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GM Gawain Jones of England wins 2016 Dubai Open Chess Championship
British GM Gawain Jones beat erstwhile solo leader GM Boris Savchenko of Russia to win the Dubai Open Chess Championship - Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Cup at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai, UAE.
Jones used the Moscow variation against the Sicilian Defense of Savchenko and early on prevented him from castling. In a difficult position, the Russian blundered and chose to exchange his Queen for two pieces on the 24th move and resigned 13 moves later.
Jones finished with 7.5 points in a tie with GM Vladimir Akopian of Armenia who beat GM Levan Pantsulaia of Georgia. Akopian used the King’s Indian Fianchetto and won a crucial center pawn on the 13th move. He transposed to the endgame with a better pawn structure and won in 30 moves.
Jones and Akopian had drawn with each other earlier in the penultimate round but the British grandmaster prevailed in the Buchholz tie break and won the top prize of $13,000. Jones had also won the Dubai Blitz championship last Friday.
Savchenko finished with 7 points, third by tie break, together with GMs Alexandr Fier of Brazil, Vidit Santosh Gujrathi of India, Darini Pouria of Iran, Lazaro Bruzon Batista of Cuba and Mikhail Antipov of Russia.
Landing in the total prize money of $50,000 with 6.5 points and higher tie break scores were Pantsulaia, GMs Ivan Sokolov of The Netherlands, G. N. Gopal of India, Gabriel Sargissian of Armenia, Eltaj Safarli of Azerbaijan, Yuriy Kuzubov of Ukraine and 15-year-old IM Amin Tabatabaei of Iran. Others with 6.5 points but out of the prize fund due to lower tie break were GMs Chanda Sandipan of India, Bassem Amin of Egypt and Emre Can of Turkey.
In the category prizes, Bassem won as best Arab player, former women’s world champion GM Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria won best woman followed by IM Inna Gaponenko of Ukraine, FM Ishaq Saeed became best UAE player and CM Nagueb Saleh won the best Dubai player award followed by Ali Abdulaziz.
In the rating category prizes, IM S. Nitin of India won the best among 2300+ rating, Al Muthaiah of India won best 2200+, CM Peter Dost of The Netherlands won best below 2100+, WIM Ivana Maria Furtado won best 2000+ and Naji Sanjeev won best below 2000.
For games visit www.dubaichess.ae, site of the Dubai Chess and Culture Club. Final standings are in www.chess-results.com.
2016 Dubai Champion GM Gawain Jones of England
From left, Dr. Rashed Al Dhaheri, General Consular of the UAE Chess Federation, Omar Al Mutawa, Dubai Sports Council, Khalid Isa Al Midfa , Assistant Secretary-General of the General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare, champion GM Gawain Jones, Mariott hotel representative, Mr Ibrahim Al-Bannai, president of Arab Chess Federation and Mr Ahmad Khalifa Al-Thani of the Dubai Chess Club.
Posing with the champion are runner-up GM Vladimir Akopian of Armenia and third placer GM Boris Savchenko of Russia.
Awarding the Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Cup for the Dubai Open Chess Championship are, from left, Omar Al Mutawa of the Dubai Sports Council, Khalid Isa Al Midfa, Assistant Secretary-General of the General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare, champion GM Gawain Jones, Mariott hotel representative and Ibrahim Al-Bannai, president of Arab Chess Federation and Dubai Chess Club.
Jones (left) beat Savchenko in the final round.
Photo by Saeed Yousuf
Round 8: Savchenko Grabs Solo Lead in Dubai Open Chess
Russian grandmaster Boris Savchenko beat erstwhile co-leader GM Ivan Sokolov of The Netherlands in the penultimate round to grab solo lead in the Dubai Open Chess Championship - Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Cup at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai, UAE.
Sokolov, national coach of the UAE, was in a fighting mood despite having the black pieces in a Ruy Lopez game. The Dutchman chose the Open variation which leads to tactical play. He seized control of the center but was forced to give the exchange on the 20th move. Savchenko sacrificed a Rook on the 35th move and threatened mate to force resignation on the 47th move.
The win put Savchenko, 29, alone with 7 points out of 8 rounds. Five players share second slot with 6.5 points, namely GMs Vladimir Akopian of Armenia, Gawain Jones of England, Levan Pantulaia of Georgia, Alexandr Fier of Brazil and Pouria Darini of iran.
Akopian could make no headway against the Sicilian defense of Jones and the two erstwhile co-leaders drew in a marathon 71 moves. Pantsulaia used the Reti opening to threaten mate in 33 moves against GM S.P. Sethuraman of India. Fier used the Modern Benoni to beat Indian IM Shardul Gagare in 38 moves. Darini smashed the French defense of Eltaj Safarli of Azerbaijan in 60 moves of a King and pawn endgame.
Sokolov trails with 6 points together with six others, namely GMs Santosh Gujrathi Vidit of India, Mustafa Yilmaz of Turkey, Gabriel Sargissian of Armenia, David Anton Guijarro of Spain, Lazaro Bruzon Batista of Cuba and Mihail Antipov of Russia.
In the final round, Savchenko faces Jones who won Friday’s blitz championship. Games are broadcast on www.dubaichess.ae, site of the Dubai Chess and Culture Club. Top prize is $13,000 out of a total of $50,000 in cash prizes up to 15th place with special prizes for best in category.
GM Boris Savchenko of Russia
Round 7: Four Share Lead in Homestretch of Dubai Open
Dubai blitz champion Gawain Jones of England and Boris Savchenko of Russia beat their respective 7th round opponents to catch up with Vladimir Akopian of Armenia and Ivan Sokolov of The Netherlands in a 4-way tie for the lead in the homestretch of the Dubai Open Chess Championship at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai, UAE.
Jones, who won the blitz tournament last Friday, crushed the Classical Caro-Kann defense of international master M. Thejkumar of India in 82 moves of a same color Bishop and pawn endgame. Savchenko declined the Queen’s Gambit of GM B Adhiban of India and won the Rook and pawn endgame in a marathon 92 moves.
Jones and Savchenko have 6 points each together with co-leaders Sokolov and Akopian who drew in 31 moves of the latter’s Slav Defense as they reached an equal Knight and pawn endgame.
Eight players follow in a tie with 5.5 points each, namely GM S.P. Sethuraman and IM Shardul Gagare of India, Mustafa Yilmaz of Turkey, Eltaj Safarli of Azerbaijan, Levan Pantsulaia of Georgia, Alexandr Fier of Brazil, Pouria Darini of Iran and Lazaro Bruzon Batista of Cuba.
Sethuraman and Gagarle drew in 53 moves of a French Defense. Yilmaz smashed the King’s India Defense of compatriot Cemil Can Ali Marandi. Safarli used the Trompovsky attack but could only draw with Pantsulaia in 35 moves.
Bruzon employed the Sicilian Defense to beat GM Deepan Chakkravarthy of India in 48 moves. Fier essayed the English opening to outplay Dinara Saduakassova of Kazakhstan in 42 moves. Darini drew with top seed Ivan Cheparinov of Bulgaria in 24 moves of a Sicilian Najdorf.
Games are scheduled 5:30 daily and are broadcast live on www.dubaichess.ae, site of the Dubai Chess and Culture Club.
A record 189 players from 37 countries are competing in the 9-round Swiss System tournament. A strong field of 46 Grandmasters, 8 Woman Grandmasters, 39 International Masters, 5 Woman International Masters, 22 FIDE Masters and 2 Woman FIDE Masters are participating. Top prize is $13,000 out of a total of $50,000 in cash prizes up to 15th place with special prizes for best in category.
GM Ivan Sokolov of The Netherlands (right) vs. GM Vladimir Akopian of Armenia
GM Boris Savchenko of Russia
GM S.P. Sethuraman of India
GM Shardul Gagare of India
Akopian, Sokolov Share Lead in Dubai Open Chess Championship
Two time Armenian champion GM Vladimir Akopian and GM Ivan Sokolov of The Netherlands remain tied at 5.5 points each after 6 rounds of the Dubai Open Chess Championship at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai, UAE.
Two rounds were played on Saturday after the free day on Friday. In the morning round, Akopian beat 3-time British champion David Howell. The Armenian made a positional sacrifice of a Knight to keep his opponent’s king exposed in the center. Akopian advanced his center pawns to threaten promotion and force resignation on the 49th move.
In the evening, Akopian drew wiith GM S. P. Sethuraman of India in an opposite colored Bishop ending after 31 moves of a Ruy Lopez game.
The truce allowed GM Ivan Sokolov of The Netherlands, coach in the UAE, to tie for the lead. In the 5th round, Sokolov punished GM Zaur Mammadov of Azerbaijan for his Queen foray to the outer edge by opening the center. The Dutch man sacrificed the exchange to penetrate with his Queen and force resignation on the 30th move.
In the evening round, Sokolov crushed the Gruenfeld Defense of GM Alexandr Fier of Brazil in 63 moves of a Rook and pawn endgame.
Sethuraman and three other Indians are among eight players who follow with 5 points each, namely GM B. Adhiban, IM M.S. Thejkumar and IM Shardul Gagare. Sharing 3rd to 11th slots are GMs Boris Savchenko of Russia, Eltaj Safarli of Azerbaijan, Levan Pantulaia of Georgia, Gawain Jones of England and Pouria Arini of Iran.
Mammadov, Fier and 11 others are bunched together with 4.5 points each with three more rounds to go. Games are scheduled 5:30 daily and are broadcast live on www.dubaichess.ae, site of the Dubai Chess and Culture Club.
A record 189 players from 37 countries are competing in the 9-round Swiss System tournament. A strong field of 46 Grandmasters, 8 Woman Grandmasters, 39 International Masters, 5 Woman International Masters, 22 FIDE Masters and 2 Woman FIDE Masters are participating. Top prize is $13,000 out of a total of $50,000 in cash prizes up to 15th place with special prizes for best in category.
GM David Howell of England (left) vs. GM Vladimir Akopian of Armenia
Round 4: Akopian, Howell share lead in Dubai Open Chess
British GM David Howell and former World Cup finalist GM Vladimir Akopian of Armenia share the lead with 4 points each after as many rounds of the 18th Dubai Open Chess Championship at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Howell used the French defense to turn back GM David Anton Guijarro of Spain. The Spaniard sacrificed a Knight on the 13th move to launch what appeared to be a strong kingside attack. Howell accepted the offer but returned the exchange of a Rook for Bishop and two pawns. Unable to stop pawn promotion, Anton Guijarro resigned on the 68th move.
Akopian smashed the Sicilian defense of GM Boris Savchenko of Russia. The Armenian surprised his opponent with a Knight offer on the 18th move in the center of the board. After a series of exchanges, Akopian created a protected passed pawn, advancing his pawn chain to penetrate with his Queen. Savchenko resigned on the 41st move, facing a mate in three moves.
Six Indian Grandmasters follow in a 12-way tie at 3.5 points each, namely GMs G.N. Gopoal, B. Adhiban, S.P. Sethuraman, Deep Sengupta, Vidit Santosh Gujrathi and IM Shandul Gagare. Also tied for third slot with 3.5 points are GMs Ivan Sokolov of The Netherlands, Mustafa Yilmaz and Ali Marandi Cemil Can of Turkey, Gawain Jones of England, Alexander Fier of Brazil and Zaur Mammadov of Azerbaijan.
Fifth seed Howell and tenth seed Akopian have a showdown in the 5th round at 10am on Saturday which can be viewed live at www.dubaichess.ae, site of the Dubai Chess and Culture Club.
A record 189 players from 37 countries are competing in the 9-round Swiss System tournament. A strong field of 46 Grandmasters, 8 Woman Grandmasters, 39 International Masters, 5 Woman International Masters, 22 FIDE Masters and 2 Woman FIDE Masters are participating. Top prize is $13,000 out of a total of $50,000 in cash prizes up to 15th place with special prizes for best in category.
GM Vladimir Akopian of Armenia
GM David Howell of England
Round 3: Nine Share Lead in Dubai Open Chess Championship
Former world championship finalist Vladimir Akopian of Armenia and eight others share the lead with perfect 3 points slates in the 18th Dubai Open Chess Championship at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Akopian used the French Defense, Tarrasch variation, to beat IM Vahap Sanal of India in 32 moves. Tied with Akopian are grandmasters G.N. Gopal, the only one remaining from 12 Indian leaders, David Howell and Gawain Jones, both of England, Ivan Sokolof of the Netherlands, David Anton Guijarro of Spain, Mustafa Yilmaz of Turkey, Boris Savchenko of Russia and Zaur Mammadov of Azerbaijan.
Gopal crushed the Philidor Defense of Baadur Jobava of Georgia in 48 moves. Jones outplayed the King’s Indian Defense of IM Mohamed Ezat of Egypt. Sokolov turned back the Giuoco Piano of Chakkravarthy Deepan of India in 44 moves.
Anton Guijarro smashed the French Defense of IM Mishra Swayams of India in 37 moves. Savchenko used the Nimzpovitch-Larsen opening to beat Shahin Lorparizangeneh in 63 moves. Yilmaz of Turkey used the Queen’s Gambit to outmaneuver IM Robert Ris of the Netherlands in 74 moves. Mammadov outlasted the Sicilian Defense of Chanda Sandipan in a marathon 91 moves of a Rook and pawn endgame.
A record 189 players from 37 countries are competing in the 9-round Swiss System tournament. A strong field of 46 Grandmasters, 8 Woman Grandmasters, 39 International Masters, 5 Woman International Masters, 22 FIDE Masters and 2 Woman FIDE Masters are participating. Top prize is $13,000 out of a total of $50,000 in cash prizes up to 15th place with special prizes for best in category.
Games are scheduled 5:30 daily with two games on Saturday and are broadcast live on www.dubaichess.ae, site of the Dubai Chess and Culture Club.
GM Vladimir Akopian of Armenia
GM G.N. Gopal of India
Grandmasters Lead Dubai Open Chess Championship
Fresh from their victory at the Asian Nations Cup Chess Team Championship this month in Abu Dhabi, the Indian team and other members of their contingent lead a group of 32 grandmasters with perfect 2 point slates in the 18th Dubai Open Chess Championship at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Grandmasters B. Adhiban, S.P. Sethuraman, Vidit Santosh Gujrathi, Chanda Sand, Diptayan Ghosh, G. N. Gopal, Shandul Gagare, Arvind, M. S. Thejkumar, P. Kathikeyan, Mishra Swayams and Eesha Karavade of India continued their winning streak in the 9-round Swiss System.
GM Debashis Das helped his Indian countrymen by holding top seed Ivan Cheparinov of Bulgaria to a draw on top board. Tied at 2 points each are GM Salem A. R. Saleh of the UAE, David Howell and Gawain Jones of England, GM Baadur Jobava of Georgia, Vladimir Akopian of Armania, Ivan Sokolov and Robert Ris of the Netherlands, Alexander Fier of Brazil, David Anton Giuijarro of Spain, Boris Savchenko of Russia, Emre Can, Ali Marandi Cemil Can, Sanal Vanap and Yilmaz Mustafa of Turkey, Moulthun Ly of Australia, Ezat Mohamed of Egypt, Eltaj Safarli and Zaur Mammadov of Azerbaijan and Amin Tabatabaei and Shahin Lorparizangeneh of Iran. Chief Arbiter Mahdi Abdulrahim said “This is the strongest field in the long history of the Dubai Open.” A record 189 players from 37 countries are competing in the 9-round Swiss System tournament. A strong field of 46 Grandmasters, 8 Woman Grandmasters, 39 International Masters, 5 Woman International Masters, 22 FIDE Masters and 2 Woman FIDE Masters are participating. Top prize is $13,000 out of a total of $50,000 in cash prizes up to 15th place with special prizes for best in category.
Games are scheduled 5:30 daily with two games on Saturday and are broadcast live on www.dubaichess.ae, site of the Dubai Chess and Culture Club.
Indian champion GM B. Adhiban
Debashis Das (left) vs. Ivan Cheparinov
GM G.N. Gopal
GM Vidit Santosh Gujrathi
Dubai Open Chess Championship Starts
Grandmasters and other favorites ruled the first round of the 18th Dubai Open Chess Championship at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A record 189 players from 37 countries are competing in the 9-round Swiss System tournament. A strong field of 46 Grandmasters, 8 Woman Grandmasters, 39 International Masters, 5 Woman International Masters, 22 FIDE Masters and 2 Woman FIDE Masters are participating. Top prize is $13,000 out of a total of $50,000 in cash prizes up to 15th place with special prizes for best in category.
Bulgarian GM Ivan Cheparinov is top seed with a FIDE rating of 2695. The Dubai Open boasts 24 grandmasters rated over 2600, namely Ukrainians Anton Korobov and Yuriy Kuzubov, Armenians Gabriel Sargissian, Vladimir Akopian and Zaven Andriasian, Cuban Batista Laazaro Bruzon, David Howell and Gawain Jones of England, Georgians Baadur Jobava and Mikheil Mchedlishvili, Indians B. Adhiban, S.P. Sethuraman, Santosh gujrathi Vicit, Chanda Sandipan, Igor Kovalenko of Latvia, Eltaj Safarli of Azerbaijan, Bassem Amin of Egypt, Ivan Sokolov of the Netherlands, Sandro Mareco of Argentina, Alexander Fier of Brazil, David Anton Gujarro of Spoain, Boris Savchenko of Russia and local hero Salem A. R. Saleh of the UAE.
Games are scheduled 5:30 daily with two games on Saturday and are broadcast live on www.dubaichess.ae, site of the Dubai Chess and Culture Club.
Mr. Ibrahim Abdul Mallek (third from left), General Secretary of Youth and Sports Affairs, starts the chess clock of the Dubai Open, assisted by, from left, Gamal Al Abdul, General Secretary of the Dubai Chess Club, Khalid Al Madfah, Assistant General Secretary of Youth and Sports Affairs, Ibrahim Al Bannai, President of Arab Chess Federation, Hussain Khouri, President of Abu Dhabi Chess Club) and Ahmed Al Thani, head of the organizing committee
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