Sanchez reigns in Cannes tourney

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino GM Joseph Sanchez fashioned out a 33-move victory over Italian GM Sabino Brunello in their English Opening game in the final round to rule the 25th International Open Cannes Chess Festival in France recently.

Sanchez, ranked No. 15 in the 64-player field, finished with seven points in the nine-round tournament, beating five others by half-a-point to clinch the crown.

He won 2,200 Euros.

IM Xavier Vila Gazquez of Spain, the former U18 European champion, obtained his final GM result as he wound up tied for second with 6.5 points with GM Michael Roiz of Israel, GM Christian Bauer of France, GM Evgeny Romanov of Russia and Ukraine’s GM Andrey Sumets.

Final standings:

1. GM Joseph Sanchez PHI 2516 – 7.0

2-6. GM Michael Roiz ISR 2649, IM Xavier Vila Gazquez ESP 2488, GM Christian Bauer FRA 2633, GM Evgeny Romanov RUS 2606 and GM Andrey Sumets UKR 2619 – 6.5

7-8. GM Alberto David LUX 2580 and GM Vlad-Cristian Jianu ROU 2539 – 6.0

9-19. GM Vadim Malakhatko BEL 2546, GM Hicham Hamdouchi FRA 2592, IM Lucian-Costin Miron ROU 2509, IM Anthony Bellaiche FRA 2458, IM Axel Delorme FRA 2492, FM David Anton Guijarro ESP 2425, GM Sabino Brunello ITA 2540, IM Jules Moussard FRA 2385, GM Evgeny Sveshnikov LAT 2521, IM David Recuero Guerra ESP 2462 and FM Cristophe Sochacki FRA 2366 – 5.5