The opening ceremony of the 3rd Vugar Gashimov Memorial took place on 25th May in Shamkir, Azerbaijan.
The ceremony was attended by FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, Azerbaijan Minister of Sport and Youth Azad Ragimov, Vice President of Azerbaijan Chess Federation Mahir Mamedov, Vugar’s father Gasim Gashimov, Executive director of Synergy Group Gudrat Seyfulaev, Governor of Shamkir region Alimpasha Mammedov and Vice President of Azerbaijan Chess Federation Faik Gasanov.
Round 1 pairings:
Rauf Mamedov – Anish Giri
Teimour Radjabov – Hou Yifan
Eltaj Safarli – Pavel Eljanov
Fabiano Caruana – Pentala Harikrishna
Sergey Karjakin – Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
