Dedicated to the memory of international grandmaster Vugar Hashimov "Shamkir Chess 2017" super tournament's opening ceremony was held In Shamkir in  Heydar Aliyev Center.

According to the press service of the tournament, during his speech at the ceremony, head of the Executive Power of Shamkir region Alimpasha Mammadov said that Shamkir has great experience in hosting international sporting events and wished good luck to the participants.

Deputy minister of youth and sports Ismail Ismailov said that late grand master Vugar Hashimov represented Azerbaijan’s sport decently throughout his career. He emphasized that chess lovers always remember Vugar’s unique style of play and brought to the attention the participation of  well-known chess players from different countries in the tournament. Vugar played an important role in the success of Azerbaijan chess, said I.Ismaylov and noted that our team is one of the strongest in the world.

Mahir Mammadov, Vise president of Azerbaijan Chess Federation spoke about the importance of the competition and said that Vugar Gashimov’s memory tournament is being held in the fourth  year successfully. Today it is difficult to accept the Vugar’s absence.  This tournament plays an important role in immortalizing his memory. Shamkir Chess 2017” tournament is being watched with interest by chess lovers in the world.

President of FIDE Kirsan Ilyumzhinov expressed his satisfaction with being in our country, emphasizing the importance of the helding Vugar Hashimov’s memorial tournament becoming traditional, he called Shamkir Azerbaijan’s Linares. “ This tournament has a special place in FIDE’s calendar. The strongest players are fighting here. Shamkir is the Linares of Azerbaijan.  Shamkir is known as a chess city in Azerbaijan, and Linares is known as chess city in Spain. The great attention is shown to chess at the state level in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is the only country where the State Program was approved by the head of the country related to the development of chess. I want to express my gratitude to the head of the country for his care to the development of chess in Azerbaijan.

Vugar’s father Gasim Hashimov, thanked the participants and organizers of the tournament: “ Fourth tournament is starting. It shows Vugar Hashimov’s sign left in the history of world chess. People are always treating me with respect. This tournament is in the attention of the leadership of the country. Vugar Hashimov Chess Academy has already started working and almost 200 young people are learning the secrets of chess here. And it makes me proud. I would like to thank to head of our country for development of chess in Azerbaijan, as well as the attention and care to Vugar’s memory.

Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the “Shamkir Chess 2017”, director of tournament Farid Huseynov emphasized the effort of  “Synergy Group” to organize a high-level competitions dedicated to the memory of Vugar Gashimov in his speech. He noted that one of the important aspects of the tournament is it’s dedication to the memory of a wonderful person and a great chess player. In last year’s competition, Shahriyar Mammadyarov’s victory gave great joy to Azerbaijani chess lovers.

It was noted that the "Synergy Group" created in 2010 is trying to contribute to the development of sports and education in Azerbaijan and at the same time, the recognition of our country in the world, within the framework of its corporate social responsibility policy.

Then the tournament was declared open, the lots were drawn.

The opening ceremony continued with the graphic part.

Dedicated to the memory of Vugar Hashimov and being held for the fourth time “Shamkir Chess” tournament is considered one of the most prestigious in the world. Ten well-known chess players will compete in this year's tournament.

Shahriyar Mammadyarov, Teymur Rajabov (Azerbaijan), Wesley So (USA), Vladimir Kramnik and Sergey Karjakin (Russia), Michael Adams (England), Pentala Harikrishna (India), Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine), Podoslav Voytasek (Poland) and Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria) are fighting in the competition.