Runavik Open 2017

by Srinath Narayanan
12/8/2017 – The 2nd edition of Runavik Open took place in Runavik, Faroe Islands from November 20-26. Blue water, enchanting skies, lush green land and mountains all around! With 12 GM’s and a total of 25 titled players in a field of 59 players, there may have been expectations of a drawfest. There were 4 Indians, an army of ex soviet GM’s, and more than a handful of exciting young players. Nikita Maiorov broke through everything to win with 7.5/9. He had to go through more than his share of difficult moments, trials and tribulations, but deservedly came out on top. Read on to find games and pictures. | Photo: Fiona Steil-Antoni

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Making a run at Runavik

The sound of howling winds and darkness greeted me, as I stepped out of the Vagar airport. The difference between the Summer, when I participated in the Faroes Open and Winter couldn’t have been starker. While the Summer months had 20 hours of brightness and 4 hours of darkness, in the winter, it was the exact opposite. The winds were stronger and fiercer, but one thing didn’t change — the warmth and hospitality of the Faroese people.

We were picked up at the airport and driven to Klaksvik, a small city that is a 30 minute drive to Runavik. The organizers had a few initial hiccups with the broadcast, and the stay arrangements, by the second day, all the little wrinkles were ironed out. They managed to find accommodation for most of us in Runavik and by the third day, we were all set and ready to fight.

The fight

Most of the top seeds sailed through with 2 / 2. By the third round, it was already a clash of GM’s at the top tables. GM Nikita Maiorov, the eventual winner had the most unenviable opponent — the 13 year old kid Nihal Sarin. He already had his work cut out and was worse for most part of the game, but showed resilience to salvage a draw. The top seed, Deep Sengupta showed excellent technique to beat GM Tejas Bakre and move into the sole lead after three rounds.

 
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29...Kg7 Black has managed to hold the balance till here, but White keeps a slight edge and tries to press. 30.a4 Re7 31.axb5 Bxb5? A strange decision. 31...axb5 would've held the balance. 32.h4 h5 32.h4 Re5 33.Qc3 Re8 34.Qd4 Re7 35.Qc3 Re8 36.Re1 Rxe1 37.Qxe1 h6 38.Qe3 g5 39.Qa7+ Qd7 40.Qd4 Qd6 41.hxg5?! 41.Bg4! gxh4 41...Kf8 42.Be6 Ke7 43.Qe4+- 41...Bd7 42.Bxd7 Qxd7 43.h5+- 42.Qa7+ Kf8 43.Be6 Be8 44.Qh7+- 41...hxg5 42.Bg4 Kf8 43.Be6 Ke7 44.f4 gxf4 45.gxf4 Qc7 46.Kf3 Be8 47.Kg4 Bg6 48.Qe3 Kd8 49.Qa3 Be8 50.Kf5 Qh7+ 51.Kxf6 Qg6+ 52.Ke5 Qg7+ 53.Ke4 Qg2+ 54.Kd4 Qg7+ 55.Kxc4 Bb5+ 56.Kb4 Qf8+
57.Kb3? 57.Ka5 Qxf4 58.Qc5!
58...Qc7+ 59.Qb6 Qxb6+ 60.Kxb6 Bc4 61.b4 Bb5 62.d6 Bd3 63.Kc5 Bb5 64.Bc4+-
57...Qxf4 58.Qc5 Qa4+ 59.Kc3 Qa5+ 60.Qb4 Qc7+ 61.Kb3 Qb6 62.Ka2 Kc7 63.Qc3+ Kb7 64.Bg4 Qc7 65.Qxc7+ Kxc7 66.Kb3 Kd6 67.Kb4 Kxd5 68.Ka5 Kc4 69.b4 Kc3 70.Be6 Bd3 71.Bc8 Bb5 72.Bxa6 Bxa6 73.Kxa6 Kxb4
½–½
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Nihal,S2487Maiorov,N2521½–½2017D37Runavik op3

In the fourth round, Sengupta was held to a draw by GM Vadim Malakhatko. I managed to join him in the lead with the following victory against GM Mikhail Ulibin of Russia.

 
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1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.f4 0-0 8.Nf3 c5 9.Qd2 Nc6 10.dxc5 Nxc5 11.Qe3 a6 12.a3!? Rd8 13.Rd1 b5 14.b4 Ne4! 14...Nd7 is too passive, and White would get a slight advantage after 15.Ne2 Bb7 16.Ned4 Nxd4 17.Nxd4 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Rxd8+ Nxd8? 16...Qxd8! 17.Qxe4 Bb7 18.Bd3 g6 19.0-0 a5= Black has enormous compensation and winning the pawn back will only be a matter of time. 17.Ng5 Bb7 18.Nxe4 a5
I took a longtime here, but I was unable to solve the problem of which was the best move. 19.Nd6? 19.Qc5! Qxc5 20.Nxc5 axb4 21.axb4 Bd5 21...Ra1+ 22.Kf2 Bd5 23.Rg1± 22.Kf2 Nc6 22...Ra2 23.Bxb5! Rxc2+ 24.Ke3 Rxg2 25.Rc1 Rxh2 26.Na4± 23.Bxb5 Nxb4 24.c4 Ra2+ 25.Ke3 Bxg2 26.Rb1 Nc2+ 27.Kd3 Na3 28.Rd1 19.Bxb5 axb4 20.a4 Rc8! 20...Qc7 21.Qc5 Qxc5 22.Nxc5 Bxg2 23.Rg1± 21.Bd3 Bxe4 22.Bxe4 Nb7 23.Qa7 Qc5 24.Qxc5 Nxc5 25.Bf3 Nxa4 26.Kd2 g6= 19...axb4 20.axb4 Bd5 21.Kf2 Ra1 Now, the game got into mutual time scramble territory, with we both having lesser time than the amount of moves to make. 22.h4 Nc6 22...f6 23.Nxb5 Qxb4 24.Nc3 Bc6 25.exf6 gxf6 26.Rh3 Nf7 27.Kg1 23.Rh3 f6? the decisive mistake. 23...Nxb4 It's near impossible to calculate the consequences of this move with the amount of time my opponent had. 24.Qc5 Rc1! 25.Qc8+ 25.Qxb4 Qa7+ 26.Re3 Rxf1+ 27.Kxf1 Qxe3-+ 25...Qf8 26.Rc3 Bc4 27.Bxc4 Qxc8 28.Nxc8 bxc4 29.Rxc4 Rxc2+ 30.Rxc2 Nxc2= 24.Bxb5 Nxb4 25.Qc5 25.Qc3 was more tempting, as after Qa7+ White always has 26.Re3 but I saw that Qc5 was going into a winning endgame, and I preferred to take the safer way. 25...Qa7 26.Rc3 Qxc5+ 27.Rxc5 h5 28.Rc8+ Kh7 29.exf6 gxf6 30.Rc7+ Kh6 31.f5 Ra2 32.Nf7+ Kg7 33.Ng5+ Kh8 34.Rc8+ Kg7 35.Nxe6+ 35.Rc7+ was the sensible thing to do in time trouble, but I was a bit nervous about repeating three times by mistake. 35...Kf7 36.Rc7+ Kg8 37.Nd4 37.Nf4 Bf7 38.Nxh5 I just missed that White can take Nh5. 37...Rb2 38.Be2 Bf7 My initial instinct was to improve my king's position with Ke3, but we know what happens there. 39.Rc8+ Kg7 40.Rc7 Kf8 Phew. I am surprised at the accurace I showed in 30 seconds play, but unusual things do happen in life. 41.Bf3 Nd3+ 42.Kg3 Ne5 43.Ne6+ Kg8 44.Be2 Ra2 45.Nf4 Ra3+ 46.c3 Nc4 47.Rxc4 Bxc4 48.Bxc4+ Kh7 49.Nd5 Kh6 50.Be2 Ra2 51.Bf3 Ra6 52.c4 Rc6 53.Ne3
1–0
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Srinath,N2517Ulybin,M25261–02017C14Runavik Open4

The French Defence is an aggressive and tough opening. Typically, the second player shows his ambitions as early as on move three in the main, after - 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 - the Winawer Variation. Black’s intentions are clear - pressure in the center, and quick development. Check the new Learn in 60 minutes to find a repertoire based on the move 4.Ng1-e2. The author GM Dejan Bojkov used it to win a crucial game at the Canadian Open Championship 2011, which helped him share victory at this prestigious event.


I managed to defeat Deep in the fifth round and move into the sole lead after five rounds with 4½ / 5. In the meanwhile, Nihal was as deadly as the little Tasmanian devil, as he showed some signs of what is to come. After his laptop crashed in the morning before the game, he decided to just play some London system. His opponent was the 37-year-old International Master Jensson Einar Hjalti. He managed to last exactly 13 moves before Nihal’s pieces came crashing down on him.

 
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.0-0-0 Be7 9.f4 Bd7 10.Nf3 b5 11.e5 Played after a 18 minute think. b4 12.exd6 This came as a surprise to me. bxc3 13.Qxc3 Bf8 14.Bc4 The first moment where I really had to think and make a decision. h6 15.Bh4 Qa5 15...g5 16.fxg5 hxg5 17.Bxg5 Bg7 was my initial intention, bringing out the pieces. 16.Qd3?! 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Qxf6 Rg8 18.Ne5 Nxe5 19.fxe5 Rg6 20.Qf3 Rc8 21.Rhf1 Rg7 22.Qf4 Rc5 16...Nb4 17.Qb3 Rb8 18.Ne5 Ne4 18...Qc5 was very strong and was my initial intention. I don't quite remember what I calculated here. 19.Nxd7 Kxd7 20.f5 Bxd6 21.fxe6+ fxe6 22.Bxe6+ Kc7 19.a3 Bxd6 20.Be1 Bxe5 21.fxe5 Na2+? 21...Ba4 22.Qf3 Qc7! I had missed this move completely. 23.axb4 Qxc4 24.b3 Qc7 25.bxa4 Qxe5 26.c3 Rc8 22.Qxa2 Qxe5 23.Bxa6 I had missed that my opponent had this, and I had assumed that I was just better due to the exclusion of White's Queen. Nc5 24.Bc4 0-0?? 25.Bg3?? I saw 25.b4 only after playing 0-0... and I had no idea how to react to b4. Na4 26.Rxd7 Nb6 27.Rxf7! Kxf7 28.Bxe6+ Ke7 29.Bb3+- 25...Qg5+ 26.Kb1 Rb7 27.Rhe1 Rc8 28.Rd4 Qg6 28...Na4 29.Bb3 Nc5 would be a draw, but we both were trying to win. 29.Red1 Ba4 30.Rd8+ Rxd8 31.Rxd8+ Kh7 32.Ka1?? The decisive mistake. 32.b4! Had to be played at some point. Ne4 33.Bd3 is close to winning according to the comp, but it's quite hard for us humans to make such accurate evaluations. 32...Qg5 33.Rd1 Bxc2 34.Re1 Nb3+ 35.Bxb3 Rxb3 36.Rg1 h5 37.Bd6 Qe3 38.Rh1 Qd4 39.Rc1 Rd3 0–1
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Sengupta,D2587Srinath,N25170–12017B68Runavik Open5

All players meeting the Sicilian with White or playing it with Black will be entertained, surprised and their knowledge enriched by spending moments with this selection of the best tactical positions.


 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 d5 3.e3 e6 4.Nd2 Be7 5.c3 c5 6.Bd3 0-0 7.Ngf3 b6 8.Ne5 Bb7 9.Qf3 Nbd7 10.Rd1 Rc8 11.Qh3 Re8 12.Ndf3 g6 13.Nxf7 1–0
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Nihal,S2487Jensson,E23721–02017D00Runavik op5

Nihal Sarin, "the boy who never sits" | Source: ChessBase India


"Simple yet aggressive!" Enjoy this new exciting DVD by Simon Williams. Let the famouns Grandmaster from England show you how to gain a very exciting yet well founded opening game with the London System (1.d4 d5 2.Bf4).


Meanwhile, Nikita notched up a victory over the European Under 14 Champion Jonas Bjerre. This setup a clash against me in the sixth round, with me having an half point edge. Meanwhile, the organizers once again showed us a taste of the Faroese hospitality as they arranged for a powerful replacement laptop for Nihal in short notice. They also took it upon themselves and managed to fix his laptop after several hours and days of effort.

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.Nf3 c5 6.d5 d6 7.Nc3 e6 8.0-0 exd5 9.cxd5 Re8 10.Re1!? a6 11.a4 Nbd7 12.h3 I was out of book around here, but I played all the natural moves quickly. Rb8 13.Bf4 Qc7 14.e4 Nh5 15.Bd2 b5 16.axb5 axb5 17.Bf1 My opponent had played rapidly until this point. I was the first to think. I wasn't quite sure what to do here, for both c4 and b4 seemed attractive. c4 17...b4 18.Nb5 Qb6 19.g4! the key move for White in this position. Nhf6 19...Bxb2 20.Ra2 Nhf6 21.Rxb2 Ba6 22.Nc7 Qxc7 23.Bxa6 Nxe4 24.Bc4± 20.Bf4 Bf8 20...Nxe4 21.Nd2+- 21.Nd2± 18.b4? 18.g4! this inclusion is quite important. Nhf6 19.b4 if cxb3 20.Nxb5 Qc2 20...Qb6 21.Ba5 And now, Black doesn't have b2. 21.Qxc2 bxc2 22.Nxd6 Nxe4 23.Nxe8 Bxa1 24.Rxe4 Rb1 25.Re7 Rd1 26.Bh6 c1Q 27.Bxc1 Rxc1 28.Kg2 18...cxb3 19.Nxb5 Qb6 My opponent missed b2 here after Ba5. 20.Rb1 Nc5 21.Be3 Bxh3 22.Bxc5 Qxc5 23.Nxd6 23.Qxb3 Bd7 23...Qxd6 24.Bxh3 b2 The game has liquidated into an equalish position. The logical conclusion would be a draw. 25.Kg2 Rbd8 25...Be5 26.Nxe5 Qxe5 27.d6 Red8 28.d7 Nf6 29.Re2 h5= 26.Qc2 Re7 27.Red1 Rc7 28.Qe2 Re8 29.Qb5 Rxe4 30.Qb8+ Bf8 31.Rxb2 By this time we were in absolute time scramble. Nxg3? 32.Rb6 32.fxg3 is the point Rc2+ 33.Rd2 33.Kh1 Qf6 33.Kg1 Qc5+ 34.Kh1 Qf2 33.Kf1 Qf6! 33...Qxb8 34.Rxb8 Rxd2+ 35.Nxd2 Re2+ 36.Kf3 Rxd2 37.Be6! White should be able to draw here. 32...Qf4 33.Rc6 Ree7 33...Rxc6 34.Qxf4 Rxf4 35.dxc6 Nf5 is just losing after 36.Nd4! Nd6 37.c7 f5 38.Nxf5!+- 34.Rd4? 34.Rdc1 Ne2 35.R1c4 Qxc4 36.Rxc4 Rxc4 37.d6 Nf4+ 38.Kg3 Nh5+ 38...Rb7 39.Qxb7 Bxd6 39.Kh2 Rb7 40.Qa8 40.Qxb7 Bxd6+ 41.Kg1 40...Ra7 41.Qxa7 Bxd6+ 42.Kg1 Rc1+ 43.Bf1 34.Rdc1 Ne2 35.R1c4! Qxc4 36.Rxc4 Rxc4 37.d6 Nf4+ 38.Kg3 Nh5+ 39.Kh2 I had calculated upto this, but I felt that I could maybe try to hold a fortress. 34...Ne4 35.Rxc7 Rxc7 36.Rc4 36.Rxe4 Qxe4 37.Qxc7 Qxd5 is probably just a draw. 36...Qxf3+ 37.Kxf3 Rxc4 38.Ke3 Nd6 39.Bd7 Here, I initally had seen Rb4, but after Qb4 Nf5+ Bxf5, I couldn't be sure if Black wins. Around some point here, my opponent offered me a draw, which receded into the background. Only Black can try here of course.Then I thought I would play h5. Finally I decided to just give a couple of checks and decide, when I suddenly saw that I had just a second. Before I could move and press the clock, it turned to 0. Quite unbelievable. 1–0
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Maiorov,N2521Srinath,N25171–02017A63Runavik Open6

On this DVD, Mihail Marin presents the major tactical themes and options available for both sides in the Benoni. Based on an interactive format the well-known theoretician and Grandmaster invites you to take part and challenge yourself.


With this, Nikita moved into the lead with 5 / 6. He was joined along by the defending champion IM Gudmundur Kjartansson, who had reached there on the back of two crushing victories over GM Malakhatko and his flatmate, GM Vladimir Hamitevici.

After my heartbreaking loss on time, I obviously felt numb and frustrated. I decided that revenge was a dish best served cold, and just went online to flag a series of opponents over bullet games. This didn’t help much though, as a sleepless night ensued. I had to collect myself with all my willpower to recover with a victory over GM Igor Khenkin. However, even as I was winning, Nikita was on his way towards masterful positional victory over Kjartansson to go into the sole lead.

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 c5 7.Bxb4 cxb4 8.0-0 0-0 9.Qd3 d6 10.Nbd2 Nbd7 11.a3 bxa3 12.Rxa3 Qc7 13.e4 e5 14.Rd1 White already has a slight edge here. a6 15.Rc3 Rfe8 16.Ne1 exd4?! I am not sure if Black should be hasty with this, as White now has a clear edge due to his better pawn structure. 16...Nf8 17.Nc2 Ne6 was probably better, maintaining the tension. 17.Qxd4 Nc5 18.f3 Rad8 19.Qf2 a5 20.Ra1 Bc6 21.Nc2 Nfd7 22.Nd4 White simlpy has a clear advantage. Black's pieces are struggling. Ne5 23.Nf1 Ned3 24.Qd2 Nb4 25.Ne3 Bd7 26.Rd1 Na4 27.Ra3 Nc5 28.h4 d5 Black tries to seek counterplay like a caged animal. 29.cxd5 Qxg3 30.Nef5 Bxf5 31.Nxf5 Qe5 32.Qc3 Rxd5 33.exd5 Qxf5 34.Qd2 h6 35.d6 Rd8 36.f4 Qf6 37.Re3 Ne6 38.d7 Na6 39.Qc3 Qxh4 40.f5 Nec7 41.Rg3 f6 42.Rd4 Qh5 43.Rdg4 Rxd7 44.Qxf6 Ne8 45.Bd5+ Kh7 46.Qf8 Very strong play by White. It's very hard to criticise any move. 1–0
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Maiorov,N2521Kjartansson,G24351–02017E16Runavik op7

There are few names which, like that of Alexei Shirov, can be associated with fantastically imaginative and tactically influenced play. Now the Latvian grandmaster is presenting a DVD on precisely that element of the game of chess. And one that is completely based on his own games.


Deep managed to catch up with a crushing attacking over the Northern Lights Open winner GM Xu Yinglun. In the eighth round clash between those two titans, this happened:

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Be3 Qf6 6.c3 Nge7 7.Bc4 0-0 8.0-0 b6!? This is not the most usual move in this variation, but definitely has been in fashion lately. 9.Qd2 Qg6 10.f3 d5! 11.Bxd5 Nxd5 12.exd5 Ne5 13.b3? 13.Bf4 Re8 14.b4 Nc4 15.Qf2 Bd6 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.Nd2 Qxd5 18.Rfe1= 13...Ba6 14.Bf4? Complete collapse from Deep, who was exhausted by this point after a tough morning round. 14.Rf2 Rfe8 Is a very very difficult position to defend for White, but for good or bad, he had to go here. 15.Nc2 Nd3 16.Bxc5 Nxf2 17.Be3 Nd3 14.c4 Bxc4! 15.bxc4 Nxc4 16.Qc1 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 Rfe8 18.Qd2 Qf6-+ 14...Bxf1 15.Bxe5 Bd3 Black is just winning here. Aside from the material advantage, Black's pieces are also much better placed. 16.Qd1 Rad8 17.b4 Bxd4+ 18.cxd4 Rxd5 19.Nc3 Rd7 20.Qa4 c6 21.Rc1 Rfd8 22.a3 h5 23.Nd1 b5 24.Qa6 Be2 25.Kh1 Qd3 0–1
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Sengupta,D2587Maiorov,N25210–12017C45Runavik op8

This made the climax of the tournament a bit of anti-climax, as Nikita drew comfortably against GM Igor Korneev in the final round to finish a well deserved first. His opening preparation was solid, but his quality of play was consistently at a very high level. I had a quick draw against Xu to share second with five other players. I would like to thank the Mayor of Runavik — Tórbjørn Jacobsen, without whom the tournament wouldn’t have happened, and to Faroese Chess President Finnbjørn Vang for his hospitality and for making the event happen.

Final standings (top 25)

Rk. Name Pts.  TB1 
1 Maiorov Nikita 7,5 52,0
2 Narayanan Srinath 6,5 52,5
3 Korneev Oleg 6,5 52,0
4 Khenkin Igor 6,5 51,5
5 Xu Yi 6,5 51,5
6 Nihal Sarin 6,5 49,5
7 Yinglun Xu 6,0 51,0
8 Sengupta Deep 6,0 50,5
9 Hamitevici Vladimir 6,0 49,0
10 Kjartansson Gudmundur 6,0 49,0
11 Malakhatko Vadim 5,5 49,5
12 Savchenko Stanislav 5,5 47,5
13 Ulybin Mikhail 5,5 47,5
14 Bjerre Jonas 5,5 46,5
15 Olsen Filip Boe 5,5 46,0
16 Stefansson Vignir Vatnar 5,5 45,5
17 Gleizerov Evgeny 5,5 44,0
18 Nielsen Hogni Egilstoft 5,5 43,0
19 Nielsen Rogvi Egilstoft 5,5 38,5
20 Thogersen Rasmus 5,0 46,0
21 Bakre Tejas 5,0 44,0
22 Rodgaard John 5,0 44,0
23 Jensson Einar Hjalti 5,0 41,5
24 Simonsen Hans Kristian 5,0 39,5
25 Steil-Antoni Fiona 5,0 37,0

Photo impressions

Top three winners with Mayor of Runavik and President of Faroese Chess Federation

Top Three prize winners with the Mayor of Runavik and President of Faroese Chess Federation| Photo: Tórbjørn Jacobsen

Finnbjorn Vang

Finnbjørn Vang, President of Faroese Chess Federation, the man behind Runavik Open | Photo: Tórbjørn Jacobsen)

Mayor and Nihal

Nihal is a tough opponent to most people, but in fact the Mayor has faced stronger (he drew Garry Kasparov in an exhibition game during Garry’s visit to this wonderful Island!) | Photo: Tórbjørn Jacobsen)

Mayor and the champion

Mayor vs. Maiorov: The champion’s toughest opponent | Photo: Tórbjørn Jacobsen

group photo

The whole group (click or tap to expand) | Photo: Tórbjørn Jacobsen

Fiona Steil-Antoni

Fiona Steil-Antoni had a great time in the Faroes and did her usual magic behind the camera | Photo: Fiona Steil-Antoni

Fiona's vlog | Source: Fionchetta on YouTube

Runavik Open will be back next November, but before that, the 2nd Faroes Open will take place in Sandavagur from July 7th-14th. I highly recommend that you join me there. ;)

Those interested should write to ‘faroesopen@faroesopen.com’. More details can be found in the official website. The Runavik Open will be back next year from November 12th-18th, 2018.

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Srinath is a 23-year-old Indian Grandmaster. A former World Under 12 champion, at the age of fourteen he became an IM and had shown surprising and unswerving loyalty to the title ever since, until March 2017, when he crossed the 2500 mark and completed the requirements to become a grandmaster. He loves chess and likes to play in tournaments all around the globe.

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