Marked as one of the biggest prize funds in the Middle East, the 3rd Iraq Open, with participants from 16 nations of which 28 title holders, was held from March 22 to March 29 in the 5 star Al Mansoor Hotel in Baghdad. A total Prize Fund of US $ 20000 with winner taking the big catch of US $ 3000. Headed by GM Tarlev Konstantin of Ukraine and GM Gagunashvili Merab of Georgia, the 9 round Swiss witnessed tough fight in most of the rounds. At the end, both Gagunashvili Merab and the young Egyptian IM Hesham Abdelrahman tied for places 1 – 2 and thus splited the $ 5500 equally.
Top 10 after 9 Rounds
| Rk. |
Name |
Rtg |
Pts. |
TB1 |
TB2 |
TB3 |
|
| 1 |
GM |
Gagunashvili Merab |
2540 |
7.5 |
0.5 |
54 |
43 |
| 2 |
IM |
Hesham Abdelrahman |
2382 |
7.5 |
0.5 |
53 |
41 |
| 3 |
IM |
Al-Saffar Araz Basim Mohammed |
2380 |
7 |
0 |
50 |
39 |
| 4 |
GM |
Tarlev Konstantin |
2573 |
6.5 |
0 |
54 |
41 |
| 5 |
FM |
Avetisian Manvel |
2308 |
6.5 |
0 |
52 |
40 |
| 6 |
IM |
Shalamberidze Akaki |
2387 |
6.5 |
0 |
50 |
38 |
| 7 |
Ehab Mazin Elias |
2162 |
6.5 |
0 |
43 |
34 |
|
| 8 |
FM |
El Adnani Mokliss |
2392 |
6 |
0 |
52 |
40 |
| 9 |
FM |
Ahmed Ali Layth Ahmed |
2296 |
6 |
0 |
46 |
35 |
| 10 |
IM |
Al-Zendani Zendan |
2357 |
6 |
0 |
45 |
35 |
The event was opened under the patronage of Youth and Sports Minister H.E. Jassim Jaffer and concluded by Iraq Olympic Committee first deputy Mr. Bashar Mustafa. The Chief Arbiter was IA/IO Shaker Alafoo of Bahrain.
Final Standing http://chess-results.com/tnr126698.aspx?lan=1&art=4&turdet=YES&flag=30&wi=821
Impressive finish