Baku Open 2011

Baku Open 2011
Yet another Super Open in Azerbaijan

Baku Open 2011 will take place 5-14 August in Azerbaijan. The tournament will be in “AF HOTEL” (near Caspian Sea, Novkhani), and will feature a prize fund of 50 000 EUR.

Baku Open will be categorized as a Super Open. These events, which get more and more abundant in the calendar, are with over 30000 EUR prize fund and are open festivals for everyone. Aeroflot 2011 (125 000 eur), Cappelle La Grande 2011 (30 000 eur), Dubai Chess Open (45,000 USD), Nakhchivan Open (66,500 USD), and Albena Open 2011 (40 000 eur) are just some of the events that have been going on for the first months of this year.

Baku Open 2011 is following a similar model to Nakhchivan Open, where players enjoyed a high prize fund, while strong young talents as Alexander Ipatov managed to complete Grandmaster norms.

73 players will compete in the Open A tournament, among them 17 Grandmasters rated above 2600 elo. Azerbaijan’s top rated player Shakhriyar Mamedyarov is the first seed in the starting list.

GM Francisco Vallejo Pons returns to Azerbaijan after having participated in the Super Chess Open Nakhchivan, while Cuban stars Leinier Dominguez Perez and Lazaro Bruzon are making a debut. Cento Open winner Alexei Dreev is participating, as well as the reigning World U20 champion Dmitry Andreikin.

Last year winner was GM Gata Kamsky. 133 players are signed for the Open B tournament.

Baku 2011 prize fund distribution

1 place – 10000 € + cup
2 – place – 6000 €
3 – place – 4000 €
4 – place – 2000 €
5 – place – 1500 €
6 – place – 1400 €
7 – place – 1300 €
8 – place – 1200 €
9 – place – 1100 €

Places 10th to 25th ranging from 1000 eur to 300 eur.

Women prizes:

1 place – 600 €, 2 place – 400 €, 3 place – 200 €

Prize for the best senior player :

1 place – 500 AZN, 2 place – 300 AZN, 3 place – 200 AZN

Valuable prize for the young player (under 18) who show the best result.

Prizes for the best 3 (three) players from Azerbaijan: 1 place – 2000 AZN, 2 place – 1500 AZN, 3 place – 1000 AZN

Official websites: www.chess.az and www.azerichess.az

Open A starting top 22 list:

1 GM Mamedyarov Shakhriyar AZE 2765
2 GM Vallejo Pons Francisco ESP 2724
3 GM Dominguez Perez Leinier CUB 2719
4 GM Dreev Aleksey RUS 2711
5 GM Sutovsky Emil ISR 2700
6 GM Andreikin Dmitry RUS 2696
7 GM Zhigalko Sergei BLR 2689
8 GM Mamedov Rauf AZE 2679
9 GM Smirin Ilia ISR 2676
10 GM Bruzon Batista Lazaro CUB 2673
11 GM Cheparinov Ivan BUL 2669
12 GM Iordachescu Viorel MDA 2646
13 GM Najer Evgeniy RUS 2643
14 GM Romanov Evgeny RUS 2624
15 GM Safarli Eltaj AZE 2622
16 GM Mchedlishvili Mikheil GEO 2618
17 GM Volkov Sergey RUS 2607
18 GM Gagunashvili Merab GEO 2588
19 GM Ibrahimov Rasul AZE 2547
20 GM Abbasov Farid AZE 2529
21 GM Guliev Sarhan AZE 2500
22 GM Abasov Nijat Azad Oglu AZE 2481