Shamkir Chess

Shamkir Chess 2014, playing hall

Shamkir Chess is a chess supertournament played in Shamkir, Azerbaijan in memory of Vugar Gashimov (1986–2014).^[1]

Winners[]

#	Year	Winner
1	2014	Magnus Carlsen (Norway)
2	2015	Magnus Carlsen (Norway)
3	2016	Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan)
4	2017	Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan)
5	2018	Magnus Carlsen (Norway)
6	2019	Magnus Carlsen (Norway)

2014[]

The Gashimov Memorial 2014 took place in the Haydar Aliev Centre in Shamkir City from 16 April to 30 April 2014, consisting of two tournaments, with invited players Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Sergey Karjakin, Fabiano Caruana, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, and Teimour Radjabov making up the A Tournament. The Elo average for the tournament was 2780, making it a Category 22 event and one of the highest rated tournaments of all time.

The A Tournament was held as a double round robin, with each player facing the other with both colours, while the B Tournament was held as a single round robin.

The total prize fund for the A tournament was €100,000,^[2] while the prize fund for the B tournament was €30,000.^[3]

In the A Tournament, in spite of losing consecutive games early on,^[4] Magnus Carlsen won after a last round White win over Fabiano Caruana who finished second.

In the B Tournament, Pavel Eljanov won two and drew one of his last three games to take first place.

1st Shamkir Chess, Group A, 20–30 April 2014, Şəmkir, Azerbaijan, Category XXII (2780)
	Player	Rating	1	2	3	4	5	6	Points	Wins	TPR
1	Magnus Carlsen (Norway)	2881		0 1	0 ½	½ ½	1 1	1 1	6½	5	2868
2	Fabiano Caruana (Italy)	2783	1 0	Does not appear	½ 1	½ ½	½ ½	0 1	5½	3	2814
3	Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan)	2713	1 ½	½ 0	Does not appear	½ ½	½ ½	½ ½	5	1	2793
4	Sergey Karjakin (Russia)	2772	½ ½	½ ½	½ ½	Does not appear	½ ½	½ ½	5	0	2781
5	Hikaru Nakamura (United States)	2772	0 0	½ ½	½ ½	½ ½	Does not appear	1 1	5	2	2781
6	Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan)	2760	0 0	1 0	½ ½	½ ½	0 0	Does not appear	3	1	2638

1st Shamkir Chess, Group B, 20–30 April 2014, Şəmkir, Azerbaijan, Category XVII (2663)
	Player	Rating	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Points	Wins	TPR
1	Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine)	2732		½	0	1	1	½	½	½	1	1	6	4	2775
2	Alexander Motylev (Russia)	2685	½	Does not appear	0	1	0	½	1	½	1	1	5½	4	2738
3	Wang Hao (China)	2734	1	1	Does not appear	½	½	½	0	½	½	½	5	2	2694
4	Étienne Bacrot (France)	2722	0	0	½	Does not appear	½	½	1	1	1	½	5	2	2695
5	Radosław Wojtaszek (Poland)	2716	0	1	½	½	Does not appear	½	0	½	½	1	4½	2	2657
6	Nijat Abasov (Azerbaijan)	2516	½	½	½	½	½	Does not appear	½	½	0	½	4	0	2640
7	Rauf Mamedov (Azerbaijan)	2660	½	0	1	0	1	½	Does not appear	0	½	½	4	2	2625
8	Vasif Durarbayli (Azerbaijan)	2584	½	½	½	0	½	½	1	Does not appear	0	½	4	1	2632
9	Gadir Guseinov (Azerbaijan)	2621	0	0	½	0	½	1	½	1	Does not appear	½	4	2	2628
10	Eltaj Safarli (Azerbaijan)	2656	0	0	½	½	0	½	½	½	½	Does not appear	3	0	2543

2015[]

The second edition of Shamkir Chess took place 16–25 April 2015.

World champion Magnus Carlsen, former world champion Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik competed in the tournament in Azerbaijan, as well as Fabiano Caruana, Anish Giri, Wesley So, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Michael Adams, and the Azerbaijan Champion Rauf Mamedov.

The tournament's total prize fund was €100,000.

Magnus Carlsen won the event with 7 points out of 9

2nd Shamkir Chess, 17–26 April 2015, Şəmkir, Azerbaijan, Category XXI (2773)
	Player	Rating	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Points	Wins	TPR
1	Magnus Carlsen (Norway)	2863		½	½	1	1	1	½	½	1	1	7	5	2981
2	Viswanathan Anand (India)	2791	½	Does not appear	1	½	½	1	1	½	½	½	6	3	2892
3	Wesley So (United States)	2788	½	0	Does not appear	0	½	½	1	1	½	1	5	3	2809
4	Fabiano Caruana (Italy)	2802	0	½	1	Does not appear	1	½	½	½	½	½	5	2	2811
5	Vladimir Kramnik (Russia)	2783	0	½	½	0	Does not appear	0	1	½	1	½	4	2	2735
6	Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan)	2754	0	0	½	½	1	Does not appear	½	½	½	½	4	1	2738
7	Michael Adams (England)	2746	½	0	0	½	0	½	Does not appear	1	½	½	3½	1	2694
8	Anish Giri (Netherlands)	2790	½	½	0	½	½	½	0	Does not appear	½	½	3½	0	2697
9	Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France)	2762	0	½	½	½	0	½	½	½	Does not appear	½	3½	0	2699
10	Rauf Mamedov (Azerbaijan)	2651	0	½	0	½	½	½	½	½	½	Does not appear	3½	0	2708

2016[]

The 3rd Shamkir Chess Tournament took place from May 26 to June 4, 2016. All ratings below are from the May 2016 FIDE Rating Lists.

3rd Shamkir Chess, 26 May – 4 June 2016, Şəmkir, Azerbaijan, Category XX (2736)
	Player	Rating	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Points	Wins	TPR
1	Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan)	2748		1	1	½	½	0	1	½	1	½	6	4	2854
2	Fabiano Caruana (United States)	2804	0	Does not appear	½	½	1	½	½	1	1	1	6	4	2848
3	Anish Giri (Netherlands)	2790	0	½	Does not appear	1	½	1	1	½	½	½	5½	3	2808
4	Sergey Karjakin (Russia)	2779	½	½	0	Does not appear	½	1	½	½	½	1	5	2	2770
5	Rauf Mamedov (Azerbaijan)	2655	½	0	½	½	Does not appear	½	½	½	½	1	4½	1	2744
6	Pentala Harikrishna (India)	2763	1	½	0	0	½	Does not appear	0	½	1	½	4	2	2694
7	Eltaj Safarli (Azerbaijan)	2664	0	½	0	½	½	1	Does not appear	½	½	½	4	1	2704
8	Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan)	2726	½	0	½	½	½	½	½	Does not appear	½	½	4	0	2699
9	Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine)	2765	0	0	½	½	½	0	½	½	Does not appear	1	3½	1	2654
10	Hou Yifan (China)	2663	½	0	½	0	0	½	½	½	0	Does not appear	2½	0	2578

Both Mamedyarov and Caruana were equal after nine rounds. Mamedyarov won the ensuing tiebreak rounds.^[5] The first two games were 10+3, and the second two games were 5+3.^[6]

Tiebreak
Player	Rapid rating	Blitz rating	1	2	3	4	Points	Place
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan)	2791	2714	½	½	1	½	2½	1
Fabiano Caruana (United States)	2829i	2665	½	½	0	½	1½	2

2017[]

4th Shamkir Chess, 21–30 April 2017, Şəmkir, Azerbaijan, Category XXI (2765)
	Player	Rating	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Points	Wins	H2H	SB	TPR
1	Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan)	2772		1	1	½	½	0	½	½	1	½	5½	3			2844
2	Vladimir Kramnik (Russia)	2811	0	Does not appear	0	½	½	½	1	½	1	1	5	3			2803
3	Wesley So (United States)	2822	0	1	Does not appear	½	1	½	½	½	½	½	5	2	½	22.00	2802
4	Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria)	2741	½	½	½	Does not appear	0	1	½	½	1	½	5	2	½	21.75	2811
5	Sergey Karjakin (Russia)	2783	½	½	0	1	Does not appear	½	0	½	1	½	4½	2			2763
6	Radosław Wojtaszek (Poland)	2745	1	½	½	0	½	Does not appear	½	½	½	½	4½	1	½	20.50	2767
7	Michael Adams (England)	2761	½	0	½	½	1	½	Does not appear	½	½	½	4½	1	½	20.00	2766
8	Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan)	2710	½	½	½	½	½	½	½	Does not appear	0	½	4	0			2728
9	Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine)	2751	0	0	½	0	0	½	½	1	Does not appear	1	3½	2			2687
10	Pentala Harikrishna (India)	2755	½	0	½	½	½	½	½	½	0	Does not appear	3½	0			2686

2018[]

The total prize fund of the fifth edition of Shamkir Chess tournament was again set to €100,000, with the winner receiving €30,000.^[7] With an average rating of 2768, it was a category XXI tournament.^[8]

One week before the beginning of the tournament, former world champion Vladimir Kramnik sent a letter to the organization committee stating he would not participate as planned, as he desired a rest after the Candidates Tournament held in March. The organizers replaced Kramnik with the No. 1 Polish player Radosław Wojtaszek (2744).^[9]

In the last round of the tournament, Magnus Carlsen and Ding Liren faced each other. They were in first and second place, respectively, and Carlsen as white needed only a draw to reclaim the title after two years of absence from the tournament. The game was a theoretical Four Knights Game.^[10] It was clear that Ding did not want to risk his runner-up position by attempting to defeat Carlsen as black, and the game was drawn within 20 minutes. As a result, Carlsen won the tournament for the third time.^[11]

5th Shamkir Chess, 18–28 April 2018, Şəmkir, Azerbaijan, Category XXI (2768)^[12]
	Player	Rating	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Points	Wins	SB	TPR
1	Magnus Carlsen (Norway)	2843		½	½	½	1	1	½	1	½	½	6	3		2885
2	Ding Liren (China)	2778	½	Does not appear	½	½	½	½	½	½	1	1	5½	2		2847
3	Sergey Karjakin (Russia)	2778	½	½	Does not appear	½	½	½	½	1	½	½	5	1		2810
4	Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan)	2814	½	½	½	Does not appear	½	½	½	0	½	1	4½	1	19.50	2763
5	Radosław Wojtaszek (Poland)	2744	0	½	½	½	Does not appear	½	½	1	½	½	4½	1	19.25	2771
6	Anish Giri (Netherlands)	2777	0	½	½	½	½	Does not appear	½	½	½	1	4½	1	18.50	2767
7	Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan)	2748	½	½	½	½	½	½	Does not appear	½	½	½	4½	0		2770
8	Veselin Topalov (FIDE^[13])	2749	0	½	0	1	0	½	½	Does not appear	½	1	4	2		2727
9	Rauf Mamedov (Azerbaijan)	2704	½	0	½	½	½	½	½	½	Does not appear	½	4	0		2732
10	David Navara (Czech Republic)	2745	½	0	½	0	½	0	½	0	½	Does not appear	2½	0		2605

2019[]

6th Shamkir Chess, 31 March – 9 April 2019, Şəmkir, Azerbaijan, Category XXII (2778)^[14]
	Player	Rating	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Points	Wins	SB	TPR
1	Magnus Carlsen (Norway)	2845		½	1	1	1	½	½	1	½	1	7	5		2991
2	Ding Liren (China)	2812	½	Does not appear	½	1	½	½	1	0	½	½	5	2	22.25	2817
3	Sergey Karjakin (Russia)	2753	0	½	Does not appear	½	1	½	½	½	½	1	5	2	20.25	2824
4	Alexander Grischuk (Russia)	2771	0	0	½	Does not appear	½	½	1	1	½	½	4½	2	20.25	2779
5	Viswanathan Anand (India)	2779	0	½	0	½	Does not appear	½	½	½	1	1	4½	2	18.25	2778
6	Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan)	2756	½	½	½	½	½	Does not appear	½	½	½	½	4½	0	17.50	2781
7	Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria)	2740	½	0	½	0	½	½	Does not appear	½	1	½	4	1	17.50	2739
8	David Navara (Czech Republic)	2739	0	1	½	0	½	½	½	Does not appear	½	½	4	1	17.25	2740
9	Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan)	2790	½	½	½	½	0	½	0	½	Does not appear	½	3½	0		2697
10	Anish Giri (Netherlands)	2797	0	½	0	½	0	½	½	½	½	Does not appear	3	0		2651

References[]

^ "Vugar Gashimov Memorial – Press Release". www.chessdom.com. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
^ Tournament A regulations Archived 2014-05-13 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 20 July 2014
^ Tournament B regulations Archived 2014-05-13 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 20 July 2014
^ Radjabov Also Beats Carlsen, Grabs Sole Lead In Shamkir Chess.com Retrieved 20 July 2014
^ "Shamkir Rd9: Mamedyarov beats Caruana in playoff". Chessbase. 4 June 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
^ Doggers, Pete (4 June 2016). "Mamedyarov wins 3rd Gashimov Memorial, Beats Caruana in Playoff". Chess.com. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
^ "Regulations of "SHAMKIR CHESS 2018" Dedicated to the memory of Vugar Gashimov". shamkirchess.com. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
^ "ShamkirChess2018: Leaders of the world chess come together in Shamkir". shamkirchess.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
^ "Vladimir Kramnik will not participate at the ShamkirChess2018 Super Tournament". shamkirchess.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
^ "Carlsen Wins Shamkir Chess After Quick Draw With Ding". chess.com. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
^ "Shamkir Chess 9: Carlsen completes his hat-trick". chess24.com. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
^ Staff writer(s) (28 April 2018). "Results: Cross Table". Shamkir Chess.
^ "Top 100 Players April 2018 - Archive".
^ "Shamkir Chess 2019 with Carlsen". ChessBase. 22 February 2019.

External links[]

[1] "Vugar Gashimov Memorial – Press Release". www.chessdom.com. Retrieved 24 April 2014.

[2] Tournament A regulations Archived 2014-05-13 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 20 July 2014

[3] Tournament B regulations Archived 2014-05-13 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 20 July 2014

[4] Radjabov Also Beats Carlsen, Grabs Sole Lead In Shamkir Chess.com Retrieved 20 July 2014

[5] "Shamkir Rd9: Mamedyarov beats Caruana in playoff". Chessbase. 4 June 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016.

[6] Doggers, Pete (4 June 2016). "Mamedyarov wins 3rd Gashimov Memorial, Beats Caruana in Playoff". Chess.com. Retrieved 4 June 2016.

[7] "Regulations of "SHAMKIR CHESS 2018" Dedicated to the memory of Vugar Gashimov". shamkirchess.com. Retrieved 30 April 2018.

[8] "ShamkirChess2018: Leaders of the world chess come together in Shamkir". shamkirchess.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.

[9] "Vladimir Kramnik will not participate at the ShamkirChess2018 Super Tournament". shamkirchess.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.

[10] "Carlsen Wins Shamkir Chess After Quick Draw With Ding". chess.com. Retrieved 30 April 2018.

[11] "Shamkir Chess 9: Carlsen completes his hat-trick". chess24.com. Retrieved 30 April 2018.

[12] Staff writer(s) (28 April 2018). "Results: Cross Table". Shamkir Chess.

[13] "Top 100 Players April 2018 - Archive".

[14] "Shamkir Chess 2019 with Carlsen". ChessBase. 22 February 2019.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

hide v t Major recurring international chess tournaments
Strong chess tournaments Mini chess tournaments Round-robin chess tournaments
Major present (average rating > 2700; round-robin system)	Dortmund Sparkassen Chess Meeting (since 1973) Grand Chess Tour (since 2015) Grenke Chess Classic (since 2013) London Chess Classic (since 2009) Norway Chess (since 2013) Shamkir Chess (since 2014) Shenzhen Masters (since 2017) Sinquefield Cup (since 2013) Tal Memorial (since 2006) Tata Steel Chess Tournament (since 1938)
Other present (Swiss system generally)	Aeroflot Open (since 2002) Australasian Masters (since 1987) Biel Chess Festival (since 1968) Canadian Open (since 1956) Capablanca Memorial (since 1962) Cappelle-la-Grande Open (since 1985) Carlos Torre Repetto Memorial (since 1987) Chigorin Memorial (since 1909) Doeberl Cup (since 1963) Dubai Open (since 1999) Gibraltar Chess Festival (since 2003) Hastings International Chess Congress (since 1920) Hogeschool Zeeland Tournament (since 1995) Lublin Grandmaster Tournament (since 2009) Paul Keres Memorials (Tallinn, since 1969) (Vancouver, since 1975) Reykjavik Open (since 1964) Riga Technical University Open (since 2011) Rubinstein Memorial (since 1963) South African Open (since 1962) U.S. Open (since 1900) Vidmar Memorial (since 1969) World Open (since 1973) Xtracon Chess Open (since 1979) Zurich Christmas Open (since 1977)
Recently cancelled (after 2000)	Alekhine Memorial (1956–2013, irregular) Acropolis (1968–2009) Aerosvit (2006–2008) Amber (1992–2011) Bilbao Chess Masters Final (2008–2016) Howard Staunton Memorial (2003–2009) Linares (1978–2010) Mar del Plata (1928–2001) Millionaire Chess (2014-2016) M-Tel Masters (2005–2009) North Sea Cup (1976–2008) Pearl Spring (2008–2010) Qatar Masters Open (2014–2015) Reggio Emilia (1947–2012) Zurich Chess Challenge (2012–2017)
Major past (19th–20th century)	American Chess Congress (1857–1923) Carl Schlechter Memorial (1923–1996) DSB Congress (1879–1932) General Government (1940–1944) IBM international (1961–1981) Konex (1977–1994) Leopold Trebitsch Memorial (1907–1938) Lone Pine International (1971–1981) Max Euwe Memorial (1987–1996) Monte Carlo (1901–1904; 1967–1969) Netanya (1961–1983) Palma de Mallorca (1965–1972) Phillips & Drew Kings (1980–1986) Piatigorsky Cup (1963–1966) San Sebastián (1911–1912) Silesian Chess Congress (1922–1939) Tilburg (1977–1998) Triberg (1914–1917)
Chess competitions National championships Supranational championships