games.

Fritz is the tactical genius who calculates his way instantly through the most complicated of position.

Scottish Grand Prix: Players accumulate points based on their results on the Scottish tournament circuit. Any score of 50% or more qualifies for Grand Prix points, 25% or more is required in the Junior sections. The larger weekend events count double. Players 2150 and under are eligible for inclusion. There are four adult Grand Prix sections grouped by rating and four junior sections. Detailed Adult GP rules, detailed Junior GP rules.

The latest results can be viewed at the Chess Scotland website Leaderboard

Chessbase Prizes: Chessbase will provide: 1st prizes: the latest Chessbase Database Program. 2nd prizes:the top Chessbase playing program. 3rd prizes: another Chessbase playing program. The top 3 adults in each section will receive software prizes, as will the top junior in each adult section.

Product upgrades occur frequently so specific Chessbase products are not mentioned above - but they will be appropriate to the time of the next prizegiving in Summer 2008. Full details of their latest software range are available at Chessbase.com

In addition, Chess Scotland will award the winner of each adult section with £100 and a shield to be competed for annually.

All prizewinners will receive an Everyman book and NIC magazine in addition to the software, cash and trophy prizes.