Imagine a room the size of the movie theater, but bigger. From the front of the room rolls down a giant projector, where real-time chess action of the top boards is broadcast live to both the players and spectators miles away. On stage, the top three boards of each section are showcased, their tables standing firmly on the shining podium. In the two corners of the hall, myriad national flags wave proudly, displaying their vibrant colors in all their glamor.
A few major upsets left rating favourites out of the World Cup in the first round of the multitudinous competition. In the open category, Gianmarco Leiva (Peru) and Pablo Salinas (Chile) gave the biggest surprises. In the women’s section, Qianyun Gong (Singapore), Turmunkh Munkhzul (Mongolia) and Maili-Jade Ouellet (Canada) pulled off the biggest stunners. | Pictured: Nurgyul Salimova | Photo: chess.com / Maria Emelianova
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