Chess first round games were played on Saturday 31st January. Chess players from more than 30 countries continue to compete for the main awards.

The drawing of the first three rounds in Open “A” was held with the use of new methods. The point is that participants with higher level get their competitors with the same level. Therefore in the first round the most of the games ended in a draw. This doesn’t usually happen. First game, where Dreev Alexey (RUS) competed with Vasilij Emelin (RUS), ended in a draw. Last year’s winner Artyom Timofeev neck-to neck with Alexander Zubov.

Some of the favorites, such as Inarkiev Ernesto (RUS), Riazantsev Alexander (RUS), Nepomniachtchi Ian (RUS), Areshchenko, Alexander (UKR), Aleksandrov Aleksej (BLR) scored the points just because of their competitors missed the game and competition all together.

149 participants took part in Open “C” (Female tournament). 19 International Masters and 15 Grandmasters also competed among them.

In terms of drawing system, this year it was used simple drawing procedures. Therefore, having got competitors with lower level, lots of favorites easily win in the first round. But the game with the participation of Grandmaster Mongontuul Bathuyag (MGL) and Elvira Blokhina (RUS) happened to be really surprising. It turned out that Elvira, the student of Russian State Social University, gained victory and Grandmaster just had to sit tight.

Chess second round games of “Moscow Open 2009” tournament take place on Sunday 1st February.

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