ACF Botvinnik Cup Opens in Moscow

Boys and girls from 10 countries take part in the event.

The ACF Mikhail Botvinnik Cup was opened in the Central Chess Club in Moscow on October 15. 

The event consists of two round-robin tournaments among boys and girls under 14 years old.   10 players from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldavia, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are taking part in each competition.

At the opening ceremony, the participants and guests were greeted by the 12th world champion, CFR Vice-President Anatoly Karpov, CFR Executive Director Mark Glukhovsky, and Tournament Director Alexander Bakh. 

The players got the following starting numbers during the drawing of lots, which was carried out by the Chief Arbiter IA Alexander Ivanov: 

Boys:

1. Alan Petukhov (Kazakhstan), 2. Jaloliddin Ilkhomi (Tajikistan), 3. Arsen Davtyan (Armenia), 4. Dmitry Kirillov (Russia), 5. Jahandar Azadaliyev (Azerbaijan), 6. Maksim Tsaruk (Belarus), 7. Eldiar Orozbaev (Uzbekistan), 8. Andrei Priseajniuc (Moldavia), 9. Almas Rakhmatullaev (Uzbekistan). 10. Emin Kuliyev (Turkmenistan).

Round 1 pairings:

Petukhov - Kuliyev, Ilkhomi - Rakhmatullaev, Davtyan - Priseajniuc, Kirillov - Orozbaev, Azadaliyev - Tsaruk.

Girls:

1. Zhala Karimli (Azerbaijan), 2. Sabrina Abrorova (Tajikistan), 3. Kseniya Zeliantsova (Belarus), 4. Anna Varekha (Moldavia), 5. Maftuna Bobomurodova (Uzbekistan), 6. Meryem Agajanova (Turkmenistan), 7. Dariga Utalieva (Kazakhstan), 8. Alisa Nur-Mukhametova (Russia), 9. Nurai Sovetbekova (Kyrgyzstan), 10. Astghik Hakobyan (Armenia).

Round 1 pairings:

Karimli - Hakobyan, Abrorova - Sovetbekova, Zeliantsova - Nur-Mukhametova, Varekha - Utalieva, Bobomurodova - Agajanova.

All participants were presented with gifts from the organizers.

The match days: Round 1 - October 16 at 4 p.m., Round 2 - October 17 at 10 a.m., Round 3 - 17 October at 4 p.m., Round 4 - October 18 at 10 a.m., Round 5 - October 20 at 10 a.m., Round 6 - October 20 at 4 p.m., Round 7 - October 21 at 10 a.m., Round 8 - October 21 at 4 p.m., Round 9 - October 22 at 10 a.m..

October 19 is a free day.  

The tournament's general sponsor is Infinitum group of companies.  

Sponsor is Eco-Grand.

The ACF Mikhail Botvinnik Cup is supported by the Chess Federation of Russia. 

Games online (boys)

Games online (girls)

Photos by Eteri Kublashvili