Yet another huge chess event started yesterday: the 2009 Aeroflot Open. Top seeded player is Shakhryiar Mamedyarov (2724), who had to be satisfied with a draw against Mateusz Bartel (2594) in the first round.

The 8th International Chess Festival "Aeroflot Open 2009" is held in Moscow February 16th to 27th. This major event is open to chess players of different levels: from unrated to having a 2700 rating! As always, the big sponsor is the Russian airline Aeroflot.

For the fourth year running, the festival takes place in the major tourist complex “Izmailovo” - hotel “Gamma – Delta”. Four Open Tournaments (A1, A2, B and C), all 9-round Swisses, are made up according to the rating of the participants. This time, within the festival the Qualification Tournament for the World Blitz Championship will be held in addition to the four open tournaments.

This time the festival has the largest prize fund in the entire history of the Aeroflot Open Festival - € 180,000 (taking into account the prizes for the World Blitz Qualification Tournament). Tournament A1 is for chessplayers with a FIDE rating higher than 2549 and has a total prize fundof € 70,000. Tournament A2 is for chessplayers with a FIDE rating less than 2550, but higher than 2399 and has a total prize fund of € 36,000. Tournament B is for chessplayers with a FIDE rating less than 2400, but higher than 2199 and has a total prize fund of € 19,500. Tournament C is for chessplayers with a FIDE rating lower than 2200.

Naturally, the most interest is aroused by the A1 tournament, requiring from a participant a rating above 2550 (!) and usually boasting a number of world class players. The results of the first round can serve as a list of participants:

[TABLE=611]

Round 1 games for replay

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, trying his luck in a big open Swiss again

Links:

• Official website
• Games in PGN