Maghsoodloo is not the only one...
The first chess boom in Iran occurred when Seyed Javad Alavi won the 1997 World Cadet Chess Championship under-10 in Cannes, France — the first world title in the history of chess in Iran. Ever since then, new players have been entering the scene constantly. Ehsan Ghaem Maghami achieved the first GM title in 2000 and to date Iran has produced 15 grandmasters, most of whom are playing actively. In recent years, we are witnessing a second chess boom in the country. Not only have the numbers of GMs been increased, but also the new generation of players are demonstrating higher chess skills. Both open and women’s national teams, consisting of the young talented players, have achieved admirable results in the last two Chess Olympiads [e.g. 17th and 14th in Batumi 2018 -Ed.].
From the start of 2018, the new golden generation of chess players has begun to blossom. The country currently has three players among the top 20 Juniors, equal with the USA. In January, 18-year-old Parham Maghsoodloo produced a spectacular display by lifting the IIFLIM Mumbai International title and receiving the trophy from the Indian legend Viswanathan Anand.

Maghsoodloo wins IIFLIM Mumbai International 2018 trophy presented by Anand | Photo: Niklesh Jain
Later he took first place at the 8th A. Margaryan Memorial. His brilliant victory at Sharjah Masters with 8 out of 9 was arguably the most historic moment ever in the history of Iranian chess community.
Here's a look at Maghsoodloo’s win against Gawain Jones. He dared to play Sicilian Defence against the man who has written the book, "How to beat the Sicilian Defence’’.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.0-0 Nge7 5.Re1 Nd4 6.Nxd4 cxd4 7.d3 a6 8.Ba4 Nc6 8...b5= 9.Bb3 Nc6 9.Nd2 9.Bxc6 bxc6 10.Nd2 9...b5= 10.Bb3 Bb7 11.f4 Qc7 12.Nf3 Rc8N 12...Bd6 13.f5 Na5 14.Qe2 Rc8 15.Kh1 Nxb3 16.cxb3 e5 17.f6 gxf6 18.Bd2 13.Kh1 Bd6 14.Rf1 14.f5= 14...Bxf4 15.Bxf4 Qxf4 16.Nxd4! Qe5 17.Nxc6 dxc6 18.d4 18.Qf3= 0-0 19.c3 18...Qxe4 19.Qh5 0-0 20.Qc5 Qh4 21.Rf3 21.Rae1= 21...Rce8 22.Rg3 Qe7 22...e5 23.Qb6 Bc8 23.Qh5 23...c5! 24.dxc5 f5 25.a4 25.Rd1= 25...f4 26.Rh3 g6 27.Qg4 27.Bxe6+? Kh8-+ 27.Qh4 27...Qxc5-+ 28.axb5 28.Bxe6+? Kg7-+ 28...axb5 29.Bxe6+ Kg7 30.Qh4 h5 31.Rc3 Qb6 32.Bh3 f3 33.gxf3 Bxf3+ 34.Rxf3 Rxf3 35.Bg2 Qf2 36.Qb4? 36.Qxf2 Rxf2 37.Bf1 36...Re2! 37.Rg1 37...Rfe3? 37...h4! 38.Qg4 Qxg1+ 39.Kxg1 Re1+ 40.Bf1 Rfxf1+ 41.Kg2 Rg1+ 42.Kh3 Rxg4 43.Kxg4 b4 38.Qxb5? 38.Qd4+ Qf6 39.Qxf6+ Kxf6 40.Bf1 Rxc2 41.Bxb5 38...Re1 39.Bf1 Qf3+ 40.Bg2 Rxg1+ 41.Kxg1 Re1+ 42.Bf1 Rd1 43.h4 Qg3+ 44.Kh1 Rd2 45.Be2 Qe1+ 0–1 - Start an analysis engine:
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Gawain Jones | 2675 | Parham Maghsoodloo | 2615 | 0–1 | 2018 | B30 | Sharjah Masters | 7.1 |
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The Rossolimo Variation of the Sicilian Defence (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5) is always an excellent choice with White if you want to avoid the deeply analysed main lines of the Open Sicilian. Alexei Shirov provides you with the requisite understanding of the opening's subtleties, by annotating extensively his most important games in this variation. During his career, he has played the 3.Bb5 system with both colours and he shares with you on this DVD his valuable experience.
But his performance in the World Junior Championship was even more unbelievable: He became champion with one round to spare finishing on 9½ out of 10. He also won three other tournaments decisively in Iran during the year.

Parham Maghsoodloo becomes World Junior Champion | Photo: Amruta Mokal
After the Batumi Olympiad, Pouya Idani, the second board player for the national team, clinched the Goa GM International title. He continued his fine run in the Chigorin Memorial in presence of many strong players and finished clear first. He is the student of Pharmacology at Shahid Beheshti University, one of the best medical sciences universities in Iran.

Pouya Idani took first at the 1st Goa GM International 2018 | Photo: Niklesh Jane
In November, 18-years-old Mobina Alinasab made history by defeating two far higher rated players (Elisabeth Paehtz and Monika Socko) in the Women’s World Championship. It was the first time that an Iranian reached the upper rounds in the World Cup. In the third round, Alinasab missed an easy win at the very last moment of the first game against Mariya Muzychuk. She lost the next game and the overall match but her performance in the knockout tournament was really excellent.

Mobina Alinasab in Khanty-Mansiysk 2018 | Photo: Official website
In the Asian Individual Championship, 17-years-old Mohammad Amin Tabatabaei was a sterling representative for Iran and grabbed the silver medal both in the classic and the blitz sections. 15-years-old Alireza Firouzja, who is really active in online tournaments as well, became the gold medal winner of the Asian Blitz Championship.

Mohammad Amin Tabatabaei and Alireza Firouzja at the 2018 Asian Individual Championship | Photos: Iranian chess federation
On the last days of the year, the World Rapid and Blitz Championship held in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, who missed the last year’s competition in Saudi Arabia because of visa problems, played magically and bagged two silver medals in both the rapid and the blitz sections and the gold medal for the combined results. It was the first time in history that an Iranian achieved an adult world chess title. She followed it up in January with a fine performance at the Gibraltar Masters.

After getting married in October, Sara Khademalsharieh has played well | Photo: John Saunders / Gibraltar Chess Festival
Alireza Firouzja was on fire in the World Rapid and Blitz Championship and came the 6th in the rapid section. His start in the blitz section was really nice as well (6½/7), but his defeat against Magnus Carlsen destroyed his concentration and prevented him from repeating another amazing performance.
Firouzja, who was profiled in December, won the 2019 Iranian Championship with a round to spare:
All these results have been achieved just during the last 12 months and a bright future is waiting for this newly emerged generation of chess prodigies.
Iranian Championship - All games
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1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.e3 Bb4 5.Qb3 e4 5...Bxc3 6.Qxc3 Qe7 7.Be2 d5 8.0-0 d4 9.exd4 exd4 10.Qa3 Qxa3 11.bxa3 Bf5 12.Re1 0-0-0 13.Bb2 Rhe8 14.Bf1 Be4 15.Ng5 6.Ng5 Bxc3 7.Qxc3 h6N 7...0-0 8.b3 d6 9.Bb2 Ne5 10.Qc2 Bf5 11.f4 Ned7 12.0-0-0 Ng4 13.Be2 8.Nh3 0-0 9.Nf4 d5 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Nxd5 Qxd5 12.b3 Be6 13.Bb2 f6 14.Bc4 Qf5 15.d3 15.d4!? 15...Rfe8 16.dxe4 Qxe4 17.f3 Qg6 18.Bb5 18.0-0= 18...Qxg2 19.0-0-0 Rad8! 19...Qxf3?! 20.Rhg1± 20.Rdg1 Qxf3 21.Rf1 21.Be2! Qf2 21...Qxe2 22.Rxg7+ 22.Qxf6 Qxf6 23.Bxf6 21...Qe4! 22.Rhg1? 22.Bxc6 bxc6 23.Rhg1 22...Nb4!-+ 23.Rxg7+ Kh8 24.Qxb4 Qxb4 25.Bxf6 Qa3+? 25...Qxb5 26.Rg5+ Kh7 27.Rxb5 25...Qc5+ 26.Bc4= 25...Qd2+!-+ 26.Kb1 Bf5+! 27.Ka1 Re6 28.Rg2+ Rxf6 29.Rxd2 Rxd2 26.Kb1 26...Bf5+! 27.e4 27.Rxf5 Rd1+ 27...Re6 27...Bxe4+?! 28.Ka1= 27...Rd6! 28.Bc3 Rd4! 29.Bxe8 Bxe4+ 30.Ka1 Kxg7 31.Bxd4+ Kh7 28.Bc3!= Rxe4 29.Rxc7+? 29.Rgg1+= Rdd4 30.Rxf5 29...Rdd4! 30.Ka1 30.Bd3 Qd6 31.Rc4 Re1+ 32.Kb2 Qxh2+ 33.Ka3 Qd6+ 34.Kb2 Qh2+ 35.Ka3 Qd6+ 36.Kb2 Qh2+ 30.Bxd4+ Rxd4+ 30...Kg8-+ 31.Rg1+ Kf8 31...Kh8? 32.Bd3+- 32.Rf1 Rd5 33.Bc4 Rf4 34.Re1 34...Rxc4! 35.Rxc4 35.bxc4 Qxc3# 35...a5 36.Rc7 Rd7 37.Rc8+ Kf7 38.Rc4 b5 39.Rc6 Rd6 40.Rc7+ Kg6 41.Rf1 Rd5 42.Rc6+ Kh5 43.Bg7 Bg6 44.Bf8 b4 45.Rc3 Bf5 45...Rd2 46.Rh3+ Kg4 47.Rg3+ Kh5 48.Rh3+ Kg4 49.Rg3+ Kh5 50.Rh3+= 46.Rc6 46...Rd2? 46...a4!-+ 47.Ra6 Bd3 48.Rxh6+ Kg4 47.Rxf5+= Kg4 47...Kh4!? 48.Rf4+ Kh3 49.Rxh6+ Kg2 50.Rg6+ Kh3 51.Rh6+ Kg2 52.Rg6+ Kh3 53.Rh6+= 48.Rf4+! Kh5 48...Kxf4? 49.Bxh6+ Ke5 50.Bxd2+- 49.Rf5+ Kg4 50.Rf4+! ½–½ - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Firouzja,A | 2618 | Tahbaz,A | 2468 | ½–½ | 2019 | A28 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 1.1 |
Daghli,A | 2366 | Gholami Orimi,M | 2377 | ½–½ | 2019 | D37 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 1.2 |
Idani,P | 2611 | Gholami,A | 2488 | ½–½ | 2019 | B13 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 1.3 |
Mosadeghpour,M | 2517 | Pourramezanali,A | 2528 | ½–½ | 2019 | B36 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 1.4 |
Darini,P | 2475 | Moradi,A | 2321 | 1–0 | 2019 | C77 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 1.5 |
Ghaem Maghami,E | 2533 | Khodashenas,M | 2455 | ½–½ | 2019 | D24 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 1.6 |
Firouzja,A | 2618 | Daghli,A | 2366 | 1–0 | 2019 | C75 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 2 |
Pourramezanali,A | 2528 | Darini,P | 2475 | 0–1 | 2019 | B89 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 2 |
Gholami,A | 2488 | Mosadeghpour,M | 2517 | 1–0 | 2019 | D37 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 2 |
Tahbaz,A | 2468 | Khodashenas,M | 2455 | ½–½ | 2019 | A06 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 2 |
Gholami Orimi,M | 2377 | Idani,P | 2611 | 0–1 | 2019 | E35 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 2 |
Moradi,A | 2321 | Ghaem Maghami,E | 2533 | 1–0 | 2019 | B87 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 2 |
Firouzja,A | 2618 | Daghli,A | 2366 | 1–0 | 2019 | C75 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 3 |
Idani,P | 2611 | Firouzja,A | 2618 | 0–1 | 2019 | B11 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 3 |
Ghaem Maghami,E | 2533 | Pourramezanali,A | 2528 | ½–½ | 2019 | A13 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 3 |
Pourramezanali,A | 2528 | Darini,P | 2475 | 0–1 | 2019 | B89 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 3 |
Mosadeghpour,M | 2517 | Gholami Orimi,M | 2377 | 1–0 | 2019 | C50 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 3 |
Gholami,A | 2488 | Mosadeghpour,M | 2517 | 1–0 | 2019 | D37 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 3 |
Darini,P | 2475 | Gholami,A | 2488 | ½–½ | 2019 | B10 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 3 |
Tahbaz,A | 2468 | Khodashenas,M | 2455 | ½–½ | 2019 | A06 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 3 |
Khodashenas,M | 2455 | Moradi,A | 2321 | 1–0 | 2019 | C96 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 3 |
Gholami Orimi,M | 2377 | Idani,P | 2611 | 0–1 | 2019 | E35 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 3 |
Daghli,A | 2366 | Tahbaz,A | 2468 | 1–0 | 2019 | B06 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 3 |
Moradi,A | 2321 | Ghaem Maghami,E | 2533 | 1–0 | 2019 | B87 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 3 |
Firouzja,A | 2618 | Mosadeghpour,M | 2517 | 1–0 | 2019 | D37 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 4 |
Pourramezanali,A | 2528 | Khodashenas,M | 2455 | ½–½ | 2019 | D20 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 4 |
Gholami,A | 2488 | Ghaem Maghami,E | 2533 | ½–½ | 2019 | A05 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 4 |
Tahbaz,A | 2468 | Moradi,A | 2321 | 1–0 | 2019 | A46 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 4 |
Gholami Orimi,M | 2377 | Darini,P | 2475 | 0–1 | 2019 | E32 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 4 |
Daghli,A | 2366 | Idani,P | 2611 | ½–½ | 2019 | B22 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 4 |
Idani,P | 2611 | Tahbaz,A | 2468 | 1–0 | 2019 | C45 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 5 |
Ghaem Maghami,E | 2533 | Gholami Orimi,M | 2377 | ½–½ | 2019 | A13 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 5 |
Mosadeghpour,M | 2517 | Daghli,A | 2366 | 1–0 | 2019 | A46 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 5 |
Darini,P | 2475 | Firouzja,A | 2618 | 0–1 | 2019 | C78 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 5 |
Khodashenas,M | 2455 | Gholami,A | 2488 | ½–½ | 2019 | B41 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 5 |
Moradi,A | 2321 | Pourramezanali,A | 2528 | ½–½ | 2019 | A46 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 5 |
Firouzja,A | 2618 | Ghaem Maghami,E | 2533 | ½–½ | 2019 | B11 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 6 |
Idani,P | 2611 | Mosadeghpour,M | 2517 | 1–0 | 2019 | A13 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 6 |
Gholami,A | 2488 | Moradi,A | 2321 | 1–0 | 2019 | A05 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 6 |
Tahbaz,A | 2468 | Pourramezanali,A | 2528 | ½–½ | 2019 | B19 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 6 |
Gholami Orimi,M | 2377 | Khodashenas,M | 2455 | ½–½ | 2019 | E33 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 6 |
Daghli,A | 2366 | Darini,P | 2475 | 0–1 | 2019 | B22 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 6 |
Ghaem Maghami,E | 2533 | Daghli,A | 2366 | 1–0 | 2019 | E64 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 7 |
Pourramezanali,A | 2528 | Gholami,A | 2488 | 1–0 | 2019 | B12 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 7 |
Mosadeghpour,M | 2517 | Tahbaz,A | 2468 | 0–1 | 2019 | C78 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 7 |
Darini,P | 2475 | Idani,P | 2611 | ½–½ | 2019 | B23 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 7 |
Khodashenas,M | 2455 | Firouzja,A | 2618 | ½–½ | 2019 | B53 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 7 |
Moradi,A | 2321 | Gholami Orimi,M | 2377 | 0–1 | 2019 | C77 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 7 |
Firouzja,A | 2618 | Moradi,A | 2321 | 1–0 | 2019 | C92 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 8 |
Idani,P | 2611 | Ghaem Maghami,E | 2533 | 1–0 | 2019 | C02 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 8 |
Mosadeghpour,M | 2517 | Darini,P | 2475 | 1–0 | 2019 | C65 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 8 |
Tahbaz,A | 2468 | Gholami,A | 2488 | ½–½ | 2019 | B12 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 8 |
Gholami Orimi,M | 2377 | Pourramezanali,A | 2528 | 0–1 | 2019 | D45 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 8 |
Daghli,A | 2366 | Khodashenas,M | 2455 | 0–1 | 2019 | E16 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 8 |
Ghaem Maghami,E | 2533 | Mosadeghpour,M | 2517 | ½–½ | 2019 | D02 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 9 |
Pourramezanali,A | 2528 | Firouzja,A | 2618 | 0–1 | 2019 | B04 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 9 |
Gholami,A | 2488 | Gholami Orimi,M | 2377 | 1–0 | 2019 | A05 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 9 |
Darini,P | 2475 | Tahbaz,A | 2468 | 0–1 | 2019 | B06 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 9 |
Khodashenas,M | 2455 | Idani,P | 2611 | ½–½ | 2019 | B30 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 9 |
Moradi,A | 2321 | Daghli,A | 2366 | ½–½ | 2019 | E73 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 9 |
Firouzja,A | 2618 | Gholami,A | 2488 | ½–½ | 2019 | B10 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 10 |
Idani,P | 2611 | Moradi,A | 2321 | | 2019 | A05 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 10 |
Mosadeghpour,M | 2517 | Khodashenas,M | 2455 | ½–½ | 2019 | A05 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 10 |
Darini,P | 2475 | Ghaem Maghami,E | 2533 | ½–½ | 2019 | B12 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 10 |
Tahbaz,A | 2468 | Gholami Orimi,M | 2377 | 0–1 | 2019 | C65 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 10 |
Daghli,A | 2366 | Pourramezanali,A | 2528 | ½–½ | 2019 | A40 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 10 |
Ghaem Maghami,E | 2533 | Tahbaz,A | 2468 | ½–½ | 2019 | E04 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 11 |
Pourramezanali,A | 2528 | Idani,P | 2611 | ½–½ | 2019 | B78 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 11 |
Gholami,A | 2488 | Daghli,A | 2366 | ½–½ | 2019 | B09 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 11 |
Khodashenas,M | 2455 | Darini,P | 2475 | ½–½ | 2019 | B54 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 11 |
Gholami Orimi,M | 2377 | Firouzja,A | 2618 | 0–1 | 2019 | A40 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 11 |
Moradi,A | 2321 | Mosadeghpour,M | 2517 | 0–1 | 2019 | C11 | 52nd Iran-ch Men Final 2019 | 11 |
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