{"id":581,"date":"2019-11-19T23:35:59","date_gmt":"2019-11-19T23:35:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sson.is\/selfoss-chess-festival\/?p=581"},"modified":"2019-11-19T23:47:02","modified_gmt":"2019-11-19T23:47:02","slug":"world-champions-tournament-underway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sson.is\/selfoss-chess-festival\/2019\/11\/19\/world-champions-tournament-underway\/","title":{"rendered":"World Champions tournament underway"},"content":{"rendered":"

The World Champions tournament got underway tonight in Hotel Selfoss in Iceland. The tournament is part of a chess festival in the city of Selfoss and the concept is probably quite unique. All the competitors in the 10 player round-robin where at some time a World Champion in one age category.<\/p>\n

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The playing hall in Hotel Selfoss….the player’s flags in the back.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The players list is quite varied with players coming from both near and far although mostly far! Iran, Kazaksthan, Brasil, Egypt, Russia (two players) and Belarus.<\/p>\n

The World Under 16 Junior Champion from\u00a0 1977, J\u00f3n L. \u00c1rnason<\/strong> opened the tournament by making the first move in the game between Dinara Saduakassova<\/strong> og Mikhail Antipov.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The first game to finish was the one between local GM Hedinn Steingrimsson <\/strong>and Brazilian GM Rafael Leitao<\/strong>. Leitao has for a long time been Brazil’s top player and has an impressive resume as you can read in his interview here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Steingrimsson had the white pieces and decided to test Leitao in the Sicilian as he is perhaps easier to prepare for in that opening. A typical hedgehog was reached.<\/p>\n\n\n

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