Hikaru Nakamura of the US and Alireza Firouzja of France, the world Nos 3 and 4, are among the favourites in the 114-player Fide Grand Swiss event at Douglas, Isle of Man. The event offers a $460,000 prize fund from the Scheinberg family, which has sponsored international events on the island since 2014. Two places in the 2024 Candidates, and a potential challenge to China’s world champion Ding Liren, are also at stake.
A fast start is reckoned important in such a high class field where almost all the players are rated over 2400, and many over 2600 and 2700. But both Nakamura and Firouzja began with draws against lower ranked opponents where at one stage they stood worse, while in contrast Parham Maghsoodloo and Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who came to Douglas direct from the Qatar Open and played an all-night blitz session after the tournament there, both won their opening-round games in style.
