MERALCO Chess Club: February 2012

Demolition, not defeat, is the goal of 21-year-old Magnus Carlsen. No, he's not a boxer, not a wrestler. Rather, Magnus is the top chess player in the world, and he takes it on like an athlete. First, there's the tough physical workouts to prepare himself for the tough mental workout of competition. And then there's the attitude. Magnus, who comes from a nice Norwegian family, tells Bob Simon: "I enjoy it when I see my opponent really suffering, when he knows that I've outsmarted him." But really, he's a nice guy - an athlete and fashion model in addition to being the top-ranked chess player in the world. Bob Simon profiles Magnus Carlsen.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57380894/mozart-of-chess-magnus-carlsen/

The 26th International Open “Pierre et Vacances” was held from 13th to 19th February at the Palais des Festivals – la Croisette in Cannes, France.

60 players competed in the main A Tournament which had a format of 9-round Swiss event. Top French Grandmaster Etienne Bacrot was the first seed, while GM Joseph Sanchez of Philippines, Cannes winner in 2009 and 2011, attempted at defending the title.

Russian Grandmaster Evgeny Romanov scored a key last round victory against GM Sebastien Feller to finish clear first with 7.0 points, half a point ahead of the rest of the field.

Italian IM Axel Rombaldoni made a huge success by sharing the 2nd place in tough competition and achieving his 2nd GM norm. Rombaldoni already passed the 2500-elo mark during the tournament Alghero 2011 and now only needs the final norm to become the Grandmaster.

Tournament A final standings:

1. GM ROMANOV Evgeny RUS 2628 – 7
2-6. GM BACROT Etienne FRA 2704, IM ROMBALDONI Axel ITA 2441, GM FIER Alexandr BRA 2603, GM GHARAMIAN Tigran FRA 2676 and GM LIBISZEWSKI Fabien FRA 2509 – 6½
7-10. GM NEVEROV Valeriy UKR 2541, IM BLECHZIN Igor RUS 2442, GM PELLETIER Yannick SUI 2589 and GM FELGAER Ruben ARG 2573 – 6.0
11-18. GM MEKHITARIAN Krikor Sevag BRA 2487, GM FELLER Sebastien FRA 2658, GM SANCHEZ Joseph PHI 2529, FM DI NICOLANTONIO Lucas FRA 2311, GM SULAVA Nenad CRO 2514, IM BORGO Giulio ITA 2403, GM GODENA Michele ITA 2533 and BRIH Said FRA 2407 – 5½ etc

The B Tournament had 135 players. Christophe Gelas (FRA 2085) and Denis Laplanche (FRA 2124) shared the first place with 8.5/9 each. The nearest follower was left point and a half behind.

The C Tournament had 58 players. Despite the loss in the final round Jens Verhulst (FRA 1623) convincingly won the event by collecting 8 points from nine games.

http://www.chessdom.com/gm-evgeny-romanov-claims-cannes-open