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Photos by Sina Zare and Hossein Shahiri
Chess has a long history in Iran and most Iranians believe that chess probably originated in Iran. This helps explain its historical impact and popularity among the people of this country.
This year, the Iranian chess federation was very busy organizing different tournaments such as the FIDE Women Grand Prix, the 14th International Khazar Cup with 758 participants, and the Asian Schools Chess Championships with almost 500 chess players from 17 countries. However, the most interesting tournament was the “1st Stars Cup” which takes place in the Anzali Free Zone, from July 9-21 and was opened by Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and former World Champion Anatoly Karpov.
The event was organized as 10-round Scheveningen match between two teams of 10 players each: one of players from around the globe, and the other with Iranian players.
Ten grandmasters from different countries represented the World Stars team:
| Bd | Name | Rtg | FED | |
| 1 | GM | Sargissian Gabriel | 2679 | ARM |
| 2 | GM | Dreev Aleksey | 2664 | RUS |
| 3 | GM | Edouard Romain | 2639 | FRA |
| 4 | GM | Short Nigel D | 2652 | ENG |
| 5 | GM | Sokolov Ivan | 2642 | NED |
| 6 | GM | Miroshnichenko Evgenij | 2616 | UKR |
| 7 | GM | Lu Shanglei | 2611 | CHN |
| 8 | GM | Mchedlishvili Mikheil | 2604 | GEO |
| 9 | GM | Ehlvest Jaan | 2524 | USA |
| 10 | GM | Vakhidov Jahongir | 2586 | UZB |
Ten Iranian top players represented the Iran Stars team:
| Bd | Name | Rtg | FED | |
| 1 | GM | Idani Pouya | 2560 | IRI |
| 2 | GM | Ghaem Maghami Ehsan | 2569 | IRI |
| 3 | GM | Darini Pouria | 2524 | IRI |
| 4 | Maghsoodloo Parham | 2501 | IRI | |
| 5 | IM | Pourramezanali Amirreza | 2509 | IRI |
| 6 | Firouzja Alireza | 2481 | IRI | |
| 7 | IM | Khademalsharieh Sarasadat | 2445 | IRI |
| 8 | IM | Lorparizangeneh Shahin | 2468 | IRI |
| 9 | FM | Gholami Aryan | 2454 | IRI |
| 10 | IM | Mousavi Seyed Khalil | 2432 | IRI |
At the end of tournament, the World Stars team defeated Iran Stars team with the overall result of 64.5 -35.5.
FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and former World Champion Anatoly Karpov participated in the opening ceremony
The playing hall
English grandmaster Nigel Short here in deep thought played very well and was the top scoring player
with 8½/10 and an excellent performance of 2790
15-year-old Parham Mahhsoodloo(2501) was Iran’s most successful player, finishing the event with 8.0/10
and an incredible performance of 2862. This earned him his third grandmaster norm and thus the title.
12-year-old Alireza Firouzja, Iranian Champion
Playing against the super talented Alireza Firouzja must have been difficult even for GM Edouard Romain
They look happy after their games!
GM Dreev Aleksey (2664) from Russia. He finished the tournament undefeated and scored 6.5/10
On the left is GM Ivan Sokolov (Netherland) against GM Ehsan Ghaemmaghami (Iran); the game ended in a draw.
It seems that after this event, Sokolov agreed to a part-time deal to coach the Iranian national chess team.
GM Nigel Short against IM Amirreza Pourramezanali. Both players are experts in the French Defense
and a draw was the quick result.
GM Pouya Idani is one of the most popular Iranian grandmasters. He also came first at the World Youth
Championships in the Under 18 section in 2013. His result wasn’t great at this event but he was serious
and looks ready for his next International event in Urmia, Iran.
IM Shahin Lorparizangeneh from Iran scored 4.0/10. Note he has already won five Asian Youth chess titles!
The famous GM Jaan Ehlvest from USA. He was named Estonian sportsman of the year in 1987 and
1989. His brother is also a famous writer.
Sarasadat Khademalsharieh who came second in the FIDE Women Grand Prix in Tehran had a very tough event here
14-year-old Aryan Gholami a member of the Iranian national team in the upcoming Olympiad in Baku.
GM Nigel Short quipped, “Aryan Gholami, looks exactly like an Iranian #Harry Potter, sans forehead scar.”
GM Pouria Darini (2524) from Iran in a blue shirt with the logo of organizer “Anzali Free Zone”. Pouya is
famous for his competitive spirit during games and can be counted on to fight for a win.
IM Khalil Mousavi (2432) from Iran
IA Werner Stubenvoll from Austria, Chairman of the FIDE Qualification Commission was the Chief Arbiter
Exhibition game: Mr. Masroor, the sponsor of the event (white), against the president of the
Iran Chess Federation IA/IO/FT Mehrdad Pahlevanzadeh (black)
Don't forget to try out delicious Iranian Kebabs!
Parham Maghsoodloo won 1st prize among Iranian chess players
World Stars Team with their prizes
Players and audience in the closing ceremony
About the authorShohreh Bayat is an International Arbiter and Woman Fide Master from Iran, She is chairman of the Iran Arbiters’ Commission and was a match arbiter in 41st World chess Olympiad in Tromso and upcoming Olympiad in Baku.
Shohreh has won numerous Iranian tournaments such as the Iranian Women's Blitz Championship, the Iranian Junior Chess Championship, the Iranian Woman Chess Festival Championship, and was vice-champion of the Iranian Rapid Chess Tournament.
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