Tiviakov wins 19th Fajr Open – and goes caving!

by ChessBase
3/10/2011 – In another display of Iran's vibrant chess community, after the recent world records set in giant simuls, the 19th Fajr Open was held, bringing together 25 GMs, 15 IMs and 10 FMs. This event allows Iranian players a rare opportunity to seek title norms in their home country. It was won by Sergey Tiviakov. No games are available, but Sergey sent us underground photographic impressions.

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The 19th Fajr Open took place from 26th February – 7th March 2011 in Mashhad, Iran. There were no rest days, and two rounds played on Feb. 26 and Mar. 4, with the first game starting at 09:00 a.m., as did the single game in the final round on March 7. Amongst the participants were 25 GMs, 15 IMs and 10 FMs. Nine GMs were rated 2600+.

Sergey Tiviakov, who played there very successfully and won the event, has been kind enough to provide us with many pictures of both the event and sight-seeing. Unfortunately, no games have surfaced from the event.

Photo gallery by Sergey Tiviakov


On the day of round five, the players found time to do a little sight-seeing and took
the metro to their destination.


Westerners who have not visited Iran might not realize that there
even is a modern metro system there.


Your photographer and reporter, GM Sergey Tiviakov


One chosen spot was the tomb of Nader Shah, whose campaigns created a great empire that briefly encompassed what is now Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, parts of the Caucasus region, parts of Central Asia, and Oman.

After the dust had settled on the intense eleven round tournament, no fewer than eight players stood at 8.5/11 and a further eight at 8.0/11. By virtue of tiebreak, in first place was GM Sergey Tiviakov, second was GM Evgeny Gleizerov, and third was IM Davit Benidze.

Final standings

Rk.
Tit
Name
FED
Rtg
Pts.
 TB
1
GM
Tiviakov Sergei
NED
2623
8.5
79.5
2
GM
Gleizerov Evgeny
RUS
2581
8.5
78.5
3
IM
Benidze Davit
GEO
2522
8.5
76.0
4
GM
Guseinov Gadir
AZE
2591
8.5
75.5
5
GM
Ulibin Mikhail
RUS
2547
8.5
75.0
6
GM
Mamedov Nidjat
AZE
2580
8.5
74.5
7
GM
Kasimdzhanov Rustam
UZB
2681
8.5
74.5
8
GM
Gagunashvili Merab
GEO
2619
8.5
71.0
9
GM
Dzhumaev Marat
UZB
2493
8.0
74.5
10
GM
Moiseenko Alexander
UKR
2670
8.0
74.5
11
GM
Ghaem maghami Ehsan
IRI
2604
8.0
73.5
12
FM
Sharbaf Mohsen
IRI
2392
8.0
72.5
13
IM
Sebenik Matej
SLO
2526
8.0
71.0
14
GM
Moradiabadi Elshan
IRI
2558
8.0
70.5
15
GM
Shanava Konstantine
GEO
2560
8.0
70.5
16
IM
Grover Sahaj
IND
2462
8.0
68.5
17
IM
Guliev Logman
AZE
2464
8.0
67.0
18
FM
Pourramezanali Amirreza
IRI
2326
8.0
66.0


The officials before the distribution of trophies


Hadi Karimi, General Secretary of the Iranian Chess Federation


The top three prize winners Gleizerov (2nd), Tiviakov (1st) and Benidze (3rd)


The tomb of Hadassa, the heroine of the Biblical "Book of Esther" The Tomb of Esther and Mardecai, visited by Jewish pilgrims from all over the world, is located in Hamadan, Iran. It is a simple brick dome there and contains two graves with...


...exquisite wooden tomb-boxes with inscription in Hebrew


Hebrew inscription are to be found on the plaster work of the wall


The Avicenna Mausoleum in Hamadan, Iran


A visit to the Alisadr Water Cave (click to enlarge) located about
75 kilometers north of Hamadan and is the world's largest water cave.


Since the cave is filled with water the tour is undertaken by boat


The mineral formations in the cave are world famous and truly spectacular


Close-up of the formations in the cave, which was formed
130-190 million years ago, in the second Jurassic period


The grandmaster in Alisadr. Anyone you had recently seen the movie Sanctum
would never, never, ever, go into this cave. Sergey has not.


Back in Fajr the players were then given the opportunity to spend their winnings on
some rare Iranian minerals. This one cost USD $300.


Here is another one priced at USD $400


For USD $500 this one is yours


And for USD $1000, a steal, you can buy this.


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