WR Chess Masters Tournament has kicked off in Dusseldorf.

Ten bright stars of world chess will compete for victory in the prestigious tournament with a prize fund of 140 thousand euros – Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia), Anish Giri (Netherlands), Wesley So and Levon Aronian (USA), Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Poland), Nodirbek Abdusattarov (Uzbekistan), Gukesh (India), Vincent Keimer (Germany), Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa (India) and Andrey Esipenko (Russia).

I. Nepomniachtchi and A. Esipenko will perform under the flag of FIDE.

In the competition consisting of 9 rounds, the world champion in rapid chess, the winner of the 44th Chess Olympiad Nodirbek Abdusattarov will play black with Ian Nepomniachtchi in the first round, white with Andrey Esipenko in the second round (February 17), and Levon Aronian in the third (February 18).

The WR Chess Masters Tournament will run until February 26.

T.Ruziyev, UzA