Ivan Sokolov wins 40th Annual World Open in Philadelphia
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
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
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