Benjamin Bok wins Groningen Open

by Klaus Besenthal
1/2/2018 – Have you ever imagined being away at Christmas time and maybe just playing chess somewhere in the world? At the chess festival in the Dutch city of Groningen you had a chance — they played a round even on Christmas Eve. The winner of the strong A-Open on New Year's Eve eve was local hero GM Benjamin Bok, followed by Israeli GM Evgeny Postny | Photo: Harry Gielen
Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

Bok and Postny tie

Groningen is located in the north of the Netherlands, not far from the German border. The 55th edition of the chess festival attracted 62 players including ten grandmasters to the top A-Open. But in Groningen, in addition to the A-Open, there were a dozen other tournaments, in which one could play, including shorter ones for those who preferred to spend Christmas at home. So there's something for everyone.

Benjamin Bok did not lose a single game in the A-Open, which is usually a prerequisite for winning an open tournament at all. The 22-year-old Dutch grandmaster managed this feat in Groningen with a strong 7.0 / 9  score. But it was close, as the runner-up Evgeny Postny from Israel, equalled his point tally. Bok narrowly took first place on tiebreak scores.

In the penultimate round, Bok scored a key win against GM Dmitry Kryakvin.

 
Benjamin Bok vs. Dmitry Kryakvin
Position after 37...Bd3

38.Rd1 was good enough for Bok, who went on to win in 58 moves, but 38.Nd5! would have ended the game in style. 38...exd5 loses the queen after 39.R1c6, and 38...Rg7 would be met by 39.Bxf6 crushing!

Chess Tactics are the art of combat command. When tactics dominate concrete action is required immediately in order to put a plan into practice or to grab an opportunity. However in complicated positions and with determined resistance basic tactics are often insufficient and intuition, imagination and precision are necessary.

GM Maxim Turov also remained undefeated, but the Russian made one more draw than the two winners.

Benkamin Bok

Benjamin Bok (left) against IM Stefan Juipers in Round 9 has further Elo rating improvement in store for 2018 | Photo: Harry Gielen

Final standings A-Open

Rank Name Score Fed. Rating TPR 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1 GM Bok, Benjamin 7.0 NED 2601 2687 1 ½ 1 1 ½ ½ 1 1 ½
2 GM Postny, Evgeny 7.0 ISR 2581 2656 1 ½ 1 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1
3 GM Turov, Maxim 6.5 RUS 2618 2632 1 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½
4 GM Kislinsky, Alexey 6.5 CZE 2513 2548 0 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 ½ ½
5 IM Kuipers, Stefan 6.5 NED 2440 2511 1 ½ 1 0 1 ½ 1 1 ½
6 GM Tiviakov, Sergei 6.0 NED 2583 2593 1 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ 0 1 ½
7 GM Plat, Vojtech 6.0 CZE 2567 2611 1 1 1 1 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½
8 GM Pruijssers, Roeland 6.0 NED 2543 2527 1 1 ½ 1 ½ 0 1 ½ ½
9 IM Beerdsen, Thomas 6.0 NED 2419 2450 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 0 1 1 ½
10 Rahul Srivatshav P 5.5 IND 2331 2526 1 0 1 1 ½ 1 0 ½ ½
11 GM Anurag, Mhamal 5.5 IND 2488 2451 1 1 ½ 0 ½ 1 1 0 ½
12 GM Kryakvin, Dmitry 5.5 RUS 2580 2483 1 1 1 0 ½ 1 0 1 0
13 GM Ernst, Sipke 5.5 NED 2532 2474 1 1 ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 0 1
14 FM Warmerdam, Max 5.5 NED 2356 2396 1 ½ 0 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½
15 IM Schoppen, Casper 5.5 NED 2395 2414 1 1 0 1 ½ 0 ½ ½ 1
16 FM Stoyanov, Tsvetan 5.5 FID 2242 2393 1 ½ 0 1 ½ 0 1 ½ 1
17 IM De Jong, Migchiel 5.5 NED 2331 2375 1 ½ 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 ½
18 IM Van Foreest, Lucas 5.5 NED 2481 2377 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 ½ 1
19 IM Kathmale, Sameer 5.5 IND 2264 2415 1 0 1 ½ 0 1 1 0 1
20 IM Zelbel, Patrick 5.5 GER 2456 2277 ½ ½ 0 1 1 1 0 ½ 1

... total 62 players.

Young and old players

A good mix of young and old | Photo: Harry Gielen

Girls

Boys and girls | Photo: Harry Gielen

All available games

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,170,31954%2421---
1.d4949,86755%2434---
1.Nf3282,62856%2440---
1.c4182,73156%2442---
1.g319,74556%2427---
1.b314,34754%2427---
1.f45,91748%2377---
1.Nc33,81651%2384---
1.b41,75948%2379---
1.a31,22254%2404---
1.e31,07349%2409---
1.d395550%2378---
1.g466646%2361---
1.h444953%2374---
1.c343551%2426---
1.h328356%2419---
1.a411460%2465---
1.f39346%2435---
1.Nh39066%2505---
1.Na34262%2482---
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bd2 Bg7 6.e4 Nb6 7.Be3 0-0 8.Be2 Nc6 9.Nf3 Bg4 10.d5 Bxf3 11.gxf3 Na5 12.Bd4 Qd6 13.b3 c6 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.Qd2 cxd5 16.exd5 Rfd8 17.Rd1 Qb4 18.0-0 Rac8 19.Nb5 Qxd2 20.Rxd2 a6 21.Nd4 Nxd5 22.Rfd1 e6 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.
  • 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
Van Meegen,R2235Turov,M26180–12017D8555th Groningen Open 20171.1
Bok,B2601Beukema,J22331–02017A0755th Groningen Open 20171.2
Van Ketel,R2214Tiviakov,S25830–12017E2055th Groningen Open 20171.3
Postny,E2581Guelsen,T22131–02017E0655th Groningen Open 20171.4
Michalczak,T2194Kryakvin,D25800–12017B6455th Groningen Open 20171.5
Plat,V2567Sparenberg,E21881–02017C4555th Groningen Open 20171.6
Godbole,A2178Pruijssers,R25430–12017C9155th Groningen Open 20171.7
Ernst,S2532Wedda,D21571–02017A0455th Groningen Open 20171.8
Rahul,S2331Kislinsky,A25131–02017A5955th Groningen Open 20171.9
Anurag,M2488De Boer,B21361–02017A0755th Groningen Open 20171.10
Priyanka,K2134Van Foreest,L24810–12017C6755th Groningen Open 20171.11
Lubbe,N2474Weggen,J21260–12017A8355th Groningen Open 20171.12
Turov,M2618Lubbe,M23451–02017A4955th Groningen Open 20172.1
Warmerdam,M2356Bok,B2601½–½2017A6255th Groningen Open 20172.2
Tiviakov,S2583Rahul,S23311–02017B4055th Groningen Open 20172.3
De Jong,M2331Postny,E2581½–½2017C9055th Groningen Open 20172.4
Kryakvin,D2580Wacker,P23231–02017D5855th Groningen Open 20172.5
Abbas,D2319Plat,V25670–12017B3155th Groningen Open 20172.6
Pruijssers,R2543Schippers,M23021–02017C0655th Groningen Open 20172.7
Kokje,J2282Ernst,S25320–12017E1055th Groningen Open 20172.8
Kathmale,S2264Anurag,M24880–12017C5055th Groningen Open 20172.9
Van Foreest,L2481Van Dael,S22681–02017B2355th Groningen Open 20172.10
Stoyanov,T2242Kuipers,S2440½–½2017B0755th Groningen Open 20172.11
Weggen,J2126Schoppen,C23950–12017D1055th Groningen Open 20172.12
Ernst,S2532Turov,M2618½–½2017D7755th Groningen Open 20173.1
Anurag,M2488Tiviakov,S2583½–½2017E0055th Groningen Open 20173.2
Schoppen,C2395Kryakvin,D25800–12017D1655th Groningen Open 20173.3
Plat,V2567Van Foreest,L24811–02017C6755th Groningen Open 20173.4
Pel,B2247Pruijssers,R2543½–½2017A0055th Groningen Open 20173.5
Bok,B2601De Jong,M23311–02017E1655th Groningen Open 20173.6
Postny,E2581Stoyanov,T22421–02017E1655th Groningen Open 20173.7
Kuipers,S2440Pappelis,D21141–02017C5555th Groningen Open 20173.8
Hommes,E2039Warmerdam,M23561–02017E6355th Groningen Open 20173.9
Van Dael,S2268Kislinsky,A25130–12017B3655th Groningen Open 20173.10
Kathmale,S2264Zelbel,P24561–02017C6355th Groningen Open 20173.11
Van Ketel,R2214Beerdsen,T24190–12017E2455th Groningen Open 20173.12
Kryakvin,D2580Plat,V25670–12017A1655th Groningen Open 20174.1
Turov,M2618Anurag,M24881–02017D7855th Groningen Open 20174.2
Ernst,S2532Bok,B26010–12017A4755th Groningen Open 20174.3
Tiviakov,S2583Kuipers,S24401–02017C0755th Groningen Open 20174.4
Pel,B2247Postny,E25810–12017A0055th Groningen Open 20174.5
Pruijssers,R2543Hommes,E20391–02017C7855th Groningen Open 20174.6
Kislinsky,A2513Schippers,M2302½–½2017B2155th Groningen Open 20174.7
Van Foreest,L2481Rahul,S23310–12017B4855th Groningen Open 20174.8
Beerdsen,T2419Kathmale,S2264½–½2017B1855th Groningen Open 20174.9
Abbas,D2319Schoppen,C23950–12017C5055th Groningen Open 20174.10
Sparenberg,E2188Lubbe,N24740–12017B6055th Groningen Open 20174.11
Maatman,N2367Godbole,A21781–02017E1555th Groningen Open 20174.12
Plat,V2567Turov,M2618½–½2017B1955th Groningen Open 20175.1
Bok,B2601Pruijssers,R2543½–½2017E6055th Groningen Open 20175.2
Postny,E2581Tiviakov,S2583½–½2017E1755th Groningen Open 20175.3
Rahul,S2331Kryakvin,D2580½–½2017D1055th Groningen Open 20175.4
Schoppen,C2395Ernst,S2532½–½2017D3955th Groningen Open 20175.5
Kokje,J2282Kislinsky,A25130–12017A5955th Groningen Open 20175.6
Anurag,M2488Pel,B2247½–½2017A4155th Groningen Open 20175.7
Lubbe,N2474Stoyanov,T2242½–½2017A4855th Groningen Open 20175.8
Kuipers,S2440Weggen,J21261–02017C4155th Groningen Open 20175.9
Schippers,M2302Beerdsen,T24190–12017B2855th Groningen Open 20175.10
Hommes,E2039Maatman,N23670–12017A1555th Groningen Open 20175.11
Kathmale,S2264Warmerdam,M23560–12017B3055th Groningen Open 20175.12
Tiviakov,S2583Plat,V2567½–½2017B3055th Groningen Open 20176.1
Turov,M2618Bok,B2601½–½2017A0755th Groningen Open 20176.2
Pruijssers,R2543Postny,E25810–12017B1455th Groningen Open 20176.3
Kryakvin,D2580Maatman,N23671–02017D3555th Groningen Open 20176.4
Kislinsky,A2513Schoppen,C23951–02017C4455th Groningen Open 20176.5
Warmerdam,M2356Kuipers,S2440½–½2017C1155th Groningen Open 20176.6
Beerdsen,T2419Rahul,S23310–12017B4055th Groningen Open 20176.7
De Jong,M2331Ernst,S2532½–½2017D0255th Groningen Open 20176.8
Stoyanov,T2242Anurag,M24880–12017C5055th Groningen Open 20176.9
Van Foreest,L2481Pel,B22471–02017B0755th Groningen Open 20176.10
Abbas,D2319Lubbe,N24740–12017B3155th Groningen Open 20176.11
Zelbel,P2456Van Ketel,R22141–02017C0555th Groningen Open 20176.12
Postny,E2581Plat,V2567½–½2017D8455th Groningen Open 20177.1
Rahul,S2331Turov,M26180–12017E4655th Groningen Open 20177.2
Bok,B2601Kryakvin,D25801–02017B6855th Groningen Open 20177.3
Kislinsky,A2513Tiviakov,S25831–02017B2255th Groningen Open 20177.4
Lubbe,N2474Pruijssers,R25430–12017B0155th Groningen Open 20177.5
Anurag,M2488Zelbel,P24561–02017A6255th Groningen Open 20177.6
Kuipers,S2440Van Foreest,L24811–02017C5355th Groningen Open 20177.7
Schoppen,C2395Warmerdam,M2356½–½2017A5655th Groningen Open 20177.8
Ernst,S2532Wempe,J23141–02017A1355th Groningen Open 20177.9
Lubbe,M2345Beerdsen,T24190–12017B9055th Groningen Open 20177.10
Maatman,N2367De Jong,M2331½–½2017E4255th Groningen Open 20177.11
Kathmale,S2264Abbas,D23191–02017B4155th Groningen Open 20177.12
Turov,M2618Postny,E2581½–½2017A0755th Groningen Open 20178.1
Plat,V2567Bok,B26010–12017D4555th Groningen Open 20178.2
Pruijssers,R2543Kislinsky,A2513½–½2017B2755th Groningen Open 20178.3
Kuipers,S2440Anurag,M24881–02017C5055th Groningen Open 20178.4
Tiviakov,S2583Ernst,S25321–02017C7755th Groningen Open 20178.5
Kryakvin,D2580Kathmale,S22641–02017A1155th Groningen Open 20178.6
Warmerdam,M2356Rahul,S2331½–½2017E7155th Groningen Open 20178.7
Beerdsen,T2419Lubbe,N24741–02017B6755th Groningen Open 20178.8
Van Foreest,L2481Schippers,M2302½–½2017B2755th Groningen Open 20178.9
Zelbel,P2456Kokje,J2282½–½2017B5155th Groningen Open 20178.10
Stoyanov,T2242Schoppen,C2395½–½2017C5355th Groningen Open 20178.11
Maatman,N2367Van Dael,S2268½–½2017E7355th Groningen Open 20178.12
Bok,B2601Kuipers,S2440½–½2017C1155th Groningen Open 20179.1
Kislinsky,A2513Turov,M2618½–½2017B1355th Groningen Open 20179.2
Postny,E2581Kryakvin,D25801–02017D1155th Groningen Open 20179.3
Pruijssers,R2543Tiviakov,S2583½–½2017A2055th Groningen Open 20179.4
Plat,V2567Beerdsen,T2419½–½2017B2255th Groningen Open 20179.5
Anurag,M2488Warmerdam,M2356½–½2017A5655th Groningen Open 20179.6
Rahul,S2331De Jong,M2331½–½2017E7055th Groningen Open 20179.7
Ernst,S2532Van Dael,S22681–02017E9755th Groningen Open 20179.8
Kokje,J2282Van Foreest,L24810–12017E1055th Groningen Open 20179.9
Elgersma,S2100Zelbel,P24560–12017B0355th Groningen Open 20179.10
Schoppen,C2395Beukema,J22331–02017D3555th Groningen Open 20179.11
Kathmale,S2264Maatman,N23671–02017C1555th Groningen Open 20179.12

Translation from German: Macauley Peterson

Links

Klaus Besenthal is computer scientist, has followed and still follows the chess scene avidly since 1972 and since then has also regularly played in tournaments.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.