An event dedicated to the memory of the Russian chess legend, Mikhail Botvinnik, kicked off on September 2 in Moscow.

Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian tied the game with Norway’s Magnus Carlsen in the 1st round, lost to India’s Viswanathan Anand in the 2nd round and shared points with Russia’s Vladimir Kramnik in the 3rd.

After the 1st tournament day, Anand seized the leadership with 2 points, while Aronian is 4th with 1 point to his score.

In women’s tournament, Armenia’s Elina Danielian beat Lithuania’s Viktorija Cmilyte, lost to Russia’s Tatiana Kosintseva and tied the game with India’s Humpy Koneru.

Danielyan is 2nd with 1,5 points, lagging 0,5 point behind tournament leader Cmilyte.

On September 3, Aronian-Danielian pair will face off against Anand- Koneru, Kramnik-Kosintseva, Carlsen-Cmilyte pairs.