Georgian chess players will start 2011 season with Georgian Championship. On January 9-23, will be held Women’s 68th Championship in Anaklia, the main referee will be many times Olympic Champion Nana Aleksandria. Since 12 January will be found out champion among men in Chess Palace of Tbilisi.
Prize money of Georgian Championship is 13500 GEL among women and among men 14500 GEL. Chess players who will take first-third place instead of money award will be financed for European Individual Championship by Georgian Chess Federation. Champion among women and first-second place winners among men, will become members of National Team which will compete at European Championship in 2011.
Olympic champion Lela Javakhishvili, Maia Lomineishvili and Sophiko Khukhashvili, bronze medal winners of Olympiad Salome Melia and Bela Khotenashvili ; Nazi Paikidze, Meri Arabidze and Mariam Danelia Champion of World and Europe will compete at this tournament.
4 days before start of Women’s championship will be singed one very important agreement. Nazi Paikidze, who lives in Russia will sign official agreement and according to it, she will represent Georgia in every international and big tournaments.
The participants of Georgian championship are the following: Lela Javakhishvili, Sophiko Khukhashvili, Bela Khotenashvili, Salome Melia, Nino Khurtsidze, Maia Lomineishvili, Nazi Paikidze, Meri Arabidze, Nino Batsiashvili, Maka Purtseladze, Miranda Mikadze, Sopho Nikoladze and Mariam Danelia.
The participants of Men’s championship are the following: Mikheil Mchedlishvili, Merab Gagunashvili, Levan Pantsulaia, Tamaz Gelashvili, Davit Arutuniani, Konstantine Shanava, Tornike Sanikidze, Giorgi Margvelashvili, Davit Benidze, Davit Jojua, Malkhaz Sulashvili, Luka Paichadze, Shota Azaladze, Bachana Morchiashvili, Giga Kuparadze and Davit Zarkua. According to voting the couples of 1/8final are the following: Mchedlishvili-Zarkua, Kuparadze-Gagunashvili, Pantsulaia-Morchiashvili, Azaladze-Gelashvili, Arutiniani-Paichadze, Sulashvili-Shanava, Sanikidze-Jojua, Benidze-Margvelashvili.
Gia Giorgadze, president of Georgian Chess Federation stated the following:” we open season with the most important tournament. We are waiting for very important championship. 13 participants will fight for Georgian championship and in Anaklia, as for Tbilisi16 participants will compete there. Before starting the competition, we will sign agreement with Nazi Paikidze. Russian side was trying to persuade Nazi to represent Russia, but this agreement will disappear all chances of it”.
