A chance to shine at Tata Chess 2011

Tata Steel C is the group with the largest rating disparity, a total of 264 points separate the first and last player. However, things here are more interesting than ever. Murtas Kazhgaleyev is top seeded and the Chessdom readers will be able to get special insights on his games by the commentator of Topalov – Anand match and currently number 1 junior in Spain IM Alexander Ipatov. Exactly one year ago IM Ipatov drew against Kazhgaleyev with black at Moscow Open and achieved his first GM norm.
Ivan Ivanisevic comes for a victory as well. He quit the lists of several open tournaments in December, as he was one of the last invited to the event. Despite the short time for preparation, he surely comes for a victory and a place in the chess elite, something that he deserves with his consistent play over the past years.
Canada will be happy to have a strong representative – Mark Bluvshtein is the third seeded in the group. He has good chances of climbing is Tata Steel B, and also a shot at 2600+ rating.
The rising star that shines most in this group is Ilya Nyzhnyk. He just became the youngest grandmaster in the world in Groningen. At the same place another Tata Steel C participant snatched a GM norm – Robin van Kampen. Now he will have a shot at another GM norm.
Murtas Kazhgaleyev KAZ 2637
Ivan Ivanisevic SRB 2630
Mark Bluvshtein CAN 2590
Daniele Vocaturo ITA 2570
Ilya Nyzhnyk UKR 2530
Dariusz Swiercz POL 2540
Katherina Lahno UKR 2518
Roland Pruijssers NLD 2484
Benjamin Bok NED 2453
Robin van Kampen NED 2443
Mark van der Werf NED 2439
Sebastian Siebrecht GER 2439
Jan Willem de Jong NED 2437
Tania Sachdev IND 2391
