The small town of Hoogeveen is again a center of attention for the chess world. Both the Unive Crown Tournament and the Unive Open have started in Hoogeveen, sponsored by the Unive cooperative insurance company in the Netherlands.
The main attraction is of course the super grandmaster double round robin tournament that started today. These are the players:
| Player | Country |
Rating
|
| Adams, Michael | ENG |
2753
|
| So, Wesley | PHI |
2706
|
| Van Wely, Loek | NED |
2693
|
| Van Kampen, Robin | NED |
2607
|
With one of the top 10 players in the world, Michael Adams, the second junior in the world, Wesley So and two of the highest rated players in the Netherlands this tournament shapes up to be quite exciting.
In the open section many strong players are currently participating, including grandmasters Rodshtein, L'Ami, Moskalenko, Haslinger, Ernst, and Krasenkow among others.
Opening Ceremony
The chairman of the largest employers' organization in the Netherlands, VNO-NWC, Bernand Wientjes opens the tournament
The players picked one of Gerard van de Weerd's art pieces to determine their pairing number
Some of the works
At the opening ceremony. From left to right: Tara MacGowran (Adams' wife), Michael Adams, Loek Van Wely, Robin Van Kampen and Wesley So.
The tallest player in the Netherlands enjoys some humor during the ceremony
Round 1
The tournament started rather spectacularly as the young players took important victories. Robin van Kampen destroyed a weak showing by Michael Adams in an unusual French defense.
Taking advantage of his opponent's mistakes White won a piece and then consolidated it to win the game
In the other game, So held a slight edge through most of the game but it was really a blunder by Van Wely that allowed the Filipino to capitalize
Replay Games
Open section
The open section is currently being led by a pack of five people on 3.0/3: Moskalenko, Rodshtein, L'Ami, Krasenkow and Levin. The Open section started before the Crown Tournament since it has more rounds.
A familiar face: IM Tania Sachdev has 2.5 after drawing in the second round
WIM Lorena Zepeda, Van Wely's wife, is participating in the open section but only has 1.0/3
GM Yasser Seirawan (left) is not playing in either tournament, but he enjoys his time analyzing positions
The concurrent relay for the spectators is being done the old fashioned way
Explaining van Kampen's opening
Pictures by Johan Valk
Schedule
| Round 1 – October 20 | ||||
| So, Wesley | 2706 |
1-0
|
Van Wely, Loek | 2693 |
| Van Kampen, Robin | 2607 |
1-0
|
Adams, Michael | 2753 |
| Round 2 – October 21 | ||||
| Van Kampen, Robin | 2607 | Van Wely, Loek | 2693 | |
| Adams, Michael | 2753 | So, Wesley | 2706 | |
| Round 3 – October 22 | ||||
| Van Wely, Loek | 2693 | Adams, Michael | 2753 | |
| So, Wesley | 2706 | Van Kampen, Robin | 2607 | |
| Round 4 – October 24 | ||||
| Van Wely, Loek | 2693 | So, Wesley | 2706 | |
| Adams, Michael | 2753 | Van Kampen, Robin | 2607 | |
| Round 5 – October 25 | ||||
| Adams, Michael | 2753 | Van Wely, Loek | 2693 | |
| Van Kampen, Robin | 2607 | So, Wesley | 2706 | |
| Round 6 – October 26 | ||||
| Van Wely, Loek | 2693 | Van Kampen, Robin | 2607 | |
| So, Wesley | 2706 | Adams, Michael | 2753 | |
LinksThe games will be broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 12 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs. |
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