Motylev Wins Poikovsky
The 10th International Poikovsky Tournament in Russia has concluded with Alexander Motylev (pictured) finishing a clear winner by a full point with a score of 7/9.Â
Motylev was the only player to remain undefeated throughout the tournament, achieving 5 wins and 4 draws. He beat his nearest rival, Vugar Gashimov in the penultimate round and managed a draw in a thrilling final round encounter with Viktor Bologan.
In stark contrast, the pre-tournament favourite and MTel champion Alexei Shirov, blew a fuse and finished last on a meagre 2/9, losing buckets of rating points in the process!
The final standings were:
| 1Â |
Motylev, Alexander  | RUS  | 2677 |
*  | 1 | 1 | ½  | 1 | ½  | ½  | 1 | ½  | 1 | 7 |
| 2Â |
Gashimov, Vugar | AZE | 2730 |
0 | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 6 |
| 3Â |
Sutovsky, Emil | ISR | 2660 |
0 | ½ | * | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 5 |
| 4Â |
Inarkiev, Ernesto | RUS | 2676 |
½ | ½ | 0 | * | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 5Â |
Rublevsky, Sergei | RUS | 2702 |
0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | * | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | 4½ |
| 6Â |
Bologan, Viktor | MDA | 2690 |
½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 4½ |
| 7Â |
Onischuk, Alexander | USA | 2684 |
½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4½ |
| 8Â |
Naiditsch, Arkadij | GER | 2700 |
0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | * | 1 | 1 | 3½ |
| 9Â |
Efimenko, Zahar | UKR | 2682 |
½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | * | ½ | 3 |
| 10Â |
Shirov, Alexei | ESP | 2745 |
0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | * | 2 |
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