The city of Figueira da Foz has the honor of being the stage for one of the current phenomena in world chess: Sharvaanica Saravanan, the young Indian who broke barriers by becoming the youngest player to reach 2000 Elo points, in a country that already there was a world champion. Sharvaanica has attracted worldwide attention by imposing herself not only in the women's sector but in absolute terms, beating her male rivals. At Figueira da Foz, above all, he seeks to face great names in world chess, male and female Grandmasters from 20 countries, and strengthen his career, which has already started in a fantastic and brilliant way.

After last year's success with another young Indian, Charvi Anilkumar, expectations are high to see how far Sharvaanica can go in this tournament, where she stands out not only as a chess prodigy, but also as a symbol of gender equality – a central theme at the Figueira da Foz International Chess Festival.

This year's women's squad brings together one of the strongest teams ever seen in Portugal, with several international stars, former world champions in young categories and, among others, Grand Master Elina Danielian, absolute European champion in 2022.

She is joined by figures such as Portuguese national champion Ana Inês Silva, who is expected to
many difficulties to reach the top five positions among women.

Young prodigies in the spotlight

In addition to Sharvaanica, the tournament welcomes other promising talents
of world chess, including an extraordinary Indian player Darshan
Gurukanthan, 11 years old, also in the world top of his age group,

and the promising Attila Orman, from Azerbaijan who, at just 9 years old, is a sports star in his country.

Youth does not overshadow the luxury veteranity of the Figueirense throne with the two stars who had fantastic careers and who surpassed 70 years of age, the GMs, Oleg Romanish from Ukraine and Kevin Spraggett from Canada.

With more than 80 players competing, this tournament offers the highest prize value of all time in Portugal, bringing a unique and intense spectacle until the last minute. Don't miss the opportunity to watch the growth of future chess legends and the battle for the increasingly valued title!

NOVEMBER 9; AT 6 PM, IN THE NOBLE HALL OF THE FIGUEIRENSE ASSEMBLY

Four-time French champion Nino Maisuradze will face two opponents in just 20 minutes.

Due to force majeure, the participation of the young Indian prodigy in the Figueira da Foz tournament was postponed, after his trip was cancelled. The decision was made due to unforeseen circumstances, which prevented the player from attending the event, and he is now awaiting a new opportunity for his debut in the competition.

Elina Danielian, the extraordinary Armenian Chess Grandmaster, is a strong contender for the twelve prize places in the tournament and the coveted special prize for the women’s ranking. With an impressive track record, Danielian is the 2021 European Women’s Champion, has been a World Champion in several youth categories, holds the title of Champion of Armenia on six occasions and is a two-time European Club Champion. The Fig Tree Tournament is currently one of the strongest in Europe in terms of women’s participation, attracting some of the best female chess players in the world to the competition.

The Cuban Grandmaster, champion of the Caribbean and Central American Games in rapid games in 2023, two-time national champion in 2019 and 2020, has an impressive resume, full of prestigious titles. In 2024, he further consolidated his position by achieving runner-up in the elite super tournament of the Memorial Capablanca, one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world.

In addition to defending the victory obtained last year in Figueira da Foz, the Cuban master represents one of the countries with the greatest tradition in chess, honoring the legacy of Raúl Capablanca, one of the greatest champions of all time.

We continue to mark the history of national chess.

In this 2024 edition, we have around one hundred players, representing 20 countries, and an extraordinary group of national and foreign players.

With a record number of monetary prizes awarded, we hope to match the best open ever. Follow our tournament day by day. In a sport where women and men of all ages play as “equals”, follow some of the great names in world chess.

Portugal and Figueira da Foz on the world chess map!

The Cuban GM, Carlos Albornoz, who is part of the Cuban national team, and some of the most highly rated players present wins in an absolutely exciting last round. Albornoz, who faced the then leader of the Indian MI Chintagunta Reddy in black, who only needed a draw to win the tournament and make the GM standard. Albornoz from the beginning of the match demonstrated that he was going to play aggressively, exploiting some restraint from the Indian player who knew that a draw would be enough for him. The match, which was the last to end on the day and which decided the throne, had a very high level ending from the 22-year-old Cuban who thus lived up to all the expectations that fell on him and for his future. The young Cuban GM thus wins the strongest, most awarded and most prestigious Tournament ever in the history of Chess in Portugal and helps to write a golden page in the history of chess in Figueira da Foz.

Indian IM Babu Lalit completed the podium

and Indian IM Chintagunta Reddy,

Indian players were in fact the main protagonists and placed 6 players in the top 12 classified.

French GM Nino Maizuradze was the best classified among women, followed by Polish WMI Alexandra Lach

and also Polish WGM Julia Antolak.

 

The child prodigy Arkhila Charvi obtained an incredible 5 points out of 9 and an extraordinary 39th position.

Spanish Mi Hector Cardenas was the best among the veterans

followed by the Canadian GM, the champion Kevin Spraggett and the Bulgarian GM Vladimir Petkov.

MI André Sousa, two times absolute national champion, was the best Portuguese in 34th position.

By defeating the Polish MI Radoslaw Baski and benefiting from the draw of the remaining candidates, Cintagunta Reddy isolates himself in command of the competition and is also very close to achieving a GM standard. In other years, the Figueirense tournament allowed the achievement of international standards and titles, as was the case of the Serbian Dragan Paunovic who achieved his GM title here in Figueira da Foz. Surprising was the defeat of the most rated player in the tournament and by two times champion of this open, GM Karen Gregoryan. The Armenian GM will have forced to win against Khazar Urazayev Arystanbek and that will have been fatal for the aspirations of this super champion. Two of the main favorites are not yet out, Eltaj Safarli from Azerbaijan and Carlos Albornoz from Cuba, respectively numbers 2 and 3 in the tournament, are half a point off first place and still maintain legitimate aspirations for victory. In today's session, at table 1, Eltaj Safarli plays white against Chintagunta Reddy.

3 Indian players in the top 10, says well the strength of the Indian players present at the Figueirense open this year.

GM Nino Maizuradze, several times champion of France, is now the best female. Indian prodigy Arkhila Charvi now has an impressive 4 points out of 8 and is currently in 44th position.

Vuppalla Prranneed withstands the first big clash and gives up just half a point, continuing, at the moment, to lead the classification, although now on equal points with 4 other players. Some of the theoretically strongest players finally prevailed and Cuban GM Carlos Albornoz is the best counted among the five players who remain on equal points at the top of the rankings.

Except for the very strong Indian GM Diptayan Ghosh who fell with a bang against his compatriot Mehar Reddy.

With the defeat in the last round, Canadian Kevin Spraggett, who yesterday received the award for winner of the Portuguese circuit of classic matches last season from the president of the Portuguese Chess Federation, Dominic Cross, could not resist the aggressive play of Polish GM Igor Janic , thus finding themselves removed from the fight for the top spots.

Julia Antolalk continues to be the best ranked among women, having yesterday achieved a brilliant black draw against the Bulgarian GM, two-time winner of the Figueira tournament, Vladimir Petkov.

Portuguese IM André Sousa beat MF Gustavo Ribeiro and is, for now, the best Portuguese in 25th position.

There is a lot of expectation for the next two rounds: Albornoz will face the very motivated Igor Janic and Prraneeth will face his compatriot Lalit Babu.