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Radom, located 100 km south of Poland's capital, Warsaw, is a city with a long history. It was founded in 1340 and since then it has been a witness to many important historical events in Poland, such as Sejm meetings in XVI century (Sejm is the lower house of Polish Parliament). Nowadays the town hosts Radom Air Show, the biggest event of this kind in Poland held during the last weekend of August, and of course, the Radom King's Gambit, which takes part every year on the third Sunday of May.
Żeromskiego street in Radom, Poland [photo: Wiki/Voytek]
The idea to play such unusual tournament came from Jacek Zemantowski (1939-2002), president of Polish Chess Federation. As a great chess fan disappointed with a large number of draw games in a top GM tournaments, Jacek Zemantowski wanted to see chess players fighting on chessboards in sharp and uncompromising games. Therefore, he made them playing the King's Gambit, a famous opening that was made popular in seventies after the splendid victories of Boris Spassky and then somehow forgotten. the First King’s Gambit of Radom held in 1997, and from that time it became a must for all players who love romantic chess.
This year, the winner was GM Mateusz Bartel, second was GM Pawel Jaracz, third GM Bartlomiej Macieja. The best woman player was WGM Joanna Dworakowska, second WGM Marta Przezdziecka and third WGM Joanna Majdan-Gajewska. The best junior player was Michal Matuszewski, who finished on fourth place, before much higher rated grandmasters and International Masters.
Almost all players in the tournament made special opening preparations especially for this event, but the sharp character of the King’s Gambit caused a lot of games to be filled with tactical complications from the very beginning and even on top boards finished before 20th move. Here is a game of GM Mateusz Bartel and IM Vitaly Koziak, commented by GM Mateusz Bartel.
1) Koziak,Vitaly (2482) - Bartel,Mateusz (2608) [C33]
XIV Królewski Gambit Radomia Radom (3), 22.05.2011 [Mateusz Bartel]
1.e4 e5 2.f4.
This is the starting position of all games in that event. Black has here several options, but only one is (in my opinion) correct. 2...exf4! The Gambit must be accepted! 3.Bc4. Some players believes that this is the crucial move. Alternatives are 3.Nf3, but also more awkard; 3.d4; 3.Nc3; 3.Be2 are frequent guests in the event. 3...Qh4+. 3...Nf6 or; 3...d5 , but I believe Black should fight for an advantage and this makes this check more logical when you try to get serious plus. 4.Kf1 d6. 4...g5 , but it's not risk-free choice. 5.Nf3 Qh6. 5...Qf6 , but on f6 queen looks more dubious to me, as it can be potientally attacked by knight from d5. 6.d4 Be6!? I think such moves should never be bad. Less pieces, less problems and black are already one move closer to castle. 7.Bxe6? Surely, this isn't move you should do playing the gambit! 7.d5. 7...fxe6 8.g3
I think White should rather develop first, but this move is stronger than the game shows. 8...e5?! This brave move in gambit style is maybe not very correct, but I have noticed nice plan and – as usual – couldn't stop my hands... 8...g5 with unclear position after 9.h4. 9.dxe5? Luckily my opponent didn't realised what I wanted to do. 9.Nc3 would lead to an interesting game after 9...Nc6 10.d5. 9...Nc6? But, for some reason, I also wasn't sure what my target was! 9...Qh3+ was winning on the spot: 10.Kf2 dxe5! and nothing can stop the black bishop from entering into the game with not very peaceful intentions... 10.Bxf4 Qh3+ 11.Kf2? 11.Kg1 because g1 is the safest square for the white king (sorry, rook h1)! 11...dxe5 12.Be3 Nf6 and Black is probably only slightly better. 11...dxe5
Now, finally!, bishop is going to give killing kiss to the white monarch. 12.Ng5. 12.Nxe5 wasn't better: 12...Nxe5 13.Bxe5 Nh6! with strong attack. 12...Bc5+. Game is over now. 13.Kf3 Qh5+ 14.g4 Qh4
Mate or piece? 15.Qd2 exf4 16.Ne6 Qh3+ and White resigned. 0-1.
Note that in the replay window below you can click on the notation to follow the game.
Fifty players in Open A tournament played the King’s Gambit
36 players in Open B (ELO under 1800) was not obliged to play this opening…
but it was often seen on their chessboards anyway
The winner, GM Mateusz Bartel, on the white side of the King's Gambit
A quiet and calm position? Not in the King’s Gambit!
The Polish Champion GM Mateusz Bartel finished in first place.
Vice-champion of Poland GM Pawel Jaracz was second.
GM Bartlomiej Macieja, who finished ad third place, is an author of a book “The riddle of Kieseritzky”, written with Polish chess historian Tomasz Lissowski, about XIX-century player Lionel Kieseritzky, one of the top players of famous Café de la Régence in Paris and the King’s Gambit admirer.
WGM Joanna Dworakowska was the best woman player
WGM Marta Przezdziecka, WGM Agnieszka
Brustman, WGM Joanna Majdan-Gajewska
WGM Joanna Majdan-Gajewska is not delighted with her husband’s
GM Grzegorz Gajewski position. This time, she was better.
The tournament director Andrzej Zygarski continues the idea of his friend Jacek Zemantowski, who passed away in 2002. The XV Radom King's Gambit will take part on 20th May 2012 and will be a special event to honour his patron.
| 1 |
GM |
Bartel, Mateusz |
2608 |
8.0 |
42.50 |
53.50 |
42.5 |
7 |
| 2 |
GM |
Jaracz, Pawel |
2575 |
7.0 |
40.00 |
52.50 |
38.0 |
6 |
| 3 |
GM |
Macieja, Bartlomiej |
2616 |
6.5 |
41.00 |
53.00 |
35.5 |
6 |
| 4 |
m |
Matuszewski, Michal |
2319 |
6.5 |
37.50 |
48.50 |
32.0 |
5 |
| 5 |
GM |
Gritsak, Orest |
2528 |
6.0 |
40.00 |
51.50 |
35.0 |
4 |
| 6 |
GM |
Jakubowski, Krzysztof |
2515 |
6.0 |
38.50 |
49.00 |
31.0 |
6 |
| 7 |
GM |
Mista, Aleksander |
2569 |
6.0 |
37.50 |
49.50 |
31.0 |
6 |
| 8 |
IM |
Koziak, Vitali |
2482 |
6.0 |
37.00 |
49.00 |
30.5 |
5 |
| 9 |
k++ |
Janczarski, Michal |
2331 |
6.0 |
37.00 |
48.00 |
34.0 |
6 |
| 10 |
WGM |
Dworakowska, Joanna |
2319 |
6.0 |
37.00 |
47.00 |
32.5 |
5 |
| 11 |
WGM |
Przezdziecka, Marta |
2245 |
6.0 |
35.00 |
45.00 |
27.0 |
6 |
| 12 |
k+ |
Szymanski, Piotr |
2217 |
6.0 |
33.50 |
41.50 |
28.5 |
5 |
| 13 |
I++ |
Skawinski, Arkadiusz |
2303 |
5.5 |
37.00 |
49.00 |
30.0 |
5 |
| 14 |
FM |
Bartel, Michal |
2302 |
5.5 |
33.00 |
42.50 |
28.0 |
5 |
| 15 |
WGM |
Majdan-Gajewska, Joanna |
2386 |
5.0 |
35.00 |
46.00 |
27.5 |
4 |
| 16 |
I |
Jedras, Piotr |
1919 |
5.0 |
35.00 |
45.00 |
27.0 |
5 |
| 17 |
GM |
Gajewski, Grzegorz |
2607 |
5.0 |
35.00 |
44.50 |
26.0 |
5 |
| 18 |
k |
Godlewski, Artur |
2126 |
5.0 |
33.50 |
43.00 |
24.0 |
5 |
| 19 |
II |
Skiba, Jakub |
0 |
5.0 |
31.00 |
39.00 |
22.0 |
5 |
| 20 |
I+ |
Pomagalski, Marcin |
0 |
5.0 |
27.50 |
35.50 |
21.0 |
5 |
| 21 |
I |
Zareba, Grzegorz |
1838 |
5.0 |
25.50 |
33.50 |
21.0 |
5 |
| 22 |
GM |
Olszewski, Michal |
2542 |
4.5 |
40.00 |
51.50 |
30.0 |
3 |
| 23 |
I |
Suliborski, Jakub |
1902 |
4.5 |
34.00 |
44.00 |
21.5 |
4 |
| 24 |
IM |
Adamski, Andrzej |
2270 |
4.5 |
32.50 |
42.50 |
25.5 |
4 |
| Year | Winner Group A | Best woman |
| 1997 | Przedmojski Rafał | Radziewicz Iweta |
| 1998 | Gricak Orest | Radziewicz Iweta |
| 1999 | Jaracz Paweł | Protaziuk Anna |
| 2000 | Jaracz Paweł | Radziewicz Iweta |
| 2002 | Gricak Orest | Soćko Monika |
| 2003 | Kempiński Robert | Dworakowska Joanna |
| 2004 | Soćko Bartosz | Zielińska Marta |
| 2005 | Macieja Bartłomiej | Soćko Monika |
| 2006 | Urban Klaudiusz | Brustman Agnieszka |
| 2007 | Macieja Bartłomiej | Dworakowska Joanna |
| 2008 | Bartel Mateusz | Dworakowska Joanna |
| 2009 | Bartel Mateusz | Dworakowska Joanna |
| 2010 | Soćko Bartosz | Soćko Monika |
| 2011 | Bartel Mateusz | Dworakowska Joanna |
