7/8/2013 – The Masters Tournament of this popular international event was won by Russian GM Kurnosov, who tied for first with GMs Zahar Efimenko, Mikhailo Oleksienko abd Avetik Grigoryan, but beat them on tiebreak points. Kurnosov's performance was 2709. In addition to the Masters there were many FIDE registered tournaments: an Open, Junior and Blitz. Big pictorial report.
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The 20th Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival took place from June 30
till July 8 2013 in Abu Dhabi City, the capital of the UAE. This event included
many FIDE registered tournaments. Of greatest interest was the Masters Tournament,
which was exclusive to players above 2200 Elo rating (with the exception
of Abu Dhabi chess players). It was a nine-round Swiss with time controls
of 90 min for each player with 30 sec increment for each move. The organizing
committee provided free accommodation in five-stars hotel for players rated
2550 and above. Top prizes were US $8000, 6000, 4000, 2500, 2000, etc.
In addition there was an Open Tournament for anyone under 2200 Elo to participate,
with top prizes of $2500, 2000, 1500, 1200, 1000 etc.; a Junior Tournament
for players under 15 years (born from 1999 onwards) with top prizes of $1500,
1000, 700, 500, 400, 300, etc.; a Blitz Tournament with 11 rounds, played
at 3 min + 2 sec increment; and a simultaneous exhibition by Russian grandmaster
Aleksandr Rakhmanov, who played an exhibition match against 30 participants
in the festival’s under-15 competition (Rakhmanov won 29 games, while
settling for a tie with UAE youngster Saif Al Hamed).
The top games were broadcast on a giant projection
screen
The Masters Tournament was won by Russian GM Igor Kurnosov (above), who
tied for first with GMs Zahar Efimenko, Mikhailo Oleksienko abd Avetik Grigoryan,
but beat them on tiebreak points. Kurnosov's performance was 2709.
Tie Break1: Direct Encounter (the results of the players in the same point
group)
Tie Break2: Sum of the ratings of the opponents (whithout one result)
Tie Break3: Buchholz Tie-Breaks (variabel with parameter)
In second place: GM Zahar Efimenko of Ukraine
Third: GM Mikhailo Oleksienko, also from Ukraine
Fourth place: GM Avetik Grigoryan, Armenia
Top female player in the Masters: IM Anna Zozulia
of Bulgaria
Top UAE player in the Masters: Ali Abdulkhaleq,
place 44
Here is an especially attractive game played by the Masters Tournament
winner Igor Kurnosov, above being interviews by UAE television:
The Open Tournament, with 124 participants, was won by Behrang Kaboodi
(IRI, rated 1993) and FM Ahmed Al-Zayat (LBA, 2085) who both finished with
8.0/9 points, a full point ahead of the field. The Junior Tournament, with
140 players, was won by Ismayil Shahaliyev (AZE, 2056) with a score of 6.5
points from seven rounds.
The Junior section for players under 15
The Blitz Championship was won by Indian youngster Suri Vaibhav, who beat
a host of more experienced and ranked players (121 players took part in
the competition, 81 of them with titles). Suri, 16, produced his best in
the final rounds of the nine-round, Swiss-format competition to collect
7.5 points and take the title ahead of grandmasters Gadir Guseinov, from
Azerbaijan, in second place, and Vasily Papin, from Russia, in third. The
pair also collected 7.5 points, but the title went to Suri in the tie-breaker.
Ukrainian Grandmasters Mikhailo Olekseinko and Mikhail Kazakov finished
fourth and fifth respectively with 7 points each.
All pictures and information supplied by Majed Ahmad
Videos by Vijay Kumar
Round 9 and Prize Distribution
Greatest Moment of 20th Abu Dhabi Int Chess Festival
You can also use ChessBase
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