Shahriyar Mammadyarov wins Shamkir Chess 2017
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.
Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games has announced that Azerchay will be the Official Tea of the Games.
Azerchay is a brand that is a part of Azersun Holding, an Azerbaijan based food producer, which will become an Official Supporter of the Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games.
Azerchay will provide tea concessions in the Athletes Village, as well as in some Games time venues. Besides providing athletes and officials with premium service tea including traditional glasses, samovars and wooden display boxes, Azerchay will set-up a Golf Simulation in the Athletes Village.
As an Official Supporter, Azersun will focus on building excitement ahead of the start of the Games – with sport sessions commencing on May 8, ahead of the Opening Ceremony on May 12 at the Baku Olympic Stadium.
Speaking about the agreement Elchin Safarov, Director of Baku 2017 Operation Committee, Mayor of Athletes Village and Ambassador of volunteers said: “Azersun Holding is one of Azerbaijan leading companies and we are delighted they will become an Official Support of the Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games.”
“Tea is one of the oldest and most important cultural traditions in Azerbaijan. In supporting the Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games, Azersun Holding and Azerchay will help ensure that all athletes, official and spectators visiting our country will be provided with the warm an d welcoming hospitality for which Azerbaijan has become famous for, around the world.
Savash Uzan, Chief Executive Officer of Azersun Holding, said: “We are proud to be Official Supporter of the Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games and to give our support to one of the important sporting events ever to take place in Azerbaijan. I am sure that together we will achieve great success.”
Azersun becomes the seventh Official Supporter of the Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games alongside BonAqua, iTicket, Fresco, Milla, Red Bull and Nestle.
Athletes from Islamic countries around the world will be representing their nations over 10 days of competition across 20 different sports which include 23 disciplines (Athletics and Para Athletics, Aquatics – Diving, Aquatics – Swimming, Aquatics – Water Polo, Basketball 3x3, Football, Gymnastics – Artistic, Gymnastics – Rhythmic, Wushu, Table Tennis, Handball, Judo and Blind Judo, Wrestling – Greco, Wrestling – Freestyle, Shooting, Tennis, Volleyball, Boxing, Zurkhaneh, Karate, Taekwondo and Weightlifting) in 16 world-class sporting venues in Baku.
Azerbaijan’s capital city Baku was awarded the Games at the General Assembly of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF) in Jeddah in July 2013.