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The First Jeddah Youth Chess Festival was composed of two separate tournaments: the Young Masters, with invited up-and-coming U-18 internationals stars and a U-18 Open, the Arabian Karpov Cup.
A slight change in the Young Masters' line-up meant that, shortly before the start of the tournament, Spanish FM Jaime Rey Martinez (2343) replaced the Iranian star GM Bardiya Daneshvar, who could not make it to Jeddah.
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Invited Young Masters at the 1st Jeddah Youth Festival
The opening ceremony was a joyful affair with excited players, parents, officials and guests that mingled cheerfully while sipping Arabian coffee accompanied by dates and served by traditionally clad waiters.
The welcome reception with coffee and dates
Folk songs and music with drums and hand clapping provided energetic vibes, smiles and a friendly atmosphere. The entertainment was so electrifying that participants and guests joined in the dances and then spontaneously formed a conga with the smiling organiser on its front. Everybody forgot that a few minutes later battles were about to start.
Dancers with swords symbolically representing defenders of the country and its honour
The opening ceremony was attended by the Saudi Chess Federation's president, members of the Royal family, the Minister for sports and other officials.
The organiser / sponsor Chokri Saidi and guests at the opening ceremony
The Chief and the Deputy Chief arbiters, IA Bechir Messaoudi (TUN) and IA Adnan Nesla (ALG) showed everybody that they meant business.
Super detector: no cheater could pass through
A corner of the spacious, comfortable and elegant playing hall
Digital boards showing the games in progress were displayed around the venue
To the delight of all, the Tournament Director, French IA Laurent Freyd, would wear Arab garbs at all festivities throughout the tournament
12-year-old Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus and 13-year-old Andy Woodward, two promising international masters, were paired in the first round.
Yagiz won, but the two youngsters, probably connected by the closeness of their age, became best chums and could often be seen together.
In a league of their own: Yagiz and Andy
For Yigaz the first round was an announcement for an exceptionally smooth sailing throughout the tournament. He started only as a fifth seed, but suffered only one loss (to Murzin) and, by the seventh round, he had clinched both the tournament's victory and a second GM norm.
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Coincidentally, prior to this tournament, over some time I had been in communication with a well-known trainer, GM Evgeny Romanov. He spoke to me very enthusiastically about one of his former students, a young Turkish phenom: 'I have never met someone so focused, intelligent, determined and incredibly gifted. Trust my words, this boy, Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, will soon shake the chess world'.
Only a couple of weeks later, I met Yagiz in person at the Jeddah Festival. He still needs to show his prowess but his result in Jeddah already proves Evgeny's words.
Yagiz, the star of the Jeddah Festival
Andy Woodward started the tournament with two losses. But the subsequent three wins in a row and no more losses until the end, brought him a fourth place (6/9) and, most importantly, a final GM norm.
A gleaming Andy with his third GM norm certificate
From the interview that I conducted with Andy and his mother, Wendy, I would like to share just one episode: when playing in the Pro Chess league online, Nakamura noticed Andy's remarkable play, got interested in the young player and got in touch with him. He inquired about his training methods and, when he heard that Andy was having only one coaching lesson a week, the super grandmaster paid directly to his coach for six months in advance for three lessons a week. Nakamura would be pleased that his generous gesture must have contributed to his young colleague's rise.
Andy got the crucial half a point that was needed for his GM norm in the last, ninth round, after an agreed quick draw with the top seed, Indian GM Sadwani Raunak.
Woodward v. Sadhwani, ½-½
In the eight round, Sadhwani was paired against Erdogmus. In a worse position and a full point behind his opponent, he offered a draw, which the young Turkish player accepted, not wanting to risk his lead in the tournament.
Sadhwani was probably hoping for at least a second place when he went for a quick draw against Woodward in the ninth round. However, in the last round, the leader, Erdogmus, suffered his only loss against Volodar Murzin, who played with black pieces. This changed the expected order of the top places: Sadwhani had to content himself with bronze, while the silver went to Murzin.
Erdogmus v. Murzin, 0-1
Volodar Murzin had a shaky start, with two losses against the two Polish players in the field, Klimkowski and Seemann, in the first and third rounds respectively. But he recovered quickly, did not lose again, and finished second, only half a point behind the winner.
Volodar Murzin
Klimkowski had a promising start, with a win in the first round against the second seed and much higher rated Murzin. But after losing in the second round to his countryman, Jakub Seemann, he must have lost heart and decided to play safe, achieving draws in all of the remaining rounds.
Jan Klimkowski
Jakub Seemann, the reigning world champion U-16, kicked off splendidly and was the sole leader by the third round, with a perfect 3/3. But his hopes were dashed, when, in the fourth round, he suffered a loss against the much lower rated Spanish FM Jaime Rey Martinez. As if this loss discouraged him, Jacub never regained his confidence and made only two more points by the end of the tournament.
Jakub Seemann
On the other hand, for Jaime his win against Seemann meant that, even though he entered the tournament at a short notice and unprepared, he could prove his place in a company of more experienced and higher-rated rivals.
Seemann v. Martinez, 0-1
The Indian GM Pranav Venkatesh had probably the most disappointing tournament. Having started as a third seed, he ended in the sixth place with 5/10.
Martinez v. Pranav, 0-1
The youngest player in the lineup, Argentinian FM Faustino Oro, who recently made waves and earned the moniker 'Messi of chess', did not fare too well against his older and much higher rated opponents. However, a draw in the fourth round against the second seed Murzin, playing with the black pieces, and two more draws later on, against IM Klimkowski and WGM Guecamburu, show that his talent is definitely there and needs to be further polished.
The two Argentinians, Faustino Oro and Candela Guecamburu, in the sixth round, ½-½
At 17, Candela is a WGM and the reigning World Junior Champion (girls U-20). A cheerful, bright and friendly girl, she concedes that her only two earned points reflect the fact that she was the lowest-rated participants and that his playing at the Jeddah Masters will serve as valuable experience for the future.
The brightest star among the stars of the Jeddah Festival, Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus
In a tournament where the protagonists are exclusively youngsters aged 18 or younger, parents are an unavoidable fixture. It is not always the case, but at the Jeddah Youth festival parents enjoyed a full package of travel and accommodation, sponsored by the organiser, Chokri Saidi. They contributed to a very joyful and friendly atmosphere.
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Andy and his mother Wendy
Candela and her mother Lorena
Faustino and his parents
Pranav and his father
Volodar and his mother
Yigaz clutching his cup and his proudly beaming father, Selahattin
