Tunisia hosts “Sahel International Chess Festival”
A large delegation from Russia is taking part
On 25 October, the second Sahel International Chess Festival was opened in the popular resort city of Monastir. The city is known for its historic ribat (the oldest defensive structure in North Africa, dating to 736 AD)and the mausoleum of the country’s first president, Habib Bourguiba.
The competitions are held at the four-star El Habib Hotel, on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. The festival is organized by the Carré Royal chess association from Ksibet El Mediouni together with Smart Chess Academy, under the auspices of the Tunisian Chess Federation and with sponsorship from Chess Mall.
The festival brought together more than 300 players from 18 countries. The total prize fund is approximately 28,000 Tunisian dinars (about €8,200).
Competing in the main Tournament A (rating above 2000) are grandmasters Vladimir Burmakin, Evgeny Vorobiev, and Alexander Raetsky; Russian blitz champion, women’s international master Margarita Potapova; international master Zaur Tekeyev; FIDE masters Maxim Popov and Roman Ogannisyan. Chess players from Moscow Region were invited to the tournament by special letter — women’s international master Ekaterina Smirnova is representing the Federation.
The opening ceremony featured speeches by festival director Chaher Eddine Miladi, Tunisian Chess Federation president Soufien Mejri, as well as representatives of municipal authorities and the chess federations of Algeria, Canada and Kuwait.
After three rounds, Margarita Potapova and Roman Ogannisyan are the best-placed Russians, each with 2.5 points. Six rounds remain. The participants also had a chance to go on a boat trip. The program also includes another excursion and a blitz tournament.
Photos: festival press service and Moscow Region Chess Federation press service
