34th Guernsey International Chess Festival, 19-25 October 2008
Last Edited:
Thursday November 6, 2008 3:09 PM
Sponsored by Fortis Guernsey, Sports Guernsey and the Peninsula Hotel.
Organised by Guernsey Chess Federation (GCF), particularly Fred Hamperl and Peter Rowe
Report by Kevin Thurlow • Guernsey
Chess Club (full pairings, TV report, etc)
[no games yet - hopefully to follow]
109 players gathered in Guernsey for the 34th Festival, 20 of them for the first time. Fourteen federations were represented, if you include Gibraltar as separate, which officially it isn’t. The Open attracted 67 entrants, including three grandmasters for the first time. Top seed was newcomer Kevin Spraggett (Canada), followed by Tiger Hillarp-Persson (Sweden), making his seventh visit and Bojan Kurajica (Croatia), the former world junior champion, also making his first visit. IM Robert Bellin was seeded four, making his 23rd appearance.
19th October
The morning of the first round was sunny and fairly warm. The more energetic entrants set off on foot or bike to explore the island. Some of us preferred to use a car to visit places further away, or to just be lazy. Driving on Guernsey is always exciting as the roads tend to be narrow, and there is always an unexpected diversion if some road is closed for repair. Even after 30+ visits to the island, I found myself on roads I had never seen before, but on this occasion the signposts were good. Even when you did find a beach to walk on, you met a chess player.
The Open looked interesting as despite the presence of three GMs and one IM, most of the players looked as if they could cause problems for everyone else.
Guernsey Round 1
1. K Spraggett 1-0 J Prins
2. M Ozanne 0-1 T Hillarp-Persson
3. B Kurajica 1-0 R Dijksterhuis
4. J Kamps ½-½ R Bellin
5. D Bisby 1-0 K de Kruif
6. I Jamieson 0-1 T Kett
7. P Wallace 1-0 JS Murray
8. J Hickman ½-½ T Broek
9. I Timmermans 1-0 D Guttridge
10. D Fassaert 0-1 K Goater
23 players are on 1. There were not many massive surprises, but a bunch of draws especially on the lower boards. This was your reporter’s 30th visit for the Festival and was pleased to see fellow former Redhill club champions Dan Bisby and Alan Spice were also playing.
Holiday Round 1
1.D Randall 1-0 W Van Hoek
2. P Hoogakker ½-½ B Nalichowski
3. M Dokter 1-0 M Viviani
4. H Haisma 1-0 M Kirk
5. P Foster ½-½ P Wood
13 are on 1. In contrast to the Open, only one of the top six boards went with seeding, but normality mainly prevailed elsewhere. The Holiday tournament (U1760) has changed a bit over the years, as some of its players are now FIDE-rated. So perhaps “Holiday” is not an entirely accurate reflection of the tournament’s quality, but of course finding a suitable title for “lower” tournaments is not easy. Some years ago, there was a compulsory half-point bye in the Holiday (hence the title) but that no longer applies.
Players staying at the Peninsula sampled the traditional massive Sunday cold buffet, but regulars wisely restrained themselves as there was still soup and a Sunday roast to come (and dessert of course…)
20th October
Another sunny day, albeit a bit breezy. After a scenic drive, your reporter bought the Guernsey Press, the local paper, and was surprised to find there was no chess report. Illumination came later when it was revealed that the chess reports would run a day late for the entire week. The reason? - The sports pages were temporarily the sole property of Heather Watson, a 16-year-old Guernsey girl who had won the gold medal for tennis at the Commonwealth Youth Games. This was a fantastic achievement (and the Channel Islands’ sole medal at the competition, and Guernsey‘s first since 1984), so we did not complain. Even the Indian paper “The Hindu” admitted she wiped out her Indian opponent in the final.
There was a touching story earlier in the “Press”. A day tripper was stopped by Customs and found to be carrying £30 worth of cannabis, which apparently she forgot was in her pocket. The benign assistant magistrate accepted it was a small amount for personal use and she had no intention of supplying - fined £400.
Open Round 2
1. A Spice (1) ½-½ K Spraggett (1)
2. T Hillarp-Persson (1) 1-0 J Havenaar (1)
3. I Heppell (1) 0-1 B Kurajica (1)
4. M Taylor (1) 1-0 D Bisby (1)
5. T Kett (1) 0-1 C Wismayer (1)
6. A Minnican (1) ½-½ P Wallace (1)
7. P Rowe (1) 0-1 I Timmermans (1)
8. K Goater (1) 0-1 F Hamperl (1)
9. M Burrows (1) 1-0 M van der Griendt (1)
10. R Bellin (½) ½-½ T Brown (1)
The real shock came on top board, where Alan Spice produced a brilliant performance to draw with top seed Kevin Spraggett. The GM agreed, so I am not trying to curry favour with Alan, who made a sage approach to the game, was keen as mustard, and avoided time pressure. (Thyme - geddit? That’s enough pathetic spice-related puns - ed.*) Elsewhere, the other GMs maintained 100 %, and were joined in the lead by local player (and organiser) Fred Hamperl and six others. Robert Bellin dropped another half point.
* This editorial comment inserted by the original author, thinking to fool me (the actual editor) - however, I have to agree with the sentiment expressed - real ed.
Holiday Round 2
1. F Bakkes (1) 0-1 H Haisma (1)
2. D Norman (1) ½-½ D O’Connell (1)
3. J Gibson (1) 1-0 G Kershaw (1)
4. D Newell (1) 1-0 J O’Connor (1)
5. P Timmerman(1) 0-1 D Randall (1)
Five players remain on 100 %.
21st October
The weather remains good. Your reporter went in search of souvenirs and discovered that some of the usual shops are either being refurbished or have closed totally, Guernsey has changed over the years from a holiday destination and vast amounts of tomato production to mainly an offshore banking community. Even this is under threat, as the British Government tries to tax everyone within reach, apart from their friends and backers of course. It is not so popular as a holiday destination now, owing to the pound’s strength against the euro (although that is not so clear now). Also the Amsterdam - Guernsey flight does not happen any more, which deters some of the Dutch players. But the peaceful and friendly atmosphere makes it worth visiting.
Guernsey Open Round 3
1. A Reijneveld (2) 0-1 T Hillarp-Persson (2)
2. B Kurajica (2) 1-0 M Taylor (2)
3. I Timmermans (2) 1-0 T Spanton (2)
4. C Wismayer (2) ½-½ M Burrows (2)
5. F Hamperl (2) 1-0 T Broek (1½)
6. K Spraggett (1½) 1-0 M Simmons (1½)
7. P Wallace (1½) 1-0 C Ippel (1½)
8. K Thurlow (1½) 0-1 A Spice (1½)
9. T Brown (1½) ½-½ D Collier (1½)
10. J Ruigrok (1½)) 0-1 A Minnican (1½))
The top players won, and it has to be said that draws were few and far between. Star of the day was Fred Hamperl, who produced a convincing victory against Thomas Broek. This is probably the first time a Guernsey player has reached 3/3 in the Open. Fred was also busy keeping the website up to date and doing other work for the tournament, which is hardly ideal preparation for playing. First Heather Watson, then Fred Hamperl - could Guernsey take this?
Your reporter had a tough game, but fought back to be better, then fouled it up, providing the opponent with his second shock result in a row. (Sorry Alan - couldn’t resist it.)
Holiday Round 3
1. H Haisma (2) 1-0 J Gibson (2)
2. D Randall (2) 0-1 D Newell (2)
3. M Jongerius (1½) 0-1 J Beadle (2)
4. D O’Connell (1½) 0-1 P Wood (1½)
5. D Norman (1½) 1-0 B Foran (1½)
The Holiday tournament continued to produce positive results and now only two players were on 100 %.
22nd October
The previous evening saw a guided tour of Castle Cornet with the excellent Annette Henry. Her tours have become a regular fixture of the Festival and the audience is growing. Her lively personality and great knowledge of the subject make for a splendid evening. (See http://www.annettehenrytours.gg/ for more information.) She does specialise in the ghostly and macabre and it has to be said that the castle is a creepy place at night. A very nice dinner followed at the Yacht Club. During the evening, GM Kevin Spraggett asked my first name, and hearing the response, he said, “The things parents do!“ Thanks go to GCF’s members, who ferried visitors to and from the venue.
Open Round 4
1. T Hillarp-Persson (3) 1-0 I Timmermans (3)
2. F Hamperl (3) 0-1 B Kurajica (3)
3. C Wismayer (2½) 0-1 K Spraggett (2½)
4. A Spice (2½) 0-1 P Wallace (2½)
5. M Burrows (2½) ½-½ A Minnican (2½)
6. D Collier (2) 0-1 D Bisby (2)
7. K Goater (2) ½-½ T van Ingen (2)
8. M Ozanne (2) 0-1 J Cornelisse (2)
9. R Dijksterhuis (2) ½-½ A Reijneveld (2)
10. T Spanton (2) ½-½ J Havenaar (2)
The GMs marched on. Paul Wallace (Ireland) was right up there with them. Dan Bisby had an extraordinary game with David Collier, where he managed to get a rook apparently trapped on a2 in the opening. Somehow he got out of it and produced a nice attack to win.
Holiday Round 4
1. D Newell (3) ½-½ H Haisma (3)
2. J Beadle (2½) ½-½ P Hoogakker (2)
3. J Gibson (2) 1-0 M Jongerius (2)
4. R Kearsley (2) 0-1 C Goman (2)
5. F Bakkes (2) 0-1 JR Finch (2)
The leaders drew with each other, but still retained their lead in the tournament,
23rd October
Your reporter visited Sausmarez Manor, but sadly was unable to do the tour, as it started too late to get back for the day‘s round. The guide was rather stunned that your reporter had met Cecil de Sausmarez, who used to play in the tournament, but died 20+ years ago. (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5749428692499055775 shows the Manor and Cecil.) He was a great character. But even if you cannot do the tour, the place is well worth a look.
A sudden downpour nearly dampened lunch at a seaside kiosk, but luckily cover was not far away.
The “Cock and Bull” runs a beer festival every year to coincide with the chess festival, but the landlord was away this year. However, he did set up a special deal for chess players in his absence. Would any of the players be suffering today?
Open Round 5
1. B Kurajica (4) ½-½ T Hillarp-Persson (4)
2. K Spraggett (3½) 1-0 P Wallace (3½)
3. D Bisby (3) 1-0 M Burrows (3)
4. I Timmermans (3) 1-0 F Hamperl (3)
5. J Cornelisse (3) ½-½ T Brown (3)
6. A Minnican (3) ½-½ R Bellin (2½)
7. B Westerkamp (2½) 0-1 T Broek (2½)
8. M Simmons (2½) ½-½ K Goater (2½)
9. A Reijneveld (2½) ½-½ J Prins (2½)
10. T van Ingen (2½) ½-½ A Spice (2½)
The two leaders had a not particularly long, but by no means uneventful draw. The third GM took advantage of this to catch up. IM Robert Bellin finally won in round 4 to get on the top boards again, but suffered another draw. It was noticeable that his coaching of Guernsey players seems to have made them more competitive.
Holiday Round 5
1. H Haisma (3½) 1-0 D Norman (3)
2. P Wood (3) 0-1 D Newell (3½)
3. JR Finch (3) 0-1 J Gibson (3)
4. C Goman (3) 1-0 J Beadle (3)
5. D O’Connell (2½) ½-½ W van Hoek (3)
The two leaders had already played so had to downfloat, and won again. Guernsey had two representatives in the top boards, Russell Finch losing, but Colin Goman producing a good win to keep in the touch with the leaders.
24th October
A visit to town (St Peter Port) is essential. There are plenty of interesting shops, where you can take advantage of the lack of VAT, or pick up interesting historical items, or the usual souvenirs etc. It is also an opportunity to meet all the other chess players doing the same thing….
Open Round 6
1. T Hillarp-Persson (4½) 1-0 K Spraggett (4½)
2. D Bisby (4) 0-1 B Kurajica (4½)
3. P Wallace (3½) 1-0 I Timmermans (4)
4. T Broek (3½) 1-0 A Minnican (3½)
5. K Thurlow (3½) 0-1 J Cornelisse (3½)
6. T Brown (3½) 0-1 J Havenaar (3½)
7. R Bellin (3) ½-½ C Wismayer (3)
8. T Kett (3) 1-0 F Hamperl (3)
9. K Goater (3) ½-½ T Spanton (3)
10. M Burrows (3) 1-0 M Simmons (3)
Tiger produced a good win to stay in the lead. Bojan Kurajica produced another smooth performance to stay in the lead. The GCF hit the jackpot with the GMs this year. All of them fought hard on the board and were really friendly away from it. Your reporter had an interesting game with an amiable Dutchman. After a fluctuating battle white had somehow achieved a clear advantage, but black threatened a draw by repetition. Our hero avoided this, and instantly lost a rook…… In a typical example of the spirit of the tournament, black said, “You were unlucky - would you like a beer?”
Holiday Round 6
1. C Goman (4) ½-½ H Haisma (4½)
2. D Newell (4½) 1-0 J Gibson (4)
3. G Kershaw 0-1 P Hoogakker (3½)
4. W van Hoek (3) ½-½ R Kearsley (3)
5. M Viviani (3) 1-0 JR Finch (3)
Colin Goman drew with one of the leaders to stay in contention, but David Newell won again to take a vital half-point lead into the final round.
Both sections are heading for an exciting finish.
25th October
The dreaded morning round…..
Open Round 7
1. P Wallace (4½) 0-1 T Hillarp-Persson (5½)
2. B Kurajica (5½) 0-1 K Spraggett (4½)
3. J Cornelisse (4½) ½-½ T Broek (4½)
4. J Havenaar (4½) 0-1 D Bisby (4)
5. T Kett (4) 1-0 O Jackson (4)
6. I Timmermans (4) 1-0 A Spice (4)
7. A Goris (4) 0-1 M Burrows (4)
8. R Bellin (3½) 1-0 J Prins (4)
9. A Minnican (3½) 1-0 K Goater (3½)
10. T Spanton (3½) 0-1 I Heppell (3½)
Tiger overcame Paul Wallace, who went unrewarded for a good week’s work, losing only to Tiger Hillarp-Persson and Kevin Spraggett. The latter had a very exciting game with Bojan Kurajica, which went right to the end of the session and was really unclear for a very long time. There was only one draw in the top dozen boards exemplifying the fighting spirit.
Holiday Round 7
1. D Newell (5½) 0-1 C Goman (4½)
2. H Haisma (5) ½-½ P Hoogakker (4½)
3. F Bakkes (4) 0-1 M Viviani (4)
4. J Gibson (4) ½-½ D Norman (4)
5. W van Hoek (3½) 1-0 J Beadle (4)
Colin Goman had a fine win with black against the long time leader to share first. This is the first time a Guernsey player has won 1st place in the tournament, and was really a fantastic performance.
The week concluded with the traditional Festival Dinner which was very good, and the Peninsula Hotel continued to look after everybody. Rudi von Saldern (who has only missed one of the 34 Guernsey Festivals) very kindly presented your reporter with a tie in the bar beforehand, a very nice gesture. After the dinner, we were treated to entertaining speeches from Jon Bridel (President of GCF), who bravely played in the Open despite a low rating, and Judge Russell Finch, who had done a lot of research and aimed many stories at our friends from Netherlands. The prize giving followed…..
OPEN TOURNAMENT
1st Tiger HILLARP-PERSSON (Sweden) 6½/7 £1200
2nd = Bojan KURAJICA (Croatia), Kevin SPRAGGETT (Canada) 5½ (£450 each)
4th = Daniel BISBY (England), Thomas BROEK (Netherlands), Martin BURROWS (England), John CORNELISSE (Netherlands), Tim KETT (Wales), Ivo TIMMERMANS (Netherlands) 5 £ 60
Veterans = Ton GORIS (Netherlands), Cok IPPEL (Netherlands), Oliver JACKSON (England) 4 £ 20
U2200 = Jan HAVENAAR (Netherlands), Ian HEPPELL (England), Alan MINNICAN (Scotland) 4½ £ 20
U2075 = Kees DE KRUIF (Netherlands), Kevin THURLOW (England) 4½ £ 30
U2025 Tom BROWN (Wales) 4 £ 60
U1925 Pim BLIJLEVENS (Netherlands) 4 £ 60
Channel I = Peter ROWE (Guernsey), Fred HAMPERL (Guernsey) 3½ £ 50
Brilliancy Daniel BISBY (England)
Br Ch Qual Martin BURROWS (England) (on tie-break)
HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT
1st = David NEWELL (England) (takes trophy on tie-break), Colin GOMAN (Guernsey), Henk HAISMA (Netherlands) 5½/7 £240
4th = Pim HOOGAKKER (Netherlands), Mario VIVIANI (Switzerland) 5 £ 40
Ladies Dinah NORMAN (England) 4½ £ 50
Veterans = Chris BROOKER (France), Wim VAN HOEK (Netherlands) 4½ £ 25
Senior V John GIBSON (France) 4½ £ 50
U1620 D O’CONNELL (Ireland) 4½ £ 50
U1580 = John BEADLE (England), David RANDALL (England) 4 £ 25
U1325 Peter CARRICK (England) 3½ £ 50
Channel I = Russell FINCH (Guernsey), Bogdan NALICHOWSKI (Guernsey) 4 £ 40
Quiz Prize Kees de Kruif (Netherlands) large bottle of Scotch
SPECIAL PRIZES (presented by David Sedgwick)
`Not Really Wanting to Come in the First Place CARDIFF CHESS CLUB Book
Representative Loser Fritz BAKKES (Netherlands) Book
Brilliancy Prize Loser David COLLIER (Bristol) Flash Stick
Winner of Shortest Game Hans REUTIMANN (Switzerland) Flash Stick
Finally Winning in Round 1 Ronnie BURTON (Weymouth) Flash Stick
Invaluable Help and Assistance Kevin THURLOW (Redhill) Flash Stick
Putting up with the Arbiter Fred (and Ali) HAMPERL (Guernsey) Special Book
Some clarification may be needed! The Cardiff players had all taken leave to attend the European Club Cup and then were suddenly told they could not go, so as they had booked time off work, they decided to play at Guernsey. Hopefully they enjoyed it sufficiently to come back.
Ronnie Burton was playing for the 23rd time, and proudly announced he had won in the first round for the first time. Unfortunately he had to wait a bit for his next win.
Tiger judged the brilliancy prize and thought Dan Bisby was much worse early on, but staged such a relentless attack that he won the game. David Sedgwick awarded a prize to the unlucky victim of the game.
Jan Havenaar (Netherlands) and Rudiger von Saldern (Germany) have the distinction of playing in 33 of the 34 tournaments(!) so far and received small trophies to mark their achievement a couple of years ago. This year it was the turn of Kevin Thurlow (30) (England), Eric Palmer (29) (Guernsey), Kees de Kruif (28) (Netherlands), Alan Gravett (28) (Gibraltar), John Cummins (26) (Guernsey), Russell Finch (26) (Guernsey) and Steve Murray (26) (Scotland).
David Sedgwick did a fine job as arbiter, keeping it friendly and low key. Fred Hamperl and Peter Rowe did a great job for GCF as did many other local players. Kerry Bateman wrote excellent reports in the Guernsey Press. Channel TV and Radio Guernsey also covered the event. The sponsors (Fortis Guernsey, Peninsula Hotel and Culture Guernsey) deservedly received great applause at the final dinner.
The return on Sunday marked the end of an era, as FlyBe were retiring the BAe 146 that day. It seemed odd getting into a turboprop aircraft for the trip home.
The 35th Guernsey International Chess Festival will be held 18-24 October 2009. A warm welcome awaits you!
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