Azerbaijani grandmaster wins Geneva tournament
By Nazrin Gadimova
Azerbaijani grandmaster Shakhriyar Mammadyarov won the top rapid chess event, Geneva Chess Masters, on June 30.
Earlier in June, Mammadyarov won the World Rapid Chess Champion title at a tournament held in Russia.
The grandmaster has revealed some of his playing qualities. "It's easier for me to win than to draw," he said.
In the final game against Mammadyarov, Russia's Vladimir Kramnik apparently was too optimistic about his position: the unnecessary pawn sacrifice only helped Mammadyarov to take over the lead.
Earlier Mammadyarov celebrated victory in the World Rapid Chess Championship.
Mammadyarov represented Azerbaijan at the Chess Olympiads in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008 and 2010. In 2009, he won a gold medal for Azerbaijan at European Team Chess Championship, having won a bronze medal in 2007 and silver in 2011.
Rapid chess is a chess game in which each side is given less time to make their moves than under the regular tournament time controls of 60 to 180 minutes per player.