NL AUGUST 2015 EUROPEAN CHESS UNION

1

European Youth Rapid & Blitz Chess Championship 2015

The 15th European Youth Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship was opened in the splendid hall of

Master Centre of the Novi Sad Fair, in Novi Sad/Serbia. This festival-like championship consisted

of five competitions, and attracted numerous young chess players all over Europe.

Two hundred players from 23 national federations took part in the competition, in 12 different

categories, Girls and Boys separately.

EUROPEAN

AMATEUR

CHAMPIONSHIP

2015

AZMAIPARASHVILI

IN RIGA

ECU PRESIDENT AT

VIENNA OPEN 2015 EUROPEAN

UNION YOUTH

CHAMPIONSHIP

2015

E U R O P E A N C H E S S U N I O N

NEWSLETTER

NL AUGUST 2015 EUROPEAN CHESS UNION

2

After the introductory speech from the Chief Arbiter Petar Katanic Vujic, participants were

greeted by the president of the Serbia Chess Federation Miroslav Kopanja, who eventually

officially opened the competition.

The Championship started with Rapid Individual competition, which was held 1-2 August. 16

best players from all 12 categories: U8, U10, U12, U14, U16 and U18, Boys and Girls separately,

played the Superfinal, and competed for the absolute best young rapid chess player in Europe.

The Superfinal was played in the knock-out format, and after 8 rounds, WIM Laura Unuk (SLO

2019) and IM Benjamin Gledura (HUN 2416) became the winners of European Youth Rapid

Superfinals.

Superfinal Results

The event continued with the European Youth Team Championship in Rapid chess, which took

part 3-4 August. The Championship was held in three categories: U10, U14 and U18, and the

teams were composed of 4 players: 3 boys + 1 girl. The tournament was played according to the

Swiss System with time control was 10 minutes + 5 seconds per player. After 7 rounds, teams of

Belarus (U10), Serbia (U14) and Hungary (U18) became the new European Youth Champions in

Rapid chess.

European Youth Team Championship Results

Championship in Solving chess was held in the afternoon of 4th August, in 6 categories: U10, U14

and U18, Boys and Girls separately.

European Champions in Solving Chess are:

Open U10 Maksim Tsaruk (BLR) 40 points (46 min)

Girls U10 Felicia Ojog (MDA) 40 points (1h20 min)

Open U14 Artur Avalyan (RUS) 36 points (1h25 min)

Girls U14 Ana Afanasieva (RUS) 30 points (1h 58 min)

Open U18 Zivojin Perovic (SRB) 38 points (1h 41 min)

NL AUGUST 2015 EUROPEAN CHESS UNION

3

Girls U18 Ekatarina Diakonova (RUS) 26 points (2h)

The 15th European Youth Championship concluded with the Blitz event. 138 young players from

19 European countries took part in this Championship, and here are the winners:

Open U10 Maksim Tsaruk (BLR 1573) 9 points;

Girls U10 Kseniya Zeliantsova (BLR 1481) 8.0 points;

Open U14 Maksim Ivannikau (BLR 1962) 8.0 points;

Girls U14 Olga Badelka (BLR 1950) 7.5 points;

Open U18 Valeriy Kazakovskiy (BLR 2261) 7.0 points;

Girls U18 WIM Mai Narva (EST 2163) 9.0 points.

Blitz Final Results

Official Website

Lukas Jonkus wins European Amateur Chess Championship

The European Amateur Chess Championship 2015 was held in Kaunas, the second city of

Lithuania, from the 8th of August (arrival) to the 17th of August (departure) 2015.

The organizer and Tournament Director was Prof. Donatas Pilinkus (IO), President of the Kaunas

Chess Federation, under the auspices of the Lithuanian Chess Federation.

NL AUGUST 2015 EUROPEAN CHESS UNION

4

Lukas Jonkus (LTU 1853) became the winner of the Open section, scoring 7.5 points, the same as

Paulo Fanha (POR 1890). But thanks to better tie-break, gold went to the Lithuanian. Bronze

went to Eugenijus Zygmanta (LTU 1947) who was sole third with 7 points.

Saule Gailiunaite (LTU 1785) triumphed at the European Women’s Amateur Chess Championship

with 7 points, silver went to the Irish WCM Diana Mirza (1856) also with 7 points and worse tie-

breaks, and Kristina Sulikiene (LTU 1926) came third with 6.5 points.

Lukas Jonkus was also a winner of the Blitz event, which was held on 14th August. He triumphed

with 7.5 points ahead of Kristina Sulikiene with 7 points, and David Moshenberg from Israel with

6.5 points.

This Championship was played according to the Swiss Paring System in two sections. The

Women’s section started with 24 players. In the Open section 88 players (86 men and 2 girls)

took part. The time control was 90 minutes for the first 40 moves followed by additional 30

minutes for the rest of the game + 30 seconds for each move from the first one.

The tournament was played in the Palace of Army Officers. The total money prize fund was €

4.000. The Chief Arbiter of the Championship was IA Luc Cornet (BEL).

Official Website

Photos by Justina Dobravalskytė

Winners announced at EU Youth Chess Championship 2015

The European Union Youth Chess Championship 2015 finished on Thursday, 27th August 2015.

The fights culminated in Kouty nad Desnou/Czech Republic, and after 9 exciting rounds winners

were announced.

In category Boys U8 CM Rajat Makkar (FRA) took the first place. The second place went to

Alexandre Druaux (FRA) and the third place to Marek Fizer (CZE). In category Girls U8 Petya

Karaivanova (BUL) triumphed, while silver went to Lucia Kapicakova (SVK) and bronze to Ioana-

NL AUGUST 2015 EUROPEAN CHESS UNION

5

Bianca Chicarosie (ROU). Champion of EU in category Boys U10 became Tomas Povilaitis (LTU),

Lachezar Kolev (BUL) took silver medal and the third place went Einars Lahs (LAT).

Sofia Bellahcene (FRA) won in category Girls U10. Raisa-Georgiana Vulpe (ROU) took the second

place and Admira Aida Kecskemeti (IRL) took the third place. In category Boys U12, Augustas

Gucaga (LTU) won the title, the second place went to Bogdan-Emanuel David (ROU) and Georg

Aleksander Pedoson (EST) came third. After a great performance, WFM Nurgyul Salimova (BUL)

became the Champion of EU in category Girls U12. The second place took Daria Vanduyfhuys

(BEL) and the third place went to Liwia Jarocka (POL).

In category Boys U14 Thomas Ariza (FRA) took the gold medal. Silver went to Aras Jonas

Lazaravicius (LTU) and bronze to Zarko Vuckovic (GER). WFM Viktoria Radeva (BUL) became

the Champion in category Girls U14 after an excellent performance, the same as her compatriot in

category U12! The second place went to Marika Kostecka (POL) and Dominika Ferková (SVK)

finished third.

The organizers provided a rich fund for the participants of the event. Players who took first three

places in each of categories got a cup and diploma. Each participant of the Championship got a

medal, and all eight champions of the EU left Kouty nad Desnou with a brand new lap top! The

prizes were given by Director of the event, Mr. Zdenek Fiala together with the ECU Tournament

Director, Mr. Petr Pisk and Deputy Director of the hotel Dlouhe Strane, Ms. Ivena Svedova.

NL AUGUST 2015 EUROPEAN CHESS UNION

6

EU Youth Chess Championship 2015 was organized by Chess Club Svetla nad Sazavou in

cooperation with the Czech Chess Federation, under the patronage of the ECU. Boys and girls

played in the same tournament, but were evaluated separately. 99 players from 14 federations

took part in the championship. All games were broadcast online on the official website. Each day

young players were awarded for the best game of each round.

Organizers also provided chess and non-chess leisure time activities for all participants and

accompanying persons during the tournament, such as excursion to Hand-made paper-mill Velke

Losiny, simultaneous game with IM Pisk, Blitz tournament, etc.

Official Website

ECU NEWS

ECU President Zurab Azmaiparashvili starts Vienna Open 2015 19th Vienna Chess Open was held from 15-23 August, 2015 in the traditional Festival Hall of the

famous Vienna Town Hall. Over 800 chess players from all over the world took part in this

international event.

The tournament consisted of 4 tournaments- A, B, C and D, with the additional side events such

as the match between GMs Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Markus Ragger, Blitz event, Children's

tournament, and simul with GM Ragger.

ECU Board member Mr. Johann Poecksteiner was the organizer of the event, and the ECU

President Mr. Zurab Azmaiparashvili was invited to attend the Opening Ceremony of the

tournament. Mr. Azmaiparashvili and the President of Austrian Chess Federation Prof. Kurt

Jungwirth officially opened the Vienna Open 2015.

NL AUGUST 2015 EUROPEAN CHESS UNION

7

After a dramatic finale, the 16-year-old Francesco Rambaldi (ITA) triumphed with 7.5 points

ahead of Keith Arkell (ENG) and Tamas Bánusz (HUN).

Official Website

ECU President at Chess Festival Liepajas Rokade 2015 in Riga In the beginning of the month, 8-9 August, the ECU President Zurab Azmaiparashvili met FIDE

President Mr. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and three Presidents of the Baltic Chess Federations - Mr.

Andrei Korobeink (Estonia), Mr. Peteris Smirde (Latvia) and Mr. Aleksandr Cernov (Lithuania).

The meeting was held in Riga, during the 22nd International Chess Festival Liepajas Rokade

2015.

After the official meeting, Mr. Azmaiparashvili played in the "Rokade 2015 Super" tournament,

one of the festival’s events.

The ECU President played against top GMs such as Alexander Khalifman (RUS), Daniel Fridman

(GER), Igor Kovalenko (LAT), Vladislav Kovalev (BLR), etc.

The tournament was played as a Round Robin one in 7 rounds, with time control 15 minutes+ 5

seconds per player.

Results

Official Website

NL AUGUST 2015 EUROPEAN CHESS UNION

8

Judit Polgar receives the Order of Saint Stephen

On 20th August, St. Stephen’s Day, President of the Republic Hungary, János Áder handed over

the Order of Saint Stephen, Hungary’s highest state decoration, to retired chess grandmaster

Judit Polgár at an opulent ceremony held in the Sándor Palace.

The decoration was handed over to the world’s best female chess player and the world-famous

composer Péter Eötvös, in the presence of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Speaker of the

National Assembly László Kövér.

Speaking in praise of Judit Polgár, who was No. 1 female chess player of the world for 25 years

and is generally considered the top female chess player in history, Mr. Áder said that her

successes speak of the triumph of talent, of skill making its way across conventions without

regard for sex or age.

The ceremony, held in the President’s official residence, also saw the participation of Deputy

Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén, Minister of Interior Sándor Pintér, chairman of the Constitutional

Court Barnabás Lenkovics, chairman of the Curia Péter Darák, Cardinal Péter Erdő, Papal Nuncio

to Hungary Alberto Bottari de Castello, among other dignitaries.

The Order of Saint Stephen is awarded by the President of the Republic on 20th August, St.

Stephen’s Day, every year since 2013.

NL AUGUST 2015 EUROPEAN CHESS UNION

9

FUN ZONE In August Fun Zone we present you the funny chess problems with different themes. Have fun

and try to solve these unique positions!

Solutions from the NL July 2015:

A. Pulyan 1915

1. Rh5! Qb2! 2. Ne3+ Ka4 3. Ra5+ Kb4 4. a3+ Kxa5 5. Nc4+ 1-0

A. Daniel 1915

1. Rc4! Qe6 (1… Nc4 2. Bf3+ Kd6 3. Bxc6 Kxc6 4. Nd4+ Kd5 5. Nf5 Ke5 6. Ng7; 1… Qxc4

2. Bf7+; 1… Kxc4 2. Na5+) 2. Rd4+ Kc6 3. Rc4+ Kd6 4. Rc6+ Kxc6 5. Nd4+ ½-½

NL AUGUST 2015 EUROPEAN CHESS UNION

10

H. Adamson 1915

1 b4+ cxb3 2. Kxb3 b4 3. c4 b5 4. c5 ½-½

G. Carpenter 1915 selfmate

1. Nc6 Na3! (1… Nc3 2. Ne5!; 1… Nf3 2. Nb4!) 2. Nb4! (2. Ne5? Nc4+ 3. Nxc4 b1Q; 2.

Nd4? Nb5+) 2… Nc4+ 3. Ke6 Ne5 4. Kxe5 Nf3+ 5. Kd5 Ne5 6. Kxe5 b1Q 7. Nd3#

They told about chess…

“Most gods throw dice, but Fate plays chess, and you

don't find out till too late that he's been playing with two

queens all along.”

Terry Pratchett, English author of fantasy novels

UPCOMING EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER

ECU EVENTS

EUROPEAN YOUTH U8-U18 CHAMPIONSHIP 2015

European Youth Chess Championship 2015 is organized in

Porec, Croatia from 20 September (arrival) to 1 October

(departure) 2015. The organizer of the tournament is

Croatian Chess Federation, under the auspices of the

European Chess Union. Accommodation is provided in

tourist resort “Valmar” in Porec, and the tournament hall will

be Sports hall “Zatika” Porec.

The organizers provided a rich prize fund for the participants: laptops, tablets, trophies and

special awards in goods (e.g. chess software, chess books, chess sets…)

FIDE Seminars for Trainers, Arbiters and Organizers will be organized during Championship.

Detailed information will be published on the official tournament website, under section

“Seminars”.

The ECU Educational Committee Meeting will be held from 24th September to 27th September

2015. The agenda for the meeting will be published on the later date.

NL AUGUST 2015 EUROPEAN CHESS UNION

11

The tournament will be played according to the Swiss system in 9 rounds,with the rate of play 90

minutes for 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game + 30 seconds increment

per move. Young chess players will be divided in 6 age groups: U8, U10, U12, U14, U16 and U18,

Boys and Girls separately. Official Website Players list

FIDE WORLD CHESS CUP 2015

FIDE World Chess Cup 2015, an integral part of the World

Championship Cycle 2014-2016, will be held in Baku,

Azerbaijan, from September 10th until October 4th, 2015.

It is a 128-player knockout tournament, played in 6 rounds of

matches comprising two games per round, with the winners

progressing to the next round, plus the final 7th round

comprising of four games.

Pairings are out and can be found here.

The prize fund is $1,600,000 with $120,000 going to the winner. The winner and the runner up

of the World Cup 2015 will qualify to the Candidates stage of the World Championship cycle

2014-2016.

The Chess World Cup 2013, held in Tromsø, Norway, was won by Vladimir Kramnik, who

defeated Dmitry Andreikin 2½-1½ in the final match.

Official Website

EUROPEAN EVENTS

COLOSSUS CUP OF RHODES 2015

1 - 9 September

Rhodes/Greece Official Website

14th SUNNY BEACH OPEN

5 - 13 September

Sunny Beach /Bulgaria Official Website

13TH CHESS FESTIVAL CITTÀ DI AMANTEA

6 - 13 September

Amantea /Italy Official Website

PRAGUE OPEN 2015 25 - 28

September Prague/Czech Republic Official Website