# Strong Field Battles in Corsica
The 1er Open International de Lecci kicked off in Corsica this week with a lineup that commands respect. Donchenko, Van Wely, Martirosyan, Karthikeyan, and Pranesh are grinding through Round 1 of this nine-round Swiss event, where 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move gives these players room to calculate.
This isn't a super-GM invitational. It's a competitive open tournament with enough firepower to punish mistakes. Van Wely brings decades of 2600+ experience. Donchenko's a sharp tactician who thrives in these middleweight events. Martirosyan and Karthikeyan both play hungry chess. Pranesh rounds out a squad with serious ratings.
The Swiss format means pairings get tougher as the event progresses. Winners face winners. Losers play other losers. After nine rounds, the standings will reveal who came to Lecci prepared and who came unprepared.
Time control matters here. Ninety minutes isn't blitz, but it's not classical either. Players get enough rope to hang themselves if they miss tactics, but not enough to analyze every position to death. The 30-second increment keeps games from collapsing into time scrambles.
Round 1 results will shape the tournament's narrative. An upset victory sends someone into the upper brackets with momentum. A lopsided loss stings but leaves plenty of room to recover against softer opposition. Watch the pairings as they develop.