Hoogeveen 2016: Sokolov strikes first

by Albert Silver
10/17/2016 – The Hoogeveen Festival has started, and brings a number of fun events to watch. The eye-catcher is of course the match between Hou Yfan and ‘old git’ Nigel Short played over six games, with a second match between Dutch talent Jorden van Foreest and Ivan Sokolov. There is also a strong open with a large contingent of Dutch and Indian players. The first match games were fascinating struggles, and Sokolov was the first to draw blood.

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The Hoogeveen Chess Tournament starts on Saturday, October 15 (opening ceremony) and ends on Saturday, October 22 2016. The tournament consists of the Hoogeveen Matches, the Hoogeveen Open and two amateur tournaments. All tournaments will take place in the attractive town hall of the Dutch city of Hoogeveen. In the chess café, well-known commentators will analyse the games with the audience. The games can also be followed live on Playchess and on the official website.

Hoogeveen Matches: Hou Yifan vs Nigel Short, Jorden van Foreest vs Ivan Sokolov.

Hoogeveen Open: Nine rounds will be played, with space for approximately 84 players who must have a minimal rating of 2000. The Hoogeveen Open is an international tournament, and consequently (grand-) master norms can be achieved. There is a total prize fund of €7,500 with a 1st prize of €3,000.

Amateur toernaments: Group I (= afternoon group): for players with a rating up to 2100. Group II (= morning group): also for players with a rating up to 2100. Each group can contain a maximum of 84 players. They play eight rounds. 1st prize for both groups is €250 each.

Rate of play: 40 moves in 90 minutes, 30 minutes extra time + an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move one.

Venue: Town Hall Hoogeveen, Raadhuisplein 1, 7901 BP Hoogeveen.

Hoogeveen Chess Tournament

All photos by Lennart Ootes

Opening

Nigel Short is introduced by Loek van Wely, the tournament director

Informal and always with good humor, the first match is announced

Although the gloves will be off for the match, Hou Yifan and Nigel Short are friends off the board

Jorden van Foreest has certainly been the Dutch talent on the rise

Matches

Finally the games are underway in the elegant playing hall

The first game saw a good opening for Nigel Short, but that he was unable to convert

Nigel Short - Hou Yifan (game one)

[Event "20th Hoogeveen Matches 2016"] [Site "Hoogeveen"] [Date "2016.10.16"] [Round "1"] [White "Short, Nigel D"] [Black "Hou, Yifan"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A05"] [WhiteElo "2666"] [BlackElo "2658"] [Annotator ""] [PlyCount "114"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [EventType "match"] [EventCountry "NED"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"] 1. Nf3 {(0s)} Nf6 {(0s)} 2. g3 {(49s)} d5 {(7s)} 3. Bg2 {(8s)} b5 {(236s)} 4. O-O {(89s)} Bb7 {(5s)} 5. d3 {(233s)} e6 {(282s)} 6. c4 {(392s)} a6 {(398s)} 7. cxd5 {(300s)} Nxd5 {(19s)} 8. a4 {(6s)} (8. Bg5 Be7 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. Nbd2 Nd7 11. Nb3 Rc8 12. a4 c6 13. Qd2 O-O 14. Rfc1 h6 15. d4 Rfd8 16. Qc2 Nb4 17. Qe4 Nb6 18. Nc5 Nxa4 19. Nxa4 c5 20. Qh4 Qxh4 21. Nxh4 Bxg2 22. Kxg2 bxa4 23. dxc5 Rd2 24. Rxa4 Rxb2 25. Nf3 a5 26. Kf1 Nc6 27. Nd4 Nxd4 28. Rxd4 Rc6 29. Rd6 Rxd6 30. cxd6 Rd2 31. Rc8+ Kh7 32. Ra8 Rd1+ 33. Kg2 Rxd6 34. Rxa5 g6 35. e3 Kg7 36. h4 h5 37. Kg1 Rd1+ 38. Kg2 Rd6 39. Kg1 Rd1+ 40. Kg2 {1/2-1/2 (40) Matlakov,M (2690)-Landa,K (2639) Loo 2014}) 8... Be7 {( 445s)} 9. Nc3 {(235s)} O-O {(681s) } 10. axb5 {(89s)} Nxc3 {(4s)} 11. bxc3 {(8s)} axb5 {(3s)} 12. Rxa8 {(274s)} Bxa8 {(290s)} 13. Qb3 {(8s)} Bc6 {(798s)} ({White has emerged from the opening better, in large part thanks to his better piece coordination and development. } 13... Qd5 {doesn't really solve Black's problems as the a-file will soon be owned by the white rook.} 14. Qxd5 Bxd5 15. Bd2 {Stronger than Be3.} c6 ({ The point of Bd2 is precisely to take prophylactic measures against ...c5 (with the idea of ...b4 and counter play)} 15... c5 16. Rb1 Bc6 17. Ne5 Be8 18. d4 cxd4 19. cxd4 f6 20. Nd3 Bd7 21. d5 $1 {and it is easy to see how difficult it is for Black to equalize.}) 16. Ra1 {with a clear advantage for White.}) 14. Be3 {(316s)} Nd7 {(173s)} 15. Ra1 {( 236s)} Qc8 {(765s)} 16. Ra7 {(403s)} Qb8 { (447s)} 17. Qa2 {(42s)} b4 {(198s)} 18. cxb4 {(230s)} Bxb4 {(17s)} 19. Nd4 { (324s)} Bxg2 {(5s)} 20. Kxg2 {(13s)} Bc5 {(408s)} 21. Nc6 {(720s)} Qb6 {(20s)} 22. Ne7+ {(196s)} Kh8 {(3s)} 23. Bxc5 {(9s)} Qxc5 {(243s)} 24. Qa3 {(29s)} Qb6 {(121s)} 25. Qa5 {( 352s)} Qxa5 {(205s)} 26. Rxa5 {(13s)} g6 {(3s)} 27. Ra7 { (81s)} Re8 {(2s)} 28. Nc6 {(14s)} Rc8 {(3s)} 29. f4 {(175s) While White does have an edge and some pressure with the rook on the seventh, aiming at c7, it is not clear there is any way to increase this decisively.} Kg7 {(28s)} 30. Kf3 {(268s)} Kf8 {(149s)} 31. g4 {(157s)} Ke8 {(172s)} 32. g5 {(61 s)} Nb6 {(22s)} 33. e4 {(49s)} Kd7 {(16s)} 34. Ne5+ {(9s)} Ke7 {(4s)} 35. Ke3 {(242s)} f6 { (212s)} 36. gxf6+ {(275s)} Kxf6 {(1s)} 37. h4 {(7s)} Ke7 {(29s)} 38. Ra2 { (180s)} Nd7 {(42s)} 39. Nc6+ {(83s)} Kd6 {(59s)} 40. Rc2 {(18s)} Nc5 {(47s)} 41. Ne5 {(1816s)} Nd7 {(173s)} 42. Rc6+ {(0s)} Ke7 {(193s)} 43. Kd4 {(0s)} Nf6 {(271s)} 44. Rc5 {(0s)} Ne8 {(90s)} 45. Ra5 {(0s)} Nf6 {(285s)} 46. Ra7 {(0s)} Nh5 {(117s)} 47. Ke3 {(0s)} Nf6 {(3s)} 48. Nc6+ {(0s)} Kd7 {(13s)} 49. Ra6 { (0s)} Rf8 {(133s)} 50. Ne5+ {(0s)} Ke7 {(1s)} 51. Rc6 {(0s)} Rc8 {(5s)} 52. Nc4 {(61s)} Kd7 {(316s)} 53. Ra6 {(5s)} Rf8 {(37 s)} 54. Ne5+ {(23s)} Ke7 {(1s)} 55. Ra7 {(14s)} Rc8 {(29s)} 56. Nc4 {(209s)} Ne8 {(12s)} 57. Ne5 {( 429s)} Nf6 1/2-1/2

The game between Jorden van Foreest, playing black in the first bout, and Ivan Sokolov, was a dynamic affair that swung both ways as is befitting of a King's Indian. In the end, Sokolov had the last word.

Ivan Sokolov - Jorden van Foreest (game one)

Falling back to more traditional options, the display is a manual one

The Open

Among the Indian players is GM Kidambi Sundararajan

GM Jan Werle is also playing

Mees Van Osch - Jan Werle

White seems to have covered all of the danger squares: the rook controls c1, the bishop has the a8-h1 diagonal, and the queen has secured e1. There is just one problem.... Black to play and win.

35...Bc6+!! 36. Rxc6 (if 36.Bxc6 Qc1+ leads to mate) Qf3+ 37. Kg1 Qd1+ 38. Kf2 Re2# 0-1  

 

GM Ernst Sipke is from Holland

Tournament Schedule

Date Matches Hoogeveen Open Amateur Analysis
Sat. 15 Oct. opening Round 1 (14.00) R1 (10.00/14.30)  
Sun. 16 Oct. Round 1 (14.00) Round 2 (14.00) R2(9.30/14.00) Jop Delemarre
Mon. 17 Oct. Round 2 (14.00) Rround 3 (14.00) R3 (9.30/14.00) Gert Ligterink
Tues. 18 Oct. Round 3 (14.00) Round 4 (14.00) R4 (9.30/14.00) Hans Bohm
Wed. 19 Oct. Rest day R5 (9.00) + R6 (15.00) R5 (9.30/14.00)  
Thurs. 20 Oct. Round 4 (14.00) Round 7(14.00) R6 (9.30/14.00) Cor van Wijgerden
Fri. 21 Oct. Round 5 (14.00) Round 8 (14.00) R7 (9.30/14.00) Robert Ris
Sat. 22 Oct. R6 (12.00), closing Round 9 (12.00) R8 (9.30/14.00) Joris Brenninkmeijer

Links

The games will be broadcast live on the official web site and on the server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.
 

Born in the US, he grew up in Paris, France, where he completed his Baccalaureat, and after college moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He had a peak rating of 2240 FIDE, and was a key designer of Chess Assistant 6. In 2010 he joined the ChessBase family as an editor and writer at ChessBase News. He is also a passionate photographer with work appearing in numerous publications, and the content creator of the YouTube channel, Chess & Tech.

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