The main sensation of the second round was a draw for the rating-favoutie Yan Nepomniaschtchi, who played white against international master Nikita Matinyan. The game went on for five hours. In the endgame it was a bishop and a rook against a rook, and Yan was only able to escape a defeat by being very precise in defence.

- Had anyone told you before the start of the game that playing black you would be able to achieve a draw against a supergrandmaster, would you have been happy with such an outcome?

- Yes, naturally. Even now, when I look at the result alone, I can honestly say that it was a fantastic achievement. However, considering how the events unfolded and the fact that I had a domineering advantage, maybe even a winning position and I was not able to win... it upsets me a lot.

- It was obvious in your attempts to checkmate your opponent with a bishop and a rook against a rook - using all 50 moves. Were you really counting on breaking through the defence of such a master as Nepomniaschtchi?

- I was looking for an opportunity, but Yan's defence was flawless. There was nothing left for me, but to sign a draw.

- Have you already discovered which opportunities you missed?

- More or less, I will analyse it in greater detail later.

The second stage of the round robin competition revealed the names of three leaders in grandmasters tournament. In men event Yuri Eliseev and Vladimir Belous achieved two victories each. Today Eliseev defeated Turkey's Burak Firat, while Belous bested Robert Hovhannisyan from Armenia.

In women competition the 16-year-old Danara Saduakasova from Kazakhstan is currently in the lead. She is the only player to win both opening games. In the second round the young Kazakh player defeated the Polish National Champion Karina Szczepkowska-Horowska.

Another notable achievement was a successful start for the World Women Championships bronze medalist Harika Dronavalli (India). At the Russian Cup event for male players she achieved two victories and in the third round she will face a team Azerbaijan representative Rauf Mamedov at the first table.

Our commentator allocated two effective fragments from 1st round games within the frameworks of a stage of the Cup of Russia. Defeat of the grandmaster from Neftekamsk Denis Khismatullin became the main sensation of round. His rival, the young chess player from Ulan-Ude Zhamsaran Tsydypov, having been completely outplayed, skillfully complicated the fight.

In the second fragment effective combinational break was carried out by the Indian grandmaster Gupta Abhijeet in a meeting with Russian Makhmutov Ravil.

The rating-favourite of the women tournament Anastasia Bodnaruk achieved her first victory. Playing black she defeated Olga Sviridova. After the conclusion of the game Anastasia gave exclusive interview to our website.

- As the rating-favourite have you started the event with a lot of confidence... ?

- As a rule, my opponents in the first round of Moscow Open are not the most challenging ones. Now, for example even though I played black I was able to capitalize on Sviridova's mistake right in the opening. So it was not difficult to win this game.

- How do you like the opening ceremony and the organization of the tournament?

- I always mark Moscow Open on my calendar. One could say that it is a compulsory event. The tournament is of the highest quality. The conditions are good, and food and accommodation are covered by the organizers.

- Obviously, you are aiming at the first place...

- As a rating favourite I have no other options. However, occasionally I like to arrange unpleasant surprises for myself. Like losing points in games against relatively weak opponents. I hope this time I will be able to avoid such losses.

The opening round of was not an easy for several of the main Russian Cup favourites. Multiple-time winner of the Cup events Denis Khismatullin (Neftekamsk) and the last season winner of the First Leagues of the Russian Women Championships Baira Kovanov (Saratov) lost. They suffered defeats from very young players: 16-year-old Zhamsaran Tsydypov (Ulan-Ude) and 11-year-old Alexandra Obolentseva (Moscow).

The main favourite of the Russian Cup event Yan Nepomnyaschiii needed a whole 67 moves to overcome the resistance from the international master Maxim Ozolin (Izhevsk). The second ranked female player in the Cup Nino Batsiashvili (Georgia) had to settle for a draw against Anastasia Romanova (Kemerovo).

“It is no exaggeration to say that Moscow Open is not only the most important event in the sports life of Moscow, but in recent years it has become the largest chess tournament in the world. Every year there is added to 200-300 participants,” - said Vladimir Palikhata the president of the Moscow Chess Federation in his opening speech. Vladimir Mironovich thanked all the partners - the Russian State Social University, Moscow Sport Committee, Russian Chess Federation - for support Moscow Open, highlighting Vasily Zhukov RSSU rector, the foundation of tournament, who laid the foundation of this festival and has done a lot for its development. “In the beginning of the ceremony was played music. All the great generals before the battles were listening to music. I wish music also inspired the participants of the festival to win“, - concluded the president of MCF.

On the evening of Friday, February 1, the pairing of the student round robin tournaments was held. The chief arbiter Victor Goncharov suggested participants of the women’s and men's tournaments to draw out their seeding numbers.

Muscovite Olga Girya and Alexander Shimanov of Saint Petersburg, the rating-favourites, will both have white pieces in the first round, and both grand masters drew the fourth seed. Girya will play against Anastasia Zezyulkina, the two-time champion of Belarus. Shimanov will play against Robert Hovannisyan, the 2011 Armenian champion.

More than 700 participants from 12 countries came for start of a traditional international Cup of Chess among champions of schools. Competitions will take place during 9 days in audiences of the Russian state social university, within the program of the International Cup of Chess in RSSU on Moscow Open 2013. Competitions are carried out in four age subgroups (under 9, 11, 13 and 15), separated by gender. The youngest participant of tournament – the Muscovite Lavr Glotov is only 5 years old.

On Thursday, January 31st, a press conference dedicated to the International RSSU Chess Cup "Moscow Open 2013" took place at the RIA-Novosti international multimedia press centre. The first deputy head of the Department of Physical Culture and Sport of the city of Moscow Nikolay Gulyaev, President of the Moscow Chess Federation Vladimir Palikhata, the pro-rector of the Russian State Social University Sergey Naumenkov, the tournament's director and executive director of the Moscow Chess Federation Alexander Kostiev answered questions posed by media representatives.

Speaking first, Nikolay Gulyaev remarked that he cannot help but be pleased with the fact that the tournament is already held for the ninth time. "Consistency is a sign of mastery, they say. I am convinced that the competition will be held on the highest level and that we will witness exciting duels."

This is reminder that all must go to the playing hall to pass through accreditation prior to the beginning of the competition. Accreditation for participants of the MCF Cup will take place on January 31st from 10:00 am until 7:00 pm. The accreditation for all of the other tournaments of the 0festival will take place on February 1st from 10:00 am until 7:00. Be sure to bring your passport or birth certificate (in the case of children).

Keep in mind that the drawing for the first round will include only those participants who have personally been passed through accreditation.