ChessBase 17 - Mega package - Edition 2024
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The II International President’s Cup devoted to Azerbaijan’s prominent politician and late President Heydar Aliyev took place from 2nd May to 12th May 2007 in Baku. The tournament, which had $50,000 guaranteed prize fund and gifts for winners, included three sections: the Children’s Section, with age limit 14 years old, the Open Tournament and the Veteran Players’ Section with players over 60 years old. In the Open Tournament, the winner of the first place will get $5,000 and the second place $4,000.
The event had an exciting finish. In round eight the clear leader (almost from the start) Vadim Milov, was brought crashing down by the top seed Nigel Short, playing with the black pieces. After round eight the following players were in the lead, with more or less high aspirations for a first place:
Rnk | Title | Name | Elo | Pts | 1 | GM | Short, Nigel D | 2691 | 6.5 |
2 | GM | Guseinov, Gadir | 2586 | 6.5 |
3 | GM | Malakhatko, Vadim | 2598 | 6.5 |
4 | GM | Naiditsch, Arkadij | 2654 | 6.5 |
5 | GM | Mamedov, Nidjat | 2547 | 6 |
6 | GM | Savchenko, Stanislav | 2545 | 6 |
7 | GM | Milov, Vadim | 2675 | 6 |
8 | GM | Van Wely, Loek | 2674 | 6 |
9 | GM | Balogh, Csaba | 2617 | 6 |
10 | GM | Fedorov, Alexei | 2611 | 6 |
11 | - | Morchiashvili, Bachana | 2396 | 6 |
12 | WGM | Mamedjarova, Zeinab | 2354 | 6 |
In round nine it was Nigel's turn to taste bitter defeat with white, when he lost an 88-move game (that finished in a Q vs R+P endgame) to Arkadij Naiditsch, who had won his last four games in succession. In fact Naiditsch played only one undecided game in this tournament. His score was +7 =1 –1 and the rating perfomance close to 2700.
The winner: Arkadij Naiditsch, half a point clear of the field
Keeping an eye on Nigel: visiting GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (left) watches
the round six game
Rnk | Sd | Title | Name | Fed: | Elo | Pts | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 |
1 | 4 | GM | Naiditsch, Arkadij | GER | 2654 | 7.5 | 47.5 | 37.5 | 37.5 |
2 | 9 | GM | Malakhatko, Vadim | BEL | 2598 | 7 | 51 | 40 | 40 |
3 | 3 | GM | Van Wely, Loek | NED | 2674 | 7 | 49.5 | 38.5 | 38.5 |
4 | 7 | GM | Fedorov, Alexei | BLR | 2611 | 7 | 49 | 38.5 | 38.5 |
5 | 1 | GM | Short, Nigel D | ENG | 2691 | 6.5 | 54 | 42.5 | 42.5 |
6 | 14 | GM | Mamedov, Nidjat | AZE | 2547 | 6.5 | 54 | 42.5 | 42.5 |
7 | 11 | GM | Guseinov, Gadir | AZE | 2586 | 6.5 | 53 | 41.5 | 41.5 |
8 | 15 | GM | Savchenko, Stanislav | UKR | 2545 | 6.5 | 53 | 41 | 41 |
9 | 12 | GM | Mamedov, Rauf | AZE | 2584 | 6.5 | 52.5 | 41 | 41 |
10 | 2 | GM | Milov, Vadim | SUI | 2675 | 6.5 | 52 | 43 | 43 |
11 | 6 | GM | Balogh, Csaba | HUN | 2617 | 6.5 | 50.5 | 39.5 | 39.5 |
12 | 34 | - | Morchiashvili, Bachana | GEO | 2396 | 6.5 | 46.5 | 36.5 | 36.5 |
13 | 24 | IM | Gasanov, Eldar | UKR | 2486 | 6.5 | 45.5 | 35 | 35 |
14 | 30 | IM | Dovliatov, Sanan | AZE | 2438 | 6.5 | 41.5 | 32.5 | 32.5 |
15 | 20 | GM | Zubarev, Alexander | UKR | 2511 | 6 | 53.5 | 43.5 | 43.5 |
16 | 5 | GM | Sadvakasov, Darmen | KAZ | 2618 | 6 | 51.5 | 40 | 40 |
17 | 32 | IM | Sanikidze, Tornike | GEO | 2426 | 6 | 50.5 | 40.5 | 40.5 |
18 | 16 | GM | Shanava, Konstantine | GEO | 2532 | 6 | 50 | 38 | 38 |
19 | 17 | GM | Shengelia, Davit | GEO | 2523 | 6 | 49.5 | 38.5 | 38.5 |
20 | 8 | GM | Gelashvili, Tamaz | GEO | 2605 | 6 | 49 | 38 | 38 |
21 | 10 | GM | Burmakin, Vladimir | RUS | 2593 | 6 | 48.5 | 38 | 38 |
22 | 25 | IM | Magalashvili, Davit | GEO | 2474 | 6 | 48 | 37 | 37 |
23 | 38 | WGM | Mamedjarova, Zeinab | AZE | 2354 | 6 | 48 | 37 | 37 |
24 | 56 | - | Lomsadze, Davit | GEO | 2268 | 6 | 47.5 | 37.5 | 37.5 |
25 | 35 | - | Paichadze, Luka | GEO | 2392 | 6 | 45.5 | 36.5 | 36.5 |
26 | 51 | WIM | Khotenashvili, Bela | GEO | 2301 | 6 | 44 | 34.5 | 34.5 |
27 | 42 | WGM | Zozulia, Anna | BEL | 2344 | 6 | 41.5 | 32 | 32 |
28 | 37 | - | Durarbeyli, Vasif | AZE | 2368 | 6 | 41 | 33 | 33 |
29 | 61 | - | Badalov, Samir | AZE | 2245 | 6 | 38 | 29.5 | 29.5 |
Click to download all games available in zipped PGN
The tournament atmosphere in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku
Arkadij Naiditsch (left) during his seventh round win over Konstantine Shavana
Holland's Loek van Wely facing Stanislav Savchenko of Ukraine
The above photos are by Farid Khayrulin of "FGF Digital STUDIO", who has published a large number of excellent images from the President's Cup on the official web site. We bring you a few more, of lesser known players, to give you an impression of the atmosphere at this event in Baku.
Many thanks to Farid Khayrulin for the great work and these remarkable portraits!