2012 Southern Open (Orlando, USA)

FM Carlos Mena, a Cuban national, won the 2012 Southern Open this past weekend. The 20th Annual Southern Open was held from July 27th-29th, at the Wyndham Orlando Resort. Harvey Lerman was the organizer and Steve Emmitt was the tournament director.

The tournament was held during heavy vacation season and there were many events being held including a large Indian Pentacostal Church convention! Parking was at a premium during the weekend and the hotel ground was spread out like an apartment complex. Not exactly ideal if you flew into Orlando and didn’t rent a car.

With a field of 25 participants in the Open section (213 overall, 8 re-entrants), Mena won his last-round game against IM Daniel Fernandez to score a convincing 4½/5. Fernandez commented on that game saying that it was equal at some point in the middlegame before his position came crashing down. Pena drew with GM Lars Bo Hansen, who has moved to Florida in the last year or so.

NM Cory Acor in action against GM Lars Bo Hansen
with FM Mark Ritter looking on.
Photo by Daaim Shabazz.

Hansen came in second on 4/5, while Fernandez, John Edward Duggan of England and Makaio Krienke came in 3rd-5th with 3½/5. Krienke won first under-2300. Other prize winners in under-2200 were Andrew Cunanan, Hengyi Wu and Daaim Shabazz with 3/5.

2012 Southern Open (Final Standings)

Here is an exciting game from round four between IM Daniel Fernandez, who now lives in Houston, and young phenom, Robert Perez (2529). Fernandez sacrifices two exchanges!

IM Daniel Fernandez and Robert Perez analyzing after the game.
Photo by Daaim Shabazz.

Main Site: https://www.southernopen.com/