R3 REPORT: EUROPEAN INDIVIDUAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP 2018

Three rounds have been played at the European Individual Chess Championship 2018 which is currently ongoing in Batumi, Georgia, with participation of more than 300 players, coming from 34 European federations.

29366421_189160621811996_38300701574561792_nThe event has started on March 17th, with short Opening Ceremony held before the start of the first round. The introduction  was attended by the Chairman of the Government of Adjara Zurab Pataradze, European Chess Union president Zurab Azmaiparashvili, Chief Executive Officer of FIDE Geoffrey Borg, Mayor of Batumi Lasha Komakhidxe, representatives of the executive and legislative authorities and other invited guests.

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After the Georgian and European Chess Union anthems, Zurab Azmaiparashvili welcomed the guests, addressed the players and thanked the Georgian and Adjara governments. The next speech was given by the Chairman of the Government of Adjara, Zurab Pataradze, who said that the European Individual Chess Championship is a kind of rehearsal before the greater challenge – World Chess Olympiad – which will be hosted by Batumi from September 23.

Chairman of the Government of Adjara, Zurab Pataradze, made the first Ceremonial move on the first board, in the match between Sargsyan Shant (ARM, 2481) and Jakovenko Dmitry (RUS, 2746).

29356478_189126328482092_1930342234796851200_nAfter the Ceremonial activities, the battles for the top of one of the strongest European Individual Chess Championship have started.

Many top seeded players suffered huge upsets at the start of the competition, and after three rounds, the top is led by only six players who surprised with leading positions above the 8 players rated 2700+ and many others who were better on the starting rank list. For the first place currently tie: Bosiocic Marin (CRO, 2611), Hovhannisyan Robert (ARM, 2601), Jones Gawain C B (ENG, 2651), Skoberne Jure (SLO, 2563), Vocaturo Daniele (ITA, 2620) and Indjic Aleksandar (SRB, 2623).

29366302_189127388481986_2167930715985936384_nEmerged leaders are followed by 46 players with score of 2.5 points among whom are David Navara (CZE, 2735), Ivanchuk Vassily (UKR, 2713), Dubov Daniil (RUS, 2701), Nabaty Tamir (ISR, 2690), Inarkiev Ernesto (2684), Najer Evgeniy (RUS, 2683) and others.

Ranking list after 3 rounds

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European Individual Chess Championship 2018 features impressive media and love coverage, with 104 games in live transmission. Live games can be followed through the official website of the Championship or through the ECU website, section LIVE.

The 4th round with clash of the leaders starts today, at 3 pm, local time and the top pairings are:

1 61 GM Bosiocic Marin 2611 3 3 GM Jones Gawain C B 2651 30
2 69 GM Hovhannisyan Robert 2601 3 3 GM Indjic Aleksandar 2623 50
3 53 GM Vocaturo Daniele 2620 3 3 GM Skoberne Jure 2563 97
4 63 GM Bartel Mateusz 2609 GM Navara David 2737 3
5 5 GM Ivanchuk Vassily 2713 GM Alekseenko Kirill 2609 62
6 65 GM Andersen Mads 2605 GM Dubov Daniil 2701 8
7 11 GM Nabaty Tamir 2690 GM Abasov Nijat 2608 64
8 15 GM Inarkiev Ernesto 2684 GM Jojua Davit 2601 70
9 73 GM Kobalia Mikhail 2599 GM Najer Evgeniy 2683 16
10 17 GM Sargissian Gabriel 2677 GM Mchedlishvili Mikheil 2600 72

Pairings of the 4th round

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The European Individual Chess Championship 2018 is qualification event for the next World Cup, with total prize fund of 100.000 EUR. The event is played in 11 rounds by Swiss system, with time control 90 minutes for 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move, starting from the move one.

Official Website of the Championship

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