Short wins, Gustafsson and Hou Yifan underperform

Nigel Short Triumphs at the 12th Bangkok Chess Club Open

Article by Alexander J. Klemm

British GM Nigel Short has won the 12th Bangkok Chess Club Open 2012 with a last-round draw against IM Nguyen Duc Hoa, whose outstanding performance has earned the Vietnamese player a GM norm.

From the beginning of the tournament, Short demonstrated his great fighting spirit. Having won the Gibraltar Chess Festival in January, it was apparent that he had come to Bangkok with a high confidence level and the mission to become the sole champion. Mission accomplished!

GM Nigel Short has played with passion and expertise in his fourth consecutive BCC Open tournament and has finally won it. While defending champion GM Jan Gustafsson and Women’s World Champion GM Hou Yifan underperformed, other predominantly Asian participants played very well and often surpassed expectations.

Here are the top results of the final round:

IM Nguyen Duc Hoa ½ – ½ GM Short Nigel
GM Amonatov Farrukh 1 – 0 IM Nguyen Van Huy
Liu Chang ½ – ½ IM Venkatesh M.R.
GM Xiu Deshun 0 – 1 GM Sriram Jha
GM Neelotpal Das ½ – ½ IM Saptarshi Roy
GM Gustafsson Jan 1 – 0 GM Rantanen Yrjo A.
Sander Severino ½ – ½ GM Hou Yifan

The final standings after 9 rounds are as follows:

GM Short Nigel (ENG) 7.5
GM Amonatov Farrukh (TJK) 7
IM Nguyen Duc Hoa (VIE) 7
GM Sriram Jha (IND) 7
IM Liu Qingnan (CHN) 6.5
IM Venkatesh M.R. (IND) 6.5
IM Saptarshi Roy (IND) 6.5
Wan Yunguo (CHN) 6.5
GM Gustafsson Jan (GER) 6.5
Liu Chang (CHN) 6.5
Nguyen Van Huy (VIE) 6.5
GM Schebler Gerhard (GER) 6.5
GM Neelotpal Das (IND) 6.5
GM Hou Yifan 6

(135 players)