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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 |
... 100 players
Winter at the Atlantic coast
The palace of justice
Entry to the law
The central bank
Downtown
The new tram
Mosque
The bazaar
Colorful diversity
Karina and Daimante
Karina Ambartsumova
Karina Ambartsumova bought a souvenir
Daimante Daulyte
Greetings from Morocco
