Entertaining start of the Cez Chess Trophy 2016

by ChessBase
6/7/2016 – Before David Navara and Richard Rapport started their four-game match at the Michna Palace in Prague they played a blindfold game of living chess which was won by Rapport. However, in the first two games of the match the Hungarian grandmaster had to content himself with a draw. Meanwhile Timur Gareyev provided more blindfold-entertainment.

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By GM Timur Gareyev

Over the past 10 years Čez Group has sponsored matches of seven-time Czech champion GM David Navara against some of the top players in the world. This year Navara plays against GM Richard Rapport from Hungary.

The match began with a remarkable show: Rapport and Navara played a blindfold game against each other, a game, which was re-enacted live by humans in medieval costumes.

Preparations for the blindfold game Richard Rapport (left) against David Navara

Fierce action on the battlefield

Some of the fighters were really young…but very skillful!

Game over!

Rapport won the blindfold game and became King Richard.
But Navara did not seem to lose his sense of humor.

The blindfold game attracted a lot of spectators. One of them was Sergey Movsesian
who enjoys a laugh with the drummer from the Stiavnica Living Chess crew.

After the entertainment of the blindfold game the classical games began. The first game brought some good solid chess and ended in a draw. But in round two David came out fighting. However, Richard defended well and tried to make use of his counterattacking opportunities. But in the end Navara was able to hold and the second game also ended in a draw.

 
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1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 c6 4.0-0 Bf5 5.c4 e6 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.Qb3 Qb6 8.Qxb6 axb6 9.Nc3 Nc6 10.d3 Bc5 11.Bf4 0-0 12.Nh4 Bg6 13.Nxg6 hxg6 14.Bd2 Rfc8 15.Rfc1 Ng4 16.Be1 f5 17.Rab1 Kf7 18.a3 Nd4 19.e3 Nb3 20.Rd1 Nf6 21.e4 Rd8 22.exd5 Nxd5 23.Nxd5 exd5 24.d4 Be7 25.Rd3 Na5 26.Bxa5 Rxa5 27.Rc1 Rd7 28.Rc8 b5 29.b4 Ra6 30.Rdc3 Bf6 31.R3c5 Rxa3 32.Bxd5+ Ke7 33.Rxb5 Bxd4 34.Rc2 b6 35.Rd2 Bc3 36.Re2+ Kf8 37.Kg2 Ra4 38.Bc6 Rd2 39.Rxd2 Bxd2 40.Rxf5+ gxf5 41.Bxa4 Bxb4 42.f4 g6 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Rapport,R2731Navara,D2744½–½2016A05Cez Trophy 20161
Navara,D2744Rapport,R2731½–½2016B05Cez Trophy 20162

Chess Train

Saturday evening participants and spectators of the festival went to the Ponrepo Theater to see the movie about the Chess Train tour the Prague Chess Society organizes each year. The movie was created by Estonian producer Maris Flabba and her crew.

https://vimeo.com/166728987?ref=fb-share&1

If you want to join the Chess Train tour in October this year, you got to rush because only a few tickets are left. For more information contact the Prague Chess Society!      

Last but not least, let me share a game and a couple of images from my blindfold match. This was a particularly thrilling event, since we are planning to host the World Record Event in the Czech Republic in December. The match went great and I won with 10 out of 12. Here's one of the games.

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.h4 d5 4.Nd2 Nxg5 5.hxg5 Bf5 6.Ngf3 e6 7.c4 Be7 8.Qb3 Na6 9.c5 Rb8 10.e3 0-0 11.Bd3 Bg6 12.Bxg6 fxg6 13.Ne5 Bxg5 14.Ke2 14.f4! Bf6 15.Ndf3 14...Bf6 15.Ndf3 c6 16.Rh3 Bxe5 17.Nxe5 Qg5 18.Rg3 Qh5+ 19.Nf3 h6 20.Qd3 Rf6 21.Rh3 Qf5 22.Qxf5 exf5 23.Ne5 Re6 24.f4 This is when I realized it was a good time to cut the losses. Despite material edge for black, white is solid. I offered a draw and after a round of comtemplation Madka was happy to accept. ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Timur-Madka-½–½2016A45Prague Blindfold Match

As you see in this picture, I like to spin a stationary bike when I play blindfold chess. This enhances the blood-flow and gives me a sense of energy and flow. During the four hour event I biked about 38 kilomiteres and burned 800 calories. I imagine I burned at least that many calories in brain power as well.

Anežka Kružíková is the photographer for the Prague Chess Society and shared the amazing images from the event!

Ahoj from Prague!

The schedule and more information about the festival can be found at the tournament website.


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