FIDE Presidential candidate GM Nigel Short headlines LIC 3rd Kolkata Open 2018
by Shahid Ahmed - 13/05/2018
LIC presents 3rd Kolkata International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament 2018, jointly organized by Dibyendu Barua Chess Academy and AllSport Foundation will start from this monday 14th May, 2018 at The New Town School which is also the venue partner of the event. The tournament will be headlined by recently announced candidate for FIDE Presidency, GM Nigel Short. He has been known to shoot straight from the hip in the matters related to chess. 193 players across 12 different countries including 28 GMs, 31 IMs, 2 WGMs and many more FMs, CMs and WIMs will play in a 9-day tournament which is arguably the strongest Open GM tournament in the history of Kolkata and perhaps one of the strongest in the country ever. Photo: David Llada
After a 3-year hiatus, Kolkata Open makes its return in LIC presents 3rd Kolkata International Grandmasters Chess Tournament 2018 at The New Town School on 14th May 2018. Here is a quick preview of the participants in this year's edition.
Top seed is evergreen, sharp, witty and maybe the next FIDE President. GM Nigel Short was the runner-up in the previous edition | Photo: Isle of Man
Mr. Commonwealth, GM Abhijeet Gupta is the second seed | Photo: Amruta Mokal
Two-time National Premier champion, GM Karthikeyan Murali is the third seed of the tournament | Photo: Amruta Mokal
Super GM Farrukh Amonatov of Tajikistan who is very successful in Indian circuit will start at fourth seed | Photo: Amruta Mokal
Profusely talented youth of the country, GM Aravindh Chithambaram is going to start as fifth seed | Photo: Lennart Ootes
As quiet as he is off the board, you can expect fireworks on the board from him. If you haven't witnessed the storm GM Sandipan Chanda can raise then this is a must see for you | Photo: Amruta Mokal
Two-time and reigning Hastings Masters champion GM Deep Sengupta willbe seen in action at his home | Photo: Amruta Mokal
Reigning National Junior champion and Kathmandu Open 2018 winner, IM Harsha Bharathakoti would like to make some strides in Kolkata Open | Photo: Nongsha Angom
Former National Rapid Champion, GM Neelotpal Das
After winning Chennai Open earlier this year, can Laxman go for his second GM tournament title for the year? | Photo: Amruta Mokal
Sayantan Das would like to cross the rating barrier and fulfill his final criteria to become a GM at home
GM Sundararajan Kidambi's resurgence as a player without the use of engine has been nothing short of inspirational. We would like to see some original play from this Chennai GM | Photo: Alina l'Ami
Of course we all are well aware of this young boy's talent. Can Gukesh make his second GM norm? | Photo: Peter Long
India's third GM, Pravin Thipsay still has a lot to offer
Slovak GM Manik Miklaus might be starting as the 38th seed here but he won a rapid tournament in his home country at the beginning of this month | Photo: Wikimedia
GM Saptarshi Roy Chowdhury finished at second position twice in two tournaments this year | Photo: Amruta Mokal
Oldest GM participating in the tournament is Raset Ziatdinov of USA | Source: FIDE
In an amazing gesture by the organizers four of the top five blind players of India will play at the Kolkata GM Open 2018. They have been given free entry by the organizers in order to help them prepare for the World Team Championship for the visually blind in July 2018.
The tournament will witness 193 players in action from 12 different countries including 28 Grandmasters, 2 Women Grandmasters, 31 International Masters and 7 Women International Masters. Let's take a look at what they are going to compete for:
Attractive prize structure of the tournament
When you are going to witness the players in action
In case you are wondering, how the venue look like, here is a sneak peek:
The school building has a unique design | Photo: The New Town School
The Newtown School is the first IGBC Gold Certified Green School in India | Source: The New Town School
Indoor sports facility | Photo: The New Town School
