Reggio Emilia Final Report

53rd Torneo di Capodanno in Reggio Emilia
Vugar Gashimov claims the trophy on better tiebreak

Vugar Gashimov and Francisco Vallejo Pons did not bother much in the last round of the 53rd Reggio Emilia tournament and signed quick draws to jointly cut the ribbon with 6 points each. However, Gashimov was awarded the winner’s trophy thanks to the higher additional criteria.

In the other games, Michele Godena held the Italian champion Fabiano Caruana to a draw, while David Navara gradually outplayed Nigel Short after emerging better out of the opening.

Vassily Ivanchuk wisely exchanged pieces from the Nimzo-Indian opening to enter a better endgame in the match against Alexander Morozevich. With white holding a Bishop and a distant passed pawn, black had slim chances to survive. Morozevich tested if his opponent knows how to checkmate with a Bishop and a Knight, but the Ukrainian’s technique was impeccable.

Official website
53rd Reggio Emilia index page

Round 9 results:

Sergei Movsesian – Francisco Vallejo Pons draw
Michele Godena – Fabiano Caruana draw
Alexander Onischuk – Vugar Gashimov draw
David Navara – Nigel Short 1-0
Vassily Ivanchuk – Alexander Morozevich 1-0

Final standings:

1-2. Vugar Gashimov AZE 2733 and Francisco Vallejo Pons ESP 2698 – 6.0
3-5. Vassily Ivanchuk UKR 2764, David Navara CZE 2708 and Sergei Movsesian SVK 2721 – 5.0
6-7. Fabiano Caruana ITA 2709 and Alexander Onischuk USA 2683 – 4.5
8. Alexander Morozevich RUS 2700 – 4.0
9. Nigel Short ENG 2680 – 3.5
10. Michele Godena ITA 2549 – 1.5