Bahía Feliz International Chess Tournament
GM Paco Vallejo with half-point lead heading into the final round
The Bahía Feliz International chess tournament is taking place from 12th to 21st May at the Hotel Orquidea on Gran Canaria, Spain. Ten players participate in the round robin event supported by Bahía Feliz Invest S.L., the Spanish subsidiary of the Krulich Group.
GM Francisco Vallejo Pons, top rated player in the tournament, is leading the race with six points and a round to go. The 8th round victory against the legendary GM Henrique Mecking separated Paco from Illya Nyzhnyk, who is trailing half a point behind.
A seven-round blitz tournament was played on 17th May. GM Julio Granda Zuniga took a clear first place with 6.5 points, half a point ahead of Nyzhnyk.
Round 8 standings:
1. GM Vallejo Pons Francisco ESP 2722 – 6.0
2. GM Nyzhnyk Illya UKR 2583 – 5.5
3. GM Hertneck Gerald GER 2552 – 4.5
4-8. GM Ragger Markus AUT 2674, IM Bromberger Stefan GER 2505, GM Kindermann Stefan AUT 2515, GM Granda Zuniga Julio PER 2614 and GM Mecking Henrique BRA 2577 – 4.0
9. GM Mateo Ramon DOM 2422 – 2.5
10. WGM Vega Gutierrez Sabrina ESP 2306 – 1.5
Round 9 pairings:
GM Nyzhnyk Illya – GM Mecking Henrique
GM Hertneck Gerald – GM Mateo Ramon
IM Bromberger Stefan – GM Kindermann Stefan
GM Ragger Markus – WGM Vega Gutierrez Sabrina
GM Vallejo Pons Francisco – GM Granda Zuniga Julio
A man among boys.