Alexei Shirov Clinches Cup In Riga

On Sunday, GM Alexei Shirov won the fifth edition of the Riga Technical University Open in Latvia. The Latvian grandmaster edged out Robert Hovhannisyan of Armenia on tiebreak after both finished on 7.5/9.

Photo by Evgeny Solozhenkin

Officially called “Riga Technical University Open,” this reasonably strong open took place August 10-16 in the Exhibition Centre Kipsala. It is located in Kipsala, an island on the left bank of the Daugava river, connected to Riga city center and Pārdaugava by the Shroud Bridge.

For the fifth edition the format was slightly changed so that it would fit in a full week. The prize fund for the top group was €15,500 (U.S. $17,000). Besides the chess, a wide entertainment and cultural program was organized, including excursions, competitions and a dinner reception.

The tournament started with a surprise: after four rounds, 19-year-old Russian IM Maksim Chigaev was the only player on four points! His big scalp was Riga-born GM Daniel Fridman of Germany, whom he beat as Black on board two:

The playing hall — lots of space for the participants.

After drawing with Hrant Melkumyan, the winner of last year, Chigaev finally lost his first game. It can happen against someone whose name is...Alexei Shirov.

Notice how the Latvian star plays the endgame, putting two of his pawns on the square of the opponent's bishop, restricting the enemy's pieces.

Alexei Shirov in Riga, deeply concentrated.

With one round to go it was GM Robert Hovhannisyan who was in clear first place with seven points. He had played a remarkably short game with GM Tal Baron, the winner of the last Titled Tuesday. The Israeli GM must have miscalculated completely:

The same Baron faced Shirov in the last round, and that didn't go well either:

2015 Riga Technical University Open | Final Standings (Top 30)

(Full final standings here.)