The young International Master from Belarus Vladislav Kovalev finished first at the 47th edition of the Ilmar Raud Memorial, which took place on July 1st-7th at the Viljandi Sports Center in Vaksali, Estonia.
Kovalev got a score of 7/9 and edged Finnish IM Mikael Agopov on tiebreaks. A group of four grandmasters had to sit behind their lower titled colleagues after getting 6.5/9 points. Lithuanian GM Aloyzas Kveinys claimed third place on tiebreaks.
The champion had an impressive performance of 2651 points, almost 100 points over his rating, thus getting 11 Elo points for the next FIDE list.
Kovalek also took home the first prize of 1.500 Euros.
The event was played in memorial of the 100th birthday of member of the Estonian team that scored 3rd at the Chess Olympiad in Buenos Aires.
Dubov – Kovalev in 2009
Final Standings:
| 1 | IM | Kovalev Vladislav | BLR | 2558 | 7 |
| 2 | IM | Agopov Mikael | FIN | 2429 | 7 |
| 3 | GM | Kveinys Aloyzas | LTU | 2479 | 6.5 |
| 4 | GM | Miezis Normunds | LAT | 2549 | 6.5 |
| 5 | GM | Neiksans Arturs | LAT | 2554 | 6.5 |
| 6 | GM | Kulaots Kaido | EST | 2581 | 6.5 |
| 7 | IM | Sipila Vilka | FIN | 2423 | 6 |
| 8 | GM | Kanep Meelis | EST | 2512 | 6 |
| 9 | GM | Ehlvest Jaan | USA | 2623 | 6 |
| 10 | GM | Volodin Aleksandr | EST | 2485 | 6 |
| 11 | IM | Berzinsh Roland | LAT | 2400 | 6 |
| 12 | Bernotas Arturs | LAT | 2281 | 6 | |
| 13 | GM | Khalifman Alexander | RUS | 2630 | 5.5 |
| 14 | Krupenski Juri | EST | 2299 | 5.5 | |
| 15 | FM | Shishkov Andrei | EST | 2375 | 5.5 |
| 16 | Dubrovin Robert | EST | 2197 | 5.5 | |
| 17 | GM | Sriram Jha | IND | 2437 | 5.5 |
| 18 | Valner Uku | EST | 2215 | 5.5 | |
| 19 | IM | Sepp Olav | EST | 2442 | 5.5 |
| 20 | IM | Krivonosov Oleg | LAT | 2471 | 5.5 |
| 21 | Koop Vyacheslav | EST | 2181 | 5.5 | |
| 22 | IM | Seeman Tarvo | EST | 2376 | 5 |
| 23 | Ladva Ottomar | EST | 2310 | 5 | |
| 24 | GM | Shvyrjov Igor | EST | 2461 | 5 |
| 25 | IM | Lauk Ular | EST | 2403 | 5 |
| 26 | Tominga Eke | EST | 1993 | 5 | |
| 27 | Peebo Kalle | EST | 0 | 5 | |
| 28 | Petrov Dmitri | EST | 1889 | 5 | |
| 29 | Kanep Siim | EST | 2183 | 5 | |
| 30 | Starcevs Dmitrijs | LAT | 2139 | 5 | |
| 31 | Soskov Vjatsheslav | EST | 2278 | 4.5 | |
| 32 | Sirosh Ilja | EST | 2033 | 4.5 | |
| 33 | Korstin Maris | EST | 2222 | 4.5 | |
| 34 | Kuusk Andres | EST | 2154 | 4.5 | |
| 35 | Tuul Tarmo | EST | 2062 | 4.5 | |
| 36 | WIM | Fomina Tatyana | EST | 2222 | 4.5 |
| 37 | Kukk Sander | EST | 2201 | 4.5 | |
| 38 | Taliharm Andrus | EST | 0 | 4.5 | |
| 39 | Narva Mai | EST | 1854 | 4.5 | |
| 40 | WIM | Tsiganova Monika | EST | 2110 | 4.5 |
| 41 | Soot Margus | EST | 2116 | 4 | |
| 42 | Teemae Leo | EST | 2052 | 4 | |
| 43 | Tominga Ago | EST | 0 | 4 | |
| 44 | FM | Narva Jaan | EST | 2300 | 4 |
| 45 | Raudsepp Teet | EST | 0 | 4 | |
| 46 | WCM | Narva Triin | EST | 2083 | 4 |
| 47 | Akkanen Timo | FIN | 1751 | 4 | |
| 48 | WFM | Narva Regina R. | EST | 2048 | 4 |
| 49 | Orlov Roman | EST | 0 | 4 | |
| 50 | Nero Georg | EST | 1666 | 4 | |
| 51 | Bondarenko Dmitry | RUS | 1952 | 4 | |
| 52 | Bouwmans Erik | NED | 1763 | 4 | |
| 53 | Saag Enith Li | EST | 1715 | 4 | |
| 54 | Kastelijn Toine | NED | 1971 | 3.5 | |
| 55 | Golubeva Marija | LAT | 1817 | 3.5 | |
| 56 | Ruus Rein | EST | 0 | 3.5 | |
| 57 | Lumiste Rene | EST | 1768 | 3.5 | |
| 58 | Chukavin Kirill | EST | 1871 | 3.5 | |
| 59 | Viikmaa Karmen | EST | 0 | 3.5 | |
| 60 | Tobre Andres | EST | 0 | 3 | |
| 61 | Staub Madis | EST | 0 | 3 | |
| 62 | Pedoson Georg Aleksander | EST | 0 | 3 | |
| 63 | Luht Vello | EST | 0 | 3 | |
| 64 | Komlev Heino | EST | 0 | 3 | |
| 65 | Polendik Tiina | EST | 0 | 3 | |
| 66 | Tonso Liina | EST | 0 | 2.5 | |
| 67 | Urgas Jaan | EST | 0 | 2.5 | |
| 68 | Telenius Kimmo | FIN | 1682 | 2 | |
| 69 | Vainula Rene | EST | 0 | 2 | |
| 70 | Merendi Elisabeth | EST | 0 | 1 | |
