The 3rd International Chess Tournament Isthmia 2013 was held on 18-25th August at the Alkyon Hotel in Vrachati, Korinthia, Greece.

The event was organized by the Pnevmatiki Stegi Peristeriou and Korinthia Chess Academy “Argonaftis”, with support from the Prefecture of Peloponnisos, Municipality of Velo Vocha and Regional Unity of Korinthia.

Grandmaster Hristos Banikas took a clear first place in Group A with 7,5/9 points and claimed the top prize of 2400 EUR.

Ioannis Papaioannou and Stelios Halkias, well remembered by their fantastic live commentary during the Thessaloniki Grand Prix, and Ukrainian GM Sergey Fedorchuk shared the second place with 7,0 points each.

Papaioannou defeated Canadian GM Bator Sambuev in the last round, while Fedorchuk recovered after the stunning round one loss against Andreas Kelires.

The ultra-talented 14-years old Cypriot Kelires (2075) also beat GM Aleksandr Karpatchev and eventually earned an IM norm. Kelires added 63 elo points.

Group A full standings are below.

Group B (U2000) had 90 participants. Final standings should be posted on the tournament website soon.

Group A final standings (top finishers):

1 GM BANIKAS HRISTOS GRE 2618 – 7.5

2 GM PAPAIOANNOU IOANNIS GRE 2624 – 7
3 GM HALKIAS STELIOS GRE 2567 – 7
4 GM FEDORCHUK SERGEY A. UKR 2669 – 7


5 GM VIDIT SANTOSH GUJRATHI IND 2563 – 6.5
6 GM KOTRONIAS VASILIOS GRE 2578 – 6.5
7 GM PAVLOVIC MILOS SRB 2511 – 6.5
8 GM NIKOLAIDIS IOANNIS GRE 2570 – 6.5


9 IM MOUTOUSIS KONSTANTINOS GRE 2400 – 6
10 KOURKOULOS-ARDITIS STAMATIS GRE 2203 – 6
11 ZYGOURIS HRISTOS GRE 2220 – 6
12 IM DEBASHIS DAS IND 2495 – 6
13 MARTINS DAVID PIRES TAVARES POR 2179 – 6

Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
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