The 19th Pirc Open Maribor International Open Tournament took place from June 25 to July 2, in Maribor, the second-largest city in Slovenia.
The event in Memoriam of GM Vasja Pirc was a 9-round Swiss tournament with tempo of play 90′ X 40 moves + 30′ + 30″.
Tournament website/ LIVE games with analysis
Bulgarian GM Boris Chatalbashev emerged a clear winner with 8/9 points, leaving the runner-up, IM Igor Jelen from Slovenia, a full point behind.
It is quite befitting that Boris Chatalbashev, one of the World’s most renowned Pirc Defence experts, won the Memorial of the author of this sharp opening.
He drew only two games, while his tactically-aggressive style of play led him to victories in the rest seven games.
You can see final position of one of the tournament’s masterpieces – the winner’s last-round game against Slovenian GM Matej Sebenik.
Final standings (top finishers):
1 GM Chatalbashev Boris BUL 2545 8
2 IM Jelen Igor SLO 2419 7
3 GM Cvitan Ognjen CRO 2495 6,5
4 GM Dizdarevic Emir BIH 2541 6
5 GM Tratar Marko SLO 2476 6
6 GM Drazic Sinisa SRB 2468 6
7 GM Akesson Ralf SWE 2428 6
8 IM Manea Alexandru ROU 2383 5,5
9 GM Sebenik Matej SLO 2512 5,5
10 FM Tomazini Zan SLO 2401 5,5
11 GM Naumkin Igor RUS 2421 5,5
12 FM Kokol Peter SLO 2370 5,5
13 MK Janzelj Tim SLO 2312 5,5
14 FM Tomazini Aljosa SLO 2314 5,5
15 FM Stajner Samo SLO 2349 5,5
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