Canadian Winners at 2016 World Open
The 44th World Open took place June 30 - July 4, 2016 in Philadelphia.
Its huge $225,000 guaranteed prize fund, and sectional first-place prizes of $10,000 and up, attract thousands of ambitious players from around the world.
This year, over two dozen Canadians played, and two of them went away winners:
IM Razvan Preotu comes home with his third GM Norm, and
James Li comes home with $12,000 US.
James Li won the U1800 section outright! He scored 8.5/9, to finish ahead of 208 players and claim the first prize of $12,000 US!
Also cashing in the U1800 was Prince Eric Guipi Bopala, who had 7/9 to finish =5-8th and =1st U1700 ($1,266.67 US).
IM Razvan Preotu earned his third GM Norm!. He scored 6.5/9 against opponents avg. 2435, for an approx TPR of 2613. Along the way he scored +1 =2 -1 against four GMs, including the top two seeds: Kamsky and Bologan. His =9th-15th place also won $200.
IM Preotu just needs to get his 2452 FIDE rating over 2500 to become GM Preotu.
Razvan's World Open:
Rd Opponent
- WFM Ramya K. Inapuri USA 2163 +W
- Ethan Li USA 2255 +B
- GM Gata Kamsky USA 2675 =W
- GM Victor Bologan MDA 2654 -B
- FM Justus Williams USA 2305 +W
- FM Kevin WangUSA 2314 =B
- John Gabriel Ludwig USA 2348 +W
- GM Sergey Erenburg USA 2591 +B
- GM Aleks. Lenderman USA 2614 =W
photo: Razvan Preotu at the 2015 North American Junior Championship in Kitchener.