Runindu concedes hard-fought game

FIDE Chess World Cup 2021

Sri Lanka National champion Ranindu Dilshan Liyanage (2203) played positive chess but lost a hard fought game against Russian grandmaster Oparin Grigoriy (2654) in round one of the FIDE Chess World Cup 2021 in Sochi.

Liyanage made 90 moves in a marathon game fighting for a draw and was in a position having a rook for his opponent’s rook and a bishop. As expected the grandmaster was too strong for the Sri Lankan.

Ranindu who is working with the Uzbekistan trainer, grandmaster Alexie Barasov was scheduled to meet the same opponent with white pieces. He needed a win to stay alive in the World Cup..

FIDE president opening the Chess World Cup

The FIDE Chess World Cup conducted by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and organized by the Russian Government and the Russian Chess Federation commenced on July 10 and will conclude on August 8. The top players in the world including the world champion Magnus Carson are competing for the supremacy in chess.

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich made the ceremonial opening of the FIDE Chess World Cup on Monday at the Galaxy Entertainment and Leisure Complex Sochi, Russia in the afternoon.

The organisers are offering cash awards equivalent to nearly rupees 450 million. The FIDE World Cup winner will receive an amount equivalent to Rs. 3,000,000.00 in cash. Even a round one competitor is awarded an amount equivalent to Rs. 900,000.00.