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9th HDBank International 2019 Preview

by Shahid Ahmed - 06/03/2019

The 9th edition of HDBank International Open 2019 will witness the record number of Indian participants in the tournament - 58. HDBank regular Wang Hao will be making his fourth consecutive appearance and this time he is the top seed of the tournament. In 'Drawing of lots' he got white in round 1. Sandipan Chanda will spearhead the Indian contingent closely followed by India's youngest and world's second youngest GM D Gukesh. Total 25 GMs, 39 IMs, 7 WGMs and 8 WIMs comprising of 304 players from 28 different countries. Total US$ 60000 prize is up for grabs. Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Sandipan Chanda will be the highest rated Indian player, Wang Hao is the top speed

The tournament flex indicates which year how many participants were there and from how many different country. The first edition in 2011 witnessed 65 players from 8 different country (not in picture) | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Defending champion GM Sandro Mareco of Argentina made the drawing of lots. Chief Arbiter IA Pham Huong Giang announced that top seed Wang Hao will play with White pieces in round 1 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

If you are wondering what is the secret of this tournament's growth, then here is your answer:

The city is flooded with the tournament flexes in Vietnamese language. That's how Chess can be made to reach among common people | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Quick glance at the Indian line-up

India's youngest and World's second youngest GM Gukesh D | Photo: David Llada

GM Vishnu Prasanna V will make his 3rd consecutive appearance at this tournament | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Reigning National Junior and Commonwealth under-20 champion, India's 55th GM - Karthik Venkataraman | Photo: Niklesh Jain

India's latest and 61st GM - P Iniyan | Photo: Amruta Mokal

This is what Vishy Anand tweeted on Iniyan becoming India's 61st GM:

Round 1 Pairing of few Indian players:

1277
Vignesh BIND231700GMCheparinov IvanGEO2683
2
133
GMDemchenko AntonRUS267800WGMGomes Mary AnnIND2312
78
1479
FMPranesh MU16IND230900GMMareco SandroARG2666
4
1883
IMKulkarni RakeshIND229800GMPredke AlexandrRUS2611
8
199
GMWen YangCHN259900WIMPriyanka NutakkiIND2297
84
11287
IMSharma Dinesh K.IND228600GMTran Tuan MinhVIE2556
12
11489
IMKathmale SameerIND228200GMChanda SandipanIND2534
14
11515
IMGukesh DU16IND252900IMBao KhoaVIE2277
90
11717
GMVishnu Prasanna. VIND252400WIMDivya DeshmukhU16IND2266
92
12095
Sahil TickooIND225900GMKarthik VenkataramanU18IND2494
20
12323
IMIniyan PIND248700WGMNguyen Thi Thanh AnVIE2245
98
12499
IMPraveen Kumar CIND224300IMNguyen Anh KhoiVIE2484
24
12525
IMVignesh N RIND247600WIMNandhidhaa P VIND2240
100
12727
GMNguyen Duc HoaVIE245000Bhambure ShantanuIND2220
102
128103
FMJeet JainIND221900IMPascua HaridasPHI2446
28
12929
IMTaher Yoseph TheolifusINA244600Shyam Prasad Reddy KU16IND2215
104
130105
IMLu Chan HungVIE220700CMMendonca Leon LukeU16IND2446
30
13333
WGMTokhirjonova GulrukhbegimUZB243400FMAaryan VarshneyU16IND2202
108
136111
FMDeshpande AniruddhaIND219400GMLaylo DarwinPHI2430
36
13737
IMShyaamnikhil PIND242900WIMVarshini VIND2191
112
140115
Ilamparthi A RU16IND217700GMLaxman R.R.IND2425
40
14343
IMRaja Rithvik RU16IND242300WFMSinggih Diajeng TheresaU16INA2164
118
144119
Gandhi AnishIND215600GMTu Hoang ThongVIE2416
44
146121
Zhang XiaoU16CHN215300IMNitin S.IND2408
46
14747
IMRahul Srivatshav PIND240000Mclaren BrianS60CAN2144
122
15151
Samant Aditya SU16IND238800CMKwon SehyunKOR2136
126
152127
Dao Minh NhatU16VIE213000Sammed Jaykumar SheteIND2387
52

How I reached Vietnam:

Here is my take on reaching Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -

1. Get e-visa done online for only USD 25 (The fees is for Indian citizen only)

2. Tickets cost as low as 13-14k return fare if you decide on booking 1-2 months ago. (Pricing may vary from location or if you are carrying check-in baggage)

Air Asia was my first choice. Why? Because it's cost effective and takes the shortest time. The route from my city Kolkata is via Bangkok (routes and duration may vary according to the location) | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

3. You can always book an accommodation via airbnb or your favorite travel agent.

4. If you know how to ride a bike then you can rent-a-bike as two wheelers is the best mode of transportation in Ho Chi Minh city.

It is quite evident that two-wheelers is quite predominant among the mode of transportation in Ho Chi Minh city | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

My top five places to see in Ho Chi Minh city (in no particular order):

Cu Chi Tunnels

It was definitely at the top of my list to visit when I planned on visiting Ho Chi Minh city. So on Day 0, I booked a tour bus ticket to go there. The experience is indescribable. If you want to crawl inside the tunnels to have an authentic experience of the trenches, it is recommended to do some stretching and go in the morning.

Cu Chi Tunnels is about 56 km away from the city and it takes about 1 hour 40 mins to go, but it's totally worth it | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

When in 'Nam, you must climb a tank. Because there is no other way to get on it | Photo: Tour group member

Unification Palace

If you are a history buff like me, then you must visit Unification Palace. The place was rebuilt after it was bombed out of oblivion. In simple words, this place gives you a tour of President's place and how things were controlled from what type of rooms.

Reunification Palace is definitely among the must see places in Ho Chi Minh city | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon

The Notre Dame was established by the French. However it was inaccessible as it is being renovated and it will remain closed till June 2020 as per our guide Tree.

The Notre Dame is under renovation | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Saigon Central Post Office

If you are wondering why I went to Saigon when the tournament is taking place in Ho Chi Minh city, then I must tell you that Saigon was renamed to Ho Chi Minh city in 1976. While Post Office is almost an obsolete concept in today's era, but this Central Post Office in Ho Chi Minh city will tell you a different story.

Well you can see that the place is quite crowded unlike the post office we are familial. There is a photo of the country's hero Ho Chi Minh at the back | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

War Remnants Museum

I love visiting museums, so it is absolutely obvious that I will visit this museum. We all face our own battle in 64 squares and every war story has two sides. This museum tells the story of Vietnam War from all possible sides. Warning: Some of the sections contain extremely graphic images which are not suitable for children and sensitive people.

The place is exactly what it says | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

The place has thousands of photos, but my most favorite one is this | Original Photo: Lam Hong Long