Negi to spearhead Indian challenge at Aeroflot Open

Moscow, Feb 4 (UNI) World's youngest Grandmaster Parimarjan Negi will lead a 30-strong Indian challenge at the four-tournament 200,000 dollar Aeroflot Open starting February 13 here.

The 10-day event International Chess Festival will comprise four -- A1, A2, B, C -- nine-round Swiss tournaments with the first category having the maximum prize money of 100,000 dollar at stake.

The A1 tournament is for players with a FIDE rating higher than 2549 but making an exception for Negi, who has a rating of 2538, the organisers have put the Indian in the top flight event.

Negi will be joined by K Sasikiran (2700) and Surya Shekhar Ganguly (2571) in the A1 tournament apart from the other international challengers and the winner stands to take home a prize money of 30,000 dollars.

In the A2 tournament, Women Grandmasters Tania Sachdev and Harika Dronavalli will lead the Indian hopes along with eight other compatriots. This tournament is for players with a FIDE rating less than 2550, but higher than 2399 and has a total of 50,000 dollar prize money at stake with the winner getting 12000 dollars.

Apart from the above two events, Indians will also be competing in the B and C tournaments. Tournament B -- for players with a FIDE rating less than 2400, but higher than 2199 -- will have nine Indians in the draw squaring off against other international challengers for a total prize of 27 000 dollars.

Tournament C, which has the least prize money on offer, is for players with a FIDE rating lower than 2200 or without rating. This event will see seven Indians in action.

The top performers also stand to win special prizes for being the best among seniors, women and juniors in all tournaments. And for the first time there will also be a prize for the best result shown by an unrated player in section C.

The Schedule: Feb 13: Opening Ceremony Feb 14: Round 1 (A1, A2, B,C) Feb 15: Round 2 (A1, A2, B,C), Round 3 (B) Feb 16: Round 3 (A1, A2 and C), Round 4 (B,C) Feb 17: Round 4 (A1, A2), Round 5 (B,C) Feb 18: Round 5 (A1, A2), Round 6 (B,C) Feb 19: Round 6 (A1, A2), Round 7 (B,C) Feb 20: Round 7 (A1, A2), Round 8 (B,C) Feb 21: Round 8 (A1, A2), Round 9 (B,C) Feb 22: Round 9 (A1, A2) Feb 22: Closing Ceremony UNI