After beating me in round two (*not* appreciated, by the way), Eljanov proved he deserves to be first and, I would also add: back to the 2700 club (2697 on the virtual rating list, after this tournament), since he is obviously underrated at the moment. Probably the quick draw in the last round against Wesley So (this half a point secured Wesley a 2700 rating for the next list) was not the ‘ideal’ end for the hardcore seekers but hey! Try yourself to play in the last round, in the morning, with a lot of money at stake, pressure, etc. After all, professional chess players are not only showmen to delight the public’s eyes but also hard workers who should bring home the bacon. A draw is always a step forward and a perfect end of the Reykjavik Open for the Ukrainian and Filipino grandmasters.
Alina L’Ami
Right on.
Well said.