The list of the participants of the ShamkirChess2018 Super Tournament in the memorial of Vugar Hashimov has been amended. ShamkirChess2018 Press Service reports that, the former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik has sent a letter to the Organization Committee. The Russian grandmaster has informed that, he needs taking a rest for a while after the Candidates Tournament held in Berlin. Therefore, the former World Champion has asked the Organization Committee of the ShamkirChess2018 Super Tournament to replace him with another grandmaster.
Thus, Vladimir Kramnik will not participate at the memorial of Vugar Hashimov hold in Shamkir. The member of the Polish National Team, Radoslaw Wojtaszek (2744) will compete instead of him at the ShamkirChess2018 Super Tournament.
We should note that, the reigning world champion, the two-time winner of the ShamkirChess Tournament, holding the 1st place on the FIDE rating, Magnus Carlsen (Norway, 2843, the participant of the last Candidates Tournament, Chinese Ding Liren (2778, 8th place on the FIDE rating), the winner of the World Cup, the participant of the Chess Crown Game, Sergey Kariakin (Russia, 2778, 9th place on the FIDE rating), the leader of the Netherlands Chess, Anish Giri (2777, 10th place on the FIDE rating), world champion on the FIDE version, Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria, 2749), Czech David Navara (2745) will participate in the Super Tournament.
Azerbaijan will be represented by the two-time winner of the ShamkirChess Super Tournament, three-time Europe champion, being in 2nd place on the FIDE rating, Shahriyar Mammadyarov (2814), the three-time Europe champion, the bronze winner of the World Championship, Teimur Radjabov (2748), and the three-time Europe champion, the Europe champion on Blitz Chess, Rauf Mammadov (2704).
The Gala Opening Ceremony of the ShamkirChess 2018 Tournament in the memorial of Vugar Hashimov will be on April 18th at the Center named after Heydar Aliyev. The Competition consisting of 9 stages will end up on April 28th.
Press Service of the ShamkirChess Tournament
