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NEWSLETTER 149 (March 26, 2014)

ESCC OPORTO 2014 OFFICIALLY FINISHED WITH RAPID AND

BLITZ TOURNAMENTS

European Senior Chess Championship in

Oporto, which consisted of classical,

rapid and blitz tournaments is officially

finished. Classical tournament, which

took place from 9th till 17th March 2014,

was followed by rapid and blitz events.

Rapid Section: 45 players from 13 European countries, divided in two different

categories: 65+ (28 participants) and 50+ (17 participants), with female players

included in both absolute categories competed in this championship. The

tournament was played according to the Swiss System in 9 rounds - 5 rounds on the

first day and 4 rounds on the second day.

In the 65+ category Romanian Grandmaster Mihai Suba became the European

Champion. He played an excellent tournament, with 8 points out of 9, without

giving many chances to the opponents. Lithuanian GM Algimantas Butnorious won

second place with 7 points, while the legendary Georgian Grandmaster Nona

Gaprindashvili won the 3rd place and the bronze medal with 6.5 points.

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Apart from bronze in the open category, she also won the 1st place in the women’s

section. In the female standing she was followed by Georgian WGM Tamar

Khmiadashvili and Russian WGM Valentina Kozlovskaya, both with 5 points.

Final Ranking – Category 65+ – first 10 positions

Rk. Title Name Rtg FED Pts. TB1 TB2 TB3

1 GM Șubă Mihai 2379 ROU 8 2240 45 49

2 GM Butnorius Algimantas 2340 LTU 7 2244 46 51

3 GM Gaprindashvili Nona 2244 GEO 6.5 2224 46 51

4 Malachi Avraham 2097 ISR 6 2234 43 47

5 Beznosikov Vladimir 2356 RUS 6 2184 46 50

6 Grinberg Iosif P. 2161 RUS 5.5 2223 43 46

7 Gorshkov Yury S. 2320 RUS 5.5 2215 48 51

8 FM Gruzmann Boris 2159 RUS 5.5 2171 40 43

9 WGM Khmiadashvili Tamar 2026 GEO 5 2195 40 44

10 WGM Kozlovskaya Valentina 2155 RUS 5 2050 39 42

In the 50+ category, Russian IM Evgenij Kalegin, after winning the 2nd place in the

classical tournament won the title of the European Rapid Champion, gaining 7.5

points out of 9, with a very consistent performance. GM Antonio Fernandes, one of

the best Portuguese players won the silver medal, with 7 points, the same as GM

Zurab Sturua from Georgia, who won the bronze medal with worse tie-break than

Fernandes. The best female player was Georgian WIM Tsiala Kasoshvili with 5.5

points. She won the title of the European Champion, after winning the 2nd place in

the classical tournament. She was followed by IM Nino Gurieli from Georgia and

WFM Tatiana Bogumil from Russia, with 5 and 4.5 points respectively.

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Final Ranking – Category 50+ – first 10 positions

Rk. Title Name Rtg FED Pts. TB1 TB2 TB3

1 IM Kalegin Evgenij 2490 RUS 7.5 2312 43 47

2 GM Fernandes Antonio 2419 POR 7 2315 45 48

3 GM Sturua Zurab 2525 GEO 7 2307 44 48

4 WIM Kasoshvili Tsiala 2112 GEO 5.5 2323 45 49

5 GM Arkell Keith C 2404 ENG 5.5 2323 45 46

6 IM Maryasin Boris 2305 ISR 5.5 2262 38 39

7 FM Furman Boris 2225 RUS 5 2305 44 48

8 IM Gurieli Nino 2298 GEO 5 2212 44 47

9 Bebchuk Boris 2126 RUS 5 2085 34 35

10 WFM Bogumil Tatiana 2162 RUS 4.5 2232 41 43

Blitz Section: After fantastic 12 days of chess in this big event, the European Senior

Blitz Chess Championships 2014 followed, attended by 35 players from 10 different

countries. The players were divided into 2 different categories, 65+ (18 players) and

50+ (17 players). The championship was played in just one afternoon in 9 rounds,

with a high rhythm of the games.

In the 65+ category Russian Yury Gorshkov won the title, with a full point ahead the

Israeli GM Mark Tseitlin and Georgian Nona Gaprindashvili, both with 6.5 points.

In the women's section, Nina Gaprindashvili won the tournament, while the 2nd

place went to Georgian WGM Tamar Khmiadashvili with 4 points and Russian

WGM Valentina Kozlovskaya with 3 points. It is interesting to note that there were

the same standings among female players in the rapid tournament, as well.

Final Ranking – Category 65+ – first 5 positions

Rk. Title Name Rtg FED Pts. TB1 TB2 TB3

1 Gorshkov Yury S. 2286 RUS 7.5 2175 42 45

2 GM Tseitlin Mark D 2341 ISR 6.5 2218 45 50

3 GM Gaprindashvili Nona 2256 GEO 6.5 2154 44 47

4 Grabow Pouelsten Holm 2095 DEN 6 2196 42 44

5 Beznosikov Vladimir 2368 RUS 5.5 2220 46 49

In the 50+ category IM Antonio Fróis from the club AX Gaia made a fantastic result

for Portugal by winning the title of the European Champion. Once he took the lead,

he hardly allowed anyone to threaten it, and with a constant and powerful

performance managed to ensure this important title, finishing eventually with 8

points out of 9.

Georgian GM Zurab Sturua came second with 6.5 points and Russian WGM Galina

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Strutinskaia came third with 6 points, who was also the female winner. Silver medal

in the female competition went to Georgian WIM Tsiala Kasoshvili with 5 points,

and bronze went to IM Nino Gurieli with 4 points, also from Georgia.

Final Ranking – Category 50+ – first 5 positions

Rk. Title Name FED Rtg Pts. TB1 TB2 TB3

1 IM Fróis António POR 2352 8 2305 42 46

2 GM Sturua Zurab GEO 2525 6.5 2359 43 47

3 WGM Strutinskaia Galina RUS 2286 6 2318 45 48

4 GM Glek Igor GER 2547 6 2306 44 47

5 GM Arkell Keith C ENG 2433 5.5 2336 45 49

The European Senior Chess Championship 2014, held in Oporto, was the first

organization of an official championship of the European Chess Union and FIDE

(World Chess Federation) calendar on the Portuguese soil, in the year when the

Portuguese Chess Federation celebrates its 87th birthday.

We had 12 intense days of chess, almost non-stop, with the organization of three

different European Senior Chess Championships, after which we got 12 new

European Champions.

The total number of participants was 195, from 24 European countries. This is a

tremendous success, brightened by the presence of Garry Kasparov at the closing

ceremony. For more information, you can visit the official website of the

championship http://www.fpx.pt/escc2014/

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VIKINGAKLUBBURINN WINS THE ICELANDIC TEAM

CHAMPIONSHIP 2013-2014 – 1ST DIVISION

Víkingaklúbburinn won the Icelandic Team Championship

2013-2014 – 1st Division with the final result of 17 matchpoints.

GM Hellir finished second with 16 matchpoints, while third

place went to Taflfélag Vestmannaeyja with 13 points.

The championship was held from 10th October, 2013 to 1st of

March, 2014 in Reykjavík.

Ten teams took part in the competition. Tournament Director of the championship,

organized by the Icelandic Chess Federation, was Ásdís Bragadóttir, whereas IA

Omar Salama performed the role of the Chief Arbiter. The average ELO rating was

2191.

Final Ranking after 9 rounds

Rk. Team TB1 TB2 TB3

1 Víkingaklúbburinn a-sveit 55 17 0

2 GM Hellir - a-sveit 51 16 0

3 Taflfélag Vestmannaeyja a-sveit 50 13 0

4 Taflfélag Bolungarvíkur a-sveit 45 11 0

5 Taflfélag Reykjavíkur a-sveit 44 11 0

6 Skákfélag Akureyrar a-sveit 37 10 0

7 Skákdeild Fjölnis a-sveit 34 6 0

8 GM Hellir - b-sveit 26 4 0

9 Vinaskákfélagið 10 2 0

10 Taflfélag Reykjavíkur b-sveit 10 0 0

Team composition of the winners was: GMs Gajewski Grzegorz (POL, ELO-2631),

Dziuba Marcin (POL, ELO-2576), Stefánsson Hannes H (ISL, ELO-2560),

Kristjánsson Stefán (ISL, ELO-2491), Galego Luis (POR, ELO-2465), IMs Grétarsson

Hjörvar Steinn (ISL, ELO-2511), Þorfinnsson Björn (ISL, ELO-2387), FMs Úlfarsson

Magnús Örn (ISL, ELO-2382), Kjartansson Davíð (ISL, ELO-2336) and Thorsson

Olafur (ISL, ELO-2210).

Official website: www.skaksamband.is

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NM AIVARS STASANS IS THE NEW LATVIAN SENIOR CHESS

CHAMPION

NM Aivars Stasans (ELO-2133) won the

Latvian Senior Chess Championship 2014 with

the final result of 5.5 points out of 7 and better

tie-break than the second in the ranking NM

Janis Daudzvardis (ELO-2271). FM Vitalijs

Levcenkovs (ELO-2282) finished third with 5

points.

The Latvian Senior Chess Championship was held from 21-23 March, 2014 in Rīga.

Tournament Director of the championship, organized by the Latvian Chess

Federation, was Lelis Jānis, while IA Cimiņš Alberts was the Chief Arbiter. The

average ELO rating was 1940.

Final Ranking after 7 rounds – first 10 positions

Rk. Title Name Rtg Pts. TB1 TB2 TB3

1 NM Stasans Aivars 2133 5.5 22 31 24

2 NM Daudzvardis Janis 2271 5.5 22 29 24

3 FM Levcenkovs Vitalijs 2282 5 24 33 22

4 MK Batakovs Olegs 2091 5 23 31 22

5 MK Visockis Janis 2181 5 23 31 21

6 MK Matvieks Nikolajs 2104 5 22 30 22

7 I Vaicuks Jazeps 1845 4.5 24 33 22

8 MK Nevickis Nikolajs 2051 4.5 21 28 20

9 I Zujevs Valerijs 1987 4.5 19 26 17

10 I Pcolkins Nikolajs 1800 4.5 19 26 16

Official website: www.sahafederacija.lv

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IM ERVIN MOZES WINS THE ROMANIAN SENIOR CHESS

CHAMPIONSHIP

IM Ervin Mozes won the Romanian Senior

Chess Championship with the final result of 5.5

points and better tie-break than the second in

the ranking NM Victor Mihail Gabriel Tacu.

NM Mihai Tufa finished third with 5 points.

The Romanian National Senior Chess

Championship was held from 17-24 March,

2014 in Bicaz.

Tournament Director of the championship was Sebastian Volcinsche, while IA

Dinu-Ioan Nicula was the Chief Arbiter. The average ELO rating was 1907.

Twenty-one chess players took part in the competition.

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Final Ranking after 7 rounds – first 10 positions

Rk. Title Name Pts. TB1 TB2 TB3

1 IM Mozes Ervin 5.5 30 21 23.3

2 NM Tacu Victor-Mihail-Gabriel 5.5 28 20 19.8

3 NM Tufa Mihai 5 28 21 18.5

4 IM Miulescu Gabriel 4.5 29 22 16.5

5 CM Nastase Stefan 4.5 28 21 14.3

6 WCM Pancu Aureliana-Eugenia 4 26 18 13.3

7 FM Georgescu Gabriel-Ioan 4 25 18 14.5

8 NM Chesca Alexandru 4 25 18 12.3

9 WNM Florea Dorina 4 24 17 12

10 IM Candea Gheorghe 3.5 28 21 12

In the rapid section Victor Tacu triumphed with 6.5 points. Silver went to IM Ervin

Mozes – 5 points. Mihai Tufa won the third place with 4.5 points.

Final Ranking after 7 rounds – first 5 positions

Rk. Title Name Pts. TB1 TB2 TB3

1 Tacu Victor-Mihail-Gabriel 6.5 29 21 26.5

2 IM Mozes Ervin 5 30 21 18.8

3 Tufa Mihai 4.5 29 20 15.3

4 WFM Adoamnei Roxana 4.5 28 19 13.8

5 IM Candea Gheorghe 4 27 20 12.3

In the blitz section Victor Tacu won the first place with 6.5 points, while WFM

Roxana Adoamnei and Radu Cernea finished in the shared second place – with 5.5

points.

Final Ranking after 9 rounds – first 5 positions

Rk. Title Name Pts. TB1 TB2 TB3

1 Tacu Victor-Mihail-Gabriel 6.5 25.8 0 2219

2 WFM Adoamnei Roxana 5.5 16.3 0.5 2121

Cernea Radu-Gheorghe 5.5 16.3 0.5 2121

4 Pancu Aureliana-Eugenia 5 18 0 2080

5 FM Georgescu Gabriel-Ioan 5 13.5 0 2080

Official website: www.sah.sebastianvolcinsche.ro

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WIM KHAYALA ABDULLA WINS THE AZERBAIJANI

WOMEN’S CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

WIM Khayala Abdulla won the Azerbaijani

Women’s Chess Championship with the

final result of 8 points out of 11. Silver

medal went to WGM Gulnar Mammadova

– 7.5/11. Third was Aytan Amrayeva –

7.5/11.

The championship was held from 5-15

March, 2014 in Baku.

Chief Arbiter of the tournament, organized by the Azerbaijan Chess Federation, was

FA Shaig Guliyev. The average ELO rating was 2180.

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Final Ranking after 11 rounds

Rk. Title Name Rtg Pts. TB1 TB2 TB3

1 WIM Abdulla Khayala 2248 8 0 7 46

2 WGM Mammadova Gulnar 2334 7.5 1 6 41.3

3 Amrayeva Aytan 2000 7.5 0 7 35.3

4 WFM Mammadzada Gunay 2175 7 0 5 36

5 WIM Umudova Nargiz 2220 6 1.5 4 31.8

6 Huseynova Sahar 2042 6 1 4 33.5

7 WIM Ibrahimova Sabina 2219 6 0.5 5 27

8 WGM Mamedjarova Turkan 2246 5.5 1 2 26

9 WFM Khalafova Narmin 2171 5.5 0 5 31.8

10 WIM Kazimova Narmin 2226 4.5 0 3 21.5

11 Guliyeva Sabina 2027 2 0 1 6.75

12 WGM Mamedjarova Zeinab 2249 0.5 0 0 2.75

Official website: www.azerichess.az

FORTHCOMING TOURNAMENTS

EUROPEAN SENIOR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP 2014 – WELCOME

TO SIBENIK

The European Chess Union and

Croatian Chess Federation are

organizing the 13th European Senior

Team Championship from 31 March –

10 April 2014 in Sibenik/Croatia. The

official venue will be the beautiful

tourist resort "Solaris".

The Championship starts in 6 days and we are expecting a very exciting

tournament. 36 teams from 16 national federations have registered so far, with the

total number of 160 players. The competition is very strong, and some of the chess

legends will be playing in this championship. There are 19 GMs, 14 IMs and 29 FMs

competing.

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The first seed is Russia 1, with the average rating of 2504 points, who is the last

year's winner. The second seed is the domestic team of Croatia, with the average

rating 2447 points, while the third seed is Slovenia (RtgAvg 2435).

The Championship will be played in 9 rounds following the Swiss System. Time

control is 40 moves in 90 minutes and 30 minutes to the end of the game + 30

seconds increment for each move starting from move one.

The games will be broadcast live on the championship website.

The organisers have prepared rich social programme in order to make the stay of

participants and their accompanying persons in Sibenik as enjoyable as possible.

For more information you can visit the official website of the Championship

http://sent2014.crochess.com/