The first Torneo Magistral chess tournament to be organized in Merida, Mexico was held from June 13th to the 19th, 2000. Four grandmasters were invited to compete in the double round robin event. The participants were (in order of ELO): Alexey Shirov (2751), Vladimir Akopian (2660), Judit Polgar (2658), and Gilberto Hernandez (2560). The average of the combined ratings of the players qualified the tournament as a category XVII event. Shirov edged out Polgar by half a point in the final to win one of the highest category tournaments of his career by that point. The final standings and crosstable are as follows:

1 Shirov 4/6 ** 1½ 0½ 11

2 Polgar 3.5/6 0½ ** 1½ ½1

3 Hernandez 2.5/6 1½ 0½ ** 0½

4 Akopian 2/6 00 ½0 1½ **