Surprise winners of the European Rapid and Blitz

by Georgios Souleidis
12/18/2017 – The European Rapid Chess Championship in Katowice ended with a surprise. The 68th seed IM Maxim Vavulin from Russia won with ten points from eleven games for the gold. Silver goes to Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Poland) and bronze to Pavel Ponkratov (Russia). In the blitz championship, Grandmaster Sergei Zhigalko was the 24th by rating, but the 28-year-old from Belarus finished first with 18 / 22. Right on his heels were Luke McShane (England) and Peter Michalik (Czech Republic) both with 17½ / 22. | Photo: Official site / Walusza Fotografia
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Vavulin and Zhigalko

The Blitz and Rapid Chess European Championships in Katowice were a great success for the organizers and the European Chess Union (ECU) in terms of attendance, with both events drawing over 1,000 players. Among them, 19 players sported blitz ratings over 2600, and 28 players topped 2600 in rapid Elo. Katowice is the tenth largest city in Poland about 80 Km northwest of Krakow, but has it's own airport, and is readily accessible from across the continent. The tournaments were held at Spodek ("saucer" in Polish) a multipurpose arena complex originally constructed in 1971, but now part of a newly refurbished "Cultural Zone" in the city, which is part of the UNESCO "Creative Cities" network.

Rapid

IM Maxim Vavulin, the 19-year-old Russian has an Elo rating of 2575 in classical chess but just 2485 in rapid chess, giving him a starting rank way down at number 68 in the tournament. Winning outright is an impressive achievement! However, right up to the last round it looked like the Polish national star Jan-Krzysztof Duda was headed to victory. The young Duda, who is inexorably advancing up the world rankings, dominated the tournament almost at will, and led after nine rounds with a perfect score. In the penultimate round he drew against his compatriot Radoslaw Wojtaszek, before meeting Vavulin in the fateful eleventh round.

Maxim Vavulin and Jan-Krzysztof Duda

Maxim Vavulin (left) defeated Jan-Krzysztof Duda to take the rapid title | Photo: Official site / Walusza Fotografia

Vavulin opened with 1.e4 and Duda responded with the French defense. Vavulin chose an obscure variation with 3.Bd3. IM Lawrence Trent referred to the opening in the live broadcast as "absolute garbage, but it's good for a rapid game". 

Replay the final round 11 (commentary by IM Lawrence Trent and WIM Anna Kantane)

Commentators Trent and Kantane anchored the coverage | European ChessTV

If you're one of those French Defence players who has been desperately searching for a reliable and easy-to-learn system against White's two main 3rd moves (3.Nd2 or 3.Nc3) then this is the 60 Minutes for you! The Fort Knox variation (3...dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bd7!

 
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MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,171,04654%2421---
1.d4950,36055%2434---
1.Nf3282,82356%2440---
1.c4182,83756%2442---
1.g319,75456%2427---
1.b314,35254%2427---
1.f45,91948%2377---
1.Nc33,81751%2384---
1.b41,75948%2379---
1.a31,22254%2404---
1.e31,07349%2409---
1.d395550%2378---
1.g466646%2361---
1.h444953%2374---
1.c343651%2426---
1.h328356%2419---
1.a411460%2465---
1.f39346%2435---
1.Nh39066%2505---
1.Na34262%2482---
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Bd3 dxe4 4.Bxe4 Nf6 5.Bf3 c5 6.Ne2 Nc6 C01: French: Exchange Variation 7.Be3 Nd5 8.Bxd5 Qxd5 9.Nbc3 Qd7 9...Qxg2 10.Rg1 Qf3 11.Nb5 Rb8 12.dxc5 Bd7 13.Nc7+ Kd8 14.Nb5 0-1 (54) Kramnik,V (2808)-Caruana,F (2808) Stavanger 2017 10.dxc5 LiveBook: 5 Games Be7N Predecessor: 10...Ne5 11.Qd4 Qxd4 12.Bxd4 Nd7 13.Nb5 Kd8 14.0-0-0 1-0 (43) Reinaldo Castineira,R (2490)-Gonzalez Perez,A (2440) Pontevedra 2015 11.Qxd7+ Bxd7 12.0-0-0 0-0-0 13.Ne4 e5 14.Nd6+ Bxd6 15.cxd6 b6 16.b3 f6 17.Kb2 Kb7 18.Rd2 Be6 19.c4 Rd7 20.Nc3 Rc8 21.c5 Nb4 21...bxc5± 22.Bxc5 Nd8 22.a3 Na6 23.b4 Bc4 23...Rdd8± was worth a try. 24.Rc1+- Rdd8? 24...Be6 25.f3 Rdd8 25.cxb6 axb6 26.Na4 Bb5
aiming for ...Rxc1. 27.Rxc8 Rxc8 28.Nxb6 Rd8 29.a4 Bf1 30.b5 Nb8 31.g3 Nd7 32.Nxd7 Rxd7 Endgame KRB-KRB 33.Kc3 Kc8 34.Kb4 Rb7 35.Rd5 Kd7 36.Rd1 Be2 37.Rd2 Bf1 38.Ka5 Rb8 39.Bb6 g5 39...e4 40.Rc2 g6 41.Rc7+ Kxd6 42.Rxh7 Rf8 40.Bc7 Ra8+ 41.Kb4 f5 42.a5 f4 43.gxf4 gxf4 44.Rd1 Be2 45.Rg1 Ke6 46.Rg7 Kf6 47.Rxh7 e4 48.d7 e3 49.fxe3 White mates. f3 50.Rh4 Ke6 51.d8Q Rxd8 52.Bxd8 f2 53.Rf4 f1R 54.Rxf1 Bxf1 55.Kc5 Precision: White = 94%, Black = 39%. 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Vavulin,M2575Duda,J27171–02017European-ch Rapid 201711

The "garbage" meant that Duda was out of the book and after falling into a bad line after a dozen moves moves he was a pawn down with a clearly worse — nearly lost in fact — position. Vavulin took full advantage and prevailed. By the way, I've taken a close look at this line in ChessBase Magazine 178 where we covered the variation black chose as well. Duda, was visibly eager to forget the experience, and disappeared quickly from the arena.

Full playing hall

More than a thousand chess players came to Katowice | Photo: Official site

Coincidentally, Vavulin's one and only loss in the rapid tournament game against the winner of the Blitz Championship, Sergei Zhigalko! Vavulin expanded aggressively on the kingside with a closed centre, but in the maneuvering that followed he fell into a nasty combination.

 
Sergei Zhigalko vs. Maxim Vavulin
Position after 41...Rc8

42.c5! dxc5 43.Rxc5 Suddenly the queen has no squares! 43...Qe6 44.Nxf5+ exf5 45.Qxe6 Rxe6 and Zhigalko picks up the rook on c8, with an easily winning ending. Replay the full game:

Sergei Zhigalko 1-0 Maksim Vavulin
 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.0-0 Bd7 6.c3 g6 7.d4 Bg7 8.Bg5 f6 9.Be3 Nh6 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.Bb3 Qe7 12.Bd5 Ng4 13.Bc1 f5 14.b4 Nf6 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Nbd2 f4 18.Nb3 Nd8 19.Nc5 Bc8 20.Nd2 Rb8 21.Qe2 Kf8 22.a4 Kg7 23.a5 h5 24.Rfd1 g5 25.Nf1 g4 26.Rd3 Kg6 27.Qa2 Rf8 28.Rad1 Nf7 29.Be6 Nd6 30.Bxc8 Rfxc8 31.Nd2 Re8 32.Qb3 Rbd8 33.Nc4 Bh4 34.Rd5 Bf6 35.R5d3 Bh4 36.Nxd6 cxd6 37.Na4 Qc7 38.c4 Qc6 39.Nc3 Qc7 40.Nd5 Qc6 41.Rc3 Rc8 42.c5 dxc5 43.Rxc5 Qe6 44.Nxf4+ exf4 45.Qxe6+ Rxe6 46.Rxc8 Rxe4 47.Rd6+ Kf7 48.Rc7+ Ke8 49.Kf1 Be7 50.Rh6 Kd8 51.Rxb7 Kc8 52.Rxe7 Rxe7 53.Rxa6 Re4 54.Rb6 Kc7 55.f3 Re3 56.Rf6 gxf3 57.Rxf4 fxg2+ 58.Kxg2 Rb3 59.h4 Kc6 60.Rf6+ Kd5 61.Rb6 Ke4 62.a6 Rb2+ 63.Kf1 Rb1+ 64.Ke2 Rb2+ 65.Kd1 Kd3 66.Kc1 Kc3 67.Rc6+ Kb3 68.b5 Ra2 69.Kd1 Kb4 70.b6 Rxa6 71.b7 Rxc6 72.b8Q+ Kc4 73.Qg8+ Kb5 74.Qe8 Kb6 75.Qxh5 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Zhigalko,S2707Vavulin,M24851–02017European Rapid Championship5

Commentary of Round 5

GM Marcin Tazbir and WIM Anna Kantane | European ChessTV

Full Commentary of Day 2

IM Lawrence Trent and Kantane anchored the coverage | European ChessTV

Full Commentary of Day 1

Full live webcast of Day 1 | European ChessTV

Final Standings (top 20)

Rk. Name Pts.
1 Vavulin Maksim 10,0
2 Duda Jan-Krzysztof 9,5
3 Ponkratov Pavel 9,5
4 Zhigalko Sergei 9,5
5 Moranda Wojciech 9,5
6 Fedorchuk Sergey A 9,5
7 Wojtaszek Radoslaw 9,0
8 Gazik Viktor 9,0
9 Fressinet Laurent 9,0
10 Demidov Mikhail 9,0
11 Alekseev Evgeny 9,0
12 Andriasian Zaven 9,0
13 Tomczak Jacek 9,0
14 Brunello Sabino 9,0
15 Krasenkow Michal 9,0
16 Klekowski Maciej 9,0
17 Georgiev Kiril 9,0
18 Kovalenko Igor 8,5
19 Fridman Daniel 8,5
20 Ponomariov Ruslan 8,5

...total 1161 players

All rapid games

 
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Blitz

Belarus, the home country of tournament champion Sergei Zhigalko, is not known well in the "West". Internationally, the country is still ranked number 19 — not surprising for a state that once belonged to the former Soviet Union. Within Belarus, Sergei Zhigalko is number one, four spots ahead of his brother Andrey, who is also grandmaster.

Zhigalko was once the Under-14 World Champion in 2003, a tournament in which a certain Magnus Carlsen placed ninth!

Sergei Zhigalko

Sergei Zhigalko, European Blitz Champion | Photo: Turnierseite/Walusza Fotografia

Zhigalko's 18 points from 22 games, came despite his dropping both games in Round 3 against a 20-year-old Polish Candidate Master Jerzy Kyć, rated just 2312.

 
Jerzy Kyc vs. Sergei Zhigalko
Position after 29...Bxd5

Play out the moves on the live diagram

30.c4! Be6 (30...Bxc4 runs into 31.Rc3 with a deadly pin, but after) 31.Re3, black would struggle to defend the e-pawn and Zhigalko took 31...Bxc4 anyway, which was basically conceding the game, which ended 32.Rc3 Qb7 33.Rxc4 Rxc4 34.Bxc4 e4 35.h4 h5 36.Qxg6+ 1-0

After losing his white game in the round as well, it was a bit of a Swiss gambit for the Belarussian GM, but after roaring back by scoring 11 points from his next 12 games, he then beat Duda and Laurent Fressinet 1½ : ½ each in the final two rounds to take clear first.

Final standings (top 20)

Rk. Snr   Name FED Elo Pts.  Wtg1   Wtg2   Wtg3 
1 24 GM Zhigalko Sergei BLR 2586 18,0 0,0 301,0 326,0
2 5 GM McShane Luke J ENG 2702 17,5 0,0 301,0 323,0
3 21 GM Michalik Peter CZE 2598 17,5 0,0 298,0 319,0
4 6 GM Duda Jan-Krzysztof POL 2682 17,0 0,0 316,0 337,5
5 3 GM Navara David CZE 2712 17,0 0,0 313,0 336,0
6 11 GM Kovalenko Igor LAT 2641 17,0 0,0 312,0 332,0
7 19 GM Fressinet Laurent FRA 2608 17,0 0,0 309,0 332,0
8 37 GM Aleksandrov Aleksej BLR 2554 17,0 0,0 292,0 316,0
9 52 GM Tomczak Jacek POL 2527 17,0 0,0 292,0 314,0
10 20 GM Ponkratov Pavel RUS 2599 17,0 0,0 291,0 313,0
11 53 GM Gajewski Grzegorz POL 2515 17,0 0,0 286,0 311,0
12 83 GM Jakubowski Krzysztof POL 2439 17,0 0,0 282,0 305,0
13 85 IM Valsecchi Alessio ITA 2431 16,5 0,0 273,5 294,5
14 1 GM Andriasian Zaven ARM 2755 16,0 0,0 306,0 328,0
15 43 GM Jaracz Pawel POL 2544 16,0 0,0 304,0 321,0
16 30 GM Bosiocic Marin CRO 2572 16,0 0,0 296,0 320,0
17 13 GM Georgiev Kiril FID 2629 16,0 0,0 296,0 320,0
18 61 IM Schneider Ilja GER 2503 16,0 0,0 294,0 315,0
19 40 GM Tari Aryan NOR 2550 16,0 0,0 292,0 314,0
20 29 GM Dvirnyy Danyyil ITA 2573 16,0 0,0 291,0 314,0

... total of 1086 players

Commentary on Round 11

GM Marcin Tazbir and WIM Anna Kantane | European ChessTV

Blitz games of Round 11

 
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.Nc3 Qc7 5.0-0 Nd4 6.Re1 a6 7.Bf1 Ng4 8.g3 Nxf3+ 9.Qxf3 Ne5 10.Qd1 e6 11.b3 d6 12.Bb2 Be7 13.Bg2 0-0 14.d4 cxd4 15.Qxd4 Bf6 16.Qd2 b5 17.f4 Nc6 18.e5 Be7 19.exd6 Bxd6 20.Ne4 Bb4 21.Bc3 Rd8 22.Qe3 Bb7 23.Nc5 Bxc3 24.Qxc3 Rac8 25.Qe3 Ba8 26.Rad1 Nb4 27.Rxd8+ Rxd8 28.Qf2 Bxg2 29.Kxg2 Rc8 30.Nd3 Qb7+ 31.Kg1 Rxc2 32.Qf1 Nxd3 33.Rd1 g6 34.Rxd3 Rb2 35.Rf3 Qe4 36.Qc1 Rb1 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Fressinet,L2662Zhigalko,S26410–12017B30European Blitz 201721.1
Michalik,P2557Aleksandrov,A25891–02017E10European Blitz 201721.2
Navara,D2740Kovalenko,I2639½–½2017C07European Blitz 201721.3
McShane,L2640Andriasian,Z25851–02017B23European Blitz 201721.4
Duda,J2717Wojtaszek,R27361–02017A00European Blitz 201721.5
Tomczak,J2588Ponomariov,R26941–02017B07European Blitz 201721.6
Fridman,D2633Warakomski,T25370–12017A09European Blitz 201721.7
Dziuba,M2584Ponkratov,P26130–12017A61European Blitz 201721.8
Demidov,M2523Gajewski,G26010–12017A45European Blitz 201721.9
Bosiocic,M2624Kislinsky,A25130–12017A45European Blitz 201721.10
Jakubowski,K2526Moskalenko,A25221–02017A46European Blitz 201721.11
Jussupow,A2582Jaracz,P24650–12017D04European Blitz 201721.12
Tomczak,M2372Piorun,K26511–02017D31European Blitz 201721.13
Brunello,S2553Heberla,B25550–12017A13European Blitz 201721.14
Meskovs,N2538Plat,V25671–02017A41European Blitz 201721.15
Pavlidis,A2539Neiksans,A25900–12017C95European Blitz 201721.16
Ladva,O2522Bartel,M26091–02017A88European Blitz 201721.17
Dvirnyy,D2532Rocha,S2370½–½2017A05European Blitz 201721.18
Manik,M2415Sakalauskas,V23511–02017B27European Blitz 201721.19
Valsecchi,A2501Saric,I26691–02017B12European Blitz 201721.20
Sammalvuo,T2416Ragger,M26571–02017D30European Blitz 201721.21
Zorko,J2457Buhmann,R25840–12017D02European Blitz 201721.22
Georgiev,K2623Fedorov,A25731–02017E66European Blitz 201721.23
Licznerski,L2267Mastrovasilis,D2582½–½2017B47European Blitz 201721.24
Moranda,W2593Arnaudov,G24391–02017A50European Blitz 201721.25
Kyc,J2265Hracek,Z25921–02017B34European Blitz 201721.26
Alekseev,E2616Kazakovskiy,V24221–02017B28European Blitz 201721.27
Klekowski,M2498Sieciechowicz,M23871–02017D45European Blitz 201721.28
Janik,I2413Trent,L24360–12017C78European Blitz 201721.29
Castellanos Rodriguez,R2501Brodowski,P2430½–½2017A04European Blitz 201721.30
Tari,A2593Kantans,T24841–02017B29European Blitz 201721.31
Miton,K2584Boe,M22921–02017A80European Blitz 201721.32
Costachi,M2441Zelbel,P24561–02017E11European Blitz 201721.33
Olszewski,M2540Schulz,K22931–02017B07European Blitz 201721.34
Fedorchuk,S2648Horton,A23971–02017C84European Blitz 201721.35
Stupak,K2588Tokranovs,D23481–02017A45European Blitz 201721.36
Kukula,P2181Schneider,I25170–12017D02European Blitz 201721.37
Putka,V2307Saric,A25401–02017A46European Blitz 201721.38
Dobrowolski,P2421Zwardon,V24080–12017B22European Blitz 201721.39
Janaszak,D2372Chigaev,M25550–12017A45European Blitz 201721.40
Mohr,G2473Stojcevski,Z23371–02017C46European Blitz 201721.41
Wiewiora,E2320Kovalev,V26390–12017E68European Blitz 201721.42
Tregubov,P2575Krzyzanowski,M2457½–½2017D94European Blitz 201721.43
Chernyak,V2196Feuerstack,A24381–02017A31European Blitz 201721.44
Berchtenbreiter,M2387Brazdzionis,A22931–02017B27European Blitz 201721.45
Kourousis,E2393Mazurkiewicz,M22151–02017A52European Blitz 201721.46
Gazik,V2479Mikrut,D23750–12017E62European Blitz 201721.47
Polivanov,A2383Kowalczyk,R2223½–½2017D24European Blitz 201721.48
Lewicki,M2404Saraci,N23981–02017B74European Blitz 201721.49
Krause,J2368Mis,M22401–02017D17European Blitz 201721.50
Dragnev,V2458Berzina,I22110–12017C88European Blitz 201721.51
Lubczynski,R2429Widla,P20461–02017A04European Blitz 201721.52
Bednarek,S2307Shkapenko,P24310–12017A45European Blitz 201721.53
Shubin,K2287De Filomeno,S24291–02017B25European Blitz 201721.54
Oglaza,O2245Bartel,M23600–12017C45European Blitz 201721.55
Rodshtein,M2699Lewtak,D23581–02017A22European Blitz 201721.56
Cherepov,A2156Kovalev,D25040–12017D43European Blitz 201721.57
Mikhalchishin,A2479Paszewski,M23071–02017D12European Blitz 201721.58
Zelcic,R2501Fedorov,E22411–02017B04European Blitz 201721.59
Narva,M2211Kuzmicz,K24600–12017B40European Blitz 201721.60
Wachinger,N2243Krejci,J25700–12017C91European Blitz 201721.61
Rigopoulos-Tsigkos,A2117Stocek,J25660–12017B30European Blitz 201721.62
Pulpan,J2400Quilter,T21951–02017B01European Blitz 201721.63
Kanarek,M2505Szadkowski,K22911–02017C96European Blitz 201721.64
Pultinevicius,P2371Zaleski,L22291–02017E56European Blitz 201721.65
Vaicekauskas,G2210Maier,C23930–12017C15European Blitz 201721.66
Valeinis,J2227Kreisl,R24400–12017A64European Blitz 201721.67
Dorokhin,M2243Jahncke,G24031–02017B01European Blitz 201721.68
Muter,D2206Heinzel,O23601–02017D12European Blitz 201721.69
Troyke,C2348Kiratzopoulos,E22041–02017A00European Blitz 201721.70
Kubica,K2166Wieczorek,O24630–12017A57European Blitz 201721.71
Sergeev,V2406Borys,J20231–02017A47European Blitz 201721.72
Amores Gago,J2139Michalski,F20890–12017B00European Blitz 201721.73
Zimina,O2415Winiarski,M22491–02017A15European Blitz 201721.74
Golenia,W1984Przybylski,W2320½–½2017A22European Blitz 201721.75
Laurusas,T2423Dudas,J22161–02017A00European Blitz 201721.76
Pena Gomez,M2491Terletsky,O23840–12017A00European Blitz 201721.77
Peterson,E2168Polzin,R2404½–½2017A45European Blitz 201721.78
Karpus,M2328Luch,M23980–12017B03European Blitz 201721.79
Tomaszewski,K2292Djuric,S23830–12017E94European Blitz 201721.80
Klabis,R2366Miezis,N24340–12017B23European Blitz 201721.81
Piotrowski,P2314Reichmann,H23371–02017A40European Blitz 201721.82
Meissner,F2333Slabek,G19561–02017B01European Blitz 201721.83
Kastelik,A2176Piesik,P23740–12017B06European Blitz 201721.84
Vykouk,J2435Semjonovs,I2233½–½2017B97European Blitz 201721.85
Ustianovich,N2366Tymrakiewicz,R22721–02017D02European Blitz 201721.86
Wilk,K2125Worek,J22921–02017A00European Blitz 201721.87
Sadzikowski,D2584Stauskas,L23491–02017A34European Blitz 201721.88
Kumala,A2220Pribyl,J22630–12017B07European Blitz 201721.89
Snihur,P2233Batsiashvili,N25020–12017E34European Blitz 201721.90
Jablonicky,M2302Kahleys,K2195½–½2017C00European Blitz 201721.91
Budrewicz,K2204Psyk,R2222½–½2017D37European Blitz 201721.92
Tomaszewski,R2285Cieslar,M20320–12017B06European Blitz 201721.93
Tate,A2358Balaian,A22240–12017C05European Blitz 201721.94
Sabuk,P2382Pavlidou,E21961–02017A46European Blitz 201721.95
Kutynec,V2270Przybylski,B2085½–½2017A30European Blitz 201721.96
Lehtioksa,J2173Reza,W2283½–½2017B47European Blitz 201721.97
Ondrus,M2261Smieszek,W21850–12017B35European Blitz 201721.98
Strejczek,D2149Sotsky,A23330–12017D02European Blitz 201721.99
Olsen,F2294Lavendelis,E22781–02017D82European Blitz 201721.100
Zhigalko,S2641Fressinet,L2662½–½2017C72European Blitz 201722.1
Aleksandrov,A2589Michalik,P25571–02017D47European Blitz 201722.2
Kovalenko,I2639Navara,D2740½–½2017B13European Blitz 201722.3
Andriasian,Z2585McShane,L2640½–½2017C50European Blitz 201722.4
Wojtaszek,R2736Duda,J2717½–½2017E97European Blitz 201722.5
Ponomariov,R2694Tomczak,J2588½–½2017C11European Blitz 201722.6
Warakomski,T2537Fridman,D26330–12017B70European Blitz 201722.7
Ponkratov,P2613Dziuba,M25841–02017D02European Blitz 201722.8
Gajewski,G2601Demidov,M25231–02017D02European Blitz 201722.9
Kislinsky,A2513Bosiocic,M26240–12017B22European Blitz 201722.10
Moskalenko,A2522Jakubowski,K25260–12017B90European Blitz 201722.11
Jaracz,P2465Jussupow,A25820–12017A26European Blitz 201722.12
Piorun,K2651Tomczak,M23721–02017B25European Blitz 201722.13
Heberla,B2555Brunello,S25530–12017C55European Blitz 201722.14
Plat,V2567Meskovs,N25381–02017A01European Blitz 201722.15
Neiksans,A2590Pavlidis,A25390–12017A01European Blitz 201722.16
Bartel,M2609Ladva,O25221–02017A00European Blitz 201722.17
Rocha,S2370Dvirnyy,D25320–12017A09European Blitz 201722.18
Sakalauskas,V2351Manik,M2415½–½2017E98European Blitz 201722.19
Saric,I2669Valsecchi,A25010–12017C48European Blitz 201722.20
Ragger,M2657Sammalvuo,T24161–02017C50European Blitz 201722.21
Buhmann,R2584Zorko,J24570–12017E10European Blitz 201722.22
Fedorov,A2573Georgiev,K26230–12017C26European Blitz 201722.23
Mastrovasilis,D2582Licznerski,L22671–02017C02European Blitz 201722.24
Arnaudov,G2439Moranda,W25930–12017E90European Blitz 201722.25
Hracek,Z2592Kyc,J22651–02017A45European Blitz 201722.26
Kazakovskiy,V2422Alekseev,E26161–02017D30European Blitz 201722.27
Sieciechowicz,M2387Klekowski,M24980–12017E46European Blitz 201722.28
Trent,L2436Janik,I24131–02017B20European Blitz 201722.29
Brodowski,P2430Castellanos Rodriguez,R25010–12017A00European Blitz 201722.30
Kantans,T2484Tari,A25930–12017B12European Blitz 201722.31
Boe,M2292Miton,K25840–12017C02European Blitz 201722.32
Zelbel,P2456Costachi,M24411–02017C30European Blitz 201722.33
Schulz,K2293Olszewski,M25401–02017A05European Blitz 201722.34
Horton,A2397Fedorchuk,S26481–02017A15European Blitz 201722.35
Tokranovs,D2348Stupak,K25880–12017B13European Blitz 201722.36
Schneider,I2517Kukula,P21811–02017A96European Blitz 201722.37
Saric,A2540Putka,V23071–02017A05European Blitz 201722.38
Zwardon,V2408Dobrowolski,P24211–02017A10European Blitz 201722.39
Chigaev,M2555Janaszak,D23721–02017D80European Blitz 201722.40
Stojcevski,Z2337Mohr,G24731–02017B00European Blitz 201722.41
Kovalev,V2639Wiewiora,E23200–12017C41European Blitz 201722.42
Krzyzanowski,M2457Tregubov,P25750–12017B40European Blitz 201722.43
Feuerstack,A2438Chernyak,V21961–02017B22European Blitz 201722.44
Brazdzionis,A2293Berchtenbreiter,M23871–02017E10European Blitz 201722.45
Mazurkiewicz,M2215Kourousis,E23930–12017B10European Blitz 201722.46
Mikrut,D2375Gazik,V24791–02017A81European Blitz 201722.47
Kowalczyk,R2223Polivanov,A23831–02017B22European Blitz 201722.48
Saraci,N2398Lewicki,M24041–02017A45European Blitz 201722.49
Mis,M2240Krause,J23680–12017A48European Blitz 201722.50
Berzina,I2211Dragnev,V24581–02017B10European Blitz 201722.51
Widla,P2046Lubczynski,R24290–12017B00European Blitz 201722.52
Shkapenko,P2431Bednarek,S23071–02017C01European Blitz 201722.53
De Filomeno,S2429Shubin,K22870–12017A40European Blitz 201722.54
Bartel,M2360Oglaza,O22450–12017B20European Blitz 201722.55
Lewtak,D2358Rodshtein,M2699½–½2017C00European Blitz 201722.56
Kovalev,D2504Cherepov,A21561–02017A34European Blitz 201722.57
Paszewski,M2307Mikhalchishin,A2479½–½2017A20European Blitz 201722.58
Fedorov,E2241Zelcic,R25011–02017B14European Blitz 201722.59
Krejci,J2570Wachinger,N22431–02017E63European Blitz 201722.61
Stocek,J2566Rigopoulos-Tsigkos,A21171–02017D24European Blitz 201722.62
Quilter,T2195Pulpan,J24001–02017A00European Blitz 201722.63
Szadkowski,K2291Kanarek,M2505½–½2017C45European Blitz 201722.64
Zaleski,L2229Pultinevicius,P23711–02017B71European Blitz 201722.65
Maier,C2393Vaicekauskas,G22101–02017C55European Blitz 201722.66
Kreisl,R2440Valeinis,J22271–02017A05European Blitz 201722.67
Jahncke,G2403Dorokhin,M22430–12017A09European Blitz 201722.68
Heinzel,O2360Muter,D22060–12017A41European Blitz 201722.69
Kiratzopoulos,E2204Troyke,C23481–02017A40European Blitz 201722.70
Wieczorek,O2463Kubica,K21660–12017A00European Blitz 201722.71
Borys,J2023Sergeev,V24061–02017B02European Blitz 201722.72
Michalski,F2089Amores Gago,J2139½–½2017A41European Blitz 201722.73
Winiarski,M2249Zimina,O24150–12017B18European Blitz 201722.74
Przybylski,W2320Golenia,W19840–12017B40European Blitz 201722.75
Dudas,J2216Laurusas,T24230–12017B12European Blitz 201722.76
Terletsky,O2384Pena Gomez,M2491½–½2017C47European Blitz 201722.77
Polzin,R2404Peterson,E21681–02017C17European Blitz 201722.78
Luch,M2398Karpus,M23281–02017D72European Blitz 201722.79
Djuric,S2383Tomaszewski,K22921–02017B40European Blitz 201722.80
Miezis,N2434Klabis,R23660–12017A21European Blitz 201722.81
Reichmann,H2337Piotrowski,P23140–12017A45European Blitz 201722.82
Slabek,G1956Meissner,F2333½–½2017A40European Blitz 201722.83
Piesik,P2374Kastelik,A21761–02017D02European Blitz 201722.84
Semjonovs,I2233Vykouk,J24350–12017A46European Blitz 201722.85
Tymrakiewicz,R2272Ustianovich,N23660–12017A45European Blitz 201722.86
Worek,J2292Wilk,K21250–12017B12European Blitz 201722.87
Stauskas,L2349Sadzikowski,D25840–12017E32European Blitz 201722.88
Pribyl,J2263Kumala,A22200–12017A46European Blitz 201722.89
Batsiashvili,N2502Snihur,P22331–02017A57European Blitz 201722.90
Kahleys,K2195Jablonicky,M23021–02017E62European Blitz 201722.91
Psyk,R2222Budrewicz,K22040–12017B06European Blitz 201722.92
Cieslar,M2032Tomaszewski,R22850–12017B10European Blitz 201722.93
Balaian,A2224Tate,A23581–02017B06European Blitz 201722.94
Pavlidou,E2196Sabuk,P23820–12017A41European Blitz 201722.95
Przybylski,B2085Kutynec,V22700–12017B30European Blitz 201722.96
Reza,W2283Lehtioksa,J21731–02017B52European Blitz 201722.97
Smieszek,W2185Ondrus,M22611–02017B90European Blitz 201722.98
Sotsky,A2333Strejczek,D21491–02017A45European Blitz 201722.99
Lavendelis,E2278Olsen,F22941–02017B18European Blitz 201722.100

Replay all 882 available games

50 straight hours

Jacek Gajewski and Wojciech Waruga took on a fairly insane task, but one which apparently has earned them a new Guiness World Record for the "longest chess marathon". They played against each other continuously (taking only periodic 3-minute breaks) for 50 hours in a row, breaking the previous record of 48 hours, set in May by Bob Jansen and Niels Ondersteijn in Tilburg, Netherlands.

Klaus Besenthal contributed to this report
Translation from German and additional reporting by Macauley Peterson

Links

Georgios Souleidis is an International Master with a degree in media and communication studies. He is an experienced journalist, author, photographer, chess trainer, editor-in-chief for the German Bundesliga, YouTuber, a regular contributor to the chessbase website, German chess magazine SCHACH, and previously blogged on his own site entwicklungsvorsprung.de.

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