No prize-money in Casablanca

2/17/2015 – From 28. January to 4. February an international tournament was played in Casablanca, Morocco. The decent prize-fund attracted 100 players, among them several titleholders. Play took place in an old church, which was beautiful but cold. Sergey Tiviakov won on tie-break ahead of Vadim Malakhatko. However, the players still wait for their prize-money.

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From 28. January to 4. February the 2. International Chess tournament to honor King Mohammed VI took place in Casablanca. The tournament was organised by the Royal Chess Federation of Morocco. The invitation promised a prize-fund of 150.000 Dirham (about 16.000 Euros), of which the winner was to receive 60.000 Dirham (about 5.500 Euros). 100 players took part in the international open. Parallel to that tournament an U20-Open was played.

Picture of King Mohammed VI

U20-Open

The tournament was played in the "Eglise Sacré-Cœur de Casablanca", formerly a catholic church, which had been built in 1930, but which no longer was used as a church after Morocco's independence in 1956. The church was not heated and thus rather cold, and the players had to wear jackets and coats during their games.

Chess in the former church

Players with coats

Malakahtko-El Gindy

Unfortunately, this was not the only thing that left to be desired. There were complaints about the modest accomodation and the small portions given out at mealtimes in the players hotel. But the biggest scandal is that the promised prize-money has not been paid yet.

At the closing ceremony the representatives of the Chess Federation (including the Vice-President) promised the prize-winners that the prize-money would be transferred to their accounts within a week - at the latest. This did not happen. Email of the players were not answered. The players now asked FIDE to become active.

Cup and badge but no money

Sergey Tiviakov won the tournament with 7.5/9 and the better tie-break. Second was Vadim Malakhatko who also had 7.5/9. Best women player was Deimante Daulyte with 6.5/9.

The winner Sergey Tiviakov is not amused

Vadim Malakhatko

Deimante Daulyte, Karina Mabartsumova

Sophie Milliet

Iva Videnova

Boris Chatalbashev (re.)

Final results after 9 rounds

Rg.	Snr		Name	FED	Elo	Pkt.	Wtg1	Wtg2
1	1	GM	Tiviakov Sergei	NED	2669	7.5	42.5	43.00
2	7	GM	Malakhatko Vadim	BEL	2520	7.5	40.0	42.00
3	8	GM	Nguyen Huynh Minh Huy	VIE	2493	7.0	44.0	41.00
4	4	GM	Chatalbashev Boris	BUL	2552	7.0	43.5	42.25
5	2	GM	Korneev Oleg	ESP	2591	7.0	42.5	39.25
6	9	GM	Kasparov Sergey	BLR	2477	6.5	44.5	38.75
7	5	GM	Le Roux Jean-pierre	FRA	2539	6.5	40.0	34.50
8	3	GM	Kuljasevic Davorin	CRO	2558	6.5	39.0	35.50
9	15	IM	Daulyte Deimante	LTU	2389	6.5	37.5	30.00
10	21	IM	Touzane Olivier	FRA	2337	6.5	35.5	30.25
11	6	GM	Strikovic Aleksa	SRB	2529	6.0	44.0	34.50
12	22	WGM	Ambartsumova Karina	RUS	2325	6.0	39.0	31.50
13	19	FM	Amdouni Zoubaier	TUN	2365	6.0	38.5	28.25
14	11	GM	Larino Nieto David	ESP	2442	6.0	37.5	28.50
15	13	IM	Farahat Ali	EGY	2392	6.0	36.0	28.00
16	14	IM	Milliet Sophie	FRA	2390	6.0	36.0	27.25
17	18	IM	Tissir Mohamed	MAR	2368	6.0	34.5	26.75
18	79		Elkholti Achraf	MAR	0	6.0	33.0	25.50
19	10	GM	El Gindy Essam	EGY	2475	5.5	41.0	28.75
20	16	WGM	Videnova Iva	BUL	2386	5.5	40.5	28.50
21	12	GM	Djuric Stefan	SRB	2400	5.5	40.5	25.00
22	20	IM	Zozulia Anna	BEL	2358	5.5	39.5	27.50
23	29		Nafri Khalil	MAR	2192	5.5	36.0	22.75
	35	FM	Tagelsir Abubaker	SUD	2125	5.5	36.0	22.75
25	28		Choukri Adel	MAR	2211	5.5	35.0	25.25
26	33		Daoudi Kamal	MAR	2135	5.5	34.0	24.00
27	36	FM	Boydia Sidi	MTN	2097	5.5	33.0	23.25
28	95		Mounib Abdelaziz	MAR	0	5.5	32.5	22.75
29	45		Rian Saad	MAR	2022	5.5	32.5	22.00
30	23	GM	Bouaziz Slim	TUN	2306	5.5	32.5	21.50
31	30		Ouakhir Mehdi	MAR	2174	5.5	30.0	21.75
32	25	FM	Mohannad Farhan	JOR	2244	5.0	36.5	23.00