Volodar Murzin claims first place at Semana Santa Open in Alicante

Murzin, Lu, and Ivanchuk on the Podium

The ninth edition of this major event, held in San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, from April 16 to 21, concluded with record participation, including a high number of titled players.

With over 700 participants, 235 holding titles, and players representing more than 350 countries, the tournament is considered one of the most significant in Europe.

The playing hall | Photos: Luis Barona

An Undefeated Champion

Volodar Murzin began the Open A tournament as the top seed and remained on the top board throughout, consistently facing the strongest opponents and key contenders for the leading positions.

Volodar Murzin finished with 7.5 points, matching the score of three other undefeated players: GM Shanglei Lu (China), GM Vasyl Ivanchuk (Ukraine), and GM S.P. Sethuraman (India). The tiebreak rules determined the final standings.

Open A Podium: 1st GM Volodar Murzin, 2nd GM Shanglei Lu, 3rd GM Vasyl Ivanchuk | Photo: Luis Barona

Notable Achievements in a Star-Studded Event

The tournament saw players achieve several FIDE norms, a testament to their strong performances, with a total of 6 certificates awarded. Two GM norms were earned by Edgar Mamedov (Kazakhstan) and Enes Tanriverdi (Turkey), while four IM norms went to Lorenzo Perea (Spain), Mark Smirnov (Kazakhstan), Patryk Cieslak (Poland), and Das Sriansh (India).

FIDE and FEDA Arbiter Norms were also awarded, along with FIDE Fair Play Expert accreditations for the team that implemented the certified security protocol. The event utilized FIDE`s official Fair Play system and strict security measures to ensure fair competition.

Elena Rodríguez Victorious in Group B

The tournament featured two sections: Group A (Open) and Group B for players rated below 1900 FIDE.

Group B (Under-1900) Podium: 1st Elena Rodríguez Canovas, 2nd Zurab Gongliashvili, 3rd Ruslan Dudkin | Photo: Luis Barona

Elena Rodríguez Canovas from Murcia claimed victory in the amateur Group B section with a score of 8 out of 9 points. Tied for second and third place with 7.5 points were Zurab Gongliashvili (Georgia) and Ruslan Dudkin (Ukraine).

Young Talents Show Veteran Composure

A dozen young players displayed remarkable composure, competing like seasoned masters and proving challenging opponents in every round. Among the standouts were IM Faustino Oro (Argentina), FM Mark Smirnov (Kazakhstan), Russian-born GM Savva Vetokhin, and FM Christian Gloeckler (Germany).

Outstanding Young Players: IM Faustino Oro, FM Mark Smirnov, GM Savva Vetokhin, FM Christian Gloeckler | Photos: Luis Barona

Other Prizewinners

Prizes were awarded across various categories and rating groups. Key prizewinners included IM Sabrina Vega, multiple Spanish Champion, as the top female player; veteran GM Mihail Marín (Romania) in the 50+ category; and GM Daniel Cámpora (Argentina) in the 65+ category. Patryk Cieslak (Poland) was the top player in the Under-16 category.

IM Sabrina Vega | Photo: Luis Barona

The town of San Vicente del Raspeig fully supported this significant international chess event. Spectators could watch games live from the playing hall with free admission or follow the action on major online chess platforms via live broadcasts.

The event received support from various public bodies, including the Alicante Provincial Council and the Valencian Regional Government, and collaborated with the International Chess Federation (FIDE), the Spanish Chess Federation, and the Chess Federation of the Valencian Community.

IO Patricia Claros, Event Organizer | Photo: F. Marín

Memorable Photo: Top Prizewinners with International Organizer Patricia Claros | Photo: Luis Barona

Open A: Final Standings (Top 15)

Complete standings included 541 players in Open A.