The prestigious Aeroflot Open 2017 begins!

Photos by Eteri Kublashvili (EK), Vasily Papin (VP), Moscow Chess (MC)

The Aeroflot Open 2017 is back and with a rating average of 2582 it is one of the strongest tournaments in the world. The A group has a rating cut off of 2550+. This year witnesses the participation of 98 players with five players above 2700 and 35 players between 2600 to 2700. The top seed is Yu Yangyi followed by Nikita Vitiugov and Ernesto Inarkiev. The total prize fund for the tournament is €1,20,000 and the first place winner get €18,000. The tournament champion also gets a spot in the prestigious Dortmund super tournament. Hotel Cosmos, one of biggest hotels in Russia, is where the tournament takes place. There are also B (2300-2550) and C (below 2300) events taking place at the same venue.

Another feature that makes the tournament completely unique is the time control: 100 minutes for the first 40 moves, then 50 minutes for the next 20 moves and 15 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move, starting from the first. This helps to maintain quite a high quality of play, and that is also the reason why after three rounds we have no player on a perfect 3.0/3 score! Six players share the lead with 2.5/3. They include Ilia Smirin, Emilio Cordova, Maxim Matlakov, Evgeniy Najer, Eduardo Itturizaga and Matthias Bluebaum.

The Cosmos hotel complex was built to serve the XXII Summer Olympic Games held in Moscow in 1980. With 1,777 rooms it is the largest in Russia. The hotel included 1,718 standard rooms, 53 double room suites and 6 four-room suites. (VP)

The hotel does look enchanting at night! (photo: Vidit Gujrathi)

The playing hall at the opening ceremony...

...and when the games begin! (MC)

From left to right: The man who makes the event possible Alexander Bakh, the chief arbiter of the event Andzrej Fillipowicz and the former editor-in-chief of 64 magazine Mark Glukhovsky (EK)

The drawing of lots to determine the colour for the top seed (EK)

The game between the excellent blitz player Rauf Mamedov and the blindfold king Timur Gareev attracted a lot of eyeballs at the opening ceremony (EK)

There are very few people who do not like the affable Baadur Jobava! Rauf Mamedov is happy to meet his Georgian friend! (EK)

16 players from India are playing in just the A category. This is the second largest contingent at the event, the first being Russia with 30 players. Above you can see Anish Giri's second GM Vidit Gujrathi analyzing with Jorden van Foreest as Swapnil Dhopade and Narayan Srinath look on. (EK)

The lady in blue is the mother of one of the biggest chess prodigies in the world. Can you guess who? (EK)

Two Poles and an American: Andrzej Fillipowicz and Dariusz Swiercz with ChessBase editor Alejandro Ramirez (EK)

With his ability to show strong performances at open events, the top seeded Yu Yangyi is definitely a favourite to win the event. He hasn't had the smoothest of starts. One win and two draws, and the win in itself was pretty lucky! (MC)

Nikita Vitiugov is currently on 2.0/3 and just like Yu Yangyi has two draws and a win (MC)

Ernesto Inarkiev is on 2.0/3 (MC)

Fresh from his success at the Tata Steel Masters, B. Adhiban isn't having the best of events. He is currently on 1.0/3, as he lost the third round to Alexander Predke. (MC)

Former World Championship challenger Gata Kamsky is also fighting at the event

Like in the World Rapid and Blitz, Baadur Jobava continues his strategy of wearing the dark glasses! (VP)

Three great players captured in one frame: (left to right) Defending champion Evgeniy Najer, Alexander Motylev and one of the leaders Ilia Smirin

The young kid is the centre is Nodirbek Abdusattorov. 12 years old, he has already made waves in the chess circles by beating many a strong grandmasters. At the Aeroflot Open he beat a 2584 grandmaster in just 19 moves. (VP)

Maxim Matlakov on his way towards victory against S.P. Sethuraman using the Sicilian Sveshnikov!

On 50% are Sanan Sjugirov (let) from Russia and Rinat Jumabayev from Kazakhstan (VP)

Time pressure always attracts spectators! (VG)

The analysis room outside the playing hall (VP)

Tournament director Alexander Bakh ensures that things are moving smoothly at the event (VP)

Two legends in different fields - IM and chief arbiter Andzrej Fillipowicz and world class photographer Boris Dolmatovsky

No mobile phones! (VP)

For all those not staying at Hotel Cosmos, there is a metro station at walking distance from the venue... (VP)

...but walking in nearly zero degree temperature is not to everyone's taste! (Vidit Gujrathi)

Rank after Round 3

Complete list

Round 4 on 2017/02/24 at 15:00

Complete pairings

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