12.4.12
Jakovenko’s Turbo Speed
Dmitry Jakovenko is the new European Champion! After winning his last encounter on board one, he managed to complete a remarkable finish striking in his last three games. He managed to add some extra power in his final games and deserved the title with the six wins and five draws that he made overall. Just like four years ago, the EICC championship was claimed by the only player who won his last encounter in the leading group. The title did not come easy at all.
The Russian Top GM managed to defeat A. Timofeev with the black pieces in round nine, risked and sacrificed a piece against his compatriot Kobalia, and finally showed excellent technique in his game against Laurent Fressinet (the French GM was leading solely before the final round).
There was a big tie for the second place. L. Fressinet took home the silver medal. He was solely leading before the final round, but could not get out of the opening in the last round. This is his first big success at the European championships. V. Malakhov edged D. Andreikin by a mere point on the performance tie-break and took the bronze medal. He did not risk in the last three rounds and ended them peacefully, but in accordance to the rules.
Malakhov’s encounter in round nine against Vl. Akopian of Armenia was a sixteen-move-draw after a threefold repetition. Contrary to the game Baron-Safarli from the same round which caused a lot of pressure worldwide Akopian and Malakhov were not forfeited as they knew how to apply the tournament rules. Malakhov first wrote the move on his score sheet, stopped the clock and called the arbiter to claim the repetition.
Still it became obvious at this EICC that the new rules are not yet clear to most of the players and even for the arbiters themselves. First of all one need to give a definition of the meaning of a pre-arranged result. Is it a game that lasts one hour, two hours? And how long should that game be? There are many more questions but the general impression is that the players do not want to be restricted of more rules especially if they are paying on their pocket the expenses of an event. At the same time most of my colleagues understand that our sport has to become more attractive for the general audience.
The same ninth round was the longest one. Two Turkish players (Sanal Vahap versus Emre Can) fought for 7 hours and 52 minutes, and drew the game after 228 moves! It seems as this is the longest game on the history of the European championships in general. The game was played on board 129, and was not related to the qualification of any of the two players.
Further on in the cross table we discover the total domination of the Russian players. D. Andreikin is fourth, E. Inarkiev spoiled excellent winning chances in the final two rounds and is fifth, sixth place is for the pleasant surprise M. Matlakov. I am sure that we shall hear about this young player in the near future.
Another youngster Kirill Alekseenko made a remarkable performance and scored a GM norm. Altogether there were twenty norms- ten for GMs and ten for IMs. Irina Bulmaga of Moldova made the tournament of her life, as well as her final IM male norm.
From the 23 players who qualified for the World Cup the only big surprise is Vasif Durarbeyli of Azerbaidjan. The main trouble-maker was Gawain Jones, who kept on sacrificing material till the very last round, and the greatest come-back was Jan Smeets, who scored 7/8 after the poor start (1/3).
Despite the problems with the new rules, the championship in Plovdiv was organized very well. The playing conditions were excellent, refreshments were offered to all the players, the players had a choice where to stay and what to eat.
The organizers tried to help everyone in need and the last two French players were brought to Sofia from the stuff members and taken on the plane back home yesterday. The slight delay was caused by a passport blunder in a discotheque in Plovdiv.
31.3.12
Liege,Manchester,Dublin and Cork
The good thing about being chess professional is the chance to travel a lot and visit some nice places. As I had to play in Belgium for my team Amay and play afterwards the Cork Chess Congress in Ireland the only good plan would be not to come back home but to use the chance and visit some new places. The route was Liege-Manchester-Dublin-Cork. However this report is about one of Ireland’s friendliest places-Cork. The tournament took place between 23-25 March.
Some months ago Michael Bradley sent me an invitation for the Congress, but in the last two weeks we could not reach each other even on the web. I started to think that I will not see him this year when he made it for the last round.
When Michael came on Sunday for the price giving he was so excited and spoke that quickly that I could barely catch a word of his own. “Calm down, Michael, you are not playing this year”, as said, but I knew that he wanted to play very much. He kept explaining me about the new openings that he had tried, and the new books that he read.
Michel Bradley is the organizer of the event and has always been deeply involved in the life of the club, as well as for the conduct of a very good tournament. This year though, he had to skip this part. The reason is a nice one though- five weeks ago he became a proud father of a baby girl, called Claire!
Thus, the organization was passed to the hands of Steven Short, the brother of the FM Philip Short and they both took part in the open section.
Despite the recession the event managed to attract players from eight countries. Gresham Metropol was once again a welcoming host of the event, and we had the chance to enjoy the full Irish breakfast together with the Irish hospitality.
The time control was unusual- one and a half hour till the end of the game, and additional fifteen seconds per move. Once that the players reach their final five minutes they are no longer obliged to write the moves. Ireland’s tournaments are often not calculated for FIDE ratings and this makes it difficult for the foreigners to orientate for their strength. Some of the kids that played two years ago are now more mature, and show good chess potential. Young Kieran O’Riordan is still the only one to defeat me in Ireland (albeit in a simul :-)) two years ago.
I was a bit worried for my result as this time there was no time to kiss the Blarney stone for good luck. Instead I paid a visit to Dublin before Cork. You might not be aware of the fact that Ireland’s most visited place now is the Guinness factory. I guess that one of the reasons is that you can enjoy your pint on the top of the city and to have a superb view of the surrounding buildings.
Anyways, this preparation also proved excellent, as I managed to win the event outright with 5/6.
Cross table is here.
There was a big tie for the second place, with Irish champion IM Alex Lopez declared second, and Irish’s best rated player GM Alex Baburin- third. These two gentlemen recently took part in the simul of the Irish national team against Veselin Topalov, and scored 1.5 against the Bulgarian. The podium was filled with FM Philip Short and IM John Donaldson.
Major tournament was won by Ljubisa Cirkovic, and the minor tournament by Fionn O’Neill with a remarkable 6/6 result.
Some months ago Michael Bradley sent me an invitation for the Congress, but in the last two weeks we could not reach each other even on the web. I started to think that I will not see him this year when he made it for the last round.
When Michael came on Sunday for the price giving he was so excited and spoke that quickly that I could barely catch a word of his own. “Calm down, Michael, you are not playing this year”, as said, but I knew that he wanted to play very much. He kept explaining me about the new openings that he had tried, and the new books that he read.
Michel Bradley is the organizer of the event and has always been deeply involved in the life of the club, as well as for the conduct of a very good tournament. This year though, he had to skip this part. The reason is a nice one though- five weeks ago he became a proud father of a baby girl, called Claire!
Thus, the organization was passed to the hands of Steven Short, the brother of the FM Philip Short and they both took part in the open section.
Despite the recession the event managed to attract players from eight countries. Gresham Metropol was once again a welcoming host of the event, and we had the chance to enjoy the full Irish breakfast together with the Irish hospitality.
The time control was unusual- one and a half hour till the end of the game, and additional fifteen seconds per move. Once that the players reach their final five minutes they are no longer obliged to write the moves. Ireland’s tournaments are often not calculated for FIDE ratings and this makes it difficult for the foreigners to orientate for their strength. Some of the kids that played two years ago are now more mature, and show good chess potential. Young Kieran O’Riordan is still the only one to defeat me in Ireland (albeit in a simul :-)) two years ago.
I was a bit worried for my result as this time there was no time to kiss the Blarney stone for good luck. Instead I paid a visit to Dublin before Cork. You might not be aware of the fact that Ireland’s most visited place now is the Guinness factory. I guess that one of the reasons is that you can enjoy your pint on the top of the city and to have a superb view of the surrounding buildings.
Anyways, this preparation also proved excellent, as I managed to win the event outright with 5/6.
Cross table is here.
There was a big tie for the second place, with Irish champion IM Alex Lopez declared second, and Irish’s best rated player GM Alex Baburin- third. These two gentlemen recently took part in the simul of the Irish national team against Veselin Topalov, and scored 1.5 against the Bulgarian. The podium was filled with FM Philip Short and IM John Donaldson.
Major tournament was won by Ljubisa Cirkovic, and the minor tournament by Fionn O’Neill with a remarkable 6/6 result.
28.3.12
10 Big Brain Benefits of Playing Chess
I have recently received an email from Larry Dignanwith a request to publish an interesting article about the benefits from chess. The article is interesting, and I publish it without any shortenings:
Not for nothing is chess known as "the game of kings." No doubt the rulers of empires and kingdoms saw in the game fitting practice for the strategizing and forecasting they themselves were required to do when dealing with other monarchs and challengers. As we learn more about the brain, some are beginning to push for chess to be reintroduced as a tool in the public's education. With benefits like these, they have a strong case.
It can raise your IQ
Chess has always had an image problem, being seen as a game for brainiacs and people with already high IQs. So there has been a bit of a chicken-and-egg situation: do smart people gravitate towards chess, or does playing chess make them smart? At least one study has shown that moving those knights and rooks around can in fact raise a person's intelligence quotient. A study of 4,000 Venezuelan students produced significant rises in the IQ scores of both boys and girls after 4 months of chess instruction.
It helps prevent Alzheimer's
Because the brain works like a muscle, it needs exercise like any bicep or quad to be healthy and ward off injury. A recent study featured in The New England Journal of Medicine found that people over 75 who engage in brain-stretching activities like chess are less likely to develop dementia than their non-board-game-playing peers. Just like an un-exercised muscle loses strength, Dr. Robert Freidland, the study's author, found that unused brain tissue leads to a loss of brain power. So that's all the more reason to play chess before you turn 75.
It exercises both sides of the brain
In a German study, researchers showed chess experts and novices simple geometric shapes and chess positions and measured the subjects' reactions in identifying them. They expected to find the experts' left brains being much more active, but they did not expect the right hemisphere of the brain to do so as well. Their reaction times to the simple shapes were the same, but the experts were using both sides of their brains to more quickly respond to the chess position questions.
It increases your creativity
Since the right hemisphere of the brain is responsible for creativity, it should come as no surprise that activating the right side of your brain helps develop your creative side. Specifically, chess greatly increases originality. One four-year study had students from grades 7 to 9 play chess, use computers, or do other activities once a week for 32 weeks to see which activity fostered the most growth in creative thinking. The chess group scored higher in all measures of creativity, with originality being their biggest area of gain.
It improves your memory
Chess players know — as an anecdote — that playing chess improves your memory. Being a good player means remembering how your opponent has operated in the past and recalling moves that have helped you win before. But there's hard evidence also. In a two-year study in 1985, young students who were given regular opportunities to play chess improved their grades in all subjects, and their teachers noticed better memory and better organizational skills in the kids. A similar study of Pennsylvania sixth-graders found similar results. Students who had never before played chess improved their memories and verbal skills after playing.
It increases problem-solving skills
A chess match is like one big puzzle that needs solving, and solving on the fly, because your opponent is constantly changing the parameters. Nearly 450 fifth-grade students were split into three groups in a 1992 study in New Brunswick. Group A was the control group and went through the traditional math curriculum. Group B supplemented the math with chess instruction after first grade, and Group C began the chess in first grade. On a standardized test, Group C's grades went up to 81.2% from 62% and outpaced Group A by 21.46%.
It improves reading skills
In an oft-cited 1991 study, Dr. Stuart Margulies studied the reading performance of 53 elementary school students who participated in a chess program and evaluated them compared to non-chess-playing students in the district and around the country. He found definitive results that playing chess caused increased performance in reading. In a district where the average students tested below the national average, kids from the district who played the game tested above it.
It improves concentration
Chess masters might come off like scattered nutty professors, but the truth is their antics during games are usually the result of intense concentration that the game demands and improves in its players. Looking away or thinking about something else for even a moment can result in the loss of a match, as an opponent is not required to tell you how he moved if you didn't pay attention. Numerous studies of students in the U.S., Russia, China, and elsewhere have proven time and again that young people's ability to focus is sharpened with chess.
It grows dendrites
Dendrites are the tree-like branches that conduct signals from other neural cells into the neurons they are attached to. Think of them like antennas picking up signals from other brain cells. The more antennas you have and the bigger they are, the more signals you'll pick up. Learning a new skill like chess-playing causes dendrites to grow. But that growth doesn't stop once you've learned the game; interaction with people in challenging activities also fuels dendrite growth, and chess is a perfect example.
It teaches planning and foresight
Having teenagers play chess might just save their lives. It goes like this: one of the last parts of the brain to develop is the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for planning, judgment, and self-control. So adolescents are scientifically immature until this part develops. Strategy games like chess can promote prefrontal cortex development and help them make better decisions in all areas of life, perhaps keeping them from making a stupid, risky choice of the kind associated with being a teenager.
You can follow the original blog here.
Not for nothing is chess known as "the game of kings." No doubt the rulers of empires and kingdoms saw in the game fitting practice for the strategizing and forecasting they themselves were required to do when dealing with other monarchs and challengers. As we learn more about the brain, some are beginning to push for chess to be reintroduced as a tool in the public's education. With benefits like these, they have a strong case.
It can raise your IQ
Chess has always had an image problem, being seen as a game for brainiacs and people with already high IQs. So there has been a bit of a chicken-and-egg situation: do smart people gravitate towards chess, or does playing chess make them smart? At least one study has shown that moving those knights and rooks around can in fact raise a person's intelligence quotient. A study of 4,000 Venezuelan students produced significant rises in the IQ scores of both boys and girls after 4 months of chess instruction.
It helps prevent Alzheimer's
Because the brain works like a muscle, it needs exercise like any bicep or quad to be healthy and ward off injury. A recent study featured in The New England Journal of Medicine found that people over 75 who engage in brain-stretching activities like chess are less likely to develop dementia than their non-board-game-playing peers. Just like an un-exercised muscle loses strength, Dr. Robert Freidland, the study's author, found that unused brain tissue leads to a loss of brain power. So that's all the more reason to play chess before you turn 75.
It exercises both sides of the brain
In a German study, researchers showed chess experts and novices simple geometric shapes and chess positions and measured the subjects' reactions in identifying them. They expected to find the experts' left brains being much more active, but they did not expect the right hemisphere of the brain to do so as well. Their reaction times to the simple shapes were the same, but the experts were using both sides of their brains to more quickly respond to the chess position questions.
It increases your creativity
Since the right hemisphere of the brain is responsible for creativity, it should come as no surprise that activating the right side of your brain helps develop your creative side. Specifically, chess greatly increases originality. One four-year study had students from grades 7 to 9 play chess, use computers, or do other activities once a week for 32 weeks to see which activity fostered the most growth in creative thinking. The chess group scored higher in all measures of creativity, with originality being their biggest area of gain.
It improves your memory
Chess players know — as an anecdote — that playing chess improves your memory. Being a good player means remembering how your opponent has operated in the past and recalling moves that have helped you win before. But there's hard evidence also. In a two-year study in 1985, young students who were given regular opportunities to play chess improved their grades in all subjects, and their teachers noticed better memory and better organizational skills in the kids. A similar study of Pennsylvania sixth-graders found similar results. Students who had never before played chess improved their memories and verbal skills after playing.
It increases problem-solving skills
A chess match is like one big puzzle that needs solving, and solving on the fly, because your opponent is constantly changing the parameters. Nearly 450 fifth-grade students were split into three groups in a 1992 study in New Brunswick. Group A was the control group and went through the traditional math curriculum. Group B supplemented the math with chess instruction after first grade, and Group C began the chess in first grade. On a standardized test, Group C's grades went up to 81.2% from 62% and outpaced Group A by 21.46%.
It improves reading skills
In an oft-cited 1991 study, Dr. Stuart Margulies studied the reading performance of 53 elementary school students who participated in a chess program and evaluated them compared to non-chess-playing students in the district and around the country. He found definitive results that playing chess caused increased performance in reading. In a district where the average students tested below the national average, kids from the district who played the game tested above it.
It improves concentration
Chess masters might come off like scattered nutty professors, but the truth is their antics during games are usually the result of intense concentration that the game demands and improves in its players. Looking away or thinking about something else for even a moment can result in the loss of a match, as an opponent is not required to tell you how he moved if you didn't pay attention. Numerous studies of students in the U.S., Russia, China, and elsewhere have proven time and again that young people's ability to focus is sharpened with chess.
It grows dendrites
Dendrites are the tree-like branches that conduct signals from other neural cells into the neurons they are attached to. Think of them like antennas picking up signals from other brain cells. The more antennas you have and the bigger they are, the more signals you'll pick up. Learning a new skill like chess-playing causes dendrites to grow. But that growth doesn't stop once you've learned the game; interaction with people in challenging activities also fuels dendrite growth, and chess is a perfect example.
It teaches planning and foresight
Having teenagers play chess might just save their lives. It goes like this: one of the last parts of the brain to develop is the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for planning, judgment, and self-control. So adolescents are scientifically immature until this part develops. Strategy games like chess can promote prefrontal cortex development and help them make better decisions in all areas of life, perhaps keeping them from making a stupid, risky choice of the kind associated with being a teenager.
You can follow the original blog here.
8.3.12
Playing with the Living Legends
Just a couple of weeks ago my boss from the Belgium team called to ask me and play in an important match. We have chances to make it to the top three this year, a somewhat surprising result taking into account the fact that we barely saved our skins in the previous season. Still, our team is young, and has the will to compete well, and I certainly wanted to help.
My possible opponents were P. Negi, R. Vaganian, Berelowitsch and V. Chuchelov. As Negi was playing Capelle at the same period, and Vaganian is not that active recently I concentrated my preparation to the latter two.
What was my surprise to discover that we are playing in the same train with GM Vaganian, one of the most colourful players of the 1980-ies!
Born at the same year as A. Karpov, he became a GM at a very young (for that time!) age of 19, was an USSR champion, contender for the world championship. Many people, including Garry Kasparov admitted his enormous practical talent, and strength.
This was the living legend that I had to face in the match:
Vaganian,Rafael (2577) - Bojkov,Dejan (2544)
Rochade - Amay Eupen (9.1), 04.03.2012
[Bojkov,Dejan]
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 0–0 5.Bg5 [Vaganian chose to play chess instead to compete in the long forced (and modern!) lines.]
5...c5 6.e3 cxd4 7.exd4
7...d5 8.Bxf6 Bxf6 9.cxd5 [9.Nxd5 is the other main move. I have achieved an excellent position against Paragua about an year ago after: 9...Bg7 10.Nc3 Bg4 11.Be2 Nc6 12.d5 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 Na5 15.Qd4 Qc7 16.Be2 Rfc8 17.0–0?! Nxc4і Paragua,M (2536)-Bojkov,D (2544) Los Angeles 2011 ]
9...Nd7 [Probably the best move for Black is: 9...e6!? and this was the move that Vaganian was afraid of: 10.dxe6?!
a) 10.Bc4 exd5 11.Bxd5 (11.Nxd5 Re8+ 12.Ne3 Nc6 13.Qb3 Kg7 (13...Re7 14.0–0 Na5 15.Qc3 Nxc4 16.Qxc4 Be6) 14.Bxf7 Re7 15.Bd5 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Qa5+) 11...Re8+ 12.Kf1 Nc6;
b) 10.Qb3 exd5 11.Nxd5 Bg7 (11...Qa5+ 12.Nc3 Nc6 13.0–0–0 Bg4) 12.Ne3 Nc6 13.0–0–0 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 Bxd4 15.Bc4 (15.Kb1 Qb6) 15...Bxe3+ 16.fxe3 (16.Qxe3 Qc7 17.Qc3 Bf5) 16...Qc7; 10...Bxe6 11.Be2 Nc6 12.0–0 (12.d5 Bxc3+ 13.bxc3 Qxd5) 12...Nxd4 13.Nxd4 Qxd4 14.Bf3 Rad8 15.Qxd4 Rxd4 16.Ne4 Be7 (16...Bg7 17.Nc5 Bc4) 17.Rfc1 Rc8 18.Rxc8+ Bxc8 19.Rc1 Bf5 20.Ng3 Be6 21.a3 Rd2 22.b4 b6 23.Rc7 Rd7 24.Rxd7 Bxd7 25.Bd1 f5 0–1 Orlinkov,M (2384)-Maslak,K (2510)/Moscow 2008/CBM 122 Extra (39)]
10.Bc4 Nb6 11.Bb3 Bg4 12.0–0 Rc8 [I can regain the pawn at once with: 12...Bxf3 13.Qxf3 Bxd4 14.Rad1 Vaganian considered the position after: 14...Bxc3 15.bxc3 Nc8 as slightly better for White, as he has the possibility to attack on the king's flank with h2–h4–h5 and various rook lifts. This is precisely waht happened in my game against Paragua, therefore, I decided to make an useful move.]
13.Re1 Nc4?! [But this is dubious. Better was to either take on f3, or play something like:]
[13...a6 with the idea Rc8-c7 and eventually Nb6-c8-d6.]
14.Bxc4! Bxf3 15.Qd3 [15.Qb3 Bg4 is also possible.; My idea was to seek active play after: 15.Qxf3 Rxc4 16.Rad1 Qb6]
15...Bg4 16.Bb3 [Now White stabilized the situation and kept the extra pawn. There are no obvious threats, but he wants to improve his position slowly, and I do not have objects for counter attack. A human does not like situations like that one!]
16...Bf5 [16...Qb6 is awkward for Black- 17.Na4 Qxd4? 18.Qxd4 Bxd4 19.Re4±]
17.Qd2 a6! [Aimed against the plan with Ra1–d1 and Bb3–c2. My pieces will be repelled from the center soon, and it makes sense to find some targets on the flank.]
18.Rad1 b5 19.f3 [19.Bc2? Bxc2 20.Qxc2 b4–+]
19...Bg7 [Profilaxis. The immediate: 19...Qb6?! loses a pawn after: 20.g4 Bd7 21.g5 Bg7]
20.Ne4 a5 21.a3 Qb6
22.g4 [I was well prepared for this advance.]
[I planned to meet the move: 22.Nc5 with 22...Rc7 23.g4 Bc8 when the knight on c5 is not as fearsome as it seems.; However, once that I played the move I saw the knight retreat: 22.Ng3 and got scared for a moment. Luckily, there is a defense: 22...e6! 23.dxe6 (23.Nxf5 exf5 24.Re7 Bf6 25.Rd7 Rfd8 26.Rxd8+ Rxd8 is just equal as the extra pawn does not matter at all here- White's pieces are tied with its defense.) 23...Bxe6 24.Bxe6 fxe6
with a typical Gruenfeld-like compensation. There are weak pawns in White's camp, and the black bishop is clearly superior than the white knight.]
22...Bxe4 23.fxe4 e5! [The key defensive resource. The position is opened, and White's king start feel the air in its bones.]
24.dxe6 fxe6 25.Kh1 [The only inaccuracy from Vaganian this game. He could have put some more problems with:]
[25.Kg2! Still, I believe that Black should survive after: 25...Kh8 26.d5 (26.e5!? might be better.) 26...a4 27.Ba2 exd5 28.Bxd5 b4 29.axb4 Rb8 30.e5 Qxb4 31.Qxb4 Rxb4 32.Re2 Rfb8 33.Rdd2 Rxg4+=]
25...Rf3! 26.Ba2 Kh8! [Unfortunately, the ambitious: 26...b4 is not good due to the sudden tactics: 27.axb4 axb4 28.Bc4!
with the idea to support the bishop with b2–b3, and if: 28...Rxc4 29.Qe2]
27.Rf1 [After twenty minutes of thorogh calculation, Vaganian decided to liquidate into a draw endgame. This is the correct practical decision. In the line of his interest after: 27.d5 exd5 28.exd5 Rcf8 29.d6 Rf2 30.Re2? Rf1+ 31.Rxf1 Rxf1+ 32.Kg2 Qg1+ 33.Kh3 Rf3+ 34.Kh4 Bf6+ 35.g5 he could not see the win for Black, but it exists, of course- 35...Bxg5+! 36.Qxg5 Qd4+ 37.Qg4 Qf6+ 38.Qg5 Rf4+–+]
27...Rxf1+ [Now almost all the pawns are killed:]
28.Rxf1 Qxd4 29.Qxd4 Bxd4 30.Bxe6 Re8 31.Bd5 Bxb2 32.Rb1 Bxa3 33.Rxb5 Bb4 34.Kg2 Kg7 35.h4 Re7 36.Rb6 Ra7
1/2
This was a tough battle, in which we made almost no mistakes. Luckily for my team, we won convincingly with 5.5-2.5, and have good chances to make it to the top three.
And I had the pleasure to face and survive a true living legend!
My possible opponents were P. Negi, R. Vaganian, Berelowitsch and V. Chuchelov. As Negi was playing Capelle at the same period, and Vaganian is not that active recently I concentrated my preparation to the latter two.
What was my surprise to discover that we are playing in the same train with GM Vaganian, one of the most colourful players of the 1980-ies!
Born at the same year as A. Karpov, he became a GM at a very young (for that time!) age of 19, was an USSR champion, contender for the world championship. Many people, including Garry Kasparov admitted his enormous practical talent, and strength.
This was the living legend that I had to face in the match:
Vaganian,Rafael (2577) - Bojkov,Dejan (2544)
Rochade - Amay Eupen (9.1), 04.03.2012
[Bojkov,Dejan]
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 0–0 5.Bg5 [Vaganian chose to play chess instead to compete in the long forced (and modern!) lines.]
5...c5 6.e3 cxd4 7.exd4
7...d5 8.Bxf6 Bxf6 9.cxd5 [9.Nxd5 is the other main move. I have achieved an excellent position against Paragua about an year ago after: 9...Bg7 10.Nc3 Bg4 11.Be2 Nc6 12.d5 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 Na5 15.Qd4 Qc7 16.Be2 Rfc8 17.0–0?! Nxc4і Paragua,M (2536)-Bojkov,D (2544) Los Angeles 2011 ]
9...Nd7 [Probably the best move for Black is: 9...e6!? and this was the move that Vaganian was afraid of: 10.dxe6?!
a) 10.Bc4 exd5 11.Bxd5 (11.Nxd5 Re8+ 12.Ne3 Nc6 13.Qb3 Kg7 (13...Re7 14.0–0 Na5 15.Qc3 Nxc4 16.Qxc4 Be6) 14.Bxf7 Re7 15.Bd5 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Qa5+) 11...Re8+ 12.Kf1 Nc6;
b) 10.Qb3 exd5 11.Nxd5 Bg7 (11...Qa5+ 12.Nc3 Nc6 13.0–0–0 Bg4) 12.Ne3 Nc6 13.0–0–0 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 Bxd4 15.Bc4 (15.Kb1 Qb6) 15...Bxe3+ 16.fxe3 (16.Qxe3 Qc7 17.Qc3 Bf5) 16...Qc7; 10...Bxe6 11.Be2 Nc6 12.0–0 (12.d5 Bxc3+ 13.bxc3 Qxd5) 12...Nxd4 13.Nxd4 Qxd4 14.Bf3 Rad8 15.Qxd4 Rxd4 16.Ne4 Be7 (16...Bg7 17.Nc5 Bc4) 17.Rfc1 Rc8 18.Rxc8+ Bxc8 19.Rc1 Bf5 20.Ng3 Be6 21.a3 Rd2 22.b4 b6 23.Rc7 Rd7 24.Rxd7 Bxd7 25.Bd1 f5 0–1 Orlinkov,M (2384)-Maslak,K (2510)/Moscow 2008/CBM 122 Extra (39)]
10.Bc4 Nb6 11.Bb3 Bg4 12.0–0 Rc8 [I can regain the pawn at once with: 12...Bxf3 13.Qxf3 Bxd4 14.Rad1 Vaganian considered the position after: 14...Bxc3 15.bxc3 Nc8 as slightly better for White, as he has the possibility to attack on the king's flank with h2–h4–h5 and various rook lifts. This is precisely waht happened in my game against Paragua, therefore, I decided to make an useful move.]
13.Re1 Nc4?! [But this is dubious. Better was to either take on f3, or play something like:]
[13...a6 with the idea Rc8-c7 and eventually Nb6-c8-d6.]
14.Bxc4! Bxf3 15.Qd3 [15.Qb3 Bg4 is also possible.; My idea was to seek active play after: 15.Qxf3 Rxc4 16.Rad1 Qb6]
15...Bg4 16.Bb3 [Now White stabilized the situation and kept the extra pawn. There are no obvious threats, but he wants to improve his position slowly, and I do not have objects for counter attack. A human does not like situations like that one!]
16...Bf5 [16...Qb6 is awkward for Black- 17.Na4 Qxd4? 18.Qxd4 Bxd4 19.Re4±]
17.Qd2 a6! [Aimed against the plan with Ra1–d1 and Bb3–c2. My pieces will be repelled from the center soon, and it makes sense to find some targets on the flank.]
18.Rad1 b5 19.f3 [19.Bc2? Bxc2 20.Qxc2 b4–+]
19...Bg7 [Profilaxis. The immediate: 19...Qb6?! loses a pawn after: 20.g4 Bd7 21.g5 Bg7]
20.Ne4 a5 21.a3 Qb6
22.g4 [I was well prepared for this advance.]
[I planned to meet the move: 22.Nc5 with 22...Rc7 23.g4 Bc8 when the knight on c5 is not as fearsome as it seems.; However, once that I played the move I saw the knight retreat: 22.Ng3 and got scared for a moment. Luckily, there is a defense: 22...e6! 23.dxe6 (23.Nxf5 exf5 24.Re7 Bf6 25.Rd7 Rfd8 26.Rxd8+ Rxd8 is just equal as the extra pawn does not matter at all here- White's pieces are tied with its defense.) 23...Bxe6 24.Bxe6 fxe6
with a typical Gruenfeld-like compensation. There are weak pawns in White's camp, and the black bishop is clearly superior than the white knight.]
22...Bxe4 23.fxe4 e5! [The key defensive resource. The position is opened, and White's king start feel the air in its bones.]
24.dxe6 fxe6 25.Kh1 [The only inaccuracy from Vaganian this game. He could have put some more problems with:]
[25.Kg2! Still, I believe that Black should survive after: 25...Kh8 26.d5 (26.e5!? might be better.) 26...a4 27.Ba2 exd5 28.Bxd5 b4 29.axb4 Rb8 30.e5 Qxb4 31.Qxb4 Rxb4 32.Re2 Rfb8 33.Rdd2 Rxg4+=]
25...Rf3! 26.Ba2 Kh8! [Unfortunately, the ambitious: 26...b4 is not good due to the sudden tactics: 27.axb4 axb4 28.Bc4!
with the idea to support the bishop with b2–b3, and if: 28...Rxc4 29.Qe2]
27.Rf1 [After twenty minutes of thorogh calculation, Vaganian decided to liquidate into a draw endgame. This is the correct practical decision. In the line of his interest after: 27.d5 exd5 28.exd5 Rcf8 29.d6 Rf2 30.Re2? Rf1+ 31.Rxf1 Rxf1+ 32.Kg2 Qg1+ 33.Kh3 Rf3+ 34.Kh4 Bf6+ 35.g5 he could not see the win for Black, but it exists, of course- 35...Bxg5+! 36.Qxg5 Qd4+ 37.Qg4 Qf6+ 38.Qg5 Rf4+–+]
27...Rxf1+ [Now almost all the pawns are killed:]
28.Rxf1 Qxd4 29.Qxd4 Bxd4 30.Bxe6 Re8 31.Bd5 Bxb2 32.Rb1 Bxa3 33.Rxb5 Bb4 34.Kg2 Kg7 35.h4 Re7 36.Rb6 Ra7
1/2
This was a tough battle, in which we made almost no mistakes. Luckily for my team, we won convincingly with 5.5-2.5, and have good chances to make it to the top three.
And I had the pleasure to face and survive a true living legend!
23.2.12
Chess Highways
After a couple of theoretical DVDs, it is time now to present a product which I believe I can do better- a study course on the general understanding of the game. The idea of my new DVD is to teach how to use better our line pieces (queens, rooks and bishops). It also offers tips how to seize the important diagonals and files on which these pieces are operating best. You probably all remember the famous game Karpov-Unzicker (it is in the DVD as well), and the following game saw a similar approach, this time thanks to the useful help of the knight.
Bojkov,Dejan (2474) - Van den Doel,E (2581) [C90]
Zwolle Zwolle (6.4), 11.03.2007
[Bojkov,Dejan]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Be7 5.0–0 0–0 6.Re1 d6 7.c3 Na5 8.Bb5 a6 9.Ba4 b5 10.Bc2 c5 11.Nbd2 Nc6 12.Nf1 Re8 13.Bg5 h6 [13...Be6] 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Ne3 g6 16.Bb3 Rb8 17.a4 b4 18.Bd5 Ne7 19.Bc4 Rf8 20.Nd5 Nxd5 21.Bxd5 Bg7 [Better is 21...Bg4 22.h3 (‹22.a5 Bg5 …23.h3 Bxf3 24.Qxf3 Bd2) 22...Bxf3 23.Qxf3 with slight advantage for White] 22.Nd2 Kh7 [22...a5 was needed] 23.a5 Be6 24.Bxe6 fxe6 25.Nc4±
Although Fritz 9 (the strongest engine by the time that the game was played) evaluated that this position is in favour of Black (!) I am inclined to think that White is strategically winning. My plan is simple-to put the knight on b6, after which he has or to stay at one place when I exchange on b4 and later win this pawn, or exchange on c3, after which I double the rooks on the b file under the knight protection and penetrate with the them in the proper moment.25...Rb5?! This loses a couple of tempos. Better is:[25...Rf7 26.Nb6 bxc3 27.bxc3 Qh4 28.Qe2 h5 29.Rab1 Rbf8 (29...Rfb7 30.Rb3 (30.Rb2 Bh6 31.Reb1) 30...g5) 30.Rf1, although here too, White conducts easily his plan.] 26.Qe2 Bf6 27.Reb1 Rb7 28.Nb6 bxc3 29.bxc3 Rbf7 30.Rf1 Bh4 31.g3 Bg5 32.Nc4 Qd7 [32...Rb7 33.Rab1] 33.Rab1 Bd8 34.Rb8 h5“ 35.Kg2?! I started to feel quite nervous in his own time trouble, and missed the clear win: [35.Rfb1!
35...Rxf2 36.Qxf2 Rxf2 37.Kxf2 Kh6 38.R1b7 Bc7 39.Rh8+ Kg7 (39...Kg5 40.h4+ Kg4 41.Kg2) 40.Ra8 Kf6 41.h4+– The rooks enjoy their files greatly. For some reason I thought that somewhere in this lines he can come with his queen on a4 and find some perpetual.] 35...Bc7 36.Rxf8 Rxf8 37.Rb1 Rb8 38.Rxb8 Bxb8 39.Qb2 Qb5 [Somewhat more tenacious is 39...Ba7 40.h4±] 40.Qxb5 axb5 41.Na3 b4 42.Nb5
Now it is under control again, though Fritz evaluates for quite a long time that it is slightly better for Black (!).42...Kg7 [42...d5 43.Kf3 b3 44.Ke2 b2 45.Na3 c4 46.dxc4 Bd6 47.Nb1 dxe4 48.Ke3+–] 43.a6 b3 44.Kf3 Kf6 [44...b2 45.Na3 Ba7 (45...c4 only chance 46.dxc4 Ba7 47.Ke2 Bc5 48.Nb1 Kf7 49.Kd3 Bxf2 50.Na3 Ke7 51.Kc2 Kd7 52.Nb5 Kc6 53.a7 Kb7 54.Nxd6+ Kxa7±) 46.c4+–] 45.Ke2 b2 46.Na3 Ke7 [46...d5 47.c4] 47.Kd2 Kd7 48.Kc2 Kc6 49.Nc4 d5
50.a7 Bxa7 51.Nxe5+ Kd6 52.Nxg6 dxe4 53.dxe4 c4 54.f3 e5 55.Nh4 Ke6 56.Nf5 Bg1 57.h4 1–0
Bojkov,Dejan (2474) - Van den Doel,E (2581) [C90]
Zwolle Zwolle (6.4), 11.03.2007
[Bojkov,Dejan]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Be7 5.0–0 0–0 6.Re1 d6 7.c3 Na5 8.Bb5 a6 9.Ba4 b5 10.Bc2 c5 11.Nbd2 Nc6 12.Nf1 Re8 13.Bg5 h6 [13...Be6] 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Ne3 g6 16.Bb3 Rb8 17.a4 b4 18.Bd5 Ne7 19.Bc4 Rf8 20.Nd5 Nxd5 21.Bxd5 Bg7 [Better is 21...Bg4 22.h3 (‹22.a5 Bg5 …23.h3 Bxf3 24.Qxf3 Bd2) 22...Bxf3 23.Qxf3 with slight advantage for White] 22.Nd2 Kh7 [22...a5 was needed] 23.a5 Be6 24.Bxe6 fxe6 25.Nc4±
Although Fritz 9 (the strongest engine by the time that the game was played) evaluated that this position is in favour of Black (!) I am inclined to think that White is strategically winning. My plan is simple-to put the knight on b6, after which he has or to stay at one place when I exchange on b4 and later win this pawn, or exchange on c3, after which I double the rooks on the b file under the knight protection and penetrate with the them in the proper moment.25...Rb5?! This loses a couple of tempos. Better is:[25...Rf7 26.Nb6 bxc3 27.bxc3 Qh4 28.Qe2 h5 29.Rab1 Rbf8 (29...Rfb7 30.Rb3 (30.Rb2 Bh6 31.Reb1) 30...g5) 30.Rf1, although here too, White conducts easily his plan.] 26.Qe2 Bf6 27.Reb1 Rb7 28.Nb6 bxc3 29.bxc3 Rbf7 30.Rf1 Bh4 31.g3 Bg5 32.Nc4 Qd7 [32...Rb7 33.Rab1] 33.Rab1 Bd8 34.Rb8 h5“ 35.Kg2?! I started to feel quite nervous in his own time trouble, and missed the clear win: [35.Rfb1!
35...Rxf2 36.Qxf2 Rxf2 37.Kxf2 Kh6 38.R1b7 Bc7 39.Rh8+ Kg7 (39...Kg5 40.h4+ Kg4 41.Kg2) 40.Ra8 Kf6 41.h4+– The rooks enjoy their files greatly. For some reason I thought that somewhere in this lines he can come with his queen on a4 and find some perpetual.] 35...Bc7 36.Rxf8 Rxf8 37.Rb1 Rb8 38.Rxb8 Bxb8 39.Qb2 Qb5 [Somewhat more tenacious is 39...Ba7 40.h4±] 40.Qxb5 axb5 41.Na3 b4 42.Nb5
Now it is under control again, though Fritz evaluates for quite a long time that it is slightly better for Black (!).42...Kg7 [42...d5 43.Kf3 b3 44.Ke2 b2 45.Na3 c4 46.dxc4 Bd6 47.Nb1 dxe4 48.Ke3+–] 43.a6 b3 44.Kf3 Kf6 [44...b2 45.Na3 Ba7 (45...c4 only chance 46.dxc4 Ba7 47.Ke2 Bc5 48.Nb1 Kf7 49.Kd3 Bxf2 50.Na3 Ke7 51.Kc2 Kd7 52.Nb5 Kc6 53.a7 Kb7 54.Nxd6+ Kxa7±) 46.c4+–] 45.Ke2 b2 46.Na3 Ke7 [46...d5 47.c4] 47.Kd2 Kd7 48.Kc2 Kc6 49.Nc4 d5
50.a7 Bxa7 51.Nxe5+ Kd6 52.Nxg6 dxe4 53.dxe4 c4 54.f3 e5 55.Nh4 Ke6 56.Nf5 Bg1 57.h4 1–0
7.2.12
Why Not?
My second chessbase DVD was recently published. It is about the Sicilian Kalashnikov, and starts with the following masterpiece:
McDonnell,Alexander - De Labourdonnais,Louis Charles Mahe [B32]
London m4 London (16), 1834
[Bojkov,Dejan]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5
One of the first time that this line was played. Black seizes the center immediately. 5.Nxc6?! bxc6 6.Bc4 Nf6 [6...Ba6! 7.Bxa6 Qa5+ 8.Bd2 Qxa6і Harvits-Berd, London 1851.] 7.Bg5 [7.0–0 d5 8.exd5 cxd5 9.Bb5+ Bd7 10.Bxd7+ Qxd7 11.Re1 Bd6 12.Nc3 e4 13.Bg5 Ng4 14.Qxd5 Bxh2+ 15.Kh1 Qxd5 16.Nxd5 Morphy-Levental, London 1858] 7...Be7 8.Qe2 [8.Nc3 which controls the center was suggested by Mikhail Chigorin later.] 8...d5 [Better was 8...0–0 Sveshnikov] 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Bb3 0–0 11.0–0 a5
The outcome of the opening is a huge success for Black. He owes all the gold nuggets-the center, and the bishop pair. 12.exd5 cxd5 13.Rd1 d4 14.c4 [14.Nd2 is more to the point] 14...Qb6 15.Bc2 Bb7 [15...Qxb2?? 16.Bxh7+] 16.Nd2 Rae8 [16...Qxb2!? 17.Qd3 g6 18.Rab1 e4! Sveshnikov.] 17.Ne4 Bd8 18.c5 Qc6 19.f3 Be7 20.Rac1 f5
Black sacrifices material, just to make sure that his gorgeous centre will come into motion! 21.Qc4+ Kh8 22.Ba4 Qh6 23.Bxe8 fxe4 24.c6 exf3 25.Rc2 [25.cxb7 Qe3+ 26.Kh1 fxg2+ 27.Kxg2 Rf2+ 28.Kh1 Qf3+ 29.Kg1 Qg2#; 25.gxf3 Qe3+ 26.Kg2 Qxf3+ 27.Kg1 Rf5 is also a forced mate.] 25...Qe3+ 26.Kh1? [The best defense would have been-26.Rf2 Bc8 27.Bd7] 26...Bc8 27.Bd7 f2 28.Rf1 [28.Qf1 Ba6! 29.Qxa6 Qe1+ (29...d3! Sveshnikov.) 30.Qf1 Qxd1 is simpler.] 28...d3 29.Rc3 Bxd7 30.cxd7 e4 31.Qc8 Bd8 32.Qc4 Qe1 33.Rc1 d2 34.Qc5 Rg8 35.Rd1 e3 36.Qc3 Qxd1 37.Rxd1 e2
The Chess Player's Chronicle 1843, p. 265 0–1
Despite the mistakes, the final position only is good enough to make this game one of the greatest ever played.
McDonnell,Alexander - De Labourdonnais,Louis Charles Mahe [B32]
London m4 London (16), 1834
[Bojkov,Dejan]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5
One of the first time that this line was played. Black seizes the center immediately. 5.Nxc6?! bxc6 6.Bc4 Nf6 [6...Ba6! 7.Bxa6 Qa5+ 8.Bd2 Qxa6і Harvits-Berd, London 1851.] 7.Bg5 [7.0–0 d5 8.exd5 cxd5 9.Bb5+ Bd7 10.Bxd7+ Qxd7 11.Re1 Bd6 12.Nc3 e4 13.Bg5 Ng4 14.Qxd5 Bxh2+ 15.Kh1 Qxd5 16.Nxd5 Morphy-Levental, London 1858] 7...Be7 8.Qe2 [8.Nc3 which controls the center was suggested by Mikhail Chigorin later.] 8...d5 [Better was 8...0–0 Sveshnikov] 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Bb3 0–0 11.0–0 a5
The outcome of the opening is a huge success for Black. He owes all the gold nuggets-the center, and the bishop pair. 12.exd5 cxd5 13.Rd1 d4 14.c4 [14.Nd2 is more to the point] 14...Qb6 15.Bc2 Bb7 [15...Qxb2?? 16.Bxh7+] 16.Nd2 Rae8 [16...Qxb2!? 17.Qd3 g6 18.Rab1 e4! Sveshnikov.] 17.Ne4 Bd8 18.c5 Qc6 19.f3 Be7 20.Rac1 f5
Black sacrifices material, just to make sure that his gorgeous centre will come into motion! 21.Qc4+ Kh8 22.Ba4 Qh6 23.Bxe8 fxe4 24.c6 exf3 25.Rc2 [25.cxb7 Qe3+ 26.Kh1 fxg2+ 27.Kxg2 Rf2+ 28.Kh1 Qf3+ 29.Kg1 Qg2#; 25.gxf3 Qe3+ 26.Kg2 Qxf3+ 27.Kg1 Rf5 is also a forced mate.] 25...Qe3+ 26.Kh1? [The best defense would have been-26.Rf2 Bc8 27.Bd7] 26...Bc8 27.Bd7 f2 28.Rf1 [28.Qf1 Ba6! 29.Qxa6 Qe1+ (29...d3! Sveshnikov.) 30.Qf1 Qxd1 is simpler.] 28...d3 29.Rc3 Bxd7 30.cxd7 e4 31.Qc8 Bd8 32.Qc4 Qe1 33.Rc1 d2 34.Qc5 Rg8 35.Rd1 e3 36.Qc3 Qxd1 37.Rxd1 e2
The Chess Player's Chronicle 1843, p. 265 0–1
Despite the mistakes, the final position only is good enough to make this game one of the greatest ever played.
26.1.12
Exciting Finish in Queenstown
As interesting as it started, the even more interesting it ended. This is the brief description of what had happened in Queenstown’s third edition of the Classic Tournament which took place between 15-23 January.
There is something special about this event. No, sorry, this was too mild. Everything is special about it! The fact that it is made on every three years, the exceptional beauty of the nature in Queenstown, the rare species that can be seen only here, even the travelling time to this wonderful place. It is worth all the efforts, I assure you, and the tournament itself is magnificent.
New Zealand is the only place where the kiwi birds can be found in the nature, and the locals are very proud of that. The rare the bird is, the rare the international tournaments are, but this should not be a problem for the chess travelers. And this one gathered together almost one hundred and fifty people from nineteen countries.
The promoter of the event, ideologist, founder and everything is GM Murray Chandler. No matter how modest he is this cannot be passed by. Every year he starts a journey from the North Island to the South one to assure that things will be in order. As you have already noticed in the previous reports, not everything started smoothly. However, the broken van was the first and only “bad move” in the event. Fortunately, without any severely bad consequences.
The International tournament is also an open New Zealand’s Championship, and at the closing ceremony one can see a long procession of “kiwis” queued for their prices. The top price, and the biggest cup was driven home by FM Michael Steadman who scored 6.5/9 and shared for the ninth place. He also received the right to represent New Zealand at the Olympiad. Do better watch out for him, he is very aggressive and entertaining!
The tournament is also a part of the Oceania Circuit, and here the champion is Darryl Johansen from Australia. He scored 7.5/9 and… also won the general tournament! There was a three-way tie for the first place but Darryl took yet another trophy thanks to his best tiebreak (number of wins- he had seven). The other two players in the triumvirate were the Chinese GMs Li Chao and Zhao Jun, but they both made three draws each. Johansen pulled out the win with three straight wins at the end, and in the last round he was very lucky as his opponent Gawain Jones rejected three fold repetition and eventually lost.
The tournament will be remembered with the high percentage of decisive games. One of the reasons was the rule that the players on first ten boards were not allowed to make draws before the thirty moves. Penalties were severe- first time punishment was 50 % of the eventual price won, and second penalty- 100%. I personally prefer the Australian method, which stimulated the fight with the fighting fund. However, as the organizers gave good conditions to the foreign titled players, they have the right to demand more from them.
Some players were more successful to others, and here is the time to mention three of them who earned IM norms. Trevor Tao (7/9) made his final one, and he is already over 2400 can claim the title. He had a great tournament, and could have even share the first place if he had punished Li Chao’s overambitious play in the final round. Irine Sukundar from Indonesia scored her fourth IM male norm and FM Junta Ikeda from Australia the toughest first one.
Gawain Jones won the brilliancy price game.
There is something special about this event. No, sorry, this was too mild. Everything is special about it! The fact that it is made on every three years, the exceptional beauty of the nature in Queenstown, the rare species that can be seen only here, even the travelling time to this wonderful place. It is worth all the efforts, I assure you, and the tournament itself is magnificent.
New Zealand is the only place where the kiwi birds can be found in the nature, and the locals are very proud of that. The rare the bird is, the rare the international tournaments are, but this should not be a problem for the chess travelers. And this one gathered together almost one hundred and fifty people from nineteen countries.
The promoter of the event, ideologist, founder and everything is GM Murray Chandler. No matter how modest he is this cannot be passed by. Every year he starts a journey from the North Island to the South one to assure that things will be in order. As you have already noticed in the previous reports, not everything started smoothly. However, the broken van was the first and only “bad move” in the event. Fortunately, without any severely bad consequences.
The International tournament is also an open New Zealand’s Championship, and at the closing ceremony one can see a long procession of “kiwis” queued for their prices. The top price, and the biggest cup was driven home by FM Michael Steadman who scored 6.5/9 and shared for the ninth place. He also received the right to represent New Zealand at the Olympiad. Do better watch out for him, he is very aggressive and entertaining!
The tournament is also a part of the Oceania Circuit, and here the champion is Darryl Johansen from Australia. He scored 7.5/9 and… also won the general tournament! There was a three-way tie for the first place but Darryl took yet another trophy thanks to his best tiebreak (number of wins- he had seven). The other two players in the triumvirate were the Chinese GMs Li Chao and Zhao Jun, but they both made three draws each. Johansen pulled out the win with three straight wins at the end, and in the last round he was very lucky as his opponent Gawain Jones rejected three fold repetition and eventually lost.
The tournament will be remembered with the high percentage of decisive games. One of the reasons was the rule that the players on first ten boards were not allowed to make draws before the thirty moves. Penalties were severe- first time punishment was 50 % of the eventual price won, and second penalty- 100%. I personally prefer the Australian method, which stimulated the fight with the fighting fund. However, as the organizers gave good conditions to the foreign titled players, they have the right to demand more from them.
Some players were more successful to others, and here is the time to mention three of them who earned IM norms. Trevor Tao (7/9) made his final one, and he is already over 2400 can claim the title. He had a great tournament, and could have even share the first place if he had punished Li Chao’s overambitious play in the final round. Irine Sukundar from Indonesia scored her fourth IM male norm and FM Junta Ikeda from Australia the toughest first one.
Gawain Jones won the brilliancy price game.
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