Drozdovskij, wins Bhubaneswar Open

First SCS International Open GM tournamnent

A GM tournament with more than 300 players is a common feature in India, and the First SCS International Open was no exception. The strongest ever open tournament in India, with more than 80 title holders, was organised by the Orissa Chess Association at Swosti Plaza, a four star hotel in Bhubaneswar, one of the popular tourist spots in India. Reigning European champion Sergei Tiviakov of Netherlands was the top seed, followed by Igor Kurnosov of Russia (no need for any introduction – remember Aeroflot 2009 and Shakriyer Memedyarov’s accusation and withdrawal).

Press conference at the Swosti Plaza Hotel, the venue of the tournament

The event was won by Ukrainian GM Yuri Drozdovskij, on tiebreak points, after scoring 8.0/10, the same as GMs Igor Kurnosov and Andrey Rychagov, both from Russia, GM Yuriy Kuzubov from Ukrain, and untitled M S Thejkumar from India.

The winner: Ukrainian GM Yuri Drozdovskij, with 8.0/10

Final Ranking after 10 Rounds

Pictorial impressions from Bubaneswar

By GM Sergey Tiviakov

Bhubaneshwar, the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Orissa, India, is a center for commerce and religious activity. The modern city of Bhubaneswar was designed by the German architect Otto Königsberger in 1946. With its vast variety of Hindu temples, Bhubaneswar is often referred to as a Temple City of India.

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The landscape around Bhubaneswar

A vendor producing sugarcane juice

A popular refreshment: coconut juice, derived from these fruit strapped to a bicycle

Our intrepid GM tourists Yuri Drozdovskij and Sergey Tiviakov try it out – behind them the ubiquitous Indian "auto-rickshaw"

The 10th- or 11th-century Lingaraja temple of Bhubaneswar has been described as "the truest fusion of dream and reality." It is dedicated to Shiva.

The temple is covered with carvings. Sculpture and architecture fused elegantly to create a perfect harmony.

The Jain monastery near Bhubaneswar

The twin hills of Khandagiri & Udayagiri, eight km from Bhubaneswar, served as the site of an ancient Jain monastery which was carved into cave-like chambers in the face of the hill. Dating back to the 2nd century BC, some of the caves have beautiful carvings. The Rani Gumpha (Queen's Cave), one of the largest and double-storied, is ornately embellished with beautiful carvings. In the Hati Gumpha (Elephant Cave), King Kharavela has carved out the chronicles of his reign.

GMs Yuriy Kuzubov, Yuri Drozdovsky and WGM Natalia Zdebskaja in the temple

This is the big suite for top GMs

Natalia and Yuri seem satisfied with the arrangements

Sergey Tiviakov communicating with local denizens

One of them takes a special liking to Yuriy Kuzubov

The proudest felines of the Indian Subcontinent

Ukrainian GM ... wait, hang on, this is a stately Orang in the zoo

A somewhat mysterious sign in the zoo provide instructions to the zoo visitors – and to you, gentle reader

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