GM Dragan Solak of Turkey (center) receives his trophy together with other winners of the Dubai Open Chess Championship from UAE Chess Federation president Saeed Al Megbali, Eisha Busmit of Dubai Sports Council and Ibrahim Al Bannai, Dubai Chess Club and Arab Chess Federation president.

www.dubaichess.ae

Round 9

Six players finished in a tie for first in the 17th Dubai Open Chess Championship at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai, UAE. Grandmasters Dragan Solak of Turkey, David Howell of England, Vladimir Fedoseev of Russia, Andrei Istratescu of France, Ivan Ivanisevic of Serbia and Eltaj Safarli of Azerbaijan tied with 7 points each.

Solak emerged champion in the tie break of rating average of eight strongest opponents. He was undefeated in the 9-round tournament. Among grandmasters he faced, Solak beat GM Yuriy Kuzubov and Yuri Solodovnichenko, both of Ukraine, and drew with GMs Vladimir Fedoseev of Ruissia, Igor Kovalenko of Latvia and top seed Howell. In the final round Solak drew by repetition of position against Safarli in 15 moves of a Ruy Lopez.

Solak gets custody of the Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Cup. The tied players share the cash prize for the first six places out of the total $50,000.

Howell placed second after a fighting draw in 55 moves of a Queen’s Gambit Declined with Fedoseev who placed third. Istratescu barged into the top group by beating GM Alexander Ipatov of Turkey. Istratescu parried the Gruenfeld Defense and sacrified the exchange of Rook for Knight on the 16th move. Ipatov countered by giving up his Bishop for two center pawns. Istratescu held on to his material advantage until the endgame to win in 74 moves.

Ivanisevic followed suit by beating GM Alexander Shabalov, 4-time U.S. champion, who also used the Gruenfeld defense. The Serb used a tactical maneuver to win a center pawn on the 25th move. Shabalov had to exchange Rook for Bishop but could not prevent mate and resigned on the 54th move.

The comeback kid was Safarli, 22, who surprised all by bouncing back into contention after an opening round loss to FM Ishaq Saeed of the UAE. Safarli won six games, including wins against GMs Gabor Papp of Hungary and Nils Grandelius of Sweden.

Getting a share of the prize money with 6.5 points each were six other players, namely Shabalov, Grandelius, GMs Alexandr Fier of Brazil and Aleksandr Shimanov and Aleksandr Rakhmanov of Russia and IM Zaur Mammadov of Azerbaijan.



First and second, champion GM Dragan Solak (left) of Turkey and GM David Howell of England

Round 8

Five players remain tied for the lead after the penultimate round of the 17th Dubai Open Chess at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai, UAE. Grandmasters David Howell of England, Dragan Solak of Turkey, Eltaj Safarli of Azerbaijan, Vladimir Fedoseev of Russia and Alexander Shabalov of the USA are tied at 6.5 points each out of 8 rounds. At stake is the Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Cup and a top prize of $12,000 out of a total of $50,000 in cash prizes.
Howell used the Alapin variation against the Sicilian Defense of GM Gadir Guseinov of Azerbaijan. The British champion is the youngest chess grandmaster in the UK, a title he earned when he was 16. Howell transposed to a Knight and pawn endgame with a powerful centralized King to win in 44 moves.
Safarli, 22, bounced back into a share of the lead after an opening round loss. He surprised GM Nils Grandelius of Sweden with a Rook sacrifice on the 49th move to checkmate two moves later.
Solak, a Serbian grandmaster currently playing for Turkey, has remained undefeated and scored his fifth win against Yuri Solodovnichenko of Ukraine. Solak used the Caro Kann Defense to transition to the Rook and pawn endgame ahead by two pawns and force resignation on the 34th move.
In the match between two leaders, Fedoseev drew with 4-time U.S. champion Shabalov in 37 moves of a Queen’s Gambit.
Six players follow with 6 points each, namely GMs Andrei Istratescu of France, Ivan Ivanisevic of Serbia, Alexander Ipatov of Turkey, Aleksandr Shimanov and Aleksandr Rakhmanov of Russia and IM Zaur Mammadov of Azerbaijan.
Istratescu beat GM Tamas Banusz of Hungary in 54 moves of a Queen’s Gambit. Ivanisevic used the rarely seen Volga Gambit to win in 28 moves against GM Daniele Vocaturo of Italy. Ipatov outclassed the Modern Benoni defense of K. Rathnakaran of India in 54 moves. Shimanov crushed the Dutch Defense of GM Tigran Petrosian of Armenia in 53 moves. Rakhmanov smashed the Nimzo Indian defense of IM Das Sayantan of India in 38 moves. Mammadov who is chasing a grandmaster norm, drew with GM Yuri Kuzubov of Ukraine in 46 moves of a Queen’s Gambit Declined.
In the exciting final round, Fedoseev faces top seed Howell, Solak matches with Safarli while Ivanisevic goes up against Shabalov in the race for the top prize of $12,000. The cash prize of $50,000 will be distributed among the top 15 places at the closing ceremony 7pm on Wednesday, 15 April. Games are broadcast live on the web site www.dubaichess.ae with pairings, results and standings in chess-results.com.


Alexander Shabalov (USA) left, vs. Vladimir Fedoseev (RUS)

Round 7

Russian Grandmaster Vladimir Fedoseev and American GM Alexander Shabalov beat their respective seventh round opponents to figure in a 2-way tie for the lead with 6 points each in the homestretch of the 17th Dubai Open Chess Championship at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai, UAE.
Fedoseev, 20, who won last Friday the Dubai Blitz Championship undefeated, smashed the King’s Indian Defense of GM Daniele Vocaturo of Italy. The Russian penetrated with his Rook on the seventh rank and weaved a mating net to force resignation on the 35th move.
Shabalov, formerly of Latvia and 4-time winner of the U.S. Championship, crushed the Slav Defense of French GM Andrei Istratescu. The American escorted his passed pawn in a minor piece endgame to force resignation on the 41st move.
Seven players trail with 5.5 points, a half point behind the two leaders, namely top seed GMs David Howell of England Dragan Solak of Turkey, Nils Grandelius of Sweden, Gadir Guseinov and Eltaj Safarli of Azerbaijan, Yuri Solodovnichenko of Ukraine and the only International Master in the lead pack, Zaur Mammadov of Azerbaijan.
Guseinov outmaneuvered the Caro Kann Defense of GM Igor Kovalenko of Latvia in 61 moves. Safarli used the Caro Kann to beat GM Gabor Papp of Hungary in 56 moves. Mammadov essayed the Queen’s Gambit to defeat GM Eduardo Iturrizaga Bonelli of Venezuela in 28 moves.
GM Yuri Kuzubov of Ukraine used the Sicilian Najdorf Defense to beat GM Idani Pouya of Iran in only 28 moves.
The other two top matches were drawn. Grandelius and Solodovnichenko were last to finish after six hours of play in a marathon 90 move draw. Howell drew with Dragan Solak in the requisite 30 moves of a Ruy Lopez game.
Meanwhile the Georgian Chess Federation apologized to Chief Organizer Abdulrahim Mahdi for the actions of GM Gaios Nigalize, Georgian champion who was caught cheating with an i-phone in the toilet to analyze his game in progress. Visit www.dubaichess.ae for live games and chess-results.com for results and standings.

GM Vladimir Fedoseev of Russia (right) vs. GM Daniele Vocaturo of Italy

Round 6

Eight players share the lead after six rounds of the Dubai Open Chess Championship at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai, UAE. Dragan Solak of Turkey, Daniele Vocaturo of Italy and Yuri Solodovnichenko of Ukraine beat their respective opponents to register 5 points each and tie top seed David Howell of England, Vladimir Fedoseev of Russia, Nils Grandelius of Sweden, Alexander Shabalov of the USA and Andrei Istratescu of France.
Solak, a Serbian grandmaster now playing for Turkey, used the Caro Kann defense to turn back Yuriy Kuzubov of Ukraine who resigned facing checkmate in 62 moves.
Daniele Vocaturo, 29, used the French Defense against GM Mateusz Bartel of Poland and transitioned to the endgame with the exchange up. The Italian was about to promote his pawn to a Queen when Bartel resigned on the 51st move.
Yuri Solodovnichenko of Ukraine outmaneuvered the Petroff Defense of Alexander Ipatov of Turkey in a marathon 72 moves. The Ukrainian sacrificed a Bishop on the 18th move to remove the pawn shelter of his opponent’s king. In the Queen and pawn endgame, he escorted his pawn advantage towards promotion when Ipatov resigned.
Top seed David Howell of England used the English Opening to draw with Shabalov in 33 moves. Fedoseev and Istratescu drew by repetition of position in 24 moves of a Queen’s Indian.
Nils Grandelius drew with GM Igor Kovalenko of Latvia in 58 moves of a Queen’s Gambit Declined as they reached a Rook and pawn endgame.
Kovalenko and 11 others follow with 4.5 points each, namely GMs Mikheil Mchedlishvili of Georgia, Gadir Guseinov, Eltaj Safarli and IM Zaur Mammadov of Azerbaijan, GMs Tigran Petrosian of Armenia, Gabor Papp and Tamas Banusz of Hungary, Eduardo Iturrizaga Bonelli of Venezuela, Ivan Ivanisevic of Serbia, Alexander Rakhmanov of Russia and IM K. Rathnakaran of India.
The tournament is a 9-round Swiss System. At stake is the Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Cup and a top prize of $12,000 out of a total of $50,000 in cash prizes. Games are broadcast live on the web site www.dubaichess.ae with pairings, results and standings in chess-results.com and on facebook.

GM Dragan Solak (right) of Turkey vs. Yuriy Kuzubov of Ukraine


GM Daniele Vocaturo of Italy 

GM Yuri Solodovnichenko of Ukraine

Round 5

GMs Vladimir Fedoseev of Russia, Alexander Shabalov of the USA and Andrei Istratescu of France beat their respective opponents to share a five-way tie for the lead with GM David Howell of England and GM Nils Grandelius of Sweden after five rounds of the 17th Dubai Open Chess at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai, UAE.
Howell and Grandelius drew their Queen’s Gambit in 30 moves as they reached an equal minor piece endgame to tally 4.5 points each.
Fedoseev smashed the Sicilian Scheveningen of erstwhile co-leader Yuri Solodovnichenko of Ukraine. The Russian penetrated with his Rook on the seventh rank and threatened checkmate in 29 moves.

Shabalov, formerly of Latvia and a 4-time U.S. Champion, used the Caro Kann defense and embarked on a kingside pawn storm. He capitalized on the back rank weakness of his opponent to win material and force resignation on the 39th move.
Istratescu, former Romanian champion now representing France, used the Sicilian Defense against GM Gabor Papp of Hungary. Papp essayed the Maroczy bind and Istratescu sacrificed the exchange for the Bishop pair. In the ensuing endgame, Papp could not halt the advance of Istratescu’s queenside passed pawns and resigned on the 49th move.
Twelve players follow with 4 points each in the race for the Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Cup and a top purse of $12,000 out of a total of $50,000 in cash prizes. A field of 150 players from 39 countries are competing with 39 Grandmasters, 8 Woman Grandmasters, 22 International Masters, 3 woman International masters, 13 FIDE Masters and three Woman FIDE Masters. India has the biggest delegation with 31 players followed by the host UAE with 25 players.
Rounds are scheduled 5:30 pm daily. Two rounds are scheduled at 10 am and 6pm on Saturday. Games are broadcast live on the web site www.dubaichess.ae with pairings, results and standings in chess-results.com and on facebook.
Fedoseev, 20, is currently ranked third in the world list of top juniors. He won the Dubai Blitz Championship in yesterday’s rest day, the only player to remain undefeated with 10 points out of 11 rounds of the blitz tournament. Gadir Guseinov of Azerbaijan placed second with 8.5 points followed by four players in a tie for third place with 8 points each, namely, GMs Yuriy Kuzubov of Ukraine, Igor Kovalenko of Latvia, Sergei Zhigalko of Belarus and Tigran Petrosian of Armenia. Eighty players from 30 countries competed in the one-day 11-round Swiss System blitz tournament including 21 GMs and eleven IMs.

Top seed GM David Howell of England (right) vs. GM Nils Grandelius of Sweden


GM Vladimir Fedoseev of Russia

Round 4

Top seed GM David Howell of England, GM Nils Grandelius of Sweden and GM Yuri Solodovnichenko of Ukraine beat their respective opponents to figure in a 3-way tie for the lead with four points each after as many rounds of the 17th Dubai Open Chess Championship at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai, UAE.
Howell smashed the Slav Defense of GM Sergey Volkov of Russia. The 24-year-old British champion penetrated with a Rook on the seventh rank on the 25th move and won a Knight to force resignation three moves later.

Grandelius, 21, former European Youth champion, crushed the Sicilian Najdorf defense of Georgian champion Gaioz Nigalidze by threatening checkmate on the 28th move. Solodovnichenko outmaneuvered the Modern Defense of GM Gadir Guseinov of Azerbaijan. The Ukrainian forced Guseinov to give up a Knight for two pawns on the 27th move and was gaining more material in the endgame when Guseinov resigned on the 46th move.
Nine Grandmasters trail with 3.5 points in the 9-round Swiss system tournament, namely, Vladimir Fedoseev of Russia, Sergei Zhigalko of Belarus, Igor Kovalenko of Latvia, Andrei Istratescu of France, Mikheil Mchedlishvili of Georgia, Gabor Papp of Hungary, Alexander Shabalov of the USA and Dragan Solak and Alexander Ipatov of Turkey.
Twenty one players follow with 3 points each in the race for the Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Cup and a top purse of $12,000 out of a total of $50,000 in cash prizes. A field of 150 players from 39 countries are competing with 39 Grandmasters, 8 Woman Grandmasters, 22 International Masters, 3 woman International masters, 13 FIDE Masters and three Woman FIDE Masters. India has the biggest delegation with 31 players followed by the host UAE with 25 players.
Rounds are scheduled 5:30 pm daily. Two rounds are scheduled at 10 am and 6pm on Saturday. Games are broadcast live on the web site www.dubaichess.ae with pairings, results and standings in chess-results.com and on facebook.


Chief Arbiter Mahdi Abdulrahim starts the clock between GM David Howell of England (left) and GM Sergei Volkov (RUS)

Round 3

Top seed GM David Howell of England beat GM Jaan Ehvest of the USA to share the lead with eleven others after three rounds of the 17th Dubai Open Chess Championship at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai, UAE.

Ehlvest opened with the Torre attack but Howell sacrificed a Knight for two pawns on the 31st move and created a passed pawn. The American could not prevent promotion and resigned on the 47th move. Howell, 24, is the current British champion and the youngest Grandmaster in the U.K., a title he earned when he was 16.

Tied with Howell at 3 points each are Grandmasters Vladimir Fedoseev and Sergey Volkov of Russia, Sergei Zhigalko of Belarus, Andrei Istratescu of France, Gadir Guseinov of Azerbaijan, Nils Grandelius of Sweden, Dragan Solak of Turkey, Gabor Papp of Hungary, Yuri Solodovnichenko of Ukraine and Mikheil Mchedlishvili and Gaioz Nigalidze of Georgia. It was a bad day for Indian players who were erstwhile co-leaders. Fedoseev smashed the Benoni defense of Indian GM Sahaj Grover in 47 moves. Zhigalko made short work of the Sicilian Defense of Murali Karhikeyan of India in 23 moves. Grandelius used the King’s Indian Defense to turn back Shah Sagar of India. Mchedlishvili, Papp and Solodovnichenko beat untitled Indians Nr Vignesh, Kelkar Abhishek and Rakesh Kulkarni, respectively. Only GM Abhijeet Gupta of India escaped with a draw against GM Idani Pouya of Iran.
In other matches among leaders, Volkov crushed the King’s Indian defense of IM Haridas Pascua of the Philippines in 46 moves, Istratescu beat IM Zaur Mammadov of Azerbaijan in 39 moves and Guseinov made easy work of GM Hovic Hayrapetyan of Armenia in only 24 moves. Solak used the Catalan to outplay IM Tigran Harutyunian of Armenia while Nigalidze used the English Opening to beat WGM Nino Maisuradze of France.
Eleven players follow with 2.5 points each in the 9-round Swiss System. . At stake is the Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Cup and a total of $50,000 in cash prizes.

Rounds are scheduled 5:30 pm daily. Friday 10th April is a rest day with blitz tournament starting 4:30pm. Two rounds are scheduled at 10 am and 6pm on Saturday. Games are broadcast live on the web site www.dubaichess.ae with pairings, results and standings in chess-results.com and on facebook.


Top seed GM David Howell of England (right) beat GM Jaan Ehlvest of the USA in round 3. Looking on is Chief Arbiter Mahdi Abdulrahim of the UAE.

Round 2

Former Dubai Open champion Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta, 25, of India continued his winning ways to maintain co-leadership after two rounds of the 17th Dubai Open at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai.
Gupta, rated 2629, beat International Master Vahe Baghdasaryan of Armenia, rated 2400 to maintain a perfect 2-point slate together with 27 others. A total of 150 players from 38 countries are competing in the 9-round Swiss system with $50,000 in cash prizes at stake.
GM David Howell of England, top seed at 2687, smashed the Slav Defense of IM Das Sayantan of India in 35 moves while GM Sahaj Grover of India, 2526, kept pace by crushing WGM Zeinab Mamedjarova in 48 moves of a Four Knights game.
Two untitled Indian players scored major upsets against highly rated Grandmasters to share early lead. Nr Vignesh beat GM Milos Perunovic of Serbia while Kelkar Abhishek similarly upended GM Aleksandr Rakhmanov of Russia.
Tied at 2 points each are Rakesh Kulkarni and IM Shah Sagar of India, GM Hayrapetyan Hovik and IM Harutyunian Tigran of Armenia, GM Gadir Guseinov and IM Zaur Mammadov of Azerbaijan, GM Sergi Zhigalko of Belarus, GM Andrei Istratescu and WGM Nino Maisuradze of France, GMs Gaioz Nigalidze and Mikheil Mchedlishvili of Georgia, GM Gabor Papp of Hungary, GM Idani Pouya of Iran, GMs Vladimir Fedoseev and Sergey Volkov of Russia, GM Nils Grandelius of Sweden, GM Dragan Solak of Turkey, GM Jaan Ehlvest of the USA, IM Haridas Pascua of the Philippines and IM Mhamed Ezat of Egypt.

Twenty players follow with 1-1/2 points. Rounds are scheduled 5:30 pm daily. Friday 10th April is a rest day with blitz tournament starting 4:30pm. Two rounds are scheduled at 10 am and 6pm on Saturday. Games are broadcast live on the web site www.dubaichess.ae with pairings, results and standings in chess-results.com and on facebook.


GM Abhijeet Gupta of India (left) beat IM Vahe Baghdasaryan of Armenia in yesterday’s second round of the Dubai Open Chess Championship

Round 1

Former Dubai Open champion Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta of India began his title defense by beating WFM Maria Gevorgyan of Armenia in yesterday’s opening round of the 17th Dubai Open Chess Championship at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai, UAE. At stake is the Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Cup and a total of $50,000 in cash prizes.

Gupta, 25, essayed the Queen’s Gambit and needed only 25 moves to dispose of his opponent. Other Indian GMs sharing the early lead were GMs Sahaj Grover, Arun Prasad and Kidambi Sundararajan. A total of 150 players are competing in the 9-round Swiss System tournament.

Favorites won their first round assignments as half the field scored the full point. Top seed GM David Howell of England, 24, beat WIM Abdulla Khayala of Azerbaijan in 42 moves of a Ruy Lopez game.

Two Grandmasters, however, got the upset axe. Untitled Filipino Jobannie Tabada crushed the Petroff Defense of GM Yuriy Kuzubov of Ukraine in 59 moves. Local bet FIDE Master Ishaq Saeed of the UAE smashed the Caro Kann Defense of GM Eltaj Safarli of Azerbaijan in 36 moves.

Other Grandmasters with one point each are Tigran Petrosyan and Hovik Hayrapetyan of Armenia, Gadir Guseinov of Azerbaijan, Sergei Zhigalko of Belarus, Alexandr Fier of Brazil, Andrei Istratescu of France, Mikheil Mchedlishvili and Gaioz Nigalidze of Georgia, Peter Prohaszka, Gabor Papp and Tamas Banusz of Hungary, Idani Pouya of Iran, Igor Kovalenko of Latvia, Mateusz Bartel of Poland, Vladimir Fedoseev, Aleksandr Rakhmanov, Sergey Volkov, Aleksandr Shimanov and Sergei Beshukov of Russia, Ivan Ivanisevic and Milos Perunovic of Serbia, Nils Grandelius of Sweden, Alexander Ipatov and Dragan Solak of Turkey, Yuri Solodovnichenko of Ukraine, Jaan Ehlvest and Alexander Shabalov of the USA and Eduardo Bonelli Iturrizaga of Venezuela.

Games are scheduled 5:30 pm daily. Friday 10th April is a rest day with blitz tournament starting 4:30pm. Two rounds are scheduled at 10 am and 6pm on Saturday.

Games are broadcast live on the web site www.dubaichess.ae with pairings, results and standings in chess-results.com and on facebook.


Top seed GM David Howell of England matches with WIM Khayala Abdulla of Azerbaijan in the opening round of the 17th Dubai Open Chess Championship. Looking on are, from left, Abu Dhabi Chess Club chairman Hussein Abdullah Khouri, Sharjah Chess Club president Sheikh Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Mualla, UAE Sports and Youth General Secretary Ibrahim Abdulmalik and Dubai Chess Club and Arab Chess Federation president Ibrahim Al Bannai.

Dubai – Top Grandmasters are competing in the 17th Dubai Open Chess Championship with 150 players from 38 countries seeing action for the next nine days at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai, UAE.

At stake in the 9-round Swiss System is the Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Cup and a total of $50,000 in cash prizes. Top seed is GM David Howell of England with a rating of 2687. Strong challenge is expected from other Grandmasters namely Indian GMs Abhijeet Gupta 2629, Sahaj Grover 2526, Arun Prasad 2508, Sundararajan Kidambi 2420 and R.R., Laxman 2409, GM Tigran Petrosian 2660 and Hovik Harapetyan 2465 of Armenia, GM Eltaj Safarli 2637 and Gadir Guseinov 2606 of Azerbaijan, GM Sergei Zhigalko 2657 of Belarus, GM Alexandr Foer 2624 of Brazil, GM Andrei Istratescu 2630 of France, GM Mikheil Mchedlishvili 2595 of Georgia, GM Gabor Papp 2589 and Tamas Banusz 2586 of Hungary, GM Idani Pouya 2499 of Iran, GM Daniele Vocaturo 2549 of Italy, GM Igor Kovalenko 2665 of Latvia, GM Mateusz Bartel 2642 of Poland, GM Vladimir Fedoseev 2674, Sergei Volkov 2602, Aleksandr Shimanov 2601 and Sergei Behukov 2410 of Russia, GM Ivan Ivanisevic 2638 and Mihajlo Stojanovic 2558 of Serbia, GM Alexander Ipatov 2614 and Dragan Solak of Turkey, GM Yuri Solodovnichenko 2584 and Alexander Kovchan 2581 of Ukraine, Jaan Ehlvest 2547 and Alexander Shabalov 2500 of the USA and GM Bonelli Eduardo Iturrizaga 2632 of Venezuela.

Games are scheduled 5:30 pm daily. Friday 10th April is a rest day with blitz tournament starting 4:30pm. Two rounds are scheduled at 10am and 6pm on Saturday.

Games are broadcast live on the web site www.dubaichess.ae with pairings, results and standings in chess-results.com and on facebook.