XV Voronezh International Chess festival took place on 10-21 June, 2011. This year it was again organized by GM Alexander Raetsky and his team. 84 participants from 7 countries (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia, India, USA, Vietnam) participated in the main festival tournament (Master Open, 12-21 June). 15 GM, 18 IM, 3 WGM, 1 WIM are among them.

Many talented juniors participated in XV Voronezh festival: IM Vaibhav Suri (IND), number one in FIDE U-14 rank list; Michael Antipov and Grigory Oparin from Moscow Dvorkovich Chess Parlour, both need only 2400 rating to get the IM title, coached by Sergey Dolmatov; the winner of the Russian U-12 Chess Championship 2011 Semen Khanin; well-known twins WIM Marina Baraeva and WFM Irina Baraeva and others.

GM Zaven Andriasian (ARM) had the highest rating (2640) among all the participants. His multi-board game against Voronezh juniors (June 9) was the first event of the festival. Some juniors showed a great fight, but at last Zaven won all the games.

GM Igor Lysyj (RUS) won the rapid chess tournament (June 10-11) with 7.5 points of 9 on his way to Taganrog. GM Aleksej Aleksandrov (BLR), GM Artur Gabrielian (RUS) and Zaven Andriasian shared the second place with 7 points each.

Four Russian GMs shared the first place in blitz tournament (June 17). They were ranked by Buchholz in the following order: 1. Aleksandr Rakhmanov, 2. Evgeny Shaposhnikov, 3. Semen Dvoirys, 4. Mikhail Panarin.

111 chess players from 25 regions of Russia with FIDE rating less than 2300 participated in FIDE Open tournament (June 12-20). There were two foreign players (from Afganistan and Korea), a lot of juniors, seniors and women.

GM Dmitry Kokarev (RUS) took the first prize in the Master Open tournament by sole lead (7 points in 9 games) after winning the last round game against GM Gevorg Harutjutyan (ARM). Dmitry managed to win two Russia Cup tournaments in a row, earlier in June he won the Tomsk Open (Petr Izmailov Memorial). Seven players finished with 6.5 points each, there are four former Voronezh Master Open winners among them. 1. GM Aleksander Rakhmanov (RUS) - 2009, 2010 winner; 2. GM Evgeny Shaposhnikov (RUS) - 2004 winner; 3. GM Andrey Deviatkin (RUS); 4. GM Aleksej Aleksandrov (BLR) - 2008 winner; 5. GM Semen Dvoirys (RUS); 6. IM Alexsey Peskov (UKR) - now living in Kantemirovka, Voronezh region; 7. GM Gennady Tunik (RUS) - 1997 winner. IM Lilit Galoyan (ARM) won the first women prize, IM Vaibhav Suri (IND) won the first junior prize (5.5 points each).

The festival was held under the auspices of Voronezh region government. Mr. Alexey Gordeev, Governor of Voronezh region visited the festival, he met with organizers and young champions and expressed his wish to support chess development in Voronezh region.

Winner of the Rapid tournament GM Igor Lysyj is playing vs IM David Gochelashvili

Playing hall of the Master Open tournament

Mr. Sergey Rudakov, the President of Voronezh region chess federation, Mr. Alexey Gordeev, Voronezh region Governor and Mr. Alexander Raetsky, Tournament director

The leaders of the blitz tournament GM Rakhmanov and GM Aleksandrov during the game

The winner of the main tournament Dmitry Kokarev before the decisive game of the last round