# Shamkir Chess

Gashimov Memorial is a chess supertournament played in Azerbaijan in memory of Vugar Gashimov (24th July 1986– 11th January 2014).

## Winners

| # | Year | Winner |
| 1 | 2014 | Magnus Carlsen (Norway) |
| 2 | 2015 | Magnus Carlsen (Norway) |
| 3 | 2016 | Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) |
| 4 | 2017 | Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) |
| 5 | 2018 | Magnus Carlsen (Norway) |
| 6 | 2019 | Magnus Carlsen (Norway) |
| 7 | 2021 | Fabiano Caruana (United States) |
| 8 | 2022 | Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan) |
| 9 | 2023 | Vidit Gujrathi (India) |
| 10 | 2024 | Ian Nepomniachtchi (FIDE) |

## 2014

The Gashimov Memorial 2014 took place in the Heydar Aliyev Centre in Shamkir City from 16 April to 30 April 2014, consisting of two tournaments, with invited players Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Sergey Karjakin, Fabiano Caruana, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, and Teimour Radjabov making up the A Tournament. The Elo average for the A Tournament was 2780, making it a Category 22 event and one of the highest rated tournaments of all time.
The A Tournament was held as a double round robin, with each player facing the other with both colours, while the B Tournament was held as a single round robin.
The total prize fund for the A tournament was €100,000, while the prize fund for the B tournament was €30,000.
In the A Tournament, in spite of losing consecutive games early on, Magnus Carlsen won after a last round White win over Fabiano Caruana who finished second.
In the B Tournament, Pavel Eljanov won two and drew one of his last three games to take first place.
1st Shamkir Chess, Group A, 20–30 April 2014, Şəmkir, Azerbaijan, Category XXII (2780) :
| | Player | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Points | Wins | TPR |
| 1 | Magnus Carlsen (Norway) | 2881 | | 0 1 | 0 ½ | ½ ½ | 1 1 | 1 1 | 6½ | 5 | 2868 |
| 2 | Fabiano Caruana (Italy) | 2783 | 1 0 | Does not appear | ½ 1 | ½ ½ | ½ ½ | 0 1 | 5½ | 3 | 2814 |
| 3 | Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan) | 2713 | 1 ½ | ½ 0 | Does not appear | ½ ½ | ½ ½ | ½ ½ | 5 | 1 | 2793 |
| 4 | Sergey Karjakin (Russia) | 2772 | ½ ½ | ½ ½ | ½ ½ | Does not appear | ½ ½ | ½ ½ | 5 | 0 | 2781 |
| 5 | Hikaru Nakamura (United States) | 2772 | 0 0 | ½ ½ | ½ ½ | ½ ½ | Does not appear | 1 1 | 5 | 2 | 2781 |
| 6 | Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) | 2760 | 0 0 | 1 0 | ½ ½ | ½ ½ | 0 0 | Does not appear | 3 | 1 | 2638 |
1st Shamkir Chess, Group B, 20–30 April 2014, Şəmkir, Azerbaijan, Category XVII (2663) :
| | Player | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Points | Wins | TPR |
| 1 | Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine) | 2732 | | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2775 |
| 2 | Alexander Motylev (Russia) | 2685 | ½ | Does not appear | 0 | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 5½ | 4 | 2738 |
| 3 | Wang Hao (China) | 2734 | 1 | 1 | Does not appear | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 5 | 2 | 2694 |
| 4 | Étienne Bacrot (France) | 2722 | 0 | 0 | ½ | Does not appear | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 5 | 2 | 2695 |
| 5 | Radosław Wojtaszek (Poland) | 2716 | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | Does not appear | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 4½ | 2 | 2657 |
| 6 | Nijat Abasov (Azerbaijan) | 2516 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | Does not appear | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 4 | 0 | 2640 |
| 7 | Rauf Mamedov (Azerbaijan) | 2660 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ½ | Does not appear | 0 | ½ | ½ | 4 | 2 | 2625 |
| 8 | Vasif Durarbayli (Azerbaijan) | 2584 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | Does not appear | 0 | ½ | 4 | 1 | 2632 |
| 9 | Gadir Guseinov (Azerbaijan) | 2621 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | Does not appear | ½ | 4 | 2 | 2628 |
| 10 | Eltaj Safarli (Azerbaijan) | 2656 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | Does not appear | 3 | 0 | 2543 |

## 2015

The second edition of Shamkir Chess took place 16–25 April 2015.
World champion Magnus Carlsen, former world champion Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik competed in the tournament in Azerbaijan, as well as Fabiano Caruana, Anish Giri, Wesley So, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Michael Adams, and the Azerbaijan Champion Rauf Mamedov.
The tournament's total prize fund was €100,000.
Magnus Carlsen won the event with 7 points out of 9.
2nd Shamkir Chess, 17–26 April 2015, Şəmkir, Azerbaijan, Category XXI (2773) :
| | Player | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Points | Wins | TPR |
| 1 | Magnus Carlsen (Norway) | 2863 | | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 2981 |
| 2 | Viswanathan Anand (India) | 2791 | ½ | Does not appear | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 6 | 3 | 2892 |
| 3 | Wesley So (United States) | 2788 | ½ | 0 | Does not appear | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2809 |
| 4 | Fabiano Caruana (Italy) | 2802 | 0 | ½ | 1 | Does not appear | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 5 | 2 | 2811 |
| 5 | Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) | 2783 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | Does not appear | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 4 | 2 | 2735 |
| 6 | Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) | 2754 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | Does not appear | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 4 | 1 | 2738 |
| 7 | Michael Adams (England) | 2746 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | Does not appear | 1 | ½ | ½ | 3½ | 1 | 2694 |
| 8 | Anish Giri (Netherlands) | 2790 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | Does not appear | ½ | ½ | 3½ | 0 | 2697 |
| 9 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France) | 2762 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | Does not appear | ½ | 3½ | 0 | 2699 |
| 10 | Rauf Mamedov (Azerbaijan) | 2651 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | Does not appear | 3½ | 0 | 2708 |

## 2016

The 3rd Shamkir Chess Tournament took place from May 26 to June 4, 2016. All ratings below are from the May 2016 FIDE Rating Lists.
3rd Shamkir Chess, 26 May – 4 June 2016, Şəmkir, Azerbaijan, Category XX (2736) :
| | Player | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Points | Wins | TPR |
| 1 | Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) | 2748 | | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 6 | 4 | 2854 |
| 2 | Fabiano Caruana (United States) | 2804 | 0 | Does not appear | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2848 |
| 3 | Anish Giri (Netherlands) | 2790 | 0 | ½ | Does not appear | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 5½ | 3 | 2808 |
| 4 | Sergey Karjakin (Russia) | 2779 | ½ | ½ | 0 | Does not appear | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2770 |
| 5 | Rauf Mamedov (Azerbaijan) | 2655 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | Does not appear | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 4½ | 1 | 2744 |
| 6 | Pentala Harikrishna (India) | 2763 | 1 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | Does not appear | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 4 | 2 | 2694 |
| 7 | Eltaj Safarli (Azerbaijan) | 2664 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | Does not appear | ½ | ½ | ½ | 4 | 1 | 2704 |
| 8 | Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan) | 2726 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | Does not appear | ½ | ½ | 4 | 0 | 2699 |
| 9 | Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine) | 2765 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | Does not appear | 1 | 3½ | 1 | 2654 |
| 10 | Hou Yifan (China) | 2663 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | Does not appear | 2½ | 0 | 2578 |
Both Mamedyarov and Caruana were equal after nine rounds. Mamedyarov won the ensuing tiebreak rounds. The first two games were 10+3, and the second two games were 5+3.
Tiebreak :
| Player | Rapid rating | Blitz rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Points | Place |
| Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) | 2791 | 2714 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 2½ | 1 |
| Fabiano Caruana (United States) | 2829i | 2665 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1½ | 2 |

## 2017

4th Shamkir Chess, 21–30 April 2017, Şəmkir, Azerbaijan, Category XXI (2765) :
| | Player | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Points | Wins | H2H | SB | TPR |
| 1 | Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) | 2772 | | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 5½ | 3 | | | 2844 |
| 2 | Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) | 2811 | 0 | Does not appear | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | | | 2803 |
| 3 | Wesley So (United States) | 2822 | 0 | 1 | Does not appear | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 5 | 2 | ½ | 22.00 | 2802 |
| 4 | Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria) | 2741 | ½ | ½ | ½ | Does not appear | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 5 | 2 | ½ | 21.75 | 2811 |
| 5 | Sergey Karjakin (Russia) | 2783 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | Does not appear | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 4½ | 2 | | | 2763 |
| 6 | Radosław Wojtaszek (Poland) | 2745 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | Does not appear | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 4½ | 1 | ½ | 20.50 | 2767 |
| 7 | Michael Adams (England) | 2761 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | Does not appear | ½ | ½ | ½ | 4½ | 1 | ½ | 20.00 | 2766 |
| 8 | Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan) | 2710 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | Does not appear | 0 | ½ | 4 | 0 | | | 2728 |
| 9 | Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine) | 2751 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | Does not appear | 1 | 3½ | 2 | | | 2687 |
| 10 | Pentala Harikrishna (India) | 2755 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | Does not appear | 3½ | 0 | | | 2686 |

## 2018

The total prize fund of the fifth edition of Shamkir Chess tournament was again set to €100,000, with the winner receiving €30,000. With an average rating of 2768, it was a category XXI tournament.
One week before the beginning of the tournament, former world champion Vladimir Kramnik sent a letter to the organization committee stating he would not participate as planned, as he desired a rest after the Candidates Tournament held in March. The organizers replaced Kramnik with the No. 1 Polish player Radosław Wojtaszek (2744).
In the last round of the tournament, Magnus Carlsen and Ding Liren faced each other. They were in first and second place, respectively, and Carlsen as white needed only a draw to reclaim the title after two years of absence from the tournament. The game was a theoretical Four Knights Game. It was clear that Ding did not want to risk his runner-up position by attempting to defeat Carlsen as black, and the game was drawn within 20 minutes. As a result, Carlsen won the tournament for the third time.
5th Shamkir Chess, 18–28 April 2018, Şəmkir, Azerbaijan, Category XXI (2768) :
| | Player | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Points | Wins | SB | TPR |
| 1 | Magnus Carlsen (Norway) | 2843 | | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 6 | 3 | | 2885 |
| 2 | Ding Liren (China) | 2778 | ½ | Does not appear | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 5½ | 2 | | 2847 |
| 3 | Sergey Karjakin (Russia) | 2778 | ½ | ½ | Does not appear | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 5 | 1 | | 2810 |
| 4 | Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) | 2814 | ½ | ½ | ½ | Does not appear | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 4½ | 1 | 19.50 | 2763 |
| 5 | Radosław Wojtaszek (Poland) | 2744 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | Does not appear | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 4½ | 1 | 19.25 | 2771 |
| 6 | Anish Giri (Netherlands) | 2777 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | Does not appear | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 4½ | 1 | 18.50 | 2767 |
| 7 | Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan) | 2748 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | Does not appear | ½ | ½ | ½ | 4½ | 0 | | 2770 |
| 8 | Veselin Topalov (FIDE) | 2749 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | Does not appear | ½ | 1 | 4 | 2 | | 2727 |
| 9 | Rauf Mamedov (Azerbaijan) | 2704 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | Does not appear | ½ | 4 | 0 | | 2732 |
| 10 | David Navara (Czech Republic) | 2745 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | Does not appear | 2½ | 0 | | 2605 |

## 2019

6th Shamkir Chess, 31 March – 9 April 2019, Şəmkir, Azerbaijan, Category XXII (2778) :
| | Player | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Points | Wins | SB | TPR |
| 1 | Magnus Carlsen (Norway) | 2845 | | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 7 | 5 | | 2991 |
| 2 | Ding Liren (China) | 2812 | ½ | Does not appear | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 5 | 2 | 22.25 | 2817 |
| 3 | Sergey Karjakin (Russia) | 2753 | 0 | ½ | Does not appear | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 5 | 2 | 20.25 | 2824 |
| 4 | Alexander Grischuk (Russia) | 2771 | 0 | 0 | ½ | Does not appear | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 4½ | 2 | 20.25 | 2779 |
| 5 | Viswanathan Anand (India) | 2779 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | Does not appear | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 4½ | 2 | 18.25 | 2778 |
| 6 | Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan) | 2756 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | Does not appear | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 4½ | 0 | 17.50 | 2781 |
| 7 | Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria) | 2740 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | Does not appear | ½ | 1 | ½ | 4 | 1 | 17.50 | 2739 |
| 8 | David Navara (Czech Republic) | 2739 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | Does not appear | ½ | ½ | 4 | 1 | 17.25 | 2740 |
| 9 | Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) | 2790 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | Does not appear | ½ | 3½ | 0 | | 2697 |
| 10 | Anish Giri (Netherlands) | 2797 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | Does not appear | 3 | 0 | | 2651 |

## 2021

The 2021 edition was changed to a rapid/blitz event, and held in Baku, a departure from the tournament being traditionally held in Shamkir. Fabiano Caruana won the event in an armageddon playoff against Richárd Rapport.
7th Shamkir Chess, 17-24 December 2021, Baku, Azerbaijan :
| | Player | Rapid score | Blitz score | Total |
| 1 | Fabiano Caruana (United States) | 14 | 10 | 24 |
| 2 | Richárd Rapport (Hungary) | 16 | 8 | 24 |
| 3 | Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) | 14 | 8½ | 22½ |
| 4 | Sergey Karjakin (Russia) | 16 | 5 | 21 |
| 5 | Rauf Mamedov (Azerbaijan) | 9 | 6½ | 15½ |
| 6 | David Navara (Czech Republic) | 8 | 6 | 14 |
| 7 | Vugar Asadli (Azerbaijan) | 4 | 6 | 10 |
| 8 | Viswanathan Anand (India) | 3 | 6 | 9 |

## 2022

The 2022 edition remained the same as that of the previous year; being a rapid/blitz event held in Baku.
8th Shamkir Chess, 16-24 December 2022, Baku, Azerbaijan :
| | Player | Rapid score | Blitz score | Total |
| 1 | Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan) | 14 | 11½ | 25½ |
| 2 | Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) | 8 | 12½ | 20½ |
| 3 | Rauf Mamedov (Azerbaijan) | 12 | 8½ | 20½ |
| 4 | Richárd Rapport (Hungary) | 8 | 12 | 20 |
| 5 | Francisco Vallejo Pons (Spain) | 12 | 7½ | 19½ |
| 6 | Wang Hao (China) | 10 | 9 | 19 |
| 7 | Sam Shankland (United States) | 6 | 11 | 17 |
| 8 | Gukesh D (India) | 7 | 8 | 15 |
| 9 | Abdulla Gadimbayli (Azerbaijan) | 7 | 5 | 12 |
| 10 | Aydin Suleymanli (Azerbaijan) | 6 | 5 | 11 |

## 2023

The 2023 edition was held in Qabala.
9th Shamkir Chess, 7-11 December 2023, Qabala, Azerbaijan :
| | Player | Rapid score | Blitz score | Total |
| 1 | Vidit Gujrathi (India) | 10 | 12 | 22 |
| 2 | Arjun Erigaisi (India) | 10 | 11½ | 21½ |
| 3 | Richárd Rapport (Romania) | 7 | 12 | 19 |
| 4 | Rauf Mamedov (Azerbaijan) | 9 | 9½ | 18½ |
| 5 | Aydin Suleymanli (Azerbaijan) | 11 | 7½ | 18½ |
| 6 | Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan) | 8 | 10 | 18 |
| 7 | Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) | 8 | 10 | 18 |
| 8 | Jorden van Foreest (Netherlands) | 10 | 7 | 17 |
| 9 | Nijat Abasov (Azerbaijan) | 9 | 6 | 15 |
| 10 | Boris Gelfand (Israel) | 8 | 4½ | 12½ |

## 2024

The 2024 edition was held in Shusha.
10th Shamkir Chess, 26-28 September 2024, Shusha, Azerbaijan :
| | Player | Rapid score | Blitz score | Total |
| 1 | Ian Nepomniachtchi (FIDE) | 10 | 9 | 19 |
| 2 | Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan) | 8 | 10 | 18 |
| 3 | Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) | 9 | 7 | 16 |
| 4 | Vladislav Artemiev (FIDE) | 8 | 6½ | 14½ |
| 5 | Aydin Suleymanli (Azerbaijan) | 6 | 7½ | 13½ |
| 6 | Aravindh Chithambaram (India) | 5 | 8 | 13 |
| 7 | Rauf Mamedov (Azerbaijan) | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| 8 | Richárd Rapport (Hungary) | 6 | 3 | 9 |