Round 9

The Indian men’s team won the 20-country Asian Nations Cup Chess Team Championship while the Chinese women retained their title in the tournament organized by the UAE Chess Federation under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation at the Novotel Abu Dhabi Al Bustan hotel.

The Indian team is composed of GMs B. Adhiban on top board, S.P. Sethuraman, Vidit Santosh Gujrathi, Krishnan Sasikiran and Deep Sengupta and captained by GM R.B. Ramesh. India clinched the title with a decisive last round 3:1 victory over Vietnam on wins by Sethuraman and Sasikiran and draws by Adhiban and Vidit. India scored a total of 17 match points, two points ahead of defending champion China which blanked host UAE-1 by 4:0. Kazakhstan edged Mongolia 2.5-1.5 to finish in third place with 14 match points. In other matches, Iran shut out Bangladesh 4:0, Uzbekistan outclassed Jordan 4:0, Iraq drew 2:2 with Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka drew 2:2 with Oman, Afghanistan drew 2:2 with Nepal, Lebanon blanked UAE-3 by 4:0, Tajikistan drew 2:2 with UAE-2 and Palestine beat Kuwait 3.5-0.5

Iran placed fourth with 12 match points followed by Uzbekistan with 11, UAE-1, Mongolia and Bangladesh with 10 each, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan, Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Oman with 9 points each, Sri Lanka and Jordan with 8, Palestine and UAE-2 with 7, Nepal and Kuwait with 5, Tajikistan with 3 and UAE-3 with 2. A team earned two match points for a team win and one match point for a draw. Game points over four boards per round break the tie.

Individual board gold medalists are GM Bu Xiangzhi of China on board 1 by performance rating of 2765, Wang Yue of China on board 2, Vidit of India on board 3, child prodigy 13-year-old Alireza Firouzja of iran on board 4 with a high rating performance of 2644 and GM Zhou Jianchao of China on board 5.

Defending champion China women’s team caught up to win their division with 15 match points, barely ahead of Uzbekistan in second place with 14 match points and Kazakhstan in third place with 13 match points. The Indian women finished with 12 points followed by Vietnam 11, Mongolia 10, Iran 9, UAE-2 with 4, Sri Lanka 2 and UAE-1 with 1 point.

China blanked UAE-1 by 4:0 to keep ahead of Uzbekistan which beat Sri Lanka 3:1. Kazakhstan could only manage a 2:2 draw with Vietnam. India drew 2:2 with Iran while Mongolia blanked UAE-2 by 4:0.

Individual women board gold medalists are Ju Wenjun, Zhao Xue of China on boards 1 and 2, respectively, Irina Gevorgyan of Uzbekistan on board 3, Swaminathan Soumya of India on board 4 and Guo Qi of China on board 5.

The champion Indian team, from left, captain GMs R.B. Ramesh, Krishnan Sasikiran, Deep Sengupta, S.P. Sethuraman, B. Adhiban and Vidit Santosh Gujrathi

Round 8

The Indian chess team hurdled Uzbekistan in the penultimate round to close in on the title in the Asian Nations Cup Chess Championship organized by the UAE Chess Federation under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation at the Novotel Abu Dhabi Al Bustan hotel.

India leads alone with 15 match points, a full two points ahead of second running China. India needs only a draw in the last round against Vietnam to grab the crown. A team earns two match points for a win and one match point for a draw. Game points over four boards shall break the tie. China is the defending champion, having won the Cup eight times. India has won twice in 2005 and 2009.

GM B. Adhiban scored for India as he crushed the Slav defense of GM Marat Dzhumaev of Uzbekistan in only 21 moves. All three other boards were drawn.

China kept pace by beating Mongolia 3.5-0.5. Kazakhstan edged out Iran 2.5-1.5 to trail alone in third slot with 12 match points. GM Murtas Kazhgaleyev scored the winning point for Kazakhstan by crushing the Gruenfeld Defense of Parham Maghsoodloo in 41 moves. The three other boards were drawn.

In other matches, Bangladesh beat Jordan 3.5-0.5, UAE-1 beat Kyrgyzstan 2.5-1,5, Vietnam blanked Sri Lanka 4:0, Lebanon drew 2:2 with Iraq, Afghanistan beat UAE-2 by 3:1, Oman beat Tajikistan 2.5-1.5, Nepal drew2:2 with Palestine and Kuwait edged UAE-3 by 2.5-1.5.

Iran, UAE-1, Bangladesh and Mongolia share fourth slot with 10 match points each followed by Vietnam and Uzbekistan with 9 each, Kyrgyzstan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan and Oman with 8 each, Lebanon and Sri Lanka at 7 each, UAE-2 with 6 points, Palestine and Kuwait with 5 points each, Nepal 4 and Tajikistan and UAE-3 at 2 each.

In the women’s division, China grabbed solo lead with 13 match points followed by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan with 12 match points each, India with 11, Vietnam 10, Iran and Mongolia 8 each, UAE-2 with 3, Sri Lanka 2 and UAE-1 with 1 point.

China clobbered Vietnam 3.5-0.5 on wins by GM Ju Wenjun, GM Zho Xue and WGM Tan Zhongyi over Pham Le Thao Nguyen, Hoang Thi Bao Tram and Nguyen Thi Mai Hung, respectively. Vietnam’s board 4 Nguyen Thi Thanh An held Lei Tingjie to a draw to prevent a shutout.

Kazakhstan crushed arch rival and erstwhile leader Uzbekistan as Dinara Saduakassova beat giant killer Nafisa Muminova and Gulmira Dauletova won over Gulrukhbegim Tokhirojonva. Mongolia blanked Sri Lanka 4:0, India shutout UAE-2 by 4:0 and Iran blanked UAE-1 by 4:0.

Games are broadcast live for men and women with interviews on the official site asianchess.com. Results and standings are in chess-results.com.


GM B. Adhiban (right) on board 1 for india against Uzbekistan 

Dinara Saduakassova (right) on board 1 for Kazakhstan against Uzbekistan

Round 7

India Widens Lead

The Indian chess team widened its lead over defending champion China in the homestretch of the Asian Nations Cup Chess Championship organized by the UAE Chess Federation under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation at the Novotel Abu Dhabi Al Bustan hotel.

India outclassed Bangladesh 2.5-1.5 to lead alone with 13 match points, ahead of China with 11 match points. A team earns two match points for a win and one match point for a draw. Game points over four boards shall break the tie.

GM B. Adhiban led the Indian charge by crushing the Reti opening of GM Niaz Murshed of Bangladesh in 43 moves. Indian board 4 player GM Krishnan Sasikiran followed suit and used the Queen’s Gambit to beat GM Enamul Hossain in 36 moves. Mohammad Minhaz Uddin countered for Bangladesh by outplaying S.P. Sethuraman. GM Santosh Gujjrathi Vidit sealed the win for India with a draw against Al Rakib Mollah Abdullah on board 3.

China was held to a 2:2 draw by Kazakhstan, halving the point on all four boards. In other matches, Iran beat Vietnam 3:1, Mongolia defeated Sri Lanka 3:1, Uzbekistan crushed Iraq 3:1, UAE-1 smashed Lebanon 3:1, Kyrgyzstan blanked Oman 4:0, Jordan edged Palestine 2.5-1.5, Afghanistan beat Tajikistan 3:1, UAE-2 outclassed UAE-3 by 3.5-0.5 while Kuwait drew 2:2 with Nepal.

Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Iran share third slot with 10 match points each. Uzbekistan has 9 followed by Bangladesh, UAE-1, Kyrgyzstan and Jordan with 8 apiece. Vietnam, Iraq and Sri Lanka have 7 each followed by Afghanistan, Lebanon, UAE-2 and Oman with 6 each, Palestine 4, Kuwait and Nepal 3 each, Tajikistan and UAE-3 at 2 each.

In the women’s division, Uzbekistan edged Vietnam 2.5-1.5 as WIM Irina Gevorgyan checkmated the Semi Slav defense of Nguyen Thi Mai Hung in only 28 moves while all three other boards were drawn.

The Chinese women crushed Iran 3.5-0.5, India blanked Sri Lanka 4:0, UAE-2 edged UAE-1 by 2.5-1.5 while Mongolia beat Kazkahstan 2.5-1.5.

The Uzbeks maintain solo lead with 12 match points followed closely by defending champion China with 11, Vietnam and Kazakhstan with 10 each, India with 9, Iran and Mongolia with 6 each, UAE-2 at 3, Sri Lanka with 2 and UAE-1 with 1 match point.

Games start 3pm and are broadcast live for men and women with interviews on the official site asianchess.com. Results and standings are in chess-results.com.


Indian team, from right GMs B. Adhiban, S.P. Sethuraman, Santosh Gujrathi Vidit and Krishnan Sasikiran

Round 6

India Beats Iran to Maintain Men’s Lead, Uzbekistan Upsets Chinese Women’s Team

The Indian team beat Iran to maintain solo lead in the men’s division while Uzbekistan upset defending women’s champion China to share the lead after 7 rounds of the Asian Nations Cup Chess Team Championship organized by the UAE Chess Federation under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation at the Novotel Abu Dhabi Al Bustan hotel.

India devastated Iran 3.5-0.5 on wins by GMs B. Adhiban, S.P. Sethuraman and Santosh Gujarathi Vidit over GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami, GM Darini Pouria and Parham Magsoodlou, respectively. Child prodigy Alireza Firouzja, 13, saved the day for Iran by holding GM Krishnan Sasikiran to a draw.

India leads alone with 11 match points. A team earns two match points for a win and one match point for a draw. Game points over four boards shall break the tie. China is in close second with 10 match points followed by Kazakhstan with 9 match points. Iran, Bangladesh and Mongolia are bunched together with 8 match points each.

China crushed Uzbekistan 3.5-0.5, Kazakhstan beat Bangladesh 3:1 and Mongolia smashed Lebanon 3.5-0.5 in the upper column. In other matches Iraq drew with Sri Lanka 2:2, Vietnam beat UAE-1 by 3:1, Kyrgyzstan blanked UAE-2 by 4:0. Oman crushed Palestine 3:1, Jordan edged Tajikistan 2.5-1.5, Afghanistan beat Kuwait 3:1 and Nepal drew 2:2 with UAE-3.

The women’s race was thrown wide open by Uzbekistan which shares the lead with Vietnam and Kazakhstan at 10 match points each. China is within striking distance at 9 match points followed by India at 7, Iran with 6, Mongolia 4, Sri Lanka 2, UAE-1 and UAE-2 with 1 match point each.

WGM Nafisa Muminova scored the win for Uzbekistan on top board against Chinese ace Ju Wenjun. The Uzbek used the Slav defense and unleashed a sacrificial attack leading to mate after 35 moves. The other three boards were drawn between Uzbeks Irina Gevorgyan, Tokhirjonova, Gulrukhbegim and Baymuratova, Sevara with Chinese Zhao Xue, Tan Zhongyi and Guo Qi, respectively.

In other women’s matches, Mongolia edged erstwhile solo leader Vietnam 2.5-1.5, Kazakhstan upset India 2.5-1.5, Sri Lanka drew 2:2 with UAE-1 and Iran blanked UAE-2 by 4:0.

Games start 3pm and are broadcast live for men and women with interviews on the official site asianchess.com. Results and standings are in chess-results.com.


GM B. Adhiban (right foreground) beat GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami to lead India to a devastating 3.5: -0.5 win over Iran


WGM Nafisa Mumionova (left foreground) beat Ju Wenjun to lead Uzbekistan to a 2.5:1.5 win over China

Round 5

The Indian men’s chess team shocked defending champion China 2.5-1.5 to surge ahead at the halfway mark of the Asian Nations Cup Chess Team Championship organized by the UAE Chess Federation under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation at the Novotel Abu Dhabi Al Bustan hotel. The Indian women were not as lucky as they lost to Vietnam who grabbed solo lead in the women’s division.

GM B. Adhiban led India’s onslaught on board one as he used the Slav Defense to beat Chinese ace GM Bu Xiangzhi in 68 moves. Wang Yue countered for China on board two essaying the Petroff Defense to beat S.P. Sethuraman. GM Vidit Santos Gujrathi won for India against youthful Wei Yi in in 34 moves of a Giuoco Piano. GM Krishnan Sasikiran sealed the victory for India by holding China’s Lu Shanglei to a draw in 57 moves of a Sicilian Scheveningen. India stands alone with 9 match points followed closely behind by China, Iran and Bangladesh with 8 match points each. A team earns two match points for a win and one match point for a draw. Game points over four boards shall break the tie.

Iran crushed Mongolia 3:1 on wins by GM Darini Pouria, Parham Magsoodloo and Alireza Firouzja over GM Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa, GM Tsegmed Batchuluun and IM Gombosuren Munkhgal, respectively. Teenager Sumiya Bilguun of Mongolia beat Masoud Mosadeghpoou to prevent a shutout.

Bangladesh smashed Iraq 3.5-0.5 on wins by GM Niaz Murshed, IM Minhaz Uddin Mohammad and GM Enamul Hossain while Akar Ali Salih of Iraq held Al Rakib Molliah Abdullah to a draw. In other matches, Kazkahstan edged Vietnam 2.5-1.5; Uzbekistan blanked Kyrgyzstan 4:0; UAE-1 outclassed UAE-2 by 3.5-0.5; Lebanon whitewashed Jordan 3.5-0.5; Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan 2.5-1.5; Oman beat Kuwait 3:1; Palestine surprised UAE-3 by 3:1 and Tajikistan drew 2:2 with Nepal.

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are tied for 5th slot with 7 match points each followed by Mongolia, UAE-1, Iraq, Lebanon and Sri Lanka with 6 match points each. Vietnam has 5 match points followed by Kyrgyzstan, Palestine, Oman, Jordan and UAE-2 with 4 match points each, Tajijkistan, Afghanistan and Kuwait with 2 match points each and UAE-3 and Nepal with 1 match point each.

In the women’s division, Le Thao Nguyen Pham and Hoang Thi Bao Tram scored for Vietnam over India’s Harika Dronavalli and Tania Sachdev, respectively. Nguyen Thi Mai Hung assured the win for Vietnam with a draw against Padmini Rout. Swaminathan Soumya of India used the Gruenfeld defense to beat Nguyen Thi Thanh An in 32 moves.

In other women’s matches, Iran blanked Sri Lanka 4:0, Kazakhstan beat UAE-1 by 3.5-0.5, China shut out UAE-2 by 4:0 and Uzbekistan beat Mongolia 3:1. The Vietnam women lead alone with 10 match points followed by China with 9, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan 8, India 7, Iran 4, Mongolia 2, Sri Lanka and UAE-2 with 1 and UAE-1 still scoreless.

Games start 3pm and are broadcast live for men and women with interviews on the official site asianchess.com. Results and standings are in chess-results.com.


Vietnamese women's team, leader of the women's division

Round 4

Defending champion China devastated Iran 3.5-0.5 to grab solo lead while India beat host UAE 3:1 to trail in close second after four rounds of the Asian Nations Cup Chess Team Championship organized by the UAE Chess Federation at the Novotel Abu Dhabi Al Bustan hotel.

Chinese GM Bu Xiangzhi outplayed Iranian champion GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami in 41 moves of a Catalan Opening. China’s Wang Yue used the English opening to beat Parham Maghsoodloo in 43 moves. To seal the win, Zhou Jianchao crushed the Gruenfeld defense of Masoud Mosadeghpour in 66 moves. Iranian Alireza Firouzja held Wei Yi to a draw to prevent a shutout.

China has 8 match points followed by India alone in second with 7 match points. A team earns two match points for a win and one match point for a draw. Game points over four boards shall break the tie.

Indian GMs S.P. Sethuraman, Santosh Gujarathi Vidit and Deep Sengupta beat Noaman Omar, Ishaq Saeed and Mayed Alrashedi, respectively to give India 3 points. Asian champion Saleh A.R. Salem used the French Defense to counter and beat India’s GM B. Adhiban in 62 moves.

Iran fell to a share of third slot with Mongolia, Bangladesh and Iraq at 6 match points each. With 5 match points each are Kazakhstan, Vietnam and Uzbekistan. UAE-1, Kyrgyzstan, Jordan, Sri Lanka, UAE-2 and Lebanon have 4 match points each. Oman, Palestine, Afghanistan and Kuwait have 2 match points. Trailing are UAE-3 and Tajikistan with 1 match point each and scoreless Nepal in the cellar.

In the women’s division, Vietnam blanked UAE-1 by 4:0 to maintain its solo lead with 8 match points followed closely by the Chinese and Indian women with 7 match points each.

India shutout Uzbekistan 4:0 on wins by GM Harika Dronavalli, IM Tania Sachdev, IM Padmini Rout and WGM Soumya Swaminathan. China crushed Mongolia 3.5-0.5 on wins by Ju Wenjun, Zhao Xue and Guo Qi. Mongolia’s Tuvshintugs Batchimeg held Lei Tingjie to a draw to prevent a shutout.

In other matches, Kazakhstan edged Iran 2.5-1.5 while Sri Lanka split the points with UAE-2.

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan women have 6 match points each, Mongolia and Iran have 2 match points each. Sri Lanka and UAE-2 have 1 match point each followed by scoreless UAE-1.

Games are broadcast live for men and women with interviews on the official site www.asianchess.com. Results and standings are in www.chess-results.com.


Chinese team, from left Bu Xiangzhi, Wang Yue, Wei Yi, Zhou Jianchao

Round 3

Iran and China Lead Men’s, Vietnam and Uzbekistan Lead Women’s

Iran defeated Kyrgyzstan while China beat Vietnam to share the lead with three match wins each after as many rounds in the men’s division of the Asian Nations Cup Chess Team Championship at the Novotel Abu Dhabi Al Bustan hotel.

Iranian GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami, Alireza Firouzja and IM Masoud Mosadeghpour beat Kyrgyz IM Asyl Abdyjapar, Tagir Taataibekov and Aidat Kenenbaev, respectively while GM Darini Pouria was held to a draw by Kyrgyz IM Semetey Tologontegin to give Iran 3.5 game points.

China won with a lower margin of 3:1 with victories by GM Bu Xiangzhi and GM Wei Yi over Vietnamese Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son and Dao Thien Hai, respectively. Nguyen Huyn Minh Huy and Nguyen Anh Khoi of Vietnam held Chinese GM Wang Yue and Zhou Jianchao each to a draw.

A team earns 2 match points for a team victory over four boards. Game points will be used to break ties. Iran and China have 6 match points each in the 9-round Swiss System tournament. Close behind are India and Mongolia with two wins and a tie for 5 match points each. Six teams follow with 4 match points each, namely Vietnam, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Jordan, UAE-1 and Iraq.

India crushed Kazakhstan 3.5-05; Mongolia beat Uzbekistan 3:1; Bangladesh smashed Sri Lanka 3:1; UAE-1 outplayed Afghanistan 3:1; Jordan whitewashed UAE-2 by 3.5-0.5; and Iraq thrashed Palestine 3.5:0.5. In other matches, Lebanon beat Nepal 3:1; Oman edged UAE-3 by 2.5-1.5; and Kuwait crushed Tajikistan 3:1.

In the women’s round robin, Vietnam and Uzbekistan share the lead with 6 match points each from 3 rounds. Close behind are China and India with 5 match points each followed by Kazakhstan with 4, Mongolia and Iran with 2 each and scoreless Sri Lanka, UAE-1 and UAE-2.

Vietnam outplayed Iran 3:1 on wins by Hoang Thi Bao Tram and Hoang Thi Nhu Y while Uzbekistan blanked UAE-1 by 4:0 slate. China shut out Sri Lanka 4:0; Kazakhstan blanked UAE-2 by 4:0; India edged Mongolia 2.5-1.5.

Games are broadcast live for men and women with interviews on the official site asianchess.com. Results and standings are in chess-results.com.


Members of the Iranian team are, in foreground GM Ghaem Maghami Ehsan, GM Darini Pouria, Maghsoodloo Parham, Firouzja Alireza and IM Mosadeghpour Masoud

Round 2

The Indian women’s team held defending champion China to a 2:2 draw to allow Vietnam and Uzbekistan to share the lead after two rounds of the Asian Nations Cup Chess Team Championship at the Novotel Abu Dhabi Al Bustan hotel.

China’s Ju Wenjun and Zhao Xue drew with Indians Harika Dronavalli and Tania Sachdev, respectively. Tan Zhongyi scored for China against Padmini Rout but Soumya Swaminathan evened the score by beating WGM Lei Tingjie.

Uzbekistan edged Iran 2.5-1.5 while Vietnam blanked UAE-2 by 4:0 to lead the 10-team women’s round robin. In other matches Mongolia blanked UAE-2 by 4:0 and Kazakhstan shut out Sri Lanka 4:0.

Favorites continued to prevail in the men’s division. In the Swiss System, the stronger teams do not face each other in the early rounds. Iran whipped host UAE 3.5-0.5 to surge to the lead with two wins in as many rounds. GM Darini Pouria, Parham Maghsoodlo and IM Masoud Mosadeghpour beat IM Noaman Omar, FM Ishaq Saeed and FM Ahmed Abbas Khouri, respectively. Asian champion GM Salem A.R. Saleh of the UAE held GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami to a draw to prevent a shutout. Iran has 7.5 game points from two team wins.

Sharing the early lead with similar match points are Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan and top seed China. Match points are the first ranking while ties will be broken by game points. Vietnam dominated Iraq 3.5-0.5 while Kyrgyzstan made a similar score against Lebanon to follow with 7 game points each. China remained in the lead pack but could only score 3:1 against Bangladesh to tally 6.5 game points and trail in the tie break. China is the defending champion in both the men’s and women’s divisions.

In other men’s matches, India drew with Mongolia 2:2, Uzbekistan drew with Kazakhstan 2:2, Jordan beat Kuwait 3.5-0.5, UAE-2 edged Oman 2.5-1.5, Sri Lanka beat Nepal 3.5-0.5, Afghanistan beat UAE-3 by 3:1 and Palestine edged Tajikistan 2.5-1.5.

Chinese women’s team, from left, Ju Wenjun, Lei Tingjie, Tan Zhongyi, Zhao Xue and Guo Qi

Round 1

Chess superpowers China and India easily won in the opening round to share the early lead with other favorites in the Asian Nations Cup Chess Team Championship organized by the UAE Chess Federation and Asian Chess Federation at the Novotel Abu Dhabi Bustan Hotel.

The Chinese men, top seed with an average FIDE rating of 2694, beat Lebanon 3.5 to 0.5 as Lebanese FM Amro El Jawich held Chinese Wei Yi to a draw to prevent a shutout. India, second seed at 2652, won by a similar score over Jordan. Third seed Kazakhstan (2558) blanked newcomer Oman 4:0, fourth seed Iran (2504) shut out Sri Lanka 4:0, fifth seed Vietnam (2499) scored 3.5-0.5 against Afghanistan, as with Bangladesh beating Palestine 3.5-0.5. Mongolia blanked Kuwait 4:0 and Kyrgyzstan smashed Tajikistan 3.5-0.5.

As host, the UAE has three teams. UAE-1 shut out Nepal on wins by GM Salem A.R. Saleh, IM Noaman Omar, FM Ishaaq Saeed and FM Ahmed Abbas Khouri. Iraq defeated UAE-3 by a 3-1 score as Abdulaziz Ali won for the hosts. Uzbekistan whitewashed UAE-2 by 4:0.

The men’s championship is conducted as a 9-round Swiss System among 22 teams. China is the defending champion having scored double victories in both men’s and women’s divisions in the previous two editions in China in 2012 and in Iran in 2014. There are five players in a team and competition is over four boards. Scoring is by match points with tie break using game points. The event boasts 28 Grandmasters, 10 International Masters, 19 FIDE Masters and 3 Women FMs.

The women’s tournament is conducted as a round robin among ten teams. The Chinese women top seed with average rating of 2521, beat Kazakhstan, fourth seed at 2339, by 3:1 as the first two boards were drawn. India, second seed at 2427, shut out host UAE-1 by 4:0. Uzbekistan dealt UAE-2 the same fate. Iran, fifth seed at 2217, edged third seed Mongolia 2.5-1.5 on wins by IM Sarasadat Khademalsharieh and WGM Mitra Hejazipouor. Vietnam, sixth seed at 2287, beat Sri Lanka 3.5-0.5 as WIM S.D. Ranasinghe held IM Le Thao Nguyen to a draw to prevent a shut out.

Games are broadcast live on the official site www.asianchess.com with results and standings on www.chess-results.com. Rounds start 3pm daily. The Asian Nations Cup shall also feature a Rapid Championship and a Blitz Championship after the standard chess event.

Indian men’s and women’s teams

The Asian Nations Cup Chess Championship reels off 3pm today (28 March) at the Novotel Abu Dhabi Al Bustan hotel with 20 countries competing for the right to represent Asia in the World Chess Team Championship.

This was announced at a press conference the other day by Organizing Committee chairman Dr. Rashed Al Dhaheri, UAE Chess Federation president Dr. Saeed Al Megbali and Asian Chess Federation Executive Director Casto Abundo.

The tournament will be held in the men’s and women’s divisions in three categories of standard, rapid and blitz chess. Top seed China, with average rating of 2694, is the defending champion in both men’s and women’s divisions, having scored double victories in the previous two editions in China in 2012 and in Iran in 2014. Strong challenge is expected from second seed India, with average rating of 2652, the previous Olympiad bronze medalist.

Other participating countries, in order of average rating, are Vietnam (2574), Kazakhstan (2558), Iran (2504), Qatar (2478), Bangladesh (2447), Mongolia (2440), Uzbekistan (2424), UAE-1 (2394), Iraq (2271), Kyrgyzstan (2287), Lebanon (2236), Jordan (2074), Oman (2070), Sri Lanka (2060), Afghanistan (2041), Palestine (1967), UAE-2 (1951), Nepal (1890) and Tajikistan (1593).

Women’s teams are from China (2521), India (2427), Mongolia (2395), Kazakhstan (2339), Iran (2317), Vietnam (2287), Uzbekistan (2258), Iraq (1834), UAE-1 (1764), Sri Lanka (1736) and UAE-2 (1621).

The standard competition will be played as a Swiss System of 9 rounds for the men. Games start 3pm daily with live broadcast at www.asianchess.com. The rapid and blitz championships will be conducted in a 5-round Swiss as qualification to choose 4 teams to play in knock out Semi Final and Final. For rund by round pairings and results visit www.chess-results.com for the men’s and women’s championships.

The tournament is organized by the UAE Chess Federation under the auspices of the UAE Ministry of Presidential Affairs, Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Asian Chess Federation. A World Chess Federation (FIDE) Seminar for International Organizers shall be conducted concurrently by IO Horst Metzing of Germany from 29 March to 4 April at the Novotel Hotel. For inquiries please call Zuhair Hassan Ahmed of Abu Dhabi Chess Club at +971-50-6113117.

Live Games Open Section http://www.asianchess.com/live/mnations/anco/

Live Games Women Section http://www.asianchess.com/live/mnations/ancw/

Organizing committee chairman Dr. Rashed Aldaher (center) announcing the Asian Nations Cup Chess Team Championship at the Novotel Abu Dhabi Al Bustan. In photo are, from left, Event Manager Efstratios Grivas, Dr. Saif Salem Lekhribani Alnuaimi, Vice President of Organizers Commission, Casto Abundo, Executive Director of the Asian Chess Federation, Aml Ismael, Vice President of Media Commission and Ahmed Alhumairi, Representative of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank