The very strong traditional Metz Open took place on 11-17 April 2009. GM Namig Guliyev of Azerbaijan won the title on tiebreak.
Final standings:
1-4. GMs N. Guliyev (AZE, 2534), Spraggett (CAN, 2601), Nijboer (NED, 2562) and A. Horvath (HUN, 2519) – 6½ out of 9
5-20. GM Bauer (FRA, 2605), GM David (LUX, 2587), GM Borovikov (UKR, 2584), GM Iordachescu (MDA, 2608), IM Gharamian (FRA, 2600), GM S.Savchenko (UKR, 2529), GM Eingorn (UKR, 2560), IM Spirin (RUS, 2437), GM Zubarev (UKR, 2566), GM Agrest
(SWE, 2588), GM Abbasov (AZE, 2577), GM Epishin (RUS, 2591), IM Vernay (FRA, 2440), GM Chatalbashev (BUL, 2571), IM Drenchev (BUL, 2450) and GM Svetushkin (MDA, 2615) – 6, etc. (102 players).
Official website: http://www.metzalekhine57.fr/1er_general.html
Report by ChessToday.net
How old is Spraggett now? Isn’t he like 60?
Nope. He’s 54, same as me!
My question to Susan is this. I didn’t know about this tournament until it was over! I’m very disappointed at not being able to follow it, which I would have done if I had known. Is there a site that tracks upcoming tournaments reliably so I can get a good idea what’s going on where and when? So far, it’s been hit and miss. Nothing reports on everything upcoming (and I mean everything in the world) reliably.
He’s actually 56 this year, so I guess so are you! But who keeps track after 50?