The 2016 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships kicked off yesterday at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena. The 2016 FIDE World Rapid Championship is a 15-round Swiss open taking place in the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena in Doha, Qatar from 26-28 December. Meanwhile, the Blitz Championships will continue from December 29 to 30.
Five rounds of the tournament were held on the opening day in Doha where Iranian representatives, comprising Ehsan Ghaem Maghami, Pouria Derini, Parham Maghsoodloo, Alireza Firouzja, Arian Gholami in men’s category as well as Sarasadat Khademalsharieh in women’s division, competed against rivals and claimed 7 victories and 8 draws while suffering 14 losses.
In men’s section, Ghem Maghami and Maghsoodloo each won once, drew twice and lost twice to collect two points. Firouzja and Gholami also secured 1.5 points after pulling out one victory, tying in one game and conceding thee defeats. Two points were brought home by Pouria Derini since he got the upper hand in two games and was quelled in three others.
Khademalsharieh, in women’s group, was the winner in only one game, drew in two and suffered one defeat in the first four rounds and earned two points.
Rounds 6 to 10 of rapid championship will be pursued today in the Qatari capital of Doha.
The events will be both Swiss pairings tournaments and will be held over two days for Blitz and three days for Rapid. The Blitz will have 21 rounds in open championship and 17 rounds in women’s championship, with a single game for each round, Swiss event.
The Rapid will be 15 rounds for Open and 12 rounds for Women’s championship, with a single game for each round, Swiss event.
The total prize fund for the Open tournament is $400,000 with $40,000 for the winner of each championship and $80,000 in Women Championships with $10,000 for the winner of each championship.
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