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:
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
16 FM Podkriznik Gregor SLO 2358 5,5
17 FM Markoja Boris SLO 2372 5,5
18 FM Simic Dragan SLO 2245 5
19 I Brinovec David SLO 1991 5
20 WFM Goossens Hanne BEL 2206 5
21 MK Skuhala Jernej SLO 2163 5
22 IM Mencinger Vojko SLO 2372 5
23 FM Spalir Jernej SLO 2361 5
24 MK Kosmac Blaz SLO 2223 5
25 MK Brinovec Dusan SLO 2193 4,5
26 MK Titan Matej SLO 2276 4,5
27 MK Debevec Blaz SLO 2139 4,5
28 WFM Vidic Teja SLO 2068 4,5
29 WIM Unuk Laura SLO 2121 4,5
30 MK Brcar Ales SLO 2102 4,5
31 FM Kovac Boris SLO 2252 4,5
32 MK Murko David SLO 2009 4,5
33 M Leonardi Caterina SLO 2082 4,5
34 FM Brezovar Matjaz SLO 2184 4
35 MK Bratkovic Sham SLO 2176 4
36 M Sorcnik Franc SLO 2049 4
37 I Cmor Nino SLO 2003 4
38 Kolodkin Daniil NED 2208 3,5
39 MK Cretnik Urban SLO 2157 3,5
40 Smagin Nikita RUS 2104 3,5
41 MK Ivanussa Bogomir SLO 2200 3,5
42 M Hrescak Ivana SLO 2057 3,5
43 MK Urbanc Peter SLO 2070 3,5
44 MK Nemec Hana SLO 1918 3,5
45 I Stevanic David SLO 1884 3,5
46 MK Janzelj Lara SLO 2070 3,5
47 II Zagorsek David SLO 1921 3,5
48 I Krcmar Aleksander SLO 1797 3,5
49 MK Suta Andraz SLO 2040 3,5
50 MK Hocevar Nikola SLO 1904 3
51 MK Krivec Sandi SLO 2160 2,5
52 Der Manuelian Haik O USA 2161 2,5
53 I Amon Nejc SLO 2027 2,5
54 MK Kodric Tilen SLO 1933 2,5
55 MK Spelec Darko SLO 1968 2