In a hard-fought eighth round, the last hopes of IMs Benjamin Bok, Robin van Kampen and Bart Michiels to score a GM norm were shattered. All three needed two points from the last two rounds. However, Van Kampen and Michiels drew their games, while Bok even lost. Gerald Hertneck shared the point with Praveen Thipsay to keep a one-point lead. Continue reading
Maybe it was the blitz tournament the night before, maybe it had to do with a general decline of motivation among some players, who will tell. Whatever the reason, after about an hour into the seventh round, already three games had ended peacefully. But what’s more important: the tournament will still see an exciting last weekend, as IMs Bart Michiels, Benjamin Bok and Robin van Kampen can still score a GM norm by winning their last two games. Continue reading
We don’t know about you, but in Cafe Batavia we’re enjoying the tournament to the max, and some even beyond! Almost all of the games have been quite interesting, and the atmosphere after the rounds is excellent as well. After the sixth round a spontaneous blitz tournament was organized that continued after closing time, and IM Robert Ris won the fitting first prize: a bottle of Johnnie Walker. Continue reading
The spectators, either on line or in the cafe, have no reason to complain so far. In yet another eventful round, four out of five games were decisive, lowering the drawing percentage to 32%. GM Gerald Hertneck increased his lead in the standings with a fine victory over IM Robert Ris, while other IMs still kept theoretical GM norm chances. Continue reading
After four rounds the Batavia tournament as a clear leader. GM Gerald Hertneck, who one day before the first round didn’t know that he was going to play a chess tournament, is on 3.5/4. The chances that a GM norm will be scored in this tournament are small, but not impossible; IMs Bart Michiels and Christov Kleijn share second place with 2.5 points. Meanwhile, IM Merijn van Delft experienced the typical, gruelling chess hatred that only chess players can fully grasp – no chance to explain it to someone who doesn’t play the game. Continue reading
In his acclaimed Chess for Zebras, Scottish GM Jonathan Rowson tries to make the point that the theoretical advantage of the white pieces might be overestimated in chess. However, on Sunday in Cafe Batavia nobody wanted to argue with it, as the White players scored a sweeping 5-0. After yet another excellent round, the drawing percentage is as low as 40%. Continue reading
Wow, that was quick. Before ‘house photographer’ Bas Beekhuizen was done shooting, two of the player were already done shuffling. After about two minutes into the second round, grandmasters Niaz Murshed and Gerald Hertneck shook hands and arbiter Aart Strik placed their two kings opposed to each other in the centre of the board. Continue reading
The first round was scheduled on Friday as well, less than two hours after the opening ceremony. This meant that the players couldn’t really prepare for their games, although one of them could be seen behind a laptop between 12:30 and 14:00 anyway! At a later stage we might reveal who he was… Continue reading
We have a website! And now it’s there, why not just start discussing the tournament? Luckily it has only been running for two rounds, so we haven’t too much catching up to do. Well, in fact already ten games have been played, so we better hurry… with a report about the opening ceremony. Soon after, we’ll talk about the first two rounds. Continue reading
