Alexandra Botez dominates Sardinia World Chess Festival 2024 Open B

by Shahid Ahmed - 09/05/2024

WFM Alexandra Botez (CAN) defeated the top seed, Dejan Dimitrov (BUL) to win Sardinia World Chess Festival 2024 Open B (<2000) convincingly. She completely decimated the competition and finished a whopping 1.5 points ahead of the rest. Alessia Natoli (ITA) and Federico Maida (ITA) scored 7/9 each. They secured second and third place respectively according to tie-breaks. Alexandra did not face either of them. However, she battled her sister for the first time in a rated event in the third round. The elder sister and eventual champion prevailed in it. The total prize fund of the entire festival was €50000. The top three prizes in Open B were €1500, €1000 and €700 along with a trophy each. Photos: Shahid Ahmed

Women claim top two in a rare feat

It is not every day we get to see a woman winning an open or a rating restricted open tournaments, let alone top two claimed by women. The festival was successful not only because of six norms including the formation of a new Grandmaster, but also the marvelous finish of two women at the top, one of them delivering a career best performance. Open C results will be published in a separate report

Champion - WFM Alexandra Botez (CAN) 8.5/9

Interview with WFM Alexandra Botez (CAN) after her career best triumph | Video: ChessBase India

Runner-up - Alessia Natoli (POL) 7/9

14-year-old Alessia Natoli (POL) scored 7/9 to finish second | Video: ChessBase India

Second Runner-up - Federico Maida (ITA) 7/9

The top three (L to R): 2nd Alessia Natoli (POL) 7/9, 1st WFM Alexandra Botez (CAN) 8.5/9 and 3rd Federico Maida (ITA) 7/9

L to R: Luigi Maggi, President of Federazione Scacchistica Italiana (FSI), GM Daniel Dardha, GM Kirill Shevchenko, Elisa Farris, Mayor of Sardinia, Danilo Mallò, President of the regional section of FSI, and GM FST IO Roberto Mogranzini, Tournament Director. They all distributed the prizes.

WFM Alexandra Botez (CAN, 1970) had a full point lead going into the final round. She just needed a draw against the top seed - Dejan Dimitrov (BUL, 1998). However, when the opportunity arose, she went for a full point and finished 1.5 point ahead of the field.

Dejan - Alexandra

Position after 25...c4

Alexandra made a nice practical decision to play 25...c4 26.dxc4 Qxe4 27.Bc2 Qc6 Black gained the c4-pawn in another six moves.

Position after 45...Nxc3+

Where should White move his king? 46.Kf1 is the best and 46.Ke3?? led to a loss. 46...Bc5+ 47.Kf4 Kf6 48.g4 g5+ 49.Kg3 h4+ 50.Kg2 Nxa4 and Black went on to convert her advantage into a win.

WFM Alexandra Botez (CAN) en route her final round win and the first place finish

97-year-old Giovanni Diena, the first person in Italy to develop a chess pairing program | Video: ChessBase India

A special prize for the 97-year-old player who inspired everyone - Giovanni Diena (ITA) | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Photo Gallery

Trophies for various winners | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Players, parents and accompanying persons at the closing ceremony | Photo: Shahid Ahmed and Niklesh Jain

For more Round 9 and Prize distribution ceremony photos, please click at the respective links. Lots of exciting, interesting game videos and interviews will be published soon, stay tuned!

Photos by Niklesh Jain: Round 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, 6, 7, Black and White dinner, and FIDE 100, 8, 9 and Prize distribution ceremony.

In case you missed taking part in the inaugural edition, don't fret, the second edition was announced to be held from 26th April to 3rd May 2025 at the same place Club Hotel Marina Beach in Orosei, Sardinia, Italy.

"In the Future, We Will Host the Chess Olympiad" - GM Roberto Mogranzini | Video: ChessBase India

The Stock Market trader who met and interviewed Vishy Anand back in the 90s - Luca Barillaro | Video: ChessBase India

The Bolivian WCM Alexandra Prado who has 250K+ following on Instagram and Youtube | Video: ChessBase India

Replay live stream

Replay Round 9 live commentary by GM Evgenij Miroshnichenko (UKR) and WCM Alexandra Prado (BOL) | Video: UniChess

A total of 99 players took part from 19 countries across the world in this eight-day nine-round Swiss league Below 2000 Rating tournament which was organized by Emmedi Sport ASD at Club Hotel Marina Beach 4* at Orosei in Sardinia, Italy from 27th April to 4th May 2024. The time control for the tournament was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment.

Replay Round 9 games

Round 9 Open B results

Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	16		Benoit Hugues	1935	6	½ - ½	6½		Natoli Alessia	1917	19	PGN
2	10		Maida Federico	1961	6	1 - 0	6		Carfagna Alex	1939	15	PGN
3	2		Knors Rudi	1992	5½	½ - ½	5½		Simonelli Mattia	1886	26	PGN
4	1		Dimitrov Dejan	1998	6½	0 - 1	7½	WFM	Botez Alexandra *)	1970	5	PGN
5	8		Wang Shanshan	1966	5½	½ - ½	5½		Botez Andrea *)	1879	28	PGN
6	34		Molinari Carlo	1867	5½	1 - 0	5½		Neri Enzo	1978	4
7	6	CM	Joel Paul Ganta	1969	5½	0 - 1	5½		Mascia Germano	1884	27
8	13		Becker Alexander	1950	5½	0 - 1	5½		Orman Attila	1728	64
9	11		Costabile Vincenzo	1955	5	0 - 1	5		Petrosino Germano	1824	43
10	42		Fonda Marco	1825	5	0 - 1	5		Porcu Riccardo	1877	29

Details

Final standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	sex	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4
1	5	WFM	Botez Alexandra	w	CAN	1970	8,5	50	46	47,25	1908
2	19		Natoli Alessia	w	POL	1917	7	52	47,5	39,50	1857
3	10		Maida Federico		ITA	1961	7	47	45	33,50	1839
4	34		Molinari Carlo		ITA	1867	6,5	51,5	48	34,50	1877
5	16		Benoit Hugues		FRA	1935	6,5	49,5	47,5	33,00	1842
6	1		Dimitrov Dejan		BUL	1998	6,5	49,5	45	34,25	1841
7	64		Orman Attila		AZE	1728	6,5	48	43,5	34,00	1914
8	27		Mascia Germano		ITA	1884	6,5	46	43	31,50	1846
9	83		Naimanov Rinat		KAZ	1671	6	50,5	46	32,50	1883
10	8		Wang Shanshan	w	CHN	1966	6	48,5	44,5	30,75	1885