Chess in the birthplace of Modern Persian

by Nima Javanbakht
3/27/2012 – Mashhad is known as the city of Ferdowsi (940–1020), the Iranian poet and author of Shahnameh (“Book of Kings”), which is considered to be the most important work in Persian literature. Ferdowsi also loved chess, and wrote poetry about its emergence. In his honor, the 2nd Ferdowsi International Chess Open was recently held. 16-year-old FM Nima Javanbakht has the report. | Pictured: Courtiers of Bayasanghori playing chess in the Shahnameh | Public domain
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Chess in the birthplace of Modern Persian

FerdowsiMashhad is known as the city of Ferdowsi (940–1020), the Iranian poet and author of Shahnameh (“Book of Kings”), which is considered to be the national epic of Iran. Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, the product of over three decades of labor (977 to 1010), is the most popular and influential work in Iran and other Persian-speaking nations. Among its themes, Ferdowsi complains about poverty and the ravages of old age.

Ferdowsi [pictured at right | Photo: Muhammad CC BY-SA] also wrote poetry about the emergence of chess, and he was not alone as other Iranian poets and writers loved chess and their literature and old books all talk about  it.

Mashhad is at the the centre of the Razavi Khorasan province, located in northeastern Iran, and is not only the second largest city in Iran, but also one of the holiest cities in the Shia Muslim world. Today, Mashhad is notably known as the resting place of the Imam Reza.

Shrine of Imam Reza

Imam Reza shrine | Photo: mohammad hosein tabatabaeian CC BY-SA

2nd Ferdowsi International Chess Open Tournament.

The second Ferdowsi International Chess tournament drew 136 participants, consisting of 8 GMs, 10 IMs, 5 FIDE masters from 11 countries (Azerbaijani, Uzbekistan, Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, India, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Georgia, Pakistan, Iran) and was held in the city of Mashhad, Iran.


Tournament poster

A generous $25,000 prizefund was reserved for the event.

Final Ranking

Rk Tit Name Fed Rtg Pts  TB 
1 GM Pashikian Arman ARM 2608 9.0 79.5
2 GM Tiviakov Sergei NED 2677 8.5 76.5
3 IM Darini Pouria IRI 2458 8.5 75.5
4 GM Fominyh Alexander RUS 2479 8.5 74.0
5 FM Javanbakht Nima IRI 2389 8.5 70.0
6 GM Mahjoob Morteza IRI 2440 8.0 78.5
7 IM Idani Pouya IRI 2448 8.0 73.0
8 GM Babujian Levon ARM 2474 8.0 72.5
9 GM Ibrahimov Rasul AZE 2550 8.0 72.0
10 IM Shalamberidze Akaki GEO 2330 8.0 70.5
11 IM Alavi Sayed Javad IRI 2442 8.0 70.0

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1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 I have to play a dynamic variation with an Armenian GM...who is so strong in sharp games! 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 b5 7.e5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3?! That's not a good choice, because Black can play easily. 9.Nxg5 hxg5 10.Bxg5 Nbd7∞ Botvinnik main line... 9...Nd5 I saw some games from this variation earlier...so I played it. 9...Nh5!?∞ 10.Nd2 Bb7 11.Nde4 Nd7 12.Be2 Here I couldn't remember what I had prepared... Qb6 12...c5 13.0-0 Nxc3 14.Nxc3 cxd4 15.Qxd4 Bc5 13.0-0 0-0-0 Better was 13...c5 But I was afraid to play it because of 14.Nxd5 Bxd5 15.Nc3 Bg7∞ 14.a4! a6 Now he has some chances!... 15.Bh5 c5 16.axb5 16.Nxd5 Bxd5 17.Nc3 Bb7∞ 16...axb5?! 16...Nxc3! 17.Nxc3 cxd4 I has to play this instead, but during the game, I had thought the main line would give me a nice advantage. 18.bxa6 Bxa6∞ 17.Nxd5 Bxd5 17...exd5? 18.Nxc5± This opens lots of ways to attack my King. 18.Nc3 Bb7 19.d5! f5? Interesting! When I was played this move, I thought I felt confident I had a good advantage, so I got up and walked about 30-45 minutes... 20.dxe6? Then I came back, and I was happy to see this had been played! 20.exf6 After the game finished, I saw this line, and was very suprised as it gives White a clear advantage instead. Nxf6 21.Re1 Rh7 22.Bg4± /+- 20...Nb8! 21.Qc2 21.Qc1 would be harder for me. f4 22.Bxf4 gxf4 23.Qxf4 Be7 21...f4 22.Rad1 22.e7!? Bxe7 23.Qf5+ Maybe just some tricks! Kc7 22...Be7 23.Rxd8+ Rxd8 24.Qh7 Nc6 Nothing better... 25.Bf3 fxg3 Here I thought a lot, but maybe just this line gives me a huge advantage. 25...Nd4? 26.Qxe7 Bxf3 27.gxf3 Nxf3+ 28.Kg2 Qc6! 29.Ne4‼= would be a draw by repetition. 26.Nd5 Rxd5 27.Bxd5 gxh2+ 28.Kh1 28.Kxh2 A free pawn must be captured. Qc7 28...Qd8 29.Qe4 Kc7 30.Kxh2 Qe8 30...Kb6-+ would win faster... 31.Kg1 Kb6 32.Ra1 Qb8! Two ideas, one move. 33.Qh7 Qc7 33...Nxe5 34.Qxe7 Bxd5-+ I was afraid because of the King, so I decided to play the safe one! 34.Re1 Nd4?! 34...Nxe5! 35.Bxb7 35.Rxe5?? Qxe5 would end very shortly. 36.Bxb7 Qe1+ 37.Kh2 Bd6+-+ 35...Nd3-+ I missed this move! 35.Bxb7 Qxb7 36.Qg8 Playing on both sides with either mate on one side or another queen on the other. h5 The pawns are going to be fatal. 37.Ra1 b4 38.Qe8 h4? 38...Nxe6! 39.Ra8 Nc7 /-+ 39.Ra8 Now, he was in a bad time trouble... Nc6 40.Kh2?? 40.Rc8! Maybe after this, I couldn't win. c3 41.bxc3 bxc3 42.Rxc6+ Qxc6 43.Qxe7 c2 This would be very hard to win. 44.Qd8+ 40...c3 41.bxc3 bxc3 42.Ra1 c2-+ Now, it all works out. 43.Rc1 Nd4 44.f3 g4! The best choice. 45.fxg4 Bg5 Every piece is active. 46.Rf1 h3! 47.gxh3 47.Kxh3 Qh7+ 48.Qh5 Qd3+-+ 47...Nf3+ 48.Kg3 48.Rxf3 Qxf3 49.Qb8+ Ka5-+ King can run away from the checks. 48...Bh4+ 49.Kf4 Ne1 49...Nd4 is mate in eight according to the computer. 50.Rxe1 Bxe1 51.Qd8+ Ka7 52.e7 c1Q+ 53.Kf5 Qc2+ 53...Qbb1+ 54.Kg5 Qh7 55.e8Q Bh4+ 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Babujian,L2474Javanbakht,N23890–12012D442nd Ferdowsi International Chess Open10

This image is not a magician, but that of Sergei Tiviakov celebrating his birthday.
The good-tempered Dutch grandmaster took second place. | Photo: Reza Pashanejati

The Khayam Tournament specifically for women | Photo: Reza Pashanejati

Rasul Ibrahimov (Azerbaijan) playing Pouria Darini (Iran), 0-1 in round 10. Pouria Darini
came thiurd and scored a GM norm. | Photo: Reza Pashanejati

Memorial plaques given at the event | Photo: Reza Pashanejati

Armenian GM Amran Pashikian (first), Sergey Tiviakov (second)
and Pouria Darini (third). | Photo: Reza Pashanejati

Nima Javanbakht, the author, in action | Photo: Reza Pashanejati

 

Nima Javanbakht is an International Master originally from Isfahan, Iran, who believes chess is more than just a boardgame! He earned a Bachelor’s degree in 2018 and is pursuing PhD studies (from January 2020) at National University of Singapore (NUS).

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