The 78th Brazil Chess Championship was held from 10th to 20th December, 2011, at the Hotel Dann Inn Cambuí in Campinas. 12 players competed in the round robin tournament.
The participants exercised a tremendous fighting spirit and two thirds of all games ended with decisive results.
GM Rafael Leitao, previously four-times champion of Brazil, drew the legendary Henrique Mecking in the final round to finish clear first with a total of nine points and claim his fifth title of the national champion.
GM Alexandr Fier, the 2005 Brazil champion, was the only serious competitor of Leitao but he was mostly trailing by a full point behind the leader. The final round victory brought him a total of 8.5 points. Henrique Mecking is clear third with 7.0 points.
Final standings:
1. GM Leitao Rafael BRA 2626 – 9
2. GM Fier Alexandr BRA 2573 – 8.5
3. GM Mecking Henrique BRA 2590 – 7
4. GM El Debs Felipe BRA 2477 – 6.5
5. GM Mekhitarian Krikor BRA 2487 – 6
6. IM Di Berardino Diego BRA 2491 – 5.5
7. GM Matsuura Everaldo BRA 2487 – 5.5
8. IM Barbosa Evandro BRA 2412 – 4.5
9. GM Vescovi Giovanni BRA 2637 – 4.5
10. FM Santiago Yago BRA 2335 – 4
11. FM Reis Paulo Jatoba BRA 2438 – 3.5
12. FM Dos Santos Haroldo Cunha BRA 2250 – 1.5
Rafael Leitao
