AAI International Grandmasters Chess Tournament 2011

Big time chess returns to India for the first time since the mid-1980s when Delhi hosted a string of Grandmaster tournaments. Indians, including Viswanathan Anand benefitted from those a lot.

The AAI International Grandmasters Chess Tournament organized by the Airports Authority of India is the highest-ever rated tournament for more than three decades in India.

The AAI, which is a leading Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, as part of its Centenary Celebration of Civil Aviation in India, is organizing the “AAI International Grandmasters Chess Tournament 2011”.

The AAI International Grandmasters Chess Tournament-2011, Category 17 with the participation of 6 Grandmasters will be organized by Delhi Chess Association and Airport Authority of India at Airport Authority of India Club, Safadarjung Airport, New Delhi from 20 Jun 11 to 02 Jul 2011 under the aegis of All India Chess Federation and World Chess Federation (FIDE).

Players
The following players are agreed to participate in the AAI Grandmaster’s Chess Tournament-2011.

1.         GM Fabiano Caruana of Italy
2.         GM Viktor Laznicka of Czech Republic
3.         GM Krishnan Sasikiran of India
4.         GM So Wesley of Philippines
5.         GM Parimarjan Negi of India
6.         GM Hou Yifan of China

System of Play & Time Control
The event shall be played according to the FIDE Laws of Chess. 6 players will play a double round robin tournament. If a player withdraws after completing 50% or more of the game, the rest of his games are lost by default and in case player completes less than 50%, all his results are annulled for the tournament purpose.
Time control: 40 moves in 2 hours, followed by 20 moves in one hour, followed by 15 minutes plus 30 seconds for all the remaining moves (40/2h, 20/1h, 15m+30sec/all).

Tie breaks
In case of tie at the end of the tournament, the following tie-breaking methods will be used.
(a). Direct encounter
(b). Sonnenborn-Berger
(c). Number of won games
(d). Percentage with black (points/games with black pieces)
(e). Play off (The player who wins the drawing of lots, may choose the colour. White shall receive 6 minutes on the clock and Black shall receive 5 minutes, without any addition. The winner shall be declared the Champion. In the event of a draw, the player with the black pieces shall be declared the Champion).

Prizes
The money prizes shall be allocated as follows (in US dollars):
First : $ 8000
Second : $ 6000
Third : $ 4000
Fourth : $3000
Fifth : $ 2000
Sixth : $ 1500