Shamkir Chess Explained

Gashimov Memorial is a chess supertournament played in Azerbaijan in memory of Vugar Gashimov (24th July 1986– 11th January 2014).^[1]

Winners

	Year	Winner
1	2014
2	2015
3	2016
4	2017
5	2018
6	2019
7	2021
8	2022
9	2023

2014

The Gashimov Memorial 2014 took place in the Heydar Aliyev 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 A 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	align=left		2881		0 1	0 ½	½ ½	1 1	1 1	6½	5	2868
2	align=left		2783	1 0		½ 1	½ ½	½ ½	0 1	5½	3	2814
3	align=left		2713	1 ½	½ 0		½ ½	½ ½	½ ½	5	1	2793
4	align=left		2772	½ ½	½ ½	½ ½		½ ½	½ ½	5	0	2781
5	align=left		2772	0 0	½ ½	½ ½	½ ½		1 1	5	2	2781
6	align=left		2760	0 0	1 0	½ ½	½ ½	0 0		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	align=left		2732		½	0	1	1	½	½	½	1	1	6	4	2775
2	align=left		2685	½		0	1	0	½	1	½	1	1	5½	4	2738
3	align=left		2734	1	1		½	½	½	0	½	½	½	5	2	2694
4	align=left		2722	0	0	½		½	½	1	1	1	½	5	2	2695
5	align=left		2716	0	1	½	½		½	0	½	½	1	4½	2	2657
6	align=left		2516	½	½	½	½	½		½	½	0	½	4	0	2640
7	align=left		2660	½	0	1	0	1	½		0	½	½	4	2	2625
8	align=left		2584	½	½	½	0	½	½	1		0	½	4	1	2632
9	align=left		2621	0	0	½	0	½	1	½	1		½	4	2	2628
10	align=left		2656	0	0	½	½	0	½	½	½	½		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	align=left		2863		½	½	1	1	1	½	½	1	1	7	5	2981
2	align=left		2791	½		1	½	½	1	1	½	½	½	6	3	2892
3	align=left		2788	½	0		0	½	½	1	1	½	1	5	3	2809
4	align=left		2802	0	½	1		1	½	½	½	½	½	5	2	2811
5	align=left		2783	0	½	½	0		0	1	½	1	½	4	2	2735
6	align=left		2754	0	0	½	½	1		½	½	½	½	4	1	2738
7	align=left		2746	½	0	0	½	0	½		1	½	½	3½	1	2694
8	align=left		2790	½	½	0	½	½	½	0		½	½	3½	0	2697
9	align=left		2762	0	½	½	½	0	½	½	½		½	3½	0	2699
10	align=left		2651	0	½	0	½	½	½	½	½	½		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	align=left		2748		1	1	½	½	0	1	½	1	½	6	4	2854
2	align=left		2804	0		½	½	1	½	½	1	1	1	6	4	2848
3	align=left		2790	0	½		1	½	1	1	½	½	½	5½	3	2808
4	align=left		2779	½	½	0		½	1	½	½	½	1	5	2	2770
5	align=left		2655	½	0	½	½		½	½	½	½	1	4½	1	2744
6	align=left		2763	1	½	0	0	½		0	½	1	½	4	2	2694
7	align=left		2664	0	½	0	½	½	1		½	½	½	4	1	2704
8	align=left		2726	½	0	½	½	½	½	½		½	½	4	0	2699
9	align=left		2765	0	0	½	½	½	0	½	½		1	3½	1	2654
10	align=left		2663	½	0	½	0	0	½	½	½	0		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

align=left		2791	2714	½	½	1	½	2½	1
align=left		2829	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 !! !! SB !! TPR

1	align=left		2772		1	1	½	½	0	½	½	1	½	5½	3			2844
2	align=left		2811	0		0	½	½	½	1	½	1	1	5	3			2803
3	align=left		2822	0	1		½	1	½	½	½	½	½	5	2	½	22.00	2802
4	align=left		2741	½	½	½		0	1	½	½	1	½	5	2	½	21.75	2811
5	align=left		2783	½	½	0	1		½	0	½	1	½	4½	2			2763
6	align=left		2745	1	½	½	0	½		½	½	½	½	4½	1	½	20.50	2767
7	align=left		2761	½	0	½	½	1	½		½	½	½	4½	1	½	20.00	2766
8	align=left		2710	½	½	½	½	½	½	½		0	½	4	0			2728
9	align=left		2751	0	0	½	0	0	½	½	1		1	3½	2			2687
10	align=left		2755	½	0	½	½	½	½	½	½	0		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		2843		½	½	½	1	1	½	1	½	½	6	3		2885
2		2778	½		½	½	½	½	½	½	1	1	5½	2		2847
3		2778	½	½		½	½	½	½	1	½	½	5	1		2810
4		2814	½	½	½		½	½	½	0	½	1	4½	1	19.50	2763
5		2744	0	½	½	½		½	½	1	½	½	4½	1	19.25	2771
6		2777	0	½	½	½	½		½	½	½	1	4½	1	18.50	2767
7		2748	½	½	½	½	½	½		½	½	½	4½	0		2770
8	Veselin Topalov ^[13]	2749	0	½	0	1	0	½	½		½	1	4	2		2727
9		2704	½	0	½	½	½	½	½	½		½	4	0		2732
10		2745	½	0	½	0	½	0	½	0	½		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		2845		½	1	1	1	½	½	1	½	1	7	5		2991
2		2812	½		½	1	½	½	1	0	½	½	5	2	22.25	2817
3		2753	0	½		½	1	½	½	½	½	1	5	2	20.25	2824
4		2771	0	0	½		½	½	1	1	½	½	4½	2	20.25	2779
5		2779	0	½	0	½		½	½	½	1	1	4½	2	18.25	2778
6		2756	½	½	½	½	½		½	½	½	½	4½	0	17.50	2781
7		2740	½	0	½	0	½	½		½	1	½	4	1	17.50	2739
8		2739	0	1	½	0	½	½	½		½	½	4	1	17.25	2740
9		2790	½	½	½	½	0	½	0	½		½	3½	0		2697
10		2797	0	½	0	½	0	½	½	½	½		3	0		2651

2021

The 2021 edition was changed to a rapid/blitz event, and held in Baku, a departure from the tournament being traditionally held in Shamkir.^[15] Fabiano Caruana won the event in an armageddon playoff against Richárd Rapport.

7th Shamkir Chess, 17-24 December 2021, Baku, Azerbaijan^{[16] [17]} ! !! Player !! Rapid score !! Blitz score !! Total

1		14	10	24
2		16	8	24
3		14	8½	22½
4		16	5	21
5		9	6½	15½
6		8	6	14
7		4	6	10
8		3	6	9

2022

The 2022 edition remained the same as that of the previous year; being a rapid/blitz event held in Baku.^[18]

8th Shamkir Chess, 16-24 December 2022, Baku, Azerbaijan^[19] ! !! Player !! Rapid score !! Blitz score !! Total

1		14	11½	25½
2		8	12½	20½
3		12	8½	20½
4		8	12	20
5		12	7½	19½
6		10	9	19
7		6	11	17
8		7	8	15
9		7	5	12
10		6	5	11

2023

The 2023 edition was held in Qabala.^[20]

9th Shamkir Chess, 7-11 December 2023, Qabala, Azerbaijan^[21] ! !! Player !! Rapid score !! Blitz score !! Total

1		10	12	22
2		10	11½	21½
3		7	12	19
4		9	9½	18½
5		11	7½	18½
6		8	10	18
7		8	10	18
8		10	7	17
9		9	6	15
10		8	4½	12½

External links

• Vugar Gashimov Memorial 2014
• Broadcast of the Shamkir 2019 on worldchess.com

Notes and References

1. Web site: Vugar Gashimov Memorial – Press Release. www.chessdom.com. 24 April 2014.
2. http://www.shamkirchess.az/azembassy/files/file/Tournament%20A.PDF Tournament A regulations
3. http://www.shamkirchess.az/azembassy/files/file/Tournament%20B.PDF Tournament B regulations
4. http://www.chessvibes.com/?q=radjabov-also-beats-carlsen-grabs-sole-lead-in-shamkir-update-video Radjabov Also Beats Carlsen, Grabs Sole Lead In Shamkir
5. Web site: Shamkir Rd9: Mamedyarov beats Caruana in playoff. Chessbase. 4 June 2016. 4 June 2016.
6. Web site: Mamedyarov wins 3rd Gashimov Memorial, Beats Caruana in Playoff. Doggers. Pete. Chess.com. 4 June 2016. 4 June 2016.
7. Web site: Regulations of "SHAMKIR CHESS 2018" Dedicated to the memory of Vugar Gashimov. shamkirchess.com. 30 April 2018.
8. Web site: ShamkirChess2018: Leaders of the world chess come together in Shamkir. shamkirchess.com. 20 April 2018.
9. Web site: Vladimir Kramnik will not participate at the ShamkirChess2018 Super Tournament. shamkirchess.com. 20 April 2018.
10. Web site: Carlsen Wins Shamkir Chess After Quick Draw With Ding. chess.com. 30 April 2018.
11. Web site: Shamkir Chess 9: Carlsen completes his hat-trick. chess24.com. 30 April 2018.
12. Web site: Results: Cross Table. Shamkir Chess. Staff writer(s). 28 April 2018.
13. Web site: Top 100 Players April 2018 - Archive.
14. Web site: Shamkir Chess 2019 with Carlsen. ChessBase. 22 February 2019.
15. Web site: “Vüqar Həşimov Memorialı-2021”də güclü şahmatçılar mübarizə aparacaqlar. Gashimov Chess. 14 December 2021. 15 December 2021.
16. Web site: Caruana Wins 2021 Gashimov Memorial. chess.com. 25 December 2021.
17. Web site: Vugar Gashimov Memorial 2021. chess.com.
18. Web site: Vugar Gashimov Memorial 2022.
19. Web site: Abdusattorov wins Gashimov Memorial with five rounds to spare. December 24, 2022. Carlos Alberto. Colodro.
20. Web site: Gabala to host Vugar Hashimov Memorial 2023. November 20, 2023. Laman. Ismayilova.
21. Web site: Vugar Gashimov Memorial 2023. chess.com.