9th HDBank International 2019 Preview

by Shahid Ahmed - 06/03/2019

The 9th edition of HDBank International Open 2019 will witness the record number of Indian participants in the tournament - 58. HDBank regular Wang Hao will be making his fourth consecutive appearance and this time he is the top seed of the tournament. In 'Drawing of lots' he got white in round 1. Sandipan Chanda will spearhead the Indian contingent closely followed by India's youngest and world's second youngest GM D Gukesh. Total 25 GMs, 39 IMs, 7 WGMs and 8 WIMs comprising of 304 players from 28 different countries. Total US$ 60000 prize is up for grabs. Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Sandipan Chanda will be the highest rated Indian player, Wang Hao is the top speed

The tournament flex indicates which year how many participants were there and from how many different country. The first edition in 2011 witnessed 65 players from 8 different country (not in picture) | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Defending champion GM Sandro Mareco of Argentina made the drawing of lots. Chief Arbiter IA Pham Huong Giang announced that top seed Wang Hao will play with White pieces in round 1 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

If you are wondering what is the secret of this tournament's growth, then here is your answer:

The city is flooded with the tournament flexes in Vietnamese language. That's how Chess can be made to reach among common people | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Quick glance at the Indian line-up

The absolute gentleman of the game GM Sandipan Chanda | Photo: Amruta Mokal

India's youngest and World's second youngest GM Gukesh D | Photo: David Llada

GM Vishnu Prasanna V will make his 3rd consecutive appearance at this tournament | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Reigning National Junior and Commonwealth under-20 champion, India's 55th GM - Karthik Venkataraman | Photo: Niklesh Jain

India's latest and 61st GM - P Iniyan | Photo: Amruta Mokal

This is what Vishy Anand tweeted on Iniyan becoming India's 61st GM:

Round 1 Pairing of few Indian players:

1	2	77		Vignesh B		IND	2317	GM	Cheparinov Ivan		GEO	2683	2
1	3	3	GM	Demchenko Anton		RUS	2678	WGM	Gomes Mary Ann		IND	2312	78
1	4	79	FM	Pranesh M	U16	IND	2309	GM	Mareco Sandro		ARG	2666	4
1	8	83	IM	Kulkarni Rakesh		IND	2298	GM	Predke Alexandr		RUS	2611	8
1	9	9	GM	Wen Yang		CHN	2599	WIM	Priyanka Nutakki		IND	2297	84
1	12	87	IM	Sharma Dinesh K.		IND	2286	GM	Tran Tuan Minh		VIE	2556	12
1	14	89	IM	Kathmale Sameer		IND	2282	GM	Chanda Sandipan		IND	2534	14
1	15	15	IM	Gukesh D	U16	IND	2529	IM	Bao Khoa		VIE	2277	90
1	17	17	GM	Vishnu Prasanna. V		IND	2524	WIM	Divya Deshmukh	U16	IND	2266	92
1	20	95		Sahil Tickoo		IND	2259	GM	Karthik Venkataraman	U18	IND	2494	20
1	23	23	IM	Iniyan P		IND	2487	WGM	Nguyen Thi Thanh An		VIE	2245	98
1	24	99	IM	Praveen Kumar C		IND	2243	IM	Nguyen Anh Khoi		VIE	2484	24
1	25	25	IM	Vignesh N R		IND	2476	WIM	Nandhidhaa P V		IND	2240	100
1	27	27	GM	Nguyen Duc Hoa		VIE	2450		Bhambure Shantanu		IND	2220	102
1	28	103	FM	Jeet Jain		IND	2219	IM	Pascua Haridas		PHI	2446	28
1	29	29	IM	Taher Yoseph Theolifus		INA	2446		Shyam Prasad Reddy K	U16	IND	2215	104
1	30	105	IM	Lu Chan Hung		VIE	2207	CM	Mendonca Leon Luke	U16	IND	2446	30
1	33	33	WGM	Tokhirjonova Gulrukhbegim		UZB	2434	FM	Aaryan Varshney	U16	IND	2202	108
1	36	111	FM	Deshpande Aniruddha		IND	2194	GM	Laylo Darwin		PHI	2430	36
1	37	37	IM	Shyaamnikhil P		IND	2429	WIM	Varshini V		IND	2191	112
1	40	115		Ilamparthi A R	U16	IND	2177	GM	Laxman R.R.		IND	2425	40
1	43	43	IM	Raja Rithvik R	U16	IND	2423	WFM	Singgih Diajeng Theresa	U16	INA	2164	118
1	44	119		Gandhi Anish		IND	2156	GM	Tu Hoang Thong		VIE	2416	44
1	46	121		Zhang Xiao	U16	CHN	2153	IM	Nitin S.		IND	2408	46
1	47	47	IM	Rahul Srivatshav P		IND	2400		Mclaren Brian	S60	CAN	2144	122
1	51	51		Samant Aditya S	U16	IND	2388	CM	Kwon Sehyun		KOR	2136	126
1	52	127		Dao Minh Nhat	U16	VIE	2130		Sammed Jaykumar Shete		IND	2387	52

How I reached Vietnam:

Here is my take on reaching Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -

1. Get e-visa done online for only USD 25 (The fees is for Indian citizen only)

2. Tickets cost as low as 13-14k return fare if you decide on booking 1-2 months ago. (Pricing may vary from location or if you are carrying check-in baggage)

Air Asia was my first choice. Why? Because it's cost effective and takes the shortest time. The route from my city Kolkata is via Bangkok (routes and duration may vary according to the location) | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

3. You can always book an accommodation via airbnb or your favorite travel agent.

4. If you know how to ride a bike then you can rent-a-bike as two wheelers is the best mode of transportation in Ho Chi Minh city.

It is quite evident that two-wheelers is quite predominant among the mode of transportation in Ho Chi Minh city | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

My top five places to see in Ho Chi Minh city (in no particular order):

Cu Chi Tunnels

It was definitely at the top of my list to visit when I planned on visiting Ho Chi Minh city. So on Day 0, I booked a tour bus ticket to go there. The experience is indescribable. If you want to crawl inside the tunnels to have an authentic experience of the trenches, it is recommended to do some stretching and go in the morning.

Cu Chi Tunnels is about 56 km away from the city and it takes about 1 hour 40 mins to go, but it's totally worth it | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

When in 'Nam, you must climb a tank. Because there is no other way to get on it | Photo: Tour group member

Unification Palace

If you are a history buff like me, then you must visit Unification Palace. The place was rebuilt after it was bombed out of oblivion. In simple words, this place gives you a tour of President's place and how things were controlled from what type of rooms.

Reunification Palace is definitely among the must see places in Ho Chi Minh city | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon

The Notre Dame was established by the French. However it was inaccessible as it is being renovated and it will remain closed till June 2020 as per our guide Tree.

The Notre Dame is under renovation | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Saigon Central Post Office

If you are wondering why I went to Saigon when the tournament is taking place in Ho Chi Minh city, then I must tell you that Saigon was renamed to Ho Chi Minh city in 1976. While Post Office is almost an obsolete concept in today's era, but this Central Post Office in Ho Chi Minh city will tell you a different story.

Well you can see that the place is quite crowded unlike the post office we are familial. There is a photo of the country's hero Ho Chi Minh at the back | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

War Remnants Museum

I love visiting museums, so it is absolutely obvious that I will visit this museum. We all face our own battle in 64 squares and every war story has two sides. This museum tells the story of Vietnam War from all possible sides. Warning: Some of the sections contain extremely graphic images which are not suitable for children and sensitive people.

The place is exactly what it says | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

The place has thousands of photos, but my most favorite one is this | Original Photo: Lam Hong Long

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	Vignesh B holds Cheparinov to a draw in round 1 of 9th HDBank International 2019 @ 07/03/2019 by Shahid Ahmed (en)