The starting field of the 2020 Tepe Sigeman Chess Tournament is now complete!

The starting field is an interesting mix of legends, young stars on the rise and top players:

  • GM Anatoly Karpov, Russia, World Champion 1975-1985 and 1993-1999
  • GM Nils Grandelius, Sweden, number one on the Swedish rating list
  • GM Alexei Shirov , Spain, former World Championship challenger
  • GM David Navara, Czech Republic, with the highest rating of the tournament
  • GM Liêm Guang Lê, Vietnam, the current Asian champion
  • GM Harika Dronavalli. India, one of the world’s strongest female players
  • GM Jorden Van Foreest, the Netherlands, one of the most promising young players in Europe
  • GM Nihal Sarin, India, a chess prodigy who, at 14, became India’s youngest grandmaster

The tournament will offer live commentary by GM Ivan Sokolov and GM Stellan Brynell.

Anatoly Karpov to play the 2020 Tepe Sigeman Chess Tournament

Mr Karpov together with one of the main sponsors, Mr Johan Sigeman

Anatoly Karpov was Chess World Champion 1975-1985 and 1993-1999. He played five World Championship matches against another legend, Garry Kasparov, matches that many think were the best World Championship matches ever. Throughout his career, Karpov has won more than 150 top level tournaments and he is widely considered one of the greatest chess players ever.

In the last decade, Karpov has mainly played in the Bundesliga and in other team competitions, and some rapid chess. This will be the first time in 10 years that he plays at top level round-robin tournament!

The 26th edition of the Tepe Sigeman Chess Tournament will be played April 29-May 5 2020 at the Malmo Live conference center in Malmo, Sweden. Eight players will play seven rounds and among others, Karpov will face Swedish number one Nils Grandelius, former World Championship challenger Alexei Shirov, Czech number one David Navara and Indian chess prodigy Nihal Sarin.

The full starting field will be announced soon!

Johan Berntsen
Director, TePe Sigeman Chess
++46 709317574

TePe Sigeman & Co Chess Tournament 2020

The next Tepe Sigeman & Co Chess Tournament will be played 29 April – 5 May
2020. 8 players will play 7 rounds at Malmo Live.

Round 7 report

…and it is all over! Seven days filled with combative games is at an end. Gawain Jones claimed first place and the audience has been treated to chess fireworks during the last week.

The much anticipated decider between Gawain Jones and Pentala Harikrishna never really got going as Jones played a very solid game as white. Pentala saw no realistic winning chances in a barren position and accepted the fully justified draw offer. Gawain was champion!

Parham Maghsoodloo experimented in the opening as black against Dieter Nisipeanu. It quickly resulted in a worse position and soon Dieter had both an extra pawn and a won position. Time trouble made the German lose his way and Parham made a fortunate escape.

Both Nihal Sarin and Tiger Hillarp Persson used a surprising amount of time playing well known theory. Tiger managed to snatch a pawn, but couldn’t convert it into a win and had to settle for the draw.

The tournament’s very last game was Ivan Saric against Nils Grandelius. A seemingly equal middlegame all of a sudden turned lethal for black as another opposite coloured bishop position appeared. Nils missed the devastating Rxe5 and Ivan was winning, but the Swede saved the game miraculously. An entertaining end to and entertaining tournament!

TePe Sigeman & Co Chess Tournament would like to thank the players for taking part and providing the audience with exciting chess every minute of the seven rounds. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the sponsors, partners and the venue Malmö Live.

Final standings Tepe Sigeman & Co Chess Tournament 2019

Plac.   ELO Nation Points
1. Gawain Jones 2702 England 5
2. Pentala Harikrishna 2730 India 4½
3. Nils Grandelius 2688 Sweden 4
4. Dieter Nisipeanu 2667 Germany 3½
5-6. Nihal Sarin 2598 India 3
5-6. Parham Magsoodloo 2671 Iran 3
7-8. Tiger Hillarp Persson 2563 Sweden 2½
7-8. Ivan Saric 2694 Croatia 2½

The winner is…

After 2 hours of play Gawain Jones secured tournament victory by drawing against Pentala Harikrishna who at least will get a shared 2nd prize half a point behind Gawain.

Gawain Jones
Gawain Jones,England wins Tepe Sigeman & Co Chess Tournament 2019. Photo: Lars OA Hedlund

Round 6 report

Five days of hard and long games might have taken it’s toll as the play was untamed at times during round 6.

Nils Grandelius sacrificed a pawn for promising compensation in a Rossolimo Sicilian against Nihal Sarin. As Nils was trying to find a way through, Nihal got his queen tangled on the kingside and the Swede put it out of play with 23.Lg5. After that the win was straightforward.

Parham Maghsoodloo and Ivan Saric played a very sharp game that looked like it could swing either way at times. Surprisingly the exchange of blows led to an equal endgame that could only ever end in a draw.

Pentala Harikrishna got a promising position early on against Dieter Nisipeanu’s french defence. But the thematic manoeuvre Ld7-e8-h5 got black out of trouble and the game ended with a rook ending and a draw.

Gawain Jones took the chance break into the solo lead by beating Tiger Hillarp Persson. After a slow start to the game things soon got exciting as a miscalculation by Tiger allowed Gawain to sacrifice his queen for a decisive attack.

This opens up for a very tense final round! Pentala Harikrishna will need to defeat Gawain Jones as black to leapfrog him into 1st place.

Photos round 6

Yesterday Swedish Chess Federation official photographer, Lars OA Hedlund, arrived from Stockholm and was taking photos during the round. You find those photos here.

Nisipeanu & Harikrishna in the commentary room after there game. Photo: Lars OA Hedlund

Round 5 report

Both leaders drew as Nihal Sarin won the battle of the youngsters against Parham Maghsoodloo. The two Swedes faced off with Nils Grandelius having to win twice to secure the whole point.

Dieter Nisipeanu tried something different (6.Qf3) in the opening and it misfired, with Gawain Jones gaining the upper hand. A black win looked likely during most of the game, but Dieter managed to secure a draw by repetition with some clever play at the end.

A very calm game between Ivan Saric and Pentala Harikrishna suddenly came to life in a very sharp endgame that had study-like twists. Ivan held the draw with a piece down through very exact play.

Nihal held his cool when Parham launched a kingside attack, opting for a breakthrough in the centre. The lone queen dominated against the two rooks and snatched pawn after pawn until black had to resign.

Tiger Hillarp Persson played the Hedgehog against fellow Swede Nils Grandelius. Nils dictated the game and had the opportunity to secure an early win. Tiger defended with vigour and survived into an endgame, only for Nils to force himself into a winning position again and this time claiming the point.