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Press release
Text: Conrad Schormann
Strong performance, but no norms for the four top German talents
Indian grandmaster Sethuraman has won the WEISSENHAUS Young Masters 2024. In the showdown between the leader and his pursuer in the last round, Sethuraman fended off all attempts by Pavel Eljanov to displace his rival from the top spot until deep into the endgame. If Eljanov had won, the Ukrainian would have been in first place thanks to his better tiebreak score. But after 60 moves Eljanov stopped trying to win a bloodless endgame.
Despite strong performances, none of the four local super talents has managed to achieve a GM or IM norm. In the last round, Hussain Besou still had the chance to get the four points needed for an IM norm by drawing or beating Kaido Kulaots. But the nine-time Estonian champion put Besou under sustained pressure and won in the endgame.
The players at the end of an intense tournament | Photo: WEISSENHAUS Chess Academy
Tournament director Sebastian Siebrecht was delighted after the awards ceremony. All participants fought for every half point until the very end. In Siebrecht's opinion, the concept of pitting experienced, ambitious grandmasters against talents in a round robin tournament proved successful. All the WEISSENHAUS talents showed strong performances, even if it was not enough for a norm. "But we had taken this into account by putting together a field where there would be no easy wins for anyone." The four talents should benefit from the experience of a strong round-robin tournament in the medium and long term.
Tournament Director Sebastian Siebrecht at the award ceremony. | Photo: WEISSENHAUS Chess Academy
The game between Sethuraman and Eljanov is a prime example of the fighting spirit of all ten participants. If a player of the Indian's calibre doesn't want to risk anything with the white pieces, then it's hard to put him under pressure. But Eljanov tried everything and even gained slight chances. The game was the penultimate game to finish in the tournament.
The decision: after 60 moves and a four-hour battle, Pavel Eljanov stops trying to win, and the arbiter, Sandra Schmidt, takes the scoresheets. | Photo: Sebastian Siebrecht
The last game, between Kaido Kulaots and Hussain Besou, is a prime example of the fact that no presents were given. With the black pieces, Besou was very close to a draw for a long time, and no one would have blamed the 48-year-old Kulaots at the end of a strenuous tournament if he had agreed to a draw. But the Estonian was determined on converting his experience into a full point. The 13-year-old Bessou put up a valiant fight for 63 moves – but in vain. And so he missed the norm in the end by half a point.
In the last round, Hussain Besou had the chance to make an IM norm, but in the end the nine-time Estonian Champion Kulaots triumphed. | Photo: Conrad Schormann
In second-last place with 3.5 points, Besou nevertheless played a 2423 performance and gained about 15 Elo in WEISSENHAUS. The situation is similar for the GM norm candidates Marius Deuer and Leonardo Costa. With 5 points from 9 games, the two share third fourth place ahead of three established grandmasters (though Deuer has the slightly better tiebreak). With a little luck, both could have achieved more, but both are gaining Elo with grandmaster performances of well over 2500.
Leonardo Costa, like Marius Deuer, had a Grandmaster performance. | Photo: WEISSENHAUS Chess Academy
Christian Glöckler was less successful. As the youngest participant and the one with the lowest Elo, Glöckler had a great start with 1.5/3 and a convincing, smooth victory over Sune Berg Hansen, who showed what the twelve-year-old is capable of. Then he suffered a defeat, then another, probably his confidence was dented, and finally he had six zeros in a row. Nothing catastrophic, just a little accident on the way to his third IM norm. Glöckler will also benefit from the experience of the WEISSENHAUS Young Masters.
A bad tournament, that has happened to others before. Christian Glöckler will learn from the WEISSENHAUS Young Masters and come back even stronger than he already is. | Photo: WEISSENHAUS Chess Academy
Results of Day 5
Final standings
Games
