Hoogeveen 01-06: Indian thunder strikes Netherlands
Indian grandmasters Abhijeet Gupta and Lalith Babu are on a roll, leading the 2016 Hoogeveen tournament with 5.5/6. Pursuing them is a bunch of Indians, who are all a point behind. The Indian hegemony at the event is further bolstered by the fact that of the 81 players competing in the Open, 13 are Indians. We have a richly illustrated report with highlights from the games.
Hoogeveen 05-07: Gupta, Lalith lead with 2800+ performance
Photos by Lennart Ootes
The town of Hoogeveen (pronounced Hoch-A-Vain) is famous all over the world for, believe it or not, its chess tournament. How many towns can have a claim to fame due to the chess festival they organize? Wijk comes to mind, and even that is in the same country. The Dutchmen love their chess!
The Hoogeveen Chess Tournament began on 15th October 2016 in the Netherlands. In the Hoogeveen Open, 9 rounds are being played. The event had space for approximately 81 players only with a minimal rating of 2000. There is a total prize fund of €7,500 with the 1st prize of €3,000.
The defending champion GM Abhijeet Gupta of India is on a roll this year as well. He is jointly leading with 6.5/7.
Beerdsen-Gupta: Black to play
[Event "Hoogeveen Open 2016"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.10.17"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Beerdsen, Thomas"]
[Black "Gupta, Abhijeet"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2404"]
[BlackElo "2626"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r2rk1/5ppp/5b2/2n2q2/3p4/2NP1R2/1B3PPP/1R1Q2K1 b - - 0 27"]
[PlyCount "19"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]
[WhiteClock "0:02:59"]
[BlackClock "0:22:49"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.10.17"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Beerdsen, Thomas"]
[Black "Gupta, Abhijeet"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2404"]
[BlackElo "2626"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r2rk1/5ppp/5b2/2n2q2/3p4/2NP1R2/1B3PPP/1R1Q2K1 b - - 0 27"]
[PlyCount "19"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]
[WhiteClock "0:02:59"]
[BlackClock "0:22:49"]
27... Qxf3 $1 {7} 28. Qxf3 {311} dxc3 {5} 29. Ba3 {51} c2 {85} 30. Re1 {201}
Nb3 {198} 31. Qb7 {109} c1=Q {164} 32. Bxc1 {7} Rxc1 {10} 33. Rxc1 {4} Nxc1 {3}
34. Qb1 {56} Ne2+ {122} 35. Kf1 {6} Nf4 {4} 36. g3 {24} Ra8 {29} 0-1
Nb3 {198} 31. Qb7 {109} c1=Q {164} 32. Bxc1 {7} Rxc1 {10} 33. Rxc1 {4} Nxc1 {3}
34. Qb1 {56} Ne2+ {122} 35. Kf1 {6} Nf4 {4} 36. g3 {24} Ra8 {29} 0-1
In the fourth round, Gupta's opponent was Dutch GM Jan Wele (2555). Werle played an overambitious continuation, and was rewarded with a nought.
[Event "Hoogeveen Open 2016"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.10.18"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Gupta, Abhijeet"]
[Black "Werle, Jan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2626"]
[BlackElo "2555"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1r3rk1/p1q2ppp/3b4/1b1QN3/3P4/2B4P/PP3PP1/2KRR3 b - - 0 20"]
[PlyCount "10"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]
[WhiteClock "0:04:04"]
[BlackClock "0:01:49"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.10.18"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Gupta, Abhijeet"]
[Black "Werle, Jan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2626"]
[BlackElo "2555"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1r3rk1/p1q2ppp/3b4/1b1QN3/3P4/2B4P/PP3PP1/2KRR3 b - - 0 20"]
[PlyCount "10"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]
[WhiteClock "0:04:04"]
[BlackClock "0:01:49"]
20... Ba3 $5 {763} 21. Qb3 {137} (21. Kd2 Bd6 22. Re4 $16) 21... Bxb2+ $2 {
203 Werle goes all in.} ({Just accpeting the problem and stepping back with}
21... Bd6 $1 22. Qc2 f6 23. Nf3 $11 {would have endure that Black is fine.})
22. Qxb2 {15} Ba4 {174} (22... f6 23. Nf3 Ba4 24. Qa3 Bxd1 25. Kxd1 Rfc8 26.
Kd2 Qc4 27. Nh4 $1 $16) 23. Qa3 {274} Bxd1 {5} 24. Rxd1 {221} Rfc8 {11} 25. Kd2
$18 {90 Two pieces and a pawn for rook. White went on to win easily.} 1-0
203 Werle goes all in.} ({Just accpeting the problem and stepping back with}
21... Bd6 $1 22. Qc2 f6 23. Nf3 $11 {would have endure that Black is fine.})
22. Qxb2 {15} Ba4 {174} (22... f6 23. Nf3 Ba4 24. Qa3 Bxd1 25. Kxd1 Rfc8 26.
Kd2 Qc4 27. Nh4 $1 $16) 23. Qa3 {274} Bxd1 {5} 24. Rxd1 {221} Rfc8 {11} 25. Kd2
$18 {90 Two pieces and a pawn for rook. White went on to win easily.} 1-0
Another Indian GM Lalith Babu (2585) is tied for the first place with Gupta on 6.5/7.
In the fifth round, both the leaders played each other. The game was a notorious draw and was over in 30 minutes. Each and every move of this Slav-Botvinnik has been seen before in a game between Boris Grachev and Ivan Popov from Delhi 2016!
[Event "Hoogeveen Open 2016"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.10.19"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Lalith Babu M R"]
[Black "Gupta, Abhijeet"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2586"]
[BlackElo "2626"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]
[WhiteClock "1:28:18"]
[BlackClock "1:34:21"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.10.19"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Lalith Babu M R"]
[Black "Gupta, Abhijeet"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2586"]
[BlackElo "2626"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]
[WhiteClock "1:28:18"]
[BlackClock "1:34:21"]
1. d4 {0} d5 {0} 2. Nf3 {0} Nf6 {0} 3. c4 {43} e6 {5} 4. Nc3 {28} c6 {6} 5. Bg5
{66} dxc4 {8} 6. e4 {42} b5 {8} 7. e5 {34} h6 {4} 8. Bh4 {9} g5 {4} 9. Nxg5 {9}
hxg5 {7} 10. Bxg5 {4} Nbd7 {5} 11. g3 {7} Bb7 {15} 12. Bg2 {9} Qb6 {4} 13. exf6
{12} O-O-O {5} 14. O-O {23} c5 {5} 15. d5 {44 126} b4 {73 99} 16. Rb1 {15 159}
Qa6 {48 153} 17. dxe6 {133 104} Bxg2 {37 48 Believe it or not this position
has already been reached 200 times!} 18. Re1 $5 {15 250 This was played by
Krylov against Ivan Popov in 2012 and Popov had won. Popov also had this
position against Boris Grachev in Delhi!} (18. e7 {has been played in 190 of
those 200 games.}) 18... fxe6 {8 489} 19. Kxg2 {47 172} bxc3 {25} 20. bxc3 {67}
(20. f7 {was played by Krylov.}) 20... Qc6+ $1 {16 179} 21. Kg1 {10} Bh6 $1 {22
} 22. Qg4 {139 173} Bxg5 {47 132} 23. Rxe6 $1 {11 28 There is no time to win
back lost material.} Qd5 {40 67 Black is now two pieces up for a few pawns but
White has some nasty tricks!} 24. Qf5 $5 {22 173} Qa8 {49 322} (24... Qxf5 25.
Rc6# {is something that you wish for but never really happens in a game!}) 25.
Rb5 {119 173} Rxh2 $1 {118 92 The quickest way to draw the game. The threat of
mate on h1 forces White to give a perpetual.} 26. Rxc5+ {45} (26. Kxh2 $2 Rh8+
$19) 26... Nxc5 {38} 27. Qxc5+ {5} Kb8 {7} 28. Qe5+ {9} Kc8 {3} 29. Qc5+ {5}
Kb8 {2 This was an exact copy of a game played between Grachev and Popov in
Delhi 2016!} 1/2-1/2
{66} dxc4 {8} 6. e4 {42} b5 {8} 7. e5 {34} h6 {4} 8. Bh4 {9} g5 {4} 9. Nxg5 {9}
hxg5 {7} 10. Bxg5 {4} Nbd7 {5} 11. g3 {7} Bb7 {15} 12. Bg2 {9} Qb6 {4} 13. exf6
{12} O-O-O {5} 14. O-O {23} c5 {5} 15. d5 {44 126} b4 {73 99} 16. Rb1 {15 159}
Qa6 {48 153} 17. dxe6 {133 104} Bxg2 {37 48 Believe it or not this position
has already been reached 200 times!} 18. Re1 $5 {15 250 This was played by
Krylov against Ivan Popov in 2012 and Popov had won. Popov also had this
position against Boris Grachev in Delhi!} (18. e7 {has been played in 190 of
those 200 games.}) 18... fxe6 {8 489} 19. Kxg2 {47 172} bxc3 {25} 20. bxc3 {67}
(20. f7 {was played by Krylov.}) 20... Qc6+ $1 {16 179} 21. Kg1 {10} Bh6 $1 {22
} 22. Qg4 {139 173} Bxg5 {47 132} 23. Rxe6 $1 {11 28 There is no time to win
back lost material.} Qd5 {40 67 Black is now two pieces up for a few pawns but
White has some nasty tricks!} 24. Qf5 $5 {22 173} Qa8 {49 322} (24... Qxf5 25.
Rc6# {is something that you wish for but never really happens in a game!}) 25.
Rb5 {119 173} Rxh2 $1 {118 92 The quickest way to draw the game. The threat of
mate on h1 forces White to give a perpetual.} 26. Rxc5+ {45} (26. Kxh2 $2 Rh8+
$19) 26... Nxc5 {38} 27. Qxc5+ {5} Kb8 {7} 28. Qe5+ {9} Kc8 {3} 29. Qc5+ {5}
Kb8 {2 This was an exact copy of a game played between Grachev and Popov in
Delhi 2016!} 1/2-1/2
Lalith-Rathnakaran: White to play
Lalith found an elegant way to win a pawn here. Can you see how?
[Event "Hoogeveen Open 2016"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.10.18"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Lalith Babu M R"]
[Black "Rathnakaran, K."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A05"]
[WhiteElo "2586"]
[BlackElo "2469"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r3q1r1/pp1b2bk/n4n1p/3Ppp2/8/2NNB2P/PP1QB1P1/4RRK1 w - - 0 20"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]
[WhiteClock "0:21:50"]
[BlackClock "0:00:51"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.10.18"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Lalith Babu M R"]
[Black "Rathnakaran, K."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A05"]
[WhiteElo "2586"]
[BlackElo "2469"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r3q1r1/pp1b2bk/n4n1p/3Ppp2/8/2NNB2P/PP1QB1P1/4RRK1 w - - 0 20"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]
[WhiteClock "0:21:50"]
[BlackClock "0:00:51"]
20. Nxe5 $1 {407 winning a pawn} Ne4 {719} ({The elegant point is that} 20...
Qxe5 21. Bxa6 bxa6 $4 22. Bf4 {And the queen is trapped!}) 21. Nxe4 {26} Bxe5 {
20} 22. Nc3 {702} Qg6 {282} 23. Bd3 {101} Rae8 {373} 24. Kh1 {384} Qg3 {1399}
25. Bg1 {6} Bf4 {506} 26. Qf2 {15} Rxe1 {10} 27. Rxe1 {3} Qg5 {11} 28. h4 {135}
Qg7 {10} 29. Re2 {41} Bg3 {85} 30. Qd4 {92} Qf7 {78} 31. d6 {46} Re8 {126} 32.
Nd5 {19} Rxe2 {40} 33. Bxe2 {3} Qe6 {73} 34. Nf6+ {19} Kg6 {22} 35. Bh5+ {12}
1-0
Qxe5 21. Bxa6 bxa6 $4 22. Bf4 {And the queen is trapped!}) 21. Nxe4 {26} Bxe5 {
20} 22. Nc3 {702} Qg6 {282} 23. Bd3 {101} Rae8 {373} 24. Kh1 {384} Qg3 {1399}
25. Bg1 {6} Bf4 {506} 26. Qf2 {15} Rxe1 {10} 27. Rxe1 {3} Qg5 {11} 28. h4 {135}
Qg7 {10} 29. Re2 {41} Bg3 {85} 30. Qd4 {92} Qf7 {78} 31. d6 {46} Re8 {126} 32.
Nd5 {19} Rxe2 {40} 33. Bxe2 {3} Qe6 {73} 34. Nf6+ {19} Kg6 {22} 35. Bh5+ {12}
1-0
India's GM Sandipan Chanda (2593) is on 5.5/7. The only player on the second spot, following Gupta and Lalith Babu.
Black to play. The theme is famous.
[Event "Hoogeveen Open 2016"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.10.19"]
[Round "6.4"]
[White "Van Osch, Mees"]
[Black "Sandipan, Chanda"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2288"]
[BlackElo "2593"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3r4/1pk2ppp/2p2b2/2q5/Q1P1N3/4P3/PP4PP/3R3K b - - 0 25"]
[PlyCount "11"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]
[WhiteClock "0:05:01"]
[BlackClock "0:03:29"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.10.19"]
[Round "6.4"]
[White "Van Osch, Mees"]
[Black "Sandipan, Chanda"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2288"]
[BlackElo "2593"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3r4/1pk2ppp/2p2b2/2q5/Q1P1N3/4P3/PP4PP/3R3K b - - 0 25"]
[PlyCount "11"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]
[WhiteClock "0:05:01"]
[BlackClock "0:03:29"]
25... Qb4 {82} 26. Qc2 {170} Qxb2 {379} 27. Qb1 {8} Qxa2 {148} 28. Nxf6 {221}
gxf6 {27} 29. h3 {110} Rxd1+ {21} 30. Qxd1 {6} Qxc4 $19 {And Black won
comfortably.} 0-1
gxf6 {27} 29. h3 {110} Rxd1+ {21} 30. Qxd1 {6} Qxc4 $19 {And Black won
comfortably.} 0-1
Lucas Van Foreest (2350), Jorden's younger brother, is the only non-Indian in the top six. He is tied with two others on 5.0/7.
IM Eesha Karavade is also on 5.0/7.
FM Rakesh Kumar Jena (2247) has caused the biggest surprise. He is tied for the third place on 5.0/7.
Dutch GM Jan Werle (2555) has been overambitious at times. He is stuck on 4.5/7.
On the same number of points is his country-mate GM Sipke Ernst (2540).
That was what IM S. Nitin was left doing after he misplayed a decent position against Abhijeet Gupta in the seventh round.
IM K. Rathnakaran is not having an amazing tournament. But he is serving his usual fare of entertaining chess for the fans.
White to play. Can you find a unique fork on the board?
[Event "Hoogeveen Open 2016"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.10.17"]
[Round "3.5"]
[White "Rathnakaran, K."]
[Black "Mager, Denis"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2469"]
[BlackElo "2224"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2qr3/4pkb1/p2p3p/3N1b2/2NnQP1B/8/PPP3P1/2R2RK1 w - - 0 24"]
[PlyCount "9"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]
[WhiteClock "0:38:23"]
[BlackClock "0:06:26"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.10.17"]
[Round "3.5"]
[White "Rathnakaran, K."]
[Black "Mager, Denis"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2469"]
[BlackElo "2224"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2qr3/4pkb1/p2p3p/3N1b2/2NnQP1B/8/PPP3P1/2R2RK1 w - - 0 24"]
[PlyCount "9"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]
[WhiteClock "0:38:23"]
[BlackClock "0:06:26"]
24. Ne5+ $1 {381} dxe5 {311} 25. fxe5 {15 A unique fork, created with the help
of a pin on the f file!} Ke6 {625} 26. Qxd4 {109} Qxd5 {37} 27. Qb6+ {115 is
the point.} Kf7 {87} (27... Kxe5 28. Bg3+ Ke4 29. Rce1#) 28. Rxf5+ {12 White
is two pawns ahead, and soon won.} 1-0
of a pin on the f file!} Ke6 {625} 26. Qxd4 {109} Qxd5 {37} 27. Qb6+ {115 is
the point.} Kf7 {87} (27... Kxe5 28. Bg3+ Ke4 29. Rce1#) 28. Rxf5+ {12 White
is two pawns ahead, and soon won.} 1-0
The precise way of announcing to the world that you are a chessplayer.
Legendary GM Oleg Romanishin is also playing. He has scored 4.5/7.
Standings:
| Rank | Name | Score | Fed. | M/F | Rating | TPR | W-We | Mutual | BH-HiLo | SB | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GM Gupta, Abhijeet | 6.5 | IND | M | 2626 | 2832 | +1.19 | 0.5 | 22.0 | 28.25 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | GM Lalith Babu M R | 6.5 | IND | M | 2586 | 2857 | +1.76 | 0.5 | 22.0 | 29.25 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | GM Sandipan, Chanda | 5.5 | IND | M | 2593 | 2545 | -0.23 | . | 19.5 | 21.0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | IM Karavade, Eesha | 5.0 | IND | F | 2421 | 2415 | +0.01 | . | 18.5 | 17.75 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ |
| 5 | Van Foreest, Lucas | 5.0 | NED | M | 2350 | 2459 | +1.10 | . | 20.0 | 19.0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 |
| 6 | FM Rakesh Kumar Jena | 5.0 | IND | M | 2247 | 2543 | +2.73 | . | 20.5 | 18.5 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 |
| 7 | GM Werle, Jan | 4.5 | NED | M | 2555 | 2492 | -0.34 | . | 21.5 | 17.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ½ | = | ½ |
| 8 | GM Shyam, Sundar M. | 4.5 | IND | M | 2552 | 2465 | -0.52 | . | 22.5 | 18.5 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | GM Ernst, Sipke | 4.5 | NED | M | 2540 | 2470 | -0.40 | . | 19.5 | 16.25 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | = | 0 |
| 10 | GM Debashis, Das | 4.5 | IND | M | 2478 | 2348 | -1.01 | . | 20.0 | 16.5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ |
See full standings and pairings here.
Hou Yifan lost yet again to Nigel Short and has fallen way behind her rival in their match that is being held alongside the tournament.
Two matches are being played between Nigel Short & Hou Yifan, and Ivan Sokolov & Jorden Van Foreest. More details below.
The tournament consists of the Hoogeveen Matches, the Hoogeveen Open, and two amateur tournaments. All tournaments are taking place in the attractive town hall of Hoogeveen. In the chess café, well-known commentators are analyzing the games with the audience.
The host of the chess festival.
Lennart Ootes is a well-known chess photographer, known for bringing the artistic side of chess to the fore.
McDonalds, the fast-food giant, is also among the sponsors.
Loek van Wely (2667) is the Tournament Director for the event! He also happens to be the highest rated player in the whole tourney, but is not playing!
Chess in such a pure town can only be enchanting.
Add to that, analysis by player cum teachers like Ivan Sokolov, and you can have the chess-time of your life!
Related:
- Report on the Matches by GM Alejandro Ramirez
- Liked the tactics? Find more interesting ones at tactics.chessbase.com!