Brynell wins Malta Open
The Malta Open was organized by ChessOrg Hoffmann Reisen, a German company specializing in chess travelling. It attracted 122 players from 22 countries, including seven GMs. Many participants were from Germany, England, Denmark and Sweden – probably enjoying a break from autumn weather in their home countries. After eight rounds, five players shared the lead with 6.5/8. In the final round, the GM duels Rausis - Epishin and Heberla - Teske were drawn in 17 moves (that's both games together!). 7th seed Stellan Brynell from Sweden was paired down and benefitted from such "fighting spirit" by beating Danish IM Jens Kristiansen – some time ago a regular commenter at ChessVibes – with the black pieces.
Final standings (top 30)
| No | startNb | title | name | elo | club | pts | buchh. | BuSu |
| 1 | 7 | GM | Brynell,Stellan | 2495 | 7.5 | 50.5 | 426 | |
| 2 | 2 | GM | Epishin,Vladimir | 2543 | 7 | 56 | 438.5 | |
| 3 | 1 | GM | Burmakin,Vladimir | 2588 | 7 | 55 | 458.5 | |
| 4 | 3 | GM | Teske,Henrik | 2529 | 7 | 54.5 | 435 | |
| 5 | 4 | GM | Rausis,Igor | 2497 | 7 | 52 | 430 | |
| 6 | 16 | IM | Lund,Silas | 2388 | 7 | 51.5 | 432.5 | |
| 7 | 5 | GM | Heberla,Bartlomiej | 2526 | HetMan Katowice | 7 | 49.5 | 423 |
| 8 | 8 | IM | Smith,Axel | 2488 | 6.5 | 50 | 434.5 | |
| 9 | 19 | IM | Ziegler,Ari | 2341 | 6.5 | 49.5 | 400.5 | |
| 10 | 26 | Sucher,Johannes | 2200 | 6.5 | 45 | 417.5 | ||
| 11 | 6 | GM | Luther,Thomas | 2515 | SC Empor Erfurt | 6 | 53.5 | 431.5 |
| 12 | 12 | IM | Hanley,Craig A | 2415 | 6 | 53 | 443.5 | |
| 13 | 22 | Joie,Sébastien | 2249 | Echiquier Grenoblois | 6 | 52.5 | 425.5 | |
| 14 | 10 | IM | Kristiansen,Jens | 2439 | BMS | 6 | 52.5 | 425 |
| 15 | 18 | IM | Kiss,Pal | 2362 | 6 | 51 | 423.5 | |
| 16 | 29 | IM | Erdelyi,Tamas | 2165 | 6 | 49.5 | 395 | |
| 17 | 9 | De Verdier,Michael | 2386 | Eksjö SK | 6 | 46.5 | 400.5 | |
| 18 | 23 | Krantz,Christopher | 2248 | 6 | 46 | 416 | ||
| 19 | 21 | Valles,Manuel | 2259 | 6 | 45.5 | 403.5 | ||
| 20 | 34 | Richardson,Keith B | 2137 | 6 | 44.5 | 390 | ||
| 21 | 31 | Lang,Ferdinand | 2154 | Bad Wimpfen | 6 | 42.5 | 383.5 | |
| 22 | 36 | CM | Zerafa,Patrick | 2087 | 6 | 42 | 408.5 | |
| 23 | 11 | IM | Quillan,Gary | 2416 | Waterloo | 5.5 | 52 | 416.5 |
| 24 | 13 | IM | Shkapenko,Pavel | 2413 | 5.5 | 50 | 419 | |
| 25 | 24 | Angskog,Kent | 2215 | 5.5 | 50 | 403.5 | ||
| 26 | 14 | IM | Ibrahim,Hatem | 2412 | 5.5 | 50 | 392.5 | |
| 27 | 27 | WFM | Frisk,Ellinor | 2184 | 5.5 | 49.5 | 417.5 | |
| 28 | 32 | Van Foreest,Jorden | 2153 | Sv Unitas | 5.5 | 47 | 394 | |
| 29 | 25 | Spence,David | 2211 | Anglian Avengers | 5.5 | 45.5 | 390.5 | |
| 30 | 35 | Amos,Frank | 2131 | SK Lauffen | 5.5 | 45.5 | 384.5 |
