European Senior Championships in Eretria

by Frederic Friedel
5/17/2015 – The place is almost too beautiful to allow for fighting chess. "You go for nice walks, enjoy the sunny, warm weather, the scenery, the sea, and then you tend to allow a tame draw in the afternoon," said John Nunn, who finished second behind Georgian GM Zurab Sturua. John, who recently turned sixty and was playing in the Over 50 section, has kindly annotated a game for us.

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15th European Senior Chess Championship

The 15th European Senior Chess Championships were held in Eretria, Greece, from the 28th of April to the 8th of May, 2015. There were two sections: Over 50 and Over 65. The tournaments were nine round Swiss with time controls of 40 moves in 90 minutes, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game + 30 seconds increment per move, starting from move one.

The official venue was the conference center of the four-star Eretria Village Hotel, which is near the ancient city of Eretria. Here are some pictures (from Booking.com) to make you feel envious or look forward to becoming a senior:

Group photo of some of the lucky participants

The European Senior Championships 2015 under way in Eretria

Georgian GM Zurab Sturua, rated 2536, started as as one of the favorites in the Over 50 group – and as the reigning World Senior Champion. He finished a point ahead of top seed John Nunn, 2601, who finished sole second.

The winners of the Over 50 section: John Nunn, Zurab Sturua and Keith Arkell (Bronze)

World and now European Senior Champion GM Zurab Sturua, 55, who won the
Georgian Championship in 1975, 1977, 1981, 1984 and 1985 and played for
Georgia in the Chess Olympiads of 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2002.

Top final standings of the Euro Senior Championship over 50 (nine rounds)

Rnk Sd Title Name Nat Elo Pts TB1  TB2  TB3 
1 2 GM Sturua Zurab GEO 2536 7.5 2395 47.0 51.0
2 1 GM Nunn John D M ENG 2601 6.5 2406 48.5 54.0
3 3 GM Arkell Keith C ENG 2493 6.0 2407 47.5 52.5
4 5 IM Bellia Fabrizio ITA 2433 6.0 2353 45.5 50.0
5 9 IM Berkovich Mark A ISR 2362 6.0 2317 43.0 47.0
6 8 GM Fernandes Antonio POR 2369 6.0 2293 40.5 43.0
7 23   Ilandzis Spyridon GRE 2151 6.0 2274 39.5 43.0
8 14 FM Furman Boris RUS 2217 6.0 2221 39.5 42.5
9 10 IM Petran Peter SVK 2362 5.5 2363 45.5 46.0
10 16 FM Nikolaidis Konstantinos GRE 2187 5.5 2312 40.5 43.5
11 7 IM Bruno Fabio ITA 2418 5.5 2305 43.5 47.0
12 6 GM Raetsky Alexander RUS 2419 5.5 2212 40.0 44.0
13 12 IM Smolin Sergey UKR 2272 5.5 2211 40.0 43.5
14 20 WGM Mednikova Svetlana RUS 2170 5.5 2207 40.0 40.5
15 15   Christensen Jan DEN 2199 5.5 2120 39.0 42.0

John Nunn, above in his round one game against Spiridon Ilandzis, won second place in the Over 50 section. He tells us that Eretria and the hotel not exactly conducive to vicious battles on the chessboard. "You go for nice walks, enjoy the sunny, warm weather, the scenery, the sea, and then you tend to allow a tame draw in the afternoon." John, who recently turned sixty, was one of the oldest players in the Over 50 section. He kindly annotated a game for us.

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1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 a6 4.Be3 I have always felt that systems involving Be3 or Bg5 pose the most danger against Pirc/Modern set-ups. d6 5.h4 It may seem odd to describe a move such as this as flexible, but actually it is quite useful to see how Black intends to react to the h-pawn advance before deciding whether to play Qd2 or f3. h5 6.Qd2 b5 7.0-0-0 7 f3 and 7 Nh3 have been most often played, but there is some point to castling first. White delays f3 until it is really necessary. Bb7 8.Nh3 Nd7 9.Ng5 e6 One advantage of White's move-order it that the natural 9...Ngf6 is bad due to 10.e5! dxe5 11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Qxd8+ Rxd8 13.Rxd8+ Kxd8 14.f4 Nfg4 15.Bd2 and White wins a piece for two pawns. Therefore Black has to make some kind of concession, either to play an awkward move such as 9...Rc8 or to preface the knight development with the not especially constructive ...e6. Black settles on the latter course. 10.Kb1 Ngf6 Black is threatening ...b4, so the time has finally come to support the centre with the f-pawn. 11.f3 0-0? Castling obviously involves some risk, as White's pieces are quite well-placed for a kingside attack. It was better to play 11...Qe7 keeping open the option of castling queenside and leaving White guessing about where the black king will end up. 12.g4! If White is going to do this, it should be played at once since he has no natural way to strengthen his position, while Black has constructive possibilities such as ...Qe7 available. b4 Kicking the knight to e2 blocks the white queen's path to the h-file, but the downside is that the knight is more quickly available on the kingside. However, the alternative 12...hxg4 13.h5 gxh5 14.fxg4 Nxg4 14...hxg4 15.Qh2 looks extremely dangerous 15.Be2! Ndf6 16.Bxg4 Nxg4 17.Rxh5 gives White a massive attack in return for a single pawn. 13.Ne2 hxg4 14.Ng3 14.h5 Nxh5 15.fxg4 Nhf6 is perhaps less clear, but White can afford to spend a tempo preparing h5. Black wins another pawn, but this is not a major concern. 14...gxf3 There's nothing better than to grab whatever is available. 15.h5 Nxh5 15...gxh5 16.Bd3! followed by Rdg1 is catastrophic. 16.Rxh5 The most forceful, although the simple 16.Nxh5 gxh5 17.Rxh5 Nf6 18.Rh4 is also very strong. 16...gxh5 17.Nxh5 White's numerical superiority in the vicinity of Black's king proves lethal. Nf6 Or 17...Qe7 18.Bc4! d5 19.Nxg7 Kxg7 20.Rg1 and wins. 18.Qh2 Re8 18...Ng4 19.Qh4 Nxe3 20.Nf6+ mates, while 18...Bxe4 19.Nxf6+ Qxf6 20.Nxe4 Qg6 21.Bd3 f5 22.Rg1 Qh7 23.Bh6 fxe4 24.Bxe4 Qxe4 25.Rxg7+ Kh8 26.Rg1 leads to a quick mate. 19.Bd3 The simplest, defending the important e4-pawn while preparing to swing the last white piece into the attack. e5 19...Nxh5 20.Qxh5 Qf6 loses to 21.e5 20.Nxg7 Kxg7 21.Nh7! A neat finish, preventing the black king slipping away via f8. Ng4 21...Nxh7 22.Qh6+ Kh8 23.Rh1 mates. 22.Rg1 It's all over now. Bc8 The tricky 22...Qg5 is refuted by 23.Rxg4! Qxg4 24.Qh6+ and mate next move. 23.Qh6+ Kg8 24.Nf6+ Qxf6 25.Qxf6 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Nunn,J-Smolin,S-1–02015B06European Senior Ch 50+

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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.b4 a5 10.Ba3 b6 11.bxa5 Nh5 12.Re1 f5 13.Bf1 fxe4 14.Ng5 e3 15.fxe3 Rxa5 16.Bb4 Ra8 17.a4 Bh6 18.Ne6 Bxe6 19.dxe6 Ng7 20.g3 Nxe6 21.Bg2 Rb8 22.Nb5 Kh8 23.a5 bxa5 24.Bxa5 Nf5 25.Ra3 Qd7 26.Bc3 Rbd8 27.Bd2 c6 28.Ra7 Qc8 29.Nc3 Qb8 30.Qa1 Nc5 31.Rb1 Qc8 32.Ne4 Nxe4 33.Bxe4 Rd7 34.Ra6 Bxe3+ 35.Bxe3 Nxe3 36.c5 Rdf7 37.Rxc6 Qh3 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Ilandzis,S2136Nunn,J26010–12015E9715th ch-Euro Seniors 20151.1
Sturua,Z2536Gamback,B20881–02015D3415th ch-Euro Seniors 20151.2
Saunina,L2183Arkell,K25090–12015B1515th ch-Euro Seniors 20151.3
Kalegin,E2457Hewson,B20991–02015B1515th ch-Euro Seniors 20151.4
Yasin,H2096Bellia,F24190–12015C7715th ch-Euro Seniors 20151.5
Nunn,J2601Smolin,S22721–02015B0615th ch-Euro Seniors 20152.1
Furman,B2217Sturua,Z25360–12015E2115th ch-Euro Seniors 20152.2
Arkell,K2509Nikolaidis,K21901–02015E6315th ch-Euro Seniors 20152.3
Kasoshvili,T2179Kalegin,E24570–12015E6715th ch-Euro Seniors 20152.4
Bellia,F2419Molchanov,N21531–02015B0715th ch-Euro Seniors 20152.5
Fernandes,A2369Nunn,J26010–12015E6215th ch-Euro Seniors 20153.1
Sturua,Z2536Bellia,F24191–02015E4615th ch-Euro Seniors 20153.2
Petran,P2352Arkell,K2509½–½2015A3615th ch-Euro Seniors 20153.3
Kalegin,E2457Bruno,F24180–12015C1615th ch-Euro Seniors 20153.4
Chapman,T2268Berkovich,M2363½–½2015E0415th ch-Euro Seniors 20153.5
Nunn,J2601Sturua,Z2536½–½2015C6015th ch-Euro Seniors 20154.1
Bruno,F2418Arkell,K25090–12015E1515th ch-Euro Seniors 20154.2
Berkovich,M2363Petran,P2352½–½2015A0415th ch-Euro Seniors 20154.3
Nikolaidis,K2190Kalegin,E2457½–½2015A4115th ch-Euro Seniors 20154.4
Bellia,F2419Kasoshvili,T21791–02015B0115th ch-Euro Seniors 20154.5
Arkell,K2509Nunn,J2601½–½2015E6015th ch-Euro Seniors 20155.1
Sturua,Z2536Bruno,F24181–02015A1815th ch-Euro Seniors 20155.2
Petran,P2352Bellia,F2419½–½2015A1315th ch-Euro Seniors 20155.3
Fernandes,A2369Chapman,T22681–02015B0715th ch-Euro Seniors 20155.4
Mednikova,S2205Berkovich,M23630–12015B1015th ch-Euro Seniors 20155.5
Berkovich,M2363Sturua,Z2536½–½2015A0515th ch-Euro Seniors 20156.1
Arkell,K2509Fernandes,A23691–02015D9015th ch-Euro Seniors 20156.2
Nunn,J2601Petran,P2352½–½2015B1215th ch-Euro Seniors 20156.3
Bellia,F2419Barle,J2347½–½2015C5015th ch-Euro Seniors 20156.4
Chapman,T2268Nikolaidis,K21901–02015E6215th ch-Euro Seniors 20156.5
Sturua,Z2536Arkell,K25091–02015A4015th ch-Euro Seniors 20157.1
Berkovich,M2363Nunn,J26010–12015D7715th ch-Euro Seniors 20157.2
Ilandzis,S2136Bellia,F24190–12015D3715th ch-Euro Seniors 20157.3
Kasoshvili,T2179Fernandes,A2369½–½2015A4915th ch-Euro Seniors 20157.4
Petran,P2352Chapman,T22681–02015A0015th ch-Euro Seniors 20157.5
Petran,P2352Sturua,Z2536½–½2015A1515th ch-Euro Seniors 20158.1
Nunn,J2601Bellia,F2419½–½2015C9515th ch-Euro Seniors 20158.2
Arkell,K2509Barle,J2347½–½2015D3415th ch-Euro Seniors 20158.3
Fernandes,A2369Furman,B2217½–½2015E0015th ch-Euro Seniors 20158.4
Kasoshvili,T2179Berkovich,M23630–12015A4715th ch-Euro Seniors 20158.5
Sturua,Z2536Smolin,S22721–02015E6015th ch-Euro Seniors 20159.1
Raetsky,A2423Nunn,J2601½–½2015E7315th ch-Euro Seniors 20159.2
Bellia,F2419Arkell,K2509½–½2015B1715th ch-Euro Seniors 20159.3
Berkovich,M2363Bruno,F2418½–½2015A0515th ch-Euro Seniors 20159.4
Furman,B2217Petran,P23521–02015A4115th ch-Euro Seniors 20159.5

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Over 65 European Championship

Whereas the favorites were able to fulfil expectations in the Over 50 group there was a big surprise in the Over 65 section: the relatively unknown Belgian player Jan Rooze tied with Russian GM Viktor Kupreichik, who is known for his fantastic attacking style, for first place and beat him on tie-break points. GM Evgeni Vasiukov followed a point behind the two leaders for Bronze, while former Women's World Champion Nona Gaprindashvili was one point behind him in fifth place.

Top final standings of the Euro Senior Championship over 65 (nine rounds)

Rnk Sd Title Name Nat Elo Pts TB1  TB2  TB3 
1 5 IM Rooze Jan BEL 2281 7.5 2245 46.0 49.0
2 2 GM Kupreichik Viktor D BLR 2373 7.5 2234 45.0 49.5
3 1 GM Vasiukov Evgeni RUS 2416 6.5 2212 45.0 48.5
4 33   Muratoglu Salih TUR 1960 6.0 2227 44.5 49.0
5 4 GM Gaprindashvili Nona GEO 2302 5.5 2212 47.5 51.0
6 7 FM Gruzmann Boris GER 2200 5.5 2178 45.5 50.0
7 24 FM Valenti Giuseppe ITA 2052 5.5 2175 39.0 43.5
8 3 GM Pushkov Nikolai RUS 2313 5.5 2142 44.0 48.5
9 11   Stokes Michael ENG 2135 5.5 2129 38.0 40.5
10 6   Pedersen Jan Rode DEN 2208 5.0 2164 42.0 46.0
11 18   Batakovs Olegs LAT 2095 5.0 2135 38.0 40.5
12 15 FM Zhelesny Stanislav RUS 2118 5.0 2112 38.0 40.5
13 10 FM Hohler Peter SUI 2150 5.0 2067 40.0 43.5
14 17   Kaminik Aleksandar ISR 2106 5.0 2067 35.5 39.0
15 16 IM Archangelsky Mikhail RUS 2108 5.0 2041 39.0 42.5
16 19   Morriss Pete IRL 2092 5.0 2002 35.5 37.5

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1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd8 4.d4 c6 5.Bf4 Nf6 6.Qd2 Bf5 7.Nge2 h6 8.Ng3 Bh7 9.Be2 e6 10.a3 Bd6 11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.f4 Nbd7 13.0-0 0-0 14.f5 exf5 15.Nxf5 Bxf5 16.Rxf5 Rae8 17.Rd1 Nb6 18.Qf4 Qxf4 19.Rxf4 Nbd5 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 21.Rf2 Re7 22.Bf3 Nf6 23.c4 Rd8 24.Rfd2 Red7 25.b4 a6 26.a4 Kf8 27.Kf2 g5 28.g3 g4 29.Bg2 Re7 30.Re2 Rde8 31.Rxe7 Rxe7 32.Re1 Rxe1 33.Kxe1 Ke7 34.Kd2 Nd7 35.c5 f5 36.b5 axb5 37.axb5 Nb8 38.Kc3 Kd7 39.Kc4 Kc7 40.d5 cxb5+ 41.Kxb5 Nd7 42.d6+ Kc8 43.Bd5 Nf8 44.Kc4 h5 45.Kd4 Kb8 46.Bf7 f4 47.Bxh5 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Vasiukov,E2414Anguera Maestro,J20901–02015B0115th ch-Euro Seniors +651.1
White,A2070Kupreichik,V23730–12015B5615th ch-Euro Seniors +651.2
Pushkov,N2302Valenti,G2052½–½2015A3015th ch-Euro Seniors +651.3
Mas Recorda,P2052Gaprindashvili,N2302½–½2015A4415th ch-Euro Seniors +651.4
Grabow,P2111Vasiukov,E2414½–½2015A3915th ch-Euro Seniors +652.1
Kupreichik,V2373Morriss,P20921–02015A1815th ch-Euro Seniors +652.2
Archangelsky,M2108Rooze,J23110–12015D0515th ch-Euro Seniors +652.3
Batakovs,O2095Gruzmann,B22100–12015C7415th ch-Euro Seniors +652.4
Gruzmann,B2210Kupreichik,V2373½–½2015B5615th ch-Euro Seniors +653.1
Rooze,J2311Schouten,N21971–02015C5015th ch-Euro Seniors +653.2
Vasiukov,E2414Ashby,A21291–02015B1215th ch-Euro Seniors +653.3
Pushkov,N2302Grabow,P2111½–½2015E1515th ch-Euro Seniors +653.4
Kupreichik,V2373Rooze,J2311½–½2015B4315th ch-Euro Seniors +654.1
Pedersen,J2208Vasiukov,E24140–12015B3215th ch-Euro Seniors +654.2
Gaprindashvili,N2302Gruzmann,B22101–02015A5315th ch-Euro Seniors +654.3
Pushkov,N2302Stokes,M21351–02015E9215th ch-Euro Seniors +654.4
Rooze,J2311Gaprindashvili,N23021–02015B0015th ch-Euro Seniors +655.1
Vasiukov,E2414Schouten,N21971–02015C8015th ch-Euro Seniors +655.2
Gundersen,H2154Kupreichik,V23730–12015C2615th ch-Euro Seniors +655.3
Strand,K2037Pushkov,N23020–12015C0315th ch-Euro Seniors +655.4
Rooze,J2311Vasiukov,E2414½–½2015B3115th ch-Euro Seniors +656.1
Kupreichik,V2373Pushkov,N23021–02015C0215th ch-Euro Seniors +656.2
Muratoglu,S1960Gaprindashvili,N2302½–½2015A4315th ch-Euro Seniors +656.3
Pedersen,J2208Valenti,G20521–02015C1015th ch-Euro Seniors +656.4
Vasiukov,E2414Kupreichik,V2373½–½2015B5315th ch-Euro Seniors +657.1
Pushkov,N2302Rooze,J23110–12015A3015th ch-Euro Seniors +657.2
Gaprindashvili,N2302Pedersen,J22081–02015E1815th ch-Euro Seniors +657.3
Stokes,M2135Muratoglu,S19600–12015B1015th ch-Euro Seniors +657.4
Muratoglu,S1960Rooze,J2311½–½2015A5615th ch-Euro Seniors +658.1
Gaprindashvili,N2302Vasiukov,E2414½–½2015A8015th ch-Euro Seniors +658.2
Kupreichik,V2373Zhelesny,S21181–02015D8515th ch-Euro Seniors +658.3
Pedersen,J2208Gruzmann,B22100–12015B9215th ch-Euro Seniors +658.4
Kupreichik,V2373Gaprindashvili,N23021–02015B0015th ch-Euro Seniors +659.1
Rooze,J2311Gruzmann,B22101–02015B5215th ch-Euro Seniors +659.2
Vasiukov,E2414Muratoglu,S1960½–½2015B1215th ch-Euro Seniors +659.3
Hohler,P2141Stokes,M2135½–½2015A0515th ch-Euro Seniors +659.4

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