Ivan Sokolov wins 40th Annual World Open in Philadelphia

by ChessBase
7/13/2012 – A quick draw in the final round left Ivan Sokolov and Alex Shabalov tied for first in the Open Section, with 7.0/9 points each. They were not caught by three GMs half a point behind, and so had to take part in an Armageddon play-off. Sokolov had the white pieces and five minutes, Shabalov the black pieces, three minutes and draw odds. Ivan Sokolov won and became the 2012 World Open Champion.

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40th Annual World Open in Philadelphia

The 40th Annual World Open was held from July 2-8 at the Sheraton Philadelphia City Center Hotel, 17th & Race Streets, Philadelphia, PA.

GMs Ivan Sokolov (above) and Alex Shabalov (below) finished at the top of the Open Section standings, both tallying 7/9 (after agreeing to a quick draw in the final round to secure a share of first). Both players could have been caught by GMs Wesley So and Yury Shulman or IM Marc Arnold, who all started the final round half-point behind the leaders. But none of those players managed a victory, leaving Sokolov and Shabolov alone at the top.

An Armageddon play-off between the two GMs was held after the end of the tournament. Sokolov had the white pieces and 5 minutes, while Shabalov had the black pieces, 3 minutes and draw odds (both players also had a 5 second delay).


The game was won by Sokolov (right) who becomes the 2012 World Open Champion

[Event "40th Annual World Open Playoff"] [Site "Philadelphia USA"] [Date "2012.07.08"] [Round "1.1"] [White "Sokolov, Ivan"] [Black "Shabalov, Alexander"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A61"] [WhiteElo "2676"] [BlackElo "2534"] [PlyCount "37"] [EventDate "2012.07.03"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nf3 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. Bf4 O-O 9. e3 Re8 10. Nd2 Nh5 11. Bh2 {[#]} f5 12. Be2 f4 13. O-O fxe3 14. fxe3 Qg5 15. Bxh5 Qxe3+ 16. Kh1 gxh5 17. Nc4 Qh6 18. Nxd6 Rd8 19. Nf7 1-0

On the norm front, Arnold had already secured his 3rd and final GM norm going into the round after a victory over GM Robert Hess in round eight. Other GM norms were scored by IM Eesha Karavade and FM John Bryant. IM norms were scored by FM Michael Kleinman, FM Thomas Bartell, Yaacov Norowitz and Luke Harmon-Vellotti.

World Open 2012 final standings

# Name
Rating
Nat.
Total
Prize
1 GM Ivan Sokolov
2676
NED
7.0
$12926.50
2 GM Alexander Shabalov
2534
PA
7.0
$12673.50
3 GM Wesley B So
2650
PHI
6.5
$1484.57
4 GM Aleksander Lenderman
2613
NY
6.5
$1484.57
5 GM Giorgi Kacheishvili
2605
GEO
6.5
$1484.57
6 GM Ray Robson
2601
FL
6.5
$1484.57
7 GM Yury Shulman
2588
IL
6.5
$1484.57
8 GM Alexander Evdokimov
2544
RUS
6.5
$1484.57
9 IM Marc Tyler Arnold
2529
NY
6.5
$1484.57
10 GM Eduardo Iturrizaga Bonelli
2628
VEN
6.0
$70.34
11 GM Abhijeet Gupta
2627
IND
6.0
$70.34
12 GM Sergey Erenburg
2624
ISR
6.0
$70.34
13 GM Sam Shankland
2579
CA
6.0
$70.34
14 GM Marin Bosiocic
2570
CRO
6.0
$70.34
15 GM Alexander Stripunsky
2553
NJ
6.0
$70.34
16 GM Mikheil Kekelidze
2494
GEO
6.0
$636.25
17 IM Mackenzie Molner
2479
NJ
6.0
$636.25
18 FM John Daniel Bryant
2377
CA
6.0
$636.25
19 IM Eesha Karavade
2343
IND
6.0
$636.25
20 GM Sergei Azarov
2658
BLR
5.5
21 GM Tamaz Gelashvili
2604
GEO
5.5
22 GM Alojzije Jankovic
2543
CRO
5.5
23 GM S P Sethuraman
2535
IND
5.5
24 GM Nikola Mitkov
2527
MKD
5.5
25 GM Joshua E Friedel
2503
NH
5.5
26 GM Alonso Zapata
2488
COL
5.5
27 GM Deepan Chakkravarthy
2468
IND
5.5
28 GM Vladimir Romanenko
2463
BLR
5.5

Video Report on the USCF site


Past World Open Champions

Year Location Champions
2012 (40th) Philadelphia Ivan Sokolov
2011 (39th) Philadelphia Gata Kamsky
2010 (38th) Valley Forge Viktor Laznicka
2009 (37th) Philadelphia Evgeny Najer
2008 (36th) Philadelphia Evgeny Najer
2007 (35th) Valley Forge Varuzhan Akobian
2006 (34th) Philadelphia Gata Kamsky
2005 (33rd) Philadelphia Kamil Miton
2004 (32nd) Philadelphia Varuzhan Akobian
2003 (31st) Philadelphia Jaan Ehlvest
2002 (30th) Philadelphia Kamil Miton
2001 (29th) Philadelphia Alexander Goldin
2000 (28th) Philadelphia Joel Benjamin
1999 (27th) Philadelphia Gregory Serper
1998 (26th) Philadelphia Alexander Goldin
1997 (25th) Philadelphia Alexander Shabalov
1996 (24th) Philadelphia Alex Yermolinsky
1995 (23rd) Philadelphia Alex Yermolinsky
1994 (22nd) Philadelphia Artashes Minasian
1993 (21st) Philadelphia Alex Yermolinsky
Year Location Champions
1992 (20th) Philadelphia Gregory Kaidanov
1991 (19th) Philadelphia Gata Kamsky
1990 (18th) Philadelphia Igor Glek
1989 (17th) Philadelphia Mikhail Gurevich
1988 (16th) Philadelphia Maxim Dlugy
1987 (15th) Philadelphia Boris Gulko
1986 (14th) Philadelphia Nick de Firmian
1985 (13th) Philadelphia Maxim Dlugy
1984 (12th) Valley Forge Joel Benjamin
1983 (11th) New York Kevin Spraggett
1982 (10th) Philadelphia Nick de Firmian
1981 (9th) New Paltz Igor Ivanov
1980 (8th) Philadelphia Larry Christiansen
1979 (7th) Philadelphia Haukur Angantysson
1978 (6th) Philadelphia Peter Biyiasas
1977 (5th) Philadelphia John Fedorowicz
1976 (4th) New York Anatoly Lein
1975 (3rd) New York Pal Benko
1974 (2nd) New York Bent Larsen
1973 (1st) New York Walter Browne

Links

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