The Aeroflot Open International Chess Festival traditionally supported by PJSC Aeroflot is to kick off on 20 February at the Moscow Cosmos Hotel for the 15th time. The festival will run until 3 March 2017.
The opening ceremony along with a draw will take place on the eve of the first tournament at 21:00 20 February.
Top-ranking Russian and foreign chess players will attend the competition, including: Alexander Motylev, Ernesto Inarkiev, Vladimir Potkin, Eugeniy Naer, Nikita Vitugov, Baadur Jobava, Yuy Yagnyi and Chzhou Tzangzao.
The prize fund totals Euro 140 000 (including lightning tournament prize money).
The festival encompasses classical chess tournaments held over nine rounds, with three groups of players (A, B and C) based on players’ ratings in a Swiss-system tournament, and a lightning tournament. Entrance for public is free.
The Russian Chess Federation and the Association of Chess Federations have joined Aeroflot in the organization of this prestigious competition. Aeroflot Open enjoys a long-standing reputation of a world-class chess event being highly accessible and popular. In 2004 it was listed in the World Guinness Records as the chess competition with the highest number of chess grandmasters.