
The tournament
The tournament is an eleven-round competition played at 40 moves in 90 minutes followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game and a 30-second increment as of move one. The first round is on May 15 with rounds every day until round eleven on May 24, including a double-round on May 17. Play typically starts at 5PM.
Although there are tiebreak scoring systems in place, starting with direct encounter, Buchholz, and more, in the event of a draw at the top, the top four qualifiers will be decided by a rapid tiebreak match or tournament, depending on the number, starting at 15 minutes plus a ten-second increment.
The prizes are US$5000 for first, $3400 for second, $2400 for third with prizes all the way to 20th place. Note that as FIDE events of this caliber, all norms scored count double, thus a player who scores a norm at the end of the competition will be considered to have earned two norms, not one.
Pride in the past
Upon first getting to know the city of Montevideo, of which I have only scratched the surface, a fact I am all too aware of, one is struck by the incessant and almost overwhelming number of museums, displays, and galleries open to the public, almost all at no cost.
One walks past all this in wide-eyed acceptance and admiration, but at some point the mind recovers from its initial shock and asks itself ‘how?’ If you go to a city such as Paris, you expect this, with its history dating back to Roman times, and artistic endeavors that have punctuated its past. Nevertheless, with all the deepest respect for this city, it does not quite stretch that far back, so how do they do it?
In many ways, the list of cultural offerings are an example of what is possible even without millennia of stories to tell, and the nature of the exhibitions tells a tale of pride in their past that is not common. The exhibition of the Museum of Currency shared in the first report are but the tip of the iceberg.

For one thing there are the old buildings with rich architectural beauty visible everywhere, even in
relatively ‘common’ buildings. One might expect this effort to protect old churches and whatnot, but
it extends far beyond this helping give the city its Old World flavor. (Click image for high-res version)
A couple of blocks from the hotel there is a post office. What is interesting nevertheless is not just that it is housed in one of the older traditional buildings, but that it carries a sign saying: “Postal Museum”

The entrance depicts a small open space with the ever-present Artigas
These are not idle words, and strolling into it, you will see a series of exhibits describing the first efforts at postal services and the original items and equipment used.

The museum shares an ample collection of the various stamps used

This, for example, is the second generation mailbox used from 1900 to 1940

This is a reconstruction of the early postal offices

Saddles (1896-1945) - Used by the cavalry postmen (on horseback) to
distribute the mail in urban and suburban zones. The first 'Postman on
Horse' was Don Gregorio Haedo in 1896.

Among the various displays, of which this is but a small selection, is
even an original 'Postal and Telegraph Guide' from 1925
While quaint on the one side, they are also fascinating glimpses into a past that is not so far back, and that helps us stay in touch with our roots and better understand and appreciate the changes we are undergoing. Still, it is not all about "Montevideo 100 years ago".

This old-looking building with a modern decoration invites you to take
a look at a new series of displays. (Click image for high-res version)

The inside is quite large, and houses several floors of modern multimedia exhibits

Among the themes on the ground floor is one on recycling, a concept the city has embraced

Even public parks are the topic for school field trips. Here a class comes with the teacher
as she gives a lesson on the fountain and its importance

Around the fountain, vendors sell a variety of items. Here I am posing with a camera from yesteryear
Round five
The fifth round can already be described as defining ever more the true list of leaders and challengers. It is to be expected that the leaders will change places over the next rounds, and sure enough that is indeed what happened. IM Yago Santiago faced GM Axel Bachmann and found himself on the wrong side of opening preparation.

A shake of the hands, and a swap of leadership
GM Axel Bachmann - IM Yago Santiago (annotated by IM Luis Rodi)
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.g3 g6 2.Bg2 Bg7 3.d4 d6 4.e4 Nf6 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Nge2 c6 7.0-0 e5 8.a4 8.h3 b5 9.a3 Bb7 8...Na6 9.h3 Re8 10.a5!? 10.Be3 Nb4 11.Qd2 a5 12.Rad1 Qe7 10...exd4 11.Nxd4 Nc5 11...Nb4 12.Re1 d5 12...Nfd7 13.Be3 Qc7 14.f4 Na6!? 13.exd5 Rxe1+ 14.Qxe1 Nxd5 15.Nxd5 cxd5 16.Be3± Ne6 17.Rd1 Nxd4 17...Qc7 18.Bxd5 Nxd4 19.Bxd4 Bxh3 20.Bxg7 Kxg7 21.a6+- 18.Bxd4 Bxd4 19.Rxd4 Be6 20.Qd2 Qf6 21.c4! 21.c3 Re8 22.Bxd5 Bxh3 23.Bxb7 h5 24.b4 Kh7 25.Bg2 Bg4 26.b5 Re5 27.Rb4 Re6 28.Qd4 Qe7 29.b6 Rd6 30.Qe4 Rd1+ 31.Kh2 Qc5 32.Qf4 Be6 33.b7 Qxc3 34.b8Q 21...dxc4? 21...b6 22.cxd5 Bd7 23.d6 Rd8 24.axb6 axb6± 22.a6+- Kg7 23.axb7 Rb8 24.Rd6! Qe7 25.Qd4+ Kg8 26.Qe5 26.Qe5 Qf8 27.Ra6 1–0
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Bachmann,A | 2636 | Santiago,Y | 2400 | 1–0 | 2015 | B07 | Continental | 5 |
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On other tables on the stage were Argentine Alain Pichot who held GM Eric Hansen to a
draw, while Sandro Mareco split the point with Alexander Shabalov
Joining Axel Bachmann in the lead was Peruvian Jorge Cori. IM Luis Rodi, who followed the game with great interest, said, "After Julio Granda Zuñiga, a long list of rising players has come out of Peru, among whom the talented Jorge Cori. In the following game, the young Peruvian grandmaster achieves an advantage in original style, which he then exploits to perfection."
GM Jorge Cori - GM Federico Perez Ponsa (annotated by IM Luis Rodi)
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 a5 5.g3 d6 6.Bg2 Nbd7 7.0-0 e5 8.e3 c6 9.Bc1! e4 10.Ng5 d5 11.c5 a4 11...h6 12.Nh3 a4 13.a3 Ba5 14.Qxa4 Nf8 15.b4 Bxh3 16.Bxh3 Bc7 17.Qd1 h5 12.a3 Ba5 13.Qxa4 Nf8N 13...b5 14.Qc2 h6 15.Nxe4!? 15.Nh3 15...dxe4 16.Bxe4 13...h6!? 14.Nh3 Nf8 14.b4 h6 15.Nxf7! Kxf7 16.bxa5± N8h7 17.Nd2 Ng5 18.f3 Rxa5 19.Qb3 Rb5 20.Qc2 exf3 21.Nxf3 Nxf3+ 22.Bxf3 Ra5 23.Bd2 Ra8 24.Qb3 Rf8 25.e4!+- Kg8 26.e5 Nh7 27.Be2 Qe7 28.Rxf8+ Nxf8 29.Rf1 Bh3 30.Rf2 Bc8 31.Bd1 Be6 32.a4 Bf7 33.Bc2 Kh8 34.g4 Ne6 35.Qh3 Kg8 36.Qd3 Nf8 37.a5 Qh4 38.Qf3 Bg6 39.Bf5 Kh8 39...Bxf5 40.gxf5 Qxd4 41.Qg3 Kh8 42.e6+- 40.e6 40.Qg3!? Qxg3+ 41.hxg3+- 40...Re8 41.Qg3 Qf6 41...Qxg3+ 42.hxg3 Bh7 43.Re2 g6 44.e7 gxf5 45.exf8Q+ Rxf8 46.Bxh6 Ra8 47.g5 42.g5 hxg5 43.Bxg5 Qxd4 44.Qh3+ Kg8 45.e7 Nh7 46.Bxg6 Nxg5 47.Qf5 Rxe7 48.Qf8# 1–0
- Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
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Cori,J | 2609 | Perez Ponsa,F | 2533 | 1–0 | 2015 | E11 | Continental | 5 |
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In the main playing room, Argentinian IM Facundo Pierrot drew GM Kaidanov

GM Diego Flores started with 4.0/5

Keen chess enthusiast, organizer André Boff in a post-mortem

A game of contrasts
Standings after five rounds
Click for complete standings
The top eight boards of the event can be followed live at both the official site and on Playchess.
All photos by Albert Silver