Obiettivo Risarcimento Padova and Nona are European Club Cup 2019 Champions

No compensation needed

The European Club Cup came to an end with the Italian team Obiettivo Risarcimento Padova (literally "objective compensation") winning with a perfect score of 14.0/14 in the open section. The silver medal went to Ave Novy Bor from Czech Republic and the third place was taken by Mednyi Vsadnik from Russia.

Obiettivo Risarcimento Padova were deserving winners. They beat the top two seeds of the tournament — Alkaloid and Mednyi Vsadnik in rounds six and seven respectively. It was slightly unfortunate that the event was too short for the first and the second placed teams — Obiettivo Risarcimento Padova and Ave Novy Bor to face each other. This was also the case in 2018 when the winner Mednyi Vsadnik did not play Ave Novy Bor in the entire event. Well, these two year results should be enough to convince the organizers that with the number of teams growing in this event, it has become necessary to have a nine-round event.

Team roster and individual results

It's amazing that literally every player in the team gained rating at the event. Only Ivan Saric lost half an Elo point and Sabino Brunello dropped 6 points. Rapport, Adams and Leko all played very solid chess. Here's Leko's fine win against Alekseenko. The win is even more creditable as Alekseenko is in the best form of his chess career, having finished third at the Grand Swiss 2019.

My Black Secrets in the Modern Italian

The Italian Game is considered a sound but quiet opening without early trades, giving rise to rich positions where plans are more important than forced variations. So shows black's plans on this DVD.

The hardest hitter was Gawain Jones with 5.0/6. 

A few days ago I was handed a silver medal just before the round (ETCC bd4). Yesterday managed to add two golds as Obiettivo Risarcimento Padova won the European Club Cup with 7/7. Luck definitely on my side here but very happy with my 5/6. Thanks to grande capitano Cristiano! pic.twitter.com/99YwJj2URt

— Gawain Jones (@GMGawain) November 17, 2019

In our previous report we had already mentioned how Ivan Saric played a splendid game to beat Azerbaijani youngster Aydin Suleymanli. In the final and most critical round of the event it was Daniele Vocaturo who rose to the occasion against Vladislav Kovalev of Alkaloid.

It was only fitting that the Italian no.1 scored the most critical win of the event for the team

A Classical Guide to the French Defence

This DVD gives you the key to start out with the French Defence. GM Yannick Pelletier is a specialist of this opening, and believes that the most efficient way to understand its ideas, plans, and typical structures is to study classical lines.

Team Ave Novy Bor won the silver just like last year

It is very interesting to note that Harikrishna Pentala, Vidit Gujarathi, David Navara, Markus Ragger, Sasikiran Krishnan, Mateusz Bartel — all the top six GMs of team Ave Novy Bor lost some Elo points! Different players delivered in different rounds. They lost only one round to the eventual bronze medalist Mednyi Vsadnik with a score of 3½:2½. But this was a round that they should not have lost. Sasikiran was completely winning his game against Maxim Rodshtein and eventually lost.

For Rodshtein, although luck was on his side against Ave Novy Bor, when it was his game against Gawain Jones from Obiettivo Risarcimento Padova, things turned 180 degrees!

Harikrishna played the third longest game ever in the history of classical chess against David Howell. It lasted for 236 moves. The position was completely drawn, but Howell kept trying to find ways to keep the struggle going. He used the strategy of making a pawn move every time he was close to the 50 move rule. Harikrishna, however, stood his ground and managed to hold the draw without too many difficulties.

The Sicilian Rossolimo for White

The Rossolimo Variation 3.Bb5 is considered to be one of the strongest replies to 2…Nc6 in the Sicilian Defence. The fact that the move has been played by practically all the top players proves its popularity and strength. But the most interesting aspect of playing 3.Bb5 is that we force sharp, attacking players who love to have the initiative to forget about the Open Sicilian and to adjust themselves to a new world, one full of positional ideas, manoeuvres and nuances.

Howell, wasn't too happy with the conduct of the arbiters and tweeted after the game:

I resisted the temptation to tweet about the standard of arbiters at the European Team Champs but today's experience at the Euro Club Cup was even worse. Being shouted at aggressively, simply because I asked him to stop breathing down my neck (literally), was most unpleasant.

— David Howell (@DavidHowellGM) November 12, 2019

The team of Mednyi Vsadnik led by Leinier Dominguez finished third

Top board of team Alkaloid was Shakhriyar Mamedyarov

Team Alkaloid, the top seeds, had a forgettable event as they lost two matches against Obiettivo Risarcimento Padova and Mednyi Vsadnik. But both the losses were by a margin of just 2½:3½. The positive news for team Alkaloid was Shakhriyar Mamedyarov winning the gold on board no. 1. Here's one tremendous game by Mamedyarov:

Final standings (Open)

A lifetime repertoire: Play the Nimzo Indian

This DVD provides everything you need to know to be able to play one of the most classical openings with Black, the Nimzo-Indian, arising after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4. Nearly every World Championship and top tournament features the Nimzo-Indian.

Women's Championship

Third seeded Team Nona from Georgia won the gold medal | Photo: European Chess Union Twitter

The Georgian ladies started out slow, but as the tournament progressed, they found their footing and were able to win two crucial matches against second placed Kyiv Chess Federation and Cercle d'Echecs Monte Carlo. Nino Batsiashvili and Bela Khotenashvili both scored wins in both the matches against Monika Socko and Deimante Daulyte Cornette from Cercle d'Echecs Monte Carlo and against Abdumalik Zhansaya and Osmak Lulija.

Fritz 17 - The giant PC chess program, now with Fat Fritz

The most popular chess program offers you everything you will need as a dedicated chess enthusiast, with innovative training methods for amateurs and professionals alike.

The Kyiv Chess Federation finished second | Photo: European Chess Union Twitter

The bronze medal was won by Cercle d'Echecs Monte Carlo.

Final standings (Women)

Links

• Official site
• An amazing game at the European Club Cup 2019