OMM Newsroom
Azerbaijani grandmaster Shakhriyar Mammadyarov is continuing his campaign with Türkiye’s Bayegan Pendik Chess Sports Club at the European Chess Club Cup in Budva, Montenegro.
The Turkish club defeated Serbia’s Crvena Zvezda 5-1 in the second round. Mammadyarov, rated 2,710, faced experienced grandmaster Suat Atalik, rated 2,371, on board three and won.
Bayegan Pendik win their first two rounds
Iranian grandmaster Mohammad Amin Tabatabaei suffered the team’s only defeat, losing to Temur Kuybokarov. The Turkish club’s other five players won their games.
In the opening round, Bayegan Pendik beat England’s Blackthorne 6-0. Mammadyarov defeated Chris Duncan in that match. The Turkish club have therefore won both of their first two team matches, securing victories in 11 of their 12 individual games.
Bayegan Pendik, whose players have an average rating of 2,715, are the tournament’s leading favourites. Alongside Mammadyarov, the team includes Anish Giri, Richard Rapport, Ediz Gurel, Volodar Murzin and other prominent grandmasters.
The European Chess Club Cup is being held in Budva from October 17 to 23. A total of 108 teams are competing in the open section and 22 in the women’s section. The tournament consists of seven rounds played under the Swiss system. The third round is scheduled for October 19.
