100 Years of Mikhail Botvinnik in St. Petersburg
Seven players tied on first place, GM Denis Khismatullin declared winner
The International Chess Festival “100 Years of Mikhail Botvinnik” was held on 11-20th August at the Mikhail Chigorin Chess Club in St. Petersburg, Russia. The 9-round open tournament offered the prize fund of 25.000 EUR, with top prize being 4500 EUR. The winners will qualify to the final stage of Russian Cup according to the Russian Cup 2011 regulations.
The Russian Chess Federation is organizing a number of events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the 6th World Champion Mikhail Moiseyevich Botvinnik (17 August 1911 – 5 May 1995). Besides the St. Petersburg Open, a seniors’ tournament took place in Suzdal-Vladimir, while the world’s best players will meet in Moscow on 1-5th September.
166 players competed at the Mikhail Chigorin Chess Club. GM Pavel Ponkratov started furiously with five consecutive wins but then he drew the remaining four games and allowed a larger group of players to catch up on the shared first place with 7.0 points each.
GM Denis Khismatullin was eventually declared winner on best tiebreak criteria. IM Jakov Geller earned a GM norm, while Semen Dvoirys continued the good form after winning the Polugaevsky Memorial few weeks earlier.
Final standings:
1-7. GM Khismatullin Denis RUS 2656, GM Aleksandrov Aleksej BLR 2609, GM Ponkratov Pavel RUS 2593, GM Dvoirys Semen I. RUS 2554, IM Geller Jakov RUS 2535, GM Yakovich Yuri RUS 2539 and GM Neverov Valeriy UKR 2500 – 7.0
8-15. GM Maletin Pavel RUS 2575, GM Zvjaginsev Vadim RUS 2659, GM Epishin Vladimir RUS 2553, IM Baryshpolets Andrey UKR 2474, GM Yevseev Denis RUS 2527, GM Kuzubov Yuriy UKR 2630, GM Popov Valerij RUS 2550, GM Lintchevski Daniil RUS 2553 – 6.5
16-31. GM Yemelin Vasily RUS 2592, GM Pridorozhni Aleksei RUS 2550, GM Levin Evgeny A. RUS 2465, GM Kovchan Alexander UKR 2554, GM Sedlak Nikola SRB 2580, GM Savchenko Boris RUS 2615, FM Pankov German RUS 2387, IM Vlasenko Miroslav RUS 2371, GM Kabanov Nikolai RUS 2520, FM Bulanov Dmitri BLR 2379, IM Smikovski Ivan RUS 2541, IM Rozum Ivan RUS 2464, Predke Alexandr RUS 2450, Serov Maksim RUS 2364, WIM Ivkina Olga RUS 2294 and Tsydypov Zhamsaran RUS 2247 – 6.0 etc
Impressive field.