Bluvshtein in Corsica

[Bob Armstrong]

There are 174 players in the Corsica Masters, where Can. GM Mark Bluvshtein is playing. The first phase of the tournament is a 7 rd. swiss.

After 5 rounds, Mark has 3.5/5 pts. and is in 18th place.

His rd. 6 pairing on Bd. 10 is:

10 3½ BLUVSHTEIN Mark 2583 IVANOV Mikhail M 2438 3½

The top 16 finishers then go into a knockout tournament to determine the winner.

Official Website: http://www.echecs.asso.fr/FicheTournoi.aspx?Ref=18079

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Mark won his Rd. 6 game and now has 4 1/2 /6 pts.:

10 3½ BLUVSHTEIN Mark 2583 1 - 0 IVANOV Mikhail M 2438 3½

He is tied for 4th - 15 th, 1 pt. behind the leader.

Rd. 7 ( final for phase 1 Swiss ) Pairing

On Bd. 5 :

5 4½ BOKROS Albert 2501 BLUVSHTEIN Mark 2583 4½

If Mark can stay in the top 16, he advances to the knockout phase of the tournament.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Rd. 7 Result ( Swiss phase final )

5 4½ BOKROS Albert 2501 1/2 - 1/2 BLUVSHTEIN Mark 2583 4½

Final Standing after Swiss Phase:

Mark is in 10th place with 5/7 pts.( tied 4th - 28th ), 1 pt. behind the leader.

Knockout Phase:

Since Mark is in the top 16 on tie-break, he goes into the knockout match phase to determine the winner.

Bob

[Bob Armstrong]

Since Mark was in the top 16 on tie-break in the first phase of the tournament, the 7-round swiss, he went into the knockout match phase to determine a winner.

He lost in the first round against GM Gawain Jones of England ( it was a 2-game active match ).

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov ( Azerbaijan - # 8 in the world - 2756 ) was the eventual knockout winner.

Blitz Tournament

As an added feature, there was a very strong blitz tournament. Mark finished with 8/9 and clear second, behind Mamedyarov who had a perfect score. A great result for Mark in a strong field.

Bob