"I often have hours of sleepless nights. What a godsend ICC is then! There is always a companion somewhere in the world to keep me company over a game." — Peter Brooker
Iturrizaga, 19, won 3-1 in the blitz tiebreakers after two tough draws in the rapid matches, to take the top prize of the Corus C Group invite, round-trip ticket to Amsterdam, Hotel & Breakfast in Wijk aan Zee, plus $1300 appearance fee.
The result of a place in the famous Corus tournament is a dream come true for the young three-time Venezuelan champion, who is a national hero being his country's one and only grandmaster. It also comes on the back of some promising results during the summer for Iturrizaga, who was runner-up (behind Peruvian GM Julio Granada Zuniga) in the 2008 Iberamerican Championship before going on to win the Central America & Caribbean Fide Sub-Zonal.
16-players - selected by Corus, in consultation with ICC - from around the globe originally fought it out in this unique online rapid knockout tournament. And to ensure fair-play for all, at each location and for each match, an independent "proctor" was in place to oversee the proceedings, many of whom being national chess officials, international arbiters, national arbiters and ICC administrators.
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1/8 FINAL
1/4 FINAL
1/2 FINAL
FINAL
1
16
GM Alexander Fier (BRA, 2581) 1.5
FM Graham Morrison (SCO, 2328) 0.5
GM Fier 1.5
IM Mekhitarian 0.5
GM Fier 2.5
GM Salgado 1.5
GM Fier 1
GM Iturrizaga 3
8
9
IM Manuel Rodriguez (CUB, 2521) 0
IM Sevak Mekhitarian (BRA, 2511) 2.0
5
12
GM Ivan Salgado (ESP, 2556) 2.5
FM Anish Giri (RUS, 2466) 1.5
GM Salgado 1.5
GM Bluvshtein 0.5
4
13
GM Mark Bluvshtein (CAN, 2557)
IM Robert Ris (NED, 2417) bye/no-show
3
14
GM Georg Meier (GER, 2558)
FM Marcus Santo (BRA, 2394) bye/no-show
GM Meier 1.5
IM Robson 0.5
GM Meier 0.5
GM Iturrizaga 1.5
6
11
IM Sanan Sjugirov (RUS, 2549) 2.0
IM Ray Robson (USA, 2466) 3.0
7
10
GM Eduardo Iturrizaga (VEN, 2538)
IM David Smerdon (AUS, 2470) bye/no-show
There will be a 16-player final on November 1, start time 10:00 am Eastern Time (USA). The 16-player final will have a time control of 25 minutes plus 5 seconds added per move. Players will be seeded according to their latest FIDE ratings and paired 1-16, 8-9, 5-12, 4-13, 3-14, 6-11, 7-10, 2-15. Players winning will move forward to next round on November 2, starting time 10:00 am Eastern Time (USA); for winners, the following weekend of November 8 and 9 will also have start time of 10:00 am Eastern Time (USA).
NOTE: Due to the differing time zones of the invited players, some of whom are playing in tournaments elsewhere, ICC will provide for different start times (an hour or two either way) within reason if player(s) have prior commitments. It is hoped players understand the difficulties involved and mutually agree to such a change in agreement with ICC. Should no mutual agreement be made, ICC will decide on a start time.
Two games will be played in each elimination round. In case of a tie 1-1, two blitz games at a time control of 5 minutes plus 1 second added per move will decide who moves on. If still tied, an armageddon game will follow, where white has 5 minutes against blacks 4 minutes, and black will have draw odds. The tournament director will determine colors by tossing a coin.
How to join and watch the tournaments
Invited players should show up using the accounts they receive for the
tournament at least 10 minutes before the scheduled start. The most
recent version of Blitzin or Dasher must be used. There is no need to
enter any commands as players will be entered automatically.
Players should start their games as soon as they receive the popup box
prompting them to challenge their opponent. Disconnected players need
to reconnect as soon as possible to avoid forfeit.
The tournament bot "pear" will be used. The tournament can be followed
in channel 227.
Miscellaneous Rules
During the tournament, the most recent version of Blitzin or Dasher
must be used.
Players will be observed during the whole tournament by an approved
proctor.
Players need to make sure that the proctor has access to the playing
venue.
The ICC tournament directors may at their discretion make a ruling
on a
particular game, eject a player from a tournament, or refuse to
allow a
player to join a tournament for any reason including but not limited
to:
failure to show up on time or to start a game on time, concern that
the
player's internet connection is not reliable enough for the game to
finish
in a timely manner, failure to allow the approved proctor to oversee
the
games played, suspicion of chess computer use, suspicion that a player
is receiving assistance, or the fact that this player has been
caught violating
ICC rules in the past. The ICC tournament directors will take into
account the
observations of the proctor of the respective player when deciding
whether a
player needs to be forfeited.
Their reasoning need not be given, and there is no appeals process. We
appreciate the cooperation of all participants in keeping this contest
friendly, honorable, and running smoothly.
ICC reserves the right to remove a player from the tournament in
case that player
cannot be overseen by an approved proctor for any reason.
Players need to use special accounts which ICC will provide just for
this
tournament. Other accounts of the same player must not be used.
In case a player is disqualified from the tournament, the ICC
tournament
directors can, at their discretion, rule that the game of that
player in the
running round is lost for him, and won for his opponent. However,
results by
that player in prior rounds will not be reverted.
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Iturrizaga Wins Corus Satellite Qualifier!
