Arman Pashikyan stands good chance to win European Individual Championship

PanARMENIAN.Net - The 10th and penultimate round of the European Individual Championship has neared its end. This time four representatives from Armenia have gained the victory. Arman Pashikyan beat Jan Timman, a Dutch player, with white chessmen. Tigran Petrosyan, too beat Ivan Saric, a Croatian player, with white chessmen. Artashes Minasyan has gained his second victory in succession, over a Ukrainian player, Vitaly Pesotsky , this time playing with black chessmen. As to Arthur Chibukhchyan, he beat his Greek opponent, Antonios Pavlidis.



The following games ended in a draw: Vladimir Hakobyan vs Zaven andreasyan, German Georg Meier vs Greek Ioannis Papaioannou correspondingly. Only Tigran Kotanjyan suffered a defeat playing with white chessmen with a Russian, Alexander Halifman.



Summing up, prior to the final game Pashikyan has scored 7 points to his credit; Hakobyan, Petrosayan, and Andreasyan have scored 6.5 each; Minasyan has scored 6 points; Kotanjyan has scored 5,5 as before, and finally Chibukhchyan with his 4.5 points traditionally closing the group of Armenian players . Nine (9) chess players at a time have become leading players prior to the final game. They each have 7.5 points to their credit. Only Arman Pashikyan from among Armenian players has the chance for the victory in the tournament. But there is little probability as Arman can win only if all the games of the leading players who are to play the last game with each other, end in a draw, and in case of his own victory over Vladimir Hakobyan, who lost all his chances for the victory in the tournament, but succeeded in maintaining the possibility to get a place for the next world championship.



The Prize Fund of the tournament amounts to 120 000 euros, of which 15 000 euros is allocated for the 1st place, 12 000 euros- for the 2nd place, and 10 000 euros for the 3rd place.



Besides the Champion of Europe title, 22 places for the next world championship will also be drawn as per decision of the European Chess Union and FIDE instructions.



The last, 11th game of the European Individual Championship is due to take place today. The closing ceremony of the tournament is due on March 18.