33rd Guernsey International Chess Festival, 21-27 October 2007
Last Edited:
Wednesday November 21, 2007 10:35 AM
Sponsored by Fortis Guernsey and the Peninsula Hotel
Report by Kevin Thurlow • Guernsey
Chess Club (full pairings, TV report, etc)
If it is October, it must be Guernsey. Those of us travelling on the Saturday were greeted by bright sun, albeit a fairly windy, cold day, about 14 ºC. The start of the 1987 tournament was marked by the Great Storm, when wind speeds were higher here than on the mainland. At the time, tomato growing was a major industry on Guernsey, but there was hardly a greenhouse left standing after the storm wreaked its havoc. The islanders worked together to clear fallen trees and a semblance of normality appeared within a few days. Not so in mainland UK, where roads were still blocked weeks later. The island spirit worked its wonders then, as exemplified by the ferry which arrived after 23 hours being thrown around the Channel, 18 hours late, and the company offered the passengers a free breakfast as compensation. I doubt there were many takers.
Anyway, it looked better this year, and players could enjoy walks along the beach or the cliff tops. Some brave locals were swimming in the sea, but it was not tempting to join them. A warming cup of tea at one of the many kiosks seemed a much better idea. The evening gave the chance to catch up with old friends, as Guernsey’s Chess Festival has a loyal following. The tournament is being held again at the Peninsula Hotel, where the food is as good as ever, and there was a friendly welcome from the staff.
Sunday’s weather was much the same and old friends greeted each other again. Out of 120 players, there are about 40 making their first appearance. At the other end of the scale, it was nice to bump into Rudi von Saldern (Germany) and Jan Havenaar (Netherlands) who were chatting outside the playing area. Both have missed only one of the 33 Guernsey tournaments! Eric Palmer (Guernsey) and I have managed 29. We were delighted to see Peggy Bisson. Her husband John started the event all those years ago. ‘John used to organise the tournament and Peggy organised him’, it was said, and there was certainly an element of truth in that, but it is impossible to be here without thinking of John rushing round making sure everyone was happy. The last few years have been junior-free as the tournament has not coincided with half-term, but this year 15 juniors have joined us. Channel TV turned up to record the start of play and interviewed Russell Finch, (who first came to the island to play chess, and ended up working here as a judge), and your reporter.
Sunday sees the legendary Peninsula Hotel buffet, dominated by seafood (and this is just the starter – Sunday roast follows). One junior was wistfully looking at a crab, but was uncertain about how to deal with it. I explained there was a device for opening the beast, but despite one of his colleagues claiming (rather unkindly) that he had never seen anything that this chap had failed to eat, discretion prevailed. However, we are here to play chess…..
OPEN Round 1
1. V Epishin ½-½ J van Onzen
2. R Bellin 1-0 T van Ingen
3. J Glover 0-1 V Ravikumar
4. T Broek ½-½ I Jamieson
5. A Galliano 1-0 J Havenaar
6. M van der Linde 0-1 J Hickman
7. N Dennis 0-1 J Cornelisse
8. A Reijneveld 1-0 D Guttridge
9. C Ippel 1-0 S Lohou
10.I Heppell ½-½ D Fassaert
There was a shock on top board. The GM had 2 bishops against rook and knight, but was unable to convert this advantage in the ending. Tiger Hillarp-Persson was still playing elsewhere, so starts in round 2. 70 players are entered and 21 are on 1/1. Those of us on ½ await the draw eagerly.
Holiday Round 1
1. J Gibson ½-½ G Naldrett
2. A Collins 1-0 J Vermissen
3. R Paardekam ½-½ P Foster
4. T Harnden 0-1 P Hoogakker
5. J Ruigrok ½-½ J Cox
49 entries, 12 on 1.
Round 2
The stragglers have now arrived and we have 69 entries in the Open and 47 in the Holiday (U1760). Robert Bellin reached a position that looked completely solid, then as usual went on to win it. The other top seeds won as well. The sun is shining, but you still need a coat when you go outside.
OPEN Round 2
1. R Khamroev (1) 0-1 R Bellin (1)
2. V Ravikumar (1) 1-0 G Salimbeni (1)
3. T Robinson (1) 0-1 V Epishin (½)
4. T Hillarp-Persson (½) 1-0 G Tunstall (½)
5. J Cornelisse (1) 1-0 F Hamperl (1)
6. P Rowe (1) ½-½ A Reijneveld (1)
7. M Taylor (1) 0-1 J Adair (1)
8. A Minnican (1) ½-½ C Ippel (1)
9. J Hickman(1) 0-1 I Lewyk (1)
10.G Bolt (1) 1-0 A Galliano (1)
There are now 8 players on 2/2.
Holiday Round 2
1. P Hoogakker (1) 1-0 J O’Connor (1)
2. D Randall (1) 1-0 P Carlucci (1)
3. A Sivakumar (1) ½-½ C Brooker (1)
4. S Nalichowski (1) 1-0 F Bakkes (1)
5. E Onwezen (1) 0-1 A Collins (1)
5 share the lead on 2/2, including local player Seb Nalichowski, although as you might guess, he is originally from Poland.
Round 3
The weather is still bright, but cold. The highlight of the day was the “Ghosts and Graveyards” tour in the evening. A local guide, Annette Henry, showed us round some of the graveyards and the formidable Mirus Battery (a German gun emplacement). She has done a lot of research and has a flamboyant delivery that kept us entertained. We visited a Neolithic grave site and heard of the witch trials and tragic deaths at sea – Guernsey has a long history of shipwrecks. The cold and darkness helped the atmosphere. The evening finished with dinner at the ‘Farmhouse’, formerly the ‘Hougue Fougue’. Annette does a number of different tours, and they are interesting and entertaining. See her website for details! http://www.annettehenrytours.gg/
OPEN Round 3
1. R Bellin (2) ½-½ G Bolt (2)
2. H Tan (2) 0-1 V Ravikumar (2)
3. V Epishin (1½) 1-0 A Goris (1½)
4. P Kirby (1½) 0-1 T Hillarp-Persson (1½)
5. J Adair (2) 0-1 J Cornelisse (2)
6. I Lewyk (2) ½-½ D Twitchell (2)
7. T Broek (1½) ½-½ P Rowe (1½)
8. A Reijneveld (1½) 1-0 S Franklin (1½)
9. R von Saldern (1½) 1-0 A Minnican (1½)
10.J Kamps (1½) 0-1 J van Onzen (1½)
Robert Bellin sacrificed two pawns for a very promising position, but left himself short of time. Graham Bolt kept his nerve for a well-deserved draw. The titled players won on the next three boards, but did not have things all their own way. Veteran Rudi von Saldern, making his 32nd appearance at Guernsey won again to maintain his challenge. Ravikumar and Cornelisse are the only two on 100 %.
Holiday Round 3
1. A Collins (2) ½-½ P Hoogakker (2)
2. F Kok (2) ½-½ S Nalichowski (2)
3. J Ruigrok (1½) ½-½ D Randall (2)
4. M Jongerius (1½) ½-½ R Finch (1½)
5. P Timmerman (1½) 1-0 H Haisma (1½)
The Holiday tournament had a spate of draws on the top boards, but most were hard-fought. Nobody is on 3/3. Holiday players are allowed a half point bye in Round 4, so some of the leaders will be having a day of sightseeing.
Round 4
Still sunny, but getting colder……
OPEN Round 4
1. V Ravikumar (3) ½-½ J Cornelisse (3)
2. G Bolt (2½) 0-1 V Epishin (2½)
3. T Hillarp-Persson (2½) 1-0 R von Saldern (2½)
4. C Ippel (2½) ½-½ R Bellin (2½)
5. D Twitchell (2½) 0-1 A Reijneveld (2½)
6. J van Onzen (2½) 1-0 I Lewyk (2½)
7. F Hamperl (2) 0-1 T Broek (2)
8. G Taylor (2) 0-1 M van der Linde (2)
9. P Rowe (2) ½-½ I Heppell (2)
10. J Adair (2) 0-1 J Prins (2)
Undeniably, a good day for the Dutch! Top board was really complicated throughout. The GMs won on 2 and 3, but against brave resistance. Board 4 was hard work as well, but the lower-rated player played really well and secured the draw. There was a nice finish on board 5. Joint leaders on 3½ are, V Ravikumar (India), V Epishin (Russia), T Hillarp-Persson (Sweden), J Cornelisse, A Reijneveld, J van Onzen, (all Netherlands).
Holiday Round 4
1. P Hoogakker (2½) 1-0 P Timmerman (2½)
2. D Randall (2½) 1-0 C Brooker (2½)
3. S Nalichowski (2½) 1-0 A Collins (2½)
4. J Versmissen (2) ½-½ M Jongerius (2)
5. E Onwezen (2) ½-½ J Ruigrok (2)
Boards 1 – 3 saw some fine attacking play. Three players lead on 3½, P Hoogakker (Netherlands), D Randall (England) and S Nalichowski (Guernsey)
Round 5
The first rain of the week arrived this morning, but only a drizzle. There are always plenty of items of interest in the local paper. The Guernsey Press has been producing good coverage of the tournament and printing interviews with various players. The ‘Press’ was horrified the other day that the price of milk was going to increase from 70p a litre, to 87p, making it more expensive than petrol. Readers on the UK mainland who are used to paying £1 a litre for petrol will notice an important difference about Guernsey. Certainly a 25 % increase in the price of milk seems a bit much, and there is even talk of importing milk as it will be cheaper. This shows how seriously these matters are taken, as Channel Islands milk is of very high quality. The ‘Press’ also reported the latest rumblings of discontent about the BAe 146, with more reports (which FlyBe have denied), that fumes are entering the flight deck, causing illness to passengers and crew. Coincidentally, the 146 is being phased out over the next few months. Its replacement (the Embraer 195) is bigger and there were concerns that the runway was not long enough, but apparently it is. Today’s paper prints a map of the 51 mobile phone masts on the island. 51 masts and I still cannot make a call, although I can send text messages.
Guernsey is not exactly rife with crime, but authorities were exasperated recently, as they tried to reorder ammunition for the ‘taser’, a sort of stun gun, which gives the target an electric shock and hence incapacitates them. UK authorities refused to supply these (despite selling them to Guernsey in the first place) as Guernsey was not on its official register of countries allowed to receive them, and they should not have had the first batch. Guernsey responded with a rather acid comment that any of their police officers armed with the taser are fully trained in the use of the device, unlike their UK counterparts. Negotiations continue, but it is known that the UK Government is very unhappy with Guernsey’s tax haven status and it may be that this is part of the pressure they will apply to try to tax Guernseymen as much as inhabitants of the mainland. I would not have thought that Guernsey was likely to be a danger to mainland UK, and the UK has a long history of selling rather more lethal weapons to countries with whom we subsequently go to war. So the UK stance looks illogical.
This more loquacious article than usual indicates that your reporter won quite quickly today, and is hoping to actually feature in the top ten boards.
OPEN Round 5
1. V Epishin (3½) ½-½ A Reijneveld (3½)
2. J Cornelisse (3½) 0-1 T Hillarp-Persson (3½)
3. J van Onzen (3½) ½-½ V Ravikumar (3½)
4. R Bellin (3) 1-0 J Prins (3)
5. T Broek (3) 1-0 C Ippel (3)
6. M van der Linde (3) 1-0 G Bucher (3)
7. I Heppell (2½) 1-0 R Khamroev (2½)
8. J Kamps (2½) 1-0 M Taylor (2½)
9. I Lewyk (2½) 1-0 A Goris (2½)
10. R von Saldern (2½) ½-½ G Bolt (2½)
Another good day for the Dutch and for white, except on board 2. Epishin was held to another draw, as was Ravikumar, who reached R + P vs R, but his opponent got the rook on the third rank and that was it.
Hillarp-Persson (Sweden) 4½, Epishin (Russia) , Reijneveld, van Onzen, , Broek, van der Linde (all Netherlands), Ravikumar (India), Bellin (England) 4.
Holiday Round 5
1. S Nalichowski (3½) 1-0 P Hoogakker (3½)
2. R Thompson (3) 1-0 D Randall (3½)
3. E Palmer (3) ½-½ R Kearsley (3)
4. C Brooker (2½) 0-1 F Kok (3)
5. J Gibson (2½) 1-0 E Onwezen (2½)
It was less good for the Dutch here. Seb Nalichowski took the sole lead with another win, but will his addiction to time-trouble cause problems later? Board 3 was a quick draw, and board 4 finished early after a blunder.
S Nalichowski (Guernsey) 4½, R Thompson (England), F Kok (Netherlands) 4.
Round 6
The two grandmasters met at last. The leaders made little progress, but Cornelisse rejoined the pack. This is one of the tightest Guernsey tournaments for some years. Your reporter had only a brief stay on board 10, finding a quite inventive way to reach a rotten position, and the young opponent finished quite neatly. The Cock and Bull has been running its beer festival to coincide with the tournament again, and there was a tournament outing the previous night, which was apparently enjoyed by all. Ironically, your reporter decided not to go as it might affect his play adversely…..
OPEN Round 6
1. T Hillarp-Persson (4½) ½-½ V Epishin (4)
2. A Reijneveld (4) ½-½ R Bellin (4)
3. V Ravikumar (4) ½-½ M van der Linde (4)
4. T Broek (4) ½-½ J van Onzen (4)
5. J Cornelisse (3½) 1-0 P Rowe (3½)
6. J Kamps (3½) ½-½ I Heppell (3½)
7. S Franklin (3½) ½-½ I Lewyk (3½)
8. D Twitchell (3½) 0-1 R von Saldern (3)
9. G Bolt (3) 1-0 C Ippel (3)
10.K Thurlow (3) 0-1 A Galliano (3)
T Hillarp-Persson (5), V Epishin, A Reijneveld, R Bellin, V Ravikumar, M van der Linde, T Broek, J van Onzen, J Cornelisse (4½)
English junior, Robert Thompson had another good win to take a narrow lead.
Holiday Round 6
1. R Thompson (4) 1-0 S Nalichowski (4½)
2. F Kok (4) ½-½ R Paardekam ( 3½)
3. D Randall (3½) 0-1 J Gibson (3½)
4. J Versmissen (3½) ½-½ E Baart (3½)
5. P Hoogakker (3½) 1-0 E Palmer (3½)
R Thompson (5), S Nalichowski, F Kok, P Hoogakker, J Gibson, R Kearsley (4½)
Round 7
An exciting last round, which started at the ghastly hour of 0930. Robert Bellin has won this tournament six times (next best is four) and he went all out to try to make it seven, with an early g4 against Tiger’s Sicilian. However, the GM was equal to the task and won the title outright, for the third time. There were no short draws on the top boards, and it was good to see everyone trying to win. You do not need Sofia Rules, just people who want to play chess.
OPEN Round 7
1. R Bellin (4½) 0-1 T Hillarp-Persson (5)
2. V Epishin (4½) 1-0 J Cornelisse (4½)
3. A Reijneveld (4½) ½-½ V Ravikumar (4½)
4. M van der Linde (4½) 1-0 T Broek (4½)
5. J van Onzen (4½) 0-1 G Bolt (4)
6. I Heppell (4) 1-0 S Franklin (4)
7. I Lewyk (4) ½-½ J Kamps (4)
8. R von Saldern 0-1 J Prins (4)
9. A Galliano (4) ½-½ R Khamroev (3½)
10.F Hamperl (3½) 1-0 D Twitchell (3½)
Robert Thompson won again to take outright first place. Seb Nalichowski lost when his mobile phone made a noise. Ironically, he had set the alarm for something like 1 pm to remind him to go the tournament, and had not changed the setting for the morning round. It is not a great way to lose, but David Sedgwick (the arbiter) had issued reminders at the start of every round, and it is a FIDE law, so he has no choice in the matter.
Holiday Round 7
1. J Gibson (4½) 0-1 R Thompson (5)
2. P Hoogakker (4½) 1-0 F Kok (4½)
3. S Nalichowski (4½) 0-1 R Kearsley (4½)
4. P Carlucci (4) ½-½ J Versmissen (4)
5. R Paardekam (4) 0-1 A Sivakumar (4)
The real highlight of the day came when Fred Hamperl unwrapped a parcel from Uzbekistan. One player had entered, but could not make it, and sent a gift as compensation. It was a magnificent green coat, with gold piping. Fred eagerly modelled it for the assembled multitude and declared he would wear it to work on Monday. He attracted a mixture of admiring and incredulous glances. Fred and Peter Rowe did a great job organising the tournament, and other members of Guernsey Chess Federation contributed as well, of course.
The final dinner at the Peninsula was splendid as usual and players are eagerly looking forward to 19th October 2008, when the next festival starts. Thomas Broek won the brilliancy prize, for an excellent attack. The decision proved the cynics wrong, who had complained that this prize always goes to a junior.
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