The 2012 Latvian Chess Championships for men and women were held concurrently in Riga from 29th April to 5th May.
IM Vitalijs Samolins, who emerged leader in the penultimate round of the tournament, drew IM Vladimir Sveshnikov on the last day and waited for the results in the other top games.
GM Ilmars Starostits was not in the mood to take risks and quickly followed with a draw against IM Oleg Krivonosov.
On the other hand, the legendary GM Evgeny Sveshnikov, who is in late 60s, pushed hard against FM Toms Kantans in attempt to catch Samolins on the shared first place. However, Kantans tenaciously defended the slightly worse position and eventually pulled a draw.
Thus Vitalijs Samolins finished clear winner with 7 points and is crowned the new Latvian Champion. This is his second title, with the first being won in 2009.
Starostits and E.Sveshnikov share the 2nd place with 6.5 points each. Full standings bellow.
WGM Ilze Berzina claimed her third title of the Latvian Women Champion by finishing clear first in the women’s event with 7/9 points.
Her earlier titles, in 2004 and 2008, were won from the Open Championships where she also competed with men.
WGM Ilze BerzinaWGM Dana Reizniece-Ozola had a chance to catch up with Berzina, but in the last round she over-pressed against Katrina Skinke and lost to slip down to the shared third place.
WGM Laura Rogule took the silver medal with 6.5 points, while WGM Inguna Erneste claimed the bronze after edging Skinke and Reizniece-Ozola on tie-break. Full standings bellow.
Latvian Women Championship 2012 (top finishers):
1 WGM Berzina Ilze 2299 Riga – 7
2 WGM Rogule Laura 2317 Riga – 6.5
3 WGM Erneste Inguna 2190 Riga – 6
4 WIM Skinke Katrina 2229 Riga – 6
5 WGM Reizniece-Ozola Dana 2292 Riga – 6
6 I Parhomenko Margarita 1565 Riga – 5.5
7 I Otikova Elina 1903 Riga – 5
8 WFM Ungure Liga 2062 Riga – 5
9 I Kane Marta 1945 Kuldiga – 5
Latvian Championship 2012 Final (top finishers):
1 IM Samolins Vitalijs 2392 Jelgava – 7
2 GM Sveshnikov Evgeny 2499 Riga – 6.5
3 GM Starostits Ilmars 2489 Rezekne – 6.5
4 IM Krivonosov Oleg 2449 Daugavpils – 6
5 NM Putka Verner 2293 Ogre – 6
6 GM Neiksans Arturs 2524 Riga – 5.5
7 FM Kantans Toms 2347 Garkalne – 5.5
8 IM Sveshnikov Vladimir 2426 Riga – 5.5
9 FM Meskovs Nikita 2319 Riga – 5.5
10 FM Lavendelis Egons 2347 Riga – 5.5
11 GM Meijers Viesturs 2490 Limbazi – 5
12 MK Bernotas Arturs 2196 Riga – 5
13 MK Marutkins Olegs 1970 Riga – 5
Congrats