Chess Queen and Chess King News - Which photo you want to click?

Continue to scroll below for more

daily chess news from around the world

Icelandic Chess Day celebrated on Jan 26 in honour of Friðrik Ólafsson

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hello everyone,

The first annual Icelandic Chess Day was celebrated around the country for the first time on Thursday. It is held in honor of Iceland’s first grandmaster Friðrik Ólafsson, who celebrated his 77th birthday on January 26.

Friðrik is considered to have furthered the sport and boasted magnificent success in his career, including beating four world champions, Morgunblaðið reports.

A reception was held at the presidential residence Bessastaðir to mark the occasion. Among visitors were children who will play for Iceland at the Nordic Championship in Chess.

Friðrik played against ten-year-old Nansý Davíðsdóttir, the Icelandic Children’s Champion in Chess, who is the first girl to earn the title. The game ended with an honorary draw.

Other events included multiple games of chess played simultaneously in the Laugardalslaug swimming pool in Reykjavík and the inauguration of a swimming pool chess board in the Akureyri pool.

Gunnar Björnsson, president of the Icelandic Chess Federation, said the sport is growing in popularity in Iceland. “It is inexpensive and easy to practice chess. […] And chess is incredibly fun and rewarding.”

Chess Day is organised by various chess associations, sports associations and others.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com

Hrant Melkumyan is Armenia’s Chess 960 champion of 2012

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,
 

Scoring 6 points out of 7, grandmaster Hrant Melkumyan became Armenia’s Chess960 (Fischer Random Chess) champion of 2012.
With 5 points Zaven Andriasian came 2nd, while Levon Babujyan came 3rd with 4 points.
Chess960, or Fischer Random Chess, is a chess variant invented by former World Champion Bobby Fischer. It uses the same board and pieces as standard chess but the starting position of the main pieces is chosen at random.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com

Tata Steel Chess 2012 R11 - Aronian leads amidst exciting chess!

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hello everyone,

They say there's no show like show business. We say, there's no show like super GM show in an elite chess tournament! If you had attended the 11th round of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2012 in Wijk Aan Zee, you couldn't have agreed more. You can access the official website here.

Round eleven
Group A: Round 11 - Fri. Jan. 27th
Magnus Carlsen - Veselin Topalov 1-0
Gata Kamsky - Hikaru Nakamura ½-½
Loek van Wely - Sergey Karjakin 0-1
Vugar Gashimov - Teimour Radjabov 0-1
Vassily Ivanchuk - Boris Gelfand 0-1
Levon Aronian - David Navara 0-1
Fabiano Caruana - Anish Giri 1-0

The standings after Round 11:

Levon Aronian leads with 7.5 points while Magnus Carlsen and Teimour Radjabov are right behind at 7 points. Fabiano Caruana and Vassily Ivanchuk at 6.5 points each. Hikaru Nakamura is at 6. Gata Kamsky and Sergey Karjakin are at 5.5 points. We have Loek Van Wely and Boris Gelfand at 5 points. Anish Giri, Veselin Topalov and Vugar Gashimov at 4 points each while David Navara is at 3.5.

Don't go by the standings. Everyone's been beating everyone and it's great chess all around!

Here is the spills-thrills-chills game between Magnus Carlsen and Vaselin Topalov with Chess King. 

Read more »

BMW vs. Audi Billboard Chess Battle in California

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

We love advertisements from around the world when they use chess as a motif. Here is an interesting billboard 'contest' from California. It's already been blogged about quite a bit! Just goes to show, chess is loved!

First Billboard – Audi: Your move, BMW.
Second Billboard – BMW: Checkmate
Third Billboard – Audi: Your pawn is no match for our king.
Balloon: BMW: Game Over

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com

Must-watch chess video - Chess 4 Life official trailer

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012


Hello everyone,


We found this interesting chess video. Don't miss the chess set.





Randy enters an unexpected game of chess at the showgrounds with twists our reality cannot imagine. His love of chess and his friend's pleadings force Randy into the game of his life. Literally. The game has a limit of twenty minutes, if it's not done by then, he plays again.


By Brendan Cherry
http://www.facebook.com/MileCreations
http://twitter.com/#!/MileCreations
http://www.youtube.com/MileCreations
© Copyright Mile Creations 2012


Original Story:
Randy Ingermason


Cast:
Caleb Maxwell
Steve Gleeson
Abe Steel
Lachlan Howard


From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com

Chess King Show - Gibraltar Chess Festival - Koneru Humpy holds Judit Polgar to draw!

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hello everyone,

It was inevitable - they would meet! It happened at the Gibraltar Chess Festival on Friday. World's top-rated women chess players Judit Polgar and Koneru Humpy met in Round 4 having scored  2.5 points each! (Hou Yifan is No. 2 between the two!)
How about a little chess class with Chess King? We have a nice game from the Gibraltar Chess Congress. Of course, the chess news reports about the updated standings after the latest rounds will follow later. For now, get that cup of coffee and sit back. Chess King will show you the chess game between the world's strongest women chess players. (Psst: Do you know Chess King comes with Houdini - the world's strongest chess engine?) Enjoy. 

Judit Polgar (2710) - Koneru Humpy (2589)

Result: 1/2-1/2

Site: ?

Date: 2012.01.27

[...] 1.e4 e5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 3.¥b5 a6 4.¥a4 ¤f6 5.O-O ¤xe4 6.d4 b5 7.¥b3 d5 8.dxe5 ¥e6 9.¥e3 ¥e7 10.¤bd2 O-O 11.c3 £d7 12.¥c2 f5 13.exf6 ¤xf6 14.¥g5 ¥d6 15.a4 b4 16.a5 bxc3 17.bxc3 £f7 18.¦e1 h6 19.¥h4 ¤g4 20.¥g3 ¥xg3 21.hxg3 ¥f5 22.¥a4 ¤xa5 23.¤e5 ¤xe5 24.¦xe5 ¦ad8 25.£e2 £f6 26.¦e1 ¢h8 27.g4 ¥e4 28.¦h5 ¥g6 29.¦e5 ¥e4 30.¦h5 ¥g6 31.¦e5 ¥e4

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com

European Women's Chess Championship - Classical, Rapid and Blitz - in Gaziantep, Turkey from March 1

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hello everyone,

The Government of Turkey, the Turkish Chess Federation (TCF) and Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality are organizing the European Individual, Rapid and Blitz Women's Chess Championship 2012 which will take place in Gaziantep, Türkiye, from 1st March (Arrival) to 19th March(Departure) 2012.

 The 13th European individual chess championship for women is open to all players representing the Chess Federations which comprise the European Chess Union (FIDE zones 1.1 to 1.10) regardless of their title or rating. There is also no limit of participants per federation. You can access the official website here. *Accomodation Form Registration Form for Players Registration Form for Acc. Persons *In order to provide appropriate tournament conditions, the Federations must complete the official registration form carefully and send it back to the organizing committee (melihsgt@gmail.com) until 14th February 2012. Any other form will not be accepted. 

Gaziantep is the probable site of the Hellenistic city of Antiochia ad Taurum ("Antiochia in the Taurus Mountains"). The ruins of the Doliche (Turkish: Dülük) lie a few kilometers to the north of the city center and they are located in the natural setting of a forest arranged into a recreational area also including picnic and camping facilities.

Gaziantep is one of the most developed provinces of the region and is also one of the oldest, its history reaching as far back as the Hittites. Being the center of pistachio cultivation in Turkey and with its extensive olive groves and vineyards, Gaziantep is one of the important agricultural and industrial centres of Turkey.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com

Metropolitan Chess - Norm chess tournament in California Market Center!

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Metropolitan Chess, Inc. is hosting an International Master norm round robin tournament from January 25th to 29th of 2012. The tournament is sponsored by California Market Center, Fashion Business, Inc, Chess.com, MonRoi, LawyerFy, and Betty Bottom Showroom.

This tournament is the 15th in its series and is being held in Suite C1002 of the California Market Center on 110 East 9th Street, Los Angeles 90079. The tournament is organized by Ankit Gupta and the chief arbiter is Randy Hough. The participants include: IM Zhanibek Amanov (KAZ), IM Andranik Matikozyan (ARM), IM Enrico Sevillano (USA), FM Mark Duckworth (USA), FM Konstantin Kavutskiy (USA), Vadim Kudryavtsev (RUS), Craig Clawitter (USA), Garush Manukyan (ARM), and FM Harutyan Akopyan (USA).

The tournament will be a 10 player round-robin (all play all), with rounds scheduled as follows – 25th: 7:00 PM, 26th: 11:00 AM & 5:00 PM, 27th: 11:00 AM & 5:00 PM, 28th: 11:00 AM & 5:00 PM, 29th: 10:00 AM & 4:00 PM. Spectators are welcome and encouraged to come to watch the games in person at the tournament site

The standings can be found on the Metropolitan Chess, Inc. website at: http://metrochessla.com/schedule.php

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com

Pakistan national chess championship begins Feb 2; GM Nigel Short to hold simuls at event

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hello everyone,

Here is update about some chess news from Pakistan. Pakistan’s top player for the last many years and the reigning national champion Mahmood Lodhi will defend his title in the second edition of PCPA Chess Championship for the Zahiruddin Farooqui Trophy due to staged at a local hotel from February 2 to 5.

The four-day event, being organised by the Pakistan Chess Players Association (PCPA) with the collaboration of the Mind Sports Association of Pakistan (MSAP), was launched with a media briefing at the Karachi Club on Thursday.

The details of the championship, dedicated to the late Zahiruddin Farooqui, who excelled in chess as well as bridge, were unveiled by Hanif Qureshi, Chairman PCPA, and Tariq Rasheed Khan, Director MSAP, who is tipped to be elected as the Vice Chairman of the chess body in its elections on February 4.

International Master Shahzad Mirza also spoke on the occasion.He said British Grandmaster Nigel Short will be attending the event to hold simultaneous display against the top performers of the International Students Olympiads.

The championship will be carrying a prize money of Rs 1,25,000 (about $2500) with the winner to take home a purse of Rs 25,000 (about $500).

There will be special prizes for top two unrated, women and student players. The cash prizes will be disbursed among the top 16 players of the event to be contested on Swiss League eight-round system. Each player will be allocated 55 minutes in every round. The last date for entry is January 30.

The championship will get underway at 4 pm on February 2 with the opening round and will conclude with the eighth round on February 5. Speaking on the occasion, defending champion Lodhi expressed his keen desire to become the country’s first Grand Master.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com

Thursday Chess King Show - How to draw with GM Peter Svidler!

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012


Hello everyone,


It's time for the Chess King show. Are you following the Gibraltar Chess Festival? The game is from the second round where Artur Jussupow held Peter Svidler to a draw in the second round. Enjoy.

Read more »

Legendary Bobby Fischer chess video from 1958!

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012


Hello everyone,


Time for the Thursday chess video. The one and only Bobby Fischer appears on an 'I've Got a TeenAge Secret' special on March 26, 1958.





From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com

Gibraltar Chess Masters R2: No major upsets yet!

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hello everyone,

The second round of the 2012 Gibraltar Chess Masters was played on Tuesday. Similar to the first day, there were no major upsets, except that IM Patrik Lyrberg defeated South-American star GM Eduardo Iturrizaga. The legendary GM Artur Jussupow held the top seed and World Cup winner Peter Svidler to a draw, while the other top rated players proceeded with victories.

Replay the games with computer analysis via www.chessdom.com. Round 3 live broadcast starts at 15:00 CET.

Gibraltar’s Mayor Julio Alcantara paid a visit to the Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival at the start of the Masters competition. Organiser Brian Callaghan, tournament director Stuart Conquest and arbiter Laurent Freyd, showed him round the main hall where the 256 players were already making their moves in the second round of the competition.

Gibraltar Mayor watching Hou Yifan's game

As he left the hall having paused for a moment to see GM Michael Adams, GM Victor Korchnoi, the number one board with Peter Svidler and Artur Jussuupow, World Champion Hou Yifan, he remarked, “this is impressive.”

Mr Alcantara who also took a few minutes in the broadcast suite to catch up with the analysis of the games by presenter Simon Williams, commented how “the sheer numbers, the spread of countries and the overall set up at the Caleta Hotel is indeed impressive”. You can access the official website for more photos and news.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com

11th Rochefort Open chess tournament begins Feb 25

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hello everyone,

The 11th Rochefort Open chess tournament is set to take place from 25th February to 2nd March in the Congres Palais, in Rochefort, France.

Just days before the huge Cappelle-la-Grande Open, the Rochefort Open is an excellent occasion for the players to test their preparation and use the perfect training opportunity.

Over 100 players, of which more than 20 titled players, have signed in advance. The organizers have invested big effort to propose an interesting tournament for all-level players.

The tournament will be played over 9 rounds of Swiss system, with rate of play 90 mins for 40 moves + 30 mins to the end and increment 30 sec from move one. The total prize fund is 7000 EUR.

Players will be separated in two tournaments: Open A for players with rating above 1900 and Open B for players under 2000, the objective being to reduce the rating differences and to increase norm chances of players. Last year winner was GM Yuri Solodovnichenko.

Information about the tournament is available at www.echiquier-rochefortais.com.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com

Tata Steel Chess R10: Levon Aronaian leads with magic touch

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hello everyone,

Armenian GM Levon Aronian is all set to winning the 10,000-euro first prize in the Grandmaster Group A of the 74th annual Tata Steel Tournament at Wijk-aan-Zee with flourish! He beat Dutch champion Anish Giri in the tenth round to extend lead to a full point.

In second place is Ukrainian GM Vassili Ivanchuk who beat David Navara of the Czech Republic. Azerbaijan's Teymour Radjabov and Norway's Magnus Carlsen and are in third place. 

India's Pentala Harikrishna kept the lead in this group after downing Italy's Daniele Vocaturo in 27 moves with white from a Catalan opening. It was Harikrishna's sixth victory from the ten rounds played so far.

Group A: Round 10 - Wed. Jan. 25th

Veselin Topalov - Fabiano Caruana 0-1
Anish Giri - Levon Aronian 0-1
David Navara - Vassily Ivanchuk 0-1
Boris Gelfand - Vugar Gashimov ½-½
Teimour Radjabov - Loek van Wely ½-½
Sergey Karjakin - Gata Kamsky 0-1
Hikaru Nakamura - Magnus Carlsen ½-½

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com

Vladimir Petrov Chess Memorial in Jurmala from Feb 15

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hello everyone,

Latvian Chess federation and Grandmaster Alexei Shirov have announced the Vladimir Petrov Memorial. The tournament will be held in Jurmala, Latvia, from Feb. 15 (arrival) to Feb. 20 (departure), 2012.

The aim of the tournament is to pay the tribute to one of the brightest representatives of Latvian Chess ever who tragically died in Soviet camps during the Second World War.
The event will include the following tournaments:

• Tournament A: Feb. 16-17 (qualifier) and Feb. 18-19 (final). The final will be held at the Amber Beach Resort in Jaunkemeri. It will feature 8 players: four Super GMs by invitation and the top four from the qualifier. As of now there are four confirmed Super GMs:

1. Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine)
2. Alexander Morozevich (Russia)
3. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbajan)
4. Alexei Shirov who as of Jan 1, 2012 will be representing Latvia.

The time control is 15 minutes plus 6 seconds per move.

The preliminary tournament (9 rounds; Swiss system; time control 15 minutes plus 6 seconds per move) will be held in Jurmala City museum. It is open to all who pay the entry fee.

Top-30 participants in the preliminary tournament:

1 GM Grachev Boris RUS 2693
2 GM Azarov Sergei BLR 2667
3 GM Fridman Daniel GER 2660
4 GM Kurnosov Igor RUS 2648
5 GM Landa Konstantin RUS 2645
6 GM Khairullin Ildar RUS 2638
7 GM Fedorchuk Sergey A UKR 2634
8 GM Nyback Tomi FIN 2634
9 GM Khalifman Alexander RUS 2632
10 GM Khenkin Igor GER 2631
11 GM Krasenkow Michal POL 2607
12 GM Svetushkin Dmitry MDA 2598
13 GM Sulskis Sarunas LTU 2595
14 GM Kovalenko Igor UKR 2587
15 GM Kulaots Kaido EST 2581
16 GM Sokolov Andrei FRA 2581
17 GM Perez Candelario Manuel ESP 2572
18 GM Andersson Ulf SWE 2571
19 GM Gleizerov Evgeny RUS 2566
20 GM Miezis Normunds LAT 2544
21 GM Fedoseev Vladimir RUS 2525
22 IM Neiksans Arturs LAT 2524
23 GM Sveshnikov Evgeny LAT 2513
24 IM Fridman Rafael GER 2506
25 GM Solozhenkin Evgeniy RUS 2483
26 GM Starostits Ilmars LAT 2469
27 IM Klyuner Vyacheslav UKR 2428
28 IM Sveshnikov Vladimir LAT 2426
29 IM Berzinsh Roland LAT 2422
30 IM Samolins Vitalijs LAT 2407

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com

Tata Steel Chess R9: Aronian beats Caruana; Karjakin beats Carlsen

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hello everyone,

Hope you didn't miss the excitement at the Tata Steel Chess during Round 9. 

The 74th Tata Steel Chess Tournament is taking place from January 13 to 29, 2012 in the sports hall Moriaan in Wijk aan Zee. There are three grandmaster tournaments with fourteen players each playing thirteen rounds at 100 minutes for 40 moves, then 50 minutes for 20 moves and finally 15 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30 seconds/move increment starting with the first move of the game. Rest days are on January 18, 23, and 26. Here are the results of the round:

Group A: Round 9 - Tues. Jan. 24th

Hikaru Nakamura - Veselin Topalov ½-½

Magnus Carlsen - Sergey Karjakin 0-1

Gata Kamsky - Teimour Radjabov ½-½

Loek van Wely - Boris Gelfand ½-½

Vugar Gashimov - David Navara ½-½

Vassily Ivanchuk - Anish Giri 1-0

Levon Aronian - Fabiano Caruana 1-0

Standings after round 9 - Group A
1. Aronian, L. 6½
2. Carlsen, M.
Ivanchuk, V.
Radjabov, T. 5½
5. Nakamura, H. 5
6. Caruana, F.
Karjakin, S.
Van Wely, L. 4½
9. Giri, A.
Kamsky, G.
Topalov, V. 4
12. Gashimov, V.
Gelfand, B. 3½
14. Navara, D. 2½

Group B
1. Harikrishna, P. 7
2. Bruzon, L.
L'Ami, E.
Motylev, A. 6
5. Nyzhnik, I.
Tiviakov, S. 4½
7. Ernst, S.
Reinderman, D.
Vocaturo, D. 4
10. Cmilyte, V.
Lahno, K.
Potkin, V.
Timman, J. 3½
14. Harika, D. 3

Group C
1. Tikkanen, H.
Turov, M. 7½
3. Adhiban, B. 6½
4. Brandenburg, D.
Grover, S.
Sadler, M. 5
7. Goudriaan, E.
Paehtz, E.
Schut, L. 4
10. Tania, S. 3½
11. Danielian, E.
Haast, A.
Ootes, L. 3
14. Hopman, P. 2

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com

GM Aronian in special prisons' chess programme!

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012


Hello everyone,


Grandmaster Levon Aronian will play chess against Armenian inmates, as part of a program announced by the Ministry of Justice Tuesday. Minister of Justice Hrayr Tovmasyan also told journalists that a football tournament for prisoners is being planned.


Tovmasyan said the MoJ is copying the experiences of Germany and Austria, where such programs – along with learning skills -- had proved successful in the rehabilitation of criminals, who spend about 80 percent of their days keeping busy, unlike the idle life of prisoners in Armenia.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com

Moscow Chess Open begins Jan 27 with new name!

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hello everyone,

The eighth chess tournament Moscow Open has got a new status and name – now it is RSSU International Chess Cup! RSSU International Chess Cup Moscow Open 2012 will consist of nine individual tournaments:


A - Russian National Cup stage among men (Swiss system, 9 rounds)
B – Russian National Cup stage among women (Swiss system, 9 rounds)
C – RSSU Amateur Chess Cup (Swiss system, 9 rounds)
D – RSSU Student Grandmaster Cup - men (Round robin, 9 rounds)
E - RSSU Student Grandmaster Cup - women (Round robin, 9 rounds)
F – RSSU Student Cup - Tournament G – RSSU School Champions Cup
H – RSSU School Leavers Cup

I – The fifth World Chess Problem Solving Cup

The Number of participants of the competitions will reach the 1500 mark.
The RSSU Cup programme will traditionally include the professional development courses for coaches and arbiters under the auspices of the Russian Chess Federation and FIDE
The Cup will take place in Moscow from January 27 – arrival of the main tournaments’ participants) till February 5. The venue is the Russian State Social University (RSSU).

Among the participants of the men’s tournaments Russians Ernesto Inarkiev, Andreikin Dmitry, Denis Khismatullin, Artyom Timofeev, Valentina Gunina, Mateusz Bartel and Bartosz Socko (Poland), Rey Robson (USA), Yaroslav Zherebukh (Ukraine).

In the women’s tournaments will compete Ekaterina Atalik (Turkey), Batkhuyag Munguntuul (Mongolia), Nazi Paikidze, Nino Batsiashvili (Georgia), Lilit Galojan (Armenia), Rout Padmini (India), Karina Szczepkowska-Horowska (Poland), Alina Anastasia Bodnaruk, Baira Kovanova, Daria Charochkina (RUS), Nastassia Ziaziulkina (Belarus).

The total guaranteed prize fund is 3 210 000 RUB (approximately 100 000 USD).
The official site of the tournament: http://open.moschess.ru/eng/

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com

GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami wins 20th Fajr International Chess Open Tournament

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012


Hi everyone,


The latest chess tournament update via Fide is that GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami has won the 20th Fajr International Chess Open. The Chess Association of Azerbaijan-Sharghi province and the Iran Chess Federation have organized the 20th Fajr International Chess Open Tournament from January 11 to 20 in Tabriz, northwestern of Iran.

The tournament was played in 11 rounds using the Swiss System. The tournament was FIDE rated. The prize fund was $30,000 and the winner took $8,000.

Iran champion GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami took a clear first place with 9 points, half a point clear from Georgian GM Levan Pantsulaia who finished second. There follows a huge tie on the third place. 121 players competed.

Final standings:

1. GM GHAEM MAGHAMI Ehsan IRI 2570 - 9.0
2. GM PANTSULAIA Levan GEO 2592 - 8.5
3-11. IM NIGALIDZE Gaioz GEO 2460, IM DARINI Pouria IRI 2458, IM AZALADZE Shota GEO 2403, GM IBRAHIMOV Rasul AZE 2550, GM GOLIZADEH Asghar IRI 2464, SEVDIMALIYEV Urfan AZE 2143, IM GRABLIAUSKAS Virginijus LTU 2374, GM TOUFIGHI Homayoon IRI 2444 and ASGARI Morteza IRI 2263 - 8.0
12-13. GM KOVALEV Andrei BLR 2517 and PAJOUMTAJANI Farbod IRI 2040 - 7.5
14-28. HOSSEINZADEH Nima IRI 2226, GM KOTANJIAN Tigran ARM 2533, IM MORCHIASHVILI Bachana GEO 2372, IM SULASHVILI Malkhaz GEO 2441, ASGAROV Mushfig AZE 2234, KHALESI Vahid IRI 2212, AMIR VARDESTIAN Hossein IRI 0, GM RASULOV Vugar AZE 2537, HEYDARI Majid IRI, FM ARYANEJAD Hossein IRI 2234, MOJAVERIAN Hossein IRI 2141, SHAH MORADI Mohammad IRI 2035, ASNAASHARI Soroush IRI 2118, FM ATANEJHAD Sahebali IRI 2165 and AMINI Amer IRI 2165 - 7.0 etc

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com