27.2.08

Tournament Overview

Doorway to the Haute-Loire, the small town of Aurec-sur-Loire nestles in a picturesque curve of the Loire, where the foaming waters rushing down from the Velay find calm in the magnificent lake behind the Grangent dam.
Glorious countryside combines with a rich cultural heritage to make Aurec-sur-Loire an ideal place to visit less than an hour from Lyon...


But this is enough for representation, since you will not have enough time to see all the things if you decide to visit the Aurec open. It will take place on 23.03.2008, I highly recommend it to you. Price fund is 5000 euros, not bad at all for a one-day rapid. Nature is wonderful, organizer Olivier Deville will do his best to suffice your needs.

A few years ago when I took part in the open, there were various strong players to go into top 100 nowadays- such as Volokitin and Fedorchuk. I remember a curious case from the game Marciano-Fedorchuk: White was trying to win an endgame rook versus knight, and the Ucranian was in severe time-trouble. Then Marciano blundered his rook, and offered a draw, but Fedorchuk declined it:”What draw, I am a knight up!”

For more information visit: http://www.open-aurec.com/

Leonardo da Vinci and Chess

ROME, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Researchers say an early guide to playing the game of chess might have been illustrated by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci.
Leonardo was a close friend of Italian mathematician and Franciscan friar Luca Pacioli, who wrote "De ludo scacchorum." The chess manual was found in a private library last year.
The manuscript, produced about 1500, contains 48 pages of diagrams, each representing a possible chess scenario to which Pacioli offered his solutions, the BBC reported.
Researchers say they have asked experts in the United States to determine if the drawings are, in fact, Leonardo's work, the British network said.
Information by Republique.

26.2.08

Test Yourself 3

Or when the pieces are stuck.
White to play and mate in 5.

1.Bg5+ avoiding the first mine-[1.f8Q g5!= (1...f5+? 2.Kf4 g5+ 3.Bxg5+ Kh5 4.Qe8+ g6 5.Qe2#) ] 1...fxg5 2.f8R! and now the second-[2.f8Q Qg8 3.Qxg8-stalemate!] 2...Qg8 3.Rxg8 Kh7 4.Rf8 Kh6 5.Rh8# 1–0 Pogosiants

25.2.08

Eduard Fomichenko claims first price in Rochefort.

Russian IM was the most solid participant in the “town of cheese”. Not losing a single game, and winning five he won the tournament half point ahead of group of six rivals to share 2-7. Excellent tournament for my teammate from Migne Xavier Bedouin, who is second on tie. Elo-favourite Valentin Iotov started disastrously with only half a point after two rounds, but recovered, and even had a chance for a clear first, had he have won the final game against the winner. Still, he managed to perform some nice games there:
Iotov,Valentin (2495) - Inkiov,Ventsislav (2456) [D36]
Rochefort (8.9), 22.02.2008
[Valentin Iotov]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.e3 c6 7.Nf3 Be7 8.Qc2 0–0 9.Bd3 Re8 10.0–0 Nf8 11.h3 [11.Rae1 Be6 12.Ne5 N6d7 13.Bxe7 Rxe7 14.f4 f6 15.Nf3 Nb6 16.f5 Bf7 17.g4 h6 18.h4 (18.Nh4 Qd6 19.Ng2 Rae8 20.Qf2 Nbd7 21.Re2 a6 22.Nf4 b5 23.h4 b4 24.Nd1 c5„ 1/2 Agrest,E (2601)-Asrian,K (2605)/Tripoli 2004 (49)) 18...Qd6 19.Qg2 Rae8 20.e4 Technically speaking this move is new; 20.Јf2 was once played between amateurs and is not really relevant. (20.Qf2) 20...dxe4 (20...Nfd7!? 21.g5 Kh8 22.g6 Bg8ч) 21.Nxe4 1–0 Mamedyarov,S (2752)-Gurevich,M (2627)/Crete 2007] 11...Be6 12.Ne5 N6d7 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.f4 f6 15.Nf3 Better than: [15.Nxd7 Qxd7 16.f5 Bf7 17.Rf3 Re7 18.Qf2 Rae8 19.g4 Qd6 (19...h6 20.h4 Nh7 21.Re1 is a slight edge for White) 20.h4 Nd7 21.Kh1 c5 22.Rg1 c4 23.Bc2 b5 24.g5 b4 25.Ne2 Bh5 26.Rfg3 Bxe2 27.Qxe2 c3 and Black is ahead in his play.] 15...Bxh3?!

16.gxh3 Qxe3+ 17.Kg2 [17.Rf2 Qxf4 18.Ne2 Qh6 19.Kh2 Re3 20.Ng3 Qf4 21.Kg2 g6 with some compensation.] 17...Qxf4 18.Rae1 g6 19.Ne2 Other possibilities are: [19.Qf2 Ne6 20.Qg3 Qh6 21.Ne2 Re7 22.Bf5 Rae8 23.Bxe6+ Rxe6 24.Nc3 Nf8 25.h4; 19.Re2 Ne6 20.Rfe1 Ndf8] 19...Qd6?! Black had to search an endgame: [19...Qh6

20.Qc1 Qxc1 21.Nxc1 Ne6 22.Rg1 (22.Kg3 f5 23.Ne2 Nf6 24.Nf4 Ne4+ 25.Bxe4 dxe4 26.Nxe6 Rxe6 27.Nd2 Rd6 28.Nb3 a5 is what Black is aiming for.) 22...f5 23.Kf2 Kf8 24.Ne2 Nf6 and White is slightly better in the endgame, but Black has chances.] 20.Qd2 Ne6 [20...Re7 21.Nf4 Rae8 22.Rxe7 Rxe7 23.h4 with better prospects] 21.Kh1 Re7 22.Rg1 Rae8 23.Qh6 [23.Bxg6 leads only to a draw after: 23...hxg6 24.Rxg6+ Kh8 (24...Rg7 25.Rxg7+ Nxg7 26.Rg1 Qe6 27.Qh6 Re7 28.Ng3 Qe3 29.Qxe3 Rxe3 30.Nf5 Rxf3 31.Rxg7+ Kf8 32.Rxd7 Rxf5 33.Rxb7 a5=) 25.Rh6+ Rh7 26.Rxh7+ Kxh7 27.Nf4 Ndf8 28.Qd3+ Kh8 29.Ng6+ Kg8 30.Rg1 Ng7 31.Nxf8 Rxf8 32.Nh4 Rf7 33.Nf5 Qf4 34.Rg4 Qc1+ 35.Rg1 Qf4=] 23...Ndf8 24.Ref1 [24.h4 Nd8 25.h5 Nf7 26.Qd2 g5] 24...Rg7 [24...Qb4 25.Nh2 Nd7 26.Ng4 Rf8 27.Nf4 Nxf4 28.Rxf4 Rg7 29.Bf5 Qd6 30.Bxd7 Rxd7

31.Ne3 and my advantage grew.] 25.Nh2 [25.h4 c5 26.h5 deserves attention.] 25...Nd7 26.h4 [26.Ng3 Qf8 27.Nf3 (27.Nh5 Rf7 28.Ng4 f5 29.Qxf8+ Kxf8 30.Nh6 Nxd4 31.Nxf7 Kxf7 32.Nf4 Re3) 27...c5 28.Bb5 a6 29.Bxd7 Rxd7 30.Qh4] 26...c5 27.Ng3 [27.h5 c4 (27...Ng5 28.hxg6 hxg6 29.Bxg6 Rxe2 30.Nf3) 28.hxg6 cxd3 29.gxh7+ Kh8 30.Rxg7 Nxg7 31.Nf4 Nf8 32.Rg1 Qd7 33.Nxd3] 27...c4? Better was: [27...Nxd4

28.Nh5 Qf8 29.Bxg6 (29.Qxg7+ Qxg7 30.Nxg7 Kxg7 31.Nf3 Nxf3 32.Rxf3 Ne5 33.Rfg3

and in this wild position, White chances should still be preferable, although it is not easy to see how will he braek through ) 29...Rxg6 30.Rxg6+ hxg6 31.Qxg6+ Kh8 32.Nf4 f5 33.Qh5+ Kg7 34.Rg1+ Kf6 35.Qh7 Ne5 36.Rg7 Qh8 37.Nxd5+ Ke6 38.Nc7+ Kd6 39.Nxe8+ Qxe8 40.Qg8 Qxg8 41.Rxg8 and due to his passed "h" pawn White should be winning.] 28.Nf5!

28...gxf5 29.Bxf5 Ndf8 30.Ng4 [30.Bxe6+! Nxe6 31.Ng4 Kh8 32.Nxf6 Ree7 33.Qxh7+ Rxh7 34.Rg8#] 30...Kh8 31.Nxf6 Qe7 [31...Ree7 32.Bxh7] 32.Nxe8 Qxe8 33.Bxe6 [33.Qf6 Kg8 34.Re1] 33...Nxe6 34.Qf6

34...Kg8 Black is not only meterial down but his king is deperately weak. The rest is easy. 35.Rxg7+ Nxg7 36.Rg1+- Qd7 37.Kh2 b5 [37...h5 38.Rg5] 38.h5 Qc7+ 39.Kh3 Qd7+ 40.Rg4 h6 41.Qxh6 Qf7 42.Qg5 Kh8 43.Rf4 Qe6+ 44.Qg4 Qe7 45.Rf3 Ne6 46.Rf5 Ng7 47.Re5 Qf6 48.Rxd5 b4 49.Rc5 Ne6 50.Rf5 Qh6 51.d5 Qe3+ 52.Qg3 1–0

Final Ranking:

1. m Fomichenko Eduard 7
2. f Bedouin Xavier 6,5
3.m Collas Silvia 6,5
4.m Pytel Krzysztof 6,5
5.m Iotov Valentin 6,5
6.m Stets Dmitry 6,5
7 Le Bourhis Dominique 6,5
8.f David Vincent 6
9.g Inkiov Ventzislav 6
10 Saada Julien 6
Etc. -106 participants.



22.2.08

Test Yourself 2

Or when space matters:


1.a8Q+! Kxa8 2.Kc7+ Ka7 3.Qa2+ Qa6 4.Qf2+ Ka8 5.Qf8+ Ka7 6.Qb8# 1–0 Pogosiants

20.2.08

Happy Birthday, Brother!

I wish you all the best in life, and this is one of the things that I promised you last year. I know you like the bishops!

Crouan,S (2204) - Bojkov,Dejan (2474) [B07]
Guingamp Guingamp (5.1), 20.02.2006

46...Bg4+ 47.Kh2 Bf3 48.Kh3 Rxg2 0–1

Fun

"The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated"
I am not quoting Mark Twain in vain. This happens all the times in our chess society. A couple of days ago I asked my friend IM Spas Kozhuharov for permission to publish one of his stories. “Which one?” he asked. “The one with the scalp”, I said. “Oh, yeah, let me hear it”. And I started- as far as I heard, you played a tournament in Serbia, and lost to some local hero. Then his teammates appeared and congratulated him: “Great. You took his scalp!” “But he does not have one”, nodded your opponent.
“Nice story”, Spas laughed, “it is good that I know it now…”
Something similar happened with another Bulgarian IM-Jivko Bratanov. A few years ago he had a very unpleasant case in France, when his notebook and passport were stolen in a park. “I was exhausted, tired and sick of all the travelling, having a sandwich in the park. I did not really see who took the laptop. But till the time of my return in Bulgaria I was already clapping with my hands and dancing with a couple of girls in the park, while their partner was robbing me…”

14.2.08

Losing with Honor

Petkov,V (2434) - Bojkov,D (2523) [E91]
Memorial Tringov Plovdiv (4.1), 04.02.2008
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0–0 6.Be2 Na6 7.0–0 e5 8.Be3 Ng4 9.Bg5 Qe8 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.h3 h6 12.Bd2 Nf6 13.Be3 Qe7 14.Qc1 Vladimir is the first one to deviate from our previous game: [14.a3 c6 15.b4 Nh5 16.Re1 Nf4 17.Bf1 Qf6 18.Ra2 Rd8 19.Rd2 Be6 20.Kh2 Rxd2 21.Nxd2 Rd8 22.b5 Nc7 23.bxc6 bxc6 24.Qa4 Nxh3 25.gxh3 Rxd2 26.Qxa7 Rc2 27.Qb8+ Kh7 (27...Bf8 28.Nd1) 28.Nd1 Bxc4 29.Qb1 (29.Qxc7 Bxf1 30.Rxf1 Rc4) 29...Bxf1 30.Qxc2± 1–0 Petkov,V (2512)-Bojkov,D (2475)/Svilengrad BUL 2006/The Week in Chess 591 (73)] 14...Kh7 15.Nd5 Qd8 16.Rd1 Nxe4 17.c5 Bd7 18.Bd3N and an interesting one. 18...f5 19.Bxe4 fxe4 20.Nd2 Bxh3 I took the challenge. 21.Nxe4 Qh4 [21...Bd7 was the solid continuation 22.Qc4 with compensation, but I already had something in mind...] 22.f3

22...Bxg2 After some desparate try to calculate everything I went for it. The arising positions are too difficult to assess, but I felt that my attack should be sufficient for at least draw. The sacrifices are positional- Black will now chace his opponent's king in the centre of the board. 23.Kxg2 Rxf3 24.Kxf3 Weaker is: [24.Ng5+ since it gives more possibilities to Black- 24...hxg5 25.Kxf3 e4+ opening the bishop. 26.Ke2 (26.Kg2 Qg4+ 27.Kh1 Qh3+ 28.Kg1 Qg3+ 29.Kh1 Rh8 and mate is inevitable)

26...Qh5+ 27.Ke1 Qh1+ 28.Ke2 Qf3+ 29.Ke1 c6‚ (29...Nb4!?) ] 24...Rf8+ 25.Bf4 White had multiple choise here: [25.Ndf6+ Bxf6 26.Nxf6+ Qxf6+ 27.Ke2 Going to the other side is always wrong, since there is noone to help- (27.Kg2? Qf3+ 28.Kh2 Qh5+ 29.Kg2 Qg4+ 30.Kh2 Rf3

and mate) 27...Qf3+ 28.Ke1 (28.Kd2? Rd8+ 29.Kc3 Rxd1 30.Qxd1 Qxe3+–+) 28...Qh1+ (28...Rf7!?is suggested by Fritz 11; 28...Nb4 29.Rd7+ Kh8 with sufficient compensation) 29.Kd2 (29.Ke2 Qf3+=) 29...Qe4 30.Qc3 There is no time for counterattack: (30.Rh1 Nb4 31.Rxh6+ Kg7 32.Qc3 (32.Kc3 Nd5+ 33.Kb3 Nxe3) 32...Qg2+) 30...Nb4 using the last reserves. 31.Kc1 Nd5 32.Rxd5 Qxd5 with unclear game.

Black has three pawns for the piece, and both kings are insecure.; 25.Nef6+ Bxf6 26.Ke2? is not logical. After: 26...Bg5 27.Bxg5 (27.Rh1 Qg4+ 28.Ke1 Qg2 29.Rg1 Qxd5–+) 27...Rf2+ 28.Ke3 Qg3+ 29.Ke4 hxg5 White will be soon mated.; 25.Nf4 exf4 26.Bd4 Qh3+ 27.Kf2 Qh2+

and Black has at least perpetual but he can also try:28.Kf3 (28.Kf1 f3 is even better for Black) 28...Qh5+ 29.Kf2 f3 for example: 30.Bxg7 Qh2+ 31.Ke3 Qe2+ 32.Kd4 Kxg7 33.Rd2 Rd8+ 34.Nd6 (34.Kc3 Qe3+ 35.Kc4 Qxe4+) 34...Qe6‚ And Black continues his attack for free.] 25...Qh3+ [25...Qh5+] 26.Ke2 In case of: [26.Kf2 Qh2+ 27.Kf3 Black can force a draw by 27...Qh3+= or continue the battle with:(27...Qh5+ 28.Kf2 exf4 although most probably Black will have to force perpetual here, too.) ] 26...Qg2+ 27.Kd3 Probably better is: [27.Ke3 exf4+ 28.Nxf4 Rxf4 or: (28...Qg4 29.Rf1 g5 30.Nd3 (30.Nd5 Qh3+ 31.Kd2 Qg2+= (weaker is 31...Rd8 32.Qc4 Qe6 33.Qd3) ) 30...Rd8 with possible line: 31.Qc4

31...Rd4 32.Qxd4 Qh3+ 33.Kd2 Bxd4 34.Nxg5+ hxg5 35.Rh1 Qxh1 36.Rxh1+ Kg6 37.b4±) 29.Kxf4 g5+ 30.Ke3 Qh3+ 31.Ke2 Qg4+ and if White now wants to avoid the perpetual, he has to go for unusual endgame: 32.Kf1 Qh3+ 33.Ke1 Qh1+ 34.Kf2 Qxe4 35.Qb1 Qxb1 36.Raxb1 Nxc5 when everything is possible

27...exf4 28.Qc2 Only move, after: [28.Ndc3 Bxc3 29.Nxc3 Nxc5+ 30.Kc4 Qc6 31.b4 b5+ 32.Nxb5 Ne6+ 33.Kb3 Qxb5–+] 28...Qh3+ Logical-the queen is transfered to a better place with a tempo. [28...Nxc5+ was suggested by Krum Georgiev in the post mortem 29.Qxc5 Qf3+ 30.Kc2 Qxe4+ 31.Kb3 (31.Rd3) 31...Rf5 32.Qc4 Qxc4+ 33.Kxc4 c6 (33...Rf7!?) ] 29.Kc4 [29.Kd2 Rd8 (29...Rf5!? is avoiding the 30.Ng5 possibility.) 30.Kc1 (30.Ng5+ hxg5 31.Rh1 Rxd5+ 32.Ke2 f3+ 33.Ke3 Re5+ 34.Kf2 Re2+ 35.Qxe2 Bd4+ 36.Qe3 Bxe3+ 37.Kxe3 Qh5 38.Rxh5+ gxh5 39.c6 and it is something similar like the game) 30...Rxd5

31.Rxd5 Nb4 32.Qb3 Qh1+ 33.Rd1 Qxe4 with big advantage] 29...Qe6 [29...Qf5 with an edge is my engine's suggestion, but I hardly understand the idea. Pinning the knight is of course the human move. After the move in the text I felt that the win is near. But...] 30.Qe2! Played instantly. 30...Be5 I rejected: [30...Re8 because of 31.Nef6+ Bxf6 32.Qxe6 Rxe6 33.Re1! Rc6 34.Nxf6+ Rxf6 35.Re7+ Kg8 36.Rd1 with the idea Kb5 and c6. 36...Rf7 37.Rdd7

and this position is very hard to assess-Black has material advantage, but his king is cut, and the knight is off-the board. I did not like it.] 31.Kb3 [31.Re1 Rf5 32.Nef6+ Kg7 33.Ng4 c6 34.Nxe5 Qxd5+ 35.Kc3 f3] 31...c6 32.Qc4 cxd5 I started to lose the path. Better was: [32...b5 33.cxb6 (№33.Ndf6+ Rxf6 34.Qxe6 Rxe6 35.a4 (35.Rd7+ Bg7 36.Rxa7 Rxe4 37.Rxa6 Re2 (or 37...Re6!?with an edge) ) 35...g5 36.axb5 cxb5 37.Rd7+ Kg6 38.Rxa7 Kf5 39.Nd6+ Bxd6 40.cxd6 Nc5+ 41.Kb4 Nd3+ 42.Kc3 Rxd6 43.Rd1
43...b4+ 44.Kc2 b3+ 45.Kxb3 (45.Kc3 Rc6+ 46.Kxb3 (46.Kxd3? Rd6+ 47.Ke2 f3+–+) 46...Ne5–+) 45...Nc5+ 46.Kc2 Rc6 and Black is much better) 33...cxd5 34.Rxd5 Rc8–+] 33.Qxd5 Qf7 [33...Qe7 34.Qd7 Rf7 35.Qxe7 Rxe7 might be better version than the game.] 34.Qxf7+ Rxf7 35.Rd5 Bc7 36.Rad1 Nb8 37.Nd6 Bxd6 Another option was: [37...Re7 38.Nxb7 g5 39.Nd6 with double-edged position] 38.Rxd6 Better than: [38.cxd6 Nd7 39.Re1 g5 40.Re7 Kg6 and Black is ready to advance the pawns.] 38...f3 39.Kc3

39...f2? The crucial mistake. I missed a simple tactical motive in the time trouble. After the normal moves: [39...h5 or even:; 39...g5 40.Rh1 Kg7 41.Rdxh6 the position is far away from clear.] 40.Rf1 Na6 [40...Nd7 41.Rxf2 Rxf2 42.Rxd7+ Kg8 43.Rxb7+- is what I missed. Now the knight has to go to passive position. Black lost his pride, the f2 pawn, and the game...] 41.b4 g5 42.Rd2 Rf3+ 43.Kc4 Rf4+ 44.Rd4 Rxd4+ [44...Rf7 was more stubborn. Now White realizes his advantage precisesly.] 45.Kxd4

45...Nxb4 46.Rxf2+- Kg6 47.Rb2 Nc6+ 48.Ke4 Nd8 49.Rd2 Ne6 50.Rd6 Kf7 51.Kd5 Nf4+ 52.Ke5 Ke7 53.Rxh6 Kd7 54.a4 Kc7 55.a5 Nd3+ 56.Kd4 Nb4 57.Kc4 Nc6 58.Rh7+ Kb8 59.a6 bxa6 60.Kd5 Nd8 61.c6 Kc8 62.Kd6 I consider this game my best achievement in the tournament. Although it is my only lost, it does not happen every day to sacrifice a bishop and a rook for a pure positional attack. 1–0

The Madman’s Return

Rusev,K (2521) - Janachkov,A (2241)
Memorial Tringov Plovdiv (2), 03.02.2008


White could have tortured his opponent for a long time in the endgame. But he decided that everything is ready, and created a mating net- 1.Bf7-when the rook when mad: Ra8 2.Rc7 Rc8 3.Re7 Re8 Ѕ–Ѕ

13.2.08

Plovdiv- Open Bulgarian Championship (Memorial Georgi Tringov)

30-th Jubilee Open Bulgarian Championship took place in Plovdiv 2-8 February. Since 2001 it is named after the second grandmaster in the history of Bulgarian chess-Georgi Tringov who passed away in 2000. This remarkable man was born in Plovdiv, and is one of the most famous representatives of the Plovdiv chess school and Bulgarian chess. Some of his records are not still beaten-he took part in 12 Olympic games, and won two times golden medals for best performance on his board (Lugano, 1968-second board, and Buenos Aires, 1978- third board). He is the second Bulgarian player to take part in an Interzonal tournament (Amsterdam 1964), three-time national champion. Tringov is famous for his fighting spirit, and aggressive chess, his kindness, and strong memory. It is known that he never had a chess-set at his home, and all the theory that he knew was from his strong visual memory.

(Plovdiv-Amphitheatre)
At the opening ceremony the organizer Haralampi Vanev, made a short speech in memory of his citizen and friend and wished to all the young players to achieve at least small part of the results, and understanding in chess that Tringov had. The tournament started with a pleasant surprise when three players-GM Ivan Radulov, IM Petar Orev and Petar Ljangov were presented with flowers for being the only participants in the first edition of the open back in 1966. There were small prices for shortest win, best endgame (won by Petar Orev), and a special price for GM J. Radulski for most elegant player of the tournament. The best Bulgarian player will play at the EIC free of taxes.
(Berbatov and Ivanov in good mood)
Novotel Plovdiv hosted 237 players from seven countries. Among them were 13 GMs and 27 IMs, who competed for the price fund of 8000 euro. Romanian group was impressive-there was a whole bus with Romanian children, and some strong GMs to compete for the title. GM Nevednichi said: “I was here for the ETC in 2003, and I like the place very much. Now I come to check the things before the EIC, and play a good tournament. I have a lot of friends in Bulgaria.” Although there were no conditions for the titled players the organizing committee arranged a very special price of 6 euro per bed in a double room for all the players. Not bad for a five-star hotel, is not it?
We played in one of the halls where the championship will take place. This was a general rehearsal before the EIC and the hotel passed it with honor. Bulgarian semi-finals and finals will also take part here, when life-transmission of the games will be tested.
(WIM Iulia Ionica (ROM))
Plovdiv is a nice ancient town, where Roman ruins peacefully live together with Orthodox Churches and Mosque. The old town is a special place for a walk and fun.
Among the participants were two world champions. GM Ljuben Spassov (BUL) (ex-senior champion from 2005), and Ioan Cristian Chirila (ROM), world champion under 16 for the last year.
The mayor of Plovdiv Mr. Slavcho Atanasov paid a visit to the tournament. It appeared that he is a big chess fan, and received a chess set from the organizers. “I will practice hard, and we will meet you the next year again”, promised the politician.
The tournament was very tense, and everything was possible until the final game. Our youngest GM (actually he is waiting for the FIDE congress to achieve the title) Valentin Iotov was the most stable player, and deservedly won the tournament. He had just returned from USA, his biological clock did not work very well, but his play was fine. Valentin had only one suspicious position for the whole tournament, won six games, and drew three, playing practically with all the best players. In the final round he refused a draw against GM Berescu from Romania (although the draw appeared to be enough later for the first place), won the game and the tournament solely. The guests from Romania also did well and three of them went into the big group that shared 2-10 places. Gabriel-Andrei Grecescu achieved GM result, while two Bulgarian players-Veselin Pantev and Velislav Kukov made IM norms. WGM M. Voiska who represents the organizing club won the first female price.
(Iotov-left and me before the last game)
Final Ranking

1 IM Iotov Valentin 2495 BUL 7,5
2 GM Kolev Atanas 2572 BUL 7,0
3 IM Karakehajov Kalin 2437 BUL 7,0
4 GM Nevednichy Vladislav 2538 ROU 7,0
5 IM Bojkov Dejan 2523 BUL 7,0
6 Grecescu Gabriel-Andrei 2383 ROU 7,0
7 IM Chirila Ioan Cristian 2400 ROU 7,0
8 GM Radulski Julian 2511 BUL 7,0
9 IM Drenchev Petar 2426 BUL 7,0
10 IM Dochev Dimitar 2421 BUL 7,0
… 237 paricipants from 7 countries

Test Yourself 1


1.g7 Rb2+ 2.Kc6! Rb8 3.Kc7 Re8 4.Bf7 Ra8 5.Be6+ Kh4 6.Bc8 Ra7+ 7.Bb7 1–0 Zahodiakin

1.2.08

My last Chessbase Report




Jura OpenDer Kanton Jura ist der jüngste der Schweizer Kantone. Er entstand nach kulturell-politischen Spannungen und einer Volksabstimmung 1978 durch Abspaltung vom Kanton Bern. Delemont ist die Hauptstadt des Kantons. Seit einigen Jahren wird hier von den örtlichen Schachfreunden das Jura Open veranstaltet, das reihum in den Orten Moutier, Court und Porrentruy stattfindet In diesem Jahr war Delemont der Austragungsort. Bei nur fünf Runden spielte in Bezug auf den Turniersieg auch das Glück eine Rolle, meint unser Berichterstatter Dejan Bojkov. Dieses hatte Andrej Solokov auf seiner Seite, was einmal mehr beweist, dass das Glück auf der Seite des Tüchtigen ist.Turnierseite...
Schweizer Gastfreundschaft: Das Jura OpenVon Dejan Bojkov
Kleine Partienauswahl...
Die Jura-FlaggeDer Kanton Jura ist der jüngste der Schweizer Kantone. Er entstand 1978, als sich die Schweizer nach heftigen kulturell-politischen Spannungen in einer Abstimmung für eine Trennung vom Kanton Bern entschieden. Der Kanton Jura ist französischsprachig, die Hauptstadt ist Delemont (11.000 Einwohner).




Das Rathaus von Delemont mit einem von vier berühmten Brunnen
Diese alte Stadt war Gastgeberin des fünften Jura-Opens.Das Jura Open wird jedes Jahr an einem anderen Ort ausgetragen. Nächstes Jahr wird es in Moutier stattfinden, 2009 in Court, 2010 in Porrentruy und 2011 wieder in Delemont. Dies sind die Schachzentren der Region.
Court leistet viel Jugendarbeit und der ehemalige WM-Kandidat GM Andrei Sokolov hat in Porrentruy viele Schüler. Wir spielten im alten Teil der Stadt, im Chateau de Delemont.



Dieses Schloss wurde 1721 für Bischof Prinz Jean-Conrad de Reinach errichtet. Es ist ein großer Barockbau mit Hof und Garten. Heute beherbergt das Gebäude die Grundschulen des Dorfs.
Nur 20 Meter neben dem Schloss befindet sich das Jura-Museum für Kunst und Geschichte. 1909 von Abbé Arthur Daucourt gegründet, widmen sich seine Ausstellungen vor allem der Kultur der Gegend. Jura war einst eine Residenz Basler Priester und noch immer ist die Stadt Delemont sehr religiös.
Zu den interessanten Dingen, die man in der Stadt sehen kann, gehören die Brunnen: der Jungfrauenbrunnen, der Brunnen des Barbaren, sowie die Brunnen von St. Maurice und St. Henry. Der zuerst genannte ist der Jungfrau Maria gewidmet und wurde 1576 gebaut, der zweite 1583, der dritte wurde 1577 errichtet und ist auch als Brunnen des römischen Kriegers bekannt und der letzte ist dem deutschen Kaiser Heinrich (1014-1024) gewidmet.
LöwenbrunnenMeine freundlichen Gastgeber, die Turnierorganisatoren Didier Schaller und Francois Klopfenstein erklärten mir, dass ihr Schachclub zwischen den drei Städten Delemont, Moutier und Lajoux geteilt wird.
“So findet man leichter Spieler für die Mannschaften, wir haben eine größere Auswahl. Außerdem können wir Gebäude in den verschiedenen Städten nutzen – an Donnerstagen sind wir im Hotel de Boef in Delemont, mittwochs in Moutiers und freitags in Lajoux. Die Städte liegen nur 10-15 Kilometer voneinander entfernt und die Entfernungen stellen überhaupt kein Problem dar”, ergänzt Francois. Er ist Elektroingenieur und arbeitet für den “Swatch”-Konzern. Durch ihn weiß ich jetzt, dass die Herstellung einer einzigen Uhr sehr aufwändig ist, und dass die besten Uhrmacher in der Gegend wohnen.Das Turnier lockte 92 Teilnehmer an, darunter drei GMs und sechs IMs. Gespielt wurden lediglich fünf Runden und jeder Fehlgriff hätte deshalb fatale Folgen für die Platzierung. Auf solch kurze Distanz viele Punkte zu machen und weit vorne zu landen ist zum Teil auch eine Frage des Glücks.
Am Ende erzielten drei Spieler 4,5 Punkte und teilten sich den ersten Platz: die GMs Andrei Sokolov und Sebastien Maze aus Frankreich und ich. Am Ende erwies sich die Partie Milosevic-Riff als entscheidend: Hier gewann Weiß, doch jeder andere Ausgang der Partie wäre besser für meine Buchholz gewesen. Maze und Sokolov lagen im Tie-Break absolut gleichauf und wurden deshalb zu gemeinsamen Gewinnern des Jura-Opens erklärt. Ich hatte einen halben Buchholz-Punkt weniger. “Zum Glück gab es keinen Pokal für den Sieger und dadurch auch kein Problem” scherzte Sokolov bei der Abschlussfeier.
Etwas Merkwürdiges geschah in der ersten Runde, die für Sebastien Maze beinahe fatal gewesen wäre. Der junge französische GM hatte sein Handy ausgeschaltet, aber die Batterie versagte und das Handy machte ein Geräusch. Zum Glück für ihn hörte sein Gegner das nicht (oder wollte nicht auf diese Weise gewinnen), wobei ihm allerdings ihm gleichen Moment ein Fehler unterlief, der ihn schließlich die Partie kostete. Ich sollte ergänzen, dass Maze jede Partie mit viel Energie gespielt und den Sieg verdient hat.

Für eine weitere bemerkenswerte Leistung sorgte der junge tschechische Spieler Tadeas Balacek, der in der letzten Runde gegen Andrei Sokolov spielen musste und sogar theoretische Chancen auf den ersten Platz hatte.
Wer weiß, vielleicht ist dieser Youngster der zukünftige Navara?!

Bundesliga Baden. Neuhausen Forward.

Schulze,U (2309) - Bojkov,D (2520) [E62]
Bundesliga Baden Neuhausen (5.3), 20.01.2008
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.g3 0–0 5.Bg2 d6 6.0–0 c6 7.Nc3 Qa5 8.e4 e5 9.d5 cxd5 10.cxd5 b5 11.Nd2 b4 12.Nb3 Qc7 13.Ne2

13...a5 14.a3 Na6 15.axb4 axb4 16.h3 Bd7 17.Be3 Bb5 18.Rc1 Qd8 19.Qd2 Nd7 20.Ra1

20...Nac5 21.Nxc5 Nxc5 22.Bxc5 dxc5 23.Rfc1 Qd6 24.b3 f5 25.Rxa8 Rxa8 26.f3 Ra3 27.Rb1 fxe4 28.fxe4

28...c4 29.bxc4 Bxc4 30.Nc1 Bf8 31.Kh2 Be7 32.Qc2 Qc5


White resigned. 0–1

Интервю с гм Бартоломей Мачея (Полша)




Моля, разкажете ни малко повече за скорошния турнир в Маалот-Таршиха, Израел?
Разболях се преди началото на турнира. За щастие след намесата на силни лекарства температурата ми скоро се върна в нормални нива, и преди средата на турнира бях пълен с енергия. За съжаление крайния ми резултат беше много лош най-вече заради тежките цайтноти в които попадах, причинени от трудна за обяснение и нетипична за мен умора в крайната фаза на почти всяка партия. Това доведе до невероятно много груби грешки
Планирате ли да играете в Пловдив?
Да, разбира се. Досега съм пропуснал само едно Европейско Индивидуално Първенство. Не играх миналата година в Дрезден, тъй като вече се бях класирал за Световната купа от Кушадасъ’2006.
Каква е турнирната Ви програма до тогава?
Москва опен, шампионат на Полша, Гауздал (Норвегия) и няколко... турнира по тенис на маса, включително мачове за лигата.
Имате ли някаква специална подготовка преди важни турнири?
В двадесети век се подготвях много по-сериозно преди важни турнири. Например, посветих месец за да се подготвя добре за Световното първенство в Лас Вегас. Сега зависи от много неща. Понякога просто отивам на турнир дори без никаква подготовка. Предпочитам да съм свеж; нещо повече-има периоди, в които нямам достатъчна мотивация да работя или играя шах. Все пак миналата Световна Купа беше изключение. Бях много добре подготвен и мотивиран. Това определено ми помогна да победя Виктор Лазничка и Теймур Раджабов.
Вече сте бил европейски шампион. Беше ли трудно да се спечели титлата? Можете ли да ни разкажете нещо повече за турнира в Батуми?
Точно преди шампионата успях да взема последните си два изключително трудни изпита в Университета на Варшава. Нямах никаво време за подготовка, в последните две седмици спях средно по 3-4 часа на ден и бях изтощен. Когато пристигнах в Батуми първата нощ спах 14 часа! Турнирът започна много лошо за мен, тъй като загубих още в първия кръг. За щастие след това нещата вървяха само към по-добро. Спечелих седем от оставащите дванадесет партии. За решаваща смятам победата ми с черни срещу Дмитри Яковенко в седмия кръг. В този момент съперникът ми имаше внушителните 6.5/7. От този момент нататък се утвърдих в групата на лидерите. А след успешния дванадесети кръг поведох еднолично. Реми след тежка борба с Вадим Милов в последния кръг се оказа достатъчно за да стана шампион.
Как бихте обяснили факта, че в историята на ЕИП ело-фаворитът никога не е ставал шампион?
Това не е истина. През 2004 Васил Иванчук беше номер едно по ело и спечели шампионата
Смятате ли за справедливо квотите за Световно Първенство да се делят поравно между двете европейски първенства?
В официално писмо от 10.03.2006 адресирано до членовете на ЕШС (Европейски Шахматен Съюз) бордът на АПШ (Асоциация на Професионалните Шахматисти) предложи да се установи математическа зависимост между номера на квалификационните места и наградния фонд. Числото на квалификационните места за всеки Европейски Шампионат на двугодишен цикъл да се определя от размера на наградния фонд на всяко първенство. Има известни технически проблеми в гореспоменатото предложение, но аз смятам че те са незначителни и лесни за коригиране.
Били ли сте някога в България? Какво мислите за нашите хора, култура, кухня?
Участвах на ЕОП 2003 в Пловдив на първа дъска на Полския национален отбор. Бях болен по време на целия турнир, но въпреки всичко спечелих индивидуален сребърен медал по перформанс (2762).
Мисля, че България не се различава много от Полша. Ние сме славяни като вас, след втората световна война и двете страни попадат под влиянието на СССР; почти две десетилетия назад възстановихме независимостта си. Имам добри приятели измежду българските шахматисти. Говоря отлично английски и руски, и дори мога да разбера много български думи. Но е очевидно, че не мога да го говоря.
Какви са очакванията Ви относно турнира?
Ами, в последно време отново съм болен, а турнирът ще се проведе в Пловдив. Добри знаци за едно добро представяне.
Благодаря Ви за отделеното време и успех в предстоящите турнири!
Интервю на Деян Божков
Здравейте. Добре дошли в новия ми блог!