Mamedyarov,Kamsky and Almasy lead Finet Open Chess960

Mainz, Aug 17 (UNI) Shakhriyar Mamedyarov , Kamsky and Almasi remained unbeaten on the first day the FiNet Open at Rhinegoldhalle here in Germany.

The two day tournament which began this Wednesday will have 11 rounds and the winner will get a place to play in next years Chess 969 World Rapid Championsh.

Around 55 Grandmasters including some of the top names in the world of Chess like World Number 4 Vessely Ivanchuck, Alexie Shirov, Alexander Grischuck, Akopian, Sergey Karjakin and others are part of a strong 280 participants competeting for a place in the top 10.

Surprisingly, Etienne Bacrot, who is also playing in Chess960 Championship and Grenke Leasing World Rapid has also dropped in to play in the open.

India's 2nd best Grandmaster Krishnan Sasikiran is seeded Number 11, while Pentala Harikrishna, fresh from his grand victory at Paks in Hungary is on the 14th Spot.

Worlds youngest Grandmaster Parimarjan Negi, who has been training under Vishwanathan Anand's Former Coach Ubylava in Spain is seeded 41 in this 2 rounds 11 games Chess960 Open Rapid championship.

Amonsts the women, former World Women Chess Champion Jhu Chen, European Champion Viktoria Cymlite, Naitlia Zhuvkova, Elisabeth Paehtz, Annie Sebag, Inno Goponenko are in the race.

The top rank players playing with bottom ranked players could win their opening games with ease. However top seed Vessely Ivanchuck lost to German Grandmaster Arkadij Naidtsch in the fourth round but won the 5th game and came 17th with 4 points.

Sasikiran won the first three games with ease, drew the 4th one against Yusspov but got the fifth one to score 4.5 point to remain in the First 10.

Pentala Harikrishna also won the first three games and drew the last two to score 4 points while Parimarjan Negi, a new entrant to this new format won the first two, lost the third and drew the last two to finish with three points.

''This is a new format. In the beginning I took a lot of time for my orientation. I won two games but lost the 3rd as I committed a mistake as thinking I am playing a normal Rapid game. I will not repeat it in tomorrows rounds.'' Parimarjan Negi told UNI after the games.

Standing after 5 rounds S. Mamedyarov, Gata Kamsky and Zoltan Almasi finished with 5 points each 4-12 while Vugar Gashimov, Andrej Volokitin, Alexie Shirov, G Sergissian, Igor Lysyi, K Sasikiran, Etienne Bacrot,Alexander Grischuk, Victor Bologan, fnished on 4.5 points. Pentala Harikrishna ended up with 4 points.

UNI