Morozevich clinches Biel with a 2863 performance

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The Biel International Chess Festival ended on July 30. In the Grandmaster group Alexander Morozevich scored a resounding victory, clearing the field by a full 1.5 points. Actually only India's Sasikiran was anywhere close to the Russian GM. FIDE ex world champion Ruslan Ponomariov, Switzerland's Yannick Pelletier and France's Etienne Bacrot were all a point behind Sasikiran. England's Luke McShane brought up the rear half a point behind that group. Morozevich's Elo performance was 2863.

Final standing of the GM Group

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In the Accentus Ladies Tournament the clear winner was Tatiana Kosintseva, who just three weeks ago won the Russian Women's Championship in Kazan.

Final standings of the Accentus Ladies Tournament

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Picture report

By Thomas Pähtz

GM Thomas Pähtz is the father of Germany's top women player, Elisabeth Pähtz. He accompanied his daughter to the Biel Chess Festival and played in the Masters Section (won by Bauer, Avrukh, Shariyazdanov, Rustemov and Eljanov). He sent us the following pictorial report.

At the start of the tournament Elisabeth played a simul on the MobiCat, the largest Catamaran driven by solar power.

Elli, suffered from mild sea-sickness during the long simul, enjoys some fresh air and the beautiful view of the lake in Biel.

Elisabeth Pähtz and Monica Seps, the two German-speaking participants of the Ladies tournament

The men's section, just before the start of the games

And for the first time the ladies playing on the stage

The Ladies: Iweta Radziewicz, Eva Repkova, Elisabeth Pähtz, Monika Seps, Kateryna Lahno, Tatiana Kosintseva.

And the Gentlemen: Luke McShane, Alexander Morozevich, Ruslan Ponomariov, Yannick Pelletier, Etienne Bacrot, Krishnan Sasikiran

The winner of the Ladies section: Tatiana Kosintseva

Kateryna Lahno, the highest rated player, produced a disappointing result

Eva Repkova of Slovakia finished 3-5 together with Elli Pähtz and Kathy Lahno

The winner Alexander Morozevich produced some of the most exciting chess we have seen this year

India's second rated GM Krishnan Sasikiran, who also showed some very imaginative play and a sometimes almost suicidal will to win.

Ruslan Ponomariov, who was certainly not satisfied to end three full points behind Morozevich

Swiss GM Yannik Pelletier who played well above his 2597 rating expectation

Etienne Bacrot, who was once the world's youngest grandmaster, today resides above the magic 2700 mark

Swiss amateur Monika Seps stated at over 300 Elo points behind the other participants – and scored a dismal 0/10 points.

A parting picture of Elisabeth Pähtz taking by a proud and doting father