This event took place from January 14th to 30th, 2011 in the traditional De
Moriaan Center in Wijk aan Zee. There were three Grandmaster Groups, with 14
players each and each competitor playing against every other. The rate of play
was 100 minutes for 40 moves, then 50 minutes for 20 moves and finally 15 minutes
for the rest of the game, with a 30 seconds/move increment starting with the
first move of the game.
Wijk 2011 impressions
By Fred Lucas
Blow karting is a great adventure in a wind-swept sea resort like Wijk aan
Zee. The many miles of firm beach sand is perfect for windsurfing on land, using
a go-kart instead of a board.
However, January in Wijk is a terribly cold month, and so the blow-karting
excursion wasn't attended by a large group of players. Fred Lucas didn't photograph
very much either, it was "too cold, even with gloves."
Feeling the cold: Anish Giri, the youngest participant of Group A
But of course he has to try the blow karting thing...
...and has a close encounter with a beach puddle
Here's a really big tidal stream – what do I do now?
Arlette van Weersel, who organized the outing, rushes to assist any player
in need
I did it! Anish jubilant after the excursion to the beach
Tania Sachdev on the beach in Wijk, where it is colder than her native Delhi
But the poster girl of Indian chess makes the most of it anyway
The obligatory soccer match, with the usual addicts
Anish Giri and Magnus Carlsen, the two young stars of Group A
Jan Smeets, a virtuoso with the ball
Magnus using a still somewhat controversial technique of defence in soccer
Thank you, thank you, that worked very well indeed
Wait a minute, you were not supposed to document it!
Back in the hotel Magnus relaxes in his G-Star
get-up
"My relation with chess is simple," says Fred Lucas. "I'm a photographer who
is very fond of the game, loves the atmosphere at tournaments – it's if you
can really feel all the ideas coming up on all those boards – and I love to
make pictures, especially with available light. What I like most when photographing
chess players is to get their emotions that are otherwise hard to see, because
life immediately proceeds to the next moment. Before the start of a game most
players are busy with themselves, concentrating and some give you the impression
that they really don't want to pay attention to anything else than the game
to come."
Links
Links
The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the
chess server Playchess.com.
If you are not a member you can download the free PGN reader ChessBase
Light, which gives you immediate access. You can also use the program
to read, replay and analyse PGN games. New and enhanced: CB Light 2009! |
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