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40 Grandmasters in strong Dubai Open |
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Monday, 11 April 2011 00:00 |
 A record 40 grandmasters are competing in the strong Dubai Open Chess Championship, now on its 13th year. Seeded players won expectedly but two upsets rocked the first round at the plush Dubai Chess and Culture Club.
A total of 168 players are competing in the 9 round Swiss. At stake is the Sheikh Rashed Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Cup and $45,000 in cash prizes. Visit the Dubai Chess Club site.
Top ranked GM Krishnan Sasikiran of India led seeded players in outplaying their lower rated opponents. Watch top games live
Woman International Master Ghader Pour Shayesteh of Iran, playing black, shocked sixth seed GM Aleksej Aleksandrov of Belarus in only 54 moves of a Ruy Lopez as the lady player was about to promote her pawn into a Queen.
In the other upset, Candidate Master Sanal Vahap of Turkey essayed the Queen's Indian defense to gain a queenside passed pawn which he pushed to the seventh rank to force GM Hammer Jon Ludvig to resign on the 44th move.
Two other women played notable games. Woman FIDE Master Dinara Saduakassova of Kazakhstan used the Sicilian defense to hold GM emanuel Berg of Sweden to a draw in a marathon 82 moves. WFM Sarasadat Khademalsharieh of Iran likewise held GM Ashot Anastasian to a draw.
Second seed Vladimir Akopian of Armenia received a scare as he was cramped by FM Das Satantan of India but the former World Championship Challenger showed his fighting spirit as he turned the tables and won the game.
A record number of players from 41 countries, India, Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, France, Germany, England, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, a group of players from Iran, and the host UAE are participating in this prestigious championship.
Expected to give tough competition are 9 Women Grandmasters, 22 International Masters, three Women International Master and 16 Fide Masters and 6 WFM.
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