Nakhchivan Open 2012: Three players share first, Iordachescu declared winner
The International Chess Festival Nakhchivan Open 2012, dedicated to the memory of Heydar Aliyev, took place from 28th to 6th May at the Chess Center in Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan.
After nine rounds of play, Grandmasters Viorel Iordachescu, Sergei Zhigalko and Eltaj Safarli shared the first place with 6.5 points each.
Iordachescu and Zhigalko entered the final round with equal points, while Safarli caught up with a key victory against Konstantine Shanava. Iordachescu is declared winner on the best tie-break criteria – average rating of the opponents.
The Festival was organized by the Azerbaijan Youth & Sport Ministry, Azerbaijan Chess Federation, Nakhchivan AR Chess Federation and SOCAR.
Final standings (top finishers):
1 GM Iordachescu Viorel MDA 2644 – 6.5
2 GM Zhigalko Sergei BLR 2649 – 6.5
3 GM Safarli Eltaj AZE 2645 – 6.5
4 GM Guseinov Gadir AZE 2616 – 6
5 GM Tiviakov Sergei NED 2673 – 6
6 GM Grachev Boris RUS 2705 – 5.5
7 GM Mamedov Rauf AZE 2624 – 5.5
8 GM Mirzoev Azer AZE 2560 – 5.5
9 GM Esen Baris TUR 2555 – 5.5
10 GM Shanava Konstantine GEO 2586 – 5.5
11 GM Khalifman Alexander RUS 2649 – 5.5
12 Iskandarov Misratdin AZE 2305 – 5.5
13 GM Filippov Anton UZB 2637 – 5.5
14 GM Durarbayli Vasif AZE 2543 – 5.5
15 GM Guliev Sarhan AZE 2498 – 5.5
16 GM Rasulov Vugar AZE 2526 – 5
17 IM Azaladze Shota GEO 2419 – 5
18 IM Mammadov Zaur AZE 2378 – 5
19 GM Aleksandrov Aleksej BLR 2604 – 5
20 IM Mammadov Ayaz AZE 2404 – 5
21 IM Guliev Logman AZE 2409 – 5
22 Javakhadze Zurab GEO 2418 – 5
23 IM Heydarli Kanan AZE 2329 – 5
24 IM Firat Burak TUR 2405 – 5
Impressive.