Photos, standings, and more from the top open of April
The Super Open Nakhchivan 2011 continues in Azerbaijan. After round 4 there are 4 players sharing the leading position – Francisco Vallejo Pons (Spain), Zoltan Almasi (Hungary), Sergey Volkov (Russia), and Ivan Sokolov (Bosna and Herzegovina). They are facing each other in direct battles today, always eying their back, as Wang Yue, Ilia Smirin, Alexander Ipatov, Eltaj Safarli, Mikheil Mchedlishvili, Evgenij Miroshnichenko, and several other top contenders are withing 1/2 to 1 points distance.
The International Chess Festival Nakhchivan Open, dedicated to the memory of President Heydar Aliyev, is scheduled to take place from 23rd April to 1st May at the “Nakhchivan Chess Center” in Nakhchivan.
The Festival is organized by the Azerbaijan Youth & Sport Ministry, Azerbaijan Chess Federation and Nakhchivan AR Chess Federation. Nine rounds according to Swiss system will be played in the tournament. The total prize fund is $ 66.500.
Follow the live games at www.chess.az and www.azerichess.az.

First move of the event with Wang Yue at the top board, the officials and large media interest

Daily the top games are being reported on TV and the tournament has turned into a major sports event in the region

The official poster of the event meets the players when entering in the playing hall, but also at many places around the city

Close to the poster, is this photo of President Heydar Aliyev. Can you guess the top young talents at the photo?
Click here for larger version

The opening ceremony of the tournament, dedicated to the memory of President Heydar Aliyev, with traditional dances and nice program

The playing hall is a spacious room with very nice conditions for chess

Top boards are presented at large screens in the playing hall and around the building

Vallejo, Wang Yue and the top boards are at a central stage

Faik Gasanov is there to make sure all is in order

Wang Yue in action

Local star Eltaj Safarli in good mood

Alexander Ipatov close to the top boards after yesterday’s victory
Top boards pairings
GM Almasi Zoltan - GM Volkov Sergey
GM Sokolov Ivan - GM Vallejo Pons Francisco
GM Landa Konstantin - GM Wang Yue
GM Smirin Ilia - GM Abbasov Farid
IM Benidze Davit - GM Korobov Anton
GM Miroshnichenko Evgenij - GM Guseinov Gadir
GM Durarbeyli Vasif - GM Aleksandrov Aleksej
GM Turov Maxim - IM Bajarani Ulvi
IM Rasulov Vugar Ural Oglu - GM Mchedlishvili Mikheil
GM Safarli Eltaj - IM Ipatov Alexander
GM Gagunashvili Merab - WIM Abdulla Khayala Mardan Qizi
GM Ibrahimov Rasul - Iskandarov Misratdin Mehdi Ogl
GM Fedorchuk Sergey A - WGM Guramishvili Sopiko
IM Qashashvili Alexandre - GM Filippov Anton
GM Shanava Konstantine - Rahmanov Shahriyar Teymur Oglu
Abdulov Orkhan Javanshir Oglu - GM Abasov Nijat Azad Oglu
IM Guliev Logman - WIM Mammadova Gulnar Marfat Qizi
WGM Mamedjarova Turkan - GM Ghane Shojaat
FM Mammadov Ayaz Arzu Oglu - Orujov Shujaat Ismiali Oglu
Agayev Nidjat - Idrisov Tabriz Arif Oglu
Rzayev Bahruz Iqbal Oglu - WIM Umudova Nargiz
WFM Fataliyeva Ulviyya Hasil Qizi - IM Mammadov Zaur Fazahir Oglu
FM Agaragimov Djakhangir - WFM Ismayilova Parvana Khalid Qizi
WIM Kazimova Narmin Nizami Qizi - Garakhanbeyli Ramiz
Huseyn Orkhan Samir Oglu - Aliyev Elnur Fakhraddin Oglu
IM Shalamberidze Akaki - WGM Mamedjarova Zeinab
Standings
1 GM Almasi Zoltan HUN 3.5 2571
2 GM Vallejo Pons Francisco ESP 3.5 2546
3 GM Sokolov Ivan NED 3.5 2521
4 GM Volkov Sergey RUS 3.5 2449
5 GM Wang Yue CHN 3 2524
6 GM Korobov Anton UKR 3 2468
7 GM Abbasov Farid AZE 3 2465
8 GM Landa Konstantin RUS 3 2450
9 GM Smirin Ilia ISR 3 2441
10 GM Guseinov Gadir AZE 3 2411
11 IM Benidze Davit GEO 3 2408
12 GM Ibrahimov Rasul AZE 2.5 2560
13 GM Aleksandrov Aleksej BLR 2.5 2547
14 GM Miroshnichenko Evgenij UKR 2.5 2542
15 WIM Abdulla Khayala Mardan Qizi AZE 2.5 2539
16 GM Gagunashvili Merab GEO 2.5 2530
17 GM Turov Maxim RUS 2.5 2512
18 Iskandarov Misratdin Mehdi Ogl AZE 2.5 2429
19 IM Bajarani Ulvi AZE 2.5 2386
20 IM Rasulov Vugar Ural Oglu AZE 2.5 2383
21 GM Safarli Eltaj AZE 2.5 2353
22 GM Mchedlishvili Mikheil GEO 2.5 2334
23 GM Durarbeyli Vasif AZE 2.5 2326
24 IM Ipatov Alexander ESP 2.5 2311
25 GM Abasov Nijat Azad Oglu AZE 2 2508
26 GM Shanava Konstantine GEO 2 2496
27 GM Fedorchuk Sergey A UKR 2 2467
28 WGM Mamedjarova Turkan AZE 2 2460
29 GM Filippov Anton UZB 2 2457
30 IM Qashashvili Alexandre GEO 2 2402
31 Abdulov Orkhan Javanshir Oglu AZE 2 2385
32 WGM Guramishvili Sopiko GEO 2 2379
33 IM Guliev Logman AZE 2 2373
34 WIM Mammadova Gulnar Marfat Qizi AZE 2 2372
35 Rahmanov Shahriyar Teymur Oglu AZE 2 2323
36 Orujov Shujaat Ismiali Oglu AZE 1.5 2482
37 Rzayev Bahruz Iqbal Oglu AZE 1.5 2469
38 GM Ghane Shojaat IRI 1.5 2466
39 Idrisov Tabriz Arif Oglu AZE 1.5 2445
40 Agayev Nidjat AZE 1.5 2430
41 FM Mammadov Ayaz Arzu Oglu AZE 1.5 2310
42 WIM Kazimova Narmin Nizami Qizi AZE 1 2446
43 WIM Umudova Nargiz AZE 1 2445
44 Aliyev Elnur Fakhraddin Oglu AZE 1 2420
45 FM Agaragimov Djakhangir AZE 1 2332
46 IM Mammadov Zaur Fazahir Oglu AZE 1 2322
47 WFM Ismayilova Parvana Khalid Qizi AZE 1 2078
48 WFM Fataliyeva Ulviyya Hasil Qizi AZE 1 2072
49 Garakhanbeyli Ramiz AZE 1 2068
50 Huseyn Orkhan Samir Oglu AZE 0.5 2400
51 WGM Mamedjarova Zeinab AZE 0.5 2345
52 IM Shalamberidze Akaki GEO 0.5 2328
53 IM Morchiashvili Bachana GEO 0 2719