
Skopje turned out to be quite an entertaining place
Since I mentioned Fischer in the first part of the Karpos Open report, and because he did play in Skopje in 1972, I remember a famous statement of the legendary champion: “I do not believe in psychology but in good moves!”

Practice has proven that the bishop is the most reliable piece to play with during the game

In search for the million dollar move

Effective action with quiet reflection

Getting into the chess zone is always recommended

Emil Zhezhov, a true chess lover and my opponent in the first round. Chess is such an incredible
game, as one gets the chance to meet various and interesting characters.
Now the question is: wasn't it psychology that deprived Svetushkin of the tournament win after having been in the lead all the way until the last day, displaying dynamic, active, refreshing and simply beautiful chess? Or was it Kiril Georgiev’s fighting spirit which yielded him the last round win against the Moldavian leader at 9:30 AM?

This final game has probably left a scar for White...
Svetushkin - Georgiev
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
22...f5 23.exf5 Rc5 24.Qxb4 Nxd5 25.Qa3 Nf4 26.b4 Rc8 27.Qe3 Kh8 28.Kh2 Nb6 29.Nbd2 Nbd5 30.Qb3 Ne7 31.Be4 31.Rxa8 Rxa8 32.g3 Nh5 33.Ng5 31...d5 32.Bb1 Nxf5 32...e4!? 33.Nxe5 Qd6 34.Re1 Ng6 35.Ndf3 d4! 36.Rxa8 Rxa8 37.g3 Nfh4?! 37...Nxe5 38.Nxe5 Ra7 38.Bxg6? 38.Nf7+ Rxf7 39.Qxf7 Rf8 40.Ng5! Nf3+ 41.Qxf3 Rxf3 42.Nxf3 38.gxh4 Nxe5 39.Nxe5 Rxf2+ 40.Kg1 Raf8 41.Qg3 Qxb4 42.Nd3 Qa3 43.Qxf2 Rxf2 44.Nxf2 38...Nxf3+ 39.Qxf3? Rxf3 40.Nf7+ 0–1
- Start an analysis engine:
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Svetushkin,D | 2562 | Georgiev,K | 2631 | 0–1 | 2016 | B51 | Karpos Open 2016 | 9.1 |
Please, wait...

And the sole winner is: Kiril Georgiev!
Despite my “short castle “ in the final two rounds (double 0 on the score table) I am satisfied with my escape from the chess hibernation. I played effervescent chess, inspired by the local people’s character and apart from invaluable experience I also gained some rating… The same applies to the weather conditions: coming from the Dutch winter I landed in a dream-like 28 degrees Centigrade summertime!

I am like a plant, I need my sun! Even if it is too hot, better with than without
History has proven Macedonians as true fighters, able to recover from the hardest blows and to emerge stronger than before. In 1963 a devastating earthquake destroyed the whole city of Skopje and people had to operate a complete “refresh “ starting the game again from “square one”.

Skopje's new neo-classical splendor has triggered quite some debates and although opinions
may be divided, I think the capital has a character during day and...

...nighttime.

Not to mention they do like tourists too!
Building up its historical image, the capital decided to go baroque, where statues and art are omnipresent, perhaps a bit overwhelming at times... and yet, it does make for a different Skopje (don't we all want to be special and unique?!).

The heart of the city

There is some magic going on around, as cameras keep on snapping like never before!
I felt that it is "another type" of city with "another type" of people, who actually cannot supress a smile either on the street or at the chess board.

Some of the best moments are hidden in the little things... we spoke Romanian

Probably I mentioned by now that Macedonians do enjoy their time, off and...

… on the chess board too!

The fight for the main prizes was tough but so was the one for the ladies section!

Sabrina Vega Gutierrez took the ladies prize!
Sabrina Vega Gutierrez – Ivanov
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 a6 6.Nd6+ Bxd6 7.Qxd6 Qf6 8.Qd1 Qg6 9.Nc3 d5!? 10.Nxd5 Qxe4+ 11.Be3 Nd4 12.Nc7+ Ke7 13.Qd3 13.Nxa8 Nxc2+ 14.Kd2 Nxe3 15.fxe3 Nf6 13...Qxd3? 13...Nxc2+ 14.Kd2 Qxd3+ 15.Bxd3 Nxe3! 16.Nxa8 Nd5 14.Bxd3 Rb8 15.f4! f6 16.0-0 Nh6 17.fxe5 fxe5 18.c3 Nc6 19.Rad1 Kd6 20.Bb6! Bg4 21.Be2+ Nd4 22.Bxg4 Nxg4 23.cxd4 Kc6 24.Ba5 b6 25.Rc1+ Kb7 26.Bb4 exd4 27.Rf7 Ne5 28.Nb5+ Nxf7 29.Rc7+ 1–0
- 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.
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Vega Gutierrez,S | 2381 | Ivanov,S | 2231 | 1–0 | 2016 | B32 | Karpos Open 2016 | 5.22 |
Please, wait...
Another game that I found worth replaying was:
Djukic - Neeloptal
18.N3h2 Ng6 19.Be3 Bc3 20.Re2 Nf6 21.Ng3 b4 22.f4 a5 23.Bd3 Ba6 24.a4?! Qc8 25.Nhf1 h5!? 25...c4!? 26.Bxa6 Qxa6 27.e5?! 27.f5 Ne5 28.Bg5 Ned7! 27...dxe5 28.fxe5 Rxe5 29.Bf2 h4 30.Rxe5 hxg3! 31.Rf5 gxf2+ 32.Kh1 Bd4 33.Nd2 Re8 34.Qf1 Qc8 35.Rg5 Be3 0–1
- 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.
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Djukic,N | 2563 | Neelotpal,D | 2457 | 0–1 | 2016 | C92 | Karpos Open 2016 | 9.8 |
Please, wait...
But time has come to focus on my tomorrow’s game in Jersey… So: until the next article!

A lovely farewell that has me missing Skopje already

Your author, Alina L'Ami, will be back with more news soon!
Final standings
Rk |
SNo |
|
Name |
FED |
Rtg |
Pts |
TB |
Perf |
rtg+/- |
1 |
5 |
GM |
Georgiev Kiril |
BUL |
2631 |
7.5 |
48,5 |
2706 |
8,7 |
2 |
11 |
GM |
Svetushkin Dmitry |
MDA |
2562 |
7.0 |
50,0 |
2665 |
12,5 |
3 |
13 |
GM |
Dvirnyy Danyyil |
ITA |
2555 |
7.0 |
48,5 |
2607 |
6.8 |
4 |
2 |
GM |
Markus Robert |
SRB |
2651 |
7.0 |
47.5 |
2645 |
0,5 |
5 |
15 |
GM |
Mastrovasilis Athanasios |
GRE |
2538 |
7.0 |
47.5 |
2568 |
4,3 |
6 |
9 |
GM |
Saric Ante |
CRO |
2587 |
7.0 |
46.0 |
2597 |
2,5 |
7 |
31 |
GM |
Neelotpal Das |
IND |
2457 |
7.0 |
44,0 |
2561 |
14,6 |
8 |
4 |
GM |
Romanov Evgeny |
RUS |
2635 |
7.0 |
43,5 |
2633 |
0,9 |
9 |
26 |
IM |
Ali Marandi Cemil Can |
TUR |
2473 |
7.0 |
41,0 |
2476 |
2,4 |
10 |
12 |
GM |
Nikolov Momchil |
BUL |
2559 |
6.5 |
50,0 |
2610 |
7.7 |
11 |
1 |
GM |
Ivanisevic Ivan |
SRB |
2651 |
6.5 |
50,0 |
2586 |
-5,1 |
12 |
3 |
GM |
Perunovic Milos |
SRB |
2641 |
6.5 |
49,0 |
2610 |
-1,6 |
13 |
14 |
GM |
Maiorov Nikita |
BLR |
2547 |
6.5 |
47.0 |
2547 |
1,6 |
14 |
20 |
GM |
Milanovic Danilo |
SRB |
2485 |
6.5 |
46.5 |
2558 |
10,4 |
15 |
27 |
IM |
Enchev Ivajlo |
BUL |
2470 |
6.5 |
45,5 |
2505 |
6.4 |
16 |
44 |
FM |
Livaic Leon |
CRO |
2380 |
6.5 |
43,0 |
2458 |
22,8 |
17 |
33 |
IM |
Kanmazalp Ogulcan |
TUR |
2444 |
6.5 |
42,0 |
2394 |
-2,3 |
18 |
39 |
|
Radovanovic Nikola |
SRB |
2395 |
6.5 |
41,5 |
2359 |
-1,5 |
19 |
29 |
IM |
Annaberdiev Meilis |
TKM |
2460 |
6.0 |
49,0 |
2495 |
6.5 |
20 |
40 |
IM |
Berzinsh Roland |
LAT |
2394 |
6.0 |
48,5 |
2468 |
10,0 |
21 |
24 |
GM |
Nedev Trajko |
MKD |
2474 |
6.0 |
47.5 |
2506 |
5,8 |
22 |
16 |
GM |
Kovacevic Aleksandar |
SRB |
2520 |
6.0 |
47.0 |
2541 |
4,1 |
23 |
62 |
|
Gokerkan Cem Kaan |
TUR |
2295 |
6.0 |
47.0 |
2519 |
95,2 |
24 |
42 |
GM |
Abramovic Bosko |
SRB |
2388 |
6.0 |
45,5 |
2493 |
14,1 |
25 |
25 |
GM |
Sundararajan Kidambi |
IND |
2474 |
6.0 |
45,5 |
2446 |
-1,2 |
26 |
32 |
IM |
Vojinovic Goran |
SRB |
2449 |
6.0 |
45,0 |
2498 |
7.7 |
27 |
6 |
GM |
Kozul Zdenko |
CRO |
2600 |
6.0 |
44,5 |
2492 |
-10,3 |
28 |
30 |
IM |
Firat Burak |
TUR |
2460 |
6.0 |
44,5 |
2446 |
1,0 |
29 |
17 |
GM |
Blagojevic Dragisa |
MNE |
2509 |
6.0 |
44,0 |
2394 |
-10,9 |
30 |
46 |
IM |
Konguvel Ponnuswamy |
IND |
2368 |
6.0 |
43,5 |
2367 |
2,0 |
Click for complete standings