Azernews.Az

By Laman Ismayilova

The international chess festival Nakhchivan Open 2017 commemorating the 94th anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev solemnly opened in Nakhchivan on May 3.

The tournament will see over 300 chess players from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Bulgaria, Germany, Iran, Russia, Turkey and Uzbekistan to struggle for the top prize till May 11.

Chairman of the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Vasif Talibov, President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, Azerbaijani Minister of Youth and Sport Azad Rahimov attended the opening ceremony, Azertac reported.

Talibov, addressing the event, thanked chess players for accepting the invitation to join Nakhchivan-2017 Open.

Ilyumzhinov, in turn, highly appreciated the state attention to the development of chess in Azerbaijan. “Azerbaijan is the only country to endorse a state program for the development of chess,” Ilyumzhinov reminded.

The FIDE president stressed that Azerbaijan, by hosting prestigious tournaments, contributes to the expansion of international cooperation in the field of sport.

The FIDE president then presented “International Organizer” certificate to Chairman of Nakhchivan Chess Federation Vugar Safarov and “International Master” certificate to chess coach Toghrul Hasanzade.

Minister Rahimov, for his part, spoke about the works done for development of sport in Azerbaijan and highlighted President Ilham Aliyev`s attention to this sector.

The players, among whom are16 grandmasters and 17 international chess masters, are struggling in Tournament A [those rated above 2250 FIDE (for Women above 2100 FIDE)], while the lower rated players compete in Tournament B. Both groups will be played over nine rounds of Swiss system.

Besides, children compete in a separate competition.

The prize money of the Tournament A is $5,000. Top prize in the Tournament B is $1,000, Azertac reported.

The Festival is organized by the Azerbaijan Youth & Sport Ministry, Azerbaijan Chess Federation and Nakhchivan AR Chess Federation.

Azerbaijan’s grandmaster Eltaj Safarli won the previous tournaments in 2015 and 2016.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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