European Senior Teams Championship Round 1

European Senior Teams Championship Round 1
3-11th May in Thessaloniki - Olympus region, Greece

The European Chess Union, Greek Chess Federation and AMO Galaxias Sports' Club organize the 10th European Senior Teams Championship, from May 3rd to May 11th , 2011 in Thessaloniki - Olympus region.

The Championship started Tuesday with 35 teams from 20 countries and 52 titled players. England is lining three teams, Finland, Denmark, Israel, Norway and Sweden are represented by two teams each. In addition, the teams of Turku and Helsinki (also Finland) are competing.

The top rated teams mostly didn't have problems to cash in the regular rating advantage in the first round of Swiss pairings. However, there were some surprises as Turkey stunned Sportfreunde Katernberg and England 2 tied the score with Catalonia.

Round 2 is being played Wednesday 10:00 CET, follow the top two matches live.

Round 2 pairings:
Russia - Scotland
Switzerland - Germany
Israel 1 - Stiftung BSW BAG 1
England 1 - Montenegro
Finland 1 - Turkey
Niederoesterreich - Austria
Italy - Stiftung BSW DBAG II
England 2 - Denmark 1
Blindern Oldtimers - Catalonia
England 3 - "Steiermark, Austria"
"Sportfreunde, Katernberg" - Denmark 2
Greece - Belgium
Sweden 1 - Freibauer
Turku - Polar Bears Iceland
Norway 1 - Israel 2
Norway 2 - Wales
Finland 2 - Helsinki
Sweden 2 bye

Round 1 results

Belgium - Russia ½ :3½
1/1 FM Rooze Jan 2333 - GM Vasiukov Evgeni 2480 0 - 1
1/2 Van Herck Marcel 2135 - IM Shvedchikov Anatoli I 2412 0 - 1
1/3 Schuermans Robert 2085 - GM Pushkov Nikolai 2406 0 - 1
1/4 Hajenius Willem 1983 - FM Mishuchkov Nikolai M 2403 ½ - ½

Germany - Sweden 1 3½: ½
2/1 GM Uhlmann Wolfgang 2389 - Malmdin Nils-Ake 2278 1 - 0
2/2 GM Hecht Hans-Joachim 2377 - Petersson Gosta 2113 1 - 0
2/3 IM Klundt Klaus 2379 - Svensson Soren 2109 ½ - ½
2/4 FM Werner Clemens 2344 - Sandklef Ake 2017 1 - 0

Polar Bears Iceland - Israel 1 ½ :3½
3/1 Einarsson Arnthor 2227 - IM Birnboim Nathan 2362 ½ - ½
3/2 Gunnarsson Gunnar K 2209 - IM Maryasin Boris 2323 0 - 1
3/3 Finnlaugsson Gunnar 2075 - IM Lederman Leon 2272 0 - 1
3/4 Kristjansson Sigurdur 1945 - GM Kraidman Yair 2260 0 - 1

Montenegro - Norway 1 3 : 1
4/1 GM Ivanovic Bozidar 2409 - Gundersen Helge 2234 1 - 0
4/2 Zivkovic Ljubo 2270 - Hauge Tor Arne 2157 1 - 0
4/3 FM Raicevic Momcilo 2364 - Theting Helge E 2029 1 - 0
4/4 FM Dragasevic Srdja 2266 - Strand Oyvin 1972 0 - 1

Wales - Finland 1 1 : 3
5/1 CM Jones Iolo C 2287 - GM Rantanen Yrjo A 2373 0 - 1
5/2 Thornton John D 2065 - GM Westerinen Heikki M J 2350 0 - 1
5/3 Miles Richard 2068 - FM Hurme Harri 2277 ½ - ½
5/4 Van Kemenade Rudy 1941 - Havansi Erkki E T 2248 ½ - ½

Austria - Finland 2 3½: ½
6/1 IM Danner Georg 2416 - Morant Paul 2184 1 - 0
6/2 IM Hoelzl Franz 2342 - FM Saren Ilkka J 2190 1 - 0
6/3 Ager Josef 2188 - Lyly Seppo 1966 1 - 0
6/4 FM Singer Hans 2274 - Koskinen Veikko 1988 ½ - ½

Denmark 2 - Italy ½ :3½
7/1 Olesen Poul Erik Norgaard 2076 - IM Tatai Stefano 2361 0 - 1
7/2 Nielsen Poul Erik 2100 - GM Mariotti Sergio 2329 ½ - ½
7/3 Rasmussen Lars-Bo 2060 - FM Micheli Carlo 2258 0 - 1
7/4 Preuss Flemming 1991 - FM Rosino Antonio 2248 0 - 1

Denmark 1 - Greece 4 : 0
8/1 Sorensen Bent 2343 - IM Skalkotas Nikolaos 2183 1 - 0
8/2 FM Sloth Jorn 2310 - FM Tsomis Dimitrios 2187 1 - 0
8/3 IM Brinck-Claussen Bjorn 2271 - Aftsoglou Ioannis 2168 1 - 0
8/4 FM Jorgensen Jorgen 2221 - Efkarpidis Stylianos 1600 1 - 0

Turkey - "Sportfreunde, Katernberg" 3 : 1
9/1 Pekun Cem 2151 - FM Bachmann Karlheinz 2282 1 - 0
9/2 Muratoglu Salih 2068 - FM Nautsch Werner 2243 1 - 0
9/3 Ozbilen Hayri 2059 - FM Neese Hans-Joachim 2234 0 - 1
9/4 Bapoglu Ibrahim 1828 - Armbruester Juergen 1600 1 - 0

Catalonia - England 3 2 : 2
10/1 GM Rodriguez Vargas Orestes 2405 - Stimpson Philip M 2095 0 - 1
10/2 FM Simon Padros Emili 2281 - Farrand Julian T 2086 1 - 0
10/3 Coll Enriquez Lluis 2182 - Edwards Ray B 2017 1 - 0
10/4 Lluverol Torrents Salvador 2025 - Wood Peter C 1879 0 - 1

Freibauer - Switzerland 1 : 3
11/1 Niebuhr Gerd 2067 - FM Vucenovic Dragomir 2249 ½ - ½
11/2 Juergens Peter 2012 - IM Bhend Edwin 2257 0 - 1
11/3 Hellwege Werner 2009 - FM Hohler Peter 2157 ½ - ½
11/4 Fritsch Juergen Dr 1979 - Illi Hans-Joerg 2141 0 - 1

Scotland - Turku 3½: ½
12/1 IM Pritchett Craig W 2327 - Palmo Pentti 2067 1 - 0
12/2 FM Jamieson Peter M 2277 - Alkkiomaki Jyrki 2057 1 - 0
12/3 White Alastair F 2102 - Rantanen Veikko 2003 1 - 0
12/4 Mckerracher Douglas 1945 - Ranki Martti 1937 ½ - ½

Israel 2 - England 1 0 : 4
13/1 Blaushtain Boris 2115 - FM Byway Paul V 2162 0 - 1
13/2 Har-Even Abir 2062 - CM James Geoffrey H 2207 0 - 1
13/3 Ben-Zeev Moshe 2006 - CM Norman Kenneth I 2188 0 - 1
13/4 Rave Avraham 1865 - Singleton Michael P F 2162 0 - 1

"Steiermark, Austria" - Blindern Oldtimers 2 : 2
14/1 FM Watzka Horst 2274 - Dahl Ivar M 2136 ½ - ½
14/2 Kratschmer Heinz 2177 - Mundal Arnold 2049 ½ - ½
14/3 Nickl Klaus 2149 - Bergersen Per A 1600 ½ - ½
14/4 Pitzl Konstantinos 2095 - Fossum Widar J 1600 ½ - ½

Helsinki - Niederoesterreich 0 : 4
15/1 Auvinen Esa 1966 - FM Titz Heimo 2183 0 - 1
15/2 Patola Eero 1900 - Winiwarter Felix 2167 0 - 1
15/3 Hall Raimo 1880 - Weinwurm Wolfgang 2190 0 - 1
15/4 Laitinen Martti 1799 - FM Strobel Ferdinand 2128 0 - 1

Stiftung BSW BAG 1 - Norway 2 3½: ½
16/1 FM Baumbach Friedrich Dr 2283 - Bjorgvik Jan Arne 1921 1 - 0
16/2 Kugelmann Werner 2226 - Standal Bard 1889 1 - 0
16/3 Fleuch Hans-Juergen 2078 - Birkestrand Odd 1881 ½ - ½
16/4 Hollstein Joachim 2075 - Bue Gunnar 1814 1 - 0

Sweden 2 - England 2 1½:2½
17/1 Carlsson Ingvar 2083 - Macdonald-Ross Michael 2157 ½ - ½
17/2 Danielsson Robert 2043 - CM Ashby Anthony C 2151 ½ - ½
17/3 Karrlander Gunnar 1600 - CM Reuben Stewart 2140 ½ - ½
17/4 Stal Olof Carl 1600 - Scholes James E 2110 0 - 1

Live games are here http://gamesfestival.chessdom.com/live-games
Official site: http://gamesfestival.chessdom.com/

European Seniors Team Chess Championship

European Seniors Team Chess Championship
The championship starts with strong field

The European Seniors Team Chess Championship is starting today in Greece. Many legends of chess will participate, among them 35 teams from 20 countries and 52 titled players.

The official site of the competition is gamesfestival.com and results will be updated at this page

More about the European Seniors Team Chess Championship here and here

Participants (top 10 teams)

1. Russia (Rtg Avg: 2432)

1 GM Vasiukov Evgeni 2480
2 IM Shvedchikov Anatoli I 2412
3 GM Pushkov Nikolai 2406
4 FM Mishuchkov Nikolai M 2403
5 GM Chernikov Oleg L 2430

2. Germany (Rtg Avg: 2372)

1 GM Uhlmann Wolfgang 2389
2 GM Hecht Hans-Joachim 2377
3 IM Klundt Klaus 2379
4 FM Werner Clemens 2344

3. Israel 1 (Rtg Avg: 2344)

1 GM Tseitlin Mark D 2419
2 IM Birnboim Nathan 2362
3 IM Maryasin Boris 2323
4 IM Lederman Leon 2272
5 GM Kraidman Yair 2260

4. Montenegro (Rtg Avg: 2327)

1 GM Ivanovic Bozidar 2409
2 Zivkovic Ljubo 2270
3 FM Raicevic Momcilo 2364
4 FM Dragasevic Srdja 2266
5 Lutovac Maksim 2202

5. Finland 1 (Rtg Avg: 2312)

1 GM Rantanen Yrjo A 2373
2 GM Westerinen Heikki M J 2350
3 FM Hurme Harri 2277
4 Havansi Erkki E T 2248
5 FM Kanko Ilkka 2231

6. Austria (Rtg Avg: 2305)

1 IM Danner Georg 2416
2 IM Hoelzl Franz 2342
3 Ager Josef 2188
4 FM Singer Hans 2274
5 Woeber Friedrich 2172

7. Italy (Rtg Avg: 2299)

1 IM Tatai Stefano 2361
2 GM Mariotti Sergio 2329
3 FM Micheli Carlo 2258
4 FM Rosino Antonio 2248

8. Denmark 1 (Rtg Avg: 2286)

1 Sorensen Bent 2343
2 FM Sloth Jorn 2310
3 IM Brinck-Claussen Bjorn 2271
4 FM Jorgensen Jorgen 2221

9. Sportfreunde, Katernberg (Rtg Avg: 2261)

1 FM Bachmann Karlheinz 2282
2 FM Rosen Willy 2285
3 FM Nautsch Werner 2243
4 FM Neese Hans-Joachim 2234
5 Armbruester Juergen 1600

10. Catalonia (Rtg Avg: 2260)

1 GM Rodriguez Vargas Orestes 2405
2 FM Simon Padros Emili 2281
3 Coll Enriquez Lluis 2182
4 Buxade Roca Guillermo 2173
5 Lluverol Torrents Salvador 2025

Bagaturov Wins Alexander the Great Open

GM Giorgi Bagaturov Wins Alexander the Great Open
25th April to 1st May at the Grand Hotel Palace in Thessaloniki

The Thessaloniki International Open "Alexander the Great", part of the Games Festival 2011, was played from 25th April to 1st May at the Conference Center of Grand Hotel Palace in Thessaloniki.

GM Giorgi Bagaturov of Georgia took a clear first place in the Open A with a key last round victory against IM Jordan Ivanov. Bagaturov collected 7.5 points to narrowly escape the earlier leader FM Anastasios Pavlidis and Greek national player GM Athanasios Mastrovasilis. This is Bagaturov's second trophy in Thessaloniki as he also won the 2009 tournament.

Anastasia Avramidou convincingly won the Open B with 8.5 points from nine games.

102 players in Open A and 25 in Open B took participation. Thessaloniki International Open "Alexander the Great" (April 25th - May 1st) and Sofia's "St. George" tournament (May 4th - May 9th) have joined in a local E79 Grand Prix. The consecutive events offer a prize fund of more than 4000 EUR, as well as cups and medals for the winners.

The overall winner of the two competitions will receive free accommodation in the 2011 Bansko Grand Chess Open (the top winter open event, December 11-18), while the second and third places receive free accommodation for Thessaloniki International Open.

For more information visit the official website.

Greek Individual Chess Championship (R3 and R4 updated)

Greek Individual Chess Championship (R3 and R4 updated)
Full information with videos and games

The 60th edition of the Greek Individual Chess Championship is taking place November 25 - December 4 in Hotel Alkyon, between Patras and Athens. Ten players participate in the round robin competition. Top seeded is GM Vasilios Kotronias (2591), who won the Greek Championship a total of eight times - in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 2006 - and is now looking for his 9th title. His main competition is GM Hristos Banikas (2590) - winner of five consecutive titles from 2000 to 2005 and also 2008 and 2009, GM Dimitrios Mastrovasilis (2580), GM Athanasios Mastrovasilis (2556), and GM Ioannis Nikolaidis (2552). The field is completed by IM Spyridon Kapnisis, FM Konstantinos Nikolaidis, Georgios Kanakaris, Alexandros Koukoufikis, and the 17 years old Athanasios Spiliadis.

Organizers Pnevmatiki Stegi of Peristeri and Greek Chess Federation

Venue: Hotel Alkyon, official website http://indiv2010.peristerichess.gr/

Round 4

Round 4 of the Greek Individual Chess Championship lacked major surprises. The leader GM Dimitrios Mastrovasilis defeated IM Kapnisis and kept the top position of the table. GM Banikas and GM Athanasios Mastrovasilis won against FM Konstantinos Nikolaidis and Athanasios Spiliadis, both games going from opening advantage into a clear victory.

Georgios Kanakaris and Alexandros Koukoufikis finished draw the match of the bottom half of the table. In the most crucial match of the day GM Kotronias defeated GM Nikolaidis.

Download PGN round 3

R3 Game analysis by FM Simonidis: Dimitrios Mastrovasilis - Georgios Kanakaris

Round 3

The most exciting day of the championship so far, both as results and quality. IM Spyridon Kapnisis knocked out the temporary leader GM Kotronias after a fascinating complex game. Kotronias had a winning position in hand, but blundered in time trouble and gave away the full point.

The new leader is GM Dimitrios Mastrovasilis, who won his game with Kanakaris and collected 2,5/3 so far. GM Athanasios Mastrovasilis is closely following his brother, after a victory over Alexandros Koukoufikis.

The young talent Athanasios Spiliadis drew with the experienced FM Konstantinos Nikolaidis, proving that he is not in the final by chance.

The shortest game of the day was between GM Nikolaidis and GM Banikas, who played a well analyzed variation into a short draw.

Download PGN round 3

R2 Game analysis by FM Simonidis: Kapnisis - Nikolaidis

Round 2

The second round of the Greek Individual Chess Championship was in full contrast to the first one. No surprises were registered and the top players won their games.

The heroe of the previous round Georgios Kanakaris and the top rated GM Vasilios Kotronias played the most exciting game of the day. Kotronias was constantly leading the position, while Kanakaris was defending well. The lower rated player had several chances to equalize, but he missed them and finally the many times champion Kotronias scored second consecutive victory.

In a similar fashion went the game IM Spyridon Kapnisis - GM Ioannis Nikolaidis. The Grandmaster had a small advantage right from the opening, which he managed to convert to a very comfortable position. However, in the following moves GM Nikolaidis did not manage to find the precise moves, and Kapnisis used the situation to clinch a draw.

Alexandros Koukoufikis lost on time against FM Konstantinos Nikolaidis, but the position was lost long before Koukoufikis flagged.

The brothers Mastrovasilis protagonized the show of round 2 as they completed a 34 moves draw in just 10 minutes! The regulations of the event state that no draw can be agreed before move 30, a condition that was kept in the game, and the final position was a clear draw rook endgame.

Download PGN round 2

Round 1

The championship got an exciting start with surprising results in round 1. Georgios Kanakaris, one of the participants of the coming Bansko Grand Chess Open, defeated GM Ioannis Nikolaidis with black. Kanakaris used a blunder by Nikolaidis on move 27, and managed to convert it into a full point.

IM Spyridon Kapnisis was also able to hold one of the favorites GM Hristos Banikas to a draw after a close to 5 hours games. The game is analysed by FM Simonidis here

In the derby match of the day GM Vasilios Kotronias managed to defeat his direct opponent for the first places GM Athanasios Mastrovasilis. With precise play of a pair of bishops GM Kotronias scored his first victory and joined the leaders with a full point. Replay the game with analysis here.

The favorites won in the other two matches with relative ease, GM Dimitrios Mastrovasilis defeated FM Konstantinos Nikolaidis, while Alexandros Koukoufikis won against Athanasios Spiliadis.

Download PGN round 1

Greek Individual Chess Championship

Greek Individual Chess Championship
Full information with videos and games

The 60th edition of the Greek Individual Chess Championship is taking place November 25 - December 4 in Hotel Alkyon, between Patras and Athens. Ten players participate in the round robin competition. Top seeded is GM Vasilios Kotronias (2591), who won the Greek Championship a total of eight times - in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 2006 - and is now looking for his 9th title. His main competition is GM Hristos Banikas (2590) - winner of five consecutive titles from 2000 to 2005, GM Dimitrios Mastrovasilis (2580), GM Athanasios Mastrovasilis (2556), and GM Ioannis Nikolaidis (2552). The field is completed by IM Spyridon Kapnisis, FM Konstantinos Nikolaidis, Georgios Kanakaris, Alexandros Koukoufikis, and the 17 years old Athanasios Spiliadis.

Organizers Pnevmatiki Stegi of Peristeri and Greek Chess Federation

Venue: Hotel Alkyon, official website http://indiv2010.peristerichess.gr/

Round 1

The championship got an exciting start with surprising results in round 1. Georgios Kanakaris, one of the participants of the coming Bansko Grand Chess Open, defeated GM Ioannis Nikolaidis with black. Kanakaris used a blunder by Nikolaidis on move 27, and managed to convert it into a full point.

IM Spyridon Kapnisis was also able to hold one of the favorites GM Hristos Banikas to a draw after a close to 5 hours games. The game is analysed by FM Simonidis here

In the derby match of the day GM Vasilios Kotronias managed to defeat his direct opponent for the first places GM Athanasios Mastrovasilis. With precise play of a pair of bishops GM Kotronias scored his first victory and joined the leaders with a full point. Replay the game with analysis here.

The favorites won in the other two matches with relative ease, GM Dimitrios Mastrovasilis defeated FM Konstantinos Nikolaidis, while Alexandros Koukoufikis won against Athanasios Spiliadis.

Download PGN round 1

Round 2

The second round of the Greek Individual Chess Championship was in full contrast to the first one. No surprises were registered and the top players won their games.

The heroe of the previous round Georgios Kanakaris and the top rated GM Vasilios Kotronias played the most exciting game of the day. Kotronias was constantly leading the position, while Kanakaris was defending well. The lower rated player had several chances to equalize, but he missed them and finally the many times champion Kotronias scored second consecutive victory.

In a similar fashion went the game IM Spyridon Kapnisis - GM Ioannis Nikolaidis. The Grandmaster had a small advantage right from the opening, which he managed to convert to a very comfortable position. However, in the following moves GM Nikolaidis did not manage to find the precise moves, and Kapnisis used the situation to clinch a draw.

Alexandros Koukoufikis lost on time against FM Konstantinos Nikolaidis, but the position was lost long before Koukoufikis flagged.

The brothers Mastrovasilis protagonized the show of round 2 as they completed a 34 moves draw in just 10 minutes! The regulations of the event state that no draw can be agreed before move 30, a condition that was kept in the game, and the final position was a clear draw rook endgame.

Download PGN round 2

Participants

GM Vasilios Kotronias
GM Hristos Banikas
GM Dimitrios Mastrovasilis
GM Athanasios Mastrovasilis
GM Ioannis Nikolaidis
IM Spyridon Kapnisis
FM Konstantinos Nikolaidis
Georgios Kanakaris
Alexandros Koukoufikis
Athanasios Spiliadis

Travel Thursday on Empty Streets: Let us Visit Greece

Greece is a country filled with so much history, one that is both magical, mythical and modern. It has become the corner stone of modern civilization and has been the root of where most of what we have right now in terms of culture and language.

Today I would like you to see what this country now in the modern age has to offer and to be honest with you nothing much has changed. The charm and enchantment it once had in the past still linger in the land and in its people. To the get things started though here is a list of places to visit and add to your itinerary once you are in Greece:
Athens: Apart from being the capital of the nation Athens is the largest city in Greece. You will be able to explore the breathtaking view of the surrounding area consisting of all the flat topped hills located at the Acropolis. The 2400 year old monument of Parthenon creates an awe-inspiring view of the area.This monument is considered to be among the classical monuments in the world. Your tour of Athens has a lot to offer you during your tour of the city.
Cape Sounio: Cape Sounio is located at the eastern part of the country. This place is famous for the stark ruins of the Poseidon Temple of the fourth century BC. This is among the most Famous Tourist Spots in Greece mainly because of the wonderful view of the wide panorama that can be enjoyed over here. The view of the island and the sea is simply superb. Piraeus: This place is located at the heart of the Saronic Gulf, outside Athens. Piraeus is the main port near Athens. You can enjoy a ferry ride from this place to the main land of Greece.
Delphi: This place is one of the Famous Tourist Spots in Greece. This was the Oracle of the ancient Greece and several emperors of the ancient country used to come here, frequently for moral and political guidance. Here you will be able to explore the ancient temple of Apollo. The Delphi museum houses a lot of articles worth exploring. If you are in Delphi you must spend a night at the hilly region of Arahova, the town famous for making cheese.

And now to show you what I mean here is a couple of tourism videos for you to watch and enjoy: