Niemann and Bellahcene lead in Djerba

The 4th Djerba Chess Festival (18 to 25 February 2024) is currently taking place in Tunisia. The centrepiece of the event is the Djerba Masters with the eight participants Hans Niemann, Aryan Tari, Jules Moussard, Vasyl Ivanchuk, Daniel Dardha, Marc'Andria Maurizzi, Bilel Bellahcene and Divya Deshmukh as the only female representative in the field.

Set against the picturesque backdrop of the island of Djerba, off Tunisia's Mediterranean coast, the festival features a wide range of tournaments and competitions, including a Blitz Championship, an Amateur Open, a Masters Open, a Children's Tournament and a series of outdoor activities.

The Masters Tournament, the highlight of the festival, will be played over seven rounds, with a time limit of 90 minutes for the entire game, plus 30 seconds per move. Organised by businessman Chokri Saidi (Go Event) and tournament director Chaher Miladi, the tournament will be presided over by chief arbiter Bechir Messaoudi.

Chokri Saidi opens the tournament

With an average rating of 2591, the Masters has a strong field and promises exciting games.

In the first round of the Djerba Masters, American grandmaster Hans Moke Niemann won against Norwegian Aryan Tari.

Niemann vs Tari

Divya Deshmukh from India lost with White against Bilel Bellahcene and his French Defense.

On the other two boards, Marc'andria Maurizzi and Daniel Dardha made two draws with the black pieces against living legend Vasyl Ivanchuk and 2022 tournament winner Jules Moussard respectively.

In round 2, Tari Aryan scored the only win against Divya Deshmuk. Daniel Dardha and Marc'Andria Maurizzi drew, as did Jules Moussard and Hans Niemann, who played an exciting and dramatic game.

Jules Moussard2630

½–½

Hans Moke Niemann2675

Round 2: Jules Moussard - Hans Moke Niem 19.02.2024[Johannes Fischer]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.0-0 a6 5.Be2 Ngf6 6.d3 b6 7.c4 Bb7 8.Nc3 g6 9.Rb1 Bg7 10.b4 Bc6 11.h3 0-0 12.Be3 e6 13.Qb3 Qe7 14.a4 Rfb8 15.Rfd1 h6 16.Ne1 g5 17.Nc2 a5 18.bxc5 bxc5 19.Nb5 Ne5 20.Qa3 Bb7 21.f4 gxf4 22.Bxf4 Ne8 23.Qc1 Kh7 24.Rf1 Nc7 25.Ne3 Nxb5 26.cxb5 Rg8 27.Ng4 f5 28.Nxe5 Bxe5 29.Bxe5 dxe5 30.Bf3 Rg3 31.Qc3 Rag8 32.Qxe5

32...Qg5? After this move Black loses material. Better was 32...Rxh3 33.Kf2 Rh4 with a wild position and chances for both sides. 33.Bg4! Qe3+ 34.Kh2 R3xg4 35.hxg4 Rxg4 36.Rf3 White is an exchange up, but the position is complicated and White has to be very careful not to get mated. Rh4+ 37.Kg3 Rg4+ 38.Kh2 Rh4+ 39.Kg3 White repeats moves to gain time on the clock. Rg4+ 40.Kh3 Qd2 41.Rg3 Qg5 42.Kh2 White can't take on g4 because 42.Rxg4?? fxg4+ loses the queen, but it was possible to play 42.Qc7+ Kg6 43.Rxg4 fxg4+ 44.Kh2 Qh4+ 45.Kg1 g3 and now 46.Qxc5 parries all threats and White should win without too much trouble. 42...Qh4+ 43.Rh3 Qf2 Black keeps on creating threats and in time-trouble White fails to find the win. 44.Rg1 fxe4 45.Qxe6 Rg6 46.Qd7+ Rg7 47.Qd6 Rg6

48.Qd7+ One way to win was 48.Qb8 e.g. Qf7 49.dxe4 and Black's threats are no longer serious. 48...Rg7 49.Qd6 Rg6 50.Qc7+ Rg7 51.Qd6 In time trouble White found nothing better than to repeat and the dramatic game ended in a draw. ½–½

The game between Bilel Bellahcene and Vasyl Ivanchuk also ended without a winner.

The island of Djerba has a chequered history and has been ruled by various powers over the years. For a long time it was a pirate base. Since the 1960s, it has been developed for tourism thanks to its pleasant climate.

Standings after two rounds

Games Masters

Games Open

Tournament page...