Vienna open 15 to 23 August 2015

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Hawkins has blundered at move 23...Rxa2, with the engine evaluation at +4.24. But will his opponent see the tactics after 24.Bxc6, as other moves only draw.

[NickFaulks]

Hard to see everything in advance, but if he just follows his nose he will get it right.

[LawrenceCooper]

Another excellent win for Ravi, all eyes on the pairings to see if he gets an IM/GM to keep his norm chance alive.

[Barry Sandercock]

Ravi has a FM. Maybe that's not good enough, I don't know. If Keith can win, he could be joint first if the top boards draw.

[Alan Walton]

Ravi has a FM. Maybe that's not good enough, I don't know. If Keith can win, he could be joint first if the top boards draw.

I don't think he is eligible, I think you have to play at least 3 IM's

[Tim Harding]

Ravi has a FM. Maybe that's not good enough, I don't know. If Keith can win, he could be joint first if the top boards draw.

I don't think he is eligible, I think you have to play at least 3 IM's

The top boards in round 9 starting 9am BST:

1 11 IM Rambaldi Francesco 2517 7 7 GM Rombaldoni Axel 2515 12
2 23 FM Moroni Luca 2461 6½ 6½ GM Buhmann Rainer 2613 2
3 3 GM Bánusz Tamás 2586 6½ 6½ GM Manik Mikulas 2410 35
4 61 Dragnev Valentin 2339 6½ 6½ GM Brunello Sabino 2545 8
5 10 GM Antal Gergely 2524 6½ 6½ Pop Alexandru 2248 112
6 137 WIM Gevorgyan Irina 2206 6½ 6½ GM Arkell Keith 2488 16

So if the top board is drawn there will be a huge pile-up. Does anyone know the tiebreak rule?

I am afraid you are right that there is no IM norm chance for Ravi:
1.45c
For an IM norm, at least 1/3 with a minimum 3 of the opponents (MO) must be IMs or GMs.

Stephen Jessel has also missed out because he lost today and has been paired with an untitled opponent. A pity as he had already satisfied the above requirement. It doesn't look as if the arbiters have taken norm-seekers' needs into consideration.

[LawrenceCooper]

So frustrating for Ravi, had his 2411 rated opponent been an IM a draw would have been sufficient for a norm.

[LawrenceCooper]

Josh Higgs is 1st= in the B section so all to play for.

[IM Jack Rudd]

Stephen Jessel has also missed out because he lost today and has been paired with an untitled opponent. A pity as he had already satisfied the above requirement. It doesn't look as if the arbiters have taken norm-seekers' needs into consideration.

They're not allowed to; deviating from the published pairing rules can invalidate norms.

[John Higgs]

Good luck to all our 21 players in groups A, B & C who are playing their final round (nine) this morning at 10am local (9am UK time).

Results to date and final pairings:

http://chess-results.com/tnr148537.aspx ... YES&wi=984

[Mick Norris]

The top boards in round 9 starting 9am BST:

1 11 IM Rambaldi Francesco 2517 7 7 GM Rombaldoni Axel 2515 12
2 23 FM Moroni Luca 2461 6½ 6½ GM Buhmann Rainer 2613 2
3 3 GM Bánusz Tamás 2586 6½ 6½ GM Manik Mikulas 2410 35
4 61 Dragnev Valentin 2339 6½ 6½ GM Brunello Sabino 2545 8
5 10 GM Antal Gergely 2524 6½ 6½ Pop Alexandru 2248 112
6 137 WIM Gevorgyan Irina 2206 6½ 6½ GM Arkell Keith 2488 16

So if the top board is drawn there will be a huge pile-up. Does anyone know the tiebreak rule?

Rank after Round 8
Rk. SNo Name FED Rtg Pts. TB1 TB2 TB3
1 11 IM Rambaldi Francesco ITA 2517 7.0 34.0 44.0 2709
2 12 GM Rombaldoni Axel ITA 2515 7.0 31.0 41.0 2669
3 2 GM Buhmann Rainer GER 2613 6.5 34.0 43.5 2583
4 137 WIM Gevorgyan Irina UZB 2206 6.5 33.5 42.0 2600
5 3 GM Bánusz Tamás HUN 2586 6.5 33.0 44.0 2601
6 8 GM Brunello Sabino ITA 2545 6.5 32.0 43.5 2594
7 16 GM Arkell Keith ENG 2488 6.5 32.0 43.0 2637
8 23 FM Moroni Luca ITA 2461 6.5 31.5 41.0 2479
9 10 GM Antal Gergely HUN 2524 6.5 31.0 41.0 2621
10 112 Pop Alexandru ROU 2248 6.5 29.0 39.0 2473
11 35 GM Manik Mikulas SVK 2410 6.5 28.0 36.0 2488
12 61 Dragnev Valentin AUT 2339 6.5 27.5 37.0 2534

Tie Break1: Buchholz Tie-Breaks (variabel with parameter)
Tie Break2: Buchholz Tie-Breaks (variabel with parameter)
Tie Break3: Performance (variable with parameter)

[Barry Sandercock]

Ravi Haria drew in 9 moves.

[Barry Sandercock]

Keith's position looking good (move 41)

[Richard Bates]

Keith's position looking good (move 41)

Yes, he should be winning. However amusing to see "-16.85" flash up on the computer evaluation a couple of moves ago. I assume because 38...e5 instead of 38....Nf6 would have forced white to give up all her pieces to avoid mate!

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Very amusing. Wonder what Keith's reaction will be to finding that after the game? He is still winning, and top board is drawn. Joint first in this large Open will be a great result.

White just missed a win in the Moroni-Buhmann game! (39.e6 instead of 39.Qe4)

Already four players in joint first on 7.5/9 with possibly three more to join them (hopefully Keith will be one of them). Could well be a 7-way tie for first.