26th Cannes Chess Festival
The 26th International Open “Pierre et Vacances” is taking place from 13th to 19th February at the playing venue Lerins, which is overlooking the bay of Cannes.
60 participants compete in the 9-round Swiss event, with the top French Grandmaster Etienne Bacrot being the first seed. GM Joseph Sanchez, Cannes winner in 2009 and 2011, is defending the title.
Brazilian group arrives from Switzerland, where GM Krikor Sevag Mekhitarian won the Schoenenwerd Weekend. Nenad Sulava, won recently the San Remo Open 2012, is also participating.
The organizers have provided the prize fund of 10,000 EUR, with 2200 EUR dedicated for the winner.
Top 15 players:
1 GM BACROT Etienne 2704 FRA
2 GM GHARAMIAN Tigran 2676 FRA
3 GM FELLER Sebastien 2658 FRA
4 GM ROMANOV Evgeny 2628 RUS
5 GM PELLETIER Yannick 2581 SUI
6 GM FIER Alexandr 2573 BRA
7 GM GODENA Michele 2548 ITA
8 GM NEVEROV Valeriy 2537 UKR
9 GM SANCHEZ Joseph 2518 PHI
10 GM SULAVA Nenad 2514 CRO
11 GM LIBISZEWSKI Fabien 2509 FRA
12 GM MEKHITARIAN Krikor Sevag 2487 BRA
13 IM SPIRIN Oleg 2462 RUS
14 IM BLECHZIN Igor 2442 RUS
15 IM ROMBALDONI Axel 2441 ITA
Surely more top French players will play?