The Webster University in Saint Louis hosted the SPICE Rapid Invitational tournament on Saturday 6th September.
16 players, including nine Grandmasters, competed in the 6-round Swiss event.
Grandmaster Le Quang Liem emerged convincing winner after concluding the race with perfect 6,0/6 score, full two points ahead of the chasing pack.
Possibly the decisive moment in the tournament was the 5th round encounter between Wesley So and Le Quang Liem, where Wesley had to win to catch up. He refused a draw in a drawn position, over-pushed, and lost.
Decisive game Wesley So – Le Quang Liem
Final standings:
1. Quang Liem Le GM 2706 VIE – 6.0
2-5. Illia Nyzhnyk GM 2632 UKR, Manuel Leon Hoyos GM 2576 MEX, Wesley So GM 2755 PHI and Ashwin Jayaram IM 2468 IND – 4.0
6-7. Denes Boros GM 2530 HUN and Vasif Durarbayli GM 2614 AZE – 3.5
8-9. Ray Robson GM 2628 USA and Andre Diamant GM 2534 BRA – 3.0
10-13. Anna Sharevich WGM 2353 USA, Luisa Mercado Mendoza WFM 2120 COL, Vitaly Neimer IM 2437 ISR and Tom Polgar-Shutzman 2113 USA – 2.5
14-15. Joaquin Carlos Banawa FM 2367 PHI and Thalia Cervantes 1955 CUB – 1.5
16. Frank Niro 1706 USA – 0.0
More information on Susan Polgar website
