The Ministry of Youth & Sport of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan Chess Federation have announced the Baku Chess Open festival dedicated to the 100th anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev.
The festival will be held from May 3 (arrival day) to May 12 (last round and closing ceremony) in Baku Crystal Hall, an indoor arena where the 2016 Chess Olympiad was held.
The program of the festival includes competitions in three sections (A, B and C), 9-round Swiss tournaments with classical time control. Group A is open to players with FIDE Elo above 2250 (Women – above 2100), Group B is for players with FIDE Elo below 2249 (Women – below 2099), Group C will bring together rated players and youngsters under 12 (born in 2011 and earlier).
The total prize fund of the tournament amounts to USD 55,000, with USD 12,000 reserved for the winner of Section A. The first ten registered players with FIDE Elo above 2650 (as of May 1, 2023) and women with FIDE Elo above 2450 (as of May 1, 2023) will be provided with a full board.
Currently the top rated player is GM Sethuraman (2639) from India.
Website: http://asf.org.az
