Chess in Iran: Premier Women's League
Report by FM Arash Akbarinia
The winner of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize, Shirin Ebadi, who has won the very
first and only Nobel Prize for Iran, is just one of the shining examples of
successful Persian women. Ms Ebadi is not a rare paradigm in this ancient country;
Iranian girls remarkably make up more than sixty percent of university entrants.
Shirin Ebadi was awarded the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize for her significant
and pioneering efforts for democracy and human rights, especially women's and
children's rights. She is the first Iranian, the first Shia and the first Muslim
woman to receive the prize.
In chess, too, Iranian gentlewomen have won many Asian and World trophies.
Currently Iran has one woman Grandmaster, two women International Masters and
five woman Fide Masters; I am sure these numbers will be dramatically raised
in a very near future, by our very talented young ladies.
The second Iranian Premier Women's League started July 9th in the building
of the Iran Chess Federation. Ten clubs, including fifty players, more than
half of them international rating holders, fight each other in a double round-robin
tournament. The presence of three IMs, one WGM, two WIMs and five WFMs has warmed
up the “Wisdom Cup”, another name of Iranian Premier Women's League.
IM Nana Dzagnidze, 2458, from Georgia, playing for Bayat
Beton-e-Gilan, former champion in the World U12, U16, U18 and Junior Chess Championship.
Nana has two grandmaster norms, I bet she will achieve her title in next to
no time.
IM Salome Melia, 2416, from Georgia, playing for Khaneh-e-Shatrandj-e-Babol,
former gold medalist of European U18 Championship and bronze medalist of World
Girls U20 Championship
IM Sopiko Khukhashvili, 2408, from Georgia, playing for
Petroshimi-e-Bandar-e-Emam. Next month in the Women's World Chess Championship,
she plays against her compatriot IM Maia Lomineishvili, 2414.
In the first round that kicked off on Wednesday July 9th all the favourites
won their game quite convincingly. In the most important board game Georgian
IMs (Also WGMs) Sopiko Khukhashvili and Salome Melia, shared the point.
1 |
Petroshimi Bandar Emam |
Rtg |
3½:½ |
10 |
Khaneh Shatrandj Babol |
Rtg |
IM |
Khukhashvili Sopiko |
2408 |
½-½ |
IM |
Melia Salome |
2416 |
WIM |
Pourkashiyan Atousa |
2269 |
1-0 |
- |
Soleimani Zahra |
0 |
WGM |
Paridar Shadi |
2238 |
1-0 |
- |
Akbari Marjan |
0 |
WIM |
Ghader Pour Shayesteh |
2148 |
1-0 |
- |
Nataj Khadijeh |
0 |
2 |
Madreseh Shatrandj Kerman |
Rtg |
½:3½ |
9 |
Daneshgah Azad Eslami Tehran |
Rtg |
- |
Sattarzadeh Sadaf |
0 |
0-1 |
WFM |
Hejazipour Mitra |
2137 |
- |
Golsorkhi Mohadesseh Sadat |
0 |
0-1 |
- |
Tajik Sareh |
2041 |
- |
Darini Tooba |
0 |
0-1 |
- |
Jafari Golnaz |
2046 |
- |
Shirvani Elham |
0 |
½-½ |
- |
Hammatizadeh N |
1869 |
3 |
Mohandesi Abzangan Zanjan |
Rtg |
½:3½ |
8 |
Rahahan Tehran |
Rtg |
- |
Nematifar Zahra |
0 |
0-1 |
WFM |
Hakimifard Ghazal |
2018 |
- |
Afhsar Niusha |
1866 |
0-1 |
- |
Khalaji Hanieh |
1940 |
- |
Saeidpour Mona |
1842 |
½-½ |
- |
Asgarizadeh Minoo |
1846 |
- |
Mehrabi Golnar |
0 |
0-1 |
- |
Hakimifard Raana |
1850 |
4 |
Khaneh Shatrandj Gorgan |
Rtg |
2:2 |
7 |
Daneshgah Payam Nour |
Rtg |
- |
Kia Fatemeh |
1794 |
1-0 |
- |
Mortaz Sepideh |
0 |
- |
Alinouri Fariba |
0 |
½-½ |
- |
Fardi Matin |
1744 |
- |
Mohaymeni Shadi |
0 |
½-½ |
- |
Mousavi Farzaneh |
0 |
- |
Rahimi Tara |
1903 |
0-1 |
- |
Mahboobi Shiva |
1654 |
5 |
Daavat Oroumieh |
Rtg |
0:4 |
6 |
Bayat Beton Gilan |
Rtg |
- |
Saeidirad Zahra |
0 |
0-1 |
IM |
Dzagnidze Nana |
2458 |
- |
Vardkar Mariam |
1732 |
0-1 |
WFM |
Salman Mahini Mona |
2095 |
- |
Lotfi Aylar |
0 |
0-1 |
- |
Alavi Homa |
1723 |
- |
Moradi Kimia |
1790 |
0-1 |
- |
Vakilpour Azin |
1777 |

A member of Iran Team in the Dresden Olympiad, WIM Atousa Pourkashiyan,
2269, playing for Petroshimi-e-Bandar-e-Emam, will represent Iran in Women's
World Chess Championship 2008, which will be held next month in Kabardino-Balkar
Republic. She faces Russian GM Alexandra Kosteniuk 2510.
WGM Shadi Paridar, 2238, playing for Petroshimi-e-Bandar-e-Emam,
member of the Iranian Team in the Dresden Olympiad. A few years ago she and
her other two sisters played in the Tehran League as a club named "Paridar"!
WIM Shayesteh Ghader Pour, 2148, playing for Petroshimi-e-Bandar-e-Emam.
She will play as a member of the Iranian Team in the Dresden Olympiad.
Thursday July 10th, nine o’clock: the second round has started. In this round,
too, all the front-runners beat their opponents convincingly. IM Nana Dzagnidze
managed to gain the full point against her fellow-countrywoman IM Salome Melia.
WFM Shirin Navabi 2060, member of Petroshimi-e-Bandar-e-Emam, the top
team (from the average rating of players), lost an important half-point against
her unrated opponent, Elham Shirvani.
10 |
Khaneh Shatrandj Babol |
Rtg |
½:3½ |
6 |
Bayat Beton Gilan |
Rtg |
IM |
Melia Salome |
2416 |
0-1 |
IM |
Dzagnidze Nana |
2458 |
- |
Soleimani Zahra |
0 |
0-1 |
WFM |
Salman Mahini Mona |
2095 |
- |
Akbari Marjan |
0 |
0-1 |
WFM |
Bayat Shohreh |
1991 |
- |
Nataj Khadijeh |
0 |
½-½ |
- |
Vakilpour Azin |
1777 |
7 |
Daneshgah Payam Nour |
Rtg |
2 : 2 |
5 |
Daavat Oroumieh |
Rtg |
- |
Fardi Matin |
1744 |
½-½ |
- |
Saeidirad Zahra |
0 |
- |
Mousavi Farzaneh |
0 |
0-1 |
- |
Vardkar Mariam |
1732 |
- |
Mahboobi Shiva |
1654 |
½-½ |
- |
Lotfi Aylar |
0 |
- |
Shams Negar |
0 |
1-0 |
- |
Moradi Kimia |
1790 |
8 |
Rahahan Tehran |
Rtg |
3½:½ |
4 |
Khaneh Shatrandj Gorgan |
Rtg |
WFM |
Hakimifard Ghazal |
2018 |
1-0 |
- |
Kia Fatemeh |
1794 |
- |
Khalaji Hanieh |
1940 |
1-0 |
- |
Alinouri Fariba |
0 |
- |
Asgarizadeh Minoo |
1846 |
1-0 |
- |
Rahimi Tara |
1903 |
- |
Bagheri Nadia |
0 |
½-½ |
- |
Sayyadi Parisa |
0 |
9 |
Daneshgah Azad Eslami Tehran |
Rtg |
3½:½ |
3 |
Mohandesi Abzangan Zanjan |
Rtg |
WFM |
Hejazipour Mitra |
2137 |
1-0 |
- |
Nematifar Zahra |
0 |
- |
Tajik Sareh |
2041 |
1-0 |
- |
Afhsar Niusha |
1866 |
- |
Jafari Golnaz |
2046 |
½-½ |
- |
Saeidpour Mona |
1842 |
- |
Hammatizadeh N |
1869 |
1-0 |
- |
Mehrabi Golnar |
0 |
1 |
Petroshimi Bandar Emam |
Rtg |
3½:½ |
2 |
Madreseh Shatrandj Kerman |
Rtg |
IM |
Khukhashvili Sopiko |
2408 |
1-0 |
- |
Sattarzadeh Sadaf |
0 |
WIM |
Pourkashiyan Atousa |
2269 |
1-0 |
- |
Golsorkhi Mohadesseh Sadat |
0 |
WIM |
Ghader Pour Shayesteh |
2148 |
1-0 |
- |
Darini Tooba |
0 |
WIM |
Navabi Shirin |
2060 |
½-½ |
- |
Shirvani Elham |
0 |

WFM Shirin Navabi, 2060, Petroshimi-e-Bandar-e-Emam. Shirin
has two bachelor degrees, one in law and the other in Physical Education. She
is currently busy with her master thesis.
WFM Mona Mahini, 2095, Bayat Beton-e-Gilan, master student
of Physical Education at Tehran University. Mona is one of the Iranian squad
at the Dresden Olympiad.
WFM Mitra Hejazipour, 2137, playing for Daneshgah-e-Azad.
She is fifteen and will also be part of the Iran Team in Dresden Olympiad.
Out of five matches of round three, which began on July 10th at five o’clock
in the evening, three ended up with a four-nil result!! Bayat Beton-e-Gilan
lost a vital point against Daneshgah-e-Payam-e-Nour; WFM Shohreh Bayat
1991 on board three was defeated by Shiva Mahboobi 1654.
2 |
Madreseh Shatrandj Kerman |
Rtg |
2:2 |
10 |
Khaneh Shatrandj Babol |
Rtg |
- |
Sattarzadeh Sadaf |
0 |
0-1 |
IM |
Melia Salome |
2416 |
- |
Golsorkhi Mohadesseh Sadat |
0 |
1-0 |
- |
Azadvari Zahra |
0 |
- |
Darini Tooba |
0 |
0-1 |
- |
Akbari Marjan |
0 |
- |
Shirvani Elham |
0 |
1-0 |
- |
Nataj Khadijeh |
0 |
3 |
Mohandesi Abzangan Zanjan |
Rtg |
0:4 |
1 |
Petroshimi Bandar Emam |
Rtg |
- |
Nematifar Zahra |
0 |
0-1 |
IM |
Khukhashvili Sopiko |
2408 |
- |
Afhsar Niusha |
1866 |
0-1 |
WIM |
Pourkashiyan Atousa |
2269 |
- |
Saeidpour Mona |
1842 |
0-1 |
WGM |
Paridar Shadi |
2238 |
- |
Mehrabi Golnar |
0 |
0-1 |
WIM |
Ghader Pour Shayesteh |
2148 |
4 |
Khaneh Shatrandj Gorgan |
Rtg |
0:4 |
9 |
Daneshgah Azad Eslami Tehran |
Rtg |
- |
Kia Fatemeh |
1794 |
0-1 |
WFM |
Hejazipour Mitra |
2137 |
- |
Alinouri Fariba |
0 |
0-1 |
- |
Tajik Sareh |
2041 |
- |
Mohaymeni Shadi |
0 |
0-1 |
- |
Jafari Golnaz |
2046 |
- |
Sayyadi Parisa |
0 |
0-1 |
- |
Hammatizadeh N |
1869 |
5 |
Daavat Oroumieh |
Rtg |
0:4 |
8 |
Rahahan Tehran |
Rtg |
- |
Saeidirad Zahra |
0 |
0-1 |
WFM |
Hakimifard Ghazal |
2018 |
- |
Vardkar Mariam |
1732 |
0-1 |
- |
Khalaji Hanieh |
1940 |
- |
Lotfi Aylar |
0 |
0-1 |
- |
Asgarizadeh Minoo |
1846 |
- |
Ordoukhani Zahra |
0 |
0-1 |
- |
Hakimifard Raana |
1850 |
6 |
Bayat Beton Gilan |
Rtg |
3:1 |
7 |
Daneshgah Payam Nour |
Rtg |
IM |
Dzagnidze Nana |
2458 |
1-0 |
- |
Mortaz Sepideh |
0 |
WFM |
Salman Mahini Mona |
2095 |
1-0 |
- |
Fardi Matin |
1744 |
WFM |
Bayat Shohreh |
1991 |
0-1 |
- |
Mahboobi Shiva |
1654 |
- |
Alavi Homa |
1723 |
1-0 |
- |
Shams Negar |
0 |

From right to left: Deep in thought WFM Shohreh Bayat, 1991, Bayat Beton-e-Gilan.
Her father is the manager of the club. Shohreh is a student of Natural Resources,
and apparently her GPA is excellent. WFM Mona Mahini, 2095 and IM Nana Dzagndize
2458. The gentleman in the pink shirt is Kioumars Bayat, Shoehre’s father
and next to him is FM Hamed Mousavian, coach of the club.
Shiva Mahboobi, 1654, Daneshgah-e-Payam-e-Nour, student
of Physical Education. So far she has got 3.5 points out of four games, not
bad!
Sareh Tajik, 2041, playing for Daneshgah-e-Azad. She was
one of Iran's representatives in the World Universities Chess Championship.
The last game of the first week, round four, took place on Friday July 11th.
In the most important game, Rahahan stopped Bayat Beton-e-Gilan
with a surprisingly 2-2 result. On the top board WFM Ghazal Hakimifard 2018
astonishingly conquered IM Nana Dzagnidze 2458. Petroshimi-e-Bandar-e-Emam
and Daneshgah-e-Azad continued their storming start and both crushed
their rivals. Therefore, after the first week, both of these clubs, just with
a tiny minus one point, stand at the top of the table.
10 |
Khaneh Shatrandj Babol |
Rtg |
2½:1½ |
7 |
Daneshgah Payam Nour |
Rtg |
IM |
Melia Salome |
2416 |
1-0 |
- |
Mortaz Sepideh |
0 |
- |
Azadvari Zahra |
0 |
1-0 |
- |
Fardi Matin |
1744 |
- |
Akbari Marjan |
0 |
½-½ |
- |
Mousavi Farzaneh |
0 |
- |
Nataj Khadijeh |
0 |
0-1 |
- |
Mahboobi Shiva |
1654 |
8 |
Rahahan Tehran |
Rtg |
2:2 |
6 |
Bayat Beton Gilan |
Rtg |
WFM |
Hakimifard Ghazal |
2018 |
1-0 |
IM |
Dzagnidze Nana |
2458 |
- |
Khalaji Hanieh |
1940 |
0-1 |
WFM |
Salman Mahini Mona |
2095 |
- |
Asgarizadeh Minoo |
1846 |
1-0 |
WFM |
Bayat Shohreh |
1991 |
- |
Hakimifard Raana |
1850 |
0-1 |
- |
Alavi Homa |
1723 |
9 |
Daneshgah Azad Eslami Tehran |
Rtg |
4:0 |
5 |
Daavat Oroumieh |
Rtg |
WFM |
Hejazipour Mitra |
2137 |
1-0 |
- |
Saeidirad Zahra |
0 |
- |
Tajik Sareh |
2041 |
1-0 |
- |
Vardkar Mariam |
1732 |
- |
Jafari Golnaz |
2046 |
1-0 |
- |
Lotfi Aylar |
0 |
- |
Hammatizadeh N |
1869 |
1-0 |
- |
Ordoukhani Zahra |
0 |
1 |
Petroshimi Bandar Emam |
Rtg |
4:0 |
4 |
Khaneh Shatrandj Gorgan |
Rtg |
IM |
Khukhashvili Sopiko |
2408 |
1-0 |
- |
Kia Fatemeh |
1794 |
WIM |
Pourkashiyan Atousa |
2269 |
1-0 |
- |
Alinouri Fariba |
0 |
WGM |
Paridar Shadi |
2238 |
1-0 |
- |
Mohaymeni Shadi |
0 |
WIM |
Ghader Pour Shayesteh |
2148 |
1-0 |
- |
Rahimi Tara |
1903 |
2 |
Madreseh Shatrandj Kerman |
Rtg |
2½:1½ |
3 |
Mohandesi Abzangan Zanjan |
Rtg |
- |
Sattarzadeh Sadaf |
0 |
1-0 |
- |
Nematifar Zahra |
0 |
- |
Golsorkhi Mohadesseh Sadat |
0 |
½-½ |
- |
Afhsar Niusha |
1866 |
- |
Darini Tooba |
0 |
½-½ |
- |
Saeidpour Mona |
1842 |
- |
Shirvani Elham |
0 |
½-½ |
- |
Mehrabi Golnar |
0 |

Fourteen-year-old WFM Ghazal Hakimifard, 2018, playing
for Rahahan, marvellously defeated her strong opponent IM Nana Dzagnidze 2458
in round four.

Rahahan Club, from right to left: Twelve-year-old Rana Hakimifard, 1850,
Ghazal’s sister, fourteen-year-old Minoo Asgarizadeh, 1846, and fourteen-year-old
Hanieh Khalaji, rated 1940. The Rahahan Club average age is just thirteen,
considering top board player fourteen-year-old WFM Ghazal Hakimifard and forth
board player twelve-year-old Nadia Bagheri, who are absent in this photo.
Matin Fardi, 1744, playing for Daneshgah-e-Payam-e-Nour.
Matin comes from a province on the south coast of Caspian Sea, Gilan.
Ranking cross table after the fourth round
Rk. |
Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
TB1 |
TB2 |
1 |
Daneshgah Azad Eslami Tehran |
* |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
3½ |
4 |
3½ |
4 |
15.0 |
8 |
2 |
Petroshimi Bandar Emam |
- |
* |
- |
- |
- |
3½ |
3½ |
4 |
4 |
- |
15.0 |
8 |
3 |
Rahahan Tehran |
- |
- |
* |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
3½ |
3½ |
4 |
13.0 |
7 |
4 |
Bayat Beton Gilan |
- |
- |
2 |
* |
3 |
3½ |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
12.5 |
7 |
5 |
Daneshgah Payam Nour |
- |
- |
- |
1 |
* |
1½ |
- |
2 |
- |
2 |
6.5 |
2 |
6 |
Khaneh Shatrandj Babol |
- |
½ |
- |
½ |
2½ |
* |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
5.5 |
3 |
7 |
Madreseh Shatrandj Kerman |
½ |
½ |
- |
- |
- |
2 |
* |
- |
2½ |
- |
5.5 |
3 |
8 |
Khaneh Shatrandj Gorgan |
0 |
0 |
½ |
- |
2 |
- |
- |
* |
- |
- |
2.5 |
1 |
9 |
Mohandesi Abzangan Zanjan |
½ |
0 |
½ |
- |
- |
- |
1½ |
- |
* |
- |
2.5 |
0 |
10 |
Daavat Oroumieh |
0 |
- |
0 |
0 |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
* |
2.0 |
1 |
The second week will be held in Zanjan, 430 km from the Capital Tehran, on
August 20th and 21st.

Venue of “Wisdom Cup”. At the end of the hall the poster of the 2000
World Chess Championship can be seen. The final match was between Anand and
Shirov, which ended 3.5 to 0.5 for the Indian Super Grandmaster.

Petroshimi-e-Bandar-e-Emam shared the top place with Daneshgah-e-Azad after
the fourth round. From right to left: IM Sopiko Khukhashvili 2408, WIM
Atousa Pourkashiyan 2269, WGM Shadi Paridar 2238 and WIM Shayesteh Ghader
Pour 2148.
Mona Saiedpour, 1842, member of the Mohandesi-e-Abzangan-e-Zanjan
team. During the game she always plays with her Maghnae, headscarf!
Graphic artist Fatemeh Kia, 1794, Khaneh-e-Shatrandj-e-Gorgan.
Apart from playing chess she is a very good chess teacher.

Sadaf Sattarzadeh, playing for Madreseh-e-Shatrandj-e-Kerman

Zahra Saeidirad, playing for Daavat Oroumieh. Zahra
is WIM Atousa Pourkashiyan's cousin. It seems that chess is a genetic sport.
Negar Shams, playing for Daneshgah-e-Payam-e-Nour.
From time to time Negar’s mother also takes part in chess tournaments.
Salome Melia is full of energy and always has a happy face.
She poses for a picture in Jamshdieh Park, a very beautiful stony park in the
northern part of Tehran.

FM Arash Akbarinia, 2322 |
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