GM Murali Karthikeyan of India grabbed solo lead with 5.5 points after six rounds of the Asian Continental Chess Championship in Xingtai, China. In the women’s division top seed Danara Saduakassova of Kazakhstan and Irene Sukandar of Indonesia share the lead with 5 points each.

The 9 round Swiss System is organized by the Chinese Chess Association under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation and FIDE.

A strong group of 74 players from 14 countries are competing in the Open including 34 Grandmasters and 20 International Masters. In the women’s division, 36 players from 10 countries include 10 WGMs, 6 IMs and 9 WIMs.

The top 5 from the Open shall qualify to the World Cup while the Women’s champion shall qualify to the Women’s World Cup. Host of the tournament are the Board and Card Games Administrative Center of Hebei Sports Bureau, Xingtai Sports Bureau and the Shahe Municipal People’s Government. Co-organizers are the Xingtai Shahe Hongshigou Leisure Ecological Farm and the Xingtai Chess Association.

Visit chess-results.com for pairings and standings of the men’s and the women’s championships. Games are broadcast live in most chess sites. Watch the video of the opening ceremonies in Youtube.

Chinese Chess Association Secretary General Abigail Tian Hongwei (left) makes the ceremonial opening moves on top board.

In the time honored way to choose colors, top seed GM Vidit Gujrathi of India (right) chooses a white or black pawn in the clenched fists of second seed GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam under the watchful eye of Asian Chess Federation Executive Director Casto Abundo and Chief Arbiter Haroon or Rashid of Bangladesh. (Photo by Wang Junnan)



Women’s top seed IM Dinara Saduakassova of Kazakhstan (right) chooses her color for the first round.



A view of the playing hall with invidual lights on each table.



Tournament Officials and Arbiters.