Leading Grandmasters are in Bahrain for the Arcapita International Open Chess Championship at the Alumni Club in Adliya. Chief Arbiter IA/IO Mahdi Abdulrahim of the UAE said that competing are 104 participants from 21 countries, with 14 GM, 13 IM, 1 WIM, 7 FM for a total cash price of US$18,000. See chess-results.com 







This is the biggest chess event to be hosted on the island according to the organisers of the event Bahrain Chess Club and its chief organiser Jamal Abdulghaffar.

The top player in the fray is GM Pavel Tregubov with a FIDE rating of 2646. The Russian is also the president of the Association of Chess Professionals.

The only Woman Grandmaster is  Anna Zozulia, who has a FIDE rating of 2388. She is originally from Ukraine but is now a Belgian and her husband Vadim Malakhatko is the second seed with a rating of 2634.

Among other top attractions will be the Egyptian youngsters GM Basem Amen (2560) and GM Ahmed Adly (2586). The former is the reigning Arab champion and the latter former World Junior Champion.

The Indian challenge will be led by Sriram Jha (2458) and Dinesh Sharma (2394) and Rahul Shetty.

"It's going to be a very strong field with a good mix of young and old, GMs and IMs," said Abdulghaffar.

Bahrain's first Fide master Zeyad Janahi will lead the local challenge along with Ali Al Salaiti, Ali Al Ghasrah and Ayyad brothers, Maher and Hussain. Aysha Almutayweq, Dalal Al Ghasrah and Abeer Bin Raja will be among the leading ladies in the fray.

The championship will be played over nine rounds under FIDE rules and regulations and the 'Swiss Manager Programme' will be used for pairings.

Time Control is 90 minutes plus 30 seconds increment from move one.

See schedule

Source: Susan Polgar Chess Daily News and Information by Vijay Mruthyunjaya