Shahriyar Mammadyarov wins Shamkir Chess 2017

By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

GM Shahriyar Mammadyarov has scored another amazing victory with 5.5 points in 9 games at the Gashimov Memorial tournament in Shamkir, Azerbaijan. 

The Shamkir Chess 2017 was played in memory of Vugar Gashimov, a talented Azerbaijani grandmaster and world-class player who died in 2014 at the age of 27.

The world’s strongest grandmasters, including Wesley So, Vladimir Kramnik, Sergey Karjakin, Shahriyar Mammadyarov, Michael Adams, Pentala Harikrishna, Pavel Eljanov, Radoslav Wojtaszek, Veselin Topalov and Teimour Radjabov arrived in Shamkir struggled for the title of Shamkir Chess 2017 champion.

More than a million viewers watched online the exciting games held from April 20 to 30.

Shahriyar Mammadyarov, who won the 3rd edition of the Memorial, gradually gained victory points taking advantage of a mistake of World Champion Wesley So, and then former World champion Vladimir Kramnik and least experienced Pavel Eljanov.

Vladimir Kramnik was second, scoring 5 points and Wesley So ranked the third.

The results of the game have also influenced the position of players in the FIDE World Ranking.

The leader of the ranking remains the holder of the World Crown, Magnus Carlsen (2832), and he is followed by Olympic Champion Wesley So (2815) and former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik (2811), while Shahriyar Mammadyarov settled in twelfth place (2772).

The closing ceremony of memorial was held at the Heydar Aliyev Center, where the head of Shamkir City Executive Power, Alipasha Mammadov congratulated the winners.

"We thank you for a fascinating game. Ten days, we were able to enjoy the game of world grandmasters in Shamkir, "said Mammadov, adding that they have gifts for the grandmasters.

Artist Aynur Abdullayeva presented Vladimir Kramnik a portrait of the Russian grandmaster in the art Nouveau style.

Besides, Pentala Harikrishna received Vugar Gashimov Award from the hands of chess player's brother Sarkhan Hashimov.

Later, Faig Hasanov, Vice-President of Azerbaijan Chess Federation announced the winners. The head of the Organizing Committee of "Shamkir Chess 2017" Farid Huseynov handed the Winner Cup to Shahriyar Mammadyarov.

Next year, the Memorial will mark the fifth anniversary and the organizers promised to attract world-class grandmasters to the event once again.