7/9/2023 – Kazakhstan, host of the World Championship match between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren, has a lively and thriving chess scene and continues to organise attractive tournaments. The Uralsk Open (20-29 July) and the World Schools Team Championships in Aktau (3-8 August) are in the pipeline, but below is a report on the recently concluded Aktobe Open, which took place from 19-28 June and was won by Iranian grandmaster Daneshwar Bardiya. | Photo: The main square of Aktobe | Photo: Kazakhstan Travel
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Aktobe Open 2023
Organised in memory of Vladimir Dvorkovich, a distinguished international chess arbiter and father of Arkadiy Dvorkovich, the 'Vladimir Dvorkovich Memorial' has been held in Russia for several years, but the last three editions have been held in Aktobe, Kazakhstan.
Dvorkovich attended the opening ceremony and thanked the local government of Aktobe for remembering and honouring his father.
FIDE President Arkadiy Dvorkovich greeting the guests at the "Aktobe Open 2023" | Photo: Kazakhstan Chess Federation
A 9-round tournament with a prize fund of 46,000 euros attracted two hundred athletes, 35 of them titled players, from 16 chess federations to the historic city of Aktobe in western Kazakhstan.
In addition to the main Open, there was a youth tournament for the U14 and U10 categories.
A well-equipped playing hall with 18 electronic boards showing the games in progress | Photo: Kazakhstan Chess Federation
Tastefully designed cups and framed certificates for the winners | Photo: Kazakhstan Chess Federation
Iranian youngster, 17-year-old Daneshvar Bardiya, after his successful debut at the Asian Continentals where he won silver, went one step further here, winning outright, undefeated, 7.5/9. Daneshvar is ranked 22nd among the top 100 juniors in the July FIDE Ratings.
The winner, GM Daneshwar Bardiya from Iran | Photo: Kazakhstan Chess Federation
GM Matlakov Maxim (Silver) and GM Gareyev Timur (Bronze), tied for 2-3 with 7/9.
Bardiya (1st), Matlakov (2nd), Gareyev (3rd) and the mayor of Aktobe | Photo: Kazakhstan Chess Federation
Group photo of officials and winners of all categories | Photo: Kazakhstan Chess Federation
Actobe boys IM Kirill Kuderinov (left), a 2013 national champion (5.5/9) and Arystanbek Urazayev (6.5/9) | Photo: Kazakhstan Chess Federation
A handshake between neighbours: Timur Gareyev (USA), a native of Uzbekistan, and Eraly Tugzhanov, the mayor of Aktobe | Photo: Kazakhstan Chess Federation
The mayor pointed out in his opening speech that there are 1303 chess clubs in the Aktobe region, 433 of them in the villages. More than 19.5 thousand people are members of chess clubs.
As described in the Astana Times, Aktobe was founded in 1869 as a fortress to protect the then Russian Empire. The name "Aktobe" is a reference to the heights on which the original settlement was built in the 19th century. It comes from the Kazakh words "ақ" (white) and "төбе" (hill).
The city is now home to more than 417,000 people, making it the fifth largest city in Kazakhstan after Almaty, Astana, Shymkent and Karaganda.
Aktobe is proud of its famous personality, Gaziza Zhubanova (1927 -1993), who was born in the city. She was the first Kazakh woman composer, famous throughout the then Soviet Union. She was awarded the honorary title of "National Artist of the USSR" for outstanding achievements in the performing arts. Her compositions encompassed all genres of classical music and were noted for combining Western classical and Kazakh folk music.
Rashid Nezhmetdinov (1912 - 1974) is another pride of Aktobe. The most fascinating chess player, a master of combinations, Nezhmetdinov spent his life in Kazan, where he died, but was born in Aktobe.
In the following video Simon Williams presents five amazing moves by Rashid Nezhmetdinov:
Diana MihajlovaA former university lecturer in Romance philology, she is currently a painter as well as a chess journalist, and reports regularly from the international tournament scene.
Instead of forcing you to memorise endless lines, Raja focuses on clear plans, typical ideas, and attacking motifs that you can apply in your own games without delay. A short, focused, and practical repertoire.
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