2018 Abu Dhabi Masters

The very latest International round up of English news.
Chris Rice
Posts: 3417
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 5:17 am

2018 Abu Dhabi Masters

Post by Chris Rice » Tue Aug 07, 2018 8:50 am

This event starts today and Nigel Short has taken a break from the Presidential campaign to play in it. Good luck to him and two other ENG participants in the Masters, Ian Thompson and Alan Byron. Complete participant list here.
One interesting note is that Ivan Cheparinov, listed here as playing under the FIDE flag because of the problems in Bulgarian chess discussed under a different thread is now listed as Georgian in the FIDE ratings. The live chess ratings were quick enough to pick this up and here we can see him listed as the world number 39 with his shiny brand new Georgian flag beside his name.
First round draw is not up yet but is due to kick off at 2.45pm UK time according to Chess 24. Link to games here.

Brian Towers
Posts: 1266
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2014 7:23 pm

Re: 2018 Abu Dhabi Masters

Post by Brian Towers » Tue Aug 07, 2018 9:21 pm

Chris Rice wrote:
Tue Aug 07, 2018 8:50 am
One interesting note is that Ivan Cheparinov, listed here as playing under the FIDE flag because of the problems in Bulgarian chess discussed under a different thread is now listed as Georgian in the FIDE ratings.
This was approved and minuted in the recent presidential board meeting and the right extended to all Bulgarian players caught up in this -
2PB-2018/43. To approve the request of GM Ivan Cheparinov to transfer from Bulgaria to Georgia. This would be without compensation or transfer fee. The same conditions would apply to all Bulgarian players wishing to transfer.
Ah, but I was so much older then. I'm younger than that now.

Chris Rice
Posts: 3417
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 5:17 am

Re: 2018 Abu Dhabi Masters

Post by Chris Rice » Tue Aug 07, 2018 9:28 pm

Nigel off the mark with a win:

Aronyak, Ghosh (IND) (2318) - Short, Nigel D (ENG) (2659)
0-1
Abu Dhabi Masters 2018 round 01



The other two ENG players were heavily outgraded:

55 FM Thompson, I. (0) 2156 0 - 1 IM Gukesh D (0) 2440
70 GM Raetsky, A. (0) 2380 1 - 0 Byron, Alan M (0) 2132

Roger de Coverly
Posts: 21301
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 2:51 pm

Re: 2018 Abu Dhabi Masters

Post by Roger de Coverly » Tue Aug 07, 2018 9:32 pm

Chris Rice wrote:
Tue Aug 07, 2018 9:28 pm
Nigel off the mark with a win:
A useful example of how to meet the increasingly fashionable 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 system.

User avatar
Christopher Kreuzer
Posts: 8806
Joined: Fri Aug 06, 2010 2:34 am
Location: London

Re: 2018 Abu Dhabi Masters

Post by Christopher Kreuzer » Wed Aug 08, 2018 12:32 pm

Brian Towers wrote:
Tue Aug 07, 2018 9:21 pm
Chris Rice wrote:
Tue Aug 07, 2018 8:50 am
One interesting note is that Ivan Cheparinov, listed here as playing under the FIDE flag because of the problems in Bulgarian chess discussed under a different thread is now listed as Georgian in the FIDE ratings.
This was approved and minuted in the recent presidential board meeting and the right extended to all Bulgarian players caught up in this -
2PB-2018/43. To approve the request of GM Ivan Cheparinov to transfer from Bulgaria to Georgia. This would be without compensation or transfer fee. The same conditions would apply to all Bulgarian players wishing to transfer.
This helps such players count as a 'foreign' player again.

From the FIDE Handbook (1.42a): "Games against opponents who do not belong to FIDE federations. Players with federation “FID” are accepted, but do not count as a foreign player."

Chris Rice
Posts: 3417
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 5:17 am

Re: 2018 Abu Dhabi Masters

Post by Chris Rice » Wed Aug 08, 2018 12:59 pm

Round 2 starting at 2.15pm UK today.

9 GM Short, N. D. (1) 2659 — IM Nitin, S. (1) 2449
59 FM Mithil, A. (0) 2318 — FM Thompson, I. (0) 2156
76 Byron, Alan M (0) 2132 — K. Kushager (0) 2256

Chris Rice
Posts: 3417
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 5:17 am

Re: 2018 Abu Dhabi Masters

Post by Chris Rice » Wed Aug 08, 2018 8:46 pm

After round 2 there are 20 players on 2/2 including Nigel Short, whose chess doesn't seem to have been affected at all by all the Presidential campaigning:

Short, Nigel D (ENG) (2659) - Nitin, S. (IND) (2449)
1-0
Abu Dhabi Masters 2018 round 02



Solid draw for Alan Byron, Ian still to get off the mark.

59 FM Mithil, A. (0) 2318 1 - 0 FM Thompson, I. (0) 2156
76 Byron, Alan M (0) 2132 ½ - ½ K. Kushager (0) 2256

Chris Rice
Posts: 3417
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 5:17 am

Re: 2018 Abu Dhabi Masters

Post by Chris Rice » Thu Aug 09, 2018 11:34 am

Round 3 2.15pm UK:

1 GM Rapport, R. (2) 2719 - GM Andersen, M. (2) 2601
2 GM Pantsulaia (2) 2587 - GM Cheparinov (2) 2718
3 GM Wang, Hao (2) 2711 - GM Narayanan.S.L (2) 2574
4 GM Aravindh, C.. (2) 2581 - GM Fedoseev, V. (2) 2707
5 GM Dubov, Daniil (2) 2691 - GM Firouzja, A. (2) 2561
6 IM Nihal Sarin (2) 2556 - GM Amin, Bassem (2) 2684
7 GM V. Prasanna. V (2) 2517 - GM Short, N. D. (2) 2659
8 FM E. Arjun (2) 2517 - GM Kravtsiv, M. (2) 2654
9 IM Kuybokarov (2) 2499 - GM Maghsoodloo (2) 2636
10 IM Mammadzada (2) 2426 - GM Vocaturo, D. (2) 2617
59 CM Aronyak Ghosh (½) 2318 - Byron, Alan M (½) 2132
77 FM Thompson, I. (0) 2156 - FM Villanueva (0) 2133

Chris Rice
Posts: 3417
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 5:17 am

Re: 2018 Abu Dhabi Masters

Post by Chris Rice » Thu Aug 09, 2018 7:53 pm

Nigel Short draws in round 3 to move to 2½, good news for Ian Thompson who is off and running with a win:

1 GM Rapport, R. (2) 2719 1 - 0 GM Andersen, M. (2) 2601
2 GM Pantsulaia (2) 2587 ½ - ½ GM Cheparinov (2) 2718
3 GM Wang, Hao (2) 2711 1 - 0 GM Narayanan.S.L (2) 2574
4 GM Aravindh, C.. (2) 2581 ½ - ½ GM Fedoseev, V. (2) 2707
5 GM Dubov, Daniil (2) 2691 1 - 0 GM Firouzja, A. (2) 2561
6 IM Nihal Sarin (2) 2556 0 - 1 GM Amin, Bassem (2) 2684
7 GM V. Prasanna. V (2) 2517 ½ - ½ GM Short, N. D. (2) 2659
8 FM E. Arjun (2) 2517 0 - 1 GM Kravtsiv, M. (2) 2654
9 IM Kuybokarov (2) 2499 ½ - ½ GM Maghsoodloo (2) 2636
10 IM Mammadzada (2) 2426 0 - 1 GM Vocaturo, D. (2) 2617
59 CM Aronyak Ghosh (½) 2318 1 - 0 Byron, Alan M (½) 2132
77 FM Thompson, I. (0) 2156 1 - 0 FM Villanueva (0) 2133


Thompson, Ian D (ENG) (2156) - Villanueva, Nelson (PHI) (2133)
1-0
Abu Dhabi Masters 2018 round 03


Chris Rice
Posts: 3417
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 5:17 am

Re: 2018 Abu Dhabi Masters

Post by Chris Rice » Fri Aug 10, 2018 9:43 am

Today is a rest day but the Round 4 pairings are up. I'm guessing there will be few takers but in case you are interested the next round will start at 7.15am UK on Saturday:

1 GM Amin, Bassem (3) 2684 - GM Rapport, R. (3) 2719
2 GM Kravtsiv, M. (3) 2654 - GM Wang, Hao (3) 2711
3 GM Vocaturo, D. (3) 2617 - GM Dubov, Daniil (3) 2691
4 GM Cheparinov (2½) 2718 - GM Aravindh, C.. (2½) 2581
5 GM Fedoseev, V. (2½) 2707 - GM Fier, A. (2½) 2561
6 GM Jojua, Davit (2½) 2583 - GM Sargissian (2½) 2680
7 GM Abdusattorov (2½) 2539 - GM Korobov, A. (2½) 2664
8 GM Short, N. D. (2½) 2659 - GM Debashis, Das (2½) 2539
58 FM Hamidi, A. M. (1) 2299 - FM Thompson, I. (1) 2156
72 Byron, Alan M (½) 2132 - WIM Parnali, S D. (½) 2218

Chris Rice
Posts: 3417
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 5:17 am

Re: 2018 Abu Dhabi Masters

Post by Chris Rice » Sat Aug 11, 2018 3:37 pm

In Round 4 Nigel Short did well to hold the draw. They have already kicked off Round 5:

1 GM Dubov, Daniil (4) 2691 - GM Fedoseev, V. (3½) 2707
2 GM Rapport, R. (3½) 2719 - GM Kravtsiv, M. (3½) 2654
3 GM Wang, Hao (3½) 2711 - GM Maghsoodloo (3½) 2636
4 GM Salem, A.R. Saleh (3½) 2636 - GM Amin, Bassem (3½) 2684
5 GM Korobov, A. (3½) 2664 - GM Adly, Ahmed (3½) 2634
6 GM Pantsulaia (3½) 2587 - GM Short, N. D. (3) 2659
68 WFM Varshini, V (1) 2205 - Byron, Alan M (1) 2132
73 FM Thompson, I. (1) 2156 - P. Aryan (1) 1957

Chris Rice
Posts: 3417
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 5:17 am

Re: 2018 Abu Dhabi Masters

Post by Chris Rice » Sat Aug 11, 2018 8:45 pm

Oh dear...

Pantsulaia, Levan (GEO) (2587) - Short, Nigel D (ENG) (2659)
1-0
Abu Dhabi Masters 2018 round 5



Alan Byron drew and Ian Thompson won his second game.

Round 6 pairings for Sunday (start) 2.15pm UK:

1 GM Korobov, A. (4½) 2664 - GM Wang, Hao (4½) 2711
2 GM Pantsulaia (4½) 2587 - GM Dubov, Daniil (4½) 2691
3 GM Kravtsiv, M. (4) 2654 - GM Salem, A.R. Saleh (4½) 2636
4 GM Vocaturo, D. (4) 2617 - GM Rapport, R. (4) 2719
5 GM Fedoseev, V. (4) 2707 - GM Sargissian (4) 2680
6 GM Narayanan.S.L (4) 2574 - GM Akopian, V. (3½) 2655
21 GM Short, N. D. (3) 2659 - IM Akash G (3) 2410
59 WGM Hejazipour (2) 2285 - FM Thompson, I. (2) 2156
70 Byron, Alan M (1½) 2132 - WFM D. Deshmukh (1½) 2172

Chris Rice
Posts: 3417
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 5:17 am

Re: 2018 Abu Dhabi Masters

Post by Chris Rice » Mon Aug 13, 2018 8:02 pm

Round 7 saw Nigel back to winning ways. Was he earlier affected by Malcolm's twitter attack? Let's see what he has to say after the event finishes. Personally I'm hoping Salem wins this, he's been the sole carrier of UAE chess hopes for a decade now and he had a great win today:

1 GM Dubov, Daniil (5½) 2691 ½ - ½ GM Korobov, A. (5½) 2664
2 GM Salem, A.R. Saleh (5) 2636 1 - 0 GM Le, Quang L. (4½) 2727



21 GM Sundararajan (3½) 2433 0 - 1 GM Short, N. D. (3½) 2659
64 FM Thompson, I. (2) 2156 0 - 1 FM Mansour, S. (2) 2275
66 WIM Srija, S. (2) 2255 1 - 0 Byron, Alan M (2) 2132

Chris Rice
Posts: 3417
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 5:17 am

Re: 2018 Abu Dhabi Masters

Post by Chris Rice » Tue Aug 14, 2018 9:37 am

Further FIDE report on Round 7 including information that there is a $61,000+ prize fund with a field of 47 GMs, 30 IMs, 7 WGMs, 6 WIMs, 20 FMs and 2 WFMs.

Chris Rice
Posts: 3417
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 5:17 am

Re: 2018 Abu Dhabi Masters

Post by Chris Rice » Wed Aug 15, 2018 12:08 am

Round 8 saw Korobov take the lead going into the last round with a win over Richard Rapport:
1 GM Salem, A.R. Saleh (6) 2636 ½ - ½ GM Dubov, Daniil (6) 2691
2 GM Korobov, A. (6) 2664 1 - 0 GM Rapport, R. (5½) 2719
3 GM Cheparinov (5½) 2718 1 - 0 GM Karthikeyan (5½) 2609
4 GM Maghsoodloo (5½) 2636 0 - 1 GM Sargissian (5½) 2680
13 GM Short, N. D. (4½) 2659 ½ - ½ IM Sindarov, J. (4½) 2488
73 Byron, Alan M (2) 2132 1 - 0 FM Srinivasa Rao. (2) 2160
74 Hakobyan, E. (2) 2134 1 - 0 FM Thompson, I. (2) 2156

The final round pairings are (Alan Byron has taken a zero point bye for the last round):
1 GM Sargissian (6½) 2680 - GM Korobov, A. (7) 2664
2 GM Dubov, Daniil (6½) 2691 - GM Cheparinov (6½) 2718
3 GM Aravindh, C.. (6) 2581 - GM Salem, A.R. Saleh (6½) 2636
4 GM Debashis, Das (6) 2539 - GM Abdusattorov (6) 2539
15 IM Iniyan, P (5) 2464 - GM Short, N. D. (5) 2659
73 FM Thompson, I. (2) 2156 - Panda Sambit (2) 2043