WIJK AAN ZEE, JANUARY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. An International Chess Festival under the title Korus started for the 70th time on January 12 in the city of Wijk aan Zee, Holland. Almost all strongest chess players of the world perform in the 20-category tournament. Levon Aronian, the festival's last year winner, is among 14 grand masters taking part in the main tournament. In the first two tours he defeated first Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria), then Boris Gelfand (Israel). L. Aronian and Magnus Karlsen (Norway) gained two out of two possible points each and are at the top of the tournament table. In tournament B being held parallel with the main tournament, Gabriel Sargsian and Sergei Movsisian (Slovakia) ended their two games in a draw and share the 7-10th places with one point each.

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