29 Grandmasters and 18 International Masters head a strong field in the 9th Dubai Open. The event takes place from April 22 to 30, 2007 at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The total purse is $45,000 in cash prizes.
Standing after 8 rounds:
1 GM Pantsulaia Levan GEO 2616 6.5
2 GM Guseinov Gadir AZE 2586 6.5
3 GM Gelashvili Tamaz GEO 2605 6.0
4 GM Sadvakasov Darmen KAZ 2618 6.0
5 GM Megaranto Susanto INA 2530 6.0
6 GM Anastasian Ashot ARM 2552 6.0
7 GM Kotsur Pavel KAZ 2588 6.0
8 GM Ghaem Maghami Ehsan IRI 2599 6.0
9 GM Mchedlishvili Mikheil GEO 2609 6.0
10 GM Bagheri Amir IRI 2481 6.0
11 GM Guliev Sarhan AZE 2486 6.0
12 GM Sturua Zurab GEO 2513 5.5
13 GM Kotanjian Tigran ARM 2560 5.5
14 GM Koneru Humpy IND 2575 5.5
15 IM Girinath P D S IND 2378 5.5
16 GM Minasian Artashes ARM 2586 5.5
17 Gopal G N IND 2455 5.5
Here is the official website.
Why can’t we do the same in the US?
“We” who? Go ahead, nobody is stopping you.
But you’ll never get a penny of that $45,000 back, because there is no media coverage that can be leveraged into sponsorship.
You need to create a media event, not merely another chess tournament.