Kuzubov heads strong field in Al Ain Chess Classic

Al Ain Chess Club officials address a Press conference at the HiliRotana Hotel. — Supplied photo

Al Ain — A stellar field of 45 top ranked Grandmasters and 14 International Masters head the list of 153 players from 26 countries seeing action in the $50,000 Al Ain Classic Chess Championship from December 19 to 26 at the HiliRotana Hotel in Al Ain.

GM Yuri Kuzubov of Ukraine is top seed in the tournament which boasts 17 players in the high rating category above 2600, namely Ukrainians Yuriy Kryvoruchko, Alexander Areshchenko, MikhailoOleksienko, EvgenijMiroshnichenko and Vladimir Onischuk, Belarussian Sergei Zhigalko, Armenians Tigran L. Petrosian and ArmanPashikian, Ivan Sokolov of the Netherlands, Samuel Shankland of the USA, ConstantinLupulescu of Romania, MikheilMchedlishvili of Georgia and ViorelIordachescu of Moldova.

Aside from the host country, the largest contingent is from India with 33 players followed by Azerbaijan with 22 players. National team member GM RaufMamedov heads the Azerbaijan delegation while GM Aghijeet Gupta and Vidit Santosh Gujrathi spearhead the Indian contingent.

The tournament will be a nine-round Swiss System. Round 1 hostilities start 6pm on Friday. Two rounds are scheduled 10am and 5pm on Saturday followed by daily rounds starting 4pm. The last ninth round starts at 2pm on Friday, December 26. Games shall be broadcast live on the web. At stake are some $50,000 for the first 20 places with a top prize of $11,000 for the champion and various category prizes.