Chess: Kiril Georgiev Played 360 Games Simultaneously, Sets World Record

A Bulgarian grandmaster appears to have broken the world record for the highest number of chess games played simultaneously, organizers said Monday.

Kiril Georgiev played a total of 360 games simultaneously, winning 284, drawing 70 and losing six, during a marathon that lasted 14 hours and 8 minutes in Sofia's Inter Expo Center, the organizers said.

The record number of games and the winning percentage of 88 percent will allow Georgiev to apply formally for entry into the Guinness Book of World Records.

Kiril Georgiev is a three-time Bulgarian national champion and a former under-18 world champion, according to the Bulgarian News Network.

The Guinness Book says the current record for most simultaneous games played was set in 2005 by Susan Polgar, the Hungarian-American four-time women's world champion.

Polgar played 326 games, winning 309, drawing 14 and losing only three.

News Source: Associated Press, Google

Bulgaria Withdraws Men & Women's Weighlifting Team From Beijing Olympics

Bulgaria is pulling off both their men and women's weightlifting team from this year Beijing Olympics after all the 11 athletes of Bulgaria were tested positive for an anabolic steroid substance. - Bulgaria's weightlifting federation announced Friday.

8 men and 3 women were tested positive for metandienon, a banned anabolic steroid. The tests were conducted on June 8 and 9 at Asenovgrad, Bulgaria.

"As a result, the Bulgarian Weightlifting Federation took a decision to withdraw its national weightlifting teams -- men and women -- from participation in the Olympics," the statement added.

Among these athletes was Ivan Stoitsov, 77-kilogram category 2007 world champion. The 2004 Olympics bronze medalist in the 105-kilo class, Velichko Cholakov, was also among the compromised athletes.