Igor Kurnosov Memorial Starts in Chelyabinsk

This is the first big OTB event in Russia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Southern Ural capital is hosting one of the most representative tournaments in the history of the Russian Cups. Fifty-three grandmasters are taking part in the Igor Kurnosov Memorial, the stage of the Russian Rapid Grand Prix in Chelyabinsk. The staring list includes Vladislav Artemiev, Andrey Esipenko, Alexey Sarana, Valentina Gunina, Polina Shuvalova, Olga Girya, Pavel Ponkratov, Vladimir Fedoseev, Nikita Vitiugov, Maxim Matlakov, and many other well-known players. 

Before the event, the players had been tested for Covid-19. All health requirements and recommendations of the Russian Agency for Health and Consumer Rights (Rospotrebnadzor) and FIDE, such as mask requirements, absence of spectators, temperature taking, the distance between the tables, screens between the players, and room disinfection, are met at the tournament. 

In his welcome speech, the Tournament Director Maxim Shusharin thanked the Chess Federation of Russia and the Ministry of Sports, Physical Culture of the Chelyabinsk region and all who'd helped organise the event. Chief Arbiter Mikhail Kryukov reminded rules and regulations. Amir Guliazov greeted the participants on behalf of CFR President Andrey Filatov and the CFR Supervisory Board.  

Artyom Timofeev, the grandmaster from Kazan, is leading the race with 4 points after four rounds. Seventeen players are half a point behind. Five more rounds will be played on September 5. The event will finish on September 6, and right it, the Alexander Panchenko Memorials, stages of the Russian Cups among men and women, will begin. 

Tournament on Chess-results

Photos by Natalia Lastochkina