John Henderson reports

Peter Heine Nielsen, the winner of the Hastings 2002/2003
The Danish GM Peter Heine Nielsen has won the 78th Hastings Premier in dramatic
style, as the second seed rode a virtual rollercoaster of a tournament to take
the first prize of £2,000.
Leading at one stage by a full point, Nielsen suffered a major setback en route
to victory following two successive defeats. However he soon fought his way
back into first place by proving to be the most aggressive and determined player
in the field, and a penultimate round victory over co-leader Pentala Harikrishna
clinched the title and first place for the Dane.
And, with a quick last round draw against Keith Arkell, Nielsen secured himself
outright first on 6/9; in the process emulating the feats of his more famous
countryman Bent Larsen, who during the 1960s and 1970s was a perennial favourite
at the worlds most famous international tournament.
Just a half point behind in joint second was British Grand Prix winner Keith
Arkell (the only unbeaten player in the field, who was also making his debut
at the Premier), and Harikrishna on 5.5/9. Despite proving to be tough opposition
at times, the young GMs Sergey Karjakin and Luke McShane couldnt raise
their game high enough to cause a major sensation by winning the tournament.
Report in Outlook
India
ROUND 1 - 28 Dec
Barsov ½-½ Tseshkovsky
Nielsen 1-0 Karjakin
Flear ½-½ Arkell
McShane ½-½ Harikrishna
Sasikiran ½-½ Kosteniuk
|
ROUND 4 - 31 Dec
Barsov 1-0 McShane
Nielsen 1-0 Flear
Arkell ½-½ Kosteniuk
Karjakin ½-½ Sasikiran
Tseshkovsky ½-½ Harikrishna
|
ROUND 7 - 3 Jan
Kosteniuk 0-1 Nielsen
Harikrishna 1-0 Barsov
Arkell ½-½ Karjakin
McShane ½-½ Tseshkovsky
Sasikiran ½-½ Flear
|
ROUND 2 - 29 Dec
Barsov ½-½ Nielsen
Karjakin 1-0 Flear
Arkell 1-0 McShane
Harikrishna ½-½ Sasikiran
Tseshkovsky 0-1 Kosteniuk
|
ROUND 5 - 1 Jan
Kosteniuk 0-1 Karjakin
Harikrishna ½-½ Arkell
Flear 1-0 Tseshkovsky
McShane 1-0 Nielsen
Sasikiran ½-½ Barsov
|
ROUND 8 - 4 Jan
Barsov ½-½ Arkell
Nielsen 1-0 Harikrishna
Flear 1-0 Kosteniuk
McShane 1-0 Sasikiran
Tseshkovsky 0-1 Karjakin
|
ROUND 3 - 30 Dec
Kosteniuk 0-1 Harikrishna
Nielsen 1-0 Tseshkovsky
Flear ½-½ Barsov
McShane 1-0 Karjakin
Sasikiran ½-½ Arkell
|
ROUND 6 - 2 Jan
Barsov 1-0 Kosteniuk
Nielsen 0-1 Sasikiran
Flear ½-½ McShane
Karjakin ½-½ Harikrishna
Tseshkovsky 0-1 Arkell
|
ROUND 9 - 5 Jan
Kosteniuk 1-0 McShane
Harikrishna 1-0 Flear
Arkell ½-½ Nielsen
Karjakin ½-½ Barsov
Sasikiran ½-½ Tseshkovsky
|
Click on the headers to replay
the games on the official Java board. |
Final Standings

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