Sunway Sitges Open R1: Top seeds make a smooth start

by Shahid Ahmed - 14/12/2020

The 7th edition of the over-the-board tournament, Sunway Sitges International Open started on Sunday 13th December. Defending champion and newly crowned Ukraine champion GM Anton Korobov is the top seed of the tournament. IM Leon Mendonca's journey to become India's latest GM is still on as he just needs his final GM-norm. Souhardo Basak is the only other Indian taking part in Group A, he is looking for his final IM-norm and touch the 2400 rating barrier. Leon will face WGM Laura Unuk, while Souhardo will play against former Women's world champion GM Antoaneta Stefanova in Round 2 tonight from 9 p.m. IST. Photo: Sunway Chess Open

Martin Barcelo Carles holds Maxim Lagarde

Three Indians are taking part in the 7th Sunway Sitges Open which is taking place at Hotel Sunway Playa Golf & Spa, Sitges, Barcelona. IM Leon Mendonca Luke is looking for his final GM-norm to become India's latest GM while Souhardo Basak's quest for his final IM-norm is also on. Shubham Bandikatte won his first round game in Group B. Top seed of the tournament is the defending champion Anton Korobov. He also won the Ukrainian Championship a little over two weeks ago. Korobov won his first game with ease. Among the top seeds only GM Maxim Lagarde was held to a draw by untitled Martin Barcelo Carles.

Bulgaria no.2 Ivan Cheparinov | Photo: Sunway Chess Open

Leon starts with a win

IM Leon Mendonca converted his advantage with ease and scored a victory against much lower rated Altisen Palmada Roberto (ESP).

Roberto - Leon

Position after 22.c3

It is evident that black is better here. How should he continue after 22.c3 ?

Photo Gallery

Oleg Romanishin giving a simul exhibition with all Covid-19 safety measures in place | Photo: Sunway Chess Open

Former Women's World Champion Antoaneta Stefanova in a Simul exhibition for the women players before the inauguration | Photo: Sunway Chess Open

Inauguration Ceremony | Photo: Sunway Chess Open

Armenia no.4 Karen H Grigoryan | Photo: Sunway Chess Open

Expect some fiery games from Brazil no.6 Alexandr Fier | Photo: Sunway Chess Open

Georgian GM Nino Batsiashvili was held to draw by Andres Luque Saiz | Photo: Sunway Chess Open

Covid-19 Control Team cleans the boards in the analysis room after every use | Photo: Sunway Chess Open

Replay Round 1 games

Round 1 results

Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
1	1	GM	Korobov Anton	2693	0	1 - 0	0		Bin-Suhayl Ieysaa	2193	70
2	71		Tadevosyan Aspet	2184	0	0 - 1	0	GM	Cheparinov Ivan	2660	2
3	3	GM	Grigoryan Karen H.	2651	0	1 - 0	0	WFM	Rodriguez Redondo Adhara	2183	72
4	73		Martin Barcelo Carles	2179	0	½ - ½	0	GM	Lagarde Maxime	2651	4
5	5	GM	Moussard Jules	2626	0	1 - 0	0	IM	Odnorozhenko Evgenyi	2170	74
6	75	WFM	Eizaguerri Floris Maria	2167	0	0 - 1	0	GM	Santos Latasa Jaime	2588	6
7	7	GM	Santos Ruiz Miguel	2581	0	1 - 0	0		Aguado Doncel Pablo Luis	2158	76
8	77		Mitran Anthony Cristian	2157	0	½ - ½	0	GM	Dragnev Valentin	2564	8
9	9	GM	Cornette Matthieu	2558	0	1 - 0	0	WFM	Hapala Elisabeth	2154	78
10	79		Le Pen Steven	2141	0	0 - 1	0	GM	Maze Sebastien	2557	10
11	11	GM	Plat Vojtech	2552	0	1 - 0	0	CM	Papadiamandis Elliot	2134	80
12	81		Roque Gaetan	2132	0	0 - 1	0	GM	Fier Alexandr	2549	12
13	13	GM	Nevednichy Vladislav	2546	0	1 - 0	0		Villar Reymundo Juan Antonio	2129	82
14	83		Ruperez Miguel	2124	0	0 - 1	0	GM	Krysa Leandro	2544	14
15	15	GM	Lopez Martinez Josep Manuel	2542	0	1 - 0	0		Pozanco Romasanta Marc	2116	84
16	85		Altisen Palmada Roberto	2102	0	0 - 1	0	IM	Mendonca Leon Luke	2530	16
17	17	GM	Cuenca Jimenez Jose Fernando	2528	0	1 - 0	0		Ezquerro Luque Albert	2101	86
18	87		Silva Pedro Gil Ferreira Da	2100	0	0 - 1	0	GM	Checa Nicolas	2527	18
19	19	GM	Bellahcene Bilel	2510	0	1 - 0	0	CM	Llopis De Aysa Manuel	2093	88
20	89		Boixader Arbo Xavier	2091	0	0 - 1	0	GM	Flom Gabriel	2499	20

Details

Prizes

Total Prize fund - €27155. For the entire prize details, click here.

Schedule

13th - 22nd December - 9:00 p.m. IST

23rd December - 2:00 p.m. IST

Links

Official site

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