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Vugar Gashimov Memorial welcomes world GMs in Shamkir

26 May 2016 [13:57] - TODAY.AZ

/By Azernews/

By Amina Nazarli

The Shamkir Chess 2016, the 3rd edition of the tournament in memory of Vugar Gashimov, who succumbed to ill health in early 2014, was solemnly opened at Shamkir’s Heydar Aliyev Centre on May 25.

Speaking at the ceremony Vugar’s father, Gasim Gashimov thanked the participants of the tournament.

“Last year I said that the tournament will be a traditional. And today we celebrate the next edition. This shows the path that Vugar Gashimov left in chess history,” he emphasized.

Youth and Sport Minister Azad Rahimov, for his part, noted that Vugar devoted his life to protect Azerbaijani sport as a soldier of a motherland, “till 27 years, Vugar left unforgettable path.”

He said that the late grandmaster won respect with his unique games in the international arena, that’s why famous grandmasters from around the world attend his memorial tournament.

Talking about the national grandmaster’s successes and merits, Rahimov called Vugar as one of the strongest players in the world.

Speaking at the ceremony, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, President of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) said that this tournament plays special place in FIDE’s calendar.

“Many strong chess players are competing in the tournament. Chess is supported by the government in Azerbaijan,” he said. “On Tuesday we started the 100-day countdown of the 42nd World Chess Olympiad 2016. We are sure that Baku Chess Olympiad will be the best Olympiad in the history of world chess.”

Mahir Mammadov, Vice-President of Azerbaijan’s Chess Federation, in turn, talked about the importance of the competition.

“It’s the third year we successfully hold Vugar Gashimov Memorial. It’s difficult to come to terms with his loss. This tournament plays important role for honoring his memory,” he said.

The speeches were followed by a draw ceremony.

The third memorial tournament brings together world-famous chess grandmasters, including challenger for the world chess crown Sergey Karjakin, Fabiano Caruana, Anish Giri, Paul Elyanov, Pentala Harikrishna, Hou Yifan as well as national grandmasters Shahriyar Mammadyarov, Teymur Rajabov and Eltaj Safarli and Rauf Mammadov.

The first matches will take place on May 26, while the finish is scheduled for June 4.

Renowned rapid and blitz player, Vugar Gashimov, was one of several highly talented young grandmasters from Azerbaijan who have risen to prominence in world chess in recent years.

The talented chess player won the Azerbaijan national championships of 1995, 1996 and 1998, but these are likely to have been youth championships given his age at the time of these events.

Gashimov’s first significant tournament success was to win the U16 Kasparov Cup in 1999, which he did with a round to spare. In 2002, the 15-year old Vugar earned his first GM norm when he won the category 7 Alushtinskaja Spring International held in Ukraine.

The 19 year-old GM took clear first place at Acropolis 2005 with 6.5/9 and won the category 18 Reggio Emilia in 2010. The Tata Steel 2012 became the last tournament in his life.

After his early successes, Gashimov had to put his activities on hold for a while for a surgery. His disease re-surfaced in 2011, causing him to suddenly lose consciousness during a match against the French national team in the European Championship. Then a long-term treatment in Switzerland and Germany began, but he failed to beat the disease.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/sports/151106.html

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