Natalia on the Isle of Man

by ChessBase
10/4/2003 – The Monarch Assurance Chess Tournament on the Isle of Man is under way, eight of the nine rounds have been completed. GMs Sulskis of Lithuania and Lputian of Armenia are in the lead with 5.5 out of 7. Our reporter WGM Natalia Kiseleva is #35 with 4.0/7, but unlike the leaders she has sent us a lovely illustrated report.
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The 12th International Chess Tournament, sponsored by Monarch Assurance, is taking place at the Ocean Castle Hotel (right) in Port Erin on the Isle of Man. This 9-round Swiss tournament runs from September 27 to October 5th 2003. The prize fund is £16,500.

The tournament includes 26 GMs and 16 IMs, with a a number of other titled players filling up the field. The start was marred by the withdrawal of top seed Nigel Short. But even without the world championship finalist the tournament continues. Games and results are availabe at the web site given at the end of this article. In the meantime we have received pictures from our correspondent WGM Natalia Kiseleva, originally from Ukraine, now living in Germany and playing on the tournament circuit all over Europe. Her trip to the Isle of Man was a treat she had been planning for a long time. College holidays made it possible and together with a friend Natalia embarked on her journey to the picturesque island that is located between England and Ireland.

Natalia on the Isle of Man

A picture report by Natalia Kiseleva

The trip from the European mainland to the Isle of Man takes you through London. We were able to store our bags and spend some time exploring London before continuing our trip to the island.


Your reporter standing in front of the Thames and the British Parliament buildings


London transport with its black diesel taxis and red double-deck busses

The trip to the airport on the London Underground was a nerve-racking affair, which ended with us catching our plane with minutes to spare. Never before in my life have I run so fast, certainly not while carrying heavy travel bags.


But the arrival on the beautiful Isle of Man in the evening made up for everything


The venue: Ocean Castle Hotel, were the players stay and the games are played


The playing hall in the Ocean Castle Hotel


GM Smbat Lputian of Armenia, last year's winner Vladimir Epishin of Russia


GM Sarunas Sulskis (LTU), GM Alexei Barsov (UZB)


GM Peter Wells (ENG), GM Florian Handke (GER)


GM John Emms (ENG), WGM Harriet Hunt (ENG)


GM Lev Psakhis (ISR), IM Karel van der Weide (NED)


GM Artur Kogan (ISR), GM Oleg Korneev (RUS) who started with 3:3


GM Thomas Luther (GER), GM Vasilios Kotronias (CYP)


Post-game analysis with post-game beverages


Viorel Iordachescu, Daniel Fridman, Anna Zatonskih, Alexei Barsov relaxing


GM Daniel Fridman (LAT) showing off the scenery and good weather


The lighthouse (with the tower on the hill in the background), the tower up close


Friends: Anna Zatonskih and Natalia Kiseleva at the top of the tower


Daniel Fridman and Anna Zatonskih exploring the island, Anna in a low-tide cave


Port Erin in beautiful, warm sunshine

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