VIII Internet Chess Tournament 'Ciudad de Dos Hermanas' 2007

General Information:

Jorge Sammour-Hasbun wins the VIII Dos Hermanas

For the eighth year running, the VIII Internet Chess Tournament "Ciudad de Dos Hermanas" (March 16 - 24, 2007) was held on the Internet Chess Club playing zone. This premier event is regarded by many as the most important Internet chess tournaments in the world, taking into account both the number and the overall strength of the participants.

More than 2,000 players from all over the world registered to participate in the event, including over 100 Grandmasters and 300 titled players.

Among the qualifiers for the final stage on Friday, March 23rd and Saturday, March 24th, includes famous names from the game such as: Azerbaijan GM Sharidyar Mamedyarov, who is currently number 4 on the world rankings, with a 2754 Fide Rating; American GM Gata Kamsky (Fide Rating 2705); American GM, Hikaru Nakamura (2651 Fide Rating ), number 55 on the list; FIDE Vice-President, GM Zurab Azmaiparashvili (2632 Fide Rating), number 83 on the world's list; and Bulgarian GM Kiril Georgiev (2661 Fide Rating), world number 43. Along with these established world-class players, many other strong GM's have qualified to the final, not to mention some strong +2400 International Masters. Lastly, another strong player to have qualified is the American player Jorge Sammour-Hasbun, who, although he doesn't have an international title, has a strong Fide Rating of 2449.

This year the prize fund has been increased, with 32 cash prizes. The total prize fund is 7,700 euros, with a first prize of 1,800 euros. In addition, there are many class prizes.

Who is Jorge Sammour-Hasbun?

by Macauley Peterson (ICC: Macauley)

An exciting shocker of a final day for the Internet Chess Club’s annual Dos Hermanas blitz tournament. Cinderella-story Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (nee Zamora) (ICC: NECF-InSchools) defeated three grandmasters in the final three knockout rounds, to win the 1,800 EUR first prize and blitz bragging rights for a while. One of the few untitled players to qualify, he entered Dos Hermanas unsure if he could even reach the final knockout event!

Sammour-Hasbun’s quarterfinal victory over 2661 rated GM Kiril Georgiev (ICC: K-Georgiev) was particularly sweet as Jorge has fond memories of playing ultra long blitz sessions with the Bulgarian grandmaster way back in the late nineties before Sammour-Hasbun’s ten year hiatus from the game. He has an ambitious over-the-board comeback planned now that he’s back, but is also just happy to be enjoying the game again.

More in my 27 minute audio interview with Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (requires ICC membership) recorded LIVE, just minutes after his harrowing 227 move (not a typo!) draw to guarantee the match win against runner-up GM Tigran L Petrosian (ICC: Anyuta).

Prize winners

A. Best non-GM/IM players in the tourney

Win 6 months ICC extensions:

1. NECF-InSchools
2. Shech 10.0 // 2350
3. RobertoJBM 9.5 // 2652
4. PampaSeba 9.5 // 2649
5. RENATEX 9.5 // 2603
6. unkavalo 9.5 // 2477

B. Best in series score

Win 6 months ICC extensions:

1. RobertoJBM 91.5
2. akibael 85.5
3. DrFritz 77.5

C. Raffle prizes

Win 6 months ICC extensions:

• Q1 jorgeearroyo
• Q2 morpycut
• Q3 Sandstone
• Q4 trixr4kids
• Q5 rdmuhcu
• Q6 csunni
• Q7 cznv3h
• Q8 Mirzan
• Q9 KAPAMA3OB
• Q10 antiRIDGE
• Q11 Vassily
• Q12 FiluFerezane

32-player Knockout Finals

The winners of the 12 qualifiers plus the 18 best other finishers are seeded by FIDE rating in the knockout finals played Friday March 23 starting at 3:00 pm EDT and Saturday March 24 starting at 3:00 pm EDT. Minimatches are best of 4 games except for the final of the last 2, where it is best of 6 games. Sudden Death if necessary.

Download the games of the Knockout Finals in PGN format.

Final

1/2 Final

1/4 Final

1/8 Final

1/16 Final

Ranking for the 32-player Knockout Finals

Qualifier-1 | Manager: Kiebitz | Friday, March 16 | 15:00 EDT | 475 players

Q1 was ended early after round 10. GM Nakamura, GM T. Petrosyan go through to the finals.

• Standings and Results Q-1 (after round-9).
• Download PGN Q-1.
• List of contenders for the KO final stage.

Qualifier-2 | Manager: dro | Friday, March 16 | 20:00 EDT| 322 players

• Standings and Results Q-2.
• Download PGN Q-2.
• List of contenders for the KO final stage.

Qualifier-3 | Manager: Lisebeth | Saturday, March 17 | 15:00 EDT | 446 players

• Standings and Results Q-3.
• Download PGN Q-3.
• List of contenders for the KO final stage.

Qualifier-4 | Manager: dro | Saturday, March 17 | 20:00 EDT | 348 players

Q4 was ended early after round 7. GM Miron Sher goes through to the finals.

• Standings and Results Q-4 (after round-6).
• Download PGN Q-4.
• List of contenders for the KO final stage.

Qualifier-5 | Manager: Kiebitz | Sunday, March 18 | 15:00 EDT | 494 players

• Standings and Results Q-5.
• Download PGN Q-5.
• List of contenders for the KO final stage.

Qualifier-6 | Manager: Beats20Cents | Sunday, March 18 | 20:00 EDT | 317 players

• Standings and Results Q-6.
• Download PGN Q-6.
• List of contenders for the KO final stage.

Qualifier-7 | Manager: Lisebeth | Monday, March 19 | 15:00 EDT | 415 players

• Standings and Results Q-7.
• Download PGN Q-7.
• List of contenders for the KO final stage.

Qualifier-8 | Manager: dro | Monday, March 19 | 20:00 EDT | 337 players

• Standings and Results Q-8.
• Download PGN Q-8.
• List of contenders for the KO final stage.

Qualifier-9 | Manager: Kiebitz | Tuesday, March 20 | 15:00 EDT | 392 players

Wormkiller was disqualified for rules infractions.

• Standings and Results Q-9.
• Download PGN Q-9.
• List of contenders for the KO final stage.

Qualifier-10 | Manager: dro | Tuesday, March 20 | 20:00 EDT | 342 players

• Standings and Results Q-10.
• Download PGN Q-10.
• List of contenders for the KO final stage.

Qualifier-11 | Manager: Kiebitz | Wednesday, March 21 | 15:00 EDT | 374 players

• Standings and Results Q-11.
• Download PGN Q-11.
• List of contenders for the KO final stage.

Qualifier-12 | Manager: dro | Wednesday, March 21 | 20:00 EDT | 329 players

• Standings and Results Q-12.
• Download PGN Q-12.
• List of contenders for the KO final stage.

Main links:

• Free Registration
• Rules
• Prizes
• Schedule
• ICC help file
• List of registered players
• Withdraw
• Dos Hermanas official website in English
• Website oficial de Dos Hermanas en Español
• Download the Qualifiers 1-12 games in PGN zip format (5,2 mb).