Monday, 05/03/2018 20:15 (GMT+7)
(CPV) - After seven consecutive times being hosted by Ho Chi Minh city, the 8th HDBank Cup International Open Chess Tournament 2018 is set to take place from March 9th-16th at the Army Hotel, No.1A Nguyen Tri Phuong road, Hanoi.
The 9-round Swiss event lures 270 players from 21 nations/territories.
Organized by the Vietnam Chess Federation, it will have two sections:
- Masters category for players rated above Elo rating of 2,100 and women rated above Elo rating of 2,000
- Challengers category for players rated below Elo rating of 2,100 or unrated
The total prize fund is increased to USD55,000, in which:
Masters tournament: 1st USD15,000; 2nd USD6,500; and 3rd USD4,500; Best women: 1st USD5,000; 2nd USD2,500; and 3rd USD1,500; and Best senior >60 USD200
Challengers tournament: 1st USD1,200; 2nd USD800; 3rd USD600; Best women: 1st USD500; 2nd USD300; and 3rd USD200; Best U12 USD150; and Best senior >60 USD150
The top seed is Le Quang Liem from Vietnam (Elo rating of 2,737), following by China’s Wang Hao (Elo rating of 2,712) - who is champion of HDBank 2016 and third place in HDBank 2017, and Indian rival Sethuraman (Elo rating of 2,646).
The opening ceremony of this year’s tour will see the presence of Mr Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, President of World Chess Federation (FIDE)./.
ATP